“But really, it’s fine and all to worry ’bout me, but Mizuki, shouldn’t you worry ’bout yourself?”
“I-I’m okay! ’Cause even I can use magic now!”
Just like Reiji, Mizuki had trained in the ways of magic. From what he heard from Titania, she had talent that was comparable to Reiji’s. She may not have been all that worried about it, but that wasn’t the point Suimei was focusing on.
“That’s what I’m talking about. Magic. I’m saying that just ’cause you’re able to use magic now, don’t do things like you did in the past. Right, Reiji?”
As he turned to his buddy who knew the meaning behind such a statement, he got nothing but a dejected laugh in return.
“Ah, ahahah...”
“S-S-S-S-Suimei-kun! You promised not to talk about that!”
Meanwhile, Mizuki’s face instantly turned bright red as she started to panic. It was a memory she’d long since tried to forget. It was her dark past from around the time Reiji and Suimei first met her.
“Your dad here is quite worried. No matter how much time passes, you’re still wearing that mini belt and that red muffler and those fingerless gloves... What to do?”
“Just when did Suimei-kun become my dad?! I mean, the hero items have nothing to do with it, right?! Don’t pretend to cry...!”
On one hand there was Mizuki, screaming and squawking as she made a racket, and on the other there was Titania, staring silently in confusion. She couldn’t tell what they were talking about. She turned to Suimei with her head titled to the side.
“Something about the past?”
“Yeah.”
“Suimei-kun! You absolutely can’t say a thing about it, okay?! Absolutely not, you hear?! Absolutely not! I’m not kidding!”
This was easily the most desperate Mizuki had acted ever since arriving in this world. To her, the reveal of her dark past seemed to be a far more serious matter than being summoned to another world. As if to throw Mizuki a lifeline, Reiji turned to Titania, who was only growing more and more curious, and asked her not to pry.
“Mizuki also has a few things going on, Tia.”
“I’m concerned.”
“Don’t be! It’s a grave secret just between us! A secret garden! It’s something no one else can know about!”
“If that is the case, then all the more, you should...”
And so Titania’s expression stiffened in dissatisfaction and the slight sadness of being left out. Deciding that enough time had passed to completely divert the topic from what Mizuki was questioning him about earlier, Suimei turned to the girl who was self-conscious of being left out, and posed her a question.
“Incidentally, is it really alright for you to be participating in the Demon Lord’s subjugation, princess?”
“Oh my, I would ask that you do not underestimate me, Suimei-sama. Even I have mastered magic here in the royal castle. I am certain that I will be of use to Reiji-sama.”
Saying that, Titania proudly thrust out her chest, which was comparable to Mizuki’s. Princess Titania... He didn’t know what her skills with magic were like, but that was not what he was implying.
“I am certain that you excel in regards to magic, princess, but do you not have your position to consider?”
“There is no need to worry. Father will take care of the country. Because his advisors and my elder brother are also present, even in my absence, Astel will manage to get through.”
“No, that is not what I mean—”
She was a beloved princess, something like a national treasure. So why was she accompanying them on the dangerous mission of subjugating the Demon Lord? And why was the king allowing it?
Parents naturally thought of their children as precious. So even if it was what the child wished for, could any parent really agree to thrusting them into the arms of danger? It was a poor way of putting it, but surely there were better things for a princess to be doing for her country. Suimei found it baffling. Why had the king really allowed it? However, before Suimei could ask why she would leap into danger despite her position as a princess, she cut him off and stole the initiative with a majestic declaration.
“Suimei-sama, this is the duty that has been charged to me.”
“Duty, you say?”
“Yes. No matter how strong Reiji-sama is, this country cannot saddle him alone with the burden of saving us. It is only right that a representative of Astel do their part as well. And the one who was chosen to play that role was me. I have long since made up my mind.”
“...”
Was that really all there was to it? It wasn’t that Suimei doubted her determination. Her reassuring statement just now was certainly filled with unwavering sincerity. Because she had her own sense of responsibility, she was here in this position by choice. But what would drive her towards such a potentially grim fate? The excuse of defending the honor of the country seemed a little frail.
However, that didn’t really have anything to do with Suimei. Titania was someone who was worth putting his faith in if she was offering to be of help to Reiji and Mizuki, so he felt no need to question her any further.
“Suimei-sama?”
“...No, excuse my discourtesy. Please take care of Reiji and Mizuki.”
“Of course. Please leave it to me. I will make certain that all of us return safely.”
Titania agreed happily to Suimei’s request. The atmosphere coming from her in that moment was a strong, spirited, noble dignity that was perhaps best summarized as princessly. She then called out to him again.
“And one more thing, Suimei-sama.”
“What is it?”
“I already consider Reiji-sama and Mizuki to be my irreplaceable friends. By proxy, since you’re such a dear friend to them, I also consider you to be a good friend as well. I would like you to stop speaking to me so formally. Would that be alright with you?”
A modest request, but not something a woman of her station should ever really ask a guy like Suimei.
“Is that really okay?”
“Please, by all means.”
He doublechecked to make sure, but she confirmed it all the same. And then, feeling just a tiny bit anxious, Suimei pulled himself together and tried to give her what she wanted.
“Got it. I’ll do just that, prin...”
“It’s Tia, Suimei.”
Titania gave him a sweet and dainty smile. To someone who had no defense against girls, it was the kind of a smile that could fell a man in a single blow. In a sense, it bore a close resemblance to Reiji’s smile. But Suimei couldn’t afford to fall victim, and returned hers with a smile of his own.
“Yeah. Best regards, Tia.”
“With this, the four of us are all officially good friends.”
In this world, the people she knew as friends were likely just those who paid needless attention to her. Yet as Titania declared the friendship between the four of them now, she looked genuinely happy—like it was her first time making true friends.
Suimei then turned and called out to Reiji.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s just...”
However, seeing Reiji’s carefree expression as he looked back at him, Suimei changed his mind and stopped talking. On the spur of the moment, he’d almost said, “If there were a means to return, would you do it? If you wait, I’ll make one.”
But he stopped himself. Even if he’d asked such a thing, there was no way Reiji would stop. It would only needlessly cause him to waver. Since there was no real reason for asking, it would merely be a hindrance. And in that sense, Suimei thought it was better not to ask at all. Harboring the question in his heart, Suimei instead put on a smile and cheered Reiji on.
“Do your best. That’s all.”
“Mm, you got it. Thanks, Suimei.”
“Yeah.”
Suimei stuck out his fist, and Reiji bumped it with his own. That sealed their farewell, and anything else they were to discuss would have to wait for
quite some time. What Suimei got in reply to his nod was a cheerful smile. It was the smile of a man about to take his first step into hardship, but a smile that would not quit or stand down. A smile filled with bravery. It was Reiji’s way of telling Suimei not to worry.
Before long, the preparations for the parade were complete, and Titania called to Reiji.
“Now then, let us depart, Reiji-sama.”
“Mm. Mizuki, stick close to me.”
“...”
As Reiji held out his arm casually, Mizuki forgot to even speak, and shyly nodded with a smile. Reiji himself probably just thought that it was safer if she was closer to him, but there was no way that was what was going through Mizuki and Titania’s minds. Despite being embarrassed, Mizuki happily clung to Reiji, and Titania stared jealously for a moment before shouting.
“R-Reiji-sama! Me too!”
“Huh? Tia?!”
She then scooped up Reiji’s free arm. He raised a bewildered protest, but only for a moment. Though he was oblivious to her real feelings, he wrapped his arm around Titania as well and held her snugly.
“Mm, okay. You keep close to me too, Tia.”
“O-Of course!”
Titania flashed a brilliant smile as she raised her voice in delight.
With a beautiful woman on each side, and not only that, but with his arms firmly wrapped around both of them, the hero grandly boarded the carriage. Looking around closely, the men in the area—the knights and the soldiers—were gazing at him with envy and even bloodthirst. Suimei felt similarly as he began to mutter to himself.
“Actually, I hope you guys stay here forever...”
It was jealousy. Pure jealousy. He couldn’t stop it. It was a frustration most of the other men around understood. However, thinking carefully about what he said, Suimei realized his words could also be interpreted as a wish to let Reiji live a happy life surrounded by women. As Suimei was contemplating this, Reiji turned to him.
“Suimei, did you say something?”
“No, nothing at all.”
“...Oh? No biggie.”
Reiji sounded like he couldn’t tell what was going on. Undoubtedly, for the rest of his life, he would remain oblivious to the nuances of the emotions of others in such situations, both women and men. And with that curious expression still on Reiji’s face, he and the two girls happily stuck to him began to drive away from Suimei in the carriage.
Before long, the sound of the enormous gates opening rang though the air, and the sound of the band playing its music along with the tremendous roar of cheering and clapping could be heard in the direction the carriage had left in.
When the gate finally closed, the only one still standing around was Suimei, as if he’d been left behind. No. He was standing here because he wanted to be. He made that choice for himself. The melancholy and the loneliness he felt now were simply the result of having a hard time accepting that.
“I really did it, huh...?”
While staring off into the distance, Suimei muttered to himself. Because he wanted to go back, because he had to return, there was no mistaking the fact that he turned his back to danger. Watching the silhouettes of his friends disappear into the distance as they went to face the danger he shied away from, those feelings floated through his mind.
Right here. On his own. Was his decision to walk down a different path not unforgivable and gutless? Was it not an action unbecoming of a magician of the Society? But no matter how he thought of it, he could only see the choice of walking down the path to defeat the Demon Lord as the wrong decision.
As long as he had his thesis, there was no meaning to it if he didn’t return. Once he accomplished it, he still had a promise he’d sworn to keep. He had someone he was already determined to save. That’s why he felt like he was justified in not burdening himself with the problems of another world. He had his own. But he still couldn’t fight the feeling that such thoughts may have been nothing but childish excuses in front of his two brave friends.
“...”
Ruminating on his situation, Suimei gazed into the sky. What he recalled as he stared up at the vast blue expanse were the figures of those he had gotten involved with up until now.
The one who raised him and taught him magicka, his father who collapsed partway down the path to his aspirations. The one who always forced unreasonable demands on him, the leader of the Society. Cursed by Ludwig, the girl with the blue shadow. The far too straight-laced radical of the Chivalric Order of the Rose Cross. The heiress to the neighborhood swordsmanship dojo, his childhood friend.
His choice was a selfish one. He was well aware of that fact. However, when he recalled their faces as he closed his eyes, he knew it was the only choice.
Epilogue I
Several days after Reiji and company left the castle, having made plans for what he would do next, Suimei left Royal Castle Camellia himself. Quite obviously, Suimei didn’t have any sort of grand parade to send him off like Reiji did, and though the beginning of his journey was a lonely one, Suimei didn’t care much about that. After informing Astel’s King Almadious and a somewhat reluctant Felmenia, he descended towards the royal capital of Metel quietly at his own convenience.
His first destination was the so-called Adventurer’s Guild in Metel. There, he had something that he had to attain no matter what. Well, before that, he had to do something about his clothes, but nevertheless...
Really, I didn’t think he would hand over money...
Muttering in slight bewilderment to himself, Suimei gingerly lifted a heavy bag up to his face with the sound of jingling metal. When Suimei had actually left the castle, Prime Minister Gless had approached and handed him a bag containing some twenty odd coins. With a gaze showcasing disdain from the bottom of his heart, he’d told Suimei to thank His Majesty in a patronizing tone before yammering on full of hate, then finally pushing what amounted to charity money on to Suimei and shooing him out the front gate.
From what the prime minister had implied, it seemed to be an arrangement made by King Almadious. Suimei scratched his head weakly at the unexpected development.
Despite telling him not to, is that king trying to put me in his debt...?
Back in the audience chamber, Suimei had turned down his offer of support once before. So being handed money in spite of his polite refusal did lead him to suspect some sort of ulterior motive. But this was the king of Astel. He wasn’t the type to act so craftily in such a transparent way. It was likely just a simple act of goodwill. But speaking frankly, Suimei didn’t want to be bound by any such fetters, so he couldn’t quite bring himself to be happy over the generous little gift.
For example, if the king made it publicly known that he’d helped Suimei and that Suimei had a connection to Astel, Suimei would feel obligated to repay the kindness somehow. That was the kind of thing he was worried about. He didn’t want to have his hands tied in any way. He doubted the king had anything like that planned, but it still put him in a precarious position.
Making use of Suimei’s conscience and naiveté, there was no mistaking that he was set up in such a way that it would be simple to entice him into action. Favors sowed could be reaped later threefold, and the king was an expert tender of his fields in that regard. He’d planted all the right seeds for himself and his kingdom.
“Hahh... What are you gonna do? Well, if he couldn’t do this much, I guess he wouldn’t be a king...”
Perhaps he knew that if he handed the money over to Suimei himself, it would have simply been handed right back to him. That’s why he’d used the prime minister to send it. Suimei wouldn’t be able to refuse him. Certainly, if he rejected the king’s goodwill when that barcode baldy was in such a poor mood, he knew he wouldn’t be able to escape the castle without incident. Though Suimei could deal with whatever may come, he didn’t want to get involved in anything serious. So in the interest of leaving quickly and quietly, he took the money.
It would be a different story if there had been
more harm in accepting it, but since he had no articulate reason to refuse, that would make it even more difficult to do so. And what he had received was money. It was something he would require a significant amount of in the very near future.
There were traveling expenses, the acquisition of a base, the production of magickal items, everyday necessities. There would be no end to it if he listed it all out. Right now, that was one of Suimei’s weak points. So when he weighed the overall pros and cons of taking the money, he knew he was right to quietly accept it.
Besides, even if someone tried to extract a favor down the line from him for it, it wasn’t like Suimei was obligated to do anything just because he’d accepted the money. That would be something for Suimei and his conscience to fight out when the time came.
Suimei lowered his gaze to the money pouch and the letter he was handed together with it. Written on a fine piece of paper was a note from the king stating that he hoped Suimei would accept both the money and his apology. Reading it, Suimei’s heart swayed, and he unintentionally let out a sigh.
Suimei knew he should be grateful to the king. Turning around and glancing back at the gate that was already in the far distance behind him, Suimei respectfully bowed his head.
“You damn sly old fox.”
But that old man would never forget his abusive thanks.
Epilogue II
Today, Court Mage Felmenia Stingray—rather, former Court Mage Felmenia Stingray—was in the library finishing up work on a towering pile of documents. Several days had passed since Suimei had departed. Felmenia was in the process of putting together all the necessary materials needed to hand over her work, and putting the fruits of her magic research on temporary hold.
This was naturally so that she could chase after Suimei, who had departed on a journey to find the spell to return to his own world. Between her personal feelings and wanting to be even just a bit useful to him...
“Suimei-dono, please wait for me. Once these documents for the transfer are put in order, I’ll hurry to your side with all haste.”
The Magic in this Other World is Too Far Behind! Volume 1 Page 23