Chapter 142 – The Road to the Destination (1)
The number of attendees was four.
Ain, me, Azazel, and Leon.
Why did someone like a prince express his participation in a dangerous campaign?
There are doubts, but Ain has an expression of approval, so there is no need to argue.
Rather, it is more friendly to be with Leon than to strangers.
His character was well known through past incidents.
Our launch ceremony was simple and modest.
One might say that there are too few people.
Isn’t it a special riot squad going to defeat the demon king?
In fact, it would have been nice to have the support of other talented people.
But what you need to know is that the core of a warrior party is always a hero.
The rest is nothing more than ancillary personnel to bring the hero in front of the demon king.
Because only the brave can stand against the demon king.
So, the number of people in the warrior’s party is purely the warrior, and the breath of Ain has no choice but to act strongly.
If he thought this number of people would be suitable for defeating the demon king, that would be the end of the matter.
Even high-ranking people would not dare to raise objections or dissatisfaction.
Experts say so, but who would bet on death?
In addition, when the number of people increases, attention is naturally drawn.
Is there a need to advertise externally, saying, ‘I’m going to cut the devil’s head, please honor the bad luck’?
What would be good to spread the word about in the neighborhood?
If there was a thread, there was, but it was an act with no benefit.
It’s just giving the enemy time to react.
Stealthy and swift, it was a phrase that aligned with our guidelines for action.
So, as soon as the ceremony was over, we left the capital in a four-wheeled carriage provided by the royal family.
In the process, Leon brought several documents.
Presumably, it is a document that contains the authority to temporarily operate an army that maintains confrontation with monsters on the border, or to assume command of operations.
It is a law that requires documents or forms to be followed in order to receive social support.
Oral reporting has its limitations.
Ain, who was leisurely looking at the window in the carriage, opened his mouth in the same manner as always.
“It’s better not to ask for too much support. I’ll open up a road, but that’ll be the limit.”
Since Ain did not refer to a specific person, it must be his message to everyone.
The tone was calm enough to make the past days spent with him feel like a daydream.
I feel a sense of estrangement to the point where I wonder if I am the Ain who used to say that I am pretty and that you are mine.
Did he catch my gaze? Ain sent me a glance that only I could notice.
… Whoops, cute guy.
“I know. Even if you have these pieces of documents, it would be a long way from getting help from an army that can’t even afford to expand the front line or infiltrate enemy lines.”
Leon looked through the parchment in his hand and smiled bitterly.
“In a situation where we are in a hurry to deal with the monsters pushing in right away, an order like this would be no different from lightning. As you said, Einstein, this is nothing more than a formality to show that you supported the party of warriors. It’s okay to curse at me for being funny. It’s like entrusting the destruction of the demon king to all the discretion of the hero. Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t interfere, let alone support?”
He was Leon who openly criticized the capital he belonged to.
Ain replied calmly.
“Just accepting the demand for me to defeat the demon king is a good thing. And there’s no need to feel sorry for those who don’t help anyway.”
“I see, you said, in short, that he had no expectations from the beginning.”
Ain smiled.
“All I can trust is the number of people here, so why should I put my hopes in a strict place?”
The smile was so bright that we couldn’t even get a word out.
A hero who is good at making people speechless, really.
Rattle, rattle.
As the wagon moves, the scenery in the window flicks by.
Now it’s heading to the front line.
A subtle tension lingered inside the wagon.
It must be strange to be calm when heading to enemy territory.
Azazel lifted her forearms as she rolled up her robes, probably not liking the current state of silence.
“Even if it is difficult to say. Shouldn’t it all be removed in the end? Sweeping is my specialty, right?”
Ain let out a sigh.
“It is not a fight from the start. You have to be stealthy to infiltrate enemy lines.”
“Astein, what are you saying? The guy who ran into the fictitious me?”
“It’s a question of efficiency. You know, Azazel.”
“Huh. You know what!”
Azazel is elated, as always.
She is as lively as her hair, burning like her flame.
I am so proud of my little brother.
The reason why I smile without realizing it must be because I like you that much.
“I believe in Azazel.”
It’s not sarcasm or criticism.
She is a younger sister who believes as much as Ain.
Azazel turned her head towards me at the tone of her benevolence.
“Yes! Just trust Azazel!”
She comes with a cheerful smile.
It’s like a little squirrel.
Falling in love with her cuteness, I naturally stroked Azazel’s cone-shaped hat.
For an instant, I could find that her disgruntled gaze turned toward me, but soon it was gently released.
“Cute Azazel.”
Unconsciously, my true feelings came out.
She wasn’t the one to ignore it.
“Aren’t you treating me like a child, sister?”
Still, outwardly, he’s a child without a doubt, right?
I couldn’t say this openly, so I made a suitable excuse.
“It’s not like a kid. Do I even stroke Ain’s head?”
“…”
A bruised gaze came from Ain’s side.
Why did he say useless things with his eyes.
“Huh? Doesn’t Einstein also secretly have a child-like side?”
Azazel, on the other hand, had her eyes shining.
Maybe it’s because she’s found something to tease that tastes good.
She is red-eyed, with lively eyes.
Well, here she was, she was afraid that he would get a big scolding if she talked about her more, so she hurriedly put her words together.
… I’m afraid that I’ll get scolded mainly at night.
“Sure, though I get stroked more.”
“Ah what is it? Were you bragging?”
It was Azazel who responded that steam had leaked from the hastily dealt with.
Still, this conversation changed the air.
From feeling tense and frozen, to something tickling.
We were able to work on our upcoming schedule with a more comfortable mindset than before.
It wasn’t like the other one.
Leon looked at the capital gradually fading with eyes full of thoughts.
It was an act of regret.
Ain also opened her mouth to see if she was thinking the same as me.
“If you’re going to miss it that much, shouldn’t you have brought it?”
A careless tone that seems to pass by.
Ain seems to be considerate of Leon.
The prince gave an awkward smile.
“Okay, isn’t the place we’re going to be Saji? Just the last thing you notice…”
A noise sounded as if he had stopped talking.
All over again.
It’s the sound of horses running.
There is dust in the distance.
Ain, realizing this, trembled.
“The thread follows where the needle goes.”
Recognizing the intention hidden in those words, I hurriedly asked the coachman to stop the carriage.
The coachman deftly gripped the reins of his horse and applied the brakes.
Profit.
The wagon’s wheels stopped.
Leon’s eyes turned to me.
“I didn’t ask you to stop.”
It was a reproach.
“Because you don’t have to speak to convey meaning.”
“… The saintess speaks with bones.”
Did you say you can’t spit on her smiling face?
I responded with a gentle expression.
“I think Ain would think so, but I don’t think there should be any actions that leave behind regrets.”
“Even if my actions engrave more regrets?”
No one in the world can come up with a perfect answer to the troubles of others.
Still, you can offer your opinion.
I expressed my opinion quietly.
“It will be difficult to completely sever the knot. However, it is not necessary to establish all ties only by making and breaking them. Be honest with your feelings, Prince. What remains after procrastination and procrastination? I don’t think there’s anything good about avoiding it.”
“You are mean and harsh. The saintess.”
“I think it is less harsh and less harsh than what the prince did to Sir Edelis.”
“I have nothing to argue against.”
Leon let out a sigh.
A warrior, a saint, a wizard.
The eyes of three people and three colors were fixed on the prince.
Leon had an indescribable expression.
It is the expression of subtle emotions that seem to be crying or laughing.
“… Why did you come, Edelis?”
“Shouldn’t the person concerned know?”
It was Ain’s words.
Leon had a face that said he ate a punch.
“You were the source of the information.”
“I wouldn’t have said it before, but since I’m a human, I’ve changed quite a bit.”
His eyes came out and looked at Azazel.
“It’s not a good thing to hide it blindly.”
“You have definitely changed, you.”
“Isn’t it great?”
“No. You have become more like a warrior.”
After a while, Edelis Bride arrived.
She must have followed her hastily, her shoulders slumped and her breath short of breath.
“I’ll come and go, I won’t delay too long.”
“Do it.”
Upon Ain’s answer, Leon opened the carriage door and left.
Maybe there’s something behind the scenes?
Naturally, Azazel and I turned our eyes to Ain.
She wanted to hear from him.
“I don’t want to tell Leon’s story in a place where Leon is not present.”
Blocked beforehand
I think it’s a difficult thing to say.
“We are not shameless enough to ask blindly.”
Contrary to his words, his actions gave off a bit of a sharp edge.
Ain covered his mouth as if that behavior was funny.
“Are you mad?”
“Nope. I want to be a person who carries a lot of things on my back in many ways, Ain.”
Even when he said, “I’m obviously upset,” His smile only grew thicker.
“What are you talking about. All I have is you.”
