TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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'Belenka could actually beco the tournant champion.'
This was sothing even Ian acknowledged.
Though he'd traveled across the empire, knights who fought as well as Belenka were rare.
Especially after she began traveling with Sir Salvador, her skills had grown frighteningly fast.
She was at a level where she could call herself a Sword Master's disciple without issue.
Barring any unexpected events, Belenka would win the tournant.
And then...
'She'd beco the emperor's knight.'
Belenka was different from Sir Salvador.
It might sound funny, but Sir Salvador actually had a tender heart.
In his youth, he had fought by the emperor's side as a Sword Master.
But in his old age, he abandoned both lands and wealth given by the emperor to join the monastic knights.
For one reason only.
To atone for his youthful transgressions.
A knight inevitably must kill people. And Sir Salvador suffered from the guilt of murder.
That's why he joined the monastic knights.
To do good deeds and use his abilities for righteous causes.
What about Belenka?
'...She likes doing good, but unlike him, she also likes money.'
Unlike Sir Salvador, Belenka would accept all the wealth the emperor offered.
And thus beco the emperor's person.
'Imperial Noble Lady Belenka...'
If that wasn't success, what was?
"Alright. I'll tell Belenka."
"Thank you! Ian!"
"No need to thank . It's Belenka's decision."
"But if you recomnd it, I'm sure Lady Belenka will agree."
"..."
Elia spoke with a slightly apologetic expression.
"Ian. Talian is... still countryside. It's too peaceful a place for Lady Belenka to stay. It would be wasting her talent."
"I know."
Belenka had clearly said as much.
After Ian settled down, she would find her own path and leave.
...If she didn't settle down at Ian's side, that is.
"Lady Belenka will surely succeed."
Elia flashed a smile.
A smile imbued with deep trust.
"I'd really like you to convey my ssage."
"I will."
After parting with Elia, Ian went to find Belenka.
#
Ian spent so ti looking for Belenka.
She was on a nearby hill.
Belenka was indulging in a leisurely luxury.
"Belenka."
"You're here?"
Strictly speaking, she wasn't 'alone.'
Maids were attending to her.
Since Belenka didn't travel with servants, she had hired local girls as part-tirs(?) to attend to her.
Ian normally gave her plenty of gold coins, so she had enough money to maintain her dignity.
"Is today a holiday?"
"Sothing like that."
Being Ian's knight, Belenka didn't need to run errands like other knights.
Having neatly slipped out of post-war cleanup, she had essentially beco a lady of leisure.
On her days off, Belenka always enjoyed expensive food while dressed luxuriously.
She wore a dress decorated with fairy silk, sampling flower tea and cake.
Sipping tea among the maids, she looked every bit the lady from a noble family.
Ian found himself thinking anew.
I do give Belenka quite a lot of money...
Her spending was incomparable to when they first t.
But Belenka deserved it.
She was a knight who did so much for Ian.
"Cities are definitely more comfortable to live in."
Belenka smiled brightly and offered Ian a seat.
"There are three pastry shops in Roxlan city. Isn't that amazing?"
Ian smiled along.
He still found it hard to follow this dieval-person sensibility.
"It is amazing."
"It ans they can make a living just baking sweets without bread. City folk must have lots of money."
"Did you buy this from a pastry shop too?"
"Yes. Try so."
Ian took a piece of cake.
It wasn't a cake topped with whipped cream. It was a sweet bread with milk, butter, eggs, and sugar - closer to a pound cake.
The fragrant almond aroma gave it a kick.
"This is really delicious."
A 100% sincere evaluation.
Yes. You dieval Westerners. This is what you should be eating...!
If I'd eaten bread like this as a child, I wouldn't have dread about Chinese martial arts novels!
Of course, being a farr's son, Ian probably would have only gotten to sll it.
"Have you finished saying your goodbyes?"
"More or less. Duke Roxlan said he'd give a gift, so I'm waiting for that."
Everyone except Ian's group was busy.
Ian planned to leave once he received Duke Roxlan's gift.
"Where are you going next?"
"Hmm? Anor-lsil will show the way."
"Following the guidance of a magic sword. How romantic."
Belenka giggled and said:
"But then again, that's how your travels always go."
"..."
Ian couldn't laugh along.
He needed to convey Elia's proposal.
Belenka quickly noticed Ian's subtle change.
"What is it? Sothing you want to say?"
There was nothing to hide, nothing to excuse.
...But strangely, Ian found it difficult to speak.
Suddenly Ian realized.
He was... feeling regret.
Regret that Belenka would leave his side and move on to a different world.
When Ian first t Belenka.
She was a free knight gathering funds to travel through the empire.
She lived essentially as a rcenary, without particular fa, taking whatever work ca her way.
But after eting Ian, Belenka's life changed.
She beca known by defeating a dragon and earning rit in war.
There was no one in Roxlan, at least, who didn't know [Black Knight] Belenka.
Now even Princess Elia wanted her.
The Belenka of their first eting and the Belenka of now were completely different people.
'Talian... is too small a place for Belenka to stay.'
A peaceful countryside had no need for knights.
"I t Princess Elia."
Ian calmly continued the conversation.
"She says she's leaving for the Spring Palace soon."
"And?"
"Belenka. She wants to invite you as a guest."
Belenka looked at Ian in surprise.
Being a genuine dieval person and knight, she couldn't misunderstand the aning.
It ant Princess Elia wanted to hire her.
"Why are you telling this?"
Belenka's voice beca slightly curt.
She crossed her arms and looked up at Ian with an almost glaring expression.
"I hope this doesn't an you want to leave the party."
"What? I'm absolutely not forcing anything."
"Then..."
"After our journey ends. Would you consider visiting Elia?"
"..."
Ian and Belenka fell silent for a mont.
Even without exchanging words, the two could understand each other's feelings.
In a sense, Belenka was Ian's first friend in this dieval fantasy world.
As a child, he'd only been bullied by neighborhood kids. Shortly after, he followed Eredith to learn magic.
They had journeyed together often and shared many laughs.
When Ian experienced his first kill, it was Belenka who prayed by his side.
Being close friends, they knew.
...That their fates were beginning to diverge.
"I see."
Belenka looked up at the sky and said:
"Your travels are ending too."
"Well. That's right."
"I thought... we'd travel the whole world together. But now you're stopping."
It sounded almost like she was reproaching Ian.
But would Belenka truly resent Ian?
Belenka felt the sa way Ian did.
She just... regretted it.
"To travel the whole world, we'd have to spend our entire lives traveling."
"Then we should do that."
Ian and Belenka burst into laughter simultaneously.
They knew it was nonsense.
"So when are you getting married?"
"Couldn't you tell the Count of Talian to wait a bit?"
"Why don't you try saying that to her?"
"You're such a jerk."
Belenka set aside the refreshnts and suggested they go riding.
Having quickly changed into pants, Belenka rode horses with Ian.
Over streams covered with thin ice.
Through forests dusted with frost.
"Wow..."
"What do you think? Beautiful, isn't it?"
To the top of a massive rock facing a sheer cliff.
A breathtaking landscape unfolded before them.
Beyond the open cliff, a forest shrouded in light mist stretched endlessly.
Though this wasn't a view unique to a fantasy world... Ian strangely beca aware that he was indeed a resident of a fantasy world.
"When you prepared that boat on the mountaintop."
"Ah. That ti?"
"That's when I discovered this place."
Belenka's playful eyes sparkled beautifully like stars.
Ian realized sothing.
That Belenka, too, was a traveler who genuinely knew how to enjoy the journey.
"Ian."
"Yes?"
"After you get married... there won't be a next journey anyti soon, right?"
Though he really didn't want to answer.
Disliking lies even more, Ian responded:
"Honestly. Yes."
"Makes sense. When children are born, ti disappears. Especially for a pervert like you with three wives."
"..."
"Then. This is our last journey together."
Perhaps. It might be.
"Why would it be the last? We can et again and travel later."
"Sure, sure. Bring your wives and kids along. It'll be a picnic at best."
"What are you expecting? We're not going to be slaying orcs with children in tow."
So experiences can only happen once in a lifeti.
Ian and Belenka's travels were like that.
The strange journey with Wizard Ian... would remain an unforgettable, precious mory in Belenka's life.
"Or."
Ian grabbed Belenka's shoulder.
Her body moved strangely easily.
Ian looked directly at Belenka's face and said:
"You could also stay in Talian."
"You want to beco a Talian resident? Without land or family?"
"I can give you land. And family can be found."
Belenka asked while suppressing a laugh:
"Then who would be my husband?"
"...?"
Belenka burst out laughing.
It was such a hearty laugh that Ian felt uneasy.
"You really are obsessed with won, aren't you?"
"I've already gathered three. What makes you think four would be impossible?"
After laughing heartily, Belenka held Ian's cheek with a beautiful smile.
Suddenly, Belenka's face drew closer.
Her long blonde hair fluttered in the cold wind.
Belenka opened her red lips and whispered in Ian's ear.
"No."
"..."
"It's not that I dislike you, Ian. I dislike the idea of marrying a man who already has three wives."
"...I understand."
"Ha. Since this is the end, I'll be honest. If you had shown interest in before the Count of Talian, I might have lived with you."
Belenka's breath tickled Ian's ear.
Sohow, it seed to tremble.
"No, if you had approached before Kira Laventa, I might have fallen in love with you."
"Belenka."
"I don't know if you'd understand. I want everything, Ian. Either live with forever... or we go our separate ways."
Ian smiled sadly.
There might have been a connection once, but it had definitely vanished now.
...Belenka would leave Ian's side.
"You're a really good man, Ian."
"Thank you."
"If I had to choose just one person to marry, I would have chosen you."
Belenka, too.
Smiled sowhat sadly.
"But others claid you first."
"..."
"And I've always been bad at things like romance. I don't even know how to say I like soone. You understand, right?"
In that mont.
Belenka pressed her lips against Ian's.
It was a brief, intense kiss.
With a slightly reddened face, Belenka brushed up her hair and murmured:
"This is our secret from your wives."
Then she patted Ian's shoulder.
As if nothing had happened.
Just like the usual Belenka.
"Let know when you're ready to leave. I'll be waiting."
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