CH 358

“I finally got out…”

I go back to the room I’m borrowing here in the castle, and sigh as I loosen my collar.

Seilook only woke up in the evening, and flew away to Putaresque before me.

I asked it about what it said before it fell asleep, but it looked like it didn’t even remember saying it.

I take off the cramped clothes I wore to that dinner party, and toss them before putting on something more comfortable.

Yes, unfortunately, I had to attend a dinner party after Seilook left.

I wish I could have gone to Putaresque on Seilook’s back.

I sigh as I walk to the balcony.

The night wind feels nice. The sky is completely dark, but the castle itself is dotted with bright, dazzling lights.

The party being held after the banquet should continue throughout the night.

Looking down from the balcony, I see the courtyard where the coronation ceremony took place.

The stage is still there, and I even see some nobles chatting.

Is this room actually for important guests? It’s a small balcony, but it’s overlooking the courtyard where the ceremony took place, so…

My thoughts are interrupted by someone banging on the door roughly.

I sigh, because I recognize this noise. I lean back on the railing, and tell that person to come in.

“It’s open.”

“Ou, excuse me.”

And with a big clanging noise, in comes Kalin, just as I thought.

“Hello Lady Kalin. Are you sure you should be here?”

“I’m tired too… And I don’t feel like drinking in that formal place.”

She says as she puts one hand on her neck and cracks it. She then crosses the room and moves over to the balcony, with a bottle in hand.

“Well good job to you too, Kalin. Did you come here to drink?”

“That’s right.”

She taps the railing with that big bottle. It looks like wine.

“Sorry, but I don’t have glasses or a corkscrew. I’ll go ask someone to get them.”

“It’s fine it’s fine. You’re tired too, Rust.”

Kalin waves her hand, and then uses her monstrous strength to open the bottle bare-handed. And then she drinks straight from the bottle.

“You know, that actually looks pretty expensive…”

“Buha. What? Who cares about how it tastes? Hn?”

She says as she holds out the bottle to me with one hand.

“I guess.”

I take the big and heavy bottle, and carefully tip it to also drink from the bottle.

“Ahh… It tastes expensive. I don’t know the smell but… Here, Kalin.”

“Ou…”

Kalin takes the bottle again while looking outside. It looks like her eyes are focused far away.

“We used to drink cheap wine like this all the time when we were in the academy, Rust.”

“Yes. Always in my room, I feel like. Well, it was cheap, but looking back, it doesn’t seem that bad somehow. I remember getting drunken sickness a lot though.”

“Yes yes. Your potions helped a lot back then. We’ve come pretty far…”

Whispers Kalin, who is still wearing a dress, while looking down at the stage. I look at the side of her face, and then I remember that I haven’t congratulated her yet.

“By the way, congratulations on being one of the 『great four』. You’ve been made a margrave too, right?”

I congratulate her for being one of the people in the corners of the stage during the coronation ceremony.

“Yes, but the 『great four』 is kind of like an honorary position. Being made a margrave is actually more useful for the development of my territory.”

She says before gulping down wine.

I take my eyes off her and look towards the sky. A lot of the lights down here are gone, but I still see some stars.

“Ah, Kalin, you were the 『great four』 of the north, right?”

I realize that after looking at the stars, and then back at the courtyard.

The corners of the stage point perfectly to north, south, east, and west.

“That’s right. You really weren’t listening to the officer of ceremonies, were you? I was north. Ruler of flames, and ruby defender. It’s like a fairy-tail. But I know you don’t care about this sort of thing. Here.”

She says as she passes the bottle back to me, but my mind is somewhere else.

Kalin shakes her head, and drinks again.

“Kalin, what are east and west the protectors of?”

I ask about the two of the 『great four』 that took of Queen Lily’s cloak.

“Fuah. I’m starting to want some snacks too. Ah, thanks. Ugeh. It stinks of grass. Eh, ah. East and west? I’m pretty sure it’s gold and dragon spring stone.”

She says, as complains that my portable ration stinks but still eats it.

Gold and dragon spring stone. Catalysts.

All the information I’ve heard about this until now races through my mind.

“Hey, Rust… Good grief. I should be leaving soon. Don’t overdo it.”

Kalin says as she peeks my way. She then steps out of the balcony, and waves behind me as she leaves the room.