Chapter 73

In the castle of Mikoto in the country of Yamata, just before Alek appeared, the devil king and the goblin Goub were in the workshop, repairing armor.

Mikoto was not present, as he was personally interrogating the captured thief.

The devil king smiled wickedly and looked at the goblin Goub, who was wearing full armor again.

"How does it feel, Goub? Try moving."

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"

Goub moved awkwardly, making loud clanking sounds. However, the joints at the elbows and knees bent, making it much easier to move compared to before.

The devil king, with his hand on his chin, smiled.

"Hmm, it feels good, doesn't it! I layered the skin of a holy beast and a demon beast on the joint parts and engraved a curse seal inside! This makes it twice as easy to move! There's nothing impossible for me, hahaha!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty!"

Goub moved his limbs comically while praising the devil king. The devil king stopped his laughter and looked at Goub.

"How about your breathing?"

"It's fine! I've crystallized the air inside, so I can move for three full days!"

"Hmm, it feels good... I want to make it so you can use magic too. Right now, it's sealed, so it would explode inside... Also, the skin of the holy beast is too rare. It would cost too much to mass-produce."

"Thank you for letting me wear such a valuable suit of armor!"

Goub's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude. The devil king puffed out his chest and laughed loudly.

"Well, it's for dealing with Alek! When we mass-produce this, our army of the devil king will spread dark wings across the world, hahaha!—Huh!"

Suddenly, the devil king rolled his eyes and collapsed. Goub rushed to his side in shock.

"Y-Your Majesty!? What happened, Your Majesty!?"

"It's... Alek... This feeling, this insane feeling, it's Alek—!"

"What!?"

Goub ran to the window, clanking his armor. He looked down at the courtyard and saw an angel slowly descending. In the angel's arms was a black-haired man.

Goub's face under his helmet became resolute.

"Your Majesty, please wait! I'll drive him away!"

He put on a robe over his armor to disguise himself and ran out into the corridor.

"Such a thing... it's unfair... I'm counting on you, Goub..."

The devil king only twitched.

◇ ◇ ◇

In the courtyard of Mikoto's castle, I landed on the ground covered with white sand.

Nearby, Edgar was sitting on a mat. I picked up my sword and shouted loudly.

"I am Alek, the former hero of Fortis Kingdom! It was I who instructed Azuma to steal the treasure! If you have any complaints, say them to me!"

I raised my sword and shouted, causing a stir among the people in the courtyard.

"Hero!?", "Why did you steal!?", "What's going on!?"

Then, a small figure, about the height of a child, ran in, clanking his armor. He spoke to a man lying under a curtain and then came out to me.

"Even if you are a former hero, you are still a hero! Leave this country!—That's what Mikoto-sama says!"

"I want to, but I have a responsibility."

"Responsibility!?"

"Yes, the removal of Azuma's bounty, the preferential treatment of the revived Princess Novara, and the transfer of the Light Gem. I won't leave until you agree to these—"

Before I could finish, the small figure shouted.

"I agree! Azuma's crime is forgiven for bringing back Princess Novara! Princess Novara of Mikawari will be treated with favor as a holy maiden who has been divinely resurrected! And as a hero, it's only natural to seek the Light Gem to dispel the darkness!—However, even if you are a former hero, you are still a hero! You are not allowed to enter our country! If you head to the port town of Cove immediately, I will agree to everything I just promised!"

"Really? That quickly... Okay, then can I take Azuma with me?"

"Yes! So, leave this country quickly! If you don't, it will become a diplomatic issue between nations!"

"Alright."

I cut the ropes binding Edgar with my sword and turned to leave the courtyard. As I walked out of the castle with Edgar, I said to Liricia.

"That was surprisingly easy, wasn't it?"

"Yes, I was surprised."

"It seems Mikoto is a truly kind king, as rumored. I thought he might behead me, but it might have been a knighting ceremony. I might have misunderstood. Maybe I didn't need to come."

"No, but because you came, your reasons were accepted. Your presence is truly impressive."

"That's an exaggeration. I didn't do much."

I shrugged. Liricia looked at Edgar.

"Are you okay?—Full recovery."

Liricia's hand touched Edgar, and his wounds instantly healed. Edgar bowed.

"Thanks."

"How was it, Edgar? Wasn't Mikoto a kind king?"

"No, you're just too much, Alek. This is fine."

Edgar smiled in a somewhat exasperated tone, shrugging his shoulders. I tilted my head and replied.

"I don't understand, but I get it. Let's go home."

When we reached the edge of the courtyard, I glanced back. The small figure was talking to the man lying under the curtain.

—That must be Mikoto-sama, the benevolent king, lying there so calmly behind the curtain. I should have greeted him. I failed.

Next time, I'll go closer and greet him properly, I thought.

◇ ◇ ◇

Although the major crisis of Alek had passed, Goub was still tending to Mikoto, who had fainted.

Mikoto, with his robe open, revealed his alluring collarbone and chest.

"Are you okay! Mikoto-sama!"

"One... two... three... four... five... one coin short..."

Mikoto, with his beautiful face, had his hair disheveled, his white cheeks and slender shoulders exposed, and his eyes rolled back, unconscious. Goub shook his frail body and called out desperately.

"That's a river you can't cross, Mikoto-sama! Please come back without getting on the boat! Please, Mikoto-sama!"

Despite Goub's desperate calls, Mikoto did not return to the world of the living.

The devil king, too, remained unconscious in the workshop, his arms raised and convulsing.

◇ ◇ ◇

At Cove Port at dusk, we were about to board the afternoon ship at the pier. The mountains to the east and west were turning red in the sunset.

At that moment, a cute voice echoed through the port.

"Azuma! Azuma!"

We turned to see Princess Novara. She ran over, her black bobbed hair and the hem of her red kimono fluttering. Behind her was an elderly man in red robes.

Princess Novara, out of breath, looked at Edgar as soon as she reached the pier.

"Wait, Azuma. Come here."

"Yes, Princess."

Edgar returned to the pier from the dock. Liricia and I boarded the ship and looked back at the dock from the side.

Princess Novara looked at us.

"Indeed, Alek and Liricia did well. I commend you."

"Yes, everyone is safe, that's good." "Thank you, Princess Novara."

As we talked, Edgar returned to the dock and knelt before the princess, bowing his head. Princess Novara, ignoring her disheveled hair, puffed out her flat chest proudly.

"Well, Azuma, you did well too. Here's your reward."

Princess Novara looked around and spotted a flower blooming on the dock. She ran over and gently picked it with her slender hand. She then held the flower carefully in her small hand and presented it to Edgar.

Edgar bowed respectfully and accepted the nameless flower.

"Ha, what a great honor—"

Princess Novara, looking down at the scene, nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Indeed! Farewell. —Edo."

She did not call him Azuma.

Edgar, sensing the princess's consideration, trembled and bowed even deeper. His voice, squeezed from his entire body, was tearful.

"Yes, thank you, Princess... Please stay healthy, Princess."

"Indeed! Don't worry about me. —Farewell."

A single tear rolled down Princess Novara's plump cheek, glistening in the sunset.

Edgar stood up, bowed again, and returned to the ship. The crew began to untie the mooring ropes.

The ship left the pier and slowly moved forward. The princess waved her hand widely, crying out.

"Come visit sometimes, Azuma!"

"Yes, thank you! I will, someday!"

Edgar, with tears streaming down his eyes hidden by his hair, shouted loudly. —Though they pretended it was a casual farewell, they were actually of different social standings, and this might be their final parting.

Beside me, Liricia gently wiped the corner of her violet eyes, which were moist with tears. I, too, might have had slightly moist eyes. The port, bathed in the sunset, blurred and receded.

The princess in the red kimono continued to wave until she was out of sight. Edgar also continued to wave in response, even after she was no longer visible.

—Thus, Edgar's long journey, which took eight years, came to an end.

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→ 74. What's Next (Chapter 2 Epilogue)