Chapter 32

“Why are you here?”

I thought I might run into a familiar face, but I didn’t actually expect to see you.

“With your skills, you could’ve gone somewhere much better.”

—”Heh, Commander! What’s so bad about Ordo? This is a great place to live.”

Eric grumbled as he leaned back in his chair.

—”Ordo is my hometown, after all. I’m done with being a knight, but I still need to make a living, and this kind of job suits me just fine.”

“Hmm…”

Listening to his voice, which carried the weight of someone who had given up on many things, I thought back to the Eric of the past.

It felt like just yesterday when he was a reckless pup, not knowing fear, but he’s changed a lot.

“Even a brat matures with age, I see.”

—”A brat… Well, yeah, I suppose so.”

“…Got something to say?”

Eric gave me a look as if he’d just heard something absurd, then quickly changed his expression.

—”Oh, no way! How could I ever say anything to someone as great as you, Commander?” seaʀᴄh thё NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

No doubt he’s thinking, ‘I can’t believe a kid smaller and younger than me just called me a brat…’ Predictable.

Still, since he didn’t say it out loud, I’ll let it slide.

“That guard earlier…”

—”You mean Garrett?”

“I don’t know his name. He didn’t seem like an Ordo local. He didn’t understand Granik.”

—”He’s from Ordo, and you’re right—he doesn’t speak Granik.”

“…How is that even possible?”

—”Why wouldn’t it be?”

Eric answered while deftly pouring the tea.

—”To be honest, Grasis has been in decline for a while now. The rich fled to the Empire, and they’re teaching the new generation Arkish first. It’s not that surprising that the younger ones don’t speak Granik anymore, don’t you think?”

“But you speak it.”

—”Same reason as you, Commander. My father loved Grasis so much…”

Right… Garid’s patriotism was also unmatched.

But Eric’s wrong about one thing.

Garid could also speak Arkish.

‘We might not be on good terms now, but who knows what the future holds? It never hurts to be prepared. In that sense, Kana, you should learn it too.’

‘Not really interested…’

‘Hmph, you’re so cold.’

I vaguely remember having that conversation.

As Eric said, both commoners and nobles alike were keen on learning Arkish before Grasis was destroyed, but that was only for those who could afford it.

People like me, who were worse off than commoners, couldn’t even properly learn Granik and had to pick it up by eavesdropping.

Of course, after being adopted by Garid, I didn’t bother to learn Arkish simply because I found it too tedious.

— “…Please don’t kill him. He’s inflexible but diligent.”

“…What do you take me for?”

It was slightly irritating, but I’m not some crazy woman who would cut off the head of someone who just did their job.

“Unless it’s you we’re talking about.”

— “Wait, why am I dragged into this again…?”

Eric grumbled as he pulled something from his pocket.

It was the badge I had shown to Garrett, the guard, earlier.

— “I’ll return this to you for now. I’ll also give you something to prove your identity, so in the future…”

“Got it. You’re telling me not to flash it around, right?”

— “I’m glad you understand. By the way, where have you been all this time? Quite a few people have been wanting to see you, but no one knew where you were.”

“…People wanted to see me? Who?”

— “More than a few. If I had to pick, the Deputy Commander was the most eager to find you.”

“Oh, the Deputy Commander.”

Eric and I caught up on old times.

— “So, where were you?”

“Garid’s grave.”

— “…Ah, why didn’t I think of that.”

“Even if you had, you wouldn’t have found it.”

No one knows where Garid is buried.

It wasn’t my decision; it was his wish.

We continued with small talk for a while.

By the time the sun had fully set and the lights from the inn began to replace the searing heat of the day, we wrapped up our conversation.

Eric took a sip of the now lukewarm tea and said, “Still, it’s nice to see you after so long, Commander.”

“…I don’t appreciate the ‘still,’ but yeah, it’s good to see you too.”

— “What will you do now?”

“I’m going to the Sedeth Kingdom.”

— “Sedeth Kingdom? Don’t tell me it’s because of the Apostle?”

“That’s part of it.”

I stopped there, and he nodded in understanding.

— “Shall we have dinner together? It’s on me.”

“I’ve got someone waiting for me. Maybe next time.”

— “Ah, right. Well, next time you come to Ordo, I’ll treat you to a grand feast. Just don’t get hurt and make sure to come back. Though, I doubt someone like you would even get injured.”

—Hahaha!

Watching Eric laugh heartily, I slightly lifted the corner of my lips.

“Who’s worrying about who?”

You should worry about yourself instead of me.

***

Knock knock.

“…Have they left?”

“Yes.”

Garrett carefully opened the door to the checkpoint and stepped inside. Turning his head, he looked around for the girl but, upon confirming her absence, let out a sigh of relief. But relief aside, who exactly was that girl for his superior to react like that?

Unable to contain his curiosity, Garrett asked Eric.

“Uh, Captain…”

“Forget it. Drop it.”

Eric cut off his curiosity sharply.

For a moment, Eric recalled the past. The image of Canaria when the previous captain, Garid, was alive, and the way she had changed after Garid’s death.

As he thought of both, he then recalled the Canaria he had just spoken with moments ago.

“She’s definitely mellowed out.”

Her expression and voice were still as emotionless as ever. Her face wasn’t as relaxed as when he first saw her, but it wasn’t as rigid as the last time, either.

“It seems time hasn’t only changed me, Captain.”

Swallowing the words he couldn’t say out loud, he smiled faintly.

‘…Captain!’

‘Quiet.’

‘I can still fight! Didn’t you say before, Captain, that there’s no need for a cowardly dog that runs away in fear!’

‘Stop spouting nonsense and retreat. That’s an order.’

Eric couldn’t forget the pink eyes that looked down at him as he was defeated, but he also couldn’t forget the small back that stood before him, blocking his path, bloodied.

— “To think a lowly commoner is part of the Crimson Aegis… The honor of the order has truly fallen.”

—’…What?’

—’Ah, shoot. Did you hear that? My bad, I was just chatting with the others.’

—’You bastard—!’

‘Hey, you lot. What are you doing?’

—’…Yes?’

—’Ah! Commander!’

‘You look free enough. Spar with me.’

—’Uh, no, that’s… I mean…’

—’Refusal is not an option.’

And the scene of the commander beating up the soldier who had been mocking Eric into a pulp also came to mind.

…Of course, that incident was certainly influenced by the commander’s personal feelings.

Because of that, Eric couldn’t hate the girl.

“If word of today’s events leaks out… then…”

“…”

Gulp.

Garrett swallowed hard.

“I swear, I’ll keep my mouth shut…!”

“Good, good. It’s late anyway. Go home.”

“Yes, sir! With honor!”

Garrett quickly bolted out of the checkpoint.

Since he was unnecessarily diligent, there was no need to worry about any secrets slipping out.

Watching Garrett’s retreating figure, Eric sighed deeply.

“You’ve really changed a lot, little commander.”

To think that the girl who once lived aimlessly, as if she’d lost all support, would now step into the world by her own will.

Eric muttered, thinking he had lived long enough to see everything.

“Though your height hasn’t changed.”

He chuckled, saying something he wouldn’t dare say to her face.

Creeeak.

Flinch!

“…!”

Startled by the sudden noise, Eric looked around frantically.

Not satisfied, he even opened the door and checked outside, mimicking what Garrett had done earlier, before finally patting his chest in relief.

“Phew, it was just the wind.”

No need to get so jumpy over nothing.

***

I used to think facing the past was an unpleasant thing, but it’s not always like that.

The heavy mood has lightened.

No, it feels even better than before.

“This won’t always be the case.”

I may not be a kid who enjoys getting into petty faction fights, but if you asked me to choose, Eric would be on my side.

If it were someone from a different faction that I ran into today, things wouldn’t have ended so smoothly.

There could have been bloodshed.

In that sense, I guess meeting Eric was a stroke of luck.

By the way… where did Joanie go?

I know she entered Ordo, but since we didn’t make any prior plans, I have no idea where she could be.

Although I had a feeling that Joanie would find me wherever I was, I wandered the streets looking for her anyway.

Even though it was night, the streets of Ordo were brightly lit.

— “Welcome! Staying the night?”

— “We’ve got some top-quality meat just in—care for a taste?”

— “Hey, you! Come have a meal! We’ve got great drinks too!”

I couldn’t understand the words, but the lively voices were clear.

As I wandered through the lively streets of Ordo, with my hood pulled low, I soon found the person I was looking for.

Joanie was standing in front of an inn, holding a sign written in Arkish.

[Your words can change this rotten Ordo. Please lend your strength.]

People either passed by her sign without interest or asked her questions out of curiosity.

— “What’s going on?”

“There’s a child I think of like my own younger sibling. But on our way into Ordo, she was wrongfully arrested by the guards. She’s such a good… kid…”

— “Oh no…”

The people who heard her story gave her sympathetic looks.

‘This doesn’t feel good…’

It felt like I would get dragged into something troublesome if I got involved.

And usually, when I get this feeling, it turns out to be right.

Just as I was about to quietly slip away, Joanie perked up and lifted her head.

“What? Is that Canaria? Where?!”

My name, loud and clear.

I quickly turned my back, but Joanie had already spotted me and tossed her sign aside, running towards me.

“Ca—my little sister!”

“Who’s your sister…?”

Instead of calling my name, she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.

People around us looked on with moved expressions.

Some of them, particularly the more sensitive ones, even wiped tears from the corners of their eyes.

Inside Joanie’s tight embrace, I let out a quiet sigh.

‘What a mess.’

Really.