Chapter 406
Chapter 406: Departure and Special Guests
――Tritus Principality, Capital Todomarl Cathedral.
“Edgar, the Archbishop is calling for you.”
“Huh? At this crazy busy time…?”
The young man, who was clutching his head in front of luggage that wouldn’t fit in his travel bag, grimaced at the words of his visiting colleague.
The young man’s name is Edgar Wakonan—an advanced priest.
Due to various circumstances, Edgar had to embark on a long journey. He was swamped with paperwork at the Holy Church of the neighboring country, and after finally returning to Todomarl, he just began packing for the trip—organizing transportation, accommodations, and budgeting along with the associated paperwork.
By the way, he’s leaving tomorrow morning, so he really didn’t have time to spare.
“Apparently, there’s a guest.”
“Guest? Who is it?”
“I think they looked like a forest elf, but I don’t know the details either. Sorry.”
“I see… No, thank you.”
Still pondering the unfamiliarity of it all, he hurried to the reception room.
“This is Edgar. I heard I was needed.”
As he opened the door, he saw three forest elves chatting across the table with the Archbishop.
“Oh, Edgar! Glad you could make it. This guest really wants to hear all the details from the person involved.”
“The person involved…?”
Blinking rapidly, he shifted his gaze to the forest elves.
Involved—which matter? Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with possibilities and didn’t know what they were referring to. However, was there any trouble involving forest elves? Even if it was something he might have forgotten from years ago, it could feel like just yesterday to them, and that made it awkward.
To pick up on any further hints, he quickly assessed the trio: one male, two females.
Sitting on the far right was a somewhat ennui-ridden, sun-kissed female elf, exuding a certain air of nonchalance.
She appeared as youthful as someone in their twenties amongst humans, but judging the age of a forest elf by appearance alone is tricky. The expression is key—young elves tend to wear their emotions on their sleeves. This female elf, however, was different; she exhibited a calm expression that suggested experience rather than the naïveté of one just emerging from the woods.
Although she maintained a serious demeanor with arms crossed, it gave off the impression of someone masking disinterest rather than genuine severity. Her well-defined arm muscles hinted at considerable experience with a bow. Not to mention, she was quite potent in terms of magical power.
An excellent spellcaster and a formidable archer—she might not be overly interested in the topic at hand, but it seemed she had to attend for necessity. She likely served as an escort or guardian for the other two.
Next to her, astonishingly, was an elderly male elf with wrinkles, a rarity among forest elves. Just moments ago, Edgar had thought it hard to judge an elf’s age at a glance, but now, he found it difficult to gauge just how old this one might be.
Known for their longevity and youthful appearance, to see a forest elf looking this wrinkled suggested a life far longer than what could be found in the Wakonan family tree.
The old elf gazed back at him with a serene expression. His clear blue eyes resembled a still lake. It felt as if all of Edgar’s thoughts were being seen through—indeed, they probably were. Even while sensing that he was being scrutinized and analyzed, Edgar didn’t feel offended; instead, he found himself calm under that gentle gaze.
Although a palpable sense of difference loomed between them, there was no pressure. Naturally, that made sense; it was rather because the towering trees did not grow that large out of malice, but simply through the passage of time.
To him, Edgar must have resembled a mere sprout, rather than a grandchild, which made the feeling of being looked down upon a consequence of Edgar’s own smallness compared to this being. This gentleman was merely being ‘normal,’ surely without ulterior motives.
“…………”
Just then, the old elf smiled gently. Did he sense the rebellious spirit of youth and the self-restraint accompanying it? If Edgar tried to play tricks with his curiosity, he felt he might just be blown away in a single breath.
At any rate, it seemed clear that this elder was the leader among them.
Finally, on the left, was a young female elf. Judging by looks alone, she didn’t seem that much younger than the female on the right. However, there was something about her expression—she appeared nervous, fidgety even.
Regardless, she was beautiful. Edgar caught his breath. He thought he had grown accustomed to the beauty of forest elves, who were all handsome and lovely, but this female elf stood out. It wasn’t mere beauty; she radiated an elegance that seemed to glow from within.
Yet, her wide-eyed excitement and the forward-leaning restlessness painted a stark contrast. Her dilated pupils, slightly flushed cheeks, trembling gaze, and eager posture—all indicated her immense interest.
Could it be that she was the initiator of this affair?
Edgar’s intuition led him to that thought. Although the elder elf took center stage as a representative due to age and status, could it be that—
“Um… I’d like to ask about Hero Alexander…”
Before he could speak, she broke the ice.
“About Hero Alexander, I have something I want to inquire about…!”
Ah, I see.
In an instant, everything clicked into place. What on earth did Alexander do to this young lady?
“Are you perhaps an acquaintance of his?”
“Yes, maybe. That’s what I want to find out!”
As the beautiful elf pressed her ears down ever so slightly.
“Oh, sorry for the late introduction. I’m Lily. May the blessings of the gentle wind be upon you.”
“And this here is Helena.”
“I am Orderju. Pleased to meet you.”
After briefly introducing themselves, they got down to business.
“First off, could you tell me about the appearance of ‘Hero Alexander’?”
“He is an exceptionally handsome human with sun-kissed skin, brown hair, and brown eyes—quite ordinary, but really good-looking among humans. He has a sharp nose and formidable gaze, and occasionally flashes a daring smile that leaves a strong impression—”
As Edgar spoke smoothly, Lily let out a dreamy sigh, “Hah… wow…”
Her cheeks grew even redder as she placed her hand on them, trembling slightly.
(Oh dear, this can’t be!!!)
She’s fallen in love, hasn’t she?! How could it be any clearer?!
Edgar desperately kept a serious expression to mask his rising smirk.
Helena wore a distant look, and Orderju’s calm smile bore an oddly sinister shadow.
(This spells trouble…!)
Most likely, in the past, Alexander came to the rescue during some crisis of Lily’s, making quite an impression before inevitably having to part ways.
Curiosity piqued, Edgar felt an irresistible urge to learn more, but—
(Well, probing too much into someone’s love life could be a bit impolite…)
Barely managing to suppress his enthusiasm, he settled on maintaining a respectful demeanor.
(This must be a taboo love that transcends species…)
He was somewhat distracted by that notion, but it then reminded him of a significant fact.
The young girl who had traveled alongside Hero Alexander.
With silver hair and golden eyes, delicate and lovely.
They seemed so close together—
The notions of “inter-species romance,” “lover,” and “White Dragon” waltzed around in Edgar’s mind.
“Um… young lady,”
He couldn’t hold it back any longer now.
“Alexander wasn’t alone… it seems he had a companion.”
At the mention of this, Lily froze.
“Was someone else there with him?”
Lily’s expression hardened. Was it tension or vigilance? Perhaps a combination of both? She seemed overly transparent—she was still quite young, after all.
“He was traveling with a girl roughly his age, maybe a bit younger…”
Traveling two peas in a pod? Clearly that was a relationship—too many ways to say it—too late to deny that now.
“Wah… uh, um, what did she look like? Do you know her name…?”
Curiosity about her companion? Was she possibly viewing her as a rival? Not yet willing to give up? Well, with beauty like hers, one could understand that… but what would knowing her name achieve? Was she contemplating some sort of ambush? Wait, there’s a chance she might know her too…
“Umm, she had silver hair and golden eyes, with an air of otherworldliness. I believe her name was—”
He glanced skyward for a moment, summoning the memories.
“Laylaine, I think.”
The instant those words left Edgar’s lips—
“Wahh—fuhh, ugh…!”
Lily emitted an unrestrained, almost disgraceful noise, desperately attempting to stifle it.
Even Edgar was taken aback; the Archbishop, who had turned into a statue, blinked twice at Lily.
Helena and Orderju shared an ambiguous smile—one of those adults’ smiles from forest elves when it gets awkward—
“Um, um, um, that Hero Alexander and… your friend, Laylaine! It’s about that!”
“Uh… Lily, are you okay? You seem unwell…”
Shaking and trembling, as if trying to continue talking, Edgar found himself instinctively worried.
Could it be that she knew Laylaine too? Was she shocked that the two had gotten closer while he was away…?
Or maybe there were no negative feelings? Why was she instead, overly excited about this…??? Was she actually “okay”?
“I’m fine! It’s just, um, how do I put it—I’m so certain now! I believe I found the Hero Alexander I’ve been searching for!”
“Huh…?”
“Uh, sorry, I lost my composure. So, I heard you said they’ve already set off, but do you know where they might go next?”
She suddenly grew collected and eerily astute as she asked. It seemed she intended to chase after them… and at that moment, Edgar was almost overwhelmed by the incredible pressure emanating from her.
Having almost spoken out of habit, he realized he needed to think twice.
(Should I tell her? Is that okay?)
Alexander was undoubtedly… in a delicate position. So was Laylaine. This young lady, clearly very devoted to Alexander, should he carelessly offer her his information?
Would that be a breach of trust with Alexander?
“Lily,”
He straightened up and fixed a serious gaze on her.
“What do you want with Alexander?”
…That serious look made Lily straighten her posture too.
“He is my lifesaver. If he hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t be here now.”
She quietly placed a hand on her chest, expressing her heartfelt feelings.
Helena lowered her gaze, and Orderju closed his eyes. From their demeanor, it was clear that Lily’s words held “truth.”
“I owe him so much. He’s done so much for me. We parted ways in the blink of an eye, and I couldn’t repay him at all. I want to see him again, to thank him. I want to do something for him…! I’m scared that if I go meet him, I might just bother him, but…”
Tears welled in Lily’s eyes.
“…No, all of that might just be an excuse. I thought I might never see him again, and now that I know where he is, I can’t sit still…!! I want to see him again…! I want to hear his voice…! I want him to call my name…!”
With a voice that trembled from deep within, tears rolled down Lily’s cheeks.
—But there was clearly nothing sinister about her feelings.
Edgar rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. Was he truly allowing himself to be overcome by her tears? He questioned once again whether it was okay to share details. Was it really unproblematic?
It was evident that Lily cherished Alexander deeply. And yet, having Laylaine with him did not spark any jealousy—only pure, desperate longing to reunite. That was the impression Edgar had.
While there are many scenarios where good intentions can lead to trouble, especially in matters of the heart…
—But surely she would have a “watchdog” in place to prevent such complications, right?
Whether Orderju was aware of Edgar’s inner thoughts or not, he nodded slightly.
Lily wasn’t alone; she was accompanied by them—it seemed they were here for this very reason.
(Well, ultimately, even if I tell her…)
There was no guarantee they would manage to reunite anyway.
“…I’m really sorry for being vague, but honestly, I don’t know much.”
As he offered Lily a handkerchief, he continued somewhat pitifully.
“There’s been news about the Nightfall race’s intel network becoming known. Furthermore, a report about the Demon Lord’s prince being expelled off the front lines just came in.”
Lily’s shoulder jolted slightly.
“Alexander wants to hunt down as many Nightfall as possible before the news spreads across the continent—before the hidden Nightfall get agitated and go missing—using ‘his unique special ability.'”
So…
“While hunting down those dark ones, he’s heading to the far east of the continent with all his might, that’s what Alexander said.”
Lily suddenly shot her face upward. Though wet with tears, her eyes gleamed with a fierce will.
“If I want to catch up with Alexander, I need to hurry—his skills are unbelievable; he runs like the wind—”
Without directly mentioning that Laylaine was a White Dragon, Edgar offered a hint of a warning, indicating that she seemed to understand if she already knew.
“Wahhhh!”
Without warning, Lily kicked her chair over and stood up.
“Uuhh!! Wahhh waahhhh!! Aooooooooh!!”
She let out a roaring sound like a completely transformed person, bolting out of the reception room in a hurry. Edgar was stunned; the Archbishop exclaimed, “What was that all of a sudden?!”
“Wait, Lily! Hold on, Lily—!”
Helena hurried after her.
“I’m truly sorry for the sudden visit, but when she gets excited, she tends to become noticeably obsessed…!”
The elder’s dignified composure vanished as Orderju stammered while rising from his seat.
“Here’s a small token of gratitude, some sap candy from the Holy Tree. It lasts about a month but is effective in restoring mental and magical power, so please make good use of it. Truly, I apologize! We must take our leave! Thank you for your time!”
Hastily grabbing his things, Orderju dashed out of the room. “Maybe I should’ve tied a string to her!” he muttered as he exited.
Fading footsteps—swift like the wind.
“What on earth was all that?”
“Don’t ask me…”
Edgar reflected bitterly on the numerous occasions where differences in values and cultures among species had led to misunderstandings—those were expected.
But this time…
This situation felt entirely outside the norm…
Something about it seemed truly bizarre…
“That candy from the Holy Tree! I need to send it to the Divine Mysteries Department right away; this is a rare sample!”
With excitement, the scholarly Archbishop fixated on Orderju’s gift. Under normal circumstances, Edgar would’ve joined in on the enthusiasm, but with him really needing to prepare for the journey, time was becoming a critical issue, leaving him with no choice but to relent.
Feeling an unsettling feeling, he hurried back to his room—
“Ah, Edgar-san!”
On the way, he bumped into a girl clad in priestess robes.
“Nina, are you ready yet?”
Edgar stopped and smiled warmly.
“Yes! I barely had anything to pack, so I finished in no time!”
Puffing her chest out proudly as she spoke, Nina’s outfit resembled that of a novice priestess.
Yes.
She had just received her “coming-of-age ceremony” and awakened to the Holy Attribute.
After hearing about Alexander, Edgar decided on a whim to try something out, leading to unforeseen results. It was no surprise that there were tremors throughout the Todomarl Holy Church.
“Edgar, you seem to have grasped the essence of the Holy Attribute already, so I won’t delve too deeply here—”
The Archbishop’s words flooded back into Edgar’s mind from the day he reported the experimental results.
“We thought the essence of the Holy Attribute was determined by one’s innate traits; we never anticipated, nor did we intend to test the idea, that it could awaken later in life.”
But that was not the case.
It was discovered and proven that the Holy Attribute could awaken after birth.
As a rare example of this, Nina was set to be sent to the Holy Kingdom. Edgar, who was responsible for the experiment, was to accompany her as a witness.
Fortunately—Nina’s mother, Isabella, was also coming along.
One reason was considering the assumptions that Nina had awakened partly due to her feelings for her mother. Despite the shift in living conditions when moving to the Holy Kingdom, it would be wrong to separate her from the only family she had, which could negatively impact her… Well, that reasoning was mostly just a facade.
“Look, Edgar-san!”
Nina puffed her shoulders with pride.
“[Holy Radiance, shine on my hand!]”
A silver glow lit up her hand momentarily, flickering and vanishing after a short while.
“…That’s amazing. You’ve managed to hold it a lot longer now.”
Edgar nodded with genuine admiration. He remembered that it had taken him about six months after starting his training at the Holy Church before he could maintain such brilliance.
—Whereas for Nina, it hadn’t even been a month since she awakened.
“Hehehe…”
Breathing heavily as she exhausted her mana, Nina looked so proud.
Did she possess remarkable talent, or was it—
“I want to protect my mother, just like father did. That thought fills me with strength from deep within.”
As she gazed at her hands and spoke, Nina’s smile appeared—so mature it was heartbreaking.
“…………”
Edgar hid his complex emotions beneath a smile.
He had tried something on a whim, out of curiosity, and unexpectedly produced remarkable results. While that was all there was to it, he couldn’t shake the doubt in the back of his mind: had he done well by bringing Nina into the fold – into the Holy Church and the fate of battle?
It would be dishonest to claim he felt no qualms.
He didn’t know what kind of training she’d undergo in the Holy Kingdom, but whether as a Hero or a Priest, she would eventually become a full-fledged member—she would surely plunge into battles against the Nightborn, just as she wished.
Edgar too was well aware of the threat posed by the Demon Lord’s army.
And he never considered he would die peacefully in bed, surrounded by family…
(Nina’s future could possibly be…)
Despite how radiant her potential appeared now.
Even if she looked filled with hope.
Her ultimate destination could very well be a muddy, blood-soaked battlefield.
…Yet regardless, she wished for it.
The means to fight. The strength to resist.
Above all else, even if she hadn’t awakened to the Holy Attribute and remained just a refugee in the Tritus Principality, there lay a chance for Nina and Isabella to lead a happy life.
However, doubting such possibilities would be hard to deny.
The Demon Lord’s army would invade this country before too long. Unavoidably.
(No matter what, it comes down to this…)
Whether it’s fast or slow.
Whether they’re trampled or retaliate in some way.
That distinction looms starkly— the difference in human wills, the absence or presence of self-determination.
“I will do my best!”
With an intense breath, Nina declared, clenching her hands tightly.
“I’ll train harder and become strong! I want to be a Hero like Alexander!”
The fire of fierce determination burning in her eyes.
—That’s right, he mustn’t feel pity for her.
She was no longer just a defenseless civilian to be protected.
She bore within her the silver glint of demon-slaying light, as both comrade and ally…!
“And I will defeat the Nightborn, the Demon Race… and that rumored Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias! I’ll train hard and take him down!!”
Edgar offered a powerful, encouraging smile as Nina’s spirited words of resolve filled the air.
“Yes, let’s do our best together.”
“When that day comes, I’ll help you too.”
―A promise made.
