Chapter 148 - <5>
The next morning, Franz awoke, unusually, without anyone waking him. The light filtering into the tent was still dim, but when he took his watch out from under the blanket he had rolled up as a pillow, he saw it was already past seven.
It was unusual for him to wake up at this hour. He slowly sat up and looked around. Anna, who was usually the first to wake up and make a fuss, was unusually fast asleep. She must have been exhausted from yesterday's spirit-using practice. Franz knew Anna's fatigue well, as he himself would sleep for a whole day after using spirits for that long.
Next to Anna, Constanze was curled up asleep like a close sister. Her sleeping face was age-appropriate and innocent. Though she had a sassy mouth and thought like an adult, Constanze was still only nine years old, having lived half as long as Franz.
On top of that, like Franz, she must have been raised in a large bed with no discomfort, yet the sight of her curled up small, as if to protect herself, struck him in the chest a little. It was the first time he had truly realized that he might be mistaken about Constanze in some way.
He was her older brother, so he had to take responsibility for her actions. That was all he had thought about since she had started traveling with them, but perhaps he needed to face Constanze herself a little more.
But how?
The more he thought, the more he didn't know. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn't know what to say. He had told her it was okay to come with them, but he had left all of Constanze's care to Anna. He still hadn't been able to answer the sad expression Constanze gave him when she looked at him as if she wanted to say something.
And he felt like he was forgetting something important. It should be very important, but he couldn't remember what it was. Come to think of it, he didn't even have a memory of when he had parted with Constanze.
Franz shook his head, still groggy from sleep, and stood up. He wanted to get some fresh air and sort out his thoughts. His head didn't feel rested from the circus's accounting documents that had even appeared in his dreams.
Standing up and looking around the tent, he noticed for the first time. The figures of Edward and Ritz were already gone. It was usual for Edward to be an early riser, but it was rare for Ritz to be gone in the morning. Was he keyed up because he was fighting a Flame Warrior? But he didn't think Ritz was the kind of person to be concerned about such things.
He lifted the entrance of the dark tent, and a dazzling light flooded in. He closed his eyes against the brightness and then gradually opened them to let them adjust. In front of him, he should have seen the landscape of Roshozu, a mortar-shaped basin covered in high mountains and grasslands.
However, completely betraying Franz's expectations, a village of tents had appeared before him.
"What is this..."
He was sure there was nothing like this when he went to sleep last night. Franz was confused by the completely incomprehensible sight. He had been astonished by the size and unusual construction of the Marguerite Circus Troupe's big top, but this time he was dumbfounded. What on earth had happened while Franz was asleep?
"Good morning, Franz."
A sudden tap on his shoulder from the side made him jump.
"Did I startle you?"
"Your Majesty!"
"It's Edward. It seems Anna and the others are not up yet."
Since Anna, who usually braided his hair, was not yet awake, Edward stood there with his hair simply tied back, a cheerful smile on his face. He seemed to find Franz's flustered state amusing. If this were Ritz, he would be angry, but with Edward, he didn't even feel like getting angry. Edward, well aware of Franz's feelings, easily changed the subject.
"It's quite a sight, isn't it?"
Edward smiled and pointed to the tent village spread out before them, as if he had built it himself.
"Yes. What are these tents?"
"The bazaar Marguerite mentioned yesterday, or rather, the market."
"But there was nothing like this yesterday."
"Indeed. Would you like to know the reason?"
Edward was drawing it out, even though he probably wanted to talk about it. If this were a conversation between Ritz and Edward, Ritz would be yelling, "Just spit it out!" but Franz made an effort to nod calmly.
"Yes."
"Then I shall tell you what I have heard."
Edward had probably forgotten his own position again and had gone to gather information while pretending to be a good-natured retired old man. He had previously said that he had served the country thinking of himself as a minister rather than a king, but he thought that even a minister wasn't this light on his feet. But he had no intention of saying it out loud.
Prompted by Edward, he began to walk towards the tents through the grass, which was still glistening with morning dew. The clear scent of earth and grass, something he could never experience in the city, tickled his nostrils. The cold morning dew dampened the cuffs of his trousers, making them feel cool.
"You know that the circus troupe's performance begins tonight, don't you?"
"Yes."
"And did you not hear that a bazaar would be set up before that?"
"I did."
Come to think of it, he felt like Anna had said something like that.
"That bazaar is held several times a year by merchants who have official trading rights with Roshozu. The Marguerite Circus Troupe also seems to serve as a gateway for them."
"I see..."
Hearing just that didn't explain why they had sprung up out of nowhere overnight. As if sensing Franz's dissatisfaction, Edward laughed.
"Don't look so displeased. Those who stand above others must sometimes listen to roundabout explanations."
In that gentle yet slightly teasing tone, Franz, who had been declared by Greig to have a future post, felt a little annoyed and spat out.
"I have no plans to stand above anyone."
"...Let's just leave it at that for now."
Edward said that with a knowing smile. Unlike Greig, he had no idea how serious Edward was being. If Franz were to think that he really wanted to get a ministerial post from Greig, he had a feeling he would be met with a cold stare.
But he had recently come to understand that Edward, who had abdicated the throne and was traveling with them, was trying to tell him something.
Ignoring Franz's slightly sullen expression, Edward continued his explanation without slowing his pace. Franz, who was starting to fall behind, hurried to follow Edward's back as he wove through the gaps between the tents.
"From yesterday afternoon, a checkpoint for merchants with trading rights was set up at the entrance to the valley connecting Motiana and Roshozu. It seems that only those who passed the qualification check and were officially approved came to Roshozu last night."
"Officially approved? Even though they have trading rights?"
"That's right. When the trading rights are issued, it seems they have to apply with a detailed list of the members of their merchant group. At the checkpoint, they compare the application submitted at the time of registration with the current members, and only those who are properly verified can set foot in the land of Roshozu."
"How do they know?"
Since the official trading rights were issued in the capital of Fornu, there was no way there would be someone at the checkpoint who had perfectly memorized their faces. But Edward's answer was simple.
"When the trading rights are issued, everyone's thumbprint is registered. Unless it's cut off or burned, a fingerprint won't disappear. Well, I doubt someone whose fingerprint has disappeared would be recognized as a registrant."
That certainly sounded like a strict condition.
"Then what happens if the members change?"
"Yes. I asked about that too. They confirm the national official passport issued by each home country and have a one-on-one direct interview with a Flame Warrior. And if there is a smuggler among the members, the trading rights of that merchant group are revoked for life."
"That's strict..."
That was why Ritz couldn't find a way into Roshozu through the back channels. The merchants would have no intention of letting in an outsider at the risk of losing their own trading rights. And Franz found the idea of a one-on-one interview with a Flame Warrior terrifying just to imagine. If he was stared at by those intense, amber eyes, he felt like he would confess everything. He was relieved that they had been able to come through this circus troupe route.
"Come to think of it, do we... have passports?"
He had never heard anything about official national passports, so he asked. Edward took a small case from his pocket and pulled out a sturdy-looking paper card.
"We are traveling abroad, so of course we have them. I have your and Anna's."
The card he was shown for the first time had his name and place of origin, as well as the king's signature. The issue date was a few days before they left Sears, and it bore the king's seal of approval. The king's name was inevitably Edward, who had not yet abdicated.
"Does it require the king's approval?"
"No. A normal passport issued in an autonomous region only needs the approval stamp of the administration. But one with the king's approval stamp is more convenient for various things."
"I see."
It was a clear case of mixing public and private matters. But it was probably easier for him to have the more convenient one since he was traveling with beginners like Franz and Anna. Then he suddenly realized.
"What about Ritz?"
From the looks of it, there were only three cards: his, Anna's, and Edward's. Edward gave a wry smile and put the cards back in their case as he muttered.
"In his case, he has a lot of passports..."
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, he remembered seeing Ritz with a large number of passports from various countries and entry cards with mercenary qualifications. He thought he remembered him bragging that he had eaten the food of every country.
"The official Yuresla Kingdom passport he has is an old one. Though it has my seal of approval, it's already thirty-five years old."
Edward said that with a hint of nostalgia, and then turned his back to Franz and started walking again. Franz felt it would be wrong to ask anything more, so he too fell silent.
After walking in silence for a while, they came to the front of the Marguerite Circus Troupe's big top. Looking up from directly below, it was a truly massive tent. And the contrast of yellow and red. Its flashy yet cheerful appearance was something else.
He hadn't been inside yet, so he didn't know what it was like, but since the big top was also a tent, it was probably made of cloth and wood. He wondered why it didn't fall down. Next to it, he could still see the wrinkled green cloth. This must be the Fuwafuwa. He felt like Marguerite had said something yesterday evening about inflating it today.
"The merchants' tents are built around the Marguerite Circus Troupe's performance big top. The large open space in front of the big top seems to become a sort of small amusement facility for the audience."
With a brisk stride that belied his mid-sixties, Edward moved ahead. It was pathetic that the younger Franz was less steady on his feet, but since his opponent was a former soldier, it couldn't be helped. Eventually, Edward came to a stop in front of the main entrance of the circus tent. He looked up, and Franz followed his gaze to see that the tents were completely divided into two sections, forming a straight path towards a particularly large mountain in Roshozu.
"So this is the path the Fire Clan will take."
"Then this will be the most lively bazaar, won't it?"
"Exactly. As expected of a merchant's son."
Whether he knew how much Franz hated being called a merchant's son or not, Edward said so with a smile on his lips. To the annoyed Franz, Edward's gentle, admonishing voice descended.
"Franz, you must not turn your eyes away from the fact that you were a merchant's son, and that commerce was drilled into you before you came of age."
"...Why? It has nothing to do with me now."
"It is not unrelated. A farmer's child learns about agriculture as they age, an artist's child learns about beauty as they grow up. A child of the church grows up feeling the teachings of the goddess and spirits firsthand, and a child born into royalty learns politics."
He understood the logic well. But he didn't understand what meaning there was in the list, so Franz just nodded to show that he understood the meaning. As if understanding Franz's confusion, Edward turned to him with eyes that were gentle yet sincere, like a guardian or a master.
"The environment one is born into does not determine one's future. But the knowledge and skills one is forced to acquire increase one's options when choosing one's own future. The fact that you have the option of commerce is an undeniable truth. There may be paths that open up by utilizing it. If you cut it off along with your past, that's as far as it goes."
He understood, but he couldn't emotionally accept it, so he fell silent. Edward let out a small sigh and continued.
"There's no need to willingly lose a special skill one possesses, that's all. You'll understand eventually, so there's no need to think too deeply about it."
"Do you think so..."
"I do. That's what it means to grow older."
He couldn't help but look up at Edward's profile as he said it. Edward wasn't as big as Ritz, but he was a man of imposing build, and his line of sight was half a head higher than Franz's. He felt something like a deep history in Edward's expression. Though he was talking to Franz now, he was reminded that Edward was a man who had lived through a turbulent era.
That Edward looked at Franz with a cheerful, and in a way, mischievous face.
"Well then, shall we go see the fool who hasn't been cured of his foolishness even after growing older?"
"Huh?"
"Let's go quietly, so as not to make a sound."
Saying that, Edward quickly started walking. Franz hurried after him. With a sure-footed stride, Edward passed behind the big top, through the gaps between the acrobats' tents, past the stagehands' tents, and towards the equipment storage area. There was almost no one coming out of the tents yet. Edward, without slowing his pace, explained that the acrobats and other performance-related people were late to bed and late to rise.
Eventually, Edward stopped behind the wild animal cages, passed through the covering on the other side, and hid in the shadow of the equipment storage. Franz followed his example and looked in the direction Edward was pointing.
"Ah..."
There was Ritz, seriously swinging his greatsword. He had never seen Ritz train like this before, so he was truly surprised.
"If we get any closer, he'll notice us."
Saying that, Edward looked at Franz cheerfully.
"Doesn't he look surprisingly serious like this?"
He certainly looked serious. It was a world away from his usual carelessness.
"Is it because he's fighting a Flame Warrior today?"
When he asked in a low voice, Edward shook his head slightly.
"No. That's not it. He often swings his sword like that."
"Eh...?"
"Tell me, Franz, who is always the last to sleep on the road?"
It was needless to say, Ritz. The first to fall asleep was, of course, Franz. Next was Anna... he thought. He wasn't sure since he was always the first to pass out. So did that mean Ritz always secretly practiced after Franz and Anna were asleep?
Convinced, he nodded to himself, and Edward laughed.
"That's right."
He watched Ritz's back for a while after that.
In the damp morning air, the greatsword, swung with force, cut through the silent space with a sound. The sound of the sword cutting through the air, repeated over and over again, spoke of the seriousness of the person swinging it.
He had never imagined that Ritz trained like this. He had thought he was just lazy and swung his sword with natural talent. Come to think of it, he had just heard in Ciedena that the greatsword was not his original weapon, and that what he was really good at was daggers and normal swords.
In that case, swinging this greatsword must require a certain amount of strength. Even Franz knew firsthand that physical strength declined rapidly if not used. But he had thought that was for ordinary people like Franz, and had nothing to do with Ritz.
A serious Ritz was such a rare sight and so fresh that he forgot the time. After passing through Ciedena and learning things like his love for Anna and his training to swing a sword, he felt that the image of Ritz in his mind had changed from a superhuman to a normal person.
After a while, Edward stood up, muttering, "It's about time." Franz had no idea what had prompted it. But Edward prompted Franz to stand as well, then turned towards Ritz, who was still swinging his sword, and spoke to Franz.
"Do you see now that he is not just an irresponsible, careless man?"
"Your Majesty..."
He thought he would be heard if he said that, but Edward didn't seem to care anymore. As expected, the tip of Ritz's sword, which had not wavered for a moment until now, swayed wildly.
"Look, Franz, that is the pathetic figure of a man who, wanting only to look cool in front of the woman he loves, secretly practices in desperation."
Instead of replying, Ritz's shoulders, who had been swinging the greatsword, were trembling slightly. But he hadn't stopped swinging the sword. He probably had a stopping point in mind. Knowing that, Edward was cheerful.
"For the sake of his worldly unrequited love for a young and lovely girl, he secretly hones his skills for her... Is that not a pureness like that of a boy? It is so heartwarming it brings tears to my eyes."
"Haah..."
"His daily conduct is so bad that this pure act brings even more tears to my eyes. Where in this impure man who plays around every night was such a pureness that makes one want to look away hidden? Or is he swinging his sword out of frustration while his body burns with unrequited love... It is a mystery."
"..."
"Perhaps he is secretly training so that he can show his wards how reliable he is. If so, he should show them that he is training, but his shyness knows no bounds."
"Your Majesty, Ritz is shaking."
He should have known, but he couldn't help but say it. But the words were brushed off with a smile. It seemed he knew very well what he was doing.
"Nonsense, he must have a bad back from slacking off for a while."
"That's... impossible..."
Eventually, having swung his last strike, Ritz, who was slightly out of breath, slowly turned around with a resentful look on his face.
"Ed, you..."
His face was twitching wildly.
"Oh, did you hear me?"
"You were talking loudly behind me, of course I heard you! Are my ears just holes?!"
"It seems it has just been proven that they are not holes."
Edward brushed off Ritz's words as if they were nothing and laughed at him without a hint of remorse. Franz, who had to be there, was at a loss for where to put himself.
"I'm trying to swing my sword, and you're babbling on behind me. What would you do if my hand slipped?"
Ritz, who had easily swung the greatsword and slung it back on his back, looked more displeased than angry as he snapped at Edward.
"If you keep messing around, I'll cut you down, Ed."
"Hohou. If you can cut me down, then by all means, cut me down."
Saying that, Edward smiled and crossed his arms.
"I accept your challenge."
At Edward's confident attitude, Ritz flinched. For Ritz, his best friend who had fought with Edward as his banner in the civil war, Edward's life was, of course, more important than his own. Franz was also aware of this from the king's assassination attempt incident.
As expected, when told that, Ritz seemed to be unable to do anything. He just stood there with his hand on the hilt of his greatsword, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
"If you're embarrassed about being seen practicing secretly, you should just train openly."
"Shut up!"
"I'm sure Anna would be impressed by your seriousness."
"I said shut up!"
Watching the former king and former minister argue like children, Franz let out a small sigh. Edward's purpose in bringing Franz here was probably to teach him a little about the real Ritz.
Comparing Edward and Franz, it was Franz who would have a longer relationship with Ritz in the future. To eliminate the rootlessness Franz had seen in Ritz in Ciedena, Anna, the object of Ritz's affection, alone would be a burden on Anna as an individual. It would be too much for Anna to give her entire life to Ritz.
So Edward probably wanted to create some kind of place, and as someone who would die before him, leave something for Ritz. That something was Franz, who would live longer than Edward. In other words, Edward, like Franz, wanted to leave something behind as someone who was going to die. He could understand that feeling.
Still, he sighed in front of the two who were still engaged in a childish fight. He wondered what the people would think if they saw the two of them like this, and he could sense that Shasta's efforts in elevating these two to perfect saviors of the country were no small feat.
At the same time, the thought of being appointed to some official post by Greig in the future and having to endure such hardships also sprouted. If he could escape, he thought it might be an option to move to another country, but then he had a feeling he would be forcibly taken back to the capital, which he disliked even more.
As he was struggling, the sound of some kind of bell rang from the direction of the tents, and he could hear a murmur that was not from a small number of people.
"What could that be?"
When he looked towards the two of them, neither of them was where they had been.
"Eh?"
When he looked around, they were already slowly walking towards the tents, though still shoving each other. Franz realized for the first time that Ritz and Edward had long since noticed. Franz, who had been left behind, hurried after the two of them.
He took the same path he had come on to get to the front of the tent, but the scenery had changed from when he had come. The area around the tents, which had been quiet just a moment ago, was now overflowing with people, each getting ready. The bell from earlier had apparently been the signal to wake up.
For the people of the circus troupe, it was like their home, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed, with women in flashy underwear and men with bare upper bodies.
The women walking around with colorful costumes in their hands, the sight of them combing their un-tied hair while singing in their underwear, even exuded a certain charm. The men teased such women with lighthearted jokes while brushing their own costumes and checking the tools they would use today.
Franz was completely overwhelmed by this worldview, which he had never seen or felt before.
"Nice. I like this kind of chaotic scene."
Ritz, who had somehow appeared nearby, said cheerfully.
"It suits my nature a hundred times better than being stuffy."
"You would think so. I don't dislike it either."
After replying with a similar smile, Edward gave a small nod to the two of them, then put on a calm expression and walked one step ahead. The people of the circus troupe who noticed Edward greeted him one after another.
"Good morning, Grandpa Ed."
At the overly familiar name, Franz's vision went dark, but Edward himself was smiling and replying to the troupe members with the face of a good-natured old man.
"Well, well, everyone is up late. It seemed you were still asleep when I was out for a walk."
"Well, we're late risers. As expected of an old man, you're up early!"
"When you reach my age, you don't need to dream so much."
"Well said, Grandpa Ed."
While Edward was dealing with them, Ritz gave Franz a look. He motioned with his finger to follow, and Franz nodded.
The two of them stealthily escaped the scene, went around the back of the tent, and came out in front of the big top. Though the back of the tent had been so lively, the front of the big top in the early morning was, in contrast, quiet. He thought no one was there, but the entrance opened quickly as if sensing their presence.
"Well, you're finally here?"
It was Marguerite who was there. After confirming that no one was around, she invited them in, and they entered. There was Gemma, in the same attire as yesterday, with her tanned skin and armor, and her sword at her side.
Next to her was a man he didn't recognize. He had tanned skin and red hair, just like Gemma. But the man was considerably shorter than Gemma, and in his place, he had bulging muscles. His eyes, which were more orange than amber, gave the impression of a hot fire.
"Since we get to see a one-on-one fight between a Flame Warrior and a mercenary captain, I thought about charging money for it big time, but this one was reluctant. So we'll have to do it secretly like this."
Though she said it was a shame, Marguerite said it without any hint of disappointment.
"That's great. I don't like being made a spectacle of either."
"Is that so?"
Marguerite shrugged her shoulders as if she was offended. From the looks of it, she might even know that Ritz had recently been appointed to a ministerial post. In the tone of these two, which seemed to be both probing each other's intentions and simply enjoying teasing each other, Gemma interrupted irritably.
"Can we get to the point now?"
"Yeah. My bad."
Ritz and Marguerite apologized without a hint of remorse. Gemma, who let out a small sigh, placed her hand on the shoulder of the man standing next to her.
"Before we fight, I will introduce him. My husband, Ordo."
The man who was introduced took a step forward and offered his hand to Ritz. Ritz took his hand. Considering their height difference, Ordo's height was probably about the same as Anna's.
"Ordo, one of the Ten Priests of the Fire Clan."
It was a low voice that seemed to echo from within a rock. In response, Ritz also answered with a displeased expression.
"I'm Ritz Alster, of the Clan of Light, I guess."
"'I guess'... Indeed, your appearance is far from that of the Clan of Light."
Without scorn or ridicule, Ordo just said that, nodded, and silently released his hand. It was different from Franz's expressionlessness. 'Taciturn' was the impression that best suited the man named Ordo.
"Ordo will watch the fight. Depending on the result, we will guide you to our settlement. How about it?"
Gemma said that and looked straight at Ritz.
"Though he is my husband, he never compromises on matters. Is that acceptable?"
"Yeah. As long as you keep your promise, I don't mind."
"I will keep my promise. We are Flame Warriors. We will never break our vows."
"I'll trust you."
"Then..."
"Yeah."
After a short exchange, the two slowly spread out their distance. Was the duel already starting? As he watched Gemma, Ritz, and Ordo in confusion, someone grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
"Hey, office worker, if you stand there daydreaming, you'll get caught up in it!"
Being told that, he was forcefully pulled back by Marguerite's thick arm.
"Eh... but..."
"We don't have time. The troupe members will be here soon."
Being told that, he took his pocket watch from his pocket. An hour had already passed since he woke up. It seemed he had been watching Ritz's training for longer than he thought.
"They're both pros at fighting, you know. I think it'll be over surprisingly quickly. Right, Ordo?"
"Yes."
Without taking his eyes off Gemma for a moment, Ordo answered shortly. Marguerite shrugged her shoulders with a wry smile.
"He's as quiet as ever. Office worker, you might be similar to him."
Before those words were finished, Gemma's pheasant-like, unique battle cry rang out, and a high-pitched metallic sound echoed.
When he turned his gaze in that direction, he saw Gemma attacking fiercely, as if sparks were flying. Each strike was frighteningly fast, the sword's movement more like a thrust than a slash. It was completely different from the swordsmanship of the soldiers he had seen before.
Using her tanned, flexible body like a spring, Gemma flew with ease. Her suppleness and the aggressive glint in her eyes were like that of a wildcat.
In response, Ritz held his sword sideways, holding it with both hands like a long shield. To Franz, it looked like he was being pushed back, but Ritz's expression was completely relaxed.
In the dimly lit big top, sunlight streamed in fantastically from various places, making Gemma's red hair, as she danced and challenged him, glitter.
"...Beautiful."
Though he should have been watching a fight, it was as if he were watching a magnificent dance.
A magnificent red dancer dancing in the air, and a man who, while chasing the dancer, provoked and invited her.
For some reason, their fight gave off such a fantastical image. It was strange. Was it because this was the big top of a circus troupe?
He suddenly wondered what her husband, Ordo, thought, and when he looked over, he saw that he was staring at Gemma without moving a muscle. His unwavering figure was like a rock.
The sword glittered in the差し込む光.
In an instant, the roles of offense and defense were reversed, and Ritz launched a counterattack.
The greatsword that had brushed past Gemma's red hair clashed with her sword with incredible speed, sending sparks flying. The tip of the sword, thrust out in a single breath, aimed at Gemma's feet, throwing her off balance, and she stumbled.
"Uwah..."
Instead of Gemma, Franz groaned. He thought it was over. But the next moment, what he heard was a metallic sound. Gemma had flexibly twisted her body to dodge, and in one rotation, she had jumped up.
"Tch..."
He could tell that Ritz, having missed his target, had clicked his tongue. He must have thought he had finished her off, just like Franz.
Gemma, having regained her posture, immediately launched a counterattack. She turned and leaped in front of Ritz.
Ritz, who blocked it with his greatsword as if by reflex, pushed back with brute force, trying to overpower Gemma.
But Gemma blocked the heavy blow with her thin sword. It seemed that the clash between the greatsword and the slender sword would absolutely be disadvantageous for the slender sword, but Gemma's sword was frighteningly strong.
This strength, which could be called out of the ordinary, was a characteristic of the metal called Ougin, and that was why smugglers targeted it as a material for weapons. He could understand that firsthand. He thought that an army with such weapons would be the strongest in both offense and defense, but Edward and Ritz would probably disagree. The sword that Ritz, who prided himself on being the strongest, wielded was not Ougin.
Spreading out their distance again, the two faced each other. The tense air that filled the big top once again became still and filled the space. In the oppressive silence, where it was even difficult to breathe, Franz's tension also heightened.
The next moment, the two of them moved.
Feinting a jump, Gemma quickly slashed at Ritz's arm. Ritz took it without dodging. Blood splattered from over his clothes.
"Ritz!"
The words, Why didn't you dodge? were on the tip of his tongue, but in the next instant, with the arm opposite to the one that had been slashed, Ritz pulled Gemma into a hold as if to embrace her.
The greatsword fell to the floor with a loud clang.
"Though your dominant hand remains, you cannot fully wield a greatsword with one hand. This match is my victory."
In Ritz's silent arms, Gemma, breathing lightly, smiled proudly.
"Well... I wonder?"
With blood flowing from his arm, Ritz held Gemma with one arm and gave a fearless smile.
"What did you say?"
As Gemma frowned, Ritz, still smiling, slowly opened his dominant hand that had been holding Gemma in a hold. There, held in his hand, having been switched at some point, was a small folding knife, half-open.
"I'm a mercenary, you know? Did you think a direct attack was my only means of attack?"
Saying that, he flicked the knife lightly, and with a click, the blade of the knife was fixed in place. Right in front of that knife was Gemma's throat.
"Th-that is cowardly!"
"It's not cowardly. Cut the flesh to break the bone. It's common sense, isn't it?"
"Kuh..."
Gemma groaned, gritting her teeth in frustration. Franz was also worried if it was okay to defeat the proud Flame Warrior in such a way, but Ritz didn't seem to be worried about such things in the slightest.
"But it's a fact that I can't move one of my hands either. Ordo, it's a draw, right?"
Releasing Gemma from his arms, Ritz asked Ordo, whom he had just met, in a familiar tone. Ordo, who had been watching the two of them with a hard expression, stared straight at Ritz with his strangely colored eyes.
"It is not a draw. The victor is you, Ritz Alster."
"Ordo!"
After staring at Gemma, who let out a pained cry, Ordo spoke gravely.
"It is true that it cannot be called a proper conclusion between warriors. But if this were a real battle, it is certain that Gemma would have lost her life. As a warrior, one must face the facts."
"...I understand."
"And... you were not serious, were you?"
Ordo stared straight at Ritz and asked quietly. After his face twitched for a moment, Ritz played dumb.
"I was as serious as could be."
"You don't have to hide it. You deliberately didn't aim for Gemma's vital points or her armor, did you? Why?"
Asked that, Ritz looked down awkwardly. Gemma was listening to Ordo's words in a daze. Eventually, Ritz spoke as if he had given up.
"As expected of the husband of a Flame Warrior. I can't fool you, can I?"
"Tell me the reason."
"...Well, you know... I don't really like attacking women, you know..."
The moment Ritz said that sullenly, Gemma's hair stood on end, and Marguerite burst out laughing.
"What did you say!? You held back for such a reason!"
"Because it's not good, right! If her armor fell off during a fight, a married woman would be showing her breasts in front of her husband!"
"Wh..."
"I'm a man. I don't dislike such delicious situations."
"Y-y-you!"
"But, it's different in a fight. You've got to be kidding me!"
Next to the exasperated Franz, Marguerite began to laugh uproariously. Gemma, for her part, was glaring at Ritz, her tanned cheeks flushed bright red.
"Y-you fight women on the battlefield, don't you!"
"Those guys wear normal clothes."
"B-but!"
"Those who are highly exposed are purely using their bodies as weapons as well. They show such parts to their opponents to lure them into a false sense of security and then launch an attack. But the Flame Warriors are not like that, are they?"
"Of course not! We would never cross swords with an opponent without fighting purely!"
"I can fight without hesitation against those who are calculating. But the Flame Warriors are really tough..."
"Why!? We should just fight fair and square. We Flame Warriors will fight to the end, even if we are naked, as long as we have our pride!"
"That unconscious and defenseless exposure is too pure, and Roshozu is a personal hell for me!"
Ritz said that and held his head. He was weak against unconscious exposure... He remembered that Ritz had also been flustered by Anna's defenseless appearance when she was practicing with the water spirits. It seemed that was Ritz's weak point.
He was strangely convinced that Ritz, who maintained a dignified attitude in the red-light district where calculated charm and sensuality were on display, was weak in situations like this. Come to think of it, when Ritz first talked about the Flame Warriors, he seemed to have a considerable aversion to them.
"Hahahaha. You're a funny one, you are!"
Marguerite laughed out loud with her mouth wide open, then patted Ritz's shoulder with her large, plump hand, and then patted the shoulder of Gemma, who was still so angry that steam was coming from her head.
"But well, a promise is a promise. What do you think, Ordo?"
"...I acknowledge them as official visitors."
"See? Isn't that great?"
Standing between Ritz and Gemma, Marguerite said that with a broad smile on her face.
"But make it on a day when the performance is off. We'll be short-handed, and I'm going too."
He swallowed the words, You're coming? It was no use antagonizing her here.
"Well then, shall we get ready? The main event is tonight. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Ringmaster."
Ritz answered playfully. In contrast to the casual Ritz, Ordo and Marguerite, supporting Gemma who was still furious, left the big top. The moment the two of them were alone, a deep sigh escaped him.
"Alright, after I grab some food, I guess I'll inflate the ringmaster's favorite Fuwafuwa."
Even as he pressed down on the wound to stop the bleeding that hadn't stopped since the fight ended, Ritz's light tone made him sigh. Just how tough was he? If Franz had received such a wound, he wouldn't be able to utter a sound.
"Hey Franz, got anything to tie this with? And something to press on it?"
Ritz said that as he looked around.
"What are you doing?"
"Stopping the bleeding."
"You could just have Anna heal it."
Normally, Ritz would do just that. But for some reason, Ritz didn't nod in agreement.
"She's practicing with the water spirits again today. I don't want to make her waste her energy."
Ritz muttered that as he peered around.
"I think a little bit would be fine, though?"
"Well, probably. But you saw her, right? She doesn't even have the energy to wake up early."
Having confirmed that Anna was sleeping soundly without moving a muscle when he left the tent, Franz nodded silently. Without pausing his search, Ritz continued.
"I've caused her a lot of trouble, and I don't want to get in her way. If she learns a new technique, it'll be a source of strength for her later on."
Those were words of concern for Anna that he had never heard from Ritz before. He still couldn't ask how the two of them had returned to their former selves from that complicated situation. But he understood that Anna and Ritz truly needed each other.
"Oh, perfect, I'll just use this."
Ritz, who had finally found a suitable cloth in the audience seats, turned around and froze. When he looked in the direction Ritz was looking, he saw a familiar red-haired girl standing there.
"Huh? Ritz, you're early. Franz, you're super early. Where's Marguerite-san?"
Of course, it was Anna. Anna was smiling and walking towards them. Next to her was Constanze, her golden hair, which had been in two fluffy, vertically rolled pigtails until she arrived, now neatly tied up in a single braid.
"Good morning, brother."
Franz nodded to Constanze, who was happily running towards him.
"Good morning, Constanze."
He was suddenly flustered, remembering the sight of Constanze sleeping in a small ball as if to protect herself that he had seen in the morning. His voice might have come out more brusque than he could control. But Constanze, unfazed, looked straight at Franz with her blue eyes, the same as his own.
"It's the stage today, isn't it! Brother, Constanze will sing with all her heart for you!"
"Yes. Do your best."
"I will. You'll come and see me, won't you, brother?"
Constanze's bright expression was tinged with a slight anxiety as she awaited Franz's reply. Franz instinctively nodded his head.
"Yes, I'll go."
Though it was a reflexive reply, Constanze beamed with a wide smile. Could they build on this, little by little?
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Anna let out a loud cry. Startled, the siblings turned around to see Anna firmly gripping Ritz's injured arm with both hands.
"What happened? You're injured!"
"It's nothing. It'll heal if I leave it alone."
"I can't just leave it alone! You're bleeding quite a bit."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not! Let me see!"
Ritz had been trying to get away, but Anna caught him and was taking off his jacket. In front of Anna, Ritz really did become a hopelessly pathetic man.
"Why are you resisting!?"
"Because you have a lot to do today, right? It's better if you don't use spirits..."
"It's not a matter of whether it's a lot or not! The injury is the top priority."
"But..."
"Now, stop complaining and hold out your hand properly!"
As Anna looked at Ritz and said that as if to a child, Ritz shrugged his shoulders and meekly presented his wound as Anna had told him to. Anna's expression changed when she saw the wound. Anna, who had treated wounds in the Kingdom Army's medical bureau for a short time, could probably tell that it was a sword wound.
"...First, I'll wash it with water."
Saying that in a low voice, Anna had Ritz sit down on the spot. Then she chanted in her mouth, created a small water sphere, and burst it over the bloody wound that had spread from being pressed down. As if a glass ball filled with water had been broken, water flowed down over the wound.
"Alright, water wash complete. Now, hold still."
"Sorry, causing you trouble."
Anna stared at Ritz, who said that while scratching his head, and said in a whisper.
"...It's not bad. I want to be useful to Ritz."
Perhaps sensing something in her lonely tone, Ritz softened his tone.
"Thanks. I'm counting on you, Anna."
"Yeah."
Listening to the soft, gentle voices of the two, Franz let out a sigh of relief, glad that they would at least be able to go to the Fire Clan's settlement.
Thank you for everything this past year. Unlike the event sales of the past, I'm truly grateful that so many people have read my work.
I look forward to your continued support next year. m(__)m