◇ ◇ ◇
Originally, we were all supposed to leave Daluane today to return to Tsutrail.
To that end, Selma and the others had already begun their respective preparations for the journey back.
As for me, I’d wanted to continue our previous conversation, but as soon as Fuuka finished breakfast, she’d claimed she had business to attend to and vanished. Left with no other choice, I spent the morning preparing for our departure while waiting for her return.
I already had a hunch about the person Fuuka intended to introduce me to.
It was almost certainly Christopher Downing.
—"Make contact with Christopher Downing, the president of the Downing Trading Company."
Those were the words Gary had left behind.
The headquarters of the Downing Trading Company was located in the Hitia Duchy. Fuuka, too, had lived in the Hitia Duchy before she ever came to Tsutrail.
To the current me, it was impossible to dismiss this correspondence as mere coincidence.
"Damn it, the headache’s getting worse again..."
The deeper I delved into my own past, the more the pain throbbed behind my eyes.
Fuuka, who seemed to know at least a part of my "true past," had all but confirmed it: I was almost certainly under the influence of the Perception Alteration cast by Philly Carpenter.
If that were the case, it was only natural to assume the headache was a physiological response—a rejection triggered whenever I questioned the parts of my memory that had been rewritten. It was like a built-in warning telling me not to think any deeper.
"...There's no point in dwelling on it now. It’s a waste of time and effort. I’m about to meet someone who actually knows the truth. I can think about it then."
I muttered the words aloud, trying to convince myself to let it go if only to make the headache subside.
Even so, it was impossible to shut my past out entirely. Thoughts kept drifting back to the void in my memory. Perhaps as a result, a dull ache persisted throughout the morning. I let out a weary sigh, wondering how long this would last.
While I was lost in thought, Inora, Princess Lucila’s lady's maid, called out to me.
"Master Orun, good morning. Do you have a moment?"
"Good morning, Inora. Yes, of course. Did something happen?"
"Her Highness requests an audience with you. Would you mind coming to her room now?"
Princess Lucila? What could she possibly want?
To be honest, I currently had my hands full with my own problems. However, in the midst of a war with the Empire, I couldn't exactly snub a member of the royal family—especially as an executive of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
Explorers were no longer being sent to the front lines, but that was only the case as of now. Depending on how the war progressed, it was entirely possible we would be forced to take the field eventually. If I could put Princess Lucila in my debt, she might take personnel selection into consideration should that day come.
The odds were low, but if there was even a slight chance to keep my clan members off the battlefield, it was my duty as an executive to do what I could.
"I understand. Lead the way."
"Thank you very much. Please, follow me."
As I walked behind Inora, I spotted Fuuka, who was supposed to be out on an errand.
"Fuuka? Are you already done?"
"Yeah, all finished. Orun, are you going to see the Princess?"
Fuuka answered my question with a nod, then glanced at Inora before posing a question of her own.
"Yeah. She said there was something she wanted to discuss."
"I see. —Hey, can I come along too?"
Fuuka turned toward Inora, requesting to join us.
"Yes, that is fine. Her Highness instructed me to comply should you ask to accompany him."
Surprised that Princess Lucila had anticipated this, Fuuka and I followed Inora to the Princess's quarters.
◇
"Pardon the intrusion."
"Good morning, Orun. I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly."
When I spoke after entering the room, Lucila greeted me in return. Her expression lacked its usual airy softness; she looked dejected, as if a heavy weight were pressing down on her shoulders.
"We still have time before we depart, so it’s no trouble at all. What can I do for you?"
I offered a polite smile, trying to show her I wasn't bothered.
"Before I begin, let me confirm one thing. Fuuka, I expected you to come along, but how much have you told him?"
"Nothing specific."
"...I see. Very well."
The exchange left me in the dark. Had the two of them already discussed Lucila’s business while I wasn't around?
"I summoned you, Orun, because there is something I must ask of you."
This was as I’d expected. I didn’t know the details yet, but I’d gathered it would be some kind of request.
"Please, go on."
"Orun, I would like you to go to the Hitia Duchy."
...There it is again. Everything in my life is converging on the Hitia Duchy now.
While I ruminated on the coincidence, Lucila continued.
"Actually, while we were calling upon neighboring countries to join the Allied Forces, we also requested cooperation from the Hitia Duchy—"
The Hitia Duchy was known as a magical powerhouse with immense international influence. That influence was largely rooted in the fact that the nation had been founded by the hero of fairy tales—the King of Special Ability Users. The country had originally been a 'Kingdom,' but after the King's death, they had never chosen a new monarch. Instead, the high-ranking nobility managed the state in a rotating leadership, which was how it had transitioned into a Duchy.
To summarize Lucila’s explanation: she had requested magic weapons from the Hitia Duchy, and the request had been approved. However, as a condition for the handover, the Duchy insisted on a face-to-face delivery. They likely wanted to ensure their latest magic weapons wouldn't be lost or intercepted during transport.
The original plan was for Lucila to travel there herself, guarded by Jade Gale, while the neighboring countries were still mobilizing. But the war had broken out sooner than she’d anticipated. Furthermore, while the Heroes had yet to appear on the front, the Empire had deployed a massive amount of force from the very start. Lucila was now forced to move up her schedule and head to the battlefield with the Allied Forces immediately.
Consequently, I was the one they’d chosen to go in her stead.
"I am well aware that this is an unreasonable request. However, in this situation, there is no one else I can entrust with this task with more peace of mind than you. Please, won't you accept?"
"I understand the situation. But just to be clear... this request is merely a formal pretext, isn't it?"
When I asked that, Lucila’s smile only deepened, though she said nothing. In this world, that was as good as an answer.
Based on the conversation between Lucila and Fuuka earlier, there was no doubt the two of them had made an arrangement behind my back. Furthermore, if the person Fuuka wanted me to meet wasn't in the Hitia Duchy, she would have surely interrupted Lucila by now. Fuuka had been far too serious this morning for this to be a coincidence.
"Inora, leave us."
Lucila spoke to her maid, who was standing nearby.
"But, Your Highness—"
"—That is an order. I will not hear any objections."
"............As you wish."
Faced with an aura that brooked no argument, Inora bowed and withdrew from the room.
"—Now then, shall we speak frankly?"
Once it was just the three of us, Lucila spoke freely.
"As you suspected, Orun, this request is a formality. The support from the Hitia Duchy is real, but the condition the other party proposed for that support was 'to accept Fuuka's demand.'"
"And Fuuka's demand was 'to take me to the Hitia Duchy,' I take it?"
Lucila nodded.
"Yes, exactly. I’m impressed you were able to piece it together so quickly."
"Fuuka, can I ask you something?"
I turned toward the girl sitting beside me.
"What?"
"Why go through the trouble of creating such a grand justification?"
"It’s simple: because we don’t know where the enemy is hiding."
"The enemy?"
"Yes. You going to the Hitia Duchy is a much more significant event than you realize. We have to be extremely cautious. Lucila’s request will be treated as a secret mission, and we must ensure its details aren't revealed to anyone. If we're careless, everything will end before it even begins."
Fuuka warned me, her expression once again grave.
Gary had said the same thing: 'If the Cult finds out about this, everything will end.' In other words, the "enemy" she was referring to was the Cyclamen Cult.
"I understand. It’s a bit terrifying to think what might be waiting for me, but I’ll keep that in mind."
"Yeah. But don't be so tense. I’m right here by your side as your sword, remember?"
My sword...
Come to think of it, Fuuka had said those exact words during the Martial Arts Tournament last year. And hadn't she also said something about me becoming the "enemy of the world"? I hadn’t looked too deeply into it at the time because of my exhaustion, but what did she actually mean by that?
"...What exactly do you mean by being 'my sword'?"
"Don't worry about it now. You'll understand eventually. In the not-too-distant future. —Anyway, Lucila. Here."
Evading my question, Fuuka handed a bag with a magic stone attached to it over to the Princess.
"Is this...?"
"Yeah. The support supplies from the Hitia Duchy. Consider them delivered."
"I didn't expect them to be delivered so quickly. Thank you."
Lucila let out a breath of surprise. So, Fuuka’s "business" this morning had been to pick these up?
◇
"Well then, Orun-san, we'll head back to Tsutrail first!"
Once the Twilight Moonbow members and Selma were ready to depart, Sophie offered a final greeting as I went to see them off.
"Everyone, sorry I couldn't return with you. I'm sure you'll be fine, but stay safe on the road."
"I'm more worried about you than us, Orun. I know it’s a secret mission from Lucy, but is there really no danger?" Selma asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
The only people who knew I was actually heading to the Hitia Duchy were Inora, Fuuka, and Haruto. Because of Fuuka’s warning, I’d told Selma and the others that I was going on a separate mission for Princess Lucila.
"I’ll be fine. It’s not the kind of job where my life is at risk. I'll finish up quickly and be back in Tsutrail before you know it."
I was about to learn the truth of my past. I was scared of what I might find, but I knew it wouldn't change who I was. Right now, I was an Explorer of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. That was the home I would return to.
"I see. Well, if anything happens, contact me or the clan immediately. I'll come running."
"Us too! I'm sure Master will handle it easily, but if you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to rely on us!" Log added.
"Thanks, Selma, Log. That means a lot. If I need help, I'll definitely call."
"Master, come back soon! I want you to see our progress from up close!" Carol chimed in.
Her "progress" likely referred to the conquest of the Great Labyrinth of the South. Twilight Moonbow had reached the Lower Floors early this year. Usually, reaching that depth brought a steep drop in pace as parties struggled with the open environment and the sheer strength of the Magic Beasts. But after the recent events, Sophie and Carol had grown significantly. With Log and Luna at their side, I believed they could eventually reach the Deep Floors.
"Right. I’ll work hard to get back as soon as I can, so you don't overtake me while I'm gone."
After finishing my goodbyes with everyone, Selma and Twilight Moonbow boarded their carriage. It slowly began to pull away, rolling down the road toward Tsutrail.
As the carriage grew smaller in the distance, a strange, prickling sensation—like a premonition—grew larger in my chest. Perhaps I was just feeling sentimental about being separated from my disciples and comrades again.
"............Well then, I guess we should head for the Hitia Duchy too."
Once the carriage was out of sight, I turned to Fuuka and Haruto.
"Right you are. Man, it’s been a while since I've been to Hitia~" Haruto replied in his usual drawling, relaxed tone.
"You and Fuuka lived there before coming to Tsutrail, right?"
"Yeah. We fled our homeland, Kyokutou, a few years back to escape the civil war. Then, after one thing and another, we spent about a year in the Hitia Duchy, and then, after another one thing and another, we ended up as Explorers in Tsutrail. Looking back, man, life is a wild ride, isn't it?"
Haruto answered my probing question with his usual nonchalance.
"Then you’re more familiar with the area than me, considering I've never been there. Can I leave the route to you?"
"That was the plan. We're gonna use a bit of a special route, after all."
"A special route?"
"Save the surprise for when the time comes."
"Haruto, I want to eat the braised chicken giblets from the Kingdom of Lauroni and the potato gratin from the Kingdom of Tzahalive on the way. Pick a route that passes through the right places."
Fuuka, who had been listening silently, suddenly interjected.
"You never change, do you? Fine, fine. It’s not much of a detour anyway."
With that casual conversation, we boarded the carriage prepared by Princess Lucila and departed from Daluane.
At the time, I never dreamed that such a conclusion awaited me.
Fuuka had told me once: "Peace doesn't exist in this world. The everyday life you take for granted is nothing more than a castle built on thin ice that could break at any moment."
I was about to learn the true meaning of those words.