Chapter 26, No Ill Intent (6)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

After leaving the tavern and walking a bit further, they reached a quiet area. Though the moon was bright, the sky was cloudy. Moreover, it was late, and the magic lamps were extinguished. Thus, it was dark, and no living soul was in sight.

 

It was only after the distance did Kalian stop walking. Those two, who had been quietly following him, also came to a halt.

 

Kalian turned around and stared at the two of them for a while before untying the string  on the robe, which had been concealing his appearance. His black hair flowed out as if cascading down.

 

*Flutter!*

 

Kalian’s robe was draped over the shoulders of the girl called Hina.

 

Without a word, Kalian tied the robe string with composed hands and then looked at Kyrie.

 

Kyrie was not in his best state either. He was wearing an old shirt soaked with blood and sweat.

 

Kalian clicked his tongue and took off his jacket to hand it to Kyrie. Afterward, he asked in a passing tone while looking at the ears visible through Hina’s long silver hair.

 

“Did you cut them, or were they cut?”

 

There was a scar at the tip of Hina’s ears, as if they had been cut by something sharp. As if trying to hide the pointed tips that showed through.

 

Kyrie did not have such marks.

 

Though they were siblings, they looked different. Kalian recalled what Kyrie had mumbled while drunk. He had heard this from an unclear memory, that Kyrie took after their Father, while his Sister resembled their Mother.

 

They were Half-Elves.

 

At Kalian’s words, Hina’s shoulders flinched, and Kyrie stepped forward as if to block protect Hina from Kalian.

 

A voice tinged with wariness flowed out.

 

“While we’re grateful for your help.”

 

Kalian quickly lowered his head.

 

The Kyrie from the day of his death, that fading voice, echoed in his ears again.

 

[‘Sir, this is the only way I can repay you… the only thing I can do…’]

 

[At the time, I felt a mix of emotions. Happiness, sadness, gratitude, and remorse. There were too many emotions to express when I heard those words, that they just fell as tears…]

 

“Huu…” Kalian let out a long breath to calm his heart, wiped his eyes, and then raised his head.

 

“Siblings, Half-Elves. I heard from someone who was there earlier.”

 

Though he had not really heard it back at the gambling den, and had already known from Kyrie himself, it was not a lie. After making this reasonable excuse, Kalian continued.

 

“Don’t be wary. I have no ill intent.”

 

With those words, as if by magic, the wind blew.

 

The clouds drifted away in the breeze and moonlight shone through. Red eyes were revealed.

 

Only then did Kyrie properly see Kalian and hurriedly bowed. Hina, standing beside him, followed suit without knowing why.

 

“I apologize, Your Highness. I dared to doubt you without recognizing who you were.”

 

At those words, Hina was startled and bowed even deeper than she already had.

 

“I am Kyrie, and this is my Sister, Hina. We are orphans who lost our parents in childhood. We don’t even remember our family name.”

 

Kyrie was someone who did not need to bow to Kalian. So, Kalian softly said, “I see,” and grabbed their shoulders to raise them up.

 

“So, did you cut your ears, or were they cut by someone? If they were cut by someone else, I can at least help you make them pay.”

 

What mattered to Kalian now was not formal greetings.

 

Hina shook her head and touched her ears with her own hands. It meant she had cut them herself.

 

It must have been to appear like a normal human. After all, this was a time when the Elf Slave trafficking was still pervasive in provincial cities, though it was hard to find in Cyriesus.

 

“Were you always unable to speak? Or should I make them pay as well?”

 

Hina softly giggled. She shook her head to state ‘no’. She had thought a Prince would be as distant as the sky, but this Prince was so concerned with her that it felt heartwarming.

 

“She’s been unable to speak since birth, Your Highness.”

 

“Anything else? Nothing else that needs to be repaid in kind?”

 

Kalian’s question came from remembering Hina’s clothes. Fortunately, Hina’s head moved side to side again. She soon pointed to Kyrie. It meant she had been fine thanks to Kyrie.

 

“I see.”

 

[‘My sister chose death herself.’\

 

A Half-Elf girl with nothing to her name. And a pretty one at that.

 

He had not asked about the reason for suicide then. However, he could tell everything from Kyrie’s self-reproaching expression from back then.

 

After Hina’s suicide, Kyrie had killed everyone at the gambling den. He had fled straight to Secritia after that.

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

[Thank goodness those events had not repeated themselves. How fortunate.]

 

“I saw you yesterday at Astrisha Street.”

 

Kyrie looked surprised. While the masses might remember Kalian, it would not be easy for Kalian to remember them.

 

“You were watching the Knights, right?”

 

Kyrie was surprised once again. Because it was exactly as Kalian said.

 

“Yes, that’s right. I was there.”

 

Someone called ‘Master’ had wanted to meet Kyrie, so he had briefly stepped out. He had only stood there for a very short while before returning. But in that time, Kalian had recognized him, and remembered him.

 

“Perhaps you want to become a Knight?” Kalian had asked the same question to Kyrie once before.

 

‘Kyrie. Do you want to become a Knight?’

 

Kyrie, who had left Cyries after losing his wings to the reality, that he could not learn the sword, and losing his only remaining blood relation, had looked straight into Bern’s eyes and answered.

 

‘A sword. I will become a sword.’

 

He remembered those eyes that had boldly spoken such embarrassing words.

 

The seventeen-year-old Kyrie, with those same eyes, answered clearly.

 

“No, Your Highness. I don’t want to be a Knight, but a sword.”

 

It was still the same answer.

 

Kalian asked again with a satisfied expression.

 

“You two. Do you know my name?”

 

“Yes. Third Prince Kalian. We know.”

 

Kalian nodded and handed the five gold coins he had just received back to Hina. Hina’s eyes grew round at suddenly receiving such a large sum.

 

Kalian asked Hina.

 

“Do you know how to clean?”

 

Nodding, Hina answered with head movements instead of words.

 

“Good. Now spend the next five days sleeping somewhere nice, buying proper clothes, eating well, and enjoying yourselves. Kyrie, get yourself treated too. If you run short on funds, put it on Allan Manasil’s tab at the Arcane Enclave. He’ll settle the accounts.”

 

Hina nodded again.

 

Kyrie looked dumbfounded at the situation, where the person who had saved them from the gambling den turned out to be a Prince, and was even giving them money.

 

However, Kalian had not come to just hand them money.

 

Kalian continued speaking.

 

“After five days, come to the Royal Palace. Come find me. Don’t get confused with the other Princes. There’s a bad drunk among the Princes, so be careful.”

 

Whether the infamy of the ‘bad drunk Prince’ had spread beyond the Royal Palace or not, Hina silently laughed. She looked at Kalian with a surprised face. She seemed to have just realized what he meant about coming to the Royal Palace.

 

“For now, stay at the Royal Palace. I’ll be hard for me to make you feel comfortable in the environment there. But you’ll have to find work, nevertheless. The Royal Palace should be better than here. Anyway, when you come to the Royal Palace, there will be a kid called Ian who looks somewhat puppy-like. Just do what he tells you to do. As for me… I might be a bit busy then and will be unable to meet you right away.”

 

It would be difficult to provide immediate help for the mute Hina to live alone without Kyrie. He could send her to Allan’s place, but Kyrie would likely worry. After all, even on the surface, was Allan not a ‘young’ and vigorous male? Rather than that, it would be better to keep her as a maid. If she disliked palace life, they could send her away then – it would not be too late for her to start anew.

 

“Did you understand everything?”

 

Nod nod.

 

“Good. Which Prince am I?”

 

Three fingers were spread out.

 

“Any objections to working at the Royal Palace?”

 

Shake shake.

 

“How many days until you come?”

 

Five fingers spread wide.

 

“Yes, good.”

 

Nod nod.

 

Seeing her nodding so enthusiastically, it made him worried her neck might get hurt. Kalian almost unconsciously reached out to pat Hina’s head. Though she was shorter than Kalian, he fortunately remembered that Hina was two years older.

 

Having finished speaking to Hina, Kalian turned around.

 

He took out the sword that had been in Raven’s saddle, prepared for Kyrie. Then, he handed it to Kyrie.

 

“Take this.”

 

Kyrie received the sword reflexively. He felt its weight, just right for wielding. Seeing this, Kalian smiled with satisfaction.

 

[That’s right. Kyrie should be holding a sword. It’s just natural.]

 

“You can’t become a Knight right away. You’ll have to be my shield first. If you want to truly become a sword, come and find me.”

 

Kyrie looked at the sword in his hand, then at Kalian.

 

“I will make you into the finest sword.”

 

A sword that serves a Prince.

 

It was a position the current Kyrie could never even dream of.

 

It was just that unbelievable.

 

“Why… are you doing all of this for us?”

 

“Because I need a good sword.”

 

Kalian simply answered.

 

It did not take long for Kyrie to make up his mind. When someone appeared who recognized him, and cherishes him, what was there to hesitate about?

 

Kyrie prostrated himself before Kalian. An earnest voice followed.

 

“I will come. If you permit it, I will become Your Highness’s sword.”

 

“Yes. I came here to find that sword.”

 

Kalian smiled and raised Kyrie up again.

 

[And, this my repayment to you.]

 

…

 

Though Kalian fortunately managed to enter Naeransha Street before sunrise, his condition was far from good. He had made it here practically by lying down on Raven’s back.

 

Whether they had risen early or had not yet slept, several people wearing Mage robes were walking about the street. When they saw someone slumped over on a black horse, they were startled and hurriedly backed away.

 

Each time this happened, Raven’s hoof sounds grew louder.

 

The horse seemed to remember the attention that had been focused on them during King’s processions. Kalian, still draped over on Raven’s back, spoke in a weak voice.

 

“Raven. We’re not in such a magnificent state right now. Don’t get so excited, it’s embarrassing…”

 

With he said everything, the tension had drained away and his body hurt again.

 

Due to the weakened state of his heart, he had not been able to use Mana. In fact, to create the ‘Aura Blade’, he had to forcibly use his nearly depleted Mana to manifest Aura. So, despite taking medicine, he had reached his limit. As a result, he had to use Raven’s back as a bed to move about.

 

Still, it was incredibly fortunate that Raven was clever. If he had found his way around the capital on his own. Without Raven, they might not have made it back in time like this.

 

Before long, they arrived at the Arcane Enclave, which Allan had told Kalian about. When he staggered inside the building, the Mages very warmly welcomed Kalian. The head of this Arcane Enclave, named Euria, personally came out and guided Kalian to a room.

 

It was a small study doubling as a reception room, with magic tomes densely packed in bookcases lining all four walls.

 

A decorative knife placed on the desk caught his eye. It looked very similar to the knife Kalian carried.

 

“Master.”

 

Allan was sitting on the sofa. He had waited for Kalian without sleeping.

 

So happy to see such an Allan, Kalian barely managed to hold back tears that nearly welled up.

 

Allan gaped at Kalian’s haggard appearance.

 

“Did you fight? Why did you sell your clothes?”

 

Kalian burst out laughing.

 

“I didn’t fight. As for my clothes, well, something came up.”

 

Since he had only intimidated and put on airs at the gambling den rather than actually fighting, this was not a lie.

 

Allan wrinkled his nose as if he smelled the unpleasant odor of the gambling den on him. He snapped his fingers, and refreshing air seemed to wrap around Kalian, giving him a fresh feeling.

 

Realizing it was the spell, Clean, Kalian was delighted.

 

“Thank you.”

 

After saying that, Kalian flopped down opposite Allan. Allan closed the book he was holding and asked.

 

“Have you finished all your business?”

 

“Yes, for now. Though, it seems I’ll need to go out again in a month.”

 

At those words, Allan nodded. It meant he would take him out again in a month.

 

Soon, Allan set down the book he was holding in mid-air. Amazingly, the book fluttered like a bird and slotted itself into the bookshelf.

 

When Kalian stared at this sight, as if enchanted, Allan explained.

 

“It’s magic cast over this entire building that puts desired objects into the desired places. Mages don’t really like moving around.”

 

“Fascinating.”

 

“Though casting magic on an entire building is more troublesome that just picking up and placing back books, I guess that is just what is expected of Mages. Just think nothing of it.”

 

Kalian laughed. Then, looking at an object that had particularly caught his eye, he asked.

 

“But there’s something rather not Mage-like here. A knife?”

 

At those words, Allan stared for a long time at what Kalian’s gaze had landed on. A strange tone flowed from his lips.

 

“Yes. There is a knife. Though there shouldn’t be anything in its place.”

 

Allan gave a bitter smile. Kalian’s expression became a questioning one, as he looked back at Allan.

 

Though it lay there as if it were nothing, it was a treasure more precious than life to the head of this Enclave, Euria. That was because it was made by Syspanian herself. It was also a magic item that showed the weapons hidden on a person in the form of a decoration. In short, it was a magic item that warns its owner of whoever enters this room with a hidden weapon on them.

 

The presence of a decorative knife on the desk meant that Kalian was currently carrying a knife.

 

Allan’s gaze calmly settled.

 

“When people age, various things change, but curiosity is something that rarely disappears.”

 

Questions appeared on Kalian’s face again. Allan said no more about that and mentioned a different topic while manipulating Mana.

 

“As I mentioned, the items in this room move according to my will. Since it’s just a matter of knowing how to convey my will, there’s nothing difficult about moving things freely.”

 

Since he could not understand why this was being brought up, Kalian’s mouth closed as he was about to suggest that perhaps they should get some rest.

 

“If only people’s inner thoughts could be moved and examined so freely as well.”

 

Because he saw the decorative knife quietly rising from the bookshelf.

 

“But that cannot be done in the same manner, through only my will.”

 

“Master?”

 

The knife slowly turned to face Kalian.

 

Seeing the blade, rather too sharp to be decorative, pointing at him, Kalian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“…So, I thought to understand it like this at least.”

 

He thought it was a joke. But Allan did not stop.

 

*Swish!*

 

The knife flew toward Kalian’s neck with lightning speed. Sensing danger, Kalian’s hand moved by instinct.

 

*Clang!*

 

The sound of blade meeting blade rang out piercingly.

 

Then complete silence fell.

 

Allan…

 

Looked at the knife that had somehow been drawn and was now in Kalian’s hand, the other knife that had bounced off it and embedded itself in the wall.

 

At this, Kalian’s eyes, honed sharp as a sword’s edge.

 

Kalian silently stared at Allan, and Allan quietly observed Kalian’s gaze.

 

Allan’s voice flowed out, breaking the suffocating silence.

 

“Please. Explain.”

 

Kalian closed his eyes for a moment.