Chapter 35

Well, we're moving on to a new chapter.

Regarding the future direction, Noah will still be handling the front desk.

However, the story can't progress with just that, so we'll also be going to the castle.

I've received various comments and there are parts I want to revise, but for now, I want to prioritize updates.

This might be something I should report in the activity report, but I thought it would be too much trouble to read, so I'm reporting it here.

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Suddenly, I think about myself.

I'm dazed, and it's hard to understand. I'm floating in a space without any contours.

I know this feeling.

Ah, it's a dream.

Before I fell asleep, there was something important.

I can't quite remember.

The world suddenly becomes colorful.

I see myself lying on a white bed.

I'm connected to medical equipment and can't move at all.

My father is sitting beside me, looking at my face.

Why is my father here?

My father is supposed to be dead. He died during the journey to find my mother's medicine.

No, that's not it.

That's right. This is my father from when I was in Japan.

The one lying on the bed is the Japanese me.

What if I were still alive?

After the accident, if I had been sleeping all this time, and Noah is just a dream?

Is that world just a product of my imagination?

That can't be.

The parents, Nigel, Uncle, Chris, and everyone I met in that world had emotions, suffered, and laughed.

"Sorry, Dad."

The hospital room and my father's figure distort and disappear, and I'm back in the empty space.

The hospital is just a convenient dream for me.

There's no way my body, which was hit by a train, could be intact.

I can't go back to my life in Japan.

I've been reincarnated. But I can't live that life again.

If I die, I can't even regret it.

That's right. I've always wanted to live.

I've always been afraid of dying.

Even if I wake up, the fear of death will always follow me.

When I jumped in front of Uncle, I momentarily forgot my fear.

Even though I knew it was dangerous, I still wanted to protect Uncle.

But that's not enough. What I did wasn't a brave act. It was reckless and foolish.

I can't forget the fear of dying.

I don't want to die. I want to live.

I want to live.

So, I've always wanted to live, haven't I?

Running away won't protect me or the people I care about.

I want the power to protect.

For the first time in my life, I want power.

I feel light through my eyelids and open my eyes.

I turn my head to look around.

I feel a bit relieved that I'm not in a hospital room surrounded by medical equipment.

I'm relieved that Noah is alive.

"Noah...!"

Uncle comes in from the next room.

He notices I'm awake and comes to my side.

I try to speak, but only a hoarse breath comes out.

Uncle supports my body and brings a water pitcher to my mouth.

"Where are we...?"

"It's the castle of Albion."

Uncle tells me what happened after I was stabbed.

Bald, who was waiting by the door, noticed something was wrong and burst in, subduing Captain Smith.

The wound was on my shoulder, not too large but very deep.

Fortunately, the bleeding wasn't severe, but in a world where medical technology isn't highly developed, it was a serious injury.

They stopped the bleeding and decided to move me to the first bailey for safety.

During the move, we encountered the Lotus Empire's envoy.

They offered to let their medical team treat me.

We couldn't refuse the kindness of a foreign envoy.

The doctors from the Lotus Empire treated me and brought me to the castle.

The wound doesn't hurt now. I've been unconscious for three days.

I feel like I've been caught up in something incredible.

I'm thinking about what to do next, feeling Uncle's gaze.

"Excuse me."

Prince Yuse, or rather, the former king, slips in.

As I try to sit up in surprise, the former king stops me with a hand.

"How are you feeling?"

"S-Sir, former king..."

"You can call me Yuse. I'm grateful to you, Noah, for helping Randolph. Thank you for saving him."

With that, Yuse slowly bows his head.

"I should have been the first to say it. Noah, thank you."

"Yes... But, did I do something unnecessary...?"

Uncle might have been able to protect himself without my intervention.

Because I got hurt, we had to trouble a foreign envoy.

"Noah, you always do this. You need to recognize your own worth."

Uncle says this with a face that looks both angry and troubled.

"You should accept gratitude humbly. You did a lot. You saved Randolph's life. There's no need for you to feel responsible for the envoy."

"...Yes."

Uncle tells Yuse about my condition and that I'm not in pain, and Yuse smiles.

"Still, you have some fast ears."

"Yes, I think so too."

The fast ears must refer to the envoy.

Why did the envoy know about the incident within the knight corps?

If they heard the commotion and offered help, it would be a favor to the Kingdom of Albion.

However, I think it's a risky move.

If Uncle's condition was worse and he died during treatment, it could become a diplomatic issue.

But if they knew I was just a commoner and still offered help, it would be even more impressive.

Captain Smith was a fanatical Frater believer with ties to the Lotus Empire.

A Frater believer trying to assassinate the Earl of Essex would damage the Frater's image.

But if the envoy from the empire's origin country helped, it would show that the empire was not involved in the incident.

Captain Smith would be seen as a lone criminal, and the incident would be viewed as a domestic issue, minimizing the damage to the Frater's image.

This makes it hard to believe that Captain Smith and the Lotus Empire are completely unrelated.

But Captain Smith is from a noble family in Albion.

I sigh deeply, sinking into the bed.

"Excuse me! I've come to see the patient!"

There's a commotion at the door. As I turn my head, the door opens with a loud bang.

A red-haired woman enters the room loudly, followed by a man in white, a female knight, and a maid.

Behind them, I see Albion's royal guards and the former king's knights.

"Former King! And Lord Essex, how are you?"

"I'm sorry, Your Highness..."

The red-haired woman greets Yuse without paying attention to our frozen state.

They seem to be from the Lotus Empire's envoy, and they have a formidable presence.

"Ah, Princess Daria. How are you?"

Princess. She exudes dignity and elegance. She's very beautiful.

The royal guards couldn't refuse when the princess of another country asked to enter. Is that okay?

Uncle stands beside Yuse with a stern face.

"Oh, you're awake! Can I check on your condition?"

The formidable beauty looks at me. I can only nod.

Should I say something to express my gratitude? No, can I even speak directly to a princess?

I glance at Uncle. He shakes his head. Maybe I shouldn't do anything unnecessary.

The man in white seems to be a doctor.

After answering a few questions, being examined, and having my bandages changed, I'm released.

"The major wound has been sealed with magic, but the internal damage remains. Change the bandages frequently and rest for a week."

"Yes, thank you."

It seems I won't be able to move my right shoulder for a while.

Considering the size of the injury, I should be grateful that it's only this much.

"Good. I believe your name is Noah, right? Can I call you that?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

The princess leans in to hear my response, and I struggle to keep my voice from cracking.

"Oh, you won't call me Daria? What a pity."

I can't.

The room's atmosphere is completely dominated by the princess.

No one can stop her.

"Noah, I heard you're Lord Essex's adopted son. Why are you working as a guild employee?"

"Um, well..."

Before I can correct her, the princess continues.

"Even as an adopted son, you're still a noble. You should have a position befitting your status. I think it's a waste. You have so much talent, and you're working as a guild employee!"

What a haughty way to speak. It feels like everything I've done is being dismissed.

Who does she think she is? Oh, she's a princess.

Is this theatrical behavior genuine?

"And your courage to make self-sacrifices! Noah, you have the makings of a hero. Oh, I know!"

The princess laughs even more deeply.

"Please come to the Lotus Empire. We can provide a place where you can fully utilize your talents."

This statement prompts a reaction from Yuse, who has been observing.

I don't want to look at Uncle. I can feel his tense presence without looking.

"Princess Daria, he is indeed under the protection of the Earl of Essex, but he is not a noble."

Yuse says this gently, but the princess's expression doesn't change.

"Oh, he doesn't look like one. Since the former king himself came to visit, I thought he was a noble. If he's not, why not become a noble in the Lotus Empire? We welcome him!"

"He doesn't want to be a noble. He just wants to be a guild employee."

The princess ignores Uncle's defense and continues.

"Besides, I know about the skills you possess, Noah."

"What...!"

Not only me, but Yuse and Uncle are visibly shaken.

"Hehe, it's a woman's secret."

The princess smiles, as if enjoying our reactions.

"With those skills, you can easily find talented individuals and exploit the weaknesses of the strong. It's a wonderful skill. Saving Lord Essex from the evil hands was thanks to this skill, wasn't it?"

It's true.

I knew Captain Smith had a thrust skill. That might be why I could act in that moment.

I didn't have time to think about it, but knowing an opponent's actions and abilities in advance can be very useful.

"If you're willing, I wanted to invite you to our country immediately. I was too hasty. But I'm not lying. If you change your mind, you can come anytime."

The princess's white hand caresses my cheek.

Her eyes look straight at me.

Her eyes are the same red as her hair, which everyone praises as very beautiful.

But to me, they seem poisonous.

"Goodbye, everyone."

The princess concludes and leaves with her attendants.

I can only watch her go in a daze.

2015/01/12 Revised