Chapter 24: Coming Back Home

At the bandits’ hideout (though “hideout” was really just a hut that looked like a reception office), we secured Triss’s cooperation and slipped into the Asura Kingdom without trouble.

Triss the female bandit. Her real name was Tristina Purplehorse.

Despite being a noble daughter of the Purplehorse family, she had a brutal past—imprisoned and exploited as a sex slave by High Minister Darius, only to be discarded once she was spent. By chance, she escaped execution and was sold off, later joining the bandits who had bought her. It seemed that even in the future, when I infiltrated the Asura Kingdom, she had lent me her aid.

Helping us sneak across the border was only half the point. My real task was to introduce Ariel and her group to Triss, and make her a trump card against the First Prince’s greatest supporter, Darius.

─But after sharing all the necessary information, and with Orsted officially recognized as Ariel’s patron, I found myself with very little left to do.

People frowned when they heard we were meeting with bandits, but they accepted it. And when told that among them was a fallen noblewoman who could serve as leverage against Darius, they eyed us with suspicion—but Ariel’s group prepared their persuasion in advance and actually managed to win Triss over.

Ariel’s companions had once been just five when they washed up in Ranoa, yet they had grown strong enough to stand in the succession struggle of the Asura Kingdom. Veterans through and through. As long as they trusted me and followed the plan, there was no room for me to wedge myself into their work.

…Before fleeing Asura, even Pilemon had likely been among their number, lending his strength as a leading ally in the power struggle. No wonder Ghislaine and the others had no complaints when Ariel spared his life.

Leaving that aside, for the past several days, I left most of the negotiations and maneuvering to Ariel’s group while I focused on the plan to capture Pilemon and the strategy sessions against the swordsmen.

Using the intelligence provided by Orsted, we worked together to devise countermeasures against the swordsmen. In our spare time, we ran mock battles over and over, tailored to those measures.

As expected of enemies prearranged by the Man-God, if we fought them directly, we would lose—and he, who could see the future, would make sure the board was set that way. Since everyone except Sylphy had been an adventurer, we agreed on a strategy not of dueling swordsmen, but of coordinating as if we were facing down monsters.

"The problem is how we’ll capture Pilemon in secret… With Auber and his men guarding him, it won’t be simple. Worst case, they’ll link up with the Water God, or they’ll turn the whole capital upside down searching for him…"

"No, I don’t think that’ll be an issue, Rudeus. My father is a coward with no judgment. If the North God’s Three Swords return half-ruined, he’ll hole up in his manor and keep the swordsmen stuck to his side as bodyguards. If we reach the capital before Darius and the others can lend aid, we can raid the secondary estate at night and catch them all in one sweep."

"I see."

Wii Taa’s death had been confirmed by Orsted. Following a trail of blood into a small cave, he had found cremation remains beside that disco-ball-like armor.

When I asked why he had lost track of Wii Taa once, he admitted with a sulky look that he’d hesitated between continuing the chase and coming to treat me. I had to bow my head in apology.

The Knuckleguard, on his own, was said to be no stronger than a North Saint. If things went as Luke predicted, we could strike before they regrouped and take Auber down before he linked up with the Water God. This was the crucial moment.

On the road to the capital, we passed near the Fittoa region. The sight of scattered wheat fields on the slowly recovering plains brought back memories of the time I had returned with Eris. Back then, I had thought we would soon find Zenith too, and that our whole family would live here. Reality, however, had been tangled up in noble politics, and things hadn’t gone as I’d hoped.

Without resolve, Eris and I had sought comfort in each other, only to drift apart without realizing she had already become pregnant. I’m satisfied with the life we have now, but it’s true our reckless youth caused hardship for our eldest daughter. This place, then, was not only our homeland, but also the turning point of our lives.

Perhaps Eris felt the same. She drew closer to the horse Sylphy and I rode, wearing an expression hard to put into words.

"I wonder if Lucy and the others are doing okay…"

"They’re fine. I told Edith to guard them well."

"Edith too… While we’re away, you don’t think anyone will bully her, do you?"

"Don’t worry. That girl’s strong. She’ll knock every one of them flat!"

"Yeah… you’re right. Lucy’s fine, and Edith too."

Sylphy had worn a worried face these past days. Her hair was now pure white, but back in Buena Village she had the same green hair as Edith.

Maybe seeing Fittoa, with its faint return to how it once was, had stirred memories of the bullying she endured because of her hair.

I love green hair. I won’t let anyone insult it. But Sylphy and the others who bore the burden of prejudice couldn’t feel the same, and not everyone around us would silently swallow it either.

That night, Eris declared she would take both our turns at watch, then pulled Sylphy into my room. She only said "Sleep together tonight!" before leaving us.

Sylphy hesitated a little, then sat on the bed beside me, leaning against me as she began to undress… but broke down crying halfway through.

"I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Rudy, even at a time like this… I finally gave you Lucy, finally Roxy has her child too, finally I made up with Eris, finally I got to meet Edith… and yet I dragged you into this, made you suffer those terrible wounds… I’m sorry… Rudy…"

"It’s okay… It’s okay, Sylphy. Eris and I are fine. We’ll see Lady Ariel through safely, and then we’ll all go home together."

…Maybe Sylphy felt responsible. Ever since we married, she had said she would be Ariel’s ally in times of need. So perhaps, when memories of her painful past resurfaced, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for dragging a pregnant Roxy and our children into a power struggle.

I couldn’t erase Sylphy’s fears and traumas—I wasn’t green-haired like her. But just as Roxy had once taken her hand and supported her, I resolved anew to be the ally Sylphy could lean on first.

Even after she stopped crying, I kept stroking her head, and we fell asleep holding each other.

After that, we pressed the horses on toward the capital. Three weeks later, we finally arrived at Ars, the royal capital.