Chapter 115
He remembered being told that Trisha was more important than a princess. An orphan's name was short while a noble family's name was long. Damian could guess how precious Trisha's family background was.
Meanwhile, her revealing her real name meant he had gained some measure of trust. Damian felt somewhat grateful to Trisha for opening her heart first but also felt burdened.
Becoming close ultimately meant sharing one's true self.
That would surely include the past too.
"Trisha is nice. Azelis is nice too."
"If you can't remember my full name, you can't come to our house!"
"..."
"Our house is huge. A week of just looking around wouldn't be enough? And there's tons of food too."
"So you're a rich man's daughter."
"That's right. Better stay on my good side, don't ya think?"
As they approached the campsite, Damian cautioned Trisha, "We're almost there. Don't talk."
Trisha answered energetically as if her mood had instantly improved, "Okay!"
He needed to act coldly toward Trisha in front of others.
Nothing would be more suspicious than two people disappearing in the morning and suddenly returning while talking intimately.
Thirty paces from the campsite, he sat Trisha on a nearby rock.
"Wait here a moment."
And just as he turned back to get a potion from the campsite, his eyes met the gaze of Luna's wolf.
"...?"
The wolf was sitting quietly among the bushes, staring at Trisha and Damian.
Though he didn't know how long it had been watching, it had clearly been looking for Damian. The wolf saw Damian and signaled him to follow by bouncing its front paws.
***
Ravens circled in the sky, eyeing the lizard corpses strewn across the valley.
"They really made a mess of things."
Professor Candinella looked around the devastated valley with her hands behind her back.
Beside her walked an elf-eared girl wearing a wooden mask.
"Professor, do you think that fellow could encounter the phantasmal beast?"
"That's hard to say. Skill alone isn't everything. Luck is also needed to meet the phantasmal beast."
Professor Candinella approached the wingless dragon's corpse. Then, she carefully examined the marks on its body.
The pointed-eared elf girl in the mask stood beside her and said, "This looks like the work of someone who's gone through the circulatory system practice two or three times already."
From boldly entering the dangerous zone first which required courage, to showing the cleverness to separately take the heart.
"Right? Pretty impressive."
Then, Candinella muttered to herself, "Ah, what a shame. Truly a shame."
"...What is?"
"Oh? That child."
"Do you mean their skill is a shame?"
Candinella smiled slightly and shook her head.
"No, that child. I could have taken them."
The pointed-eared girl tilted her head slightly and asked, "Taken them?"
"Silveryn found that child in uncharted territory overrun with ghouls. How did she find them in such a place? Isn't it a curious meeting?"
"I am curious about the full story."
"You know, I was originally supposed to go to that place."
"..."
"Things got complicated and ended up like this. Such an extraordinary kid, I feel like I really lost out whenever I think about it."
Though her tone was light as if joking, there was lingering attachment in Candinella's voice.
Life was unpredictable. Even if Candinella had gone, there was no guarantee things would have flowed the same as with Silveryn.
Candinella wasn't the type to have lingering attachments to someone. She was one of Eternia's executives like Erzsebet and Morgus. She was also a hero who prevented the Northern Catastrophe alongside legends like Silveryn and Zeldan.
She was someone who lacked nothing, with the ability and position to discover and nurture talent from anywhere on the continent.
For such a person to show interest in a boy called Damian meant she evaluated him that highly.
Examining the beheaded monster's corpse, Candinella said, "I spoke needlessly. Ignore it. Having a disciple to teach is one of life's great joys. I used to joke that Silveryn had everything so she wouldn't have luck with disciples. I never knew even that would be wrong."
"If you had gone to the Holy City this time, there might have been another chance. I heard they were in an uproar about a Holy Sword successor appearing..."
"You're quite talented. How did you know such confidential information?"
"I... happened to hear it during Knight Order duties."
"Hmm, yes. A good opportunity. Gathering heroes in the Holy City probably included finding that one's master too."
"I heard even Sword Masters can't easily wield the Holy Sword. Then..."
When the girl hesitated, Candinella stretched and gave a definitive answer, "It's not completely exaggerated. I saw that sword's power with my own eyes. It's one of the top ten famous swords across the continent and can only be wielded by the chosen."
The boy who became the Holy Sword's owner was essentially acknowledged to have Sword Master potential.
"Professor... are you not interested in the Holy Sword?"
"I've already been to the Holy City."
"...What?"
Candinella just smiled at the girl instead of explaining.
It was an expression that showed she knew something but couldn't tell.
"Let's go. We might miss another fight at this rate."
***
At the campsite, everyone was already awake and standing.
Everyone looked unwell. Martha and Bertrand were pale, and even Cecil was biting her lip anxiously.
Soon after, Cecil and Luna spotted me and ran over urgently.
"What's going on?"
"Have you seen Trisha? The situation is really urgent."
I pointed to where Trisha was.
"She twisted her ankle and is resting over there. Someone should go treat her."
Cecil called Martha and sent her to treat Trisha. Judging by their expressions, Trisha's disappearance wasn't the issue. Something else had frightened them.
Luna lightly grabbed and tugged at the edge of my collar to get my attention.
"She's coming..."
"...Who?"
"Sion. She's approaching us without hiding her presence. I don't know what her intention is."
Not hiding her presence means... she wants a direct confrontation rather than an ambush.
Maybe she thinks I won't avoid it.
Luna maintained her composure. This was because we were already mentally prepared.
Actually, they didn't need to be so scared. Because we would separate today, and Sion would continue pursuing me while leaving Cecil's group alone.
Cecil spoke with a worried face, "Candy... will you be okay when you're not fully recovered? If it helps, we can all work together to help you."
The loyalty is appreciated, but there's no need.
I shook my head.
I didn't want to involve Trisha and the others in my fight.
"Luna and I will stay here to face Sion. This is where we part ways with you."
"Candy..."
I shook my head again.
"Leave."
Cecil stood still with a complicated expression before reluctantly turning to gesture at Bertrand. Bertrand started gathering their belongings shortly after.
I sat in front of the dying campfire and threw in firewood. Then, I took out the frozen heart meat and skewered it. This was to fill our stomachs in preparation for the coming commotion.
Luna sat across from me without questioning my actions, awaiting our meal.
***
She didn't rush to find him. Though she could have gone last night, she didn't because she wanted to fight Candy when his stamina was fully restored.
"...Fog."
As she approached Candy's location, thick water vapor hung in the air. It was a damp, unpleasant fog.
After walking for a while like that, a red light was visible through the pure white curtain.
Confirming only a few steps remained, Sion drew her magic sword Sibelin from her waist.
Strength gradually entered her hand. She had waited a long time for this meeting.
Approaching the campfire, she saw the masked man sitting comfortably in front of it.
He looked quite relaxed, leaning against a stump with one knee raised to rest his arm while stretching out his other leg.
Sion politely greeted first, "Hello."
"...Hello."
"The wingless dragon was your work, right? Not bad."
"Why are you looking for me?"
Blue sword aura began to gather in Sion's sword.
"Because I owe you a debt. And my master really wants to see you."
The masked man stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
"That's a tad bit difficult."
"Don't worry. Today I'll remove your mask so you won't need to hide your identity anymore."
"..."
The masked man quietly watched Sion with golden eyes.
He seemed to be grinning behind that mask.
Sion cut to the chase, "Draw your sword."
Pressed down by the magic sword's pressure, the campfire wavered slightly before finally going out.
"If I draw my sword, one of your limbs won't survive."
Sion responded directly to his provocation, "No, your limbs will be cut off."
"Your limbs will be cut off, you mean?"
"No, your limbs."
"No, you'll be cut."
Heated up, Sion activated her artifact and leaped forward in one bound, swinging her sword at him.
She thought if he wouldn't draw his sword, she'd make him draw it.
He immediately drew his wooden sword to block Sion's sword.
Clang!
The man's planted foot slid far back after receiving Sion's attack.
"I didn't know you were such a talkative type."
"..."
"Put away the toy and bring out your real weapon."
He shook his arm as if his sword hand was stinging.
Sion didn't give him time to recollect himself.
She accelerated again and swung her sword at him with full force.
Clang!
The impact sound spread loud enough to hurt the eardrums.
The man deflected Sion's sword with instinctive reflexes but was pushed back far again by the force.
He barely maintained balance with animal-like movement and readied his stance.
Sion felt strange. Though he appeared to be being pushed back, she didn't feel like she was properly overwhelming him.