Chapter 116 - Damn Reincarnation

Akasha

Nina could find nothing to say. All she could do was blink.

Gerhard was much the same. Rubbing his now markedly slimmer belly, he looked at the son he had not seen in months.

A reunion.

He did not burst into tears of joy. Eugene was an adult now, and Gerhard understood that his son was no longer a little boy.

“... Never in all my years... did I imagine a day would come when elves would wait on me...”

Although Nina said nothing, she felt much as Gerhard did. Not once in her life had she imagined that she would one day be training elves.

“... Must they become attendants at the annex?”

“They say they don't want to work at the main house.”

The annex already had enough attendants.

Only Eugene and Gerhard lived here to begin with. And since Eugene spent most of his time away from the estate, Gerhard effectively had the annex to himself.

There was a mountain of things to teach them, and who knew when they would actually be ready to work... but what could she do? If Eugene wanted to take them on as attendants, Nina could hardly object.

“Well, I feel a little awkward bringing this up when I've only just returned after months away...”

“Where are you off to this time?” Gerhard asked with a hollow laugh.

“There's something very important I need to do. I'm planning a brief trip to Aroth.”

“At least you're telling me beforehand this time.”

“Father. Surely you're not sulking?”

“Sulking, you rascal? You're merely roaming about wherever you please. What reason would I have to sulk?”

It was hurtful enough that Eugene had left Black Lion Castle without a word, but now he had gone off to Samar, of all dangerous places.

“I'm not going anywhere dangerous, and I'm not lying. I'll probably be back before long.”

“... Ahem.”

“And once I return, I'll stay put for a while and behave myself.”

“... There's no need for that. I'm simply worried about my son, as your father. What parent in this world would be happy to see their child caught up in danger?”

“I'm sure there are some.”

“... Hmm... Perhaps there are, but I'm not one of them. Eugene, do you think your father is the sort of man who would enjoy his child's danger and misery?”

“Oh, of course not. As your son, I know better than anyone how much you worry about me and love me.”

The corners of Gerhard's mouth twitched at that.

“So I'll be careful not to give you anything to worry or grieve over.”

“... I appreciate that... but don't suppress your own wishes for my sake.”

His expression softening completely, Gerhard patted Eugene's shoulder.

“You've already had your coming-of-age ceremony at Black Lion Castle, haven't you? You're no longer a child. You're an adult now, someone who must act of his own will and take responsibility for his actions.”

A rather lengthy lecture followed. Eugene made no attempt to cut him short, listening to the end and dutifully answering along the way.

“I never imagined you would listen to the very end.”

That side of Eugene surprised Kristina. She spoke as she followed behind him.

“What else was I supposed to do? Snap at him to stop running his mouth?”

“Not quite, but I thought you might interrupt him with something more gently phrased.”

“You must think I'm some unfilial bastard.”

“No. It's simply that the Lord Eugene I've seen... isn't someone who meekly listens to formalities and lectures like that.”

“You've got me right. Yes, I hate formalities, and I hate people trying to teach me and tell me what to do. But it depends on who's talking.”

Eugene shrugged, grumbling.

“He's my own father, saying those things because he's worried about his son.”

“Then if you had told him about your journey from the beginning...”

“If I'd told him? Would knowing my reasons stop him from worrying? Of course not. My father is... hmm... a very human man. When I was little, he used to cry a lot, too—”

Crybaby, crybaby.

Senya's teasing echoed through his head. Yes, he had thought it strange. In his previous life, Hamel had rarely cried. He hadn't cried even when the pain nearly killed him, or when he was on the verge of death.

'So that's why I cry so much in this body.'

Perhaps blood really did tell. Eugene decided to blame Gerhard's genes for the many times he had shed tears since his reincarnation.

“... Anyway. I know he wants what's best for me, so as his son, I should at least act like I'm listening. I can't live as he tells me to, but when he's talking, I ought to listen and say, ‘Yes, yes.’”

“... Is that so?”

He didn't think he had said anything unusual. By Eugene's understanding, that was fairly obvious. Really, what son in this world followed his parents' every word without question? Still, it was only right to at least answer them.

But Kristina's reaction was decidedly unenthusiastic. She closed her lips and looked at Eugene with a slightly stiff expression.

“... Did I say something strange?”

“No. You didn't.”

“Your face says you think I did.”

“... As you know, Lord Eugene, my birth parents abandoned me when I was a newborn. I grew up in a convent, and at ten, Cardinal Rogeris took me in as his adopted daughter. So I've never experienced the relationship between a child and their birth parents.”

He didn't think he had said anything that required firsthand experience to understand, but he did not voice that thought. Everyone had circumstances they couldn't discuss cheerfully.

[“I don't believe our relationship is close enough yet for me to readily share such stories with you, Lord Eugene.”]

The boundary she had drawn with that twisted smile. Eugene had no wish to cross it uninvited.

“When do you intend to leave for Aroth?”

“Right now.”

“... Then why have you come to your room?”

“To talk to you.”

With that, Eugene dropped onto the sofa. He had returned to this room after months away. Before that, he had been absent for years. Yet it did not feel unfamiliar.

“I'm going to Aroth alone.”

Kristina stared at him without answering. He met her gaze and pointed to the sofa opposite him.

“... I believe I've told you before. As the Saint of Light, I must accompany you on your journey as the Hero—”

“Someone leaked information about you and me.”

“It wasn't His Holiness or Cardinal Rogeris. I've told you that as well. Neither would want me killed over something like this—”

“They might have changed their minds. Or someone else connected to them might have leaked it.”

“... That is possible, but I find your indiscriminate suspicion of the Holy Empire offensive. Couldn't the information have come from Lionheart?”

“Right. I'm on guard against that, too. That's why I'm going to watch how things develop for now. If Lionheart—if the head of the Council of Elders—pulled something because he finds my presence troublesome, he'll react to the failure.”

“...”

“It might be the Holy Empire that pulled this shit, and I don't want to drag you into it unnecessarily.”

Kristina stared at Eugene in silence. She stroked her stiff cheek and took a few breaths to steady herself. Then she spoke with her usual smile.

“Lord Eugene.”

“What?”

“Do you suspect me?”

“No.”

Eugene answered honestly.

“Barang said he would kill both you and me. Maybe he was only saying that and intended to kill just me.”

“...”

“But why go to the trouble? Do you have any reason to try to fuck me over like this? Well, maybe you do. But the method is far too complicated. You went to the domain with me and saw that Lady Senya was there. Before that, you traveled with me the whole time. You even nursed me when I couldn't move for days.”

“... Is that why you don't suspect me?”

“Why? Do you want me to? Is it that hard to believe I trust you?”

“... No.”

Kristina gave a soft laugh and shook her head.

“It simply feels a little surprising.”

“What an odd thing to be surprised by. Anyway, I'm going to Aroth alone. Even if you insist on coming, I'm not taking you.”

“... Then what should I do? Remain here and wait for your return?”

“No.”

Eugene leaned forward to look at Kristina up close.

“I don't know how things work in the Holy Empire. It's hard for me to dig into them, too. But you'll have an easier time than I would.”

“... Hehe.”

Kristina let out a quiet laugh and shook her head.

“I see. You really do trust me, Lord Eugene.”

Kristina was not foolish enough to take his words at face value. She understood that Eugene was drawing a line. Unless she crossed it, complete trust between them would be impossible.

In the end, he was telling her to make a definite choice. Would she remain a saint belonging to the Holy Empire, or follow God's revelation and stand beside the Hero?

“It may be difficult to achieve the results you expect.”

“I'm not expecting much.”

“Then I'll have to see that I meet those modest expectations.”

The paper and pen set at one side of the table moved toward Kristina.

“... Rohanna Selis? Who's this?”

“A friend I made while living at the convent.”

Eugene checked the name written on the paper and the address beneath it.

“Cardinal Rogeris took me in while I was there, and Rohanna remained at the convent. We continued exchanging letters afterward, and met several times to spend time together.”

“So you can trust her?”

“Yes. I'll write to you at least once a month.”

“And if a month passes without a letter?”

“That won't happen.”

Kristina answered with a faint smile.

* * *

Aroth.

To Eugene, the scenery of this magic kingdom felt more familiar and welcoming than Gidol, where he had been born and raised.

'Well, of course. I haven't been back to Gidol once since the main family adopted me.'

His hometown of Gidol was among the most rural backwaters in Kiel. Fields and mountains, rice paddies and farmland. That was all it had. There was a town, but frankly, it was so underdeveloped that it rivaled Samar's shabby trading towns.

“Are you a tourist? Welcome to Pentagon, the capital of Aroth—”

Guides approached him, just as they had when he first came to Pentagon three years ago.

Then their eyes widened. They had recognized Eugene's ash-gray hair and the richly furred cloak wrapped around him. How could they fail to recognize him? It had only been a few months since he left Aroth.

'Eugene Lionheart.'

To work as a guide in Aroth, one had to know all the city's stories—the little bits of gossip that delighted tourists.

The story of Eugene was a major one, far beyond the realm of idle gossip.

A descendant of the Great Hero. An adopted son without precedent in the illustrious Lionheart main family. Though not of the direct line of descent, he had more than enough skill to threaten the succession. A “genius” whose martial aptitude had eclipsed the main family's legitimate children since he was thirteen, and who possessed an innate talent not only for martial arts but for magic as well.

A remarkable young man who had become the youngest person to obtain an entry pass to the royal library, Akron, and a disciple of none other than the Red Tower Master, Lovellian Sophis. Rumor had it that he had already reached the Fifth Circle at nineteen.

Those stories alone were enough to interest tourists. Spice them up a little with an account of his rampage on Bolero Street, and tourists gladly opened their wallets to offer a tip.

“Lord Eugene! P-please grant me the honor of serving as your guide!”

The guides who had hesitated now rushed at him. Of course, they weren't interested solely in the honor of attending the famous Eugene. They wanted a unique story they could tell tourists during their future work.

'Didn't the guide who escorted Eugene Lionheart when he first came to Pentagon recently buy a building in the capital?'

That success story set the guides ablaze with excitement.

'What's wrong with these bastards?'

He had hoped they would have the sense to keep their distance. Instead, they came charging at him with even wilder eyes, which was unbearably overwhelming. Startled, Eugene leaped from the spot and flew into the sky.

“Lord Eugene! P-please take my carriage!”

“I'll take you to your destination in comfort!”

The flying carriage drivers shouted at the tops of their lungs as well.

“Lord Eugene...! Using levitation magic above Pentagon without permission is prohibited! You must use flying carriages and floating stations to get around!”

Eugene knew that perfectly well. There were far too many mages in this magic kingdom, and if they all cast spells indiscriminately for their own convenience, the city's order would go to hell. Thus, levitation and personal spatial teleportation spells such as Blink were prohibited in the capital, Pentagon. Only Aroth's highest-ranking mages, including the tower masters, were permitted those conveniences.

“Whatever. I'll pay the fine.”

Eugene didn't consider it a big deal. Even if the fine was enormous, he had plenty of money. And in reality, he would never be fined. His teacher was Lovellian, the Red Tower Master, and he was close to several of Aroth's other highest-ranking mages as well.

'If I really don't want to pay, I could ask Crown Prince Honein to let it slide. ... No. Asking the crown prince for something like this would be embarrassing. Couldn't I just drop the name of the commander of the court mage corps?'

Really, it was ridiculous to dwell on such trivial thoughts. What Eugene was about to do would become an incident far greater than merely flying over the capital.

He hadn't contacted Lovellian beforehand to let him know he was coming to Aroth. He felt a little guilty about that, but it couldn't be helped.

Eugene couldn't be certain whether Lovellian would give him permission and support him, or whether, as the master of the Red Tower belonging to Aroth, he would make Eugene put his plans on hold.

'... I think he'd probably give me permission.'

Lovellian sincerely revered Senya as his grandmaster.

'But if I ask his permission before doing this, it'll put him in an awkward position afterward.'

So he decided to go ahead and do it first.

Hovering in the sky, Eugene looked down.

In the distance, he could see Abram, Aroth's royal palace, standing on the lake.

Directly below him lay the royal library, Akron.

With a faint smile, Eugene descended.

To claim Akasha.

The magic staff kept in Akron, a treasure of Aroth.

The staff made with an entire dragon heart, wielded by Senya the Wise herself.