kscans

Chapter 215 - Episode 12. Part One, Reunion

Returning from the royal palace, I entered my room and saw a mountain range of documents. They were neatly sorted, each with a necessary memo attached. The care and sheer intensity of the secretary, Mia, who had prepared them, came through loud and clear.

In a way, this was more frightening than the Blood Mountains.

I somewhat absently picked up the bundle on top, then left the room, trying not to look at the rest. I went to the second floor window overlooking the entrance. When I tried to move the table in front of it, a maid who had been watching flew over to help.

It was rather humbling to be shown such consideration as a mere freeloader. Come to think of it, I don't think I've paid any rent. Is this really alright.

As I devoted myself to the inefficient act of multitasking, looking alternately at the documents and the view outside, I saw a carriage approaching the gate. I tossed the bundle of papers onto the table and headed for the stairs.

I skipped the last step of the staircase and stood before the entrance. The memory of my argument with Alfina before my departure made me flinch. After all, I had ventured not just to the ruins, but all the way to the Dragon Mountains beyond them, and had been caught up in a battle with unknown Magic Insects. I remembered the sad look on Alfina’s face as she tried to stop me from heading to such a dangerous place.

No, it was undeniably necessary. Even if that was only clear in hindsight.

I shook my head, trying to banish the image of Alfina’s teary eyes. Besides, didn’t I have a right to resent her a little.

In the first place, why does she think I took such a risk. Isn't Alfina the one who is unaware of my feelings.

Just as I thought that, the sound of wheels on the cobblestones in front of the entrance came to a halt.

I shook my head once more. This was no time for such thoughts. I had to be calm. What's past is past. I had to convince Alfina to stay away from the crystal from now on.

To do that, I needed to be the one to compromise, even if I was somewhat dissatisfied. Even if I couldn't agree, I would start by appeasing her anger. In general, men are not designed to win against a girl’s tears. This was especially true when it came to the girl I held most dear.

The sound of quick footsteps approached the door. "Alfina-sama. You mustn't rush so," I heard Claudia's voice say. The door opened immediately after.

The madder red evening light made her silver blue hair sparkle. Her large eyes found me and widened even more. Her cheeks were flushed. Her small mouth gasped.

Her eyes grew moist as she looked at me. Every thought from moments before vanished. My feet moved forward on their own, one step, then two.

"We, welcome ho-"

"Ricardo-kun!"

Alfina launched herself at me as if she had been shot from a cannon. I caught her in my arms. I could feel her very presence so strongly.

The scent of flowers tickled my nostrils. It was her usual, subtle perfume. But had it always smelled this wonderful? Her arms, wrapped around my torso, tightened their grip, and the warmth of her body pressed against mine.

"I'm so glad. I was truly, truly worried about you."

Alfina looked up at me. I was in no state to respond. I somehow managed to restrain my arms from pulling her trembling shoulders closer. If I didn’t, I felt I would embrace her without any regard for who was watching.

"Are you hurt anywhere. Perhaps you've gotten a little thinner..."

Alfina looked up at me from close range, her palms moving over my torso.

"Alfina-sama. I understand you are happy to be reunited. But here..."

I heard Luiza's reserved voice from behind her. Instantly, a crimson blush spread across Alfina's cheeks. She hurriedly pulled away.

I was supposed to be relieved by this. But in reality, I felt a pang of regret at the loss of her softness and warmth. This was not good. I was being completely swayed by our first physical contact in a while.

"I, I have just returned, Alfina-sama."

My greeting was the reverse of what I’d tried to say earlier, but I managed to get the words out. It felt more fitting this way.

"Yes, welcome home. We have many things to discuss about the prophecy."

Alfina took a single step back and composed her expression. I nodded.

We parted ways for a moment. I returned the documents I had left on the second floor to my room, then headed for Alfina's private chambers. Luiza and Claudia were inside. For some reason, the presence of these two, which should have been completely normal, felt a little irksome.

Perhaps I was being overly sensitive about information control, given the nature of the calamity. No, these two were trustworthy to begin with, and I needed their support to achieve my goal of convincing Alfina.

On a plate were the soba manju I had only mentioned as an idea before leaving. But my eyes kept straying to Alfina in her house clothes. Whether in a dress, priestess robes, or even plain house clothes, she showed a different kind of charm in each. What am I even thinking at this point.

Even if there is a law of diminishing returns for beauty, the saying that one tires of a beautiful face in three days, it has just been proven to be a flawed theory that collapses after even a short separation.

"Ricardo-kun. Earlier, my mind was just completely full. And I... I said such terrible things to you before you left. I am so sorry."

"Not at all. I am the one who made you worry..."

Alfina spoke to my silent form. I hurriedly bowed my head as well. A great sense of relief filled my heart. What was I so worried about, this is just silly. Alright, this time I will convince her calmly and properly. I shifted my focus.

"Let's get right to it, I would like to talk about the information on the calamity I brought back from the Empire. It concerns you as well, Alfina-sama."

"Yes."

I started talking about work. Alfina also nodded with a serious face.

"First, regarding the new hypothesis we discovered during the investigation in the Empire..."

I explained our new theory about the calamity, how we had obtained records of the magic vein's activity spanning two thousand years from the bottom of a lake, and how we learned of the existence of powerful insectoid monsters that would likely possess the ability to fly in their final stage.

The three of them were merely surprised at first, but the color drained from their faces as I explained the massive outbreak of Magic Insects and, more than anything, that it would continue for a long time.

"Is it difficult to counter even with that new sorcery..." "A calamity that lasts for decades..."

Claudia clenched her fists tightly, and Luiza’s face became the very picture of anguish. Alfina's porcelain cheeks also turned pale.

"As I thought, Ricardo-kun, you were doing such dangerous things..."

"Ah, well, that's..."

Alfina said sadly. While I was bewildered by her off topic response, my heart soared at the thought that Alfina was more concerned about me than anything else. No, this was not the time for that. I had to proceed calmly.

"Ahem. So, I heard at the conference in the royal palace, but the claw marks I sent the other day were..."

"Yes. They are exactly the same as in my prophecy. I confirmed it again yesterday."

Alfina remembered her mission. Her focus returned squarely to countermeasures for the calamity. However, the mention of "yesterday" made me frown involuntarily.

"...Then it seems almost certain that Magic Insects corresponding to the purple magic will cause the calamity, and that it will persist. But why at the cathedral... that it could fulfill its role against the calamity, not the crystal..."

Even though I knew it wasn't the right time, the words slipped out. Alfina looked troubled.

"Alfina-sama."

"I asked everyone at the Central Garden to help me narrow down the locations I saw in the prophecy. They all gathered a great deal of information despite being so busy. Thanks to them, I was able to finish the pilgrimage quickly."

Using the knowledge of merchants who travel through the towns allows one to identify locations from a different perspective than that of the nobility. Nobles and merchants see different things in the same places, and more than anything, there are far more merchants. It was necessary... yes.

"And during that time, I noticed something."

Alfina took out several sheets of paper. On them were several assumptions about the characteristics of the places where the calamity would occur, likely where the Magic Insects would attack. Judging by the handwriting, she had written and rewritten them herself many times. One of them...

"Centering on high places..."

My eyes stopped on one hypothesis that had been circled.

"Yes. The places I saw seem to be prominent spots, like the forefront of a cathedral, or around tall trees that serve as landmarks on the roads..."

"I see..."

I fell into thought. I recalled the remains of that city, the charred beams of the steeple. And the Magic Insect's ability to sheathe itself in electricity. In that case...

"It's possible they were attacked by something like lightning strikes from flying Magic Insects... I should report this to Prince Craig and the others in the Empire immediately..."

This was undoubtedly important information. The possibility that the adult insects possessed a different long range attack from the larvae. Whether or not this was taken into consideration would make a huge difference.

At my words, Alfina’s face broke into a smile. For some reason, that irritated me. It was important information, no doubt about it. But I did not want to trade it for Alfina’s safety. Such risks had to be eliminated.

She should be by my side... by my... side only... right.