Vol 5: Chapter 55
** Saint Knight Kingdom Port Town Zackerhafen – Town Mayor’s Residence **
「Is Silver Balance going to continue on as adventurers? How about all of you become knights and join our country?」
「That’s right. Most of the priests under the Holy Pope were raised in our kingdom’s churches. If Non-dono is also trained there…」
The knights said, turning their gaze towards Non-san.
「Hey hey, don’t try to plant strange ideas into Non’s mind.」
Dante interjected, stepping out in front of Non, blocking their gazes.
「No, it’s not strange. Is it?」
「O-Of course. It is in the interest of the country that young and beautiful people stay in this country.」
「You guys are thinking of weird things, after all!」Dante-san exclaimed.
「Dad, that’s enough…」
As Non herself was overprotective of her father, she was aware he was also overprotective of her. But she naturally felt embarrassed to have that happen in public. She was already a full-fledged adult, after all.
「…Non-sama, we received a letter addressed to you.」
The butler of the mansion approached and said.
「A letter?」Non asked.
「Yes, from the State Church.」
「……I see.」
Non excused herself from the conversation, and then entered the mansion.
The envelope she was handed inside contained a wax seal from the State Church. She immediately opened the envelope and read the letter. She prepared herself to read something along the lines of “return to the church.”
「!」
But as she read, she was surprised by what was written in the letter.
She looked back to see her father looking at her with a worried look. Non waved her hand to reassure him. Dante nodded slightly in response.
「Is everything all right?」the butler asked.
「It may cause some inconvenience to the mayor.」
Non put her hand on her forehead and sighed a little.
**
I was standing at the venue where Asha had left, wondering what she was trying to do.
But I couldn’t figure it out. …A woman’s heart is difficult to understand, after all.
「Reiji!」
Lark’s companion, the scout, ran towards me.
「The young miss has awakened!」
「!!」
All the thoughts in my mind vanished in that instant, and I started running with the scout. A number of people were looking at me for some reason, but I rushed out of the mayor’s mansion and headed for the inn.
「H-H-Hey! You’re too fast! You are the young miss’ brother, all right!!」
I combined【Physical Enhancement】,【Sprinting】, and【Support Magic】on top of each other, and arrived at the inn faster than a scout main and jumped into Lark’s room.
「Lark!!」
The room was dimly illuminated by a magic lamp. Lark was sitting on the bed, and a doctor was checking her condition. Kook-san and the others were also there.
「That voice… Is that you, little brother? You’re so loud even at night…」
「Lark…?」
I was deeply startled.
Even though her eyes were looking in my direction, she wasn’t looking at me.
I understood what it was even without World Ruler. Lark was blind.
「Please be quiet. These symptoms were not present during the examination the other day. I wonder if something happened.」the doctor asked Kook-san.
However, Kook-san kept silent as if he knew the “answer”.
「…Hmm. For the time being, your physical condition seems to be stable, but this is not good news. It is barely stable. And being blind, you wouldn’t be able to move around right away. Anyway, you need plenty of rest. I will take my leave for now.」
「Thank you, doctor.」
The engineer left the room together with the doctor to see him off. The scout entered the room in an exhausted state instead.
「Kook.」
As soon as the doctor left, Lark called out in a moody tone.
「Were you the one who stole my skill orb?」she asked.
「No. Why would I steal it at this point?」
「Right. If you had a way to steal it and wanted to steal it, you would’ve already done it. Then, it’s you right, little brother?」
「Yes… I removed【Shadow King】from your body.」
Lark clicked her tongue when she heard my answer.
「Who asked you to do that? …Give it back. It belongs to me.」
「Lark, that skill orb is not good for you. You know that, right?」
My【World Ruler】was continuing analysis even now. There was no doubt that Lark’s vision was lost because of【Shadow King】. I also found out that Lark lost her eyesight long ago, and she compensated for it with the power of the skill orb.
「Whether it’s good or bad, that’s who I am!」
「No. You are you even without the skill orb.」
「I found that skill orb! That’s why it’s mine! So give it back!」
「No… you’re wrong. You cannot let yourself be controlled by the skill orb. What’s the point of living if it’s going to rob your life?」
「You’re one to speak… I’m sure your extraordinary powers are thanks to a skill orb too.」
「!?」
I was startled.
Lark was indeed right, and I am not stupid enough to forget that fact.
It was unfair for me to admonish Lark while I reaped a myriad of benefits through【World Ruler】.
「I …」
「I am not saying it’s bad. But that skill orb is mine. So give it back.」
「…………」
「Little brother!」
「I won’t give it back… This thing will ruin you, Lark!」
「You!!」
Lark threw a pillow at me, but it didn’t hit me and instead hit the face of the scout who was diagonally behind me.
「Get out!! I don’t want to see your face!!」
「Lark, I…」
「I told you to get out!!」
「Young miss, what are you doing!?」
Kook-san stopped Lark as she tried to get out of bed while glaring intensely. The scout placed a hand on my shoulder and shook his head sideways.
「I… will come back later.」
「I don’t wanna see the bastard who stole my skill!」
Lark’s words pierced my chest. I left the room and rushed to the outside of the inn.
I knew what I did to Lark was terrible. I knew she used【Shadow King】fully aware of the implications to her life, but instead, I removed her skill without asking her first.
And I didn’t think Lark would get so angry.
Did I misunderstand her?
Or did she change a lot in these four years?
——Lark will use that skill even knowing that it will kill her.
——To protect the weak… the weak like myself.
——No matter what anyone says, Lark will not let go of that power. Lark knows that she could protect many people if she had the power.
——I can persuade Lark. I have to.
How arrogant was I to think that.
「…Did I get too carried away after obtaining【World Ruler】?」
As I looked up at the sky vaguely, I suddenly noticed the noise around me.
「——What is that?」
「——It’s the elf’s magic airship.」
「——Why is it flying at night?」
Although it was night, many people came out onto the streets. Their gaze was gathered in the sky—on a huge silhouette cruising through the night sky, hoisting a number of lights.
「Owl’s Wing…?」
I finally realized.
Asha was on board that airship – which would be heading to the “Third Forest”.
In other words, Asha decided to return to the Elven Forest.
