Chapter 108 - <15>
In the end, it was another thirty minutes before the military police and the Luciana navy arrived.
Afterward, the group, having no need to handle the clean-up, simply requested a post-action report from Kenny and unceremoniously returned to the inn.
In the first place, the existence of Ritz and Edward could absolutely not be revealed to the Luciana military police, so it was only natural.
It was only after they had slept soundly and woken up that they learned the reason for the near-total absence of military police on the scene: fires had broken out all over the city that night.
After a few hours of napping, the group was in Edward's room, reading Kenny's report while eating a meal that was too late for lunch and too extravagant for teatime.
Franz sighed at the recent busyness and commotion as he brought a spoonful of onion soup to his mouth.
The coronation, the commemorative event, the departure by ship, the battle with the drug syndicate… all of that had happened in just four days. It was no wonder he felt as if he had done a year's worth of work in those four days.
It was impossible, absolutely impossible. Such an absurd schedule was so unbelievable that he couldn't shake off his exhaustion at all.
In fact, his fatigue was only accumulating.
Before him, a scene unfolded that was the same as always, unchanging no matter the situation. The ever-composed Edward sat next to Franz, leisurely drinking coffee and eating a hot sandwich while flipping through the report.
Across from Franz sat Ritz, who had effortlessly polished off a meal that might as well have been dinner and was now finishing off Franz's leftover sandwich. Franz looked up at him with an exasperated expression, thinking he was a monster.
To be this energetic after all that commotion, being confined to the ship's hold and pushed to the brink of a knockout by seasickness, and then being blasted by a comrade with a Water Sphere… it was unbelievable.
Ritz was of a different race, but it made him want to suspect that he himself might be a very weak species as a life form.
He was also amazed by Anna, who sat next to Ritz, finishing off a hamburger steak and diligently mopping up the remaining sauce with her bread.
Anna must have had a hard time too, yet she showed no signs of fatigue. It was a mystery where in her much smaller body this astounding vitality was hidden.
Or rather, it was a marvel.
What's more, before the meal, she had declared, "When you're tired, you need sweets!" and polished off a cake set before starting her meal, which had completely dumbfounded Franz.
On top of that, she had now declared with a smile that was almost terrifying, "Sweets go into a separate stomach, right?" and an additionally ordered assortment of cakes was now sitting primly in front of her.
He had thought it many times before, but his companions were undoubtedly monsters. Their stamina and appetite were not normal.
As Franz was on the verge of clutching his head, he heard the cheerful voice of Ritz, who was completely fine despite having eaten so much.
"That looks good. Give me a bite."
Ritz, who had been drinking coffee after his meal, was now pestering Anna.
Despite being a heavy drinker, Ritz could surprisingly eat sweets too. They say a drinker and a sweet tooth can't coexist, but Ritz was an exception.
However, according to him, "I don't need a lot, just a bite is enough," so he probably wasn't particularly fond of them.
"Okay, which one?"
"That green one. I've never seen it before."
"I haven't either. I wonder what it is."
Ritz was the type who had to try anything he had never eaten before. Anna was the same. In that sense, the two of them were birds of a feather.
Anna deftly scooped up a bite of the green cake with the fork she had been using and held it out to Ritz's mouth.
"Here you go, Ritz."
He thought Ritz would dislike that, but surprisingly, Ritz accepted the fork into his mouth without a fuss.
"…Hmm, it's nutty."
While Franz was frozen by the unexpected sight, the two of them continued their conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Nutty?"
Anna tilted her head and brought a piece of the cake to her own mouth with the same fork.
"You're right! I thought it was green from vegetables."
"But it's good."
Lef smiled at their conversation.
"Luciana is a country with many mountains, deserts, and highlands. Nuts are one of our special products."
"Come to think of it, that's right."
"Oh, really?"
"This is a nut called pistachio. It has a beautiful green color."
"I want to see one!"
"Then let's go to the market later."
"Okay!"
"They're also good as a snack with alcohol. Shall I buy some?"
"That'd be great. Then buy me an assortment of nuts. The unusual ones. Also, isn't there a uniquely strong liquor from this country at the market? I want that."
"Ah, that one."
Franz stared blankly at the three of them chatting amiably.
What is it? Something felt off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Looking at them individually, Ritz was his usual self, and Anna was completely normal too.
As for Lef, he was always the same.
And yet, something felt subtly off.
To begin with, didn't Ritz dislike being treated like one of the orphanage children by Anna?
In Franz's estimation, Ritz should have gently refused the cake Anna offered in that state, saying something like, "I'm not one of the orphanage kids," and eaten it with his own fork.
But the way he had accepted it so easily was completely natural and didn't feel out of place at all. Had he always been like this?
Edward lightly tapped the bewildered Franz on the shoulder.
"You must be tired, Franz."
Seeing the concerned look on Edward's face, Franz realized it. He was tired. Because he was tired, he was getting hung up on trivial things.
He looked at the three of them. They were seriously discussing what to buy at the market and seemed to have already lost interest in him.
He let out a small sigh and nodded to Edward.
"…Perhaps so."
"It's only been four days since the coronation. It's only natural to be tired."
"You're right."
He would probably feel refreshed when he woke up. If he could sleep until tomorrow morning, he could catch up on all his lost sleep at once.
"…May I go to bed?"
"Yes. You should."
"Yes. Excuse me."
Franz, his face exhausted, stood up from his seat and disappeared into the back of the establishment.
For Franz, who lacked stamina, the forced march of the past few days must have been tough. Edward, watching him go, couldn't help but smile wryly at the overly harsh situation.
Compared to his companions, Franz was the normal one, but in times like these, it was a strange thing how the side with more people seemed more normal.
"Huh? Did Franz go back already?"
Anna looked at him with a blank expression. Edward smiled back gently.
"You know Franz doesn't have much stamina, don't you?"
"Oh, right."
Anna clapped her hands in understanding.
"True, things have changed way too much in the last few days."
Ritz, who had started stabbing at Anna's various cakes with his own fork without permission, said without looking up.
"Hey! No, that's what I ordered!"
"Don't be so stingy. I just want a bite of each."
"Fine. Just one bite."
"I know, I know."
Edward knew better than Franz himself what had perplexed him. It was the change in Ritz's attitude.
After Anna had summoned the Water Dragon, Ritz had simply stopped trying so hard with her.
He had cast aside the notion of being a guardian or needing to act a certain way, and had allowed himself to be by Anna's side within the bounds permitted of a comrade, without letting her realize his feelings.
For Ritz, who had felt he had to be so strict with himself until now, Edward couldn't know what kind of change of heart that represented.
But he thought this was better for Ritz.
And for Anna, too, of course.
After a while, Anna and Lef, having finished their meal, stood up.
"We're going to the market!"
Anna announced cheerfully.
"The liquor, don't forget."
"Ed-san, is there anything you want?"
On her way out, Anna turned back to look at him. The anguish she had shown when summoning the Water Dragon was no longer on her face.
Relieved by that, he smiled back.
"No, I'll have some of Ritz's liquor, so I don't need anything in particular."
"Okay. Well then, we're off!"
"Be careful. Lef, I'm counting on you."
Ritz waved cheerfully at the two of them. Soon, only Ritz and Edward were left at the table.
"You seem to be in high spirits."
When he said this and looked at Ritz's face, Ritz gave a small shrug and then a wry smile.
"…It's a relief."
"I'm glad to hear that."
They sat opposite each other in silence, drinking their coffee. Come to think of it, it had been over thirty-five years since they had had tea together like this outside of the royal castle or the Clayton Residence.
"Ed."
"What is it?"
"Is it a sin to be by her side like this, even if it's just for a limited time until this journey ends?"
It was a quiet question. But it was also a concerning one.
"Limited time?"
"Yeah. When this journey is over and I've taken her back to her parents, I have no intention of ever seeing her again."
"…Ritz."
"That's what's best for her happiness."
At his overly calm expression, Edward was bewildered.
There was no brooding darkness in it. Just stillness. Edward had seen Ritz speak this way a few times before, when he was being honest about his inner thoughts.
This quiet, almost expressionless calm of Ritz's was reminiscent not of a human, but of the spirit races, who had a more detached view of things.
It was rare to feel a racial difference in the usual Ritz, but it was in moments like these that he was reminded.
He was not human.
"A man like me, who buys and sells human lives for money, is no match for her."
Those were not words of self-deprecation or resignation. It was the tone of someone stating an obvious fact.
As he quietly waited for the next words, Ritz's detached tone softened just a little, becoming closer to his usual way of speaking, and he spun out his words softly.
"Do you think even someone like me is allowed to be by her side, just for a little while?"
It was a prayer-like wish.
It was the true feeling of the lonely Ritz, who wished to live his endlessly long life with someone, to have someone by his side.
Though so quiet, the words were filled with an impossible amount of emotion. Because he understood that, he couldn't help but reply with a sigh.
"…Don't ask such obvious questions, you fool."
"Ed?"
"As long as Anna needs you, you are permitted by her to be by her side. No matter what form that takes."
"…I see."
Ritz fell silent again and brought his coffee to his lips. After a while, he muttered.
"Then it's fine."
At the overly quiet Ritz, Edward smiled wryly. In times like these, it was best to change the subject.
"Still, I never thought you'd get seasick."
"Shut up."
Suddenly, Ritz sulked with a disgruntled look.
"We'll pass through the Yuresla Kingdom again, right? There's a large lake ahead, on the border with the neighboring country. You know it, don't you?"
"I know."
"Shall we take a boat?"
"…"
Ritz looked at Edward's face with resentful eyes.
"You're that kind of guy, aren't you."
"Am I?"
As he waited with a smile to see how he would snap back, Ritz, in the next moment, clasped his hands behind his head, stretched big, and then laughed.
"Well, whatever. A boat is fine."
He was taken aback by how easily he was brushed off, but this was a good sign.
"You're quite confident all of a sudden."
"Anna said she'd cure my seasickness."
As usual, a fearless smile played on Ritz's lips.
"I see. Good for you."
He would let him win this time. With that thought, Edward stood up from his seat.
"I'm heading back to my room first."
"Yeah."
As he left the establishment, he looked back and saw Ritz silently drinking his coffee alone. Edward spoke to his best friend in his heart.
Don't act tough and call it a 'limited time.' You need that girl, you know?
They ended up staying in the port town of Valerie for about ten more days.
Compared to the busyness leading up to the coronation, that week was a leisurely one, but it was still quite hectic with buying supplies and obtaining a map of this country.
Still, there was time for sightseeing and eating the local specialties.
Franz bought a history book of this country, and Anna purchased a tourist guidebook for the Luciana Kingdom Federation.
Did the two of them realize how much luggage they would accumulate by the time they had traveled through all the countries if they continued buying history books and guidebooks at this rate?
But well, that was something to think about later. After all, this was the first foreign country for both of them.
Ritz let out a small sigh as he looked at the luggage piled up beside him.
It was quite a lot of luggage. But he was relieved that he didn't have to carry it himself. During their three-person journey, it had been the arduous task of Ritz to carry everything from food to water.
This time, the journey was far easier than the last. What was easier was that their mode of transport was now horses instead of their own feet.
Edward, who was traveling with them, was a Grand Duke, however you looked at it. He couldn't be away from the country for that long. So Kenny and his men had thoughtfully prepared horses for them.
Honestly, he was grateful. So grateful he could cry.
Just the fact that they no longer had to barely make any progress out of consideration for Franz's physical condition greatly reduced the danger of camping out.
That being said, not everything was going smoothly. After all, the only ones with horse riding experience were himself and Edward.
That meant Anna and Franz would inevitably have to ride with them. Aware of this, Kenny had thoughtfully chosen horses known for their endurance rather than speed.
Due to weight considerations, the pairings became Ritz and Anna, and Franz and Edward. For Ritz, this was a delightful arrangement.
He intended to enjoy the time he could be with Anna.
But even to ride with them, they needed practice, which took six days.
A rest period was also necessary for Franz, who was on the verge of giving up after the first three days.
The training period, which was initially thought to be three days, was extended and extended, but considering the future, it was best to have them practice thoroughly.
In the end, it was Anna who got used to the horse first. Her experience riding donkeys as a village girl proved to be a boon.
Franz reached a level where, as long as he held on to Edward, he could somehow avoid being thrown off.
Lef said he would walk. He said it was faster for him to walk than to ride a horse. He was once again amazed at the physical abilities of beastmen.
Seen off by Kenny, Gordon, and Altman, the five of them left the town of Valerie. From here, it seemed they would head toward the mountains along the river.
This country's capital was far away, so they wouldn't be stopping by.
Ritz looked at the scenery spreading out before him. Unlike the kingdom, the horizon was visible as soon as they left the town.
"It's the neighboring country, but it's completely different."
Anna, who was sitting snugly in front of him, muttered in admiration.
"Our country is a land of agriculture and forests. The climate in this country is a bit harsher than ours."
"I see…"
He looked to his side and saw Edward, and behind him, Franz, clinging on for dear life. It seemed six days was indeed just a crash course, but he had no choice but to hang in there.
Edward had said something about buying another horse once Franz got used to riding, but at this rate, there was no telling when that would be.
He didn't know, but if they didn't, it would be tough on the horse too. He hoped he would get used to it soon.
He thought it might be faster to just buy a horse for Anna, but he didn't want to lose this perk, so he kept his mouth shut.
"From here on, please leave it to me. This is my country."
Lef said with a smile as he walked between the two horses. That's right, their first destination was Lef's homeland.
"We're counting on you, Lef."
"Yes, sir."
The five of them and one spirit slowly advanced along the road that seemed to stretch endlessly to the horizon.
This was the true beginning of their journey, and the original beginning of their journey.
The original journey, which had been a long detour, was about to begin now.
Intermission-like, lovey-dovey story, how did you like it❓ (lol)
Ritz has opened up a bit, but he's going to be lost for a while from here on out (@_@)
With this volume, we bid farewell to the members of the Yuresla Kingdom Army for a while. It felt long and short at the same time.
After three gag short stories, the Eneonea Continent arc begins. I hope for your continued patronage.