Sigrid

‘Come to think of it, he visited me in prison once, didn’t he?’

She couldn’t remember clearly due to the torture at the time.

—…wasn’t what I wanted.

He had said just one thing before leaving, but she couldn’t recall what.

“Sigrid?”

As Morris Deforest called out to the absent-minded Sigrid, she lifted her head with an “Oh, yes.” Morris sighed and smiled.

“Don’t make me worry so much.”

“Sorry.”

Sigrid replied, feeling a ticklish sensation.

Worry.

It was the first time someone had worried about her.

Clunk—

The carriage came to a stop. Morris got out first and offered his hand. Sigrid awkwardly took it and stepped down from the carriage.

‘Ah, it is easier to get down this way.’

Her wound hurt much less too.

“Thank you.”

Morris grinned at Sigrid’s words.

The carriage had arrived between the 2nd and 3rd Districts, where most commoners lived. An area too ambiguous to be called the 3rd District but too poor to be the 2nd District. Morris led the way with Sigrid following. They entered a second-floor apartment, walked down an old but clean corridor, and knocked on a blue front door. Soon, the door opened. Alkerto, his face pale and wearing a triangular bandage, opened his eyes wide in surprise at seeing Morris at his door.

“Morris?”

Sigrid peeked out from behind Morris and greeted him.

“Hello.”

“Sigrid.”

Alkerto opened the door wide to let them in.

Alkerto’s room was a studio apartment, but it was fairly spacious with good natural lighting from the windows.

Sigrid asked:

“How are you feeling?”

“I got treatment from a healer. That’s why I’m walking around like this.”

His face was still pale as he answered, and Sigrid was about to say something but just nodded instead. It would be nice if all wounds could be fully healed, but a healer’s power isn’t free. So they could only heal wounds to a certain extent and leave the rest to natural healing. Of course, even that much was quite expensive, not something an ordinary commoner could afford.

Sitting on the bed, Alkerto rubbed the back of his neck and said:

“If that bastard hadn’t hit me from behind, I’d be feeling much better.”

Sigrid smiled bitterly at those words. Alkerto looked up at Sigrid.

The news he had heard after receiving treatment from the healer and waking up was that ‘the 1st Knight Order had dealt with the magical beast’. He was bewildered but kept his mouth shut for now. Sigrid might have had her own reasons.

“Are you alright?”

At Alkerto’s question, Sigrid nodded. Examining her complexion, Alkerto said:

“I should offer you some tea, but……”

“Who gets treated when visiting a sick person? Just lie down. Have you told your family?”

At Morris’s words, Alkerto shook his head.

“No, they’d just worry if they knew.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go and get some care from them?”

At Morris’s words, Sigrid asked:

“Does your family live nearby?”

“They live outside the capital, but in the suburbs. But if I go there, I’d end up doing overdue work instead of getting care.”

Alkerto answered with a laugh.

“Why?”

When Sigrid asked curiously, Alkerto said, “Ah.”

“Did I not tell you? My father’s not around, so I’m the head of the family. I have four younger siblings to take care of. Thanks to that, all the money I earn goes straight to them.”

“…I had no idea……”

She had thought he was just a carefree playboy. At Sigrid’s murmur, Alkerto said, “I thought so,” and smiled, brushing back his golden hair. A pang of guilt stabbed Sigrid’s heart.

Especially remembering how she had badmouthed him in the past. She had thought he was just chasing women and sucking up to noble men. She never imagined he had a family. Let alone being the head of the household?

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

At Sigrid’s words, both Alkerto and Morris looked at her in surprise. Blinking his teal eyes a few times, Alkerto chuckled and shook his head.

“Thanks, but I’m fine. A few days of rest and my wounds will heal. Besides, you’re not free enough to worry about others, are you?”

“Well……”

It would take some time to refill her Aura Core.

“But it’ll be over soon, so if there’s anything I can do to help, I’d like to.”

At those words, Morris frowned.

“What do you mean it’ll be over soon? Don’t talk like that.”

“Huh? No, um… it will be over soon.”

“Hey.”

“Morris.”

As a flustered Alkerto tried to intervene, Morris shook his head. He had waited long enough.

“No, I need to say this. You need to think about living a bit longer.”

“Huh?”

Sigrid blinked, not understanding his words.

“You have a terminal illness, don’t you? We all know.”

“Uh……”

“Don’t try to hide it. I’ll send my family physician, so make sure you get examined.”

“No—”

“It’s okay.”

“That—”

“Morris is right. Even if it costs money, finding a good healer might help.”

With even Alkerto speaking with a serious face, Sigrid was thrown into confusion.

‘Terminal illness? Me?’

Did I get a terminal illness without even knowing it? No, isn’t that a bit strange? After racking her brain for a while, Sigrid said:

“I don’t have a terminal illness.”

“What?”

“What are you saying now……”

“It’s true. I’m perfectly fine.”

At her desperate words, both Morris and Alkerto looked skeptical. No, Alkerto’s face seemed more sympathetic.

“I’m sorry for prying without warning, but… aren’t we friends now?”

At Alkerto’s words, Sigrid flailed her arms in panic.

“No! I’m completely fine. Why? Why on earth did you think I had a terminal illness?”

She desperately waved her arms, spun around, and even jumped up and down to demonstrate.

“……”

“……”

The two men were at a loss for words.

After a moment, Sigrid covered her face and groaned.

“Has that rumor spread everywhere?”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s just… we thought there was no other explanation……”

“Ugh……”

As Sigrid groaned, Morris said:

“Look, I’ll correct the rumor for you, okay?”

“That’s right, we’re partly responsible too.”

“It’ll be fine by the time your confinement is over.”

“Really?”

As Sigrid peeked through her fingers with her crimson eyes, Morris nodded. He was scared of what Marie-Chez and Lowengrin Alsekidna might say, but he had spread the false rumor, after all…

“I was wondering why Marie-Chez was being strangely kind.”

Now that she thought about it, they must have been sympathetic, thinking she had a terminal illness.

Sighing deeply, Sigrid thought she should write letters to Marie-Chez and Lowengrin. She felt a mix of worry about them feeling deceived and anxiety about losing the joy of finally having female friends.

“Don’t worry, they’ll both just give me an earful……”

Morris said in a dying voice, and Alkerto thought for the first time, ‘I’m glad I’m injured.’ After chatting a bit more, Morris said:

“It’s not good to stay too long, so we’ll get going.”

“Wait, Sigrid, can we talk alone for a moment?”

At Alkerto’s request, Sigrid nodded. Morris frowned but said, “Then I’ll wait outside,” and left the room.

Click—

As soon as the door closed, Alkerto spoke:

“You—”

“I know. It’s about the 1st Knight Order, right?”

“Yeah, why is it being said that those guys killed it?”

“I asked Beramund to do that. And then Beramund did the same thing to the 1st Knight Order.”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why did you give up the credit? Did Beramund threaten you? Did that bastard strip you and do something to you?!”

Alkerto’s voice became increasingly sharp. Sigrid shook her head.

“No, I didn’t want to reveal that I had an Aura Core.”

At those words, Alkerto closed his mouth. Sigrid met his gaze and said:

“I want to keep it a secret for now. Please.”

“…If that’s what you want, I’ll do that. But why? It’s a good opportunity to move up.”

“I have some things to think about.”

“You’ve been a bit strange lately. In a good way, I think. If it’s not a terminal illness, what is it?”

“Just because.”

Unable to explain the inexplicable phenomenon, Sigrid just shrugged. Alkerto sighed.

“Alright.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you. For saving me. I would have died if you hadn’t come.”

“I’m grateful too. For staying alive.”

Now she knew she could change the future.

One regret had been reduced.

Alkerto grinned and raised his hand, saying, “Let’s do well together as commoners.” Sigrid smiled and high-fived him.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Okay.”

“Get plenty of rest.”

“Yeah, take care.”

Waving goodbye, Sigrid left Alkerto’s house. Morris politely refrained from asking questions like “What did you talk about?” He escorted Sigrid to her home and said:

“Show that side injury to a healer or something.”

“…You knew I was injured?”

“How could I not?”

“Alright.”

As Sigrid obediently nodded, Morris smiled and closed the carriage door.

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Beramund was reading a personnel report. Nas, the Deputy Commander, thought ‘Why is he doing something he never does?‘ but kept quiet, fearing a backlash if he spoke up, and simply handed over the letter he had brought.

“It’s a bill from a clothing shop, but please send it to your home address, not the workplace.”

“Huh? A bill? From where?”

“A place called Violet Clothing Shop.”

“Huh? I don’t use that place.”

Puzzled, Beramund took the bill and tore open the envelope.

[Silver buttons: 4 pieces]

“Ah.”

He never thought she’d actually send it.

“How petty.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

He stuffed the bill carelessly into his pocket and asked Nas:

“How many Aura users do we have in our squad?”

“Excluding myself and you, Captain, there are 4. The other two are close to becoming users. Shouldn’t you keep track of this?”

“I know, I was just double-checking.”

“I’ll pretend that’s the case.”

“I found an Aura user, you see.”

Nas looked interested at his words.

“Are you scouting?”

“Yeah, I tried, but I was rejected.”

“Maybe they got an offer from somewhere else?”

“No, I was the first. And the reason for rejection was a bit funny… Young and pretty, but with a mind from 200 years ago.”

“I sense some very discriminatory language, but is it a woman?”

“Yes.”

“A female Aura Core user would be the first, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s right, and she’s just over twenty.”

Even Nas couldn’t help but be surprised at that. That would put her in the realm of genius.

“I’d like to recruit her before the 2nd and 3rd squads fight over her.”

“It’s not fighting, it’s friendly competition.”

“Same difference.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true.”

Nas conceded. The Imperial Guard was divided into eight squads, each with its own independent command structure. But there was still a hierarchy among them, with the 1st squad being the strongest and essentially the direct unit by the Emperor’s side. In fact, in times of emergency, the 1st squad leader had the authority to command all squad leaders. The 2nd and 3rd squads, who were chasing closely behind, hated this the most.

As a result, relations were poor, and they made every effort to defeat the 1st squad in the monthly regular duels. The 1st squad likewise made every effort to win.

They were traditionally unfriendly rivals.

“I want to bring her in before other squads snatch her up.”

“Why was she rejected?”

“She says she hasn’t decided who to serve as her master yet.”