I’m sure it was a good line. It wasn’t out of character for Eddie either. I thought I’d managed the expression well enough too.
However, Ketron’s expression after hearing Eddie’s words was subtle.
The slight flush that had been on his face instantly drained away.
“Eddie.”
Ketron, returning to his usual cold, stoic face, called Eddie’s name softly.
“Yes?”
Eddie thought he had responded very normally.
“Is something wrong?”
But in Ketron’s eyes, it clearly wasn’t the case.
Eddie realized that he hadn’t been making proper eye contact with Ketron and belatedly met his gaze. That intense stare was scanning Eddie’s entire face.
“…”
Is something wrong, he asks.
For some reason, this simple question made Eddie feel like bursting into tears right then and there.
Like that time when he had woken from a nightmare and cried for a long time in Ketron’s arms.
Ket, I’m scared.
“…No.”
I have no idea what’s happening right now.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.”
Is even this being written in that book right now?
“You’re the one who had something happen. I’ve heard how strong you are, but I couldn’t really believe it until now. You’re already in the finals? Wow~ You really are…”
But Eddie’s attempt to chatter as usual was interrupted by a large hand cupping his cheek.
Eddie could only blink. The hand touching his face was neither smooth nor soft, but it was more than enough to warm Eddie’s cold cheeks.
Their faces drew closer. Eddie momentarily held his breath as he looked at the excessively handsome face right in front of him.
Of course, Eddie knew better than anyone in the world how handsome Ketron was.
But being amazed by that face up close was another matter entirely. As Eddie forgot what he had been thinking and just blinked, Ketron spoke.
“Look at me.”
“…”
“Are you feeling ill? Should we go back to the inn?”
Absurd words escaped Ketron’s lips. Eddie’s eyes widened involuntarily.
“What about the finals?”
“That doesn’t matter at all.”
‘That?’ This is a tournament hosted by the emperor…
Eddie was taken aback by those words. The swordsmen participating here, or even the audience, would place great value on winning this tournament, yet Ketron was acting as if it didn’t matter at all.
Was it because he wins so easily? Because he’s the hero?
No. He’s a forgotten hero. As long as he holds a sword, he would surely want to elevate his name.
Despite this, he treated the tournament finals as ‘that’ and prioritized Eddie.
Somehow, those words made Eddie feel like crying.
In truth, he wanted to go back to the inn right away. Tournament or not, this place was too frightening.
Though it wasn’t a place he had lived his whole life, returning to the now somewhat familiar inn instead of this strange place would make him feel a bit more at ease.
But still.
Noticing Eddie’s hesitation, Ketron’s face grew unusually determined.
“Let’s go.”
That statement snapped Eddie back to attention. What an impossible suggestion.
“Go where? The finals are about to start.”
“Your condition isn’t good. Why should something like this matter now?”
Once again, the tournament finals became “something like this.”
Ketron’s heart was glad. He was completely, perfectly sincere.
But, Ket. You need to win here.
If not, there would be no reason for the ‘story’ to suddenly twist its flow to make you participate in this competition.
It must be a competition with good reason, a competition with value.
He couldn’t let it be ruined because of him.
Moreover, he never wanted to feel that sensation again—the story twisting and transforming regardless of his will.
“I’m really fine.”
“…”
Ketron gave him a look as if trying to gauge whether Eddie’s words were true.
Of course, saying he was fine was largely bravado, but it was indeed better than leaving with Ketron right now.
“Just… come back in one piece.”
Instead of asking him to stay by his side, Eddie said those words.
“I want to see you win.”
At least that part was completely sincere.
Ketron stared into Eddie’s eyes for a long time. Perhaps because their faces were so close, meeting that gaze felt too intense and became a bit overwhelming. Just as Eddie thought this, Ketron sighed.
“All right.”
Right on cue, as if the waiting time had passed, an administrator was calling from outside in a booming voice, “Finalists! Please come out!”
“Go, they’re calling you.”
Ketron glanced back with a momentarily irritated look at the lack of time, then turned to Eddie and gently pressed his forehead against Eddie’s.
At this intimate gesture, Eddie unconsciously hunched his shoulders as Ketron spoke in a low voice.
“Eddie, remember this one thing.”
“Hm?”
“No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”
Huh?
Eddie blinked at these unexpected words.
“I’ve decided that.”
Wait a minute. Isn’t this supposed to be a touching moment?
After all this time of Eddie pushing and Ketron reluctantly staying by his side, Ketron was now opening up on his own, saying he wanted to stay with Eddie.
Of course, it wasn’t difficult to tell from Ketron’s change in attitude that he had decided to stay by Eddie’s side, but hearing it spoken aloud was another matter entirely.
“Since when?”
“Longer than you’d think.”
“…”
Eddie felt a strange sensation, as if warm, fluffy emotions were expanding over his cold heart.
“So don’t be afraid.”
Finally, those fluffy emotions completely covered his cold heart.
Right now, the strongest person in the world—his cat—was trying to reassure him.
“…Okay.”
For Eddie, it was impossible not to nod.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
He was still a bit scared, but he felt much better now. It felt like a sturdy fence had formed around his heart that had been trembling with anxiety.
“Ketron! Ketron! Are you coming out?”
From outside, a mage called his name desperately. It seemed they couldn’t delay any longer.
“I’ll be back.”
With that simple farewell, Ketron finally released Eddie and left. As the hand that had cupped his cheek and the forehead that had pressed against his own pulled away, Eddie felt a chill, as if wondering how they had ever been so warm.
But still, it was much more bearable than before.
Do you know how reassuring those words “I’ll be back” are?
As Ketron appeared, cheers from the audience erupted from all directions.
As if welcoming the protagonist of this world.
Even if forgotten by the world, he was rising again and finding his place so effortlessly. As if he knew that was where he belonged.
Ketron is the protagonist of this story. He always has been, and always will be.
Then what am I?
What is my existence in this story?
Eddie still couldn’t answer that question, but he held a faint hope that if Ketron won this tournament as whatever force desired, he might find some answers.
Beyond Ketron’s strong back, Eddie could see him exchanging light greetings with an unseen opponent.
Befitting a finals match, a mage with magically amplified voice was heard drawing the audience’s attention with a booming announcement.
“His Majesty Emperor Likirius, the Sun of the Empire, has just taken his seat!”
* * *
“Why do I have to attend a tournament I’m not even participating in?”
Arthur complained in a disgruntled voice. He had deliberately prepared late and set out unhurriedly.
After all, he had excused himself from participating by claiming illness. Even if the empire’s citizens held the hero in high regard, there was nothing positive about skipping a tournament he had originally agreed to join.
But it was the emperor’s order. No matter how accomplished the hero was, he was still a citizen of the empire and couldn’t refuse an order.
“Lower your voice.”
Boram, who had accompanied him, said coldly.
Augustine, a warrior who used a staff and thus couldn’t participate in the swordsman tournament, had refused to come along, saying he had no interest in sword-users.
Arthur’s lower lip jutted out as he thought of Augustine, who was somehow exempt from the emperor’s “orders” as if he had received some special mission.
“You used magic anyway, right?”
“Magic isn’t omnipotent. And aren’t you trusting me too much? What if I hadn’t used magic in advance?”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
There was no way that Boram, with his excellent magical abilities and keen senses, wouldn’t have used such magic when they were alone.
Boram sighed deeply.
“If only I could trust you to watch your mouth, I wouldn’t need to use such magic.”
“It’s not like we’re in those times anymore where we need to maintain constant vigilance, so why conserve magical power?”
“Arthur, you—”
“Alright, alright.”
When Boram began to flare up at Arthur’s casual treatment of his magical power as if it were something left in storage, Arthur quickly backed down with a grin.
Boram’s green eyes, which had been coldly staring at that face, shifted away from Arthur, containing emotions like a deep sigh.
In the past, such lightheartedness had seemed infinitely cheerful, but thinking about it now, this was Arthur’s true nature.
A nature he couldn’t change, even now after usurping the title of hero.