By Zephyria 
On the way out, securing the divine object. Vivian’s Royal Castle was still in disarray.
Vivian’s Knights and Wizards ran about here and there, but it seemed no one had achieved any significant results. Only two people had died in this royal castle: the Black magician Hershey Milton, and King Vivian. However, the former was not an insider of the castle, and the latter was unaware of his own death.
I heard the Knights I saw at the North Gate sighing as if the earth were caving in.
“Haa… If I locked up my own kids in a place like that, they’d run away from home too.”
“What is it about love. But won’t he come back soon? You two were inseparable before.”
“I don’t know. I can’t go home today. It’s annoying… Not a single person is blowing a whistle saying they found something.”
“Is today the only problem? You’ll have to work overtime for about a week. They say the main hall of the inner palace is a complete mess right now.”
“How is the King alive under all that pressure?”
“Who knows? That’s why he’s the King. He’s of Divine Blood, after all.”
Hugh Benson and I deliberately exited through the East Gate of the Royal Castle.
We understood each other well without a word. We rode all the way to the border of Vivian and Sierren, removed all the jewels and tokens, and buried King Vivian, who had been dismembered, deep in the ground. We also pressed a large rock on top of it. This way, he wouldn’t rise again as a zombie.
By chance, the sun was beginning to appear faintly in the sky.
A question suddenly arose in my mind.
“Number three.”
“…Did you like that one?”
“Haha, a little.”
“Why?”
Hugh Benson was staring up at the sky. He seemed to be reading the constellations, determined to find a direct path to Cambio before the sun fully rose. Had he caught that habit from spending time with Elvin?
I asked Hugh Benson, speaking towards the back of his head.
“Before I entered the office… is it true that Queion didn’t say anything?”
“Would he have? He threw a fit. Brett acted like a dog too. He said some nasty things.”
“Then why.”
“Why didn’t you hear it?”
“….”
“You said you were going to be the King’s Consort.”
“What?”
Having determined the direction, Hugh Benson began to walk. I followed him, walking half a step behind. The young man, barely past his coming-of-age, consistently tried to act like a senior, even after I revealed I had memories of a past life. Especially at times like these.
“Brett Liberty? He’s quite the filial son. Who else can they rely on now? They’ll stick together as a family and live. But if they had eyes, they couldn’t possibly not know who we are, even if they just went to the Cambio villa.”
“….”
“It might not matter right now. But people never forget their own embarrassments. What if, when Brett takes over all the Vivian factions, regains some composure, and claims his rightful share, he remembers?”
“That… No, Senior…”
“All noble scoundrels are like that. If someone has a lower title than them, they treat them like air. So, it’s fine that he showed that to a mere Sword Master like me. But for someone who’s in the newspapers like you, to be seen in such a state? It must feel like shit.”
“….”
After a moment of thought, I changed the subject.
“If we run from now, can we catch up to number one?”
“You and me? Why, are you eager to see him?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go. Wanna bet?”
“No. I want to pick up a flower if I see one on the way.”
“….”
He let out a scoff, kicked off the ground, and started off a bit faster. I could read his fierce annoyance from his silent back. I couldn’t help but smile. I felt younger every day from his actions, treating me like a child, and it was immensely pleasant.
❖ ❖ ❖
Friday of the third week of April.
We safely returned to the villa in Cambio.
I was a little late because I got sidetracked in the middle. Ruben’s party had arrived before us. However, it seemed they hadn’t been here for long either, as a furious crying sound was leaking from the small bedroom they were guided to by the Knights guarding the villa.
It was Gloria.
“Just, just marry me back then… I wouldn’t be living like this.”
“….”
“Thank you. I am thankful, but I hate you… I really hate you… sob… What do I do? My daughter is so beautiful, and for her to grow up like this… I hurt her… I’m sorry I didn’t know, I’m sorry I forgot…”
“No, it’s okay. Mom, I don’t hurt at all anymore.”
“What do I doooo…”
Now eleven years old. Lindsey Liberty was a small girl with a gaunt appearance.
Looking at them like this, Lindsey and Gloria were strikingly similar. The child repeatedly stroked her mother’s back with her small, white hands. As her white hand patted the black back of the woman still in mourning clothes, Gloria acted as if she would crawl into her child’s womb and wept like a child.
The God of Records, who stood beside them with a troubled expression, shifted his steps as soon as our eyes met.
All the companions standing beside him had not yet removed their black robes. Lindsey bowed her head, thanking us. Gloria was still crying as if she might faint. After closing the small door, the God of Records finally spoke.
“Thank you.”
“…Do the blank spaces in memory return?”
“Usually, they do. But not for her. From the start… it was like she lent her body to another soul.”
“…Hmm.”
Ruben pushed back the hood he had been wearing the whole time, revealing his face. The child’s hair was unusually disheveled, and his cheeks, which had been covered by a mask, were slightly red. I was surprised by the worry etched on his face.
“Where is Lord Andrei?”
The God of Records answered in his stead.
“He probably doesn’t want this place discovered. He’s moving around with a tracking party, but he’s surprisingly skilled. He should be back soon, so don’t worry.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
“More importantly, since you fulfilled my request, I must now grant you what you desired.”
I took out the divine object of Vivian that I had brought. Ruben also took out Yulan’s divine object that he had been carrying. The God of Records took out a white porcelain paperweight from his embrace. Standing in the middle of the hallway, I wondered if this was appropriate, but how different were indoors and outdoors to a god? I just let it be.
The three items were placed on the god’s palm and then melted away.
Is this how it feels to watch molten metal? No, it was closer to liquid clay than molten metal. The white mass, tinged with a pale green, dissolved thickly into one lump.
He molded and shaped it so delicately that even watching the mass of light transfer from his right hand to his left, and from left to right, so closely, barely any Divine Power leaked out.
“I’ve been thinking about what the Second Prince of Sierren needs most right now…”
He gripped the upper part of the lump, which felt heavy in his hands, with his thumbs and index fingers and shook it off. With a motion like handling laundry, the white mass stretched out and transformed into the shape of fabric.
“But I decided this would be best.”
Through the light, the shape of the fabric could be seen. It was a vest made of well-woven cloth. No, should such a thing even be called a vest? It covered the neck down to the waist, but left the arms completely open. It was an upper garment, but it was a form I had never seen before.
“How do I use this?”
“You just wear it. The neck part here is stretchy, right? Put it on from above, like covering your head. Inside your clothes. This will be better than any defensive magic. It will block any divine attack at least once.”
“…Any divine attack?”
“I’ve combined the power of the First and my own power into it. As long as that guy doesn’t regain his full strength and attack, you’ll be fine. And…”
“…Hmm?”
“Since I’ve put my power into it, I’ll know immediately if you get attacked.”
What use is that? The God of Records cannot interfere among humans unless he takes a human form. But how could he protect Ruben without revealing his divinity? The God of Records gestured with his chin towards me.
“I’ll be staying by his side the whole time. I’ll let you know whenever you’re curious about the Second Prince’s safety.”
“…Ah.”
Surprisingly, it was the most needed item.
If I couldn’t be at ease without keeping Ruben far away, how could I fight? I peeked at the fabric the God of Records handed to Ruben, examining it together. Ruben offered it for me to touch, so I brushed it with my fingertips once. It was surprisingly soft and pleasant to the touch.
“Thank you. I will use it well.”
“Don’t mention it. From now on, both you and I will be busy collecting the scattered fragments, wherever they may have gone.”
The God of Records smiled for a very brief moment, then his expression turned somber as he looked at the door. From inside, the woman’s cries were still heard deeply. Lindsey, perhaps also crying along with her mother, was now weeping loudly with her.
The god was silent for a moment, then grasped the doorknob.
“Then I will stay with Gloria. We’ll depart in three days.”
“…May I ask why three days are necessary?”
“You’ll need time to divide people and prepare, but… Brett can no longer come here. It would be problematic if he were to go berserk in the heart of Vivian, so I intend to make something and send it with Gloria.”
“…Yes. I understand.”
Still, they seemed to be a sore spot for the god.
Berserk.
Come to think of it, the God of Records had said something similar to me before. He had said I thought I would explode around the age of ten… I also recall hearing that Wesley Kiadris’s body had exploded and then reattached.
When one falls victim to that ‘berserk’ state, does something happen that even gods fear?
I’ll have to ask about this later when I have more time. There are more important matters now.
As everyone took off their hoods one by one, bowed to Ruben, and dispersed to rest, I grabbed the child’s wrist.
“Ruben.”
“…Huh? What?”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
The single flower I had finally found and hidden in my embrace felt incredibly precious at that moment.