Chapter 37

Eva, the young lady, seemed unchanged from the last time we parted, no, she even appeared more beautiful, as if her beauty had been further polished. Dante beside me widened his eyes, Non gasped, and Mimino moved her mouth in a flustered manner.

It had been at most two months since I parted ways with the young lady. What could change so much in the time it takes for early summer to turn into late summer? —But I could certainly sense a change in the young lady.

“Raiji,” the young lady called out, about to run but then held back. She then performed a perfect bow, something only a first-class noble young lady could do.

“—It’s been a while, Raiji. The disaster at Red Gate was immense, but I believed you would surely lead us to a resolution.”

She showed a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

Indeed, the young lady is still the young lady. She always surpasses my expectations.

—Young lady. Here… we part ways.

That night, the night I left the Syliesse Manor.

I abruptly announced our parting and forced the young lady to return to the manor.

—Raiji, I, I wanted to be with you forever…! Why do you have to leave…!?

There were many reasons. As the “Child of Calamity,” it was difficult for me to live in the Holy Kingdom of Curvaen, and I couldn’t burden the Earl any further.

Moreover, I didn’t want to involve the young lady in my troubles.

—Is this… really not the last farewell?

The young lady must not have been fully convinced.

But she followed my words, indulging my whims.

Since then—what the young lady thought, I don’t know. Did she carry unresolved feelings, or did she completely move on?

However, the Earl of Syliesse, who stands behind the young lady, is the same Earl I know, so their relationship must not be bad. That alone is proof that my whims had some merit.

“Lady Eva Syliesse, it has been a while. I am now working as an adventurer.”

I knelt on one knee and bowed. The young lady’s expression twisted slightly with a hint of sadness, but she quickly regained her perfect smile.

I am no longer a member of the Syliesse family. If I were to claim a close relationship with the young lady, it would be grounds for criticism in the Holy Kingdom of Curvaen, as it would imply a connection to the “Child of Calamity.” Both the young lady and the Earl understand this fully, and they are talking to me in this manner.

And—by doing so, they are also protecting me.

If I were to be connected to me, the Earl would have to consider me an enemy. This would be very difficult for me, especially now that I have a status guarantee in the Lev Magic Empire. The fact that we can meet and talk as usual is only because we are pretending to be formal.

“Why are you here, Raiji?”

“…I heard that you used the ‘Inspiring Magic Eye’ to heal Lark. Thank you.”

“Why… are you thanking me for that?”

“Lark is my sister.”

“Eh—”

It’s no wonder she was surprised; Lark and I don’t look alike at all.

“Step-sister, to be precise.”

“So… is that the case?”

I haven’t told the young lady about the days I spent with Lark at the “Six Heaven Mines.” The young lady seemed to accept that it happened before I came to the Holy Kingdom of Curvaen.

“Young lady, you’ve really mastered the ‘Inspiring Magic Eye’… you’ve worked hard.”

“!!”

For the young lady, the ‘Inspiring Magic Eye’ was a taboo within taboos.

It caused her real mother to go berserk and die in despair.

It caused the same-aged Louis to go berserk, leading to his death after absorbing an 8-star天赋珠玉 (Talent Gem).

However, I didn’t want the young lady to hate the Magic Eye, so I told her:

—You should become someone who can master this Magic Eye.

And that’s what I said.

The ‘Judging Magic Eye’ that the Earl can use can determine if someone is lying, which is incredibly useful in noble society. However, the young lady’s ‘Inspiring Magic Eye’ can do something different.

That’s why I wanted her to master it.

If she could, she could overcome her past.

The fact that the Magic Eye has an additional effect—restoring vitality—clearly shows that the young lady has seriously faced the Magic Eye.

“Yes… I worked hard.”

“Truly, that’s wonderful.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course. I am very proud of how much you’ve grown in such a short time.”

“…Hehe. Raiji, you can praise me more.”

The young lady’s tone softened. The tears in her eyes told me how difficult it was for her to face the Magic Eye.

“—I heard that Lady Lark has disappeared.”

Perhaps she thought that talking any further would make it hard to control her emotions, the young lady averted her gaze from me and looked at the bed.

“Yes. Various things happened, and she left in a hurry.”

“So… the reason you left the kingdom was because of Lady Lark?”

I had told the young lady that the next time we met, I would explain why I would have to leave the Holy Kingdom of Curvaen. Not the reason for fleeing, but the reason why I would eventually have to leave.

“No, meeting Lark was a coincidence. Actually, the granddaughter of my benefactor is in the Lev Magic Empire…”

When I mentioned Luluza, the young lady nodded in understanding.

“That’s very considerate of you, Raiji.”

She smiled again, perfectly as a noble young lady.

“Are you going to pursue Lady Lark?”

“Yes, that’s my intention.”

“……”

A brief silence fell. What was the young lady thinking?

“…I haven’t found the Talent Gem to give you yet.”

“I’ll always be waiting.”

“But I don’t know where you are.”

“Well… an adventurer is a bird of the sky, after all.”

At that moment, the Earl of Syliesse clapped his hands and interjected.

“That’s right, I have a good idea. Raiji, could you send regular letters to our Syliesse Manor? That way, it would be easier to contact you.”

“Eh… but, wouldn’t my correspondence cause problems within the kingdom? I am the ‘Child of Calamity,’ after all.”

“We have enough power to avoid complaints to that extent. —What do you think, Eva?”

“Yes. That would be wonderful. Father, thank you for the suggestion.”

Is it really okay? I felt more like I had a collar put on by the Syliesse family.

But… it’s not that I mind.

If writing letters can reassure the young lady, who is worried without knowing anything, it’s not much trouble. And the Earl seems to care about me, despite his words.

“…I have to go soon. I want to start searching for Lark before too much time passes.”

As I stopped bowing and stood up, the young lady said to me:

“I understand. …Raiji. When you settle down, come back to the kingdom—”

The young lady tried to say something and shook her head slightly.

—“I’ll be waiting for your letters.”

“I’ll definitely send them through the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Yes, I’m sure you will.”

The young lady lowered her right hand, touching her index and middle fingers together and extending them. I moved closer and gently held her hand.

“We have another promise now.”

Then the young lady said in a soft voice:

“…I want more promises.”

And she said this cute whim.