Chapter 73

Leaving the inn, I head back into the city.

My goal is to buy clothes.

I tried teasing Kuna and Anne, but unfortunately, I don’t have any clothes to wear to the sword-dedication ceremony either.

If I were just attending as a guest, the knight school uniform would have been fine, but since I’m accompanying Kuna, I need appropriate attire.

Since it’s impossible to have custom-made clothes made at this moment, I have to buy something off the rack. I just hope there’s something that fits me perfectly.

If I can’t find anything, I might use magic to refract all visible light, making me invisible while still allowing my accompaniment to be heard, as a surprise.

As I’m thinking about this, I see a face I’d rather not near the entrance of the inn.

I decide to pretend I don’t know him and walk past.

"Finally, you came out. I’ve been waiting for you here for a long time. This inn talks about privacy, but they wouldn’t even show me around."

Despite this, the man called out to me.

The man in front of me is Clanel Feilarte, the one who fought for Anne and Kval Besta.

"I have nothing to talk about with you. I’m in a hurry."

Since talking would just make us both uncomfortable, I try to leave with a light greeting.

"Wait, no, wait a moment."

However, Clanel stops me.

"What is it? Do you need something from me?"

"Yes, there’s something I really need to talk about."

He speaks with an unusually humble tone, which increases my suspicion.

This man should hate me.

"I’m busy now. Can we do it another time?"

"Don’t say that!"

"I’m really busy."

"Then, tell me why you’re busy. I can help."

I have no obligation to tell him, but if I don’t, he’ll probably keep following me.

I sigh and decide to explain the situation.

"I’m going to the sword-dedication ceremony, and I need to buy clothes for it. It’s not something you can easily find, so I have to search the city now. Talking to you is just a waste of time. I’m leaving."

Clanel looks relieved after hearing my words.

Then, he speaks with confidence.

"If that’s the case, leave it to me. I’ll give you the formal suit I was supposed to wear for the ceremony. Soji and I have almost the same build, so it should fit you perfectly. It’s the best suit made by the Feilarte family, so it should be useful."

"What are you up to?"

I can’t help but mutter.

Indeed, if it’s a suit prepared by Feilarte for a ceremony, it must be excellent.

But it’s very expensive, and I don’t understand why he would give it to me.

"I’m not up to anything. I just want to talk to you. Besides, I don’t need it anymore, so I want you to make good use of it."

"If that’s true, what do you want in return?"

If he mentions Kval Besta or Anne, I’ll punch him with all my strength.

"I’ve been saying this all along. I just want to talk. If you join me for a drink at that tavern, that’s all I ask."

"...Alright. If that’s all, I’ll join you."

I nod without lowering my guard.

◇

What a day.

I thought Cyril was my nemesis, but now I’m drinking with my archenemy, Clanel.

What kind of cosmic alignment is this?

Surprisingly, the tavern Clanel Feilarte chose was a simple, crowded place. Workers were clinking their mugs and making a racket.

"Thanks for joining me, Soji."

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

When I ask, Clanel puts his hands on the table and bows deeply.

"Thank you for defeating the monster I created! Thanks to you, I didn’t have to kill Anne. If I had killed her, I don’t know what I would have done."

I’m taken aback by his sudden action.

"If you regret it so much, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place."

"I know, but I was different back then. I wanted Anne and Kval Besta so badly... But I would never do such a thing if I were my usual self."

Clanel speaks with genuine regret.

His words don’t seem to be lies. The Clanel back then was not normal.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

"Yes, but that’s not all. I’m still attending the Erin Knight School."

"I thought you came here to take Kval Besta from Anne. Isn’t your purpose fulfilled? Why are you still here?"

When I ask, Clanel gives a slightly sad smile.

"I planned to return here, but I can no longer inherit the Feilarte family. I lost to you and Anne. I couldn’t achieve the Feilarte family’s goal of becoming the bearer of Kval Besta. That was fatal. My younger brother will inherit the family name."

I feel a bit of sympathy.

Clanel’s situation is tough.

"So, I’ll be kicked out with nothing when the sword-dedication ceremony is over. Fortunately, the knight school has already paid for my dorm fees and tuition until graduation. I can manage until then. I’ll live as a single Clanel and start a new life. I plan to become a simple explorer, with no ties to the Feilarte family."

"Why can you say this with a smile?"

There’s no sense of tragedy in Clanel’s words.

Rather, he seems almost cheerful, as if a burden has been lifted.

"Actually, I’m not that sad. I realized that the Feilarte family was a burden. I love swords, but everything else was a hassle. Thinking about swinging swords freely and carving out my own life with the power of the sword, I’m actually excited."

"Alright, good luck with your new life. I’ll support you."

I don’t intend to help Clanel.

Losing everything doesn’t erase his sins, and I have no obligation to help him.

"Also, I have something to say to you as a man, not just to thank you for Anne."

"I’ll listen. It’s part of the deal."

Receiving an expensive suit.

I can indulge him this much.

"I respect you as a swordsman. Your sword, despite being Rank 1, overwhelmed me. Now that I’m just a swordsman, I can admit it honestly. And I also consider you a benefactor for saving Anne. ...But, I can’t accept losing to you as a swordsman, and I haven’t given up on Anne. While attending the knight school, I’ll steal your sword techniques and catch up through hard work. Then, I’ll make the Anne who is infatuated with you turn to me."

"...Aim for what you want, but do you think I’ll let you?"

"I don’t think so. But, that’s what a man does."

I chuckle.

I don’t dislike his mindset.

I feel a slight admiration for his determination to steal my sword techniques rather than asking for them.

If he had asked to learn from me, I would have poured the contents of my mug on him and told him to get lost.

"For now, Clanel, let’s celebrate your new beginning."

I raise my mug.

"Thank you."

Clanel also raises his mug.

We clink our mugs and toast.

But if he really aims for Anne, ... I’ll have to teach him a lesson, I think to myself.

Really, a fourth-rank pest targeting Kuna and a pest targeting Anne, Clanel.

I can’t let my guard down.

◇

After drinking with Clanel, I went to his mansion and received the suit.

It fit perfectly, with no need for adjustments.

This clears one of my concerns.

When I returned to my room, Kuna was sitting on the floor in front of my door.

When she saw me, she briefly smiled and then pouted.

"You’re so late, Soji! We promised to talk alone later."

"Sorry, I had some business. Let’s talk inside, then."

I invited the pouting Kuna into my room.

In my room, we can talk without interruptions.

Next time: The greatest mystery of the Fire Fox, Fokkusu, is finally revealed.