Chapter 160: Farewell |
As enlistment day approached, the tranquility of everyday life was disrupted by unwelcome busyness. It seemed that the people around were more in a frenzy than the person actually leaving, making it feel as though human nature is the same everywhere.
“Why are you packing a handkerchief, hourglass, binoculars, a piece of charcoal, and whale oil?”
As Shiron looked at the items laid out on the table with a questioning look, Lucia pointed at each item with her finger, her voice emphasizing their importance.
“These are incredibly useful. You don’t know because you’ve never tried, but besides starting a fire, they can be comforting just by chewing on them when food runs out.”
“…Right, whale oil.”
“Ah, and it would be good to bring unbleached cotton fabric too. You never know what might happen.”
Despite the notice stating that supplies would be provided by the quartermaster and there was no need to bring unnecessary baggage, Lucia, like a parent caring for a child departing for a distant place, insisted on giving Shiron something.
Refusing such genuine concern would be awkward and tiresome, so Shiron, with familiar ease, packed the items into his bag.
Shiron muttered without looking at Lucia.
“…I’m not a child. Why would I do that?”
“Siriel followed because she was a child, right?”
Shiron looked up at Lucia. Caught for unintentionally thinking of Siriel as a child, Lucia could not meet his gaze directly.
“She was a child back then. But I think not anymore.”
Surprisingly, Lucia gave an honest answer. Instead of denying it, she seemed to have achieved mental growth, flexibly playing along with Shiron’s teasing.
“So, don’t worry about anything else and focus on taking care of yourself. Even if the surroundings of Dawn Castle are like your backyard, unexpected accidents can happen.”
“Miss Lucia is right. There might be accidents even Lord Shiron can’t foresee.”
Encia joined in expressing concern for Shiron, who looked at the blonde maid with a puzzled face.
“Why are you suddenly like this? It’s making me anxious.”
“Mistress Yuma said that the number of monsters crossing the mountains has increased.”
“Only the number? What about their strength?”
“Most of the monsters coming over the mountains are being pushed out from Dawn Castle, so I’m not sure about their strength. But with the increase in numbers, I suppose their quality must have improved somewhat.”
“The problem isn’t the monsters.”
Encia wasn’t the only one voicing concerns. Ophelia, who was observing the situation from the side, spoke up firmly.
“You should be careful of people, Lord. The person sleeping next to you, the comrades sharing the same water and bath, you must never think of them as comrades you can trust!”
“…Never? Comrades?”
Shiron felt a chill and displeasure at the warning to be wary of people and comrades but decided to listen more.
“Yes! If the incoming monsters have become stronger, there will undoubtedly be units that are annihilated and many who are injured.”
“…”
“At some point, the situation will become uncontrollable. The desperation will increase, ethical treatment won’t be received as expected, and people under a lot of stress from their environment might make extreme decisions.”
“…Like mass suicide?”
“More dangerous situations could arise.”
Ophelia continued, casting a shadow over her face.
“There might be those who consider using you as a scapegoat. Fools who would use their comrades as bait to save themselves… I’ve seen many such people over the years.”
“You can’t trust humans! Trust us!”
“Alright, enough with the unlucky talk.”
Shiron shuddered at the maids’ whispers.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t had the same type of concerns during this draft. That’s why he met with Victor, and despite the discomfort of being in the same place, he silently endured.
‘Are people more dangerous?’
Shiron visualized the landscape of the region he was heading to in his mind.
Cliffs sharply cut.
Heavy clouds.
A hulking figure.
And purple eyes.
‘It’s dangerous, that’s for sure.’
But that didn’t mean he could take them with him. The expedition always included many knights and priests. How much had he struggled to hide the mark on his sole while living in Lucerne?
[Don’t worry. I’m here now!]
Shiron noticed a small hand clutching his coat tightly.
“Whenever people around worry like this, something unlucky always seems to happen.”
Shiron grumbled, trying to shake off his complicated thoughts.
“I’ll give you a holiday. You can go to Dawn Castle, or visit father.”
“…What about secretly following?”
“Do you want to keep asking?”
“No, I think I get the gist of it.”
‘You mean do both, right?’
Understanding Shiron’s intention, the two received a purse of money from him.
A few days later.
Shiron stood in front of the mansion’s main gate, receiving farewells from everyone. He had expected Siriel, along with Hugo and Eldrina, to cling to him, crying and making a scene, but they came out to see him off without any fuss, maintaining a solemn atmosphere.
Feeling puzzled by their demeanor, Shiron cautiously asked,
“Why does everyone look so grim? Is someone going to die?”
“Have I ever received a noisy farewell when I went on an expedition?”
Hugo, stroking his plump chin, spoke in a grave voice,
“Sending off sons, lovers, and spouses to the battlefield should be a solemn and serious process.”
“What kind of ritual is that?”
“It’s not a superstition but a confirmed fact. Those who make a fuss usually end up receiving cold bodies or encountering their loved ones through a single line of text. On the other hand, those sent off as if they were just going out for a drink tend to return safely.”
Hearing Hugo’s explanation, Shiron nodded silently.
As Hugo said, including him, everyone refrained from causing any commotion in sending off Shiron. Even Siriel, who merely smiled quietly, seemed to confirm that it wasn’t just empty talk.
“Things have gotten complicated.”
Eldrina said to Shiron simply. She didn’t say to take care or express regret for not being able to hold a wedding ceremony.
Eldrina had always sent Hugo off on expeditions this way, and there was no breaking this unspoken rule even today.
“Bring back ice cream.”
Though it was a culture she couldn’t understand, Lucia agreed to comply quietly.
‘Shouldn’t it be okay to at least say take care?’
Lucia suppressed her desire to speak and turned around. She was worried. That’s why she had packed his things and offered advice, reviving old memories.
Returning to the annex, Lucia gulped and looked at the stairs.
The maids had gone on vacation, and Shiron was away for a long time due to the draft order.
“…”
The only one inside now was Seira, who didn’t see Shiron off because she was sprawled out taking a nap.
‘What should I do?’
Lucia was concerned about Seira. The thought of living together in the annex just the two of them was unsettling.
Then, just as she stretched and walked over… Seira, dressed in a nun’s habit, yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“Oh, has he already left?”
“…I just came back from seeing him off.”
“Ah, I see.”
Seira responded briefly and flicked her fingers a few times towards the outside. In the blink of an eye, a white bouquet of flowers appeared in her arms.
‘Her skills haven’t rusted.’
Lucia followed Seira, pretending to be a curious girl. Shiron had set up a huge stele in the backyard. At first, Lucia had questioned what he was doing, but now, thinking about it, it didn’t seem so bad.
The elf in a nun’s habit joined hands in front of the stele. Every morning, Seira prayed in front of Kyrie’s tombstone. Just watching that scene made Lucia unable to oppose Shiron’s decision.
“Wow, look at the tense atmosphere.”
Upon arriving at the train platform, Shiron spat out in disgust.
The young men who were supposed to wait in order and harmony were nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a bunch of sloppy figures creating a gloomy atmosphere, not even drunk.
[Hero, is this okay? There are no soldiers, just a bunch of idlers.]
‘…Seems like the empire has fallen without me knowing.’
The designated meeting place.
As he delved deeper, the situation grew even more severe.
Half.
The proportion of people tied up with ropes.
At first glance, these were not the young people who had responded to the draft order. People well beyond the conscription age bore large scars on their faces, and some had hollows around their mouths from poor dental care.
Feeling a bad premonition, Shiron felt a heavy pat on his shoulder.
“To meet in such a place, what a coincidence.”
“…Captain?”
Turning around, he saw a familiar middle-aged man wearing white gauntlets.
Captain of the Iron Mace Knight Brigade, 2nd Division, Malleus Garibaldi. He smirked, paying little attention to Shiron’s surprised expression.
“Don’t call me captain. In this expedition, I’m not leading any group. The captain is… His Highness the Crown Prince, leading these people.”
“…Who are these people?”
“Surprised? Seeing all these rugged fellows.”
Malleus averted his gaze with a sigh.
“You and I, and the unit the Crown Prince is part of, are made up entirely of criminals.”
“…Huh.”
“By His Majesty the Emperor’s decree. I suppose you understand what this means.”
“To go to the front lines?”
“Exactly.”
Malleus prayed for the yet-to-arrive Crown Prince’s safety.
