Chapter 22

"Hey, Dad, how much longer until we’re there?"

The boy’s eyes sparkled as he asked his father, his voice jolting in rhythm with the public carriage pulled by two horses. Between his restless shifting and fidgeting, it was clear he could hardly contain his excitement.

His father, attempting to settle his impatient son, offered a curt reply.

"We’re almost there. Just stay still."

"You’ve been saying that forever! I’m sick of hearing ‘almost there’!"

"And I’m sick of hearing Rainer ask ‘how much longer?’"

A blonde girl, seated opposite the father and forced into a cramped position with her knees tucked against her chest, spoke up with an exasperated sigh directed at the red-haired boy.

Rainer, the boy being scolded by both sides, had a good reason for his restlessness.

"It’s my first time in a big city! How can you not be excited?"

Growing up in Brosche, a rural village tucked away between mountains on three sides, Rainer’s idea of a long trip had previously been limited to visiting neighboring villages or the local town.

But today was different. For the first time in his life, he had traveled beyond the borders of his home territory.

"It’s only Delphit. It’s not like we’re going to the Royal Capital. If you keep acting like this, everyone’s going to know you’re a total country bumpkin."

"Well, Brosche is the sticks."

"That’s not the point..."

Despite their loud bickering, no one around them seemed to mind. The carriage was crowded, and with everyone else engaged in their own idle chatter, the group drew no special attention.

However, one passenger—a stout, middle-aged man with a well-trimmed goatee—overheard their conversation and turned to Rainer’s father.

"You folks from Brosche?"

"Yeah. You know the place?"

"It’s that village on the edge of Viscount Barack’s land, right?"

"You’re well-informed."

"I’m on good terms with the man."

The man made a quick motion, tilting his empty right hand toward his mouth. The gesture made his meaning instantly clear.

"Ah, is it the drink?"

"You bet! Around these parts, the name ‘Bale’s Brewery’ carries some weight!"

The man, Bale, let out a boisterous laugh that suited his rugged frame.

Viscount Barack was famously fond of spirits. Everyone in the territory had heard the rumors: that he drank like a fish every night or that he was a frequent sight at the local taverns.

According to Bale, the Viscount had lived in the same town as his brewery before he came into his title. He had taken a liking to Bale’s liquor back then, and even after becoming a Viscount, he continued to place regular orders.

While the Viscount was a steady customer, the Barack Territory was by no means a short trip. Bale was currently using these delivery runs as an opportunity to scout and expand his business throughout the region.

He had never actually stepped foot in Brosche, but the village's name and location were firmly etched in his mind.

"Still, that’s a long way to come from Brosche. You heading to Delphit? It’s not exactly the best spot for a family sightseeing trip."

Marine City Delphit. As the name implied, it was a coastal city built on fishing and trade.

The majority of the coastline was dedicated to the harbor, meaning there were constant fleets of ships and no sandy beaches for swimming. While there were stretches of coast further out where the ships didn't go, those areas were crawling with monsters.

There were luxury cruise liners, of course, but Rainer and his family didn't look like they were dressed for a three-month voyage. That left little to do but enjoy the seafood.

"We’re not here for sightseeing! I’m entering the Fighting Tournament!" Rainer declared proudly.

Delphit was a marine city—or more accurately, a city of fishermen. Consequently, it was full of men who were either physically imposing or hot-blooded.

Born from that culture, the city had long hosted an annual Fighting Tournament.

It had originated as a rowdy gathering where men could blow off steam or pick a fight under the pretext of praying for a good catch and safety at sea, but the rough-and-tumble event proved a perfect match for the locals.

Year after year, the number of participants grew and the scale expanded. Within twenty years of its inception, a dedicated arena had been built. Now, it was a famous regional attraction that drew competitors from all the surrounding towns.

Realizing the season, Bale nodded to himself. He looked Rainer up and down before speaking.

"The Fighting Tournament, eh? You’re competing, kid?"

"Wh-What? What’s with that look?"

"I’m not saying you’re weak, but the tournament in Delphit is the real deal. Just try not to get yourself killed."

"I’ll be fine! I’m gonna win the whole thing!"

"Hah! You’ve got a big mouth on you, I'll give you that."

"He’s only in the thirteen-and-under division, mind you," his father added, reaching over to ruffle Rainer's hair.

Rainer shouted a protest and tried to swat his father's hand away. It was a charming scene, though the boy certainly didn't look like a hardened warrior capable of conquering a tournament.

During the commotion, the blonde girl felt a tug on her hem and turned around.

"What is it?"

"I can see it! Delphit!"

"Wait, really!?"

The moment she said it, Rainer practically threw himself out of the carriage window, hanging halfway out to get a look at the city.

It didn't quite reach the heavens, but several buildings stood far taller than anything in Leitze. Stalls lined the highway, swarming with travelers and merchants.

The sheer energy of the place was palpable even from a distance. Rainer’s heart raced as he wondered how many wonders he was about to see for the first time.

Beside him, the girl tried to maintain a composed expression, though her eyes kept darting toward the window in curiosity.

"Whoa, incredible!"

"Rainer, stop shouting! It’s dangerous, get back inside!"

"I’m fine! Whoa, what’s that?"

Rainer’s excitement only intensified as they finally reached the city. By the time they stepped off the carriage, his energy was at a fever pitch.

"So many people! The buildings are huge! There’s an iron ship!"

"That’s a copper statue of a ship!"

Rainer shouted out everything he saw. Even the massive ship monument in the center of the plaza's fountain left him breathless.

The locals chuckled as they passed, looking at the boy with warm, amused smiles. Rainer was too swept up in the moment to notice, but his companions were starting to feel the embarrassment.

"Rainer, you’re making a scene! We have to go register for the tournament."

"That can wait! I’m going to see the ocean!"

"Ah... honestly!"

Before she could stop him, Rainer bolted. His small frame vanished into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

"Good grief, he never sits still... Look, I’ll go take care of the registration. You go find him. Grab him by the scruff of the neck and meet me back here at the fountain."

"Okay, I’ve got it."

The two split up.

If left to his own devices, Rainer would run around until he collapsed from exhaustion. He had headed for the harbor, but there was no telling where he’d go next. She knew she had to catch him quickly before things got complicated.

With a heavy sigh, she began weaving through the crowd. It was a feat only a small, agile child could manage.

However, she was also new to the city’s crowds. As she rounded a corner, she collided head-on with someone.

"Kyaa!"

The impact sent her tumbling onto her backside. The other person had only been walking, so luckily, neither was hurt.

Realizing her mistake, she scrambled to her feet to apologize.

"I-I’m so sorry! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’m quite alright."

The voice was cool and refreshing, cutting through the din of the street with surprising clarity.

The voice alone was enough to draw her in, but when she looked at the speaker—a girl roughly her own age—she caught her breath.

(She’s so... beautiful!)

It was a simple, honest thought.

The girl had glossy black hair cut just past her shoulders and skin as white and translucent as fine porcelain. Her eyes, the same shade as her hair, held a mysterious, oriental charm.

She possessed a mature elegance that defied her young age. If someone had said she was the very definition of a "beautiful girl" made flesh, it would have been easy to believe.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit dazed..."

"Huh? ...Oh! Sorry! It’s nothing! Um, are you sure you aren't hurt?"

The blonde girl felt a sudden pang of worry. If she had caused even a scratch on someone so lovely, she wouldn't know how to forgive herself.

"Please, don't worry. My companion caught me before I could fall."

"Companion?"

She had been so captivated that she hadn't noticed the woman standing behind the black-haired girl. The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with chestnut hair and wearing a traditional kappogi apron.

An attendant, perhaps? Looking closer, the black-haired girl’s clothes were far more elegant than anything she had ever seen. She was undoubtedly a noble.

"By the way, weren't you in a hurry?"

"Oh, right! I was... but..."

She needed to catch Rainer, but leaving without a proper apology felt wrong.

Sensing her hesitation, the black-haired girl offered a gentle, reassuring smile.

"Do not let it trouble you. Rather, let us consider this a fateful encounter."

"A fateful encounter...?"

"If our connection is strong enough, we shall surely meet again. And when we do... yes, I would like you to become my friend."

"A-A friend?"

The blonde girl's eyes went wide at the unexpected offer.

"Would that be disagreeable?"

"No! Not at all! It’s just... are you sure you’d want someone like me?"

"If we meet again, it will be proof that our bond is genuine. It would only be natural for us to be friends then, wouldn't it?"

"I... I guess that makes sense?"

"It does. So, please keep the apology you have for me in your heart until the day we reunite."

"O-Okay!"

Truthfully, she didn't quite follow the girl's logic, but for some reason, she found herself accepting it without question. Such was the mysterious charisma the girl radiated.

"Then, until we meet again. Come, Yuno."

"Coming~"

The black-haired girl and her attendant walked away with practiced grace, disappearing into the sea of people.

Coming back to her senses, the blonde girl eventually tracked down Rainer and dragged him back to the fountain just as the sun began to set.

Normally, she would have spent the evening lecturing Rainer for his selfishness, but today, her mind was occupied by that strange encounter.

She couldn't put it into words, but she felt a fluttering in her chest—a mix of anxiety and excitement, as if the gears of destiny had finally begun to turn.

That restless feeling stayed with her into the following morning.

It was the day of the Fighting Tournament. Rainer was even more hyperactive than usual, leading the way into the arena with three times his normal energy. There, the girl encountered a shock far greater than anything she had felt the day before.

Or rather, it wasn't an encounter. It was a "reunion."

The participants for the thirteen-and-under division were gathered in a waiting area beside the main stage. As the girl stood nearby, waiting for Rainer’s name to be called, her eyes landed on someone she never expected to see.

He was being called by a different name now, but his face was one she had never forgotten since that day three years ago.

There was no mistaking her savior. He was taller, and his features had grown sharper and more masculine, but the shadows of his younger self remained.

By chance, his gaze shifted and met hers. Those deep crimson eyes, burning with an indomitable will, were exactly as she remembered.

The world seemed to stop as their eyes locked for a fleeting second.

When he finally looked away, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Then, the blonde girl—Colette Amarelle—whispered the name of the boy she had finally found again.

"...Lord Harold."

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Author's Note: This concludes Chapter 22 and marks the end of Part 1. I'll be starting Part 2 next week, so stay tuned!