Chapter 114 - Episode 2: "He's Undergone a Dangerous Growth"
It is Violia. I shall tell you exactly what happened.
A little young master who was smaller than me has somehow become a man taller than me.
I have no idea what happened. I feel like my head is going to go crazy.
I have tasted a glimpse of the cruelty of the passage of time...!
However, I am calm. Yes. I was just a little surprised.
"Oh, you have the wrong person. Well then, good day."
I shall calmly leave!
"W-Wait!"
I couldn't leave. My wrist was still being held. Shall I cut off this fellow's wrist?
"Um, just to talk... just a little is fine. Could you please give me some of your time?"
"I'm sorry, but I am busy."
"I-I know! I know it's bad if people find out where you are, and that you have circumstances that prevent you from staying here long!"
As I tried to shake off his hand, I was startled.
It was partly because of the words of the fellow claiming to be Lital... but more than that, it was because I failed when I tried to lightly shake him off.
T-This is no joke! He looks soft, but his grip strength is actually quite outrageous!? He's not as strong as Doran or Onii-sama, but he's still quite outrageous!?
As I steeled myself to use my dagger, the fellow said this:
"I'm not ignorant of the world anymore. I know who you are. ...Violia-sama."
...Gah.
W-Well, I suppose it can't be helped. Of course he knows...
...This is even worse!
I thought it might be better to kill him here after all, but I decided to listen to his story just in case.
I'm curious about why Lital underwent such a tragic 'before and after' in just one year, and above all, he's a branch of House Clarino. I want to pluck as much information about House Clarino as I can.
It remains a dangerous bridge to cross, but it's not just a dangerous bridge; it's a bridge with a treasure island at the end. In that case, I shall cross it. Ohohoho.
...Well, it would be even more troublesome if I tried to run away poorly here. Ah, I'm glad this is the Royal Capital. If we had run into each other in Elsemarin, there was a risk the hideout would be discovered...
The fellow claiming to be Lital... oh, whatever, he's Lital himself! Yes, it seems Lital was telling the truth when he said he knew my circumstances.
We ended up talking in a forest just outside the Royal Capital.
...I'm paying attention to my surroundings just in case, but it doesn't seem like we'll run into anyone lying in wait in the forest.
If that's the case, Lital really did come here just to talk to me, but...
"You certainly have some nerve coming to a place like this knowing I'm the daughter of Fortesia."
"Ah, sorry. I was inconsiderate... That's right, since I'm inviting a noble lady, I should have guided you to a more wonderful place..."
"No. That's not it at all. Listen, I'm saying I can't believe you'd try to be alone with me in such a deserted place even though you know I'm a dangerous criminal."
How should I put it, he's either too unworldly or too out of sync with the world; that atmosphere hasn't changed at all... I wonder how this guy has managed to survive until now. Is he lucky, or what...?
"Ayle-sama, were you worried about me...?"
"Well, I am worried..."
When I think that the world is full of people like this, I become very worried about the future of this world.
"But it's okay. I've become strong. You don't need to worry anymore."
The fellow I'm extremely worried about said so and gave a beaming smile, like the spring sun.
"As I promised, I have become strong and returned. ...Strong enough to protect you!"
...I.
I have no idea what he is talking about...!
When I calmed down and thought back carefully, I did indeed say something like that. I said something like 'Be of help to me'!
I thought of it almost like a non-refundable insurance policy, and my intention was to either have him provide information related to House Clarino or use him as a hostage if trouble related to House Clarino occurred. Besides, now that I've moved so significantly, I thought that talk was already void...
"Um, I'll confirm one more time, but you do know I'm Violia Nico Fortesia, right? And you also know I'm an arch-criminal being pursued by the Royal Family, right?"
"Yes. I know!"
"...Then why do you think that way...?"
I am an arch-criminal.
If he protects me, he becomes an arch-criminal too.
Does he understand that? Is he really okay? Or is his head boiling?
"T-That's..."
Lital hesitated... and then I worried if he might be a spy despite his appearance.
"A-Ayle-sama is my... aspiration, so..."
...An answer too crude for a spy came back...
"...Well, fine. I understand very well that your sense of crisis is as thin as ever, but I have no intention of doing anything about it."
How should I put it, I've given up. For now, Lital is... probably not an enemy. Or rather, even if he were an enemy, he's not to be feared. I don't think I can win in terms of pure muscle strength, but I'm confident I could win against him with a decent win rate.
"Does that mean... you'll give me time to talk!?"
"Keep it brief. I have things to do as well."
When I replied with a sigh, Lital became all smiles like a dog wagging its tail.
Ah... how should I put it, I feel like I've been caught by something troublesome...
After that, I listened to Lital's story for a while.
Apparently, after parting with me, for some reason he ran away from home and went on a journey of training.
...Can you believe it? He was in Elisabatri for the past six months!
Elisabatri is a den of monsters. I won't say they're at the level of dragons, but it's an area where things like wyverns, liches, and Dark Purple Slimes live in large numbers.
Just hearing that he lived secluded in such a place for six months... I can roughly understand Lital's current strength...
...If I fought this guy ten times, he might actually win once...
"Even so, why such a sudden training... didn't your family stop you?"
"Yes. Both my father and mother stopped me. But I wanted to become strong immediately, no matter what... Even if I'm from a branch family, I'm a man of a clan that lists its name among the martial House Clarino."
Ah, come to think of it, he did say something like that. He said he had a complex because the main house's Chris Bay Clarino was already hunting dragons when he was around his age. That must have been his complex, but things have their suitability... no, since the result of his rapid growth in one year is right here, it must have been 'suitable' for him!
"Um, the dragon scales and fangs you gave me, Violia-sama. Those seemed to perfectly match my magic. Thanks to that, after I received the charm, I was able to cast magic stably... It seems my staff didn't suit me. Did you see through all of that?"
"Who knows."
To be honest, I wasn't paying attention to that at all.
Lital has a face that says 'I knew you noticed' and is smiling. This fellow's appearance and magic seem to have grown rapidly, but his spirit, or rather his vigilance... hasn't that part not grown at all...?
"I found out immediately after that Ayle Kanone-sama was Violia Nico Fortesia-sama."
This guy is a pampered young master because he's so relaxed even now that he knows...
"And then, I thought. I have to become strong immediately."
I really want to ask 'Eh? Is it to strike me down?' but I'll keep quiet! I don't want to wake a sleeping dog!
"...Um, Violia-sama."
"What is it?"
Lital was fidgeting, but eventually he opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
"I've become strong. I might not be a match for you, but I've become strong enough to protect you... strong enough to help you."
I suppose so... Yes, in an elegant setting, I feel like this guy could even beat Chesta... Conversely, I feel like he might lose in a fight where ambushes and anything goes. But, yes, judging from the magic I can feel, there's no doubt he has grown considerably...
However.
"I have no need for your help. Use that power for yourself."
To be honest, it's just troublesome to have him following me around any more! I only thought of him as insurance! It's troublesome to have him come when I have no plans to use him! Or rather, his position is the problem! It's truly troublesome!
"I want to repay my debt to you. Because it was you who raised me to this point."
"Oh. I haven't done anything. Isn't it you yourself who did various things this past year? It has nothing to do with me."
"No! It's thanks to the dragon scales and fangs that I became able to fight! And I learned from the dragon hunt I went on with you... Above all, you gave me a goal to become strong!"
Lital stood up vigorously, and then he knelt on one knee and took my hand. What is with this guy?
"I'm entering the Martial Arts Tournament. It seems Brother Chris is also participating, but even so, I'm entering. And... I'll surely win! And then, by winning..."
"I will surely clear you of the false charges!"