Chapter 35

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Two Years Later
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Clack! Clack! Thwack!

The rhythmic clash of two wooden swords echoed through the air.

Two boys, around the same age, were in the middle of a spar.

It was rare for commoner children to learn swordsmanship in earnest, so the village kids had gathered in a small crowd to watch them.

Among the onlookers, the proportion of girls was unusually high.

Though one might not expect them to be interested in swordsmanship, the girls' eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“Dio is so handsome.”

“Just two years ago, he was a total kid. When did he change so much?”

“Hmph, Dio was always handsome. Weren't you the one who said you didn't like him for being childish?”

“W-when did I ever say that!”

They couldn't tear their eyes away from Dio, who was smiling brightly, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

“I think Lucian is more handsome than Dio.”

“I know, right? Just look at that face. I’ve never seen anyone so handsome.”

Even Dio's admirers couldn't deny it.

If Dio was the roguishly handsome type with his healthy, tanned skin, then Lucian was the princely type with his fair complexion.

What's more, he rarely spoke to anyone besides Dio, which gave him an air of mystery.

The only chance to see Lucian smile was during his spars with Dio, causing the girls' hearts to melt.

“Hmph, what’s so great about a guy who looks like a girl?”

Just then, a boy watching from the side grumbled. The girls who heard him turned and glared daggers at him.

“Who are you calling a girl, you ugly runt!”

“Our Lucian is a hundred times more handsome than a troublemaker like you!”

“He’s just saying that nonsense out of jealousy.”

Faced with the fierce backlash, the boy's face flushed red as he trembled. Just then, the long spar came to an end.

Thwack!

Dio dropped the sword he was holding. Seeing Lucian's wooden sword pointed at him, Dio collapsed onto the ground.

“Ugh! How do you never lose, not even once!”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“...You're getting awfully smooth. Who are you? Are you really the Lucian I know?”

Dio narrowed his eyes, and Lucian burst out laughing.

At his bright laughter, flowers bloomed in the girls' hearts.

Aaaah! Lucian!

Look over here!

Talk to us, too!

Sure enough, a few of Lucian's most ardent admirers started to shriek.

Seeing this, Lucian gave an awkward laugh, while Dio got up with a fed-up look.

“Seems like there are even more of them than last time.”

“It’s going to be hard to spar here from now on.”

“Guess we have to find a new spot again? We barely managed to get permission from the guards to use this one.”

The place Dio and Lucian were using was a small training ground for the town guard.

They used to spar in a small clearing, but as more and more kids flocked to watch, and the girls eventually started fighting over them, they had to move here.

But now, it seemed it would be difficult to train here, too.

Dio knew that the biggest reason for the increase in girls showing interest in him was the guy standing right next to him.

Even a quick glance at Lucian was enough to tell he was different from ordinary kids.

His physique, toned from constant training and sturdier than others his age; his height, which had shot up since they first met; and his face, so handsome that even adults whispered about it.

He didn't consider himself bad-looking by any means, but next to Lucian, he felt utterly ordinary.

“To grow this much in just two years, you’re pretty amazing yourself. You were shorter than me when we first met.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing. Man, it’s hot! Is there anything cool to drink?”

“Hot? Ria gave me a drink, want some?”

“Absolutely!”

Dio’s eyes sparkled. Unable to hide his excitement, he drank the juice Lucian handed him.

“Ah, delicious! Anything Ria makes is amazing.”

“I’ll bring more next time.”

Whenever Lucian went down to the village, Ria would pack plenty of food for him to share with Dio.

“This is one of Ria’s masterpieces, too. She said she developed a new recipe and was really…”

As Lucian took out cookies and beef jerky in addition to the drink and continued talking about Ria, Dio, who was watching, spoke up.

“You know, you really like Ria, don’t you.”

“Huh?”

“Even though it’s an arranged marriage? Every time we meet, it’s ‘Ria, Ria.’ It makes me curious.”

“D-did I do that?”

As Lucian blushed shyly, Dio gnawed on a piece of Ria's jerky.

“Well, whatever. What can I expect from a guy who won’t even invite me to his house.”

“I told you I have my reasons for that…”

“Yeah? What kind of reason can’t you tell your one and only friend?”

The truth was, Dio was hurt. Lucian had never once invited him to his house.

He always refused, saying only that Ria wouldn't like it.

A year ago, they had a huge fight because he wouldn't invite him over.

They might have broken off their friendship for good, but Lucian reached out first, and they reconciled and had been close ever since.

He had promised himself it wouldn't happen again, but he couldn't always suppress the pangs of disappointment that surfaced now and then.

Realizing his words had been harsh, Dio apologized to Lucian.

“Sorry, I was just feeling left out. Tell Ria it was delicious.”

“…Okay.”

Seeing Lucian's lonely smile, Dio felt a knot in his stomach. So he acted even more nonchalant, teasing Lucian just like he always did.

It was the season of the scorching sun.

Two years had passed since Lucian came to live in the haunted manor, and he was now a fine ten-year-old boy.

* * *

As the evening sun began to set, Lucian headed back to the manor.

But on his way, he noticed he was being followed.

Glancing back, he saw it was the girls who said they wanted to be friends with him.

He didn't know if they had something to say to him or if they were trying to find out where he lived, but he couldn't let them follow him any further.

“Hmm.”

Lucian stopped in his tracks. The girls following awkwardly behind him were greatly flustered.

Taking the opportunity, Lucian slipped into the alley on his left.

Ah! He’s getting away!

The girls immediately followed him into the alley. Not long after they disappeared from sight, a section of the wall shimmered, and Lucian appeared.

“I should hurry while I have the chance…”

“I'm pretty sure Ria told you not to use magic.”

Lucian, who had been about to flee before the girls returned, was startled by the sudden presence and took a step back.

His senses were sharp for only a moment before he broke into a wide smile at the sight of the person before him.

“Kaizareu!”

Kaizareu smiled charmingly and patted Lucian's shoulder.

“How've you been, kiddo?”

“Of course, I've been great! You should have told me you were coming! I had no idea!”

“It’s a surprise, a surprise.”

Kaizareu chuckled for a moment, then, seeing that the girls who had been following Lucian were completely gone, he smiled again.

“Let’s go. It’ll be dark soon.”

“Okay! Are you taking me home, Kaizareu?”

“You might get motion sick, so I advise you to hold on tight.”

At his captain-like words, Lucian hurriedly clung to Kaizareu's arm. Kaizareu snapped his fingers, and the two figures vanished in an instant.

* * *

Chop, chop, chop—

Ria, in the middle of preparing dinner, was chopping away.

But her mind kept drifting. It grew so hazy that she was barely conscious, and her once-busy hands had stopped moving.

For a long time, Ria stared blankly at the knife, halfway through an onion.

Screeeee—

The sound of a whistling kettle snapped her back to her senses.

Seeing the frying pan starting to burn and the pot about to boil over, Ria hurriedly dealt with them.

The kitchen, messier than usual, came into view.

[Sigh… this is bad.]

These episodes of zoning out were getting more frequent.

Just a week ago, it happened once every three or four days, but now she was spacing out almost once a day.

This wasn't good. It was a sign that the cycle in which she lost consciousness was about to return.

When she zoned out, she felt like she wasn't herself.

The sensation of drifting aimlessly, like other ghosts without a will of their own, was more horrifying than she could have imagined.

If this continued, what if she couldn't even recognize Lucian when he was right in front of her…

Her thoughts spiraled until her mind grew hazy once more, and she stood frozen, the process of thinking having ceased altogether.

I have arrived!

Ria! Kaizareu is here!

At the familiar voices coming from the main gate, Ria quickly raised her head.

And she realized. She had just zoned out again.

Ria? Ria, where are you?

Hey! This great one has arrived, and you're not even coming out to greet me!

At the voice making a fuss at the main gate, Ria barely gathered her senses and smiled as if nothing was wrong.

Kaizareu and Lucian greeted her.

[Welcome, Kaizareu. It's been a while.]

“It’s been a year. Have you been well?”

[I'm the same as always. As for you… you seem a bit more like an adult dragon?]

“Mwahahaha! Only three years left! I've met all the conditions to become an adult dragon! I just have to wait three more years.”

[If you're going to be an adult dragon, shouldn't you fix that way of talking?]

“What’s wrong with the way I talk?”

[It’s childish.]

Kaizareu froze on the spot as if he'd received a great shock. At his reaction, Ria and Lucian snickered. Realizing they were teasing him, Kaizareu puffed out his cheeks.

“How dare you tease this great one! Unforgivable!”

[As it happens, I made your favorite beef ribs today.]

“Grrr… Huh? Beef ribs?”

At the mention of his favorite food, Kaizareu's eyes sparkled. Ria chuckled at his simple reaction.

[See? Still a kid.]

“Kyaaaak! Take that back right now!”

Ignoring Kaizareu's protests, she approached Lucian.

Lucian took off the diamond necklace he was wearing.

His hair turned a brilliant white, and his ordinary brown eyes changed to gold.

When their eyes met, his golden eyes curved into a gentle smile.

“Ria, the snacks you packed today were delicious. Dio asked for more next time.”

[Really? I thought it might be hot, so I put some ice in with it. Glad you liked it.]

“Yeah, we had it after sparring. That's why he liked it even more.”

[I'll make it again for you next time. Go wash your hands and change your clothes. Dinner's almost ready.]

“Um… Ria.”

Lucian, who had been nodding, hesitated for a moment—a rare sight. As she watched him quizzically, he seemed to be searching for words.

“Can we talk a bit later?”

[Of course.]

Lucian's face brightened instantly.

“I'll go change real quick!”

Lucian hurried up the stairs and went into his room.

Once his presence disappeared, Ria wiped the smile from her face and turned to Kaizareu.

[Kaizareu, I have something to tell you.]

At Ria's subdued atmosphere, Kaizareu's expression turned serious.