Chapter Ten: The Forest of Madness VI

Following the commotion of the previous evening, the squadron had escaped the forest intact, finally arriving at their destination. The proctors slept inside a fortress located at the very center of a newly paved Alabaster Road. Shuou’s team had knocked on their gates close to midnight. Since the proctors hadn’t expected any squadrons to finish the exam so quickly, their panic had been tremendous, eliciting smirks from the entire team.

Upon entering the fortress, the squadron had received spare sets of dry clothes. Afterwards, they’d slept like logs inside warm beds. The next day, they’d woken up to breakfast, and around noon, they’d borrowed horses to return to the capital. Their journey up until this point had been arduous. However, while riding horseback on the proctors’ well-maintained Alabaster Road, they could reach the royal capital in less than half a day, they’d been told.

As of right now, Aise was driving her horse towards the capital. Surprisingly, Shuou had claimed that he couldn’t ride horseback. Thus, he sat behind Jiro, who – even more surprisingly – took the lead, claiming to be a proficient rider. Indeed, the Demiphibian had incredible equestrian skills. A little ways behind Jiro, Aise and Shitori rode alongside each other. Kumokari rode at the rear, Borge on his back.

“Yesterday was… incredible,” Aise said with subdued excitement.

The sight of Shuou single-handedly defeating two large Rabidaemons had been burned into her mind. Though she’d considered discussing this many times, Shuou’s calm aura had consumed her, leaving her unable to mention what had occurred.

“It was,” said Kumokari.

His reaction sounded far more indifferent than Aise had anticipated.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “After seeing that fight, that’s all you have to say?”

“To be honest, I was so shocked that my feelings of surprise came full circle. And as it is, he gives off an incredible aura, you know? So no matter how astonishing his actions are, I’m strangely convinced that, yes, he’s capable of such a feat.”

Clinging to Kumokari from behind, Borge interjected.  “It was more than amazing. That was a miracle you can only hope to see once in a lifetime. A mere commoner without a Sunstone took down two Rabidaemons of that size all by himself. Damn it all. I had my life saved by one hell of a guy.”

Borge held up two fingers, emphasizing the pair of Rabidaemons Shuou had defeated.

“Exactly!” cried Aise. “It was amazing! He’s amazing. He took that huge spider’s leg like this, and—”

Aise gestured with her whole body, recreating each of Shuou’s actions from the previous day. The moment those two Rabidaemons had appeared before them, Aise had resolved herself to die. Shuou had blown away that resolve. And after accomplishing so much, a bolt of lightning had struck behind him. So long as she lived, Aise would never forget how divine he’d appeared in that instant.

“Do you think he’ll have it hard from here on out?” asked Kumokari.

His words ended Aise’s fantasizing.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“He’s can casually best two Rabidaemons, keeping a composed expression all the while. I doubt the country or military would ignore such a talented person. Once the world knows of his skill, countless great merchants and mercenary groups will be clamoring to hire him. At any rate, traveling up and down the Alabaster Road is lucrative, but it’s also dangerous. That’s the struggle all merchants face.”

“I see what you mean.”

That is true, Aise thought.

The military always sought out people of extraordinary talent. Likewise, various countries and feudal lords would be desperate to get their hands on someone as capable as Shuou. Aise wondered what would happen if Murakumo hired him. If everything went well, they could end up assigned to the same squadron. Under those circumstances, would she be able to see his divine silhouette once more? Would they chat about this and that, growing even closer than they were now?

These optimistic fantasies raced through Aise’s mind, excitement filling her heart.

“What did you think, Shitori?”

Aise called out to Shitori, who was riding right beside her. Even so, Shitori didn’t respond, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

“Shitori!” cried Aise.

“…Huh?”

As if she’d just heard her, Shitori looked at Aise.

“I’m asking you about what Shuou did yesterday,” said Aise. “Do you have any thoughts?”

“…No, not really,” Shitori spoke curtly, her gaze returning to the distance.

Despite noticing something off about Shitori’s attitude, Aise didn’t give it much thought. Instead, she once again immersed herself in conversation with Kumokari and Borge, the topic of which was still Shuou.

Spurring on their horses, the squadron arrived in the royal capital fairly late into the evening. Excited to drink until the crack of dawn, Shuou’s team of Squire applicants planned to stay in the inn from which they’d departed. No sooner than they’d passed through the gates, the group headed towards that establishment. Though the girls were invited as well, Aise gave a vague response, saying she would join them if possible.

“What about you, Shitori?” asked Shuou.

“No way. I want to go home, take a bath, and get a good night’s sleep.”

“I see.”

Shitori glanced at the card in Aise’s hand. “Though I doubt you’ll have any time to rest, Aise.”

Last nights, news had been sent out that Aise’s squadron had completed the exam unprecedentedly early, all their commoners – including one injured man from another team – still alive. Naturally, this had reached the ears of her father: the Count Mordred. As soon as she’d arrived in the capital, someone from Aise’s house had been waiting to give her an invitation to a party. Count Mordred had invited many of his blood relations and nobles from high society to attend a party celebrating his daughter’s victory. Thus, Aise had to return home, get ready, and join the party as the guest of honor.

“Well, I’ll get through this one way or another,” she said.

“As only you can,” said Shitori. “I’m heading out now. Good job, Aise.”

“Y-yeah… Good job to you, too.”

Good job, huh?

This was the first time she’d received words of praise from Shitori. Feeling somewhat uneasy, Aise rode her horse to the manor where her family waited.

***

Wearing a yellow dress adorned with numerous elegant jewels, Aise held a brightly colored cocktail in her hand. Lavish food – too much to be eaten – had been lined up within the high-ceilinged dance hall. People dressed in beautiful, luxuriant clothes exchanged meaningless, flowery rhetoric as if their lives depended on it. For Aise, this was nothing out of the ordinary. She’d grown accustomed to the world of the aristocracy.

I’m bored.

The words of flattery, the sweet drinks, the endless stream of new dishes. Everything reflected in her eyes appeared as worthless. Until she’d participated in the exam, she’d been satisfied with this world. Nothing had made Aise happier than her parents’ recognition or praise from others. Yet now, she longed for the lifeless, gray landscape of the Abyss.

Simple meals finished in one bite. The Rabidaemon that had crushed her confidence in a single instant. Struggling to sleep inside a tent erected on lumpy ground. The companions who had spoken to her, showing concern when she became depressed. None of those things were here.

Concentrated into a mere six days, those numerous events already felt nostalgic. Aise looked at the bandage wrapped around her foot. Upon returning home, she’d refused a servant’s offer to change the dressing. As she recalled Shuou cleaning her injured foot and gently applying flower nectar to the wound, a smile appeared on her face.

“––se–––Aise.”

While she focused on her thoughts, her father’s words pulled her back to reality.

“Sorry, Father.”

“You’re tired, of course. Don’t worry about it. I’m asking a lot of you, I know.”

Her father had drunk a fair amount of alcohol. Despite never relaxing his stern demeanor, he appeared in unusually good spirits. The results of Gemstone Academy’s graduation exam drastically affected one’s future as a member of the nobility. Since Aise had passed the test with unprecedentedly favorable marks, her father swelled with pride at her achievement. Envious of Count Mordred for raising such an extraordinary daughter, the gathered nobles showered him in unceasing praise. Each time, his chest puffed out a little more.

“Aise, it’s about time for you to speak to everyone,” he said.

“…Yes.”

She moved to stand atop a small platform placed in the center of the hall. As a servant called for silence, the people stopped chattering, focusing their gazes on Aise.

“I am truly delighted that so many people have gathered here today for a fledgling noblewoman such as myself,” she said. “On behalf of the Mordred family, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude.”

Aise performed a graceful bow, earning the audience’s applause. Once the clapping had died down, she continued.

“My father has lauded my personal ability for the results of this exam. However, this is incorrect.”

A murmur rose from the audience.

“I was weak and foolish. If not for my reliable companions, I wouldn’t be here speaking right now. Despite being leader of the squadron, I was hardly able to fulfill my role…”

“Aise, what on earth are you saying right now?” her father asked.

As he hurried to her side, Aise looked directly at him.

“Father, please forgive my selfishness, just for today. I’m heading out.”

“Heading out? Where to!?”

Stepping down from the platform, Aise took off running. From the very beginning, she should have gone with her companions. There was nothing for her in this place. She remembered Kumokari’s voice as he fretted over everyone. Shitori’s sullen countenance. Jiro’s strange speech patterns making the group laugh. And him, quietly watching over the entire squadron. On the verge of fleeing this empty box, Aise left a few words for her father, who watched her go with a dumbfounded expression.

“To be with my companions!”

Still wearing her dress, Aise went outside without a jacket. Mounting the horse she’d ridden here, she raced towards the inn her companions had spoken of.

Her exhaled breath flowed behind her, trailing like white smoke. She raced across the main streets, turning left and right down the unfamiliar, urban area. Relying on the location she’d heard about beforehand, Aise arrived at the inn. Warm light seeped from the building. From inside, she could hear familiar voices, speaking cheerfully to one another.

She placed her hand on the entrance. Quelling her beating heart, she opened the door. From around their inside table, Aise’s companions noticed her at once, welcoming her with great joy. Facing her team, Aise wore the innocent smile of a child.

Holding a fish in his mouth, Jiro brought her a chair, Kumokari pushing her from behind. Still sitting, Borge laughed, raising a cup of alcohol towards her. Ever the same, Shuou gazed at Aise with a composed expression. Though Shitori had claimed she wouldn’t be here, she had – for some reason – shrewdly taken up position right beside him. Despite feeling bothered, Aise would leave her be for now.

In this moment, she was unbearably happy. Unbearably happy to be with her companions, with whom she’d shared both joy and sorrow.

Original text: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4006r/7/