The carriage that would be taking Flum and Milkit back home was already waiting for them at the main gates of the royal castle. Meanwhile, Cyrill had her room inside the castle, and the members of the Royal Army were probably headed to the barracks. In other words, this was where they parted ways for the time being. As they walked down the hallway, Cyrill stopped just before the path split.
“My room is over this way. See you, Flum.”
“Let’s go to the cake place together again.”
“Yeah. With the three of us next time.” Milkit, realizing that she was being included in this, hurriedly bowed her head. Flum waved energetically at Cyrill as she left. Then, as if he were waiting politely for the farewells to be over, Satuhkie opened his mouth to speak a little afterward.
“I have something to discuss with the hero. I apologize for not being able to see you off.”
“Oh no, just arranging a carriage for us is plenty.”
“I will also be discussing the matter of the future with you in due course as well.”
“I suppose that going back to my hometown will be…”
“Difficult, yes.”
“Yeah…”
“I do not intend to forbid you from sending letters or anything of the sort, so if you wish to let your parents know that you are safe, please feel free.” Then, after casually declaring, “And with that, adieu,” he went after Cyrill. As they continued toward the main gate, they also said farewell to the Royal Army members.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I suppose this is where we part ways.” Ottilie spoke with her usual dauntless, resolute expression on her face. However, far from just linking arms, she had clung tightly to Henriette in an embrace, practically dragging her along, which attracted the stares of others in the royal castle earlier. If Henriette weren’t around, then Ottilie would have been a person that could be properly respectful, but…in Ottilie’s case, her usual dignified conduct was based on the existence of her beloved older sister, so it was impossible to choose one over the other.
“Ottilie, Herrmann, Werner, thank you for everything. Let’s talk again sometime.” Although it had only been a week, not a long period of time by any stretch, they had worked together with the same goal of searching for the central core and ate meals together out of the same pot. For Flum’s part, she felt that they were together enough to the point where they could call each other friends.
“Yes, let’s. Let’s have a tea party the next time.”
“I think I’d like to have a little bout with you next time, personally.”
“I’d like to introduce you to my little sister…”
“It is quite something for you to go that far, Herrmann. It sounds like you have deepened your friendship quite a lot while we were apart. I would be grateful if you and I could also become closer friends.”
“Absolutely, Henriette, I would be delighted!” Flum shook hands with Henriette and bade farewell to her and the other members of the Royal Army as they headed toward the barracks. The main gate was now right in front of Flum’s eyes.
“Are you on your way to see Sara, Neigass?”
“Oh yes. I’m sure that my little Sara is lonely and crying her little eyes out.”
“Would Sara actually be crying, though?”
“Milkit, if you shoot me down so seriously like that, you’ll make me cry.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Ah ha, she was joking—there’s no need to apologize. Anyway, what is Sara doing now, anyway? I’ve heard that the church is currently being dissolved.”
“For the time being, the remaining members have gathered together and are setting up a temporary hospital in the royal capital. There’s talk of creating something similar to the guild, like a medical magic association of sorts. Just like my little Sara said, everyone except for the higher-ups really are nice folks.”
“So are you helping out with that too, Neigass?”
“I’m doing what I can to help between other duties, but my main role is negotiating with the royal kingdom.”
“Oh, I see… I wonder if Sheitoom will be coming to the royal capital soon, too.”
“The location for that discussion is still being looked into. Oh, yes, that reminds me. Sara said, ‘When Milkit comes back, I definitely want to eat her cooking!’ She was breathing all heavily and excitedly when she said that.”
“It sounds like Sara’s given Milkit’s cooking rave reviews.”
“Please tell Sara that I will gladly prepare her a feast anytime. And I will prepare something for you too, Neigass, so I’ll be awaiting your arrival.”
“My, my, that is quite thoughtful of you. I’m sure that Sara will be delighted—and drooling—to hear that.” And so, Neigass strutted majestically through the main gates and out into the royal capital. With Neigass’s strength, Flum was sure she didn’t have to worry even if she did get sucked into some kind of trouble, but she also seemed likely to attract even more attention than Flum. According to Sheitoom, Neigass had wanted to promote more interaction between humans and demons, and so, as a preliminary step, she was trying to get the people of the royal capital used to being around demons.
As Flum thought about that, she moved to climb into the carriage that stopped in front of her, together with Milkit. It was a luxurious, magnificent carriage that seemed like something only royalty would ride in, and the cabin interior was spacious, too. It was so nice that she thought it might even attract attention if they went to the West District. And there was already another passenger inside the carriage.
“Leitch!” When Flum cried out his name, surprised, he bowed his head with a solemn expression on his face.
“Flum, Milkit, I felt that I needed to apologize to you both, so I had troubled Satuhkie to make some time for me.” The carriage, too, had most likely been arranged for by Leitch’s company—meaning that in exchange for Satuhkie being allowed to use the carriage for free, Satuhkie would allow the proprietor to get on board, she figured. He got up from his seat and knelt down on the ground, pressing his forehead against the ground.
“I am truly very sorry. I am prepared to accept whatever judgment you make!” Leitch’s refined manners and behavior, befitting his upper-class background, gave his humble begging an odd sort of elegance that made Flum actually feel more uncomfortable.
“Please raise your head. The battle is already over. Let’s just forget it.”
“But I couldn’t possibly—”
“Anyway, let’s be going. Coachman, if you please!” Flum offered her hand to Milkit and the two of them hurriedly climbed into the cabin. When the coachman cracked his whip, the two horses slowly began to move. Leitch sat facing Flum and Milkit, hanging his head low. Flum, unable to bear the heavy mood, changed the subject herself.
“Anyway, what happened with Welcy? She stayed back in the royal capital, didn’t she?” When Flum said that, Leitch dug his fingers into his thighs and his facial expression turned even more grim.
Flum could guess what was going on. An “Oh…” escaped her lips.
“She laid into me, showering me with insults, saying that she didn’t want to recognize someone who would do such things as that as her brother. Her disappointment is perfectly understandable. Thanks to Ottilie’s help, things ended without incident, but I still put Milkit in danger. I have done something that cannot be undone…”
“Your wife had been taken hostage. Anyone would have done the same if the one they loved was taken hostage.”
“Flum…” For a moment, Leitch felt like he had been saved, but then his heart quickly changed. I cannot be be saved. There is no way to be forgiven except through atonement.
He believed that so strongly that he despised himself for even feeling the slightest bit of relief. Flum and Milkit exchanged worried looks. Seeing Leitch’s current state, they felt that anything they said to him now would probably only wound him. But he was not a weak person, or the kind of person who would be content to wallow. Having made up his mind, he looked up at Flum and Milkit.
“This certainly isn’t enough to make up for what I have done, but I was thinking of throwing a party to celebrate everyone’s safe return. I intend to offer you the very best hospitality that I can provide.”
“If you’re saying as much, then it must be something special, Leitch.”
“I am preparing something that I hope will exceed your expectations. Could I humbly ask that you come?”
“Of course! Are you sure you’re okay doing this for us, for free?”
“Absolutely. You and your companions are heroes who saved many people, Flum.”
The atmosphere relaxed a little. From then until they arrived at their home, the three of them made casual conversation with each other.