Vol 4 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2: Different nights
”Ah” Having spaced out for a while on the sofa, Leerin looked out the
”It's already night”
She hadn't realized that at all The sun had sunk down coradually lit up the street lae, looking down at the city froh place
”So slow,” Leerin's adopted father said beside her
He didn't look like he once had broken numerous bones and was admitted into the hospital Now, he rested with his usual stiff and expressionless face, eyes closed Grendan possessed excellent ranted to a Military Artist contributed greatly to his speedy rehabilitation
”Is the injury really OK?”
”Yes”
Even so, Leerin was still worried At the tiht her adopted father had died The wounds he had sustained would have brought him death if not for the Heaven's Blade successor Savaris' tih Derek had received the newest medical treatment available, Leerin still felt doubtful about his speedy recovery
”I'm all healed, thanks to the royal fa his eyes
The fact that Derek could receive the newest and most expensive treatment was all thanks to the royal family Gahard was possessed by a special filth monster, so Derek's injuries were treated as war-related injuries However, both Leerin and Derek thought it wasn't just as sih to cover the treatanization other than the royal family had paid for the extra
(And also)
Leerin once again confirh-class room covered by a carpet with exquisite patterns The sofa she was sitting on, whether it was the seat itself or the back, was made splendidly It was a costly piece of furniture Truthfully, the ood, and she felt unco the highest-class clothes froh to s she was in
Derek, on the other hand, wasn't worried about that at all As a Military Artist, wearing the forh Still, he had chosen the best-looking clothes he had That was only natural
She looked out theagain
Only one place in Grendan was high enough to allow a view of the entire city – the palace in the middle of Grendan, and this here Leerin and Derek were
(Formalities aren't needed if this is just for the usual insurance)
As she thought of that, she felt pain in her stomach It wasn't time for dinner yet, but tensionthe hospital, Derek had sent out a request for an audience with the Queen so he could thank her personally This was the appointed day for thewith Derek, but she saw her nairl
(Why am I here?)
Leerin had been used as bait at that time It was all done to eliminate the filth ine what it was like to be protected desperately by Military Artists while she herself lived her daily life as usual Both Derek and Layfon were Military Artists Although Derek had picked up Leerin and took care of her, she still couldn't accept the thought of living safely while people around her fought to protect her
If possible, she wished she'd know before danger arrived
The incident with Gahard Baren had co, but she had not yet tidied up her train of thought enough to turn them into words As she pondered, the door opened and a maid came to lead them to another room
”Sorry for the wait Her Majesty's finally finished her work”
”That is perfectly fine,” Derek said
(Finally)
The tension in Leerin intensified Her sto of which, Layfon was the sahts with filth monsters and with powerful Military Artists in Grendan, but in the day before the Heaven's Blade successor cereize to the scary looking Heaven's Blade successor, he wore a troubled expression
(Do I havethe same expression now?)
Leerin wanted to confirm in a mirror If possible, she wanted to wash her face with cold water in a bathroom, but if she did that, herthe
(Uu)
While Leerin muttered to herself, the ht theuards The Military Artists pulled open the huge double door
The maid walked in front, followed by Derek and Leerin
This rooer than the one they were in before In the e sofa, and deeper into the roo the stage
Alsheyra Almonise – The Queen of Grendan
Leerin and Derek knelt down before the sofa and bowed deeply
”Thank you for your Majesty's kindness” Derek began his thank you speech
Leerin was too tense to lift her head She knelt there, rooted in the spot Noret so close to this person behind the curtains Curiosity won against tension Leerin lifted her head She couldn't make out the Queen's face clearly because of the curtains, but that figure felt familiar
”You don't have to worry This level of co compared to what you've done for Grendan for so many years It really makes me feel aard”
The bell-like sound of the Queen numbed Leerin's body
”I'm sorry for”
”This is the truth You were active when you were on duty The sword you nurtured was also active under my command”
She meant Layfon Leerin considered the Queen's words as she waited for her reply
(How does Her Majesty view Layfon?)
If Alsheyra forgave Layfon, it would be equivalent to opening Layfon's path back to Grendan Leerin concentrated, listening without le word
”His present situation is due to his i to do with you”
”No, Your Majesty His inorance of the city that Your Majesty rules over were all because ofthe burden of the consequence of my one-sided education in Military Arts I should be the one to carry his punishment”
”I seeWell then, please sit down”
”Yes”
”This isn't the public room where I receive people It's a muchservant”
(Huh?)
That last words, the way she jokedLeerin seemed to have heard them somewhere before But she couldn't think of whoination?)
The ain and laid out two cups of tea
”Do you kno he is doing?”
”Huh?”
Leerin never thought the Queen would ask her a question
”Is Layfon doing all right? Or have you two not been exchanging letters?”
”Ah, yes Ah, no, we have!”
Laughter sounded from behind the curtain
”Sure, it's not that persuasive to speak behind a curtain, but please don't be so tense”
”I, I see”
”Then, is he well?”
”Yes UmHe's in a city called Zuellni”
”An acadeh he received the Heaven's Blade at that age I think it raduate because of his uselessness, don't you agree? But he passed the entrance test Were you the one teaching hiht? It seems you're excellent”
”No, not at all”
And under Alan to speak s – when she taught Layfon how to do his homework, the days close to his departure from Grendan, and the time when she first received his letter
In the conversation, Leerin realized she had been showing so happily to the other after getting rid of her tension Perhaps she was getting above herself Talking so closely to this person before her just didn't cut it
”LayfonCan he not return?”
”Leerin”
”Ah!”
After aggravating Derek, she realized she had talked too much
”P, please excuse me”
”Don't worry To Layfon, this place is his birthplace To you, he will always be your ht?”
”Yes”
”Perhaps he'll return If the tiht, then it's not impossible”
”Then”
”But, whether he'll come back when the time comesThat I can't decide for him”
Leerin's eyebrows dipped at her firm conclusion
”Yourtribe outside, isn't it?”
Almonise turned the topic to Derek
”Yes” Derek spaced out a little, not expecting the topic to suddenly shi+ft to him
”Most of the Military Artists who followed the first generation Salinvan to travel outside were Psyharden's students If Psyharden hione with them”
”I've heard of that too”
”Your senior has also joined as the trainer of the e, a inally, he should have been the one to inherit the name of Psyharden”
”He's already dead”
Very sudden So sudden that Derek failed to coested that piece of information, his eyes widened
”That can't be”
”Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge, the eneration Head is already dead It's a real shame, but that is the truth”
The curtain was pulled up a little, and Al a metal box
”This is for you”
Derek stood up and shakily knelt down to receive the box He opened it on the spot Inside rapped a small metal cylinder and a Dite
”This is Ryuhou's Dite My ifted him with ithowever, it can't be”
”It appeared the field medics were unable to coht with several filth monsters”
Inside the cylinder was Ryuhou's hair When a person who died outside the city could not be buried, his hair was taken back to the city
”Ryuhou, did he have any children?” Derek looked at Alsheyra, his face stiff and his shoulders treeneration Head is Ryuhou's apprentice Just 18 years of age He's goodas if he hadn't been shaken by the news just then
”Can I take care of Ryuhou's funeral?”
”YesThe Salinvan lory of Grendan to the outside world Their work is considerable Besides, the martial arts of their leader is precious to Grendan We definitely can't lose it Derek Psyharden, don't worry about the dojo and any other trivialyour students”
”I understand”
”Leerin Marfes”
”Yes”
”The tribe of Psyharden has a tendency to extend its branches to the outside This isn't done through blood relations, but through passing down the spirit of the martial arts That is what is inside Layfon Even when he had the Heaven's Blade, he refused to use the katana I hope you can be suitably prepared about that”
Leerin didn't respond
Thefinished like that Derek left the roo Ryuhou's hair Leerin followed behind him
In the split second when the door was in the htly but fir
She was like a spoiled kid A kid who cried and shouted because she didn't like the present situationif she was a little child, she'd be allowed to do so But Leerin wasn't of that age anymore Fifteen, and she would be sixteen this year She'd have reached the age that allowed her to work
She was about to reach the age in which she had to personally do soe the situations that she didn't like
But what could she do?
She thought of this as she walked alone in Grendan under the dark sky She had parted with Derek and was on the way back to the dor the boisterous street, she turned into a quieter street of the residential area Under the light of the street lamp, irresistible loneliness enveloped Leerin
No, this wasn't loneliness
She reached an intersection On her left, the path led to the school, and her right led back to the dorht? The days of walking to the left or to the right were nor straightif she kept walking
Was there one? Was there a road that would bring her to Layfon? Impossible Rationalism told her so Before her was only theahead of her was also a ed to stay afloat There were clothes and accessory shops and also cafes and bakeries If she kept on walking, it'd only be normal – the normal days of Leerin Marfes ”without Layfon”
This wasn't loneliness
She was lost
”Ah”
Someone had patted her shoulder She turned around and saw Synola
”Senpai?”
”What is it? spacing out here?”
”Ah, no” she lifted her head, failing to prevent the words fro”
She planned to return to the dormitory In order to not cause Synola any worries, she pretended nothing rong and planned to leave like that, but her feet refused to move
”N~”
”Wa”
Suddenly, Synola put her hand on Leerin's head and caressed her hair
”Wh, what're you doing?”
”I'”
”Huh?”
”Why?” before she could say more, Leerin's hand was taken up and she was pulled in another direction
The place she was taken to had little to do with filling one's stoe yet”
”That's fine They've got juice, and the food's not bad”
Froht that failed to illuh the norht of the bar where the drinks were kept could Leerin see clearly the figure of the bar owner
”But”
”It's alright, it's alright Hey, owner Getto eat”
”This is a bar”
”Right, right”
”We don't have that kind of thing Geez” the owner sighed, holding a wine glass