Chapter 156 - <13>
Cleaning up the burnt-down big top was expected to take several days, but with the help of Gemma and the other Flame Warriors who came to assist, it was finished in just one day. Although they had lost their main tent, it was fortunate that not a single person in the Marguerite Circus Troupe was injured.
Eventually, when the big top disappeared, leaving only the burnt ruins, the circus members tidied up their respective departments and went off to clean their own tents.
In the midst of this bustling atmosphere, Franz, who of course knew the cause of the fire, was summoned by Marguerite.
He had been determined to go alone, but Anna insisted on coming with him, and in the end, they all went to see Marguerite together. What’s more, in Marguerite’s tent was Gemma, the Chief of the Flame Warriors. She probably thought she couldn’t just ignore such a dangerous fire.
Depending on his explanation, he could become a dangerous person to Roshozu, a thought that made his blood run a little cold. For Franz, the Flame Warriors were difficult to deal with in a different way than Ritz was.
In the heavy atmosphere, Franz had to recount what had happened inside the big top step by step.
“It began the day before, when I found the Crimson Fire Stones in the orchestra’s performance area.”
Franz began his story.
He had seen them countless times during the Fire Clan's festival, so he assumed Marguerite would use them and didn't report it. And so, Franz completely forgot about their existence.
Then, after the final performance, he was asked by an orchestra member to fetch an instrument. On his way to the big top, he met Constanze, and they ended up going together.
Upon entering the big top from the entrance, the two hesitated for a moment.
The tent, which had been so glamorous and lively just a few hours ago, now exuded a dark and eerie atmosphere, like an abandoned, empty house.
“Brother, isn’t this a little creepy?”
Constanze whispered, and Franz quietly agreed.
“...You’re right.”
Truth be told, Franz was extremely afraid of things like ghosts and monsters. The existence of the supernatural, beyond his control, terrified him. But with his little sister here, he couldn’t show any fear.
“Let’s find the instrument and get back quickly.”
“Yes.”
Feeling Constanze's fingers digging tightly into his hand, Franz pressed forward. They had said it was in the orchestra pit, so that would be under the center of the stage.
As they walked on in silence, Constanze spoke up hesitantly.
“Brother, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“Um... Brother, will you write me a letter sometimes?”
“A letter?”
Franz couldn't help but frown.
He had no objection to writing letters, but it was not desirable for his whereabouts to be known to Ville Lucina. Franz would probably settle down in the Yuresla Royal Capital Sears after his journey was over. Until then, he would be in other countries, so he couldn't possibly write.
But returning to the capital meant getting involved with Greig. If his own son became friends with the crown prince, Ville Lucina would not remain silent.
He would likely try various methods to curry favor with the royal family, and for that purpose, it was clear he would desperately try to get close to Franz.
If that were to happen in the distant future, after Franz had gained strength through his own abilities, he could forcibly exclude them. But if he were just a servant staying with the crown prince, he would be powerless and would only cause trouble for Edward and Gerald.
Seeing Franz’s troubled expression, Constanze quickly shook her head.
“No, no, that’s not it, Brother. You see, the sender’s name and location on the letter, Anna said she would write them. I would be happy if you could just put a little letter from you inside Anna’s.”
Fidgeting as she spoke, Constanze looked up.
“Would that be all right?”
It seemed that at some point, she and Anna had made such a promise. It was a good thing for Constanze to make friends. Even if it was Anna. He let out a small sigh, and Constanze lowered her eyes.
“I suppose not.”
“...Why?”
“Huh? Because you just sighed.”
“No, it’s fine, but?”
“Is it fine?”
“I didn’t say no.”
Constanze, who had been staring intently at Franz to see if he was truly not angry, finally let out a breath as if relieved at last.
“I’m glad.”
At her age-appropriate, happy smile, Franz suddenly felt his own lips naturally curve into a smile. Maybe it just looked like he smiled because Constanze was smiling so happily.
At that moment, something crossed his vision.
On guard, he shielded Constanze behind him and held up the lamp, desperately searching for something in his sight. To think he didn't have Sara-chan's lamp at a time like this, but it was too late for regrets.
Something swayed silently in the flickering lamplight, flying around. A feeling that only Franz could sense... a dark spirit.
“Brother?”
Constanze asked anxiously from behind the silent Franz, but he kept his eyes fixed on the dark spirit.
The interior of the big top, where everything from the cleanup had been left out after the performance, had poor footing, making it difficult to see inside. But what he understood was that the dark spirit didn't seem to be attacking. If they just quietly got the instrument and left, they might be unharmed.
Considering the worst-case scenario, he took Constanze’s hand and, after stumbling several times, finally reached the orchestra pit. Peeking inside, Franz tilted his head. There were only the orchestra members’ chairs and a few giant percussion instruments; not a single portable instrument was to be found.
Frowning at the thought of being played for a fool, he noticed something rustle in the corner of the orchestra pit. A black mass squirmed as if alive, pulsing like a heartbeat.
“B-Brother? What’s wrong?”
“Get back, Conzie.”
“Huh?”
In the brief moment Franz shielded Constanze behind him, the black mass writhed violently and burst apart like a many-headed snake.
With a low, groan-like roar, the black darkness closed in on Franz and Constanze.
He had instinctively thrust both hands forward.
“O fire spirit, become my strength!”
Simultaneously with the reflexive incantation, he felt a terrifying fire gather in both his hands. The fire spirit was too strong. But the dark spirit extended its tentacles to consume everything.
I'll release the fire before it reaches its peak, and use the momentary gap to escape from the big top. As soon as he thought it, he acted.
“Go, Flame Arrow!”
He shook off the spirit gathered in his palms and hurled the Flame Arrow at the dark spirit.
But at that moment, the dark spirit vanished as if melting away, despite not being touched by the flames. And in the place where they had been writhing, there was a pile of Crimson Fire Stones.
“Ah!”
By the time he realized it, it was impossible to extinguish the Flame Arrow. To counteract the impact he knew would come in the next instant, he reflexively created a Fireball.
“Conzie, don't move!”
In that instant, a massive explosion occurred.
The Fireball he had thrown in that split second collided violently with the explosive flame and blast wave, exploding in the center and momentarily extinguishing the fire’s power. He had remembered seeing Laria extinguish his own flame with hers at her mansion and had instinctively mimicked it, and it worked.
But the flame, while protecting them for a moment and creating a safe area in the center of the big top, spread over a wide area beyond that, blocking their escape route.
It was impossible for Franz's skill to completely extinguish the explosion of the Crimson Fire Stones.
“Kuh...”
His escape route was cut off.
In this situation, neither using a Fireball nor a Flame Arrow would improve things. Even if he could use the Fire Dragon in this land filled with the power of fire, it would only make the raging flames spread further; he couldn't escape this situation with the Fire Dragon.
If, by some chance, he broke a pillar of the big top, the one area where the fire was spreading slowly, where they were now, would be the first to be engulfed in flames.
Time ticked by agonizingly. He could feel sweat trickling down his entire body. It wasn't just heat; it was the sweat of fear.
“What do I do...”
As he bit his lip, Constanze, behind him, gripped his clothes tightly.
“Brother...”
Unable to say “don’t worry” or “I’ll protect you,” Franz silently took Constanze’s hand.
“...Conzie...”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
He couldn't get out of this on his own. As he told her this, Constanze bit her lip and looked down. The flames burst, and a shower of sparks danced wildly.
The sparks flying all over their bodies seared their skin. It was unbearably hot, but there was nothing they could do.
“I’m glad.”
“About what?”
“That you forgave me. For now, I have no regrets.”
The young Constanze looked up at Franz and smiled brightly.
“My wish was granted.”
The core of his head grew hot. Was it okay to let this child, his young sister, die like this? She, who had been hurt because he had raised his hand to her, was it okay for her to die with only the few years of suffering she had known, without seeing the future ahead?
Of course it wasn’t. This child should still live. And he didn't want to die in a place like this either. If that was the case, even if it might hasten their end, he would bet on a long shot and create an escape route.
“Conzie.”
“Yes.”
“Is it okay if I bet on a long shot?”
Thinking it was unlike him, Franz gazed at Constanze. Constanze, who met his gaze with her blue eyes, so like his own, wide open, slowly nodded.
“As you wish, Brother. Conzie believes in you.”
“Thank you.”
He scanned the interior of the big top, now bright with flames, searching for a space between the pillars. Since most of it had a double structure due to the backstage and customer entrance, he couldn't tell where the pillars were.
If he could avoid the pillars and burn down only the canvas, he might be able to see an escape route there.
He desperately searched for a gap between the pillars amidst the heat-distorted view. But he couldn't see well. He might have been able to see from outside the big top, but searching from inside was difficult.
“Kuh...”
Groaning, he looked up at the ceiling and noticed it had a distinct feature. Countless ropes extended from the ceiling, connecting to somewhere.
Could those be the pillars?
At that moment, the stage collapsed with a loud crash.
“Ah...”
Constanze let out a small voice. For her, even if it was only for a few days, the stage was the most memorable place. Franz also bit his lip. There was no more time.
But thanks to the collapsed stage, an escape route became visible.
He could see the dressing room directly behind the big top. The dressing room connected to the outside. And he had the shape, size, and pillar positions of the dressing room memorized.
“Conzie. Don't let go, no matter what.”
“...Yes.”
Franz stood up straight, facing the dressing room.
“O fire spirit who governs strength and courage. Grant me your power.”
The power of fire overflowed throughout his body. Fire swirled in small vortices in his raised hands, rapidly growing into a massive ball of flame. Eventually, it transformed into a huge Fireball with more life force than he had ever felt before.
This was the power of the land of the Fire Clan.
“Go! Fireball!”
He shot the Fireball with all his might. The ball of fire tore through space, rotating fiercely, and then ripped through the tent, causing it to burst into violent flames.
The moment the Fireball passed through, the starry sky peeked through the tear in the burning tent.
“I did it!”
The moment after he instinctively muttered that, the fiercely burning flames mercilessly filled the gap like a curtain. The single trail of burnt marks leading from him to the tear was also being consumed by fire.
“...Is it no good?”
Just as he murmured that in despair, the two of them noticed something approaching and jumped back. It was a Water Sphere, flying past them at high speed, emitting thick smoke.
“A Water Sphere...”
He knew immediately whose it was. Anna was the only water spirit user. The Water Sphere flew towards the tear Franz had burned, extinguishing the fire as it went.
“Brother...”
“Yeah.”
Just as he thought they were saved and his strength was about to leave him, a shout from behind startled him.
“What are you doing! Stop spacing out!”
“Ritz.”
“You idiot! It’s going to collapse!”
Startled by his words, he looked up at the ceiling and saw that the flames were already crawling up to that point.
“Conzie!”
He glanced at Constanze, and saw that she was so relieved her legs had given out. She was trembling and could barely cling to Franz.
“Ritz!”
He called out, and Ritz, who had run in, seemed to understand and effortlessly hoisted Constanze onto his shoulder. From behind them, a wind began to blow.
“Wind...?”
“It’s Anna’s wind bow.”
The wind bow was a defensive tool. He remembered it created a safe place for a brief moment. That meant the area where this wind was blowing was the only safe zone.
Looking ahead, he saw a single path created by the Water Sphere that had cleared the flames, now protected by a tunnel of wind. This was their only chance.
“Let’s go!”
“Yeah.”
Franz started running alongside Ritz.
Just a few minutes after they escaped the big top, it collapsed before their very eyes with a violent noise and a shower of sparks.
For a while after Franz finished speaking, no one said a word. But it was Marguerite who broke the silence with a sigh.
“That's a strange story. The orchestra guys are attached to their instruments like warriors to their swords. There’s no way any of them would just leave them behind.”
“But I was definitely asked to.”
When he said this in a strong tone, Marguerite nodded.
“I know, I know. There’s no reason for you to lie. But it’s a strange story.”
Marguerite nodded with a groan. But unlike Marguerite, who seemed convinced, Gemma frowned as if she couldn't accept it.
“Is that really true? Could it be that you held some grudge against the circus troupe?”
“That’s not it.”
“Really?”
Stared at by her amber eyes, Franz nodded. If he looked away, he felt he would be doubted even more. As he sweated into his palms from the tension, Marguerite patted Gemma’s shoulder.
“Don’t you worry, Gemma. This kid doesn’t lie.”
“How can you tell?”
“Isn’t it obvious? A week is enough to know. The problem isn’t that, it’s who told Franz to go to the tent for the instruments. Don’t you remember?”
Marguerite looked straight at him, but he couldn't remember anything. He knew it was a circus member, but he had no memory of who it was. When he shook his head helplessly, Marguerite sighed.
“Don’t you remember, Ritz?”
“I didn’t even know Franz went to the tent.”
“Even though you were drinking together?”
“Well, um, my attention was on someone else...”
Ritz said this haltingly. Marguerite and Gemma both seemed to understand as his eyes flickered toward Anna. Marguerite, who seemed to have a vague idea of what that meant, gave a wry smile.
“Then how about you, Your Majesty? Did you see anything?”
“I do not recall either. I was telling the children tales of heroes from the Yuresla Kingdom.”
“...So we’re at a dead end.”
Just as Marguerite sighed and said this, for some reason, Anna raised her hand.
“Yes!”
“What is it, Anna?”
“I know who the culprit is.”
“What?!”
Anna's completely unexpected remark threw the place into an uproar. Gemma, flushing with excitement, slammed her hand on the table and stared at Anna.
“Who is it?!”
“A man named Kuchiba.”
“Kuchiba...? There’s no one by that name here.”
“He was from the Clan of Darkness. He said he came to obstruct our journey. He said they’d be in trouble if we learned the truth about the sacred jewel we’re looking for.”
At those completely unexpected words, everyone fell silent as if doused with water. But with the next sentence, the tension drained out of all of them.
“So... um, maybe it’s our fault that the big top burned down after all?”
“That’s not it, Anna.”
Representing everyone, Ritz retorted to Anna.
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. So, this guy Kuchiba, did he say anything else?”
“Yeah. He said he'd continue to test us by working on the darkness in people's hearts to see if we're worthy vessels to know the truth. He said they're not allowed to interfere directly with us because we have the Eye of the Spirit King.”
Anna’s eyes, as she explained this in a casual tone, were darker and more intense than her words suggested. It was clear she was still hiding something. But there was no need to say it here, with the outsiders Marguerite and Gemma present.
As he watched Anna in silence, Edward murmured softly.
“Anna. Did that man say we possess the Eye of the Spirit King?”
“Yes.”
“In other words, he knows that this Eye is called an ‘eye’ among various races.”
“...What does that mean?”
Ritz frowned suspiciously.
“You should understand. It means that this man, Kuchiba, within the Clan of Darkness, is in a position to know that the sacred jewel is the Eye of the Spirit.”
“Which means... that man, Kuchiba, knows what truth our journey to the sacred sites will reveal.”
“Exactly.”
Finally understanding, Franz’s expression tightened. In other words, there was someone who already knew the truth they were seeking. And that person was from the Clan of Darkness. The ageless Orphe, and the Clan of Darkness with their long lifespan comparable to the spirit race. He didn't know what connection there was between the two.
First of all, Orphe wasn’t supposed to be from the Clan of Darkness. And if what was written in that letter was true, Orphe would have already lived for over a thousand years. That was impossible, even for the Clan of Darkness.
“In that case, catching the culprit and making them pay for the tent is going to be difficult, I suppose.”
Marguerite, who had been listening silently until now, said this with a wry smile. Negotiating with a high-ranking member of the Clan of Darkness over a big top would be impossible.
“Of course, I can’t bill you lot since you’re not the culprits. It can’t be helped, this must be fate.”
Marguerite laughed, her large frame shaking. It was a laugh that conveyed a strength to accept what had happened and move on.
“Are you all still going to pursue the truth?”
Marguerite's gaze was fixed squarely on Anna. Without looking away, Anna met her gaze and nodded.
“Yes. We will never give up!”
“A fine answer. Truth is something you gain by fighting, whether it’s against others or against yourself. To give up is to lose to yourself. We of the Fire Clan admire those who fight. Right, Gemma?”
“Yes.”
“Go on and send those cowards who secretly manipulate people flying. The tent burned down, but it was fun meeting you all. Come again.”
Representing her comrades, Marguerite patted Anna on the shoulder.
“You too, Conzie.”
Constanze, called upon unexpectedly, looked surprised for a moment, but after looking at Franz's face, she smiled happily, a soft, joyful smile like a blooming flower.
The next day, the group departed Roshozu along with the merchants.
The circus troupe decided to stay a while longer to determine their future dates, performance locations, and the arrangements for purchasing a new big top.
Parting ways with the cheerful members of the Marguerite Circus Troupe, Franz walked at the very rear of the group along a narrow path surrounded by towering cliffs. Even though Ritz was carrying all the luggage, he was annoyed at his own perpetually slow pace.
After walking on in silence for a while, Franz suddenly felt a presence next to him and looked up. It was Constanze.
“Brother.”
“What?”
“Being with you has made me so happy. Is it all right if I continue to admire you from now on?”
Franz gave a small nod to a fidgeting Constanze. He knew that if he spoke, his words would be insufficient.
“My school starts in about two weeks. When it does, I’m sure I’ll remember the week I spent in Roshozu like a dream. After all, it was the last week I spent with you, Brother.”
Constanze said this cheerfully, but he could tell her voice was trembling and she was sniffling. He knew she had resolved herself to the fact that they would never meet again. Franz had thought so too, but he realized his own feelings were too poignant for that.
She was his one and only sister in this world, who had huddled with him in that dark corner of the rear palace.
“...Conzie.”
“Yes.”
“It’s impossible now, but I’ll contact you when I’m settled. I won’t be returning to Saradio, but you can come with those loyal subordinates of yours.”
“...Is that all right?”
“Yes. And let me hear you sing. Not the Diva’s song this time, but your song.”
“Brother...”
Tears spilled from her blue eyes, so similar to his own. He placed a hand on his sister's head, just as Ritz often did, and stroked it slowly, albeit clumsily.
“I’ll be waiting, Constanze.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Would she be surprised if he called her to the capital? But his place would probably end up being there. When he called for Constanze, he would let Greig hear her sing too.
The song of Franz’s little Diva, Constanze.
“Franz, Conzie~, you’re falling behind~!”
Anna’s loud voice made him look up, and he saw Ritz, Edward, and Anna waiting for them up ahead.
“Let’s go, Conzie.”
“Yes.”
Taking Constanze’s outstretched hand, Franz began to walk.