kscans

Chapter 88 - The Beginning of the End, Three

"What is that?!"

"It’s so adorable!!"

"Wait. They’re twins, right? Isn’t the one escorting her a bit tall?"

Ladies and gentlemen, your polite facades are slipping. Look, the teachers’ smiles are turning dark.

This was the grand garden of the academy.

The garden, spacious enough to seat the entire student body at tables with room to spare, was kept at a constant temperature by a barrier spell and adorned with colorful flowers everywhere. There were flower stands and flower baskets, all living floral decorations made using materials like you would find at an oasis on Earth.

They don’t seem to use things like kenzan flower frogs. I suppose it takes a knack to secure flowers with those.

The garden, blessed with fine weather, was bustling with activity when the Little One entered the tea party venue, escorted by Chihaya.

The luncheon had ended, and the students were enjoying pleasant conversation. As this was also a lesson in social etiquette, everyone was on their best behavior, acting the part.

But when the Drago family twins appeared, every eye in the venue focused on them at once.

They wore the unique kimono-style clothing of Kilfan. Haya was dressed in a kariginu hunting robe with a shorter outer coat and hakama trousers. The deep indigo fabric was embroidered with a shippo pattern in thread of the same color. Hero wore a white under-robe with a scarlet collar piece. She also wore scarlet hakama and a thin over-robe called a chihaya. The white fabric of her over-robe, embroidered with a silver-threaded kanoko fawn spot pattern, shimmered with the light. Both outfits were arranged in a modern, shorter style. Visible below their knees were white silk stockings. Even their thick-soled zori sandals were of an ornate weave, drawing much attention. Everyone’s eyes were captivated by the thin over-robe as it fluttered and swayed, catching the breeze.

"Well now. What a curious style of dress. Where is it from?"

At the royal table where the twins were guided, Fatima and Prince Marcello were already seated and having tea.

"They are from my mother’s homeland. It is attire derived from Kilfan."

Prince Marcello stared intently at the seated twins, then narrowed his eyes.

"You’ve grown so much. The first time we met, you were still so small."

At the prince's nostalgic words, the Little One’s smile deepened, and she too narrowed her eyes.

You’ve grown as well. The first time we met, you were just a boy with a lingering air of innocence. How quickly time passes.

Remembering the events of over a decade ago, the Little One found herself lost in a moment of reflection. Just as tea was brought to this table of differing sentiments and the twins had brought the warm cups to their lips, a great commotion erupted behind them.

Turning to see what the matter was, the Little One’s eyes fell upon a small horse. It looked very much like what would be called a pony on Earth, and it was pulling a small, flower-adorned carriage.

"What’s that?"

"Oh, that’s a flower carriage. They’re pulled by donkeys or ponies," Fatima replied, smiling fondly at the Little One, whose eyes were sparkling. Prince Marcello also nodded, his eyes softening at the sight of the girl’s age-appropriate, childlike demeanor.

"The amusements at these kinds of events are the same everywhere. It’s a popular ride in Flowers as well."

However, the Little One was not staring at the decorated carriage, but at the pony pulling it. Physically, she was still unable to ride a horse. For some reason, Chihaya was receiving riding lessons from the knights, but those same knights were less than encouraging toward Chihiro.

"You’re about ten centimeters too short."

"I don’t think your feet would even reach the smallest stirrups..."

Crushed by the knights’ hesitant pronouncements, the Little One had given up. For months, she had watched her brother ride with dashing skill, her gaze filled with resentment.

Why can big brother handle a horse so easily?

Chihaya’s riding was so skillful it made even the veteran knights’ eyes widen in surprise.

Of course, no one around him knew he had a private instructor.

‘Lift your hips more. Move with the horse’s motion.’

"Like this?"

‘Relax your shoulders. For now, it’s fine to just feel like you’re being carried. Horses are intelligent creatures. They will understand how you feel.’

"Yeah, thanks, Cesare."

He was being taught by a seasoned warrior who had galloped across battlefields in the past. There was no way he wouldn’t improve.

Unaware of this, the Little One was gnawing on her fingers in frustration.

But the small horse before her now. Couldn’t even she ride that?

Even big brother is riding a large foal. Until I can ride a foal, maybe a pony would be a good start?

Just as the Little One’s face lit up, a large shadow suddenly passed over. Several shadows darted across the garden lawn, and when the startled people looked up at the sky, they saw countless giant bees flying there.

"Kyaaaahhh!!"

Starting with one female student’s scream, the specially prepared garden erupted into a maelstrom of chaos. The teachers were speechless, and the Little One was dumbfounded.

Landing before her was the one and only Merda-sama.

"Chihiro-sama, something strange has happened in the western forest!"

With that message, Merda grabbed Chihaya and Chihiro under each arm and soared into the sky with a sound like babyun. The bees vanished from the sight of the dumbfounded onlookers in the blink of an eye.

"What on earth just happened?"

"Wasn’t that a disaster-class monster?"

"That was so scaryyyy."

Students clamored, jumping on their teachers, who had no idea how to explain the situation. Compared to other nations, Frontier was more accustomed to monsters, but that was strictly outside the city walls. The children of nobles, who rarely even left their own estates let alone the city, had no immunity to monsters whatsoever. If anything, commoners had more opportunities to see monsters, as they would go into the forests to gather plants.

Leaving behind the crying children and the students frozen in a daze, Prince Marcello also rose from his seat. He bid Fatima farewell, intending to head for the royal palace.

"Something may have happened. I might not be able to attend the dance party, but..."

"Of course. I will go as well."

Looking up at the thoughtfully murmuring Prince Marcello with a clear gaze, Fatima also stood. A glance revealed that Theodore and Miltitia, who had been sitting at a table a short distance away, were also on their feet.

We’re all thinking the same thing.

With a faint smile, Fatima and the other palace officials hurried toward the teleportation circle.

"What happened?"

Soaring through the sky, the Little One got the gist of the story from Merda.

The western forest exists within a canyon. Apparently, the bottom of that deep canyon had collapsed, and a new canyon had been discovered. What’s more, when they tried to send the Lords’ Kin to investigate, they were repelled.

"You mean they couldn’t get inside?"

"Yes. Joker also reported a presence stirring within."

Chihaya, who had been listening intently to their conversation, bit his lip.

...Has it begun?

‘...Perhaps.’

When Cesare released his third memory, Chihaya saw destruction.

People swallowed by a wicked torrent, racing headlong toward their own ruin. Humanity would be destroyed by humanity. He would not forget the abominable events that occurred in Heislepe, a world without the principles of magic.

The origin of magic is the four elements. The ones who govern the four elements are the spirits.

Even in Heislepe, which had no principles of magic, the spirits existed. Though unnoticed by humans, they were there, by their side.

And yet... because humans failed to notice them.

Tragedy struck.

Will that be repeated?

‘I will not allow it. That is why I am here. That is why I brought my power and memories here.’

For Cesare, who had lost Heislepe, the life of Arcadia was like his own child. With his memories as a boy god returned, Cesare was stunned. He wanted to praise his past self for attempting to steal everything from Arcadia while simultaneously setting up an insurance policy in case of failure.

‘The gods only watch over the world. They cannot save people. ...Only people can save people. So... let’s do this, Haya.’

..........Yeah!!

Arcadia had faced the threat of destruction in the past. He had heard that it was averted through Chihiro’s efforts. In exchange, she had lost everything. Even her own young life.

Fortunately, she was reborn as Drago’s daughter and now lives with a warm family, but in the past, everything was undoubtedly stolen from her.

This time, I will be the one to protect her.

Because he shared memories with Cesare, a flood of knowledge poured into Chihaya. Cesare knew what had to be done. But he was merely inhabiting Chihaya. For the most part, Chihaya would have to cooperate and shoulder the burden.

I’ll do it. For Hero’s sake, I’d even pick a fight with the gods.

‘That’s the spirit.’

No one noticed the ferocious twist of Chihaya’s lips.

The abyss that had once tried to swallow the Little One had opened its jaws wide once more. The people of Arcadia had not yet noticed the eerie pitfall, its sharpened fangs glistening slickly, its crimson tongue dancing.