Chapter 141 - <14>
A little over a week passed while they waited for the elder's reply. Just when their travel preparations were long since finished, a letter from Verdigris finally arrived.
"Honestly, a whole week just to listen to some old lore?"
Ritz sighed as he took the letter from Karl.
"It can't be helped. The elder brought it before the Elder Council. The Elder Council is amazing, you know? I'd fall asleep watching them. Ritz, you'd definitely throw a fit. No doubt about it."
Karl said with a smug look. It was true, he didn't have the patience to discuss a single topic for a week. It seemed that not only his inability to use spirits, but this aspect of his personality also made him unsuited for the Clan of Light.
Now, he felt pathetic for having been so fixated on such things. It was surprising how much he could now accept himself for being nobody in particular. It was all thanks to Anna.
That Anna was sitting next to Ritz, staring excitedly at the letter in his hand.
"Hey, hey, what does it say? Let's see it quickly."
"Hold on. This paper is hard to open. It's too damn sturdy."
"Should I open it?"
"No. I'll do it."
Since that day, Anna had stopped following Ritz around. When Ritz was on the verge of being crushed by anxiety and loneliness, she had sensed it and clung to him, but as soon as Ritz regained his composure, she began to keep a comfortable distance, neither too close nor too far.
That sense of distance was surprisingly comfortable for the current Ritz.
"Have you both forgotten? This letter should be addressed to me."
"Ah…"
"Oh…"
Anna and he cried out at the same time and looked at the speaker sitting across from them. Then they looked at the address on the letter. Anna peeked at the name as well.
Of course, the words 'To the King of Yuresla, friend of the ancient pact' were written there.
"Don't go trying to read someone else's letter without permission."
"You’re right."
"We shouldn't read it without permission."
As he said that and handed it over, Edward looked at Ritz and Anna with a look of exasperation and a wry smile. He carefully opened the letter with a paper knife offered by Karl. As he watched, Karl poked Ritz's back with his finger.
"What is it?"
"Ritz, do you know what a paper knife is?"
"Huh?"
"Tearing open letters by hand is what barbarians do. How unrefined. I'm ashamed of my own son."
"Shut up. If you think so, you should have just given me a paper knife."
"Things like that, you should find yourself. This is your house, after all."
"…Damn it…"
It was frustrating, but he could never win an argument with Karl.
He glanced over at the quiet Franz and met his eyes, as Franz had been watching the exchange between him and Karl. Franz immediately averted his gaze with a complicated expression.
This subtle attitude had also started after the incident, but since it was born of a genuine question about Ritz rather than fear or terror, he decided to leave it alone for now, though it did bother him.
If a problem had arisen in Franz's mind that was significant enough to shake their mutual trust, Franz would undoubtedly be at his throat by now.
The reason that wasn't happening was probably because it was a minor question. Knowing Franz, he wouldn't ask Ritz anything in front of other people. He would probably ask if they happened to be alone together, like that other time.
Besides, Franz was still in the midst of his own indecision.
A week had passed since Franz's reunion with Constanze. But during that time, Franz had repeatedly tried to go to Merite, only to stop himself.
He still seemed unable to decide what to say to Constanze, or what he himself wanted to do.
On the day Anna and Franz fell into Jin's hands, Franz had gone to Merite driven by emotion, but as time passed, he had calmed down and thought about various things, eventually overthinking it to the point where he no longer knew what to do, which led to the current situation.
In times like these, it's best to think things through to the very end. Think and think, and if it still doesn't work, try talking to someone with a completely different perspective. Just talking with people who think the same way often doesn't lead to progress.
The existence of people who think similarly and affirm you is also absolutely necessary. Like Ritz's best friend, Edward. But it's very fortunate to have someone who accepts you while also casually showing you a different way of thinking.
Ritz was keenly aware of this. The current Ritz could feel at ease because Anna, the person with the most opposite way of thinking to his own, was by his side.
He hoped the same would happen for Franz, but on the other hand, a part of him thought, it took me 150 years to feel that way, so you should try a little harder, and pushed him away a little.
"This is good paper."
Edward said as he carefully opened the letter, which was made of the unique, smooth-textured paper of the Clan of Light, with each page made individually.
"Oh…?"
Inside were two envelopes. They were neatly folded and sealed with wax. Just by looking at the surface, it was impossible to tell the difference.
"Which one is it?"
"Does it matter which one? It's addressed to you, so it's not like you're not allowed to open it."
"That's true."
Edward carelessly broke the wax seal with his knife, cut the string that was tied around it, and opened the paper. After a quick glance, he looked up at Ritz.
"What is it?"
"It's addressed to me, but it's about you."
"…What?"
What business did the Elder Council have with a tainted child of sin?
"Or rather, perhaps it's for Anna? Anna, you should read it."
With that, Edward handed the curious paper to Anna and cut the string on the other one. Anna, who took it, spread the paper and was reading the letter with an earnest expression.
"Ah, this is what we were looking for. Franz, please confirm."
"Yes, sir."
Franz took it and read through it.
"While you're at it, could you read it aloud?"
"Yes, sir."
Nodding with a blank expression, Franz read the letter in a clear voice.
"‘To the King of Men, my sworn ally. By the ancient pact, we of the Clan of Light shall return your trust with our own.
The gem was bestowed upon our clan when we descended from the Land of Heaven, where we lived with the Goddess, to this sacred land of Ciedena. When the Goddess bestowed the gem upon our clan, she left us with these words.
I bestow my eye upon the child of spirits, who lives with the light and receives blessings with life.
I am always with you, and I shall become the light that shines down upon you from the Land of Heaven.
The sacred land is the holy gate that leads to me.
From the sacred land, look up to the heights beyond, where I reside, and I shall guide you from the temple of light.
The gem connects the Goddess and us, the Clan of Light, and it is the holy eye through which the Goddess watches over us.
Through that gem, we of the Clan of Light have received blessings as servants of the Goddess and the King of the Light Spirits.
The eye resides in the sacred land that gives names to the newborn children of the clan, and it always bestows upon our clan the blessings of birth.
King of Men, our sworn ally.
Why you have the eye of the Goddess in your hands is something we cannot know. It is surely a gift from heaven, the will of the Goddess, and we cannot object.
But as long as you possess it, you should live without forgetting that the eye of the Goddess is always watching you. Verdigris.’"
"Another eye. This time, the Goddess and the Light Spirit King are watching, huh?"
When he said that dismissively, Franz looked up from the letter.
"The part about being in a high place is the same as the Beastmen."
"Yeah. In other words… they're probably in a high place."
With that, he leaned back in his chair. But a cold remark came back.
"Ritz."
"Hmm?"
"Are you an idiot?"
"…It was a joke!"
Franz really didn't get jokes.
"The Beastmen said something about a high place accessible from the earth, right? And the Spirit Tribe says a high place visible from the sacred land. A high place accessible from the earth and visible from here, what could that be? It sounds like there's some kind of path near the gem in the sacred land for both of them. A 'path that leads,' a 'holy gate.'"
"…You’re right."
Franz sighed, looking openly disappointed. He wanted to find his master quickly, so it was only natural for him to be impatient. But Ritz had resolved to take this journey slowly, so his heart was calm.
"Um, so, can I read this one?"
In the silence that fell as everyone began to think about what was next, Anna spoke up.
"What was it again?"
"Come on! There was another letter, wasn't there?"
Come to think of it, there was. In place of the forgetful Ritz, Edward prompted her.
"Anna, if you please."
"Okay! Um… ‘To the King of Men, our sworn ally. We are currently in contemplation to discern the true meaning of the blessings bestowed by the Goddess, based on the words of the girl who is your attendant. For the most sacred gem in our Clan of Light to be possessed by one born without the Goddess’s blessing…’ um…"
Anna hesitated for a moment. Peeking over, he saw the words of contempt they had used for years, followed by even harsher words. Anna seemed hesitant to let Ritz hear them.
"Don't worry about it, just read."
He urged her on casually, but Anna tilted her head, looking troubled.
"But…"
"If I get hurt, you can comfort me."
He said brightly, pointing to his own head.
"Okay?"
It was a gesture that meant, if I look hurt, pat my head. It must have gotten through, because Anna showed a bright smile.
"Okay! Then, continuing… ‘for the tainted, nameless child of sin to possess it, we have decided to consider that there may be some meaning in this. The birth of the child of sin into our clan has, until now, been our greatest taboo. There were even some among the clan who sought to dispose of the child of sin to protect the clan.’"
"Dispose… they make it sound so easy…"
"I know, right? Ritz is a living being too."
"…Being called a ‘living being’ kind of hurts. Am I some kind of bug or something?"
"Oh, sorry."
Anna reached out and patted Ritz's head. He was a little happy. It's best to say what you want done.
"Ritz, Anna."
Franz looked at them with cold eyes.
"We're not making any progress. Chat later."
It was Franz's usual retort, which he usually threw out when Anna and Ritz started talking about something silly. Today, his eyes were even more intense. Especially the glare directed at Ritz. He wondered why.
"Sorry, Franz. Um… ‘But they feared the one of darkness, and as a result, the tainted child of sin survived. We feared even his survival as a sign of the protection of darkness, which opposes the light. For us of the Clan of Light, an incomprehensible and unnatural being should not have existed.
But the child of sin carried the most sacred gem in his hand. According to your attendant, this is fate.
However, hearing that other races have also received them from the Spirit Kings, we harbored a single concern. How can we say that the child of sin has not received the blessing of darkness? Therefore, we feel the need to reconsider the blessings of the Goddess, the protection of the Spirit King, and the existence of the Goddess's eye.
At that time, we plan to reconsider what we should do with the tainted, nameless child of sin. If he is prepared to live under our customs and, with us of the Clan of Light as his superiors, offer prayers to the King of Light, we will permit him to enter our clan's city once more.
Oh King, we grant the child of sin, your attendant, a path to choose in the name of the Goddess and the Light Spirit King. That is the decision of the Elder Council.’"
No one said anything. It was likely that no one but Ritz could break this silence.
After finishing, Anna quietly folded the paper and handed it to Ritz. He took it, opened it again, and read the words. After finishing, he folded it and quietly placed it on the table.
He placed his clasped hands on top of it. The answer was decided.
Perhaps if he had lost Anna and had to live alone, the choice to eternally prostrate himself before them would have been an option. But Ritz no longer wanted to be a part of that Clan of Light.
He happened to look up and saw that Edward was just watching him quietly. Edward had a policy of never interfering with another person's choices. He had always been told by Ritz to make his own decisions.
Next to him, Franz was looking away, not at Ritz. It was amusing that he thought he was being considerate. But it also showed how much he had grown, to be able to be considerate of others like that. He was a good companion in his own way.
A warm sensation spread over his fist on the table. He looked and saw Anna silently placing her hand over his. He looked at her and met her eyes, which were looking up at him with an anxious expression.
"What's with that face, Anna?"
He squeezed her hand with one of his and flicked her forehead with the other.
"Ouch!"
"Don't make a face like that. It's obvious what choice I'm going to make."
"Ritz, then…"
Anna's face lit up. She was really easy to read.
"Yeah. I only have one answer."
"What is it?"
"I have a much better place to belong."
With a surprisingly clear feeling, Ritz smiled brightly.
"Then what should I, as the King of Men, write in reply, Ritz?"
Edward asked, smiling just as cheerfully as Ritz.
"That’s obvious, isn't it, Ed? 'The Clan of Light can go to hell.'"
"You have no class, you know that?"
"Shut up."
He had his companions, and he had Anna. Where he was now, that was Ritz's world.
He wouldn't let himself be chained up in a prison, abandoning such a wonderful world.
The tainted, nameless child of sin had now, for the first time, having found someone to live with, become a free man, Ritz Alster.
It was the first small self-affirmation Ritz had ever felt about his existence in this world.