Chapter 106. < 41. Unexpected Reunion >
'What should I do?'
Cynthear Ainsword held a signal flare in her hand as she assessed the situation.
It didn't seem like a bad situation for her, at least for now.
If it were anywhere else, maybe not, but Zenas Kingdom was trustworthy. For the sake of continental peace, they had fought against the demon race on the front lines, even enduring national losses to do so.
If she explained the circumstances, they might join forces with her and fight until reinforcements arrived. No, they would certainly do so.
'Perhaps troops from Rodia and Zenas are already on their way.'
Well, she had caused quite a commotion while fighting the Demon King, so that was possible. Maybe the residual traces of aura scattered around were visible.
'But even so, that's no reason not to fire the signal flare?'
Her expression wrinkled again.
There was no reason for them to stop her, was there?
With that thought, suspicion arose—what if they were demons disguised as Zenas knights?
Zzzzt-!
Cynthear drew her Aura Sword again and remained wary of the two. She observed the movements of Lumian Callad—or rather, the Demon King disguised as a human.
She could judge what kind of situation this was based on his reaction.
As she thought this and focused her eyes, something was strange.
"Hm?"
Because the Demon King's eyes were turning red, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
It felt like encountering a long-lost friend. No, even heavier and more solemn than that.
Cynthear fell into confusion.
'What is going on?'
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand. No possibilities came to mind.
Eventually, she gave up thinking. She posed a question to the newly appeared figures.
"State your affiliation and names."
"Zenas Kingdom, Golden Lion Knight Order, High Knight Bukal Garcia."
"And beside you?"
"This person is also a knight of Zenas."
"More specifically."
"Are you doubting me?"
"Given the situation, it can't be helped. It's only natural to doubt those who suddenly appear in the middle of a battle with the Demon King."
"Demon King? What do you mean by……."
Bukal Garcia murmured with a puzzled expression.
However, the figure beside him was different. He smiled gently and addressed Cynthear Ainsword.
"I see, so that's what happened. I wondered why the two of you suddenly rushed out of the city. Sir Cynthear Ainsword, you seem to have misunderstood."
"Misunderstood? What do you mean by that right now?"
"First, I should reveal my identity."
Having finished speaking, he drew a sword from behind his back.
A longsword that looked quite heavy. Yet the man wielded it lightly, as if handling a toothpick.
Cynthear's eyes changed.
It looked like he had swung it playfully, but she could tell. The man who appeared ordinary at first glance was actually a possessor of tremendous skill.
'A Swordmaster? But among Zenas's Swordmasters, I've never seen a face like that…….'
At that moment, an ink-colored Aura Sword burst forth from his blade.
Zzzzt-!
High, higher, even higher. As his aura shot up into the sky, Cynthear's mouth fell open.
An Aura Sword that rose as massively as her own, as massively as the Demon King's.
And an immense pressure that seemed to make the surrounding air heavier.
There was only one person on the continent she knew who could emit such solid-feeling aura.
She cried out in a shocked voice.
"Knight King!"
"Hahaha. That title makes me feel both embarrassed and pleased whenever I hear it."
The man with an ordinary face, Knight King Philip III, answered with a burst of laughter.
He continued speaking.
"I apologize, Sir Cynthear. I should have revealed my identity immediately, but I was assessing the situation and……. And it was a bit amusing too. Seeing Sir Cynthear's surprised face is a rare occurrence."
"W-wait, why is the Knight King here of all places……."
She was confused. The appearance of someone completely unexpected complicated Cynthear's thoughts.
What is this? What exactly is she supposed to do in this situation?
As she was forcing her sluggish brain to work—
Thump!
The Demon King, Lumian Callad, prostrated himself on the spot.
The fearsome Aura Sword was nowhere to be seen. With his sword sheathed, he looked completely defenseless. Enough that she could cut off his head right now.
But Cynthear couldn't do that.
She felt like she shouldn't.
'What? Why on earth is the Demon King…… no, is he really not the Demon King?'
Only then did the thought occur to her that Lumian might not be a demon.
This was entirely due to the sense of trust that the Knight King's presence commanded.
Watching the two of them exuding an atmosphere as if they knew each other, Cynthear Ainsword completely gave up thinking.
'……Let's just watch for now.'
When she reached the conclusion to observe the situation.
Lumian, no, Ryan Promhart was calling out to the Knight King with a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty……."
"Heheh."
"This subject, Ryan Promhart, greets his lord."
"......."
Knight King Philip III looked at him with an expressionless face.
Lumian quickly came to his senses. Realizing he was making a mistake, he hastily added.
"Ah! I, that is, I apologize. I should have explained first…… This subject is currently, though in a young boy's body…… so Your Majesty cannot understand this situation at all, but actually I am……."
"No, there is no need to explain."
However, the Knight King showed no sign of confusion at all.
He was neither surprised nor wearing a puzzled expression.
He maintained a calm and peaceful attitude, as if he had known everything from the start.
Uuuung
With a gentle smile, he withdrew his Aura Sword.
Then he slowly approached Lumian. He raised him to his feet and embraced him strongly.
"Your Majesty……?"
"I know everything, Sir Ryan. I've missed you. You're much more handsome than I expected. It seems Lord God put a lot of care into it."
Watching him mutter incomprehensible words, Lumian wore a bewildered expression.
It felt like the positions had been reversed. He thought he would have to explain at length, but now it seemed he was the one who needed to hear the explanation.
Of course, the same went for Cynthear Ainsword.
The Knight King, who had also smiled at her, spoke to Bukal.
"Sir Bukal, prepare a place. I should have some tea with these gentlemen."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He bowed his head and took out various items from his spatial bag. Then he quickly set up a makeshift tent.
Watching this, the Knight King spoke to Cynthear and Lumian.
"I declare on my name, on Zenas, and on the name of Lord God Alia. There will be no danger, so let us have a comfortable conversation."
Who could doubt words like those?
Both nodded simultaneously.
***
"So that's what happened……."
"That is correct. It may be hard to believe, but it is the truth."
"No. I must believe it, of course. How could I dare doubt the Knight King's words?"
Cynthear bowed her head deeply toward Philip III.
Then she offered a sincere apology to Lumian as well.
"I apologize, Ryan Promhart…… no, I should call you Sir Lumian Callad now. I am truly sorry. With my limited insight, I caused you difficulty. This is an inexcusable mistake. How can I atone for this……."
"No, it's fine. The misunderstanding has been cleared up now, so you don't need to worry anymore…… so please, that's enough."
Seeing Cynthear Ainsword on her knees, Lumian quickly rose to his feet in surprise.
She was merely keeping her word, but from his perspective, it was overwhelmingly burdensome.
If he had been hurt, that would be one thing, but hadn't everything ended without incident?
Lumian continued to dissuade Cynthear, and Philip III also supported him.
Only then did she regain her composure and apologize once more.
"I am truly sorry. If Sir Lumian ever needs my help in the future, I will come running immediately, anytime, anywhere. Please do not refuse this one thing."
"……Understood."
Lumian nodded.
It was burdensome, but also welcome. Receiving help from someone as remarkable as Cynthear was no easy thing.
But that wasn't what was important right now.
Meeting his former lord, Philip III, in an unexpected situation.
That he knew his identity, and beyond that, had greatly influenced his reincarnation.
These things were important.
Lumian looked at the Knight King with reddened eyes again.
"Your Majesty......."
The reason Ryan Promhart entered Lumian Callad's body.
The reason he, who had been a eunuch, was reborn as a virile, energetic 15-year-old boy with a healthy body.
It was because Knight King Philip III had made a wish to Lord God Alia.
'After losing you and spending a month in grief, I heard Lord God Alia's voice. He said he would grant one wish in return for defeating the Demon King. And I decided to fulfill your dying wish.'
Actually, until then, the Knight King hadn't taken this seriously.
He merely thought his longing for Ryan Promhart was so great that it appeared even even in his dreams.
But after a long time passed, exactly 10 years after Ryan Promhart's death.
Lord God appeared in his dream again.
'The wish has been granted. It took a long time to find a suitable body. It is also a wish that consumes much power. I hope you are not disappointed.'
Only then did the Knight King realize. The voice he heard 10 years ago was not merely a dream.
What followed was obvious.
Since the beginning of this year, he had been on high alert to find the reincarnated Ryan Promhart, and coincidentally learned through Bukal that a talented young man was in Tarajan.
From then on, the Knight King had been secretly planning to meet Ryan Promhart—no, Lumian.
And so now, at this very moment when Cynthear and Lumian were about to have their decisive battle, they had reunited.
"Haha. Please don't look at me like that. It's burdensome."
"But…… how could you waste such a precious wish from Lord God for this subject……."
Lumian's voice trembled uncontrollably.
He couldn't help it. What king would give up a wish from Lord God for a subject? His lord's grace was so great that he couldn't even bring himself to look up and face the Knight King.
But Philip III didn't think so.
Rather, with a calm expression as if this was only natural, he replied.
"Did you not save my life, Sir?"
"But…… that was only natural as a knight's duty……."
"Enough. Then let me say this."
The Knight King paused, then spoke with a mischievous expression.
"As a man, I had no choice but to grant your dying wish."
"......."
"Any man other than myself would have done the same. So please do not worry about it any longer."
"……Your Majesty, sob!"
A tear finally fell from Lumian Callad's eyes.
He couldn't hold it back. The sorrow accumulated over 60 years, the solidified mass of grief, melted away by his lord's grace. It became deep tears.
One drop, two drops, and soon Lumian was pouring out his emotions like a waterfall. Seeing this, Bukal Garcia also reddened.
While attending the Knight King and listening to the conversation, he too had understood the entire situation.
That was why he couldn't maintain his composure.
It was a natural response for a man.
'What is this atmosphere?'
Only Cynthear Ainsword was unable to adapt to the atmosphere.
A subject who gave his life for his lord. A king who gave up a wish from Lord God for his subject.
Certainly a beautiful story that could only appear in a novel. It was understandable that everyone was shedding tears.
But something, something was strange.
She felt like there was something more she didn't know about.
'What on earth could it be?'