Chapter 490 - The General
We had been chatting for about thirty minutes. After a quick and casual farewell to the seventh-ranked member of the Northern Faction, who had apparently contacted me on a whim, I was left wondering what to do next.
But before I could get lost in indecision, the next invitation came. I immediately replied with a ‘Yes’ and answered the summons.
The location was the Eastern Round Table, the gathering place of the current ‘Ninth Seat’—formerly the ‘Tenth Seat.’ The one who called me was—
"Sorry to drag you out here so early in the morning."
"You don't need to worry about calling a guy who's already logged into a game and wandering around on a Sunday morning."
It was none other than our true General Commander, a figure far beyond some event-exclusive, make-believe captain.
Unlike me, who was still dragging around a heavy sense of fatigue after going full-throttle from start to finish, this stalwart man with a mane of brilliant golden hair was, as always, overflowing with energy.
"From the looks of you, I'd say you've been on another rampage, doing whatever you please, huh?"
"I'll leave it to your imagination."
I had a feeling I'd be hearing similar things every time I met someone for a while. I offered a vague reply, and he let out a hearty, booming laugh. Kakakka.
It suited him so perfectly that I’d never given it a second thought since we first met, but now that I think about it, his laugh is remarkably boisterous and distinctive.
It's the kind that grows on you. I don't dislike it.
"So, what did you need?"
"Ah, it's nothing complicated, so relax. This is just a heads-up that we'll be discussing the ins and outs of the event in two or three days."
"That's even more laid-back than usual."
"The Princess has probably already told you, right? The idea is to enjoy the downtime we have for a bit."
I see, so he's already been in touch with Alicia. He may seem relaxed, leisurely, and content to go at his own pace, but as expected of a faction leader, he's quick to act and thorough.
As for the Northern Faction's resident “free spirit” and the leader of the Western Faction, whom I've never met, I have no idea. For that matter, I have to wonder if Vestol, which is more focused on seasonal rankings, even has a 'leader'—
…Right, I keep telling myself I should look into this stuff and get a handle on it. But with one event after another popping up, it always slips my mind.
"Well, roger that. So I should just wait for another summons? Is that correct?"
"That's correct. For now, you're free to do as you please—though in your case, that very freedom seems to attract nothing but trouble."
"…Yeah, I don't think I can shake that image at this point, can I?"
I bet every single person I've gotten to know has said that to me. I don't even have the energy to deny it anymore, but I just want them to understand that I'm not actively trying to stand out in a bad way.
—Anyway,
"In that case, let's hear the main topic."
If that was all, he wouldn't have bothered summoning me.
Even if it was true that 'it's nothing complicated,' he must have had something he wanted to discuss face-to-face. My guess proved to be spot-on.
"Ah, well, yeah. About that…"
It was his habit when he was pondering something or hesitating to speak. He closed his eyes and stroked his chin. Seeing him like this… it wasn't difficult, but perhaps it was an awkward topic?
That said, my trust in Goldow is exceptionally high. I owe him a lot, so I have no intention of making a sour face even if he asks for something a bit troublesome or out of the blue.
And so, I braced myself with a 'bring it on' attitude—
"The Princess—Alicia—she invited you on a trip, didn't she?"
"Huh—wha, um, eh, what?"
His troubled voice came from such an unexpected angle that my thoughts ground to a complete halt.
The fact that he deliberately used her real name, Alicia, only served to accelerate my confusion, emphasizing that this was a real-world matter. I had gathered that they were fairly close, but…
"And well… here's the thing. To put it bluntly, I know her in the real world through my daughter, Helena. And I've been invited to it every year since the year before last."
"'It,' you mean…?"
"The 'trip' around this time of year."
"Ahhh… right, right, right, okay."
I pretty much understood what he was trying to say and where this was going. In short, whether before or after he asked me, Alicia had invited him again this year.
And the fact that Goldow was now talking to me about it meant he probably wanted to confirm things, or rather, leave the decision up to me. Specifically, whether it was okay or not for the two of us to meet in the real world.
Oh. And Helena-san will definitely be there too.
"This kind of thing is, you know. It's a delicate issue."
"That's true. But if you'll let me be blunt, it's a bit late for that now."
I had disposed of it as instructed, so I no longer had it on me, but I clearly remembered that string of numbers, and I'd never forget the kindness that saved me.
Therefore, my answer was this.
"To be honest, it always felt weird being the only one with your contact info. If we can meet in person, I'd be happy to pour you a drink to thank you for everything."
"…Is that so? Hah! I'll be looking forward to it, then."
His shy smile held a certain charm that belied his massive, rugged physique. But it didn't change the image of the General Commander that had long been fixed in my mind.
The man who had coolly handed me that piece of paper when I was at my lowest was just so damn cool. I'll probably never forget the sight of his back that day for as long as I live.
It's embarrassing, though, so I doubt the day will ever come when I can say that to his face.
"—By the way, I'm a minor. So while I can pour you a drink, I'm afraid I can't join you."
"Seriously? I don't suppose… you don't actually look exactly like that in real life, do you…?"
"Hahahaha."
"Ah… well, now I'm not sure if I should be looking forward to this or not."
Well, I am. I'm looking forward to finding out if the fantasy of the real Goldow being even bigger than his virtual self could possibly come true.