TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Ian quietly observed the banquet hall.
The scale of a banquet that could be held with the resources of a mere barony was limited anyway.
It was just a matter of hunting some wild animals like boars or deer, breaking out some preserved food, and sharing some drinks.
It was similar to a modern rural village festival.
There were no fancy chandeliers or fantasy maidens in pretty dresses.
Nor were there the king's blessings or the prime minister's envious glances.
At some point, Ian thought.
It's quite bland.
Lucy Talian, the highest-ranking person at the banquet, was just sitting on a wooden barrel.
In fact, the wooden barrel was one of the best seats at the banquet.
The commoners sat on the dirt floor, tearing meat with their bare hands.
The knights spread out rags as makeshift mats to sit on.
Bonfires blazed brightly, and the laughter of drunk people never stopped.
"What a historic night!"
The minstrels made a fuss, shouting that they would create the [Chronicles of Talian].
A story of legendary heroes who faced off against a dragon, they said.
Honestly, Ian's excitement was lukewarm. He couldn't help but compare it to the flashy festivals of the modern world.
But for medieval people, the experience of everyone coming together like this was extremely rare.
A festival that might happen ten times in a lifetime, if that.
In a life filled with labor and war, just being able to put down their work and enjoy themselves freely was enough to make them happy.
"What are you doing there, Ian? Why aren't you joining in?"
Belenka approached.
It was Belenka in casual clothes, which Ian hadn't seen in a while.
Her long blonde hair was let down and tied with a pretty hairband.
Since she was always covered in helmet and armor, Belenka's skin looked especially transparent.
Maybe it was natural, given her different race.
"What am I supposed to do for fun?"
"Geez... you really are strange."
Belenka chuckled and sat down next to Ian.
As soon as she sat, a strong smell of alcohol wafted over.
Suddenly, she gave off the vibe of a popular girl being nice to a loner.
"Did you only study your whole life so you don't know how to have fun?"
"Maybe so."
Ian, an INFP, didn't enjoy mingling with others.
Ah- if only there were PC rooms in medieval times, we could've had a 5v5 League of Legends match-
This was about the extent of 'fun' Ian knew.
Or maybe karaoke or a bar.
"Well. You're an interesting person yourself, Ian."
"Am I a jester?"
Belenka covered her mouth and giggled.
"I meant you bring interesting events with you. Ever since I swore loyalty to you in Talian, so many things have happened."
Belenka briefly reminisced about the past.
She had been through so many adventures with Ian.
Meeting the famous monk Takarion, traveling to the north to rescue him.
Fighting black wizards while traveling the southern empire.
And now, they had even taken down a dragon.
If she had become a knight for an ordinary lord, would she have been able to have such adventures?
It was an experience possible only because she was a wizard's guardian knight.
"I wasn't planning to return home until I succeeded. Though I couldn't go back even if I wanted to anyway."
"..."
"If my past self saw me now, she'd probably tell me to stop wasting time and go make money."
Ian chuckled.
Belenka had certainly changed too.
"Then what would your current self say?"
"I'd tell her to keep quiet since this life isn't so bad."
Ian and Belenka burst out laughing together.
More adventures awaited Ian in the future.
Belenka would gladly continue the journey with Ian.
"Well. If you marry the Countess of Talian and settle down, I'll have to go my own way."
"You'd leave right away?"
"Lucy isn't the type to wage conquest wars."
Wandering knights were always thirsty for military achievements.
The knights of this era dreamed of meeting a powerful ruler and making a name for themselves to advance in life.
Without war, Belenka had no reason to stay in the Talian domain.
"Or."
Belenka suddenly leaned in close.
... Her eyes were hazy with alcohol.
"Are you going to keep supporting me?"
"..."
What the-
Ian looked at Belenka, dumbfounded.
"You want me to support you even after marrying Lucy?"
"Heh. I knew you'd hate that idea. That's why I said I'd leave."
"No, I could provide a proper salary-"
Belenka placed her finger on Ian's lips.
Curving her eyebrows like crescent moons, Belenka smiled with her eyes.
"I told you. I want success. I won't be satisfied until I find a large domain and a decent husband."
"..."
"For now, you try your best with Lucy. Don't you need a home to return to as well?"
A home to return to.
Ian didn't answer Belenka's words.
Belenka probably wasn't expecting an answer anyway.
Lucy pouted and crossed her arms, then immediately lowered her voice.
"Then I shall speak as the owner of Talian Hall. Ian Eredith Raven?"
Ian was about to playfully tell her to cut the crap.
But Lucy spoke first.
"Did you enjoy the banquet?"
... Caught up in the atmosphere, Ian answered.
"It was very fun, Your Excellency."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lucy stood up.
Click, click.
The sound of her shoes rang sharply.
Lucy went behind Ian's chair and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Lucy?"
"Quiet. I won't allow you to speak."
What the-
Ian tried to turn his head, but Lucy didn't let go of his shoulders.
So Ian could only barely look at Lucy's face.
Eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
Dark blue hair as beautiful as the night sky.
And tightly closed, red lips.
"Ian Eredith Raven. As I said before, without you, Talian would have become a ruined domain like any other barony."
"..."
"Your deeds deserve thanks no matter how many times we express our gratitude. But..."
Lucy's voice trembled slightly.
Ian quietly looked straight ahead, waiting for Lucy's words.
"Why did you save Talian?"
"Lucy."
"Was it because of your righteousness that couldn't ignore the dragon's tyranny? Or did you desire the dragon's treasure? Did you want the honor of being called Dragon Slayer?"
"..."
"Please answer me, Ian."
Ian stared blankly ahead.
He could see the mystery of darkness, his close friend, frolicking happily.
Throughout his journey, Ian had always been with the mystery.
... But the mystery wasn't his only companion.
He had built many relationships and gained precious people.
Ian recalled the words he had exchanged with Belenka earlier.
'For now, you try your best with Lucy.'
No, not that.
'... Don't you need a home to return to as well?'
So Ian could say it.
"Because it's home."
Ian calmly answered Lucy's question.
"Home... you say?"
"I don't have a home. I don't mean my parents' home, but a place where I can comfortably rest anytime."
"..."
Lucy quietly listened to Ian's words.
"I left home when I was 10 and have been wandering my whole life. It was a journey to learn magic, and I wasn't uncomfortable. But..."
"When I heard the news that a dragon was attacking the north, I felt so uneasy."
"The thought of Talian burning and Talian's people dying... it made me lose all desire to continue my journey."
"After killing the black dragon, I realized."
"I had come to think of Talian as my home."
Ian chuckled.
Now that he said it out loud, it sounded ridiculous.
Ian was just a wandering wizard.
He had traveled through many baronies, and Talian was just one of the lands he had passed through.
Yet the reason Ian thought of Talian as home was...
Of course.
Because Lucy Talian was here.
"That's so mean."
Suddenly, Lucy said.
"What's mean?"
"I've been asking you to stay since way back! But you left without looking back, and now what? Talian feels like Ian's home?"
Ian smiled and tried to get up from his seat.
"So I was just saying..."
At that moment.
Lucy's lips covered Ian's.
Ian couldn't say anything.
Lucy's disheveled hair tickled Ian's forehead and cheeks.
And the faint scent of violets at the tip of his nose.
This wasn't Ian's first kiss.
Before leaving Talian, he had been surprise-kissed by Lucy.
But that kiss and this one were completely different.
The past Lucy's kiss was that of a shy girl who had somehow mustered up the courage to try.
The current Lucy's kiss was that of a more composed and honest woman. A gentle woman's kiss.
How much time had passed?
Lucy pulled away and said.
"As I've said many times, Ian Eredith Raven. My great wizard. Talian will always welcome you."
"... Lucy."
Lucy caressed Ian's cheek with her slender fingers.
"I'll be your home."
---
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