ERTHMB Chapter 62

Daisy Bouquet

 

When I turned my eyes to the window, the sun had long since set. To think I’d been tied up to this extent. Whether she was visible before my eyes or not, she was truly a woman who bothered me.

 

“Hah…….”

 

Another dry sigh passed. At that moment, light footsteps could be heard piercing through the tranquil darkness.

 

The footsteps grew closer and closer before stopping in front of my door. Soon, someone knocked on the wooden panel and entered—as expected, it was Lilly.

 

I can’t pass on my gloom to a child. Ian made an effort to shake off his melancholy expression to greet her.

 

Seeing him like this, Lilly patted her small chest with her tiny hand.

 

“Ahem, I knew you’d be like this ever since I heard from Sakin! But don’t worry! I’m here now!”

 

“Where did you get those clothes, Lilly? Those glasses look like Captain Gelda’s too. Didn’t you get in trouble?”

 

“Stop right there! I’m not Lilly! I’m the all-capable problem solver Rollin who delivers anything.”

 

Lilly, who had slipped her arm out from between the folds of her cloak, greeted him while holding the tip of her bowler hat. It was a flashy movement like a circus show host.

 

She fluidly continued her movements while explaining what she did. Ian rested his temple on his fist and waited until Lilly finished her self-introduction before asking.

 

“So what do you have to deliver to me now, problem solver?”

 

His expression had relaxed considerably. Facing him, Lilly fumbled with the amber cloth pouch hanging at her waist. The bumpy texture of coins could be clearly felt.

 

It was what Helena had put in just a moment ago. Lilly recalled in her mind the apple Helena had paid for and the words she had added at the end.

 

[Oh, and tell him that there’s no need for a grown man to sulk over something like that.]

 

How many more words would be needed to fill this pouch completely?

 

The conscience in a corner of her heart cried out, but Lilly ultimately added her own manipulation to the original message.

 

“This is a message from Miss Helena who lives in District 1.”

 

“What did she say?”

 

Cutting off the beginning, polishing the end.

 

Lilly deliberately crossed her arms with a sly expression. In that position, she lowered her eyes and opened her mouth.

 

“Is a grown man really sulking over just that? It’s truly the height of pettiness, she said to tell you.”

 

Ian’s circuits briefly cut out at the unexpected response. He tried to understand the sharp words that had pierced his ears, then just chuckled.

 

Lilly wrinkled her nose while placing her constantly slipping glasses on top of her head.

 

“Why are you laughing? Wasn’t that mean?”

 

“Just… I feel like I’ve become much more comfortable.”

 

“You’re a strange customer.”

 

“So, won’t you take my request?”

 

“It’s 5 dillings, sir.”

 

Lilly quickly opened her cloth pouch.

 

Ian pulled out a large glass jar from the shelf on his desk. The jar with a fig jam label was full of coins.

 

Ian took out the largest one among them and handed it over with his message.

 

“Tell her that even if I’m a bit petty, to please show some consideration for the time we’ve spent together.”

 

Then he took out an apple from the crate that Sakin had left behind, saying he’d entrust it to him briefly. When he put it in the overturned bowler hat, Lilly extended her small palm.

 

“Is this included too? Heavy items cost extra.”

 

“Usually the first request is free as a service.”

 

“We don’t have that here.”

 

Lilly shook her head firmly. Having no choice, Ian took out three more coins from the glass jar.

 

“Crafty little one.”

 

“I have to make a living too.”

 

The cute freckles on her nose bridge crinkled.

 

****

 

She was in the middle of collecting well-dried laundry.

 

“Petty? What ungrateful witch washes her mouth clean after all the time we’ve spent together! he said.”

 

The voice Lilly produced after clearing her throat for a long time was very low and heavily suppressed, as if trying to imitate him.

 

And Helena would respond to such voices while eating, training, or grooming horses.

 

Of course, the responses that came back were far from gentle. But the items that came with them spoke differently, so Helena couldn’t help but smile.

 

Books on swordsmanship that were hard to obtain because there were few manifested users, fresh daisy bouquets still wet with morning dew, slice cakes from a famous dessert shop that required waiting in line for a full hour.

 

The longer the two people’s reconciliation consideration period lasted, the fuller Lilly’s pouch became.

 

On the third day, Gelda also learned about Lilly’s small business. She clicked her tongue whenever she saw the exchange scenes.

 

“Teaching a child really good things.”

 

Of course, when Lilly asked if she had forgotten who had started this service and tried to bring up stories about Flam and Gelda’s past, Gelda immediately shut her mouth.

 

And the crafty little one’s mouth was immediately blocked too. Along with coins that made her pouch heavier.

 

After that, Gelda didn’t particularly interfere. Of course, even if she had, Helena would have found it hard to stop.

 

For her too, thinking about what gift to give Ian had become part of her daily routine. It wasn’t a bad time. In fact, it was quite enjoyable.

 

Being able to care for someone without cutting herself off was truly a pleasant thing.

 

‘Unlike the sword that I can’t even get a feel for.’

 

It was the biggest problem that had been troubling Helena lately. She had practiced consistently since that day, but her aura had never manifested again.

 

Even today, she swung her sword until her fingertips were swollen, but the feeling from that time didn’t return.

 

Helena stood like a plaster statue, glaring at the blade that didn’t move at all. Then she finally gave up and left the training ground.

 

As soon as she untied her hair that had been pulled up for training, Lilly scurried over to her side.

 

“How was today?”

 

“……I couldn’t do it.”

 

“Aw, but don’t worry too much. Captain Gelda said that manifesting aura is like making a path in the forest. Since the path has already been made, even if it takes some time to organize it, it won’t get blocked again.”

 

“I really hope that’s true.”

 

She had long given up the habit of making absolute statements, but this time she dearly hoped it would be so.

 

Helena rubbed her knuckles where the skin had peeled off while steeling her heart. Then Lilly, who had been hopping alongside her, suddenly burst into laughter.

 

She had been somewhat sensitive about the sword that wouldn’t obey her will. Helena asked in a slightly sulky tone.

 

“What’s funny?”

 

“No, it’s just that your face has become so varied.”

 

“……Mine?”

 

Helena reflexively brought her hand to her face. Her fumbling touch, as if something terrible had happened, came down after confirming that her muscles were moving properly.

 

[Do you even have any other face besides that one? So tiresome.]

 

‘Maybe it wasn’t that I was tiresome… maybe you made me that way.’

 

Right, nothing was absolute.

 

Just like how he welcomed her warmly when Eugene found her tedious.

 

At a point where they had almost reached the dormitory, Lilly stopped for a moment. What came out of her hand that had been rummaging in her pouch was a small note.

 

“This is from the gentleman in District 2!”

 

Lilly, who had returned to the persona of the all-capable problem solver Rollin, gave a thumbs up and disappeared.

 

Helena continued walking while unfolding the neatly folded note.

 

<If you try to control your sword with anger, you might be able to use power temporarily, but someday you’ll be consumed by it. Don’t try to dominate the sword—make it respond.>

 

The handwriting, slightly tilted and falling in a neat line, was elegant. She thought even this was very much like that man.

 

Helena read the note over and over again throughout her walk back to the dormitory. She savored it like eating a delicious meal, chewing and rechewing. When she arrived, she carefully folded it and put it in a box on her desk.

 

It was a dessert box that Ian had sent before. Inside it was also a daisy bouquet. It had long since dried and withered, but she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.

 

Even knowing that she had given it her affection from the moment she started treasuring it.

 

****

 

No matter how much the guild considered evening rum barrel drumming a virtue, the holiday atmosphere was no different from an ordinary village.

 

After the languid afternoon of dozing off under the cool shade of trees passed, night came when one could tilt a beer glass with the twinkling starlight streaming through wide-open windows as a side dish.

 

Ian leaned against the door, surveying that peaceful atmosphere, then entered his room. Then he firmly locked the door. Sakin, who had arrived earlier, also drew the curtains to cover the windows.

 

On the table in the sealed room where neither moon nor stars could peek in, several communication devices were prepared.

 

Ian sat down, crossed his arms, and looked at his watch.

 

Tick, tick, tick. When the second hand that had been moving one space at a time finally reached the hour, lights began to come on in the communication devices one by one.

 

Sakin, who had been standing at attention behind Ian, received the signals and displayed all the screens. Despite the late hour, two men dressed neatly in military uniforms and Heidi appeared in turn.

 

However, one communication device showed no response. The three people paid no mind and gave Ian their customary greetings. After completing their brief salutes, they shared their progress so far.

 

The conversation continued for a while, then briefly paused when they reached the point of determining their future course.

 

“……Therefore, the Central Army plans to resume searching along the Nahil and Euphras rivers. Has the Southern Army detected any circumstances yet?”

 

“It seems we’ll have to go up and join the Central Army. Unlike Rihalt, since there’s no need to spare themselves, they seem to have made the inland their garrison.”

 

Ian interjected between them.

 

“No. Come up to the north.”

 

“……?”

 

It was an order that was not easily understood. The two commanders’ faces showed bewilderment. The commander who had been dispatched to Instantia since summer to scout the south asked.

 

“……The north, you mean?”

 

“Yes. You can start from Firensha, which is a bit below Evergale.”

 

Ian, who had briefly checked the map, looked up again. The Southern Army commander who faced him hesitated a moment before speaking up.

 

“Forgive my boldness, but to go from the north to Rihalt, one must cross the Drake Strait. Even the most skilled navigators—”

 

“Would struggle to endure the constantly changing currents and flow rates. Even using the calm season, it would be insufficient to transport those supplies.”

 

“But why are you so certain?”

 

Ian’s gaze moved to Heidi.

 

“So that’s why they risked their lives.”

 

Instead of being flustered, Heidi drooped her shoulders and exhaled through her nose in agreement. Ian folded the large map to show only the ocean and two continents including the Drake Strait and said.

 

“There was a reason why no traces were left in your barrier. I never expected they would cross that deadly strait barehanded without any magic to procure supplies.”

 

Ian, who had slapped down the map folded to the size of a book cover, let out a bitter laugh.

 

“We got caught off guard.”

 

Then Heidi, with a look of objection, snapped her fingers to draw Ian’s attention.

 

“That’s because we don’t even think of such cruel methods. What’s so admirable about sacrificing everything because it’s not their own life?”

 

“That guy would think so and more.”

 

“……True.”

 

Heidi then muttered curses under her breath. The two commanders awkwardly coughed, trying to ignore it. Ian tilted his chin to signal the end of the meeting.

 

“That’s all for today.”

 

“Then we’ll proceed up along the coastline. Please stay safe, Your Majesty.”

 

“The Central Army will return to the imperial palace as soon as we find the wildcats’ den. May you both be well.”

 

The screens disappeared simultaneously. Heidi remained among them. Ian leaned back in his chair and casually began.

 

“I heard there was a poisoning attempt. For such a thing, you’re remarkably alive and well.”