chapter 21.2

After leaving the shop we said Shall we return to the castle now?, but as Ariade has a place she wants to go to no matter what, she and the still energetic Chiffon, as well as Stefanos, ended up leaving. Well return right away, they said, but a girls shopping is long. However itll be good if we return to the castle before it gets dark.

We are waiting in vain at a nearby park together with Lance because I got tired of the crowd. Im feeling weak since inevitably my eyes end up going all around when Im in a place with a lot of people.

Its unusual for you two to have a vacation leave at the same time, now that I think about it.

Today everyone at the Fourth Knight Corps had a holiday.

Oh, I see, so it was like that.

I remembered having encountered something like the Knights vacation days several times while I was working in the dorms. I couldnt clean because the Knights would stay in the dorm all the way from morning till night, and I recall that, in the end, I would relax while even drinking tea with the Vice-Captain. I guess those are the days chosen by some for planning to hit on girls in the castle town.

The Captain is also on vacation today. Hes certainly come down to town with the Vice -Captain to take care of some business . Do you want to go meet them?

Is that so? But Im good. Because I may become a bother you.

What business could they be taking care of. Shopping, or something like that? I havent gone to the dorms since then. My room is distant by a range, so it is accurate to say that there is no time for me to go. Its frustrating that Im unable to eat Naths rice. Speaking of that I wonder if the Vice-Captains daughter is okay. We havent met since then but dont tell me she has collapsed. Im worried. Lets ask the Vice-Captain the next time I see him.

Speaking about the devil. Miss Vito, please look forward.

Looking in front as prompted to by Lance, there is a person who is sitting at the edge of a fountain decorated with a stuning stone statue of a Venus-de-Milo-like naked woman.

Who would it be?

Its the captain.

Its a liiiee, youre kidding me saying such a lie. Theres no way hell appear with such a timing, and he is not Stefanos. But theres that bright green hair, and my delicacies-sensor is reacting. While saying No way, and trying to strain my eyes, it does seems to be the Captain without a place for doubt. I ended up doubting it because hes not wearing the usual white uniform, and he also has a different hairstyle.

It looks like hes apparently waiting for the Vice-Captain.

You can tell?

This park is well used as a meeting place.

Like Hachiko or something like that. (tn: reference to the uber famous dog statue in front of s.h.i.+buya station. i think it was s.h.i.+buya. you can watch hachikos old j.a.panese movie if u wanna cry.) That reminds me, I guess because there is no convenient things like mobile phones in this world, a park with such a prominent fountain will inevitably become a waiting place.

Its fine if its a fake so please someone make me a pseudo-mobile phone. I wonder if maybe Ariade and the girls would make it if I tell them. But would it be impossible because they are still eggs (of a magician?), so Ill try to look forward to it a little more ahead in the future. Yup.

How about you go and meet him? You havent met recently, right?

Well its so but, I do not think that I would really like to meet him. There is dome unease in my heart since leaving the dormitory, but I dont worry too much about it since I understand it as something normal. (tn: unsure about the meaning of shaberu in this context~) Rather, Im feeling fearful by thinking What if Im discovered? every time we meet. His senses are sharp, so if I let slide even something small from my mouth itll become a serious matter. But when being told that by Lance I do get the feeling of wanting to meet him.

Well then, just for a little bit, I will come back soon.

Lance saw me off with a smile and saying Take care.

As Ill be leaving him here alone Ill try to come back soon.

When going closer, as expected, it was the Captain.

Captain, what a coincidence.

And it is a ponytail today. Whats with this, its too cute.

While braiding was troublesome, when sporting a ponytail he looks as nothing but a woman. Its to the point where barely by him not having b.r.e.a.s.t.s and because of the male voice, you can tell otherwise. I saw a good thing today. Yeah, lets burn the memory firmly in my eyes.

When the Captain gazes at my attire, he blushes and grabs his hair. (tn: again, the word used isnikanda. it is a face blus.h.i.+ng like so: (///.///). now add a ponytail.)

Matching outfits?

I- Im telling you I didnt chose these clothes with that in mind! P-please do not misunderstand! Or, had I said so Id have been called a tsundere so I obediently nodded and said.

It looks like that.

Not cute, arent I. Im too bland.

Saying, Excuse me, Ill sit by your side I sit on the edge of the fountain next to the Captain. Since its close to the water, its cool.

Shopping?

That is correct. How about Captain?

Its something like preparations for the upcoming mission, I think. Because it will take many days.

Preparation for the journey, is it. If they go on the Fire Drakes they could fly, but I heard that theyll go on foot. It seems to take about three to four days. But its one week for the round-trip. It means to walk quite a distance and it would need appropriate preparations. I certainly believe they didnt said that Lance is not going, but that person is dependable so hes surely making suitable preparations, isnt he.

Talking about that, it is to welcome in the messenger of Tiruzoto Country. I heard from Vice-Captain that you, have been singled out.

It looks like that.

Its my fault. Because I behaved in such a manner, Im causing him troubles. He wouldnt have been singled out had I not done that.

Why, I wonder, human beings are at the mercy of rumors. To believe in iffy things that are not even clear without knowing wether they are truth, is an irresistible wonder. Well I am also being sent left and right by the rumors. But when asked if they really believe in it, theyll say they will never believe it in earnest. I do not want to believe things other than what I see with my own eyes.

But the rumors are

Yeah, and they are just rumors. Even so, I think they are a good thing.

I dont get whats good about it.

As long as between me and that dragon there is a small connection, even if that conection is only a rumor, I dont care.

Are you not thinking about contracting it?

Why?

As if to say thats too wondrous he tilts his head to the side in confusion.

Because, youll be able to become this countrys hero, right? Isnt that a great honor?

I often hear many things. If I had a contract, if I was able to form a contract, how great would that be, and the like. The heroic saga of the one who can save the country is transmitted on to the future and your name is recorded in history. Everyone longs for that. There is no way someone wont long for it.

Honor, huh. It may certainly be a honorable thing.

But, he continued.

I wonder if its not honor or the like what maintains that rumor, but the peoples desire, their sincere hope, for the country to win the war.

If the dragon of legend, which has led to victory in war until now was in their favor, everyone will be able to see hope, convinced of victory. No matter who the contractor is. t would have. Theres even people who are thinking of honor and so. But what Im really sincerely hoping for, is for our country to win in order to live in peace. Its truly just that, so, should I say it.

Will you, really go?

I wonder if there is any sense in going.

Ill go.

Even if, it may be a trap?

I believe in LeBlanche. However, if something were to happen, please take care of the Fire Drakes in the Dragon building. Because they seem to like Vito.

As usual I dont know what he is thinking because of his hidden pupils. I dont know what he is thinking as he says those words.

You are just leaving the aftermath to someone else.

You could say that, right.

Dont laugh.

Thinking about it in earnest, in the Fire Drakes Building there are more than a 100 of them. Its sort of unreasonable to take care of them all. Also I think that thats not Captains intention, but throwing the burden to someone else while speaking in a refres.h.i.+ng manner, I dont know whether hes joking or being serious. Well, isnt it fine whichever he meant.

Theres even a chance that you wont be able to come back?

I wont die. Because there still remain things that I want to do. But we dont know what will happen, do we?

I hate to say so.

Hes being unclear. I feel like Im being kind of cheated vaguely.

My head seems like it will explode by all the things I dont know and cant understand.

Arent you thinking too lightly of your own life?

No, there is no such thing.

Then how can you consider this with such ease? Even at the time of the subjugation expedition, if the Earth Dragon did not come to help you may have died. Not only that, you may have been eaten and by that flesh-eating dragon and died. Even war, I heard that I soon a big war might happen!

I enden up raising my voice, talking fast as if I was fl.u.s.tered. I also thought it was strange myself.

The Captain says in a tone of voice harder than usual.

Vito, Im a Knight. To protect the country, we exist. We can not change our mission because of the will of an individual who says I dont want to die or the like. Someone must go, and that someone is us. And because of that, we can not run away.

I did not look at his face, and hung my head down as I clenched my fists tightly.

A lot of people have died until now. Even my Fire Drakes have become sacrifices. Id be lying If I said Im not afraid. But if after all this time I run away now for such a reason, it will seem as if Im denying everything until now, and I would hate that.

I dont understand I cant understand that.

I did not want to understand.

I am an idiot. A big idiotic thing. For the sake of what do Knights exist? Are they not obviously existences that protect the country? Thats their job. Even the other Knights, are surely so. There s no exception, its just that my individual will is shameless.

Yet Im only causing trouble by behaving like a child throwing a tantrum, unable to understand reason.

When I still had my head down, a gentle voice falls on me.

Sorry.

Why, are you apologizing?

But its me the one who should apologize.

However the Captain did nothing wrong, wont he have an outburst of rage at me? Im the worst. How come Ive become so emotional.

Vito.

His slender hand touches my maroon bangs as I still had my head down.

I, for the first time, shook off his hand.

Im sorry. I spoke too much. Chiffon and the rest are waiting for me, so please excuse me.

My name was called from behind, but I turned my heels and left the place in a fast pace, as if I was running away.

Surely, my face right now looks awful.

Distorted to the point of not being fit of letting others see it.

Knowing that theres the possibility he might die, that he might not return, how come he can remain so collected.

If I were you Id run away. But it is because I am an outsider. To this country, even to the continent, also to this world.

But Captains different. Born in this country, he grew up with this country.

Im the one whos different. I know it, I do know it.

I know. The truth is that I know it.

About Captains thoughts, theres no way Ill be able to intervene with them. There is no way Ill be able to interject.

Hasnt he been living like that so far. Experiencing, many times, critical moments where he could have died. Death too, how many times has he seen it. Thats why I think this time I ultimately decided by myself. But I did not want to admit it.

Why. How come. I dont understand my own feelings.

Im supposed to be satisfied by just the Captain staying alive.

Because I want to eat him, its only that.

Thats why I dont want him to die, and I dont want him to go to a dangerous place. The matters with this messenger, make me feel uneasy somehow I truly dont want him to go.

But theres no way I can say that. I dont have the qualifications to say so.

Because for me, the plans that I have for killing the Captain, havent changed at all.