Ch. 163
That wound should have been mine. Maybe even now, it still is.
“Geenie.”
“I’m sorry.”
As annoying as it is to admit, I’m not the apologizing type.
Serious talk like this?
Swear to Anais, this was rare.
“That happened when we were kids… You can forget it. If anything, I’m the one who owes a debt.”
“Right, you were just a kid. I was the idiot who let my guard down.”
“You were a kid too! This… is mine to bear. It has nothing to do with you… I consider it a medal. Not a wound, so you really don’t need to feel sorry. Not even a little.”
“I’m still indebted to you. That hasn’t changed.”
Strangely, it wasn’t me who sounded desperate for forgiveness—it was Ash.
He didn’t know.
Back then, I wasn’t younger than him. I’m still not, and I never will be.
Not ever.
No matter how messed up I am—reckless, heartless, willing to kill without blinking—I don’t kill children.
And I do have the bare minimum of a conscience to feel ashamed if a kid gets hurt protecting me.
If Ash had been an adult back then, even if the exact same thing happened, I probably wouldn’t feel this tangled inside.
“I won’t say anything else.”
I poured it all out—who knows when I’ll get another chance like this.
“Ash, I’ll be rooting for you.”
“…”
“I always do what I want. I hope you get to do what ‘you’ want too. But more than anything, I hope what you want actually makes you happy.”
Another gust of wind blew, sending my hair flying wildly.
Ugh. I really need to chop it off or something.
As I grabbed the flying strands, I peeked through them to look at Ash—and saw his face had noticeably reddened.
Maybe it was the morning sun? No, that’s yellow…
Why is he suddenly acting like this?
“Your face is red.”
“…Huh? Oh… maybe because of exercise.”
He said something weird and suddenly looked like he couldn’t wait to go down.
What’s up with him?
Hungry?
Ah. Maybe he needs the bathroom!
Probably embarrassed. I should pretend not to notice.
I tactfully didn’t press any further and summoned Undaine to prepare for our descent.
I’m seriously good at reading the room.
—
A sunny afternoon.
Two men entered through the main gate of Daniz.
Having crossed the rugged mountain range alone, their demeanor was relaxed, their strides full of confidence.
The handsome one with purple hair looked especially at ease.
Dressed in light armor that made it obvious he was a swordsman, he walked with a proud swagger, whistling and tossing glances at passing women like it was second nature.
The other, who walked ahead without paying him any attention, was a quiet man with dark brown hair. Though his frame was on the smaller side, he carried a long spear on his back that didn’t match his build.
“Gale, looks like there’s a festival going on. So many pretty ladies!”
“What’s that got to do with you?”
“Maybe one of them’ll fall for me!”
“Bullshit.”
“Pfft, you’re just jealous because I’m handsome, right? Right?”
“Dream on, idiot.”
The man called Gale seemed used to Enk’s antics and didn’t flinch—he just shot back a blunt retort.
“That’s why people say you’re so uptight! Festivals are meant to be enjoyed!”
“Then leave me out of it and enjoy yourself, clown.”
“Geez, gloomy bastard.”
“Noisy fool.”
They bickered back and forth, but it was clear they got along.
“Wonder how long the festival lasts. Let’s check the plaza first? Find the message Ash left.”
“Yeah. Meeting up comes first.”
The central plaza of Daniz was vast, as befitting a city that hosted festivals frequently. One section alone held more than ten notice boards for travelers.
There were all kinds of posters related to the festival, along with countless handwritten notes that people used for communication—there must have been hundreds of papers of all sizes. Finding the one you were looking for was both a common and annoying task for any traveler.
Enk and Gale split up and started checking the boards from opposite ends, scanning for messages left for them.
The notes were as varied as they were numerous.
Job postings, meeting arrangements between friends, lovers’ secret codes, recruitment notices, wanted ads, Information Guild promotions—you name it.
There were even notes looking for companions to cross the mountains. In a world lacking good communication tech, the plaza boards were a vital resource.
“Enk!”
“You find something?”
“Lox left a message.”
It was Gale who spotted it first.
On the third board from the right, about halfway down, was a note with unmistakably Lox’s handwriting.
—
To Enk and Gale,
I’ll be waiting at the Antler Inn.
—
On the back of the memo was a simple map showing the inn’s location.
Without needing to double-check, the two headed off in that direction.
—
The two arrived without trouble.
However, the inn was so big and flashy, they hesitated at the entrance, murmuring in doubt.
“Hey… did we bring the wrong memo?”
“Right? There’s no way Lox would book a place like this.”
“You think there’s another Enk and Gale?”
“No way… It’s not like our names are as common as Ash’s…”
“Ah! Maybe it’s because of the festival! This was the only place with rooms left!”
“Sounds plausible.”
As they were seriously questioning whether they were in the right place, a loud voice called out behind them.
“Hey! Enk! Gale!”
The booming voice made it obvious who it was even before they turned around.
A comrade they hadn’t seen in two months. They turned around with smiles and called out his name.
“Chad!”
“Cha—huh?”
“You made it! I was starting to worry you were running late.”
It was Chad and Ash, returning from shopping.
Both were carrying large bags, coming down the alley.
Enk and Gale, watching them approach, suddenly froze.
“What? Why’re you guys just standing there like that?”
“Enk? Gale?”
What had stunned them wasn’t Chad or Ash.
It was the striking blonde woman standing between them.
It was like… a glowing pearl necklace nestled between dried squid.
She stood there blinking innocently, naturally situated between the two rugged men—clearly part of the group, even though it made no visual sense.
To Enk and Gale, she was a complete stranger.
“Uh… um… who’s this beauty?”
“What? There’s a beauty? Where?!”
Before Chad could even process what was said, the so-called beauty promptly kicked him in the shin and then smiled sweetly like nothing had happened.
“Hi, you two.”
Her voice stood out among the men—light, smooth, and graceful.
It was a voice that made you want to kneel on the spot.
“H-Hello…”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. You must be Enk… and you must be Gale.”
Of course, voice alone doesn’t make your brain short-circuit.
Her lashes gleamed like sunlight—brilliant gold.
They were long and lush, so dazzling it made your knees weak. Her hand, reaching for a handshake, was fair and pristine—like you’d have to wipe your own hand before touching it.
A hand that had never seen hardship.
Watching her golden hair flow over her shoulders like melted light made their throats go dry.
Her softly slanted eyes curved like falling stars.
And those sky-blue irises, like the gem from that tiara they once saw—
Enk shoved Gale aside and grabbed her hand first.
Gale clenched his jaw but didn’t retaliate—this wasn’t the first time Enk had pulled something like this.
“Yes! I’m Enk!”
“Nice to meet you.”
Her tone said it all.
She was no commoner. Her voice held unmistakable authority.
Nearly arrogant confidence and the unmistakable air of the ruling class.
Even though she was the smallest among them, she looked down on everyone without needing height.
“I’m Geenie.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Geenie.”
“‘Miss Geenie’ sounds weird. I prefer ‘Ms. Geenie,’ or better yet, just Geenie.”
“I like that too. A lot.”
The best-looking of the group, Enk was also the smoothest with women. He was naturally the type to go wild over a beauty. He was already holding her hand far longer than necessary, and Ash’s eye twitched noticeably for the first time.
“Ah, Geenie. Even your name strikes a chord. It’s an honor, beautiful lady.”
Enk didn’t just hold her delicate hand for too long—he even brought her fingertips to his lips for a kiss.
The way she received it so naturally only made it clearer—she had to be nobility.
The one who flinched when Enk’s lips touched her fingers?
Ash.
And the one who noticed it?
Gale.
He found it… very amusing.
‘‘Oh? This is gonna be fun…’’