Farewell (2)
'Why is Ferdinand here? Where is this?'
「The chapel. I came for treatment.」
'Oh.'
"Leonardo, I'm really happy that you've found someone you can trust, but this is unexpected, so I'm a bit surprised. No, no! I don't mean to say that you're lacking as a partner, Isaac. But this is a holy chapel, so… such behaviour… I mean, what I'm trying to say is… um."
Ferdinand malfunctioned. His face turned bright red as he rambled on, and eventually, his sentence crumbled, biting his tongue.
Hmm. There's no sign of him being about to attack or lunge at us, so it seems the effects of
Meanwhile, Leonardo started wrapping me up in the blanket. What is he doing?
In an awkward position, like a long rolled-up omelet on the bed, I flopped around in protest, but Leonardo made a face as if he had just realized something, then gently grabbed my waist and sat me up. However, I immediately tilted and buried my face in the bed again. Was he joking?
Reluctantly, I had to temporarily lower my social dignity and asked Ferdinand, "How much do you remember yesterday?"
"Ah."
Ferdinand, seeming to experience a slight headache, cupped his head and replied.
"Strangely, my memories of the day before are a bit hazy. I clearly had the strong thought that I needed to go somewhere after the disturbance at the Nidum Tower, but after that, my memory is unclear… It feels like there's fog in my mind."
I already knew that the reason Ferdinand had ended up at the Ertinez family tomb was due to the effects of
"…Did I suffer from aftereffects of my injuries after the fight at Nidum Tower? Leonardo, did you bring me here?"
He looked as though he had just woken from a long dream, but unlike the previous day when he had appeared exhausted from lack of sleep and missing meals, he now looked much better. He glanced toward the window, then hurriedly got up.
"I should go for now. Leonardo, we can talk more later. For now, you should fix your clothes and come too."
With that, Ferdinand left.
For now, there was much to handle, so I let the matter slide, but after the Count was acquitted, I believed there would be an opportunity for a longer conversation between the Ertinez family.
A long sigh escaped as the tension finally loosened. Leonardo, with a concerned tone, whispered, "Does the wound sting?"
"No. I'm just tired. By the way, where are my clothes—"
At that moment, from the western entrance of the chapel, I heard hurried footsteps followed by the slow, dragging sounds of someone exhausted.
"…!"
It was Vittorio.
As soon as our eyes met, the boy's face brightened, and he rushed over. I wanted to reach out and welcome him, but being rolled up in the blanket made it impossible, so I just wiggled as much as I could in greeting.
"I've been looking around for a while."
Following him, with weary steps that reflected his exhaustion, Raul scanned the three of us entangled on the bed with his eyes before turning and collapsing onto the opposite bed.
"I didn't see anything…"
Is this an escape from reality again?
Meanwhile, Vittorio's hand cautiously hovered near my neck, stopping just short of touching it before trailing down.
"Are you hurt?"
"A little."
I whispered with a raspy voice, though my condition had improved since I first woke up, and Vittorio made a face as though he were about to cry. He smiled and, as a gesture of thanks for the trouble I had the night before, gently pressed his cheek against mine and whispered, "You did well."
"Sir Raul, you worked hard too."
"I did put in some effort. But it wasn't just me—this little one and someone whose name is hard to say helped too."
"I know. Sir Orlie helped as well."
"What… were you really spying on me?"
Raul shuddered, rubbing his goosebumps with one hand.
Then, Leonardo quietly commanded, "Raul, there is a strand of God's grace behind you, so go recover and return."
"Yes, I'll walk, so please don't throw me!"
I whispered to Vittorio to follow Raul as he quickly got up from the bed and started moving toward the holy water. Vittorio nodded and followed Raul. This was the moment to act.
"My clothes, where are they?"
"I'll bring them."
Leonardo, at least dressed in pants, stood up and gathered the clothes. The stiff trousers with signs of having gotten wet and dried, and the shirt that had been naturally dyed with mud and blood stains.
The pants were safely put back on, but if I went out wearing the bloodstained shirt, I'd probably be treated as an injured person and sent back to the chapel.
Well, I might as well just take the shirt off and go out.
"Let's go back to the fortress first."
"…!"
Before my feet even touched the ground, Leonardo brought me a shirt from somewhere. The sleeve on one side was slightly cut off, and there were tiny drops of blood on it.
It reminded me of the man from last night, who had torn off the sleeve of his own shirt to stop my bleeding.
"If you give this to me, what will you wear?"
Instead of refusing, he acted immediately and put the shirt on me. Since it was his shirt, which he usually didn't bother to tie properly, the chest area was a bit loose and open.
As Leonardo fumbled with the laces, his fingers and the back of his hand brushed against my chest. A faint warmth lingered on my skin.
I couldn't help but chuckle, and when I shrugged my shoulders, I gently pushed his hair aside as he looked at me with a confused expression, as though wondering what mistake I had made.
"It tickles."
Leonardo stayed still, his hand still on me, and his lips moved as if he was about to say something. I could tell he wanted to ask something desperately, so I also stared at him.
And at that moment, Raul and Vittorio returned.
"We're back… Aaah! Please, get a room!"
Raul, who had just sprinkled holy water, blocked Vittorio's path and squinted his eyes, clearly in distress. Why is he acting like that?
'Did he hit his head hard like Ferdinand?'
「He looks fine to me.」
'That appearance?'
「He seems just like usual.」
Is that so? Leonardo's matter-of-fact tone oddly convinced me. After all, Raul was always a unique character.
As we left the chapel and headed back to the fortress, I observed the atmosphere of Ertinez Castle. The Nidum Tower, which had caused the most commotion, still had a somewhat chaotic vibe.
After barely managing to adjust our attire at the fortress, we immediately heard the call for everyone to gather.
"They are going to announce the results of the Trial of Fasting!"
[Waiting time expired! A new scenario note has been assigned.]
Finally, it was the news I had been waiting for.
Take 1. Ertinez Castle Banquet Hall (Day/Indoor). The Count of Ertinez enters, supported by knights.
King Godric: "You've worked hard, Count. With this, it has been revealed that you are indeed human."
At the same time, the Ertinez family feels a sense of relief. Joy spreads through the corridor.
As if to comfort the thirsty and starving Count of Ertinez, Godric offered him a glass of clear wine. The Count only pretended to drink, then sat down beneath the head seat.
After a moment, Godric added in a tone that seemed quite regretful.
"Additionally, I must express my regret for the events that transpired last night."
The explanation King Godric calmly provided went like this:
In the midst of the confusion, they infiltrated the castle. Some of the attendants, on their way to the latrine during the night, were assimilated by them.
As a result, "a very small number" of attendants who shared rooms with the affected courtier were consumed by it, leading to a standoff in the Nidum Tower last night. However, they were eventually all identified. Therefore, the royal procession is now cleared of any suspicion.
"Before the situation escalated, the Count's knights discovered this and prevented any threat to my safety. Truly commendable work. I express my gratitude for your efforts."
Every word from the king was nonsense. Yet, no one dared to question his claims. In the end, it was fortunate that the Count, the knights of the hunt, and Orlie were all recognized as human.
Rising to his feet, King Godric slowly declared:
"Due to the unforeseen circumstances, we stayed longer in El Dante than expected. Now, it is time to leave."
Take 2. Ertinez Castle Gate (Day/Outside). King Godric climbs into his carriage. He bids farewell to Count Ertinez and his children, looking at them. Hundreds of attendants are lined up at the front and back of the carriage.
King Godric: "You've likely lost much strength from this ordeal, so take care of yourself, Count."
Count Ertinez: "Yes, Your Majesty."
King Godric: "Ah, and I've already explained it thoroughly to the young count… Don't forget about the leap-year great hunt. Of course, after all you've endured, it will be difficult for you to participate directly. So…"
King Godric gestures to one side.
"It might be better to send your son. He seems to have decent skills."
The king pointed precisely at Leonardo in the direction of his fingertip and smiled.
His skin, pale as a statue of gypsum, exuded a cool, ethereal colour. It was said that nobility had often been compared to blue blood, but the king truly had the skin of someone who could be called blue-blooded—like a sheet of white paper.
And in this room, there were two others who shared such a colour: Orlie and Butier. The knight and the archbishop watched the king's departure with stern expressions.
I stopped hiding behind the pillar and, standing among the crowd bidding the king farewell, I stared at him.
And just before the king closed the carriage door, our eyes met.
[Error correction complete! The function of
[The rank of the specified entity is higher than that of the caster, so most of them are excluded from viewing.][Viewing information.]
Rank – ■■ (Scenario Weight ■■.■%)
Role – ■■■■■■
Script – [■■■■■■...]
Dialogue – Not available
Special Ability –
[Sub-writer 1: Next time, we won't part so easily.]
I quietly watch Godric, no, 'Sub-writer 1.'
The royal procession, which had arrived like a storm, left just as suddenly and casually as it had during the visit.
[Clear conditions achieved!]
['Scenario Note #021' has been successfully completed.]