Farewell (7)
The assistant writer looked like they could leave on a long journey at any moment. As he gazed quietly at Orlie, who was fully equipped in military attire, he quietly revealed his destination.
"I plan to follow the procession of the inspection tour. We can't have similar incidents happening elsewhere."
Is that even possible?
The troops of Sub-writer 1 were overwhelming even when all the main and supporting characters gathered together to oppose them. Can an assistant writer with only 2% importance handle it all?
When I subtly expressed my concern, Orlie responded with a faint smile.
[Assistant Writer: It's alright. The rules outside the stage are different from those inside.]
At those words, the image of the snow-covered landscape, which I hadn't seen in a while, resurfaced in my mind. A space where the surface and underground weren't separated, a void before the stage was constructed. A vast and chaotic scene, like a blank canvas waiting to be filled with colour.
The white abyss that seemed like it could swallow me forever no longer felt frightening or grotesque. I had grown fairly accustomed to this world within the play.
"It's been months since we last met, and I didn't even properly greet you."
Orlie politely bowed his head, seemingly pleased. The real Orlie, which I briefly glimpsed in the original work, seemed quite lighthearted and smooth-talking. Seeing him like this, though, made me realize how different he truly was.
Although I knew his true identity as the assistant writer, when we interacted, he was still the noble paladin "Sir Orlie" of the Sinistra Church. Since everything on the stage is part of the story, we continued our conversation, carefully constructed within the boundaries of the stage's rules.
"I'm sure the last time we met was in Sinistra, right?"
"Yes. It seems you've come to your husband's… hometown. I didn't know that your spouse was the second son of the count's family."
"Huh? Ah… yes, well."
Is he still stuck on that husband issue? Somehow, it feels like I owe a significant portion of my persona in
"Thanks to the advice you gave me back then, I've met many wonderful people here in El Dante. It's almost a shame that I'll be leaving soon. I'm planning to join the Great Hunt. I don't know what the outcome of this will be…"
I asked in a roundabout way whether El Dante would be safe once the protagonist and the supporting characters all left. Orlie, perhaps trying to reassure me, answered in a calm and composed manner.
"I see. Even if it's an inevitable choice, if you do your best, I believe you will gain something from the journey… Ah, Vernis is a mountainous area with harsh weather, so be sure to pack warm clothes."
Orlie subtly hinted that the "Leap Year Great Hunt" was an unavoidable choice and would be the main backdrop for the next chapter, before giving me the answer I was hoping for.
"I, too, will be leaving, but Archbishop Butier will likely stay longer in El Dante to take care of some matters. So, there's no need to worry too much."
Butier staying behind to handle things likely referred to closing the stage of El Dante in the second act, just like the stage of Sinistra had been closed before.
I know that even though Sinistra reappeared as a backdrop in the scenario during Raul's visit, a closed stage doesn't necessarily disappear, nor do the people there vanish. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of a long farewell, and my heart felt conflicted.
"Sir Orlie, I have something I'd like to ask."
"If it's something I can answer, I'll do so honestly."
Orlie adopted a soft, attentive posture, listening intently.
In truth, there were many things I wanted to ask. Whether I would ever be able to send the original Leonardo back to his family, why I had the
But on the stage, I had to respect the fourth wall, and unlike the writers, I didn't have the power to send messages.
So, I decided to ask just one question.
"Will we meet again soon?"
Meeting the assistant writer again would mean that the writers were about to intervene in some way.
Orlie stood silently for a moment before taking a step closer. He gazed at my neck quietly, his expression tinged with a mixture of pity and guilt. It was a striking contrast to the pale, emotionless face he usually wore, and the presence of a clear emotion was unfamiliar.
They say practice makes perfect when it comes to acting, and perhaps the writers, who create and weave these stories, have learned to craft expressions as varied as their narratives.
"…Yes. Since our fates have crossed, I'm sure we'll meet again. Just as we've met again here in El Dante."
"I just hope it's under more peaceful circumstances next time."
"I agree."
Orlie bowed respectfully with a faint smile and stepped back.
I smiled as I briefly saw Orlie off, but then, from the end of the corridor, something was rapidly approaching, its footsteps heavy and fast. The strides were so wide and quick that it almost looked like one of those teleportation effects from a horror movie.
I flinched and almost stepped back, but as I recognized the figure, I stopped myself from fleeing.
"Oh, are you done already? How did you know I was here?"
"The staff informed me… and I saw you from far away, so I came over."
He must have been running from quite a distance, as his breath was laboured. Orlie had moved quite a distance, waving his hand. I waved back, and then Leonardo suddenly lifted his head and began walking toward me slowly. I patted him on the shoulder to calm him down.
"The conversation just now…"
"Huh? We didn't say much. I was just glad to see him again here."
"…"
Leonardo responded with a strangely pouty expression, almost as if he was questioning me. It seemed like he wanted to tease me, and my mouth itched to say something back. I wasn't the only one who felt like he'd been acting a bit more sulky lately.
"Well, let's head back. How did things go?"
"…It went well. They're going to hold a test soon to select the knights."
"Good job~ Let's have something delicious for dinner and rest well. You're going to be busy from now on, right?"
"Once again, leave the work to me for now."
"Mm, fine. You do it all…"
It seemed like just a few words of conversation had made him feel better almost immediately.
If that's the case, was there any point in pouting in the first place?
***
The day for the selection test for the hunt squad had arrived. Leonardo woke up early this morning, sweating lightly from his workout and getting ready.
I didn't mention that both Vittorio and I would be part of the test, as I intended to surprise Leo. While Leonardo busied himself with his newfound cooking skills, expertly sautéing onions, Vittorio and I exchanged discreet glances. The child's hand was tightly clenched.
For Vittorio, Leonardo was both a protector and a teacher, so it must have been a bit nerve-wracking.
'Your efforts will be rewarded.'
I whispered this with my lips barely moving, and Vittorio nodded vigorously, his face turning slightly pink.
For breakfast, we decided on a sandwich with onions caramelized to a sweet, golden-brown colour, topped with cheese and thick slices of ham, with scrambled eggs added in for good measure.
Of course, I only gave the instructions, and most of the work was handled by Leonardo and Vittorio.
The sweet, savoury flavour of the sautéed onions, the fluffy eggs, and the melted cheese infused into the moist bread blended perfectly to create a delicious taste.
After finishing the meal, Leonardo wiped his mouth in a modest manner.
'But the fact remains that you just devoured three sandwiches made with six slices of bread, a chunk of ham, four onions, butter, cheese, and three eggs…'
"Take care."
"Yeah. Finish up quickly and come back!"
Leonardo, with the expression of someone who knew the day ahead would be long, calmly left the fortress.
Left behind, I acted nonchalant, and after a moment, finished preparing to slip out. It would be pointless to run out now, I'd be caught immediately. I'd have to wait for the right moment to sneak in unnoticed.
I recalled what Raul had said when he heard my plan.
[You're thorough…]
His expression seemed to say "You guys are really having fun," but later on, he ended up being swayed by my suggestion to deceive the commander and took the opportunity to give me active advice.
When we arrived at the training ground…
"Ugh!"
Huh? People were flying through the air.
"Next."
Standing in the centre of the training ground, Leonardo called out in a stern voice, his face grim. Beside him, there was Raul, squatting like a street barker, provocatively shouting out taunts.
"Didn't you just go through the same thing not too long ago? How much time has passed, and you haven't made any progress? Come on, put in some effort, will you? Huh?"
That is Raul, right?
Where did the righteous monster hunter go, the one who'd saved a good soul from a dangerous situation in the backstreets, even after being occasionally stricken by nerve attacks due to monster poison?
As I stared at Raul in disbelief, another person flew through the air. Vittorio muttered quietly.
"Maybe we should've let him eat less this morning…"
Yeah, Leonardo was way too energetic. And if you looked closely, one of his hands was completely sealed off—it wasn't even being used!
We sat crouched among the bustling trainees, lost in thought. Was it a problem that we gave them such a hearty breakfast? Or was it the fact that I told him to finish quickly and come back?
So, this is what it's like with a superior like Leonardo. I could kind of, very slightly, understand why Raul sometimes gets overwhelmed.
Above us, Leonardo's voice rang out, completely devoid of any sign of fatigue, as he evaluated the knights.
"You know very well that you haven't improved. It's like you're running in place. Next."
"Your left defence is weak. Next."
"Have you been starving for days? Stand properly. Next."
Which version of Leonardo is this?
A moment later, Vittorio stood up with a determined look on his face.
"I'll go now…"
I waved my hands enthusiastically as I remained crouched, unable to speak since I had to keep my presence hidden.
Leonardo looked up in surprise when Vittorio hesitantly climbed onto the platform, but his expression quickly changed as he silently prepared his stance. In Vittorio's hand was a wooden sword. He took a deep breath and stood tall.
Leonardo gave a quiet nod.
Vittorio, now understanding his strengths, lowered his body and moved quickly and lightly. One of his advantages was his reflexive ability to dodge, sensing the sword's movement just before it struck.
It was likely a skill he had honed while living as a street urchin, learning to detect the slightest changes in the movement of shadows or the sound of an adult's breath to anticipate violence.
When Vittorio narrowly avoided Leonardo's strike, a small murmur of admiration spread among the knights.
"That little guy's quick!"
A small smile flickered at the corner of Leonardo's mouth as he observed Vittorio. I watched the test, feeling like I was witnessing a child growing up. The day was warm, and though a parting loomed, it was reassuring to see how much effort was being put in by those who would walk alongside me in the future.
Whoosh! Vittorio's wooden sword, aimed at Leonardo's solar plexus, was blocked at the last moment. Like the other trainees, Vittorio ended up caught by the nape of his neck.
"You've improved a lot. Next time, instead of going straight for the weak spot, try confusing your opponent first to throw them off balance."
With that, Leonardo gently set Vittorio down.
An then…
'I can't lose either.'
It was soon my turn.