Arc 28: Return (4)

The wall gave a deep rumble.

It began just as it had before. Restoration spread outward from my hand, gradually widening its reach.

Stone dust gathered, and enormous fragments rose back into place. It really did look like something being rewound.

Even though I was the one doing it, I could only stare, overwhelmed by the sight.

"... Look at that."

Someone spoke. The right-hand wall—the very spot they had fought so desperately to defend during the monsters’ last all-out assault.

Its cracked sections knit together like healing wounds. Fissures closed. Sagging sections stirred, rose, and straightened themselves.

Quiet cries of wonder gradually swelled. Voices rose in admiration, and little bursts of laughter escaped.

‘... This is using more mana than I expected.’

I checked the tie I had fashioned from Penelope’s Cloth. It was shrinking rapidly, even after I had swallowed an entire Dragon Heart.

But looking at this, I could hardly complain. It truly seemed as though time were turning backward, as though the wall were reclaiming its former glory.

When Restoration finally ended, the tie was smaller than my palm. That was how enormous the wall was, and how badly damage and the elements had worn it down.

I was relieved it had finished before I used up all my mana.

"Whew. That’s finished, then. There are still some little cracks and worn sections, but there’s nothing I can—"

As I turned around, I saw it.

... Every knight had bowed his head to me. Even Sanders, their commander. Even Lidwe, the head of the family.

And that was not all. Below us, every soldier and prisoner had dropped to one knee.

Everyone assembled there had lowered their heads toward me, calmly and silently.

"..."

Speechless, I took in the sight. From atop the wall, I could see every face, every person’s posture.

I looked at Aten beside me. With a gentle smile, she bowed gracefully.

"In the name of Aten Terst, Third Princess of the Terst Empire, I offer you my thanks on behalf of every citizen of Teibeon."

I could not speak. I should have offered some response—something like, “Your grace overwhelms me”—but I could not. I should have knelt, but I could not do that either.

I was simply dazed.

As if she understood how I felt, Aten spoke again.

"Thank you. You protected Teibeon."

* * *

Afterward, Aten returned to the empire before I did, accompanied, of course, by the knights she had brought with her.

The wall had been repaired, and the immediate problems, including the frequent monster incursions, had been resolved. There was no reason for her to remain.

She had said, "My sister says that if I’m even a day later, she’ll drag me back by my hair." I did not know how much that had influenced her decision.

Saibel left too. The Cassian carrying her glanced back at me briefly, but that was all. Well, I supposed that was the greatest courtesy a Cassian could offer.

As for me, I stayed in Teibeon for the rest of the vacation.

With the wall repaired and almost no monsters coming anymore, there was no particular need for me to stay. Still, I wanted to fulfill my responsibilities.

More importantly...

"Where do you think you’re going? Our bet isn’t over yet."

My fellow knight Hector Dutoit sidled up to me as I inspected the wall. I smiled back.

"You could just say I lost."

"Are you nuts? Nobody’s died yet, so why the hell would you lose?"

The monsters’ all-out assault had come while I was away.

Even under that ferocious onslaught, not a single knight had died.

Of course, I had returned before the casualties could become severe, but it was a relief that no one had died in the meantime.

"When you first got here, I thought you were just some lunatic. Only now do I get it. Nobody’s ever been as completely insane as you."

"Ha, hah."

"This bastard thinks I’m complimenting him."

Ironically, “lunatic” had become my permanent nickname. It was not just Hector. The other knights would call me a lunatic and laugh as they passed.

At first, they had meant it mockingly. Now they muttered it while shaking their heads, and it felt strange.

I looked beyond the wall. Restored to its former glory and grandeur, it looked wonderfully dependable.

Even after I left, the monsters would not be able to break through into Teibeon for a while. Their threat remained, but that was an everyday reality here.

Still, a wall could only protect our territory. It could not help humanity advance.

If fighting even this close to the border was so difficult, what would the monsters lurking deep in the Outside be like?

"Hector."

"What?"

"This wall needs you."

"Huh? Of course it does. I told you my name would go down in the continent’s history. This place will be in good hands even after you leave."

"Right. So..."

I looked at him.

"If you have any unfinished business, take care of it now."

"... Huh?"

"If you have any, that is."

Hector was Lidwe’s son. The reason he called himself Dutoit rather than Urpa was, well, some petty father-son quarrel. At any rate, it was not my place to interfere.

But it would be a problem if that foolish quarrel continued until a crucial moment.

When humanity someday set out to reclaim land, Hector the White Lion would be a dependable asset.

"Hmm. All right. Not sure what you’re talking about, though."

Hector scratched his head. No, he knew. He knew what his problem was right now.

And if he was truly Hector the White Lion, this little hint should be enough to make him put an end to his childish quarrel with his father.

I would trust him to do that.

* * *

... A few more days passed.

Someone knocked, then entered my room.

"Are you heading back now?"

It was Robert, Philly’s bodyguard.

He asked the question as he watched Selena and me packing.

"Yes. Vacation is almost over."

"What a shame. I was hoping you would stay."

"Don’t say such horrible things."

We both chuckled.

I asked him a question.

"Sir Robert, is your mission still not over? Life here must be hard, even for you."

"No. I have yet to receive orders to return."

Hmm.

Why had Philly sent Robert to this dangerous place? Hearing that no further instructions had arrived even after all this time only deepened the mystery.

"... Perhaps..."

Robert spoke then.

"Sending me to Teibeon may not have been important in itself."

"What do you mean?"

"She needed a suitable reason to put distance between us. That is one way to look at it."

Philly had put distance between herself and Robert?

"Sending her own bodyguard away? Isn’t that far too dangerous?"

"I am not the only one who protects Her Majesty Philly. I suspect she sent me to Teibeon out of concern for my safety."

"... Are you saying you were safer here in Teibeon than inside the Imperial Palace?"

"It is merely speculation."

I considered that for a moment.

Robert was a Named Character famous enough that even I knew his name.

As he said, Philly had several protectors, but Robert was the knight she trusted most.

So if she had sensed he was in danger, it would not be strange for her to move him somewhere safe.

... But most of the danger Robert faced would come from his position as Philly’s bodyguard.

With so many people in the Imperial Palace after her life, almost every threat to Robert would arise from his efforts to protect her.

Sending him away because he was in danger would therefore be foolish. None of it would mean anything if she herself died.

But Philly would not do something foolish.

In other words, was there an enemy targeting Robert alone, rather than Philly?

"When you return to Constel, if you happen to meet Her Majesty, please pass along word of how I am doing."

"What should I tell her?"

"That it is rather cold here. That should suffice."

Ha.

"So you like to put on a brave face too, Sir Robert."

"A little bravado is necessary to put Her Majesty at ease."

His loyalty reached the heavens.

Just then, brisk footsteps approached my room.

"Lad. Still not ready? Everyone’s waiting, so hurry on out."

It was Lidwe. I shouldered my packed bag and started toward the door.

"Let’s go, Selena."

"Yes."

Selena had no real luggage, but showing up entirely empty-handed would have looked strange, so we had prepared a suitable bag. She slung it over her shoulder and followed me.

As I passed Robert, I said,

"See you again, Sir Robert. In the central region, preferably."

"In the central region."

I left the room, went down the mansion’s stairs, and opened the front door.

The knights were standing outside. They were not lined up as they had been when I restored the wall. Each was waiting for me in comfortable clothes.

"Off, then?"

"I’ll miss you. I wanted to keep that bet going."

"Come visit again."

The knights each offered a few words.

Answering them as I went, I headed toward the waiting sedan.

The chauffeur was standing in front of it—the same man who had brought me to Teibeon. He bowed politely beside me and asked,

"Did you enjoy your vacation trip?"

"... If I were the one who’d hired you, I’d fire you right now."

"What a pity."

He was Ampere’s servant, so I had no choice but to let this petty teasing slide.

"By the way... who is this?"

The chauffeur looked at Selena as he asked.

"Oh, my bodyguard. I paid a great deal to hire her."

He studied her briefly, then turned back to me.

"... Even here in Teibeon. You truly are remarkable."

"I said I hired her."

It happened just then.

A clattering commotion came from the distance, mixed with urgent cries and shouts.

"Hey! Get back here!"

"J-just a minute! I’ve got important business!"

What was that?

The familiar voice and manner of speaking made me turn.

There was Grobel, still in his prison uniform, making a scene.

Whatever he had gone through to run all the way here, his clothes and hair were a mess.

"Ah! There he is! Young maaaster!"

Spotting me, Grobel bellowed at the top of his lungs.

"Don’t forget! My brother! My little brother, Rockbel! Please don’t forget him! I did everything I could! So... aaagh!"

With that, the knights restrained him completely and dragged him back.

"... Heh."

"Lord Frondier?"

As I chuckled, Selena tilted her head in puzzlement.

Yes, Grobel.

I would never forget.

"It’s nothing. Let’s go."

I got into the car, and Selena sat beside me.

The engine gave its familiar rumble. Sitting inside the car brought more than relief now; it filled me with a longing for what I had missed.

Through the window, I saw the knights and Lord Lidwe waving. I waved back.

The car pulled away, and they slowly receded into the distance. I turned to face forward again.

"Where shall I take you?"

"Do I get to choose?"

"No. We’ll be going to the Roah Estate."

"Then that’s where we’ll go."

The car picked up speed, and I leaned back comfortably.

Teibeon Wall, at the northernmost edge of the empire.

The words hardly suited the skin-cutting cold or the brutal battles against monsters, but...

Summer vacation was over.