“I just felt like it would be better for you to hold onto it for some reason.” It was just a gut feeling. But Blood was one to trust his gut. So I decided to do the same.
“So it’s a momento.”
“Yes. But I’m giving it to you. You should have it.”
It looked like he didn’t know what to say.
“It’s okay.” I handed over the dagger. “I’ve already received a lot of precious things from them.”
Right, Blood and Mary?
I whispered those words inside my heart.
And so we finished our preparations and decided to stay the night in the city of the dead. Also, there was of course no food or anything of the sort here. I could receive bread from God, just as Mary had been doing, but that was essentially the minimum amount needed to physically survive. Menel looked at me incredulously and said, “I have no idea how you survived in a place like this for over ten years,” as he went out into the woods to find us some food (and test his bow). He’d probably be back with something before it got dark.
Menel had always been pretty skilled at a variety of things, but he had taken an even greater leap forward in the past two years. He could pull tricks like sneaking up behind a wolf stalking its prey, and surprising it by petting it on the back. It really was incredible. Even I couldn’t do that.
Reystov and Ghelreis had also gone to look for food, except they had gone fishing at the lake. It hadn’t been so long since those two had met, but it seemed that as two hardened warriors, they’d already connected on some level. They were probably having some kind of conversation, or maybe just sitting there saying nothing with their fishing lines dangling into the water.
Starting tomorrow, we would probably find ourselves in situations without adequate access to food regularly. We were heading into completely untrodden land. It would be a treacherous and difficult journey. All of us understood that this place, guarded by Gus — who was currently cooped up in his room to engrave Signs on all of our equipment — could be our final safe haven.
“Finally finished,” I said with a sigh. I had been cleaning up the kitchen area with Al as I waited for the others to return.
For the past two years, the only one here had been Gus. In addition to being unable to feel heat or cold, Gus never got hungry or tired, so the kitchen was completely covered in dust. After wrapping a cloth around my mouth, I’d dashed around doing the routine I was used to. Cleaning was something I’d done a lot of while helping Mary. The temple was big, so there were quite a lot of places that needed it.
“You could have left it to me.” Al’s expression was a little complicated. He seemed kind of surprised that his master the Paladin would do housework.
“It was faster to do it together. Besides, what about you? You’re royalty.”
“Only in name,” Al said as he raised one hand and spun it in a small circle. It was a dwarven gesture of mild disagreement. “Everyone in the clan treated me very well, but we were still poor. I learned to repair, to craft, and much more.
Many times I thought, ‘Why was I not born as a simple workshop lad?’”
“If you’d been born as a workshop lad, you would have imagined this instead.” I placed my hand dramatically against my forehead and said in an exaggerated, serious voice, “Could it be that I am actually the last prince of a fallen land, with a mission to resurrect my kingdom?”
Al laughed out loud. “I’d like to tell that version of myself that it’s not actually as good as it sounds!”
“Yeah. You’re not kidding.” Dragon slaying was not my idea of fun in real life. “But you’re still going to go ahead with it.”
“Yes, I am.” Al’s eyes were clear. As usual, he looked quiet and gentle on the outside. But the self-deprecating impression he had once given off was now completely dormant.
“In truth, they all miss their old home,” Al said. “They want to go back, and they want to take it back. But they’ve been through so much that even wishing for that is now more than they’re capable of. I probably understand that better than anyone.”
I remembered the expressions of the many dwarves I’d met so far, as well as the joy I’d felt upon returning to my own home.
“That’s why I want to go,” he continued. “I want to show them all that they can take back their old home, that it’s okay to try. If by risking my life I can light a fire in everyone’s hearts, I think that would be a very wonderful thing.”
I nodded quietly. It took kindness and courage to say something like that so earnestly. It occurred to me that perhaps a person like this was the most suited to being a king.
“But it seems that I’ve gotten you involved in it, and—”
“No, you haven’t.” I denied it immediately. That was definitely wrong. “I knew I’d have to fight. If I abandoned everything here and rushed to protect myself, I wouldn’t be able to face my parents or Gus.”
After all, the three of them had taken on the High King with all his formidable strength, betting on the slim chance of victory.
“And I wouldn’t know what to say to my god.”
God gave me one more chance out of pity for the regret carried by my soul.
If, in full knowledge of the fate that would eventually befall me, I once again shrunk away from risk and feared stepping forward, slowly coming to the same end as before where I was afraid to venture anywhere, how could I possibly face my god then?
“I have something I want to do someday,” I said.
“Something you want to do?”
“Yeah.”
I didn’t want glory. I didn’t want wealth. I was even prepared to throw away happiness. There was only one thing I wanted.
“I want to hold my head up high. One day, when I return to the god of the flame, I want to hold my head up high, acting just a little bit cool, you know…”
To stand facing that expressionless god with confidence, not feeling the least bit hesitant—
“And say, I was able to live a proper life, and it’s all thanks to you.”
And thank her as directly as possible.
Al listened quietly as I spoke.
“So I won’t run from the dragon. I’ll fight. And it’s because of you, Al, that I was able to make that decision.” What would have happened to me if I hadn’t heard Al’s shout of resolve back then? Who knows — I might even have chosen the wrong path. “So thank you.”
Al smiled. “Thank you, sir. It was you who made me your squire and taught me confidence and courage. I swear on this dagger you have given me that no matter how this may end, I will never regret that decision.”
Feeling very slightly embarrassed, I nodded.
In the battles ahead of us, circumstances weren’t always going to allow us to fight while protecting or being considerate of each other. I was glad to hear that he was mentally prepared.
“Yeah. I’m counting on you, Al.”
“Yes, sir!”
We shook hands once again. Then, I heard someone calling out from somewhere a good distance away outside my window. Apparently Menel had come back.
Al ran to the window, peered out, and let out a cry of surprise. “He’s got a deer! A deer!”
“A deer?!” How had he hunted that so fast?! “Quick, let’s get everything ready to butcher it!”
“Yes, sir!”
Things suddenly got hectic.
Fat dripped from the roasted deer’s thigh onto the fire and hissed. A gorgeous aroma filled the air. The wild vegetables to go with it had been washed, cut, and were already sauteing slowly in the pot.
“Wow…” Al was visibly excited. Menel looked a little bit triumphant, and Reystov and Ghelreis were unusually quiet.