DBWC 07

Chapter 07

A dignified old gentleman stood before us, neatly dressed in a black tailcoat and proudly wearing a monocle. He was incredibly tall, with a straight, upright posture.

“That guy… still alive, huh.”

Zephyr frowned at the old man, clearly displeased. He even clicked his tongue. I lowered my head and whispered to him.

“W-who is he?”
“He’s the butler here. A half-elf.”
“A butler? And a half-elf?”
“Yes. He must be well over 200 years old now. I thought he’d be long dead. But he’s sly as a snake, be careful.”

“…Indeed. I am a half-elf. And I must say, it’s unfair—you’ll find no darkness in my heart. Probably only a heart with red blood flows inside me.”

“….”

The voice came from just a few steps away. The old butler, who had been at the landing just moments ago, was now right beside us.

When did he…? I stepped back behind Zephyr, embarrassed.

The butler smiled gently at us and bowed deeply.

“Long time no see, Exalted Ones.”
“How do you know we are ‘exalted’?”
“Because I’ve only ever heard one person call someone sly as a snake and dark-hearted in all my life.”

“Humph.”

Zephyr scowled and turned away from the butler. The butler seemed to recognize him.

“Polymorph perfect as ever. But how did he guess it was you just from that one comment? Impressive,” I nodded quietly to myself.

“…And the one beside you also seems to be an Exalted One.”

The butler’s gaze lingered on me briefly. I offered an awkward smile.

“Ah… hello.”
“Greetings. I am Carlot, the chief steward of the House of Pontiack.”

Being the chief steward meant he was the highest-ranking butler, responsible for all household affairs. Carlot, the old butler, returned my gentle smile.

Zephyr, displeased with the cordial atmosphere between Carlot and me, spoke more bluntly than before.

“Is the hero here?”
“The Duke is present, but he is currently meeting someone. However, Exalted One, you are a guest of this house, so you may stay in the annex for today…”
“Don’t worry about that. Show us the way. Whatever happens afterward, I take responsibility.”

Zephyr cut off Carlot mid-sentence. Carlot paused and looked at him intently.

“You claim responsibility, Exalted One?”
“Yes. This is something my companion needs to witness.”

Carlot hesitated, seemingly at a loss for words for the first time since greeting us. I saw a flicker of worry and concern in his eyes—he genuinely cared for us.

About what?

After a brief pause, Carlot lifted his head and looked at us with the kindly gaze of an elderly man once more.

“…I trust the Exalted One. This way, please. I will guide you to the Duke.”

He began walking slowly ahead of us.

What on earth is going on?

Why is everyone reacting like this to Elkinas? I followed them, recalling Zephyr’s strange behavior all day. What had that snippet said to make him insist we eat the World Tree leaves? What could be so important about Elkinas?

Thinking back, Zephyr had been acting oddly since the hut in front of the World Tree. From the moment I told Elkinas I would reveal my identity… Could he have suspected Elkinas wouldn’t trust me? But why…?

I knew all of Elkinas’s secrets. I was his friend, his comrade. Elkinas had often said that no one else could be trusted but me. If I revealed myself and recounted our shared stories, he would surely believe me. He would undoubtedly be glad… Surely…

“Sorcerer.”
“Hmm?”

Zephyr’s low voice called me. He looked at me with unreadable eyes, then slowly spoke.

“There’s something I haven’t explained to you yet. It seemed better for you to see it directly. If it was my own arbitrary decision, I apologize in advance.”
“What do you mean?”

Zephyr smiled faintly at me—not a happy smile, but one that seemed weighed down by deep concern.

As we walked silently, he spoke again.

“After we killed Kunterne, the House of Pontiack became more famous than the royal family of Denbain. Its power even surpassed the throne. You saw the blue-tiled roofs, didn’t you?”
“….”
“But the misfortune of the royal family began because they could not eliminate the Immortal Hero. How could they? Even if they accused him of treason, Elkinas would prevail. Yet they couldn’t allow a hero to follow them more than the throne.”
“…So?”
“The royal family decided to control the hero. At first, they suggested a political marriage, but he rejected it outright. And bringing Hatchling with him, he even killed the head of the opposing family. Furthermore, he cut down half of the royal knights… So the royal family grew more and more terrified.”
“….”
“So the series of periodic foolish acts they’ve been committing… is what you are about to witness.”

Ahead, Carlot stopped before a massive door at the end of the corridor. A crimson door.

“This is it.”

Until now, Carlot had remained silent despite hearing our story. Did he tacitly agree with Zephyr’s words?

“I will open it.”

He exhaled and slowly grasped the door handle.

Inside was a grand room, one wall entirely of glass. Sunlight poured through the windows. Opposite the door stood a large desk, behind which Elkinas sat.

Elkinas!

His familiar black hair and gray eyes made me smile involuntarily. His face seemed slightly thinner than before, but his proud build remained.

Even though we opened the door, Elkinas showed no reaction.

Two people were seated with him: a man and a woman.

The man’s clothing and jewelry suggested nobility, but he seemed so timid and hunched that he had no dignity.

More noticeable was the woman beside him.

She had brown hair tied into twin braids, wearing a hood and an octagram necklace. Holding a large, well-used oak staff, her ordinary brown eyes sparkled as she smiled.

She looked remarkably like my younger self. My old self…

Wait. Could it be…?

It hit me like lightning—the truth Zephyr wanted me to see, the periodic acts of the Denbain royal family…

“Ah….”

I tried to speak, but Zephyr covered my mouth. Firm and small, he shook his head.

…Even as we struggled, their conversation continued peacefully.

Elkinas took a deep breath and suddenly smiled broadly. That smile was exactly as I remembered.

“Arenne. Thank you for coming back to life. If it’s alright, may I ask about the stories we shared when we swore to defeat Kunterne?”
“Uh… okay…”
“What were you doing?”
“G-gathering mugwort on the hill…”

How did that woman know…?

Elkinas ignored her answer and continued.

“What did I say when I saw you then?”
“You… called my name, Arene.”
“And after that, what did we talk about?”
“You told me about the hardships you faced at the Pontiack House. I felt so sad I cried.”

…I never cried.

The brown-haired woman gestured passionately, reenacting conversations I never actually had, making them feel real.

Elkinas listened carefully, expressionless, and asked calmly,

“Do you remember me kneeling before you?”
“Y-yes! Holding my hand… and… asking me to go on an adventure together…”
“And after that, what did I do?”
“You said… no, I told you I loved you.”
“Really? I see. Thank you for telling me your thoughts, Arene. It feels like the memories are coming back.”
“Really? I’m so glad…”

But strangely, the memories and her answers didn’t match exactly.

“…What?”

At that moment, Elkinas rose from his chair, leapt over the desk, and instantly struck the man beside him.

The sword was not the holy sword I knew—it was a plain, beautiful iron sword.

The man seated collapsed instantly, unable to speak a word.

“Kyaaaah!”

The woman screamed, realizing how close death had come. Yet Elkinas did not move, turning calmly to her.

“The score… is negative. Even the concept of sincerity is disappearing in this damned royal family. Two years ago, you at least got the preface of Jamil’s memoir, didn’t you? How do they keep sending such idiotic things? That’s astonishing in itself.”

The woman fell to her knees, tears streaming. Her plain linen was soaked in the blood of the one who had just died.

Elkinas looked at her calmly and spoke again.