Chapter 40

The sound of rain.

A sudden shower began to beat against the tent.

“To think I was planning to run away from the beginning.”

I, Shion Pollinglight, snickered.

“Yes, that's right.”

It was not the smile of a liar.

A slight sense of relief was in it.

“I always was.”

After crossing 19 years, I had returned to the capital, Lutilium, to the Cordis Great Palace.

However, I had not the slightest intention of staying.

I wanted to leave right away.

I had only waited to get what I needed and for the right time.

“Actually, I'm surprised. I never thought you would come to find me, brother.”

Before my regression, I was not in Secundus' faction.

So no one helped me.

Men with swords suddenly rushed in and I fled in a hurry.

I crawled like a dog, drank muddy water and saw Pies' death.

Well, that's how it was.

“I thought you would just see my empty spot tomorrow, so how did you come?”

“…Because we're brothers.”

“That is the most surprising part.”

Secundus Debius had a serious face.

I expressed a little admiration.

Was he always this kind of man?

He didn't seem this upright before my regression.

I felt like revealing a little of my inner thoughts.

“I deliberately acted suspiciously. They wouldn't draw their swords unless I got on their nerves, would they?”

“……”

“Not to the point of being a threat, but just bothersome enough to leave alone, a relief to get rid of but soon forgotten. Yes, I played the part of such a kid.”

The degree was always important.

Just to the point of being annoying.

Not just staying quiet like a child, but not standing out either.

“I was planning to be forgotten so quickly.”

In fact, Ferbias Caseptus must have thought so.

Perhaps Leniar de Volmark did as well.

“Thanks to you considering me a brother, I got to say goodbye and I don't have to steal a horse either.”

“When were you planning to leave?”

“Right now.”

“…I see.”

Phew.

Secundus let out a sigh.

It was complicated.

He hadn't sorted it all out yet.

But he forced a smile to his lips.

“Still, this means I've surpassed your expectations this time, right? I'll be satisfied with that.”

At the giant's smile, I snickered.

Perhaps my half-brother was a bigger man than I thought.

Secundus, without erasing his smile, asked.

“If you don't mind, would you take Nebulo with you?”

“Brother Nebulo already came to me. We set a rendezvous point and I sent him ahead.”

“Already? That brat, he's only quick-witted when his own life is on the line.”

Though the Fourth Prince Nebulo was famous for being dull, he had a knack for sensing when Ferbias was displeased with him.

He also knew that I was the only hill worth leaning on.

I did not refuse Nebulo's request and agreed to escape with him.

“…Hmm. I suppose you won't tell me where you're going even if I ask.”

“Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

The half-brothers smiled at each other.

For the first time, I felt like calling this giant my brother in earnest.

But I didn't and I didn't think about the reason why.

Secundus, who had been shrugging his shoulders, raised his head.

“Zionis, I will ask just one thing.”

I shrugged my shoulders as if to say, 'go on and ask'.

“You said you would reach the Imperial Throne. Was that also a lie?”

“Will you believe me if I answer?”

“Yes.”

I, Shion Pollinglight, opened my mouth.

“It was the truth. I still look towards the Imperial Throne.”

That was the promise.

That I would one day reach the throne at the pinnacle of the Great Empire of Cordis.

That even if it was a futile dream, I would continue to dream it.

I would reach it.

I had to.

That Imperial Throne.

“However, I just don't think it's time yet.”

“I see.”

The muscular prince did not ask any further.

Instead, he held out a large bundle.

I closed my mouth.

Inside this bundle was one of the Treasures, the ‘Sky Crystal Helm’.

“I heard you can hide your appearance for a while if you wear this helmet. It will be helpful in an emergency.”

“…Even a Treasure?”

“Wasn't this something you yielded in the first place? I have my own thoughts, so take it.”

“I'm a little moved.”

“Hmm. I,Secundus Debius, was always a moving man.”

He burst out laughing, pahaha.

“Hurry up and leave and then I will forget you.”

He looked at me with his steadfast eyes.

“It was a pleasure, my dear brother.”

***

The chestnut-haired man waiting in the rain, his name was Pies Roesti.

He had prepared two horses.

I hopped onto one.

We planned to ride separate horses until Nebulo joined us.

“Let's go, Pies.”

“Yes, Your Highness Zionis.”

We rode the horses carefully so as not to make a loud hoofbeat.

It wasn't difficult because the ground was soft from the rain.

I felt Secundus watching us.

I didn't bother to look back.

It didn't take long to leave the camp.

In the rainy sky, among the clouds, was Hermai Merhes.

Has he seen us?

Either way, he didn't seem inclined to interfere.

We hurried our movement.

I asked my imperial guard.

“We've suddenly had to run away, aren't you surprised?”

“…How many years have I been Your Highness' guard? I knew a day like this would come.”

Pies Roesti said so and glanced at me.

The rain was blurring his vision.

“I'm much more surprised that Your Highness is so skilled at riding.”

“Hah.”

I didn't bother to give a long answer and gripped the reins.

The horse leaped over a stone.

How long had I spent on horseback before my regression?

The two horses galloped.

I looked down blankly at the bundle in my arms.

‘I never thought I'd get this much help from Secundus.’

I had considered him a stranger.

I had given him some help, but I didn't think I had earned his trust.

But to think he would consider me a brother.

And even give me a Treasure.

I, Shion Pollinglight, couldn't hide a bitter smile at the newfound brotherly affection.

‘But Ferbias. He told Secundus to let me escape, but it can't end there.’

The plain was now behind us.

Vegetation and such began to appear here and there, but it wasn't an inconvenience for the horses to gallop.

The road continued, but beside it, the trees were dense.

It was a path where even the moonlight could not fully reach.

‘It's an excuse to draw me out. To quietly dispose of me outside the camp……’

As I thought of the flash, a spearhead shot out from the bushes.

The sharp spearhead pierced through the rain and aimed for me.

Pies Roesti shouted.

“-Your Highness!”

The number of spears was three.

The number of hidden assassins was also three.

Two spears were aimed at the horse, one at me.

‘Hmph.’

I, Shion Pollinglight, had no reason to be flustered.

‘I knew they'd pop out around here.’

There were three spears, but seventeen ‘Fantasy Fingers’.

Invisible hands blocked the spearheads and broke the shafts.

Before they could even notice what had happened, Valziart took the form of a black spear and was in my hand.

With the momentum of the galloping horse, my spear took the assassin's neck.

Three thrusts, three rolling heads.

One head fell into a puddle with a plop.

‘Nothing special……. Two are on Pies' side too.’

I glanced sideways.

Two spears were thrust at Pies as well.

But the chestnut-haired knight quickly drew his sword and blocked them.

He was a prince's imperial guard in name.

How could he manage if this much was difficult?

“Hyaa, you brats!”

Pies' sword danced through the rain.

The spear shafts were shattered, and he cut the assassin's wrist.

But he couldn't take his neck.

The two men fled, spraying blood.

I said bluntly.

“You let them get away, Pies?”

“…M-my apologies. It's been a while since I've fought on horseback.”

“Never mind. Let's hurry.”

***

We ran for a long time.

The rain only grew stronger.

Soon, we stopped in front of a river.

The water level had already risen due to the downpour.

“We were supposed to rendezvous at the first fork after crossing the bridge, right?”

The chestnut-haired man, Pies Roesti, said, wiping his face.

The blood that had splattered on him earlier was still bothering him.

“Still, it's a relief. To think we can receive Viscount Levio's help. It's thanks to His Highness Nebulo.”

“……”

Across the bridge, the plain ended and it was Viscount Levio's territory.

He was a noble with connections to the Etier Trading Company.

Nebulo had come to me and while spitting, explained what kind of friendship he had with his maternal grandfather and suggested we escape there.

There was no particular reason to refuse, so I had agreed.

At least, I had then.

“Let's cross quickly, Your Highness. It's quite a distance to Viscount Levio's castle.”

Pies Roesti stroked the mane of the horse, which was radiating heat.

Even a fine steed would be exhausted after running non-stop through this rain.

I stared across the river.

The rain was heavy, but there was no particular problem.

“It looks peaceful across the river.”

There were no thick bushes, and there didn't seem to be any suitable hiding places.

At least, that's how it looked.

“Yes. So, Your Highness, please hurry……”

“No. We're not crossing.”

“…Pardon?”

Pies was flustered and let out a dazed sound.

He almost shouted, but he managed to hold that back somehow.

He protested with his hands and feet, but I shook my head, refusing to bend my will.

“It's excessively peaceful. Assassins were already waiting for us before, so why wouldn't there be any over there? It's a preposterous optimism.”

“Ah, no… then what are you going to do?”

“We're taking the hill. If we follow the ridge, it leads to the tail end of the Sobel mountain range.”

We'll have to abandon the horses, I guess.

No, it would be fine to just send the horses to deceive their eyes.

I muttered.

Pies was just bewildered.

“…W-what about His Highness Nebulo……?”

“I've already told him, brother. He's probably already climbing the mountain. And the pursuers won't easily think of crossing a mountain with a fatso like him, so that's even better.”

“…This is the first I'm hearing of this.”

I let out a soft laugh.

I patted the shoulder of my stuttering royal guard.

The rain-soaked leather armor looked heavy.

“My apologies, Pies. But don't worry. As if I would abandon you. I know your loyalty.”

“……”

“Isn't that right? If I don't know your loyalty, who would?”

Pies Roesti remained silent.

Was he sulking?

Or had something to think deeply about come up?

I didn't press and turned the horse's head.

I planned to let the horse rest for a while in a secluded place and then send it across the bridge.

To deceive the assassins' eyes.

“Now, Pies Roesti, let's go.”

***

A downpour.

Climbing a mountain could not be easy.

Especially while equipped with various gear.

Pies Roesti suppressed the urge to throw away his leather armor and sword right then and there.

On the other hand, I led the way, as if showing off my light steps.

“Pies, do you know why I suggested climbing the mountain?”

“Didn't you say that the pursuers wouldn't have expected it?”

“That's a big part of it.”

It was unlikely that they would normally think that the fat Nebulo and the eleven-year-old Zionis would climb a mountain in such a downpour.

However, if that was all, there was no need to abandon the horses.

Ferbias was a meticulous man.

I couldn't be sure that there wouldn't be an ambush up there, just in case.

“We'll soon reach the Sobel mountain range. Do you know what that means?”

I gave a faint smile.

Fog was beginning to form.

400 years ago, when Sen Sorti left the Empire, he left behind a few troublesome gifts.

The Treasure in the library was one of them and the unceasing fog of the Sobel mountain range was another.

“This fog blocks all abnormalities. Even Hermai Merhes' magic won't be able to find us.”

“…I see. You saw that far ahead.”

Pies nodded his head.

He remembered hearing a story about the fog of the Sobel mountain range.

The chestnut-haired man's complexion was now almost gray.

I asked such a Pies.

“You don't look well, Pies. Is it because you're tired? Is it because your armor has soaked up water?”

“…No. I have a few worries.”

The imperial guard looked at his master and then hung his head.

“It's nothing you need to worry about. My apologies, Your Highness.”

“Apologies? Yes, well, it's something to be sorry about.”

“…Anyway, let's hurry. I'll take the lead, keuk……!”

A sharp pain.

Pies looked down.

“…Huh?”

A black blade had pierced his stomach.

The blade came from my hand.

He looked back and forth between the prince who had stabbed him and his own wound, and then raised his head blankly.

“…Your Highness, why……?”

“Why? Are you asking why right now?”

The sound of snickering.

“Pies, hey, Pies Roesti! Are you really asking me why I stabbed you?”

I clutched my stomach and burst out laughing.

“How shameless!”

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