Chapter 69 – Migratory Birds in Summer.
As Donard drove his carriage, he looked at the one who had taken the seat next to him. Next to him was a man in slightly shabby clothes. If you only look at his appearance, he is a commoner without fail. However, the figure of the sword disguised as a bag by wrapping the scabbard in an old cloth and the body under him showed that he was not a simple person. To be precise, I would be that man’s attendant. It seems to be hidden, but there are things that cannot be hidden between those who make a living doing the same job.
“Now, if you follow this road all the way, resistance will come out.”
Donard drove the carriage under his guidance. That this happened goes back to when the man saw the children who were the masters of his horses. The man who came to see the owner of the horse did not say anything in front of the children. The man came to his senses only after the girl, noticing the arrival of a stranger, put on the mask she had been taking off.
“So who is the owner of the horse?”
“These are the children you’re watching.”
He seemed to be troubled, but he continued to look at the girl.
“I heard by word of mouth how great the knights of Paciphenia are.”
And he said it out of the blue.
“Yes?”
“I’m curious if the rumors are true, but I’d like to invite you guys to the castle.”
There was not much direct interaction between Pacifenia and Lantua. It’s too far and far away to interfere or interact with each other like older sisters talk. That’s why they came to Lantua. Still, it’s not that I don’t know the famous story. So, in a country where exchanges are difficult, it was not something that would be considered strange to want to check the fact in person. But bringing up the story at that time was a strange thing to think about.
So even Donnar could easily see that it was a simple cause. His purpose was consistent from the beginning. From holding the girl’s hand when he first met, to seeing the girl in person and inviting them to his castle. Crucially, the man said he wanted to talk about horses, and he got a carriage with children and rode. By this point, it was so obvious that it was embarrassing.
“Can you prove that you are the owner of resistance?”
So Donard risked his example and asked. It would have been embarrassing if he had claimed that it was his castle and offered to invite him even though he was not the owner of the castle.
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
In response, the man showed a silver plaque that he couldn’t possibly carry, called in an attendant who was hiding, and told him to use it as a guide, so he had no choice but to agree. If it was false, it would be too much of a disadvantage for the man, and the silver plate had the same pattern as the flag on the castle wall. Donar had no choice but to inform his comrades and, following the guide’s guidance, head toward the inner castle unexpectedly.
‘If you’re an introvert in such a big city, you can’t even take it off.’
Donard worried about his children, feeling that things were getting more and more complicated. He shouldn’t be doing anything wrong. As it moved towards its new destination, a cold aura hung over the inside of the carriage, which Donard was worried about. Maybe it’s a natural story. It was like an unexpected guest suddenly riding in a carriage. On one side, Usher was leaning over the girl and glaring at the stranger, clutching his motion-sick head. Even though the opponent laughed at it as if it were funny.
“There is no such thing as a fool.”
“What do you care?”
At Donard’s request, Shalby, who rode in the carriage with the children and Sif, noticed the man. He was relieved to see the man shrug his shoulders and ignore Usher’s growl. Sif, too, was restless as if she had received an unusual feeling from the man. Either that or not, Usher was displeased with the man in front of him. If it hadn’t been for what Donard had said, he would have been out of business long ago.
Still, unable to shake off his distaste for the man, Usher never ceased to be wary of him. He didn’t mind the fact that he couldn’t tell what kind of expression he was making because of the tightly pressed robe, but he was acutely aware that the gaze inside the robe could not be separated from Belka. That’s why I endured the unbearable motion sickness. Still, the reason Usher didn’t run into the man was because he had his own sense of humor. If done wrong, the girl could be harmed.
In such a precarious atmosphere, Usher and the man confronted each other, and soon after, the carriage stopped. When you’re supposed to get up with the thought that someone has arrived, but no one gets up. The confrontation ended when the door opened first and Donard announced his arrival, and then the man got up first and went out of the carriage. The inner sanctuary that arrived was indeed larger and grander than any other building Usher had ever seen. But even so, the reason Usher’s dissatisfaction must be because of the man he’s talking to Donnar right now.
“Then I’d like you to wait a little bit. Since I invited you earlier than planned, I think I’ll have to rush to get ready.”
“Is that so.”
Donard, like Donard, was busy worrying about the future. At first, he thought it was just an excuse to invite a girl he likes, but it didn’t seem to be such a simple reason. Still, he was a little relieved that his opponent was on the rational side. Among the powerful people he knew, there were many who believed in power and only wielded it, but he did not think rationally and acted as he wanted. Confirming that he and her attendant entered the inner sanctuary first, he met Shalbi first.
“So how was it?”
“Somehow, I thought I was going to die.”
Shalby was afraid that Usher might pounce on him, she says, but luckily that didn’t happen. Still, she said she was exhausted from being nervous in preparation for the unexpected.
“But it’s still a headache. Didn’t your eyes fall off the kid?”
“I thought it might be, but it’s kind of daunting.”
I thought it might happen someday, but I never thought it would happen this soon. Aside from being a witch, the problem was that the girl was too beautiful. At least, it seems that the other person is on the rational side, but that could have been more troublesome. Besides, since he had to know why he wanted to invite them, Donard had no choice but to consult Hermis about this.
“You won’t have to worry too much.”
“But the old man.”
“We don’t have anything special. Rather, if we were the ones wielding power arbitrarily, things might get bigger, but it might have been easier to deal with.”
Donard couldn’t understand what he was saying. There’s nothing to chew on Aren’t they at a disadvantage in terms of power and other aspects, even if it’s in their home country?
“Normally, it would be. But Donar, and you guys don’t know what the article of Paciphenia means.”
“…Isn’t it just an abandoned dog? We were expendables with no meaning there.”
If it had been at least 10 years ago, he might have been treated as a hukou, but he could have kept his honor. But now it doesn’t make any sense. At his words, Ermis couldn’t help but feel sad.
“Yeah, I guess the advice didn’t take into account that you guys have been living under pressure.”
He shut his mouth for a moment, picked his words, and spoke again.
“Then let’s talk about it like this. What it means to be able to face dragons, and what it means to catch crayfish. You guys don’t really know.”
After that, the old man sent the carriage out as if driving Donar, saying that from now on they should realize first. Even if you ask what you’re going to do to talk to that man as a representative.
“From now on, don’t rely on this old man in the back room and live with confidence. The leader of this guild was you from the beginning, not me.”
At a time like this, he couldn’t be so resentful of his dull eyes.
“Even if you say that, I can’t understand. Elder.”
As Donard was sighing at the thought of his consultation with Hermis, there were people approaching.
“Why are you doing that to me?”
“Is it you?”
It was Usher and Belka. As if the chicks were walking in a row, holding each other’s hands and pretending not to be, but watching him follow him, I burst out laughing. Donard knew vaguely that they were not old enough to be treated like children, but he still considered them children. I myself couldn’t figure out why. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m younger than him or because of my childish side that sometimes shows up. This felt a bit strange.
“Rather than that, why don’t you go to Sif’s sister? Looks like you’re looking for it.”
“Okay?”
Usher speaks brusquely, but he senses the concern mixed in. Donard laughed for no reason and stroked his hair.
“Oops! What are you doing!”
“Ugh, do you want to avoid it? How about this!”
Although Usher’s avoidance of his touch made me sick, and I ran my hands through his hair, so I couldn’t even stroke it anymore.
“Oh, really, your hair is all messed up.”
Grieg’s hair didn’t bother him, but it was annoying that it was messy, so Usher tried to undo his tangled hair. Donard had run away with his hair tousled. There were eyes looking at him like that.
“…Stroking it. Does it feel good?”
“Uh?”
Before he knew it, the girl with his two hands slightly lowering the mask, exposing her face, was looking at him. Is it an illusion if somehow that gold color seems to shine more than usual? Usher involuntarily reached out and placed his hand on her head. He realized a beat later that he had acted like that himself, and tried to lower his hand, but couldn’t.
“Yes.”
Belka quietly closed her eyes and rubbed her head in his hands. It’s strange, but the girl’s hair was really soft.
