Chapter 76

When the scorching sunlight shone directly from above,

Edgar was atop a very high mountain. At his feet lay a thick layer of white perennial snow.

Despite the intense sunlight, his skin was freezing cold.

After a 30-second cooldown, he was about to use his technique to fly again when,

Nobara-hime, from his back, exhaled a white breath and said,

"Is it already noon?"

"Good morning, Princess. We're moving east, so the sun seems to be moving faster than usual. It's probably still morning in the capital of the kingdom."

"Is that so... Huh!"

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"If Azuma runs west at this speed, it would be daytime all day long, wouldn't it!?"

Nobara-hime exclaimed as if she had made a great discovery.

Edgar narrowed his eyes, hidden by his messy hair, and smiled wryly.

"If you try hard enough, it might be... but even for me, it's quite a challenge."

"Is that so. What a pity."

"Only those who can use the Light Escape technique can surpass the speed of light."

"Is there such a person! That's amazing... Hmm?"

"What's wrong now?"

In response to Edgar's question, Nobara-hime extended her slender arm and pointed south.

"There's a large town by the sea. Where is it?"

"Well... this area is in the middle of the continent, so it's probably the capital of the Nemurachanda Kingdom, Nelu?"

"Ah! The country of tea and spices!"

"You know a lot, as expected, Princess."

Edgar was impressed, and Nobara-hime smiled slyly.

"Let's go there!"

"Really? Alright then. Hold on tight while I fly."

"Okay!"

Nobara-hime wrapped her arms around Edgar and clung to him tightly.

Edgar, with his eyes hidden by his messy hair, glared at the port town and chanted his spell.

"Wind Escape—Wind Crossing Technique"

Immediately, Edgar's figure disappeared from the mountaintop.

◇ ◇ ◇

In the capital Nelu, where the scorching sunlight shone directly from above,

Edgar was walking through the bustling streets with Nobara-hime on his back.

On the unpaved dirt roads, many people were walking and cattle were parading.

The people were walking in bright, primary-colored clothing.

Nobara-hime, having taken off her thick jacket and headscarf, was looking around curiously from Edgar's back.

She pointed to a stall.

"Azuma, look!"

"What? What is it?"

"It's giving off a fragrant smell!"

"What is it... It seems to be fried in oil."

Edgar approached the stall and peered inside.

The bearded stall owner grinned, showing his white teeth.

"How about it, kid? Want to try some samosas?"

"Samosas...? Then, let's have one each."

"Sure thing!"

The owner handed them triangular fried items wrapped in paper.

Edgar offered a silver coin.

"I don't have the local currency, so is a silver coin from another country okay?"

"Hmm, that's from Fortis. Sure, it's fine!"

The owner gave a thumbs-up and winked.

Edgar thanked him and left.

Then, the two of them each took a bite of the freshly fried samosas, which were about the size of a palm.

Edgar exhaled in relief.

"They're hot but crispy, and full of meat juice inside. They're delicious."

"Indeed! They're like large, freshly fried dumplings! —Especially the rich aroma of the spices is irresistible."

Nobara-hime was holding the samosa with both hands and taking big bites.

Edgar smiled and took a bite of his samosa.

"But they're not spicy. —I'm glad you like them."

"Indeed! Everything is going well!"

After finishing the samosas, the two of them stopped at another stall.

It was a stall selling drinks.

Edgar ordered steaming milk tea—chai.

Nobara-hime chose a cold, white drink.

The princess took a sip and her black eyes sparkled.

"Wow! This drink called lassi is sweet and sour, and delicious!"

"This chai also has spices, giving it a mature flavor."

"Hehe, it's fun."

Nobara-hime smiled happily on Edgar's back.

After satisfying their hunger at the stall, the two of them wandered through the city.

Silk shops, craft shops, and jewelry shops.

Nobara-hime enjoyed the foreign city life with sparkling eyes.

She was beaming with joy on Edgar's back.

—Then,

Nobara-hime spotted something and pointed from Edgar's back.

It was a large building with an onion-shaped dome.

"There's something over there."

"A castle... no, it looks like a mausoleum."

"I want to go inside."

"Hmm, let's go check it out first."

"Okay, let's do that."

Edgar, with Nobara-hime on his back, headed towards the mausoleum.

When they got close to the entrance of the mausoleum, they saw people paying money to enter.

"It seems you have to pay an entrance fee to go inside."

"If so, let's go in!"

"Got it."

Edgar approached the gate and paid the fee.

Then they entered.

Upon entering, they found themselves in a garden.

The well-maintained garden was filled with various brightly colored flowers.

Further back, a white mausoleum towered.

Nobara-hime, on Edgar's back, let out a sigh of admiration.

"Wow... what a beautiful garden."

"It must take a lot of work to maintain."

The two of them walked through the garden, admiring the flowers.

Then, they arrived at the mausoleum.

The building was so tall it seemed to touch the sky, with an onion-shaped dome on top.

Nobara-hime was looking up in awe.

"Such beautiful decorations and such height... It must be the tomb of a king who boasted of his power."

"Hmm, it seems to be different."

Edgar read the plaque next to the building.

Nobara-hime tilted her head, her bobbed black hair swaying.

"Then, whose tomb is it?"

"It seems to be the tomb of the king's beloved daughter. She was a rare beauty, deeply loved by the king, but she died young due to an incurable disease. The king, deeply saddened, built this magnificent mausoleum."

"Hmm... let's go inside and see."

"Got it."

Edgar, with Nobara-hime on his back, entered the building.

Inside the building, it was cool and refreshing.

The walls were painted in bright blue and yellow.

Delicate decorative patterns adorned the ceiling and pillars, making it beautiful.

Everything was designed to comfort the soul of the deceased, filled with loving and compassionate art and decorations.

Nobara-hime, with her small mouth open wide, looked around the spacious hall, the thick pillars, and the high ceiling.

"What a grand tomb... It's flashy, but it purifies the soul..."

"The king spent decades building this mausoleum. As a result, his own tomb ended up being very simple."

"Is that so. That's another proof of love... This girl was loved by her father... I'm envious."

Nobara-hime said with a hint of sadness, her eyebrows furrowed.

A shadow fell over Edgar's face.

Nobara-hime was one of dozens of children.

Moreover, because of her low maternal status, she received little attention from her father.

She could only look at her father from a distance.

So, she imitated her father and acted grandly.

It was like playing "lord and lady."

If she didn't do this, she couldn't hide her loneliness from being ignored.

Edgar was the one who played along with Nobara-hime's make-believe games.

The princess liked Edgar not as a servant or a romantic interest, but as a playmate.

—Her only friend.

The princess, who was treated lightly and carelessly, and the servant, who was excellent but worn out by his work, supported each other through their make-believe games.

To Edgar, the princess was also a dear friend.

Nobara-hime, with her small hand, grabbed Edgar's clothes.

Edgar said in a very gentle voice,

"Shall we go now, Princess?"

"Okay..."

Nobara-hime nodded as if she had given up.

Edgar readjusted her on his back and left the mausoleum.

When they reached an alley where the northern mountain range was visible, he quietly chanted his spell.

"Wind Escape—Wind Crossing Technique"

Then, Edgar disappeared from the streets of Nelu.

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→ 77. Interlude: Edgar at That Time—Part 2