Vol 5: Chapter 51
Unlike when she was an adventurer, Polina-san had her hair neatly tied and looked almost similar to the two elves standing next to her. All three were women, and all three had the same short-cut hairstyle, with straight-cut bangs and a tuft of hair tucked to one side.
「I am surprised that you noticed me.」Polina-san said.
It felt like all three had given up their “individuality” rather than simply appearing similar.
「We are a secret service that escorts the royal family of the Sylvis Kingdom in the Elven Forest. The magic airship is called “Owl Wings”, which belongs to our kingdom. It wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss other matters in this setting.」
「…I see.」
There was also the matter regarding Asha’s constitution, which means we can’t talk about it here. Us, the mayor, Dante-san and the others, and also a clerk present to record the report were all present in this room.
「At any rate, I am very happy that Umibozu has been subjugated. We will have a banquet today, so please join us. Though, I am unsure if it will be to the liking of our elven royal guests.」the mayor said, with a smile.
「Of course, we will participate.」Asha said.
「Your Highness.」
「It’s okay, isn’t it?」
「……Yes.」
Polina-san seemed like she wanted to say something, but swallowed her words.
**
We then moved to an inn. Immediately,
「Reiji-san… It seems that you have been very active after leaving me behind.」Asha said, with fiery vigor in her voice.
「A-Asha-san…?」
「I waited for a long time, you know? I waited patiently with the dark elves just like you told me to. And you promised to return, right?」
「I–」
Indeed, I told Asha to stay behind when she insisted on coming with me. After that, I headed straight to the Red Gate.
It’s not that I wasn’t thinking about Asha, just that I had to prioritize the Red Gate.
「I-It sounds like a complicated story, so we’re going to excuse ourselves!」
「Bocchan, do your best~」
「Reiji-kun, you must always be sincere with a woman.」
Dante-san, Zerry-san, and Non-san left those parting words and left the room.
「Reiji-kun…」
Mimino-san called out, with a look which seemed like she was worrying too much
「If you deceive a girl, then you have to take responsibility for it, okay!? Shall I apologize with you?」
「No! It’s okay!」
「I am still worried though–」
「No, no. It’s okay.」
I got Mimino-san to leave the room by pushing her back. …Apologize with me? Are you my mom?
「And…what about you three?」I asked Asha’s escort.
「We will not leave Her Highness’ side. And, there are other things we need to ask you.」
「Do you mean about Her Highness’ throat?」
「Yes, there is that matter too.」
That matter too?
「If a man and a woman are left alone for a long time, some people will certainly start to think there are inappropriate things going on.」Polina-san said.
The “other things” you mentioned was about this?!
「Nothing like that happened!」I said.
「You were together with our beautiful Highness and nothing happened, you say!? And you call yourself a man!?」
「This is absurd reverse guilt!」
…I see now. Polina-san was truly worried about Asha and was trying to protect her.
「Asha. We have a lot to talk about, but first and foremost…」
I placed my hands on the table – a crude, plain table unbefitting of a High Elf royal – and bowed my head.
「I am truly sorry, Asha. I didn’t mean to leave you behind, I just–」
「P-Please raise your head, Reiji-san.」
「But–」
「I already know that.」
「……Huh?」
I raised my head and saw Asha looking straight at me with a troubled look.
「I knew that you wouldn’t leave me behind for no reason, Reiji-san. But I felt so hurt when you left me, so I am just sulking a little.」
「Asha…」
「I have a lot to talk about too. About what happened to the village after your disappearance, about the Border Earl, and Polina too.」
Asha’s hands gently grasped mine. Her hand was flush and warm.
「Ahem, Reiji-san. Touching Her Highness is a blasphemous act.」Polina-san said.
Eek. I pulled my hand away reflexively.
「It is not blasphemous! I touched him because I wanted to!」Asha said.
「Touching a man’s hand because you want to is an act unbecoming of a royal. It’s shameless.」
「S-Shameless!?」
Asha’s cheeks turned red, and a number of flames manifested in the air.
「L-Let’s calm down for the time being…」I said.
Was Polina-san originally this kind of person… Wasn’t she supposed to be the silent type whose thoughts you couldn’t grasp? …Wait, I don’t understand her thoughts even now, though.
「I’ll explain the situation first, then.」I said.
Asha and Polina-san were surprised when I announced that the Red Gate problem had been resolved. However, when I added that the dragon suggestively said that it wasn’t a permanent solution, Polina-san and the two other elves started whispering amongst themselves quietly.
I couldn’t hear clearly even with my【Hearing Enhancement】.
「——If what the dragon is…」
「——Then the “Third Forest” is going to… hurry up and contact…」
「——All right.」
After the discussion was over, one of them turned towards Asha and said,
「Your Highness. I need to return to “Owl Wings”.」
「Okay.」
「Excuse me.」
The elf reverently bowed her head, and then jumped out through the open window in the room – from the third floor.
She landed on the roof of a neighboring 2-storey building silently and started sprinting. Does she perhaps have【Sprinting】, I wonder.
「…She could’ve just walked out the door normally.」Asha muttered.
…I 100% agree with that sentiment.
「So… why did you come here, Reiji-san?」Asha asked.
「I was pursuing my sister.」
Lark was being cared for by her fellow sky pirates… or are they sea pirates now? Lark herself has been asleep since then.
I returned the magic ship back to its owner and offered to pay for the repairs. And I thought of asking to forgive Lark’s crime of stealing with the fact that she helped subjugate Umibozu.
But it turned out that the wealthy man who owned the magic ship was the mayor’s older brother.
——What? The same Reiji-san who was active in the “Red Gate Campaign” was on board my ship and fought on it!? What an honor! Let’s preserve the damages as they are!
He was rather delighted. It seems that the mayor’s older brother was also a man who admired strong knights just as the mayor.
I was aware of the saying “Bad news travels quickly”, but it seems that my name has been transformed into a strange image and propagated within the Saint Knight Kingdom.
In fact, I had already pulled out Lark’s skill orb. I confirmed it with Kook-san, who was the boss of the pirate group, before extracting the skill orb. The skill orb was now in my possession. Lark’s condition shouldn’t deteriorate any further, but she is already quite sick.
「I will set sail tomorrow and search for the sage in the ocean.」
「…………」
「Asha?」
「Ah, no…」
「Reiji-san. The Sylvis Kingdom has an elixir to restore lost vitality.」Polina-san said.
「Polina!」Asha exclaimed, seeming panicked and scared.
「But it’s an extremely valuable item and is under the control of the royal family.」
「Oh… I see. Then that means I can’t get it, huh.」I said.
「Why do you think that? The person in front of you is Her Highness Anastasia, a member of the royal family.」
「Polina, I already told you…」
「Right now, Her Highness is able to control her magic and speak properly. That being the case, she is a complete and legitimate member of the royal family. Her Highness’s father, His Majesty the King, will surely welcome Her Highness Anastasia again. Perfectly controlled【Fire Magic】will not be a disadvantage.」
Ah…… I see what’s going on.
Since Asha’s voice has returned, Polina-san wants to bring her back to the Elven Forest.
