68 Quiet Story Part 16 - Clinics in wasteland - (1/2)

The territories of the Crester family are scattered all over the kingdom of Elgrand. In order to visit all the territories in the ten days of the Descent Festival (Les Armeniastes), each of them will naturally have to move from place to place, acting alone. Dualis and Elizabeth will each have their own Darkness guards, but Edward's will be a true solo act. The reason for this is simple: it is faster and more reliable for him to punch out the enemy by himself than to have the Darkness protect him.

That's why he is the most maneuverable of them all, and every year he is assigned a fairly large area to the west across the Lemire River. This year, without Diana, the area was even more extensive.

The fourth day of the festival, the morning of the 23rd day of the forest. On this day, he was on his way to the next land from the territory where he spent the previous night, when he suddenly changed direction. The wise horse, who remembers the route every year, stopped and turned around to look at him suspiciously.

I'm sorry, we're taking a detour. It shouldn't be too far, so good luck.

That was enough to convince the long-time horse, and they rode for a while through unfamiliar territory. Not long after, as Edward had said, they came upon a small house hidden in the cliffs of the wilderness. We dismounted a little before the house, and as we approached it with gentle steps, the door opened just in time to reveal an old man.

Edward took off the hood he was wearing and smiled.

Just in time. Is this Dr. Dolly's clinic?

”......, who are you?

I'm Ed, and I'm here to talk to you and the patient you're treating. My name is Ed.

I know that my smile looks fishy, but it would be unnatural if I didn't smile here. Unlike my father and sister, my smile is not intimidating, so in this case, Edward usually smiles and looks for his next move.

(Go home!　I guess I'll just go in through the back of .......

Since this is definitely the destination, all I have to do is finish my business. He had a lot of plans after this, so he didn't want to think of a very elaborate plan in the first place.

”Put in .......

”Oh, hi. Thank you very much.

The old man turned on his heels with a difficult look on his face and opened the door that looked like a front door. Telling his horse to wait nearby, Edward walked through the door.

--The inside of the house was neat and tidy, which was hard to imagine from the house's crumbling appearance. Passing through a room with a cooker, a dining table, a small sofa and a bookcase, the old man walked deeper into the room. Pushing on the wall at the end of the corridor, he found a hidden staircase leading to the basement.

(...... This is obvious, isn't it?)

Even if you don't say anything, you will be led to a room that seems to be a 'secret'. This means that the person you're talking to is from behind the scenes, and they know who you are. Thinking that he still had a lot of training to do, Edward followed the old man down the stairs.

At the bottom of the hidden stairs, there was a door. A light was leaking out from inside. The old man knocked on the door.

”Sora, are you awake?

”Yes, I'm awake.

A soft, soothing voice came from the other side. The voice on the other side sounded calm and soft, with the solemnity of a priest, but the old man certainly called him 'Sora' now.

I'll open it. --You have a visitor.

There was a squeak, and the door opened. His eyes urged him to enter, and Edward slowly stepped into the room.

It was a small room. It was barely large enough to hold a bed, a washbasin, and two small chairs.

However, the smallness of the room did not seem to bother Edward as he was greeted by the overwhelming presence of the person who had risen from the bed.

Welcome, young man. --I apologize for not being able to offer you any hospitality.

...... Are you the Kuro Lion?

He was surprisingly small. He was surprisingly small, even if you discounted the fact that he was a little thin due to illness. He was only about the same height as Deanna.

Her black hair flowed lightly, and her obsidian-black eyes had a strong glow. Her face was so young that it was hard to believe she had a son around 20 years old. If he were not, he would have looked so cute. He must be over forty, but no matter how you look at him, he looks like he is in his early thirties.

--But the intimidation emanating from his whole body and the strength of his gaze were unmistakably that of the man who is called the twin peaks of the ”back”.

I'm sorry for visiting you so suddenly, without asking for your availability.

When he came to his senses, Edward bowed his head quite naturally.

I am Edward Crestor, the eldest son of the current Earl of Crestor. I am honored to meet the legendary twin peaks of Sora the Kuro Lion.

A slightly annoyed voice came from the person who bowed to me.

...... No need to thank me, young man. I'm not going to get involved, but I'm also a person who lives in the background, protected by you.

No, Lord Kuro Lion, I have always admired and respected you, and now I can finally meet you. Please treat me not as the eldest son of the Crestor family, but as a person who belongs to the ”back”.

”That's a very ...... difficult order to fulfill.

The Kuro Lion seemed to laugh a little.

”Please, sit down. Please, have a seat, Dolly.

Would you like some tea, young man of Clester?

Please, call me Ed. I haven't been called ”young man” in a long time.

With that, Edward sits down in his chair. He sat down on the chair. He was at the same level as the black lion and met his gaze head on.

...... So the rumors are true.

”Rumors?

I've heard that the young lord of the Cresta family is doing some underworld work with the Dark Side.

I've heard that the young lord of the Crester family does 'underworld' work with the 'dark side'. I'm only called upon by Sirius when he's short on staff. During the season, I have to attend the social gatherings of the nobility.

That statement is already the speech of an earner. Edward himself considers himself to be someone who only occasionally appears in the background, but lately the ”occasional” appearances have been increasing, and he is almost treated as a peer by those in the background. He is probably one of the most influential members of the Crester family in the last 200 years.

”Rumors aside, I have a lot of opportunities to be involved with the underground. I've heard a lot about you, and I'd like to meet you someday.

You don't need to see me, ......, you have the Lord Kurowing right there with you.

Sirius is indeed a great man, and I'm still no match for him. I've heard that you, unlike Sirius, are a legendary businessman, respected by all who live behind the scenes, working independently from place to place. I've heard that you're a man of reason, who protects the well-being of others no matter what, even if it means going against your employer. --I've always wanted to talk to you.

...... If you knew so much about me, you must have heard that I would never have anything to do with the Cresta family.

I'm sure you've heard of it.

I know, I know. I know. ...... Neither my father nor Sirius told me the details, though. I know. My father and Sirius never told me the details, but they said that after an incident, the Kuro Lion began to avoid us.