Book 7: Chapter 2


    Yo. You got here faster than I thought you would. Le was leaning against a wall as she threw Kyle and friends a casual greeting with one raised hand.


    Pairing that with the same friendly smile theyd often seen back at their home vige Rimarze.


    Cant lie, I didnt expect you toe greet us like this. How admirable.


    Contrary to that smile, Seran shed a provocative smirk. The hostility put into his voice was not something one would normally direct at their own foster mother.


    Kyle was the same, his gaze packed with caution despite the person he was dealing with. Those who could feel the tension in the air might assume a fight was to break out any second. There was one step left from a battle.


    Well, duh. I called you here, so I gotta be the one to greet ya.


    However, Le didnt bother muchmenting on the tense air and just spoke nonchntly. Seeing that made Kyle feel frustrated like he was dancing atop her palm.


    <em>I guess this is what was bound to happenwhen I face things head-on.</em>


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    It wasnt a simple problem of strength or weakness, but rather that this rtionship they have was decided from the moment he was a little boy. He cannot shake the feeling that he has no means of possibly defeating his master. More than anything, Le knew everything about him. That was the truly painful part. Of course, Seran must have felt the same, because his gaze directed at Le quickly softened up.


    U-Um, Le-san


    There, Lieze started speaking up. Witnessing this, Les attitude toward dealing with two troublemakers quickly changed into one of apology and regret.


    Aww,e on. Dont make that kinda face.


    Oddly enough, Le clearly didnt like this whole mood, as she scratched the back of her head. Le couldnt go against Lieze. In fact, she was rather weak when it came to her. Just like Kyles parents, Le was also greatly under Liezes care in terms of housework, cooking, and so forth. She was one of the people who filled Les stomach, after all.


    No, Lieze! You gotta be stronger now! Youve got the chance to say things you normally wouldnt be able to!


    Thats right. Tell that nasty old hag of mine whats been in your mind all this time!


    Kyle and Seran attempted to fan her on.


    Y-You bastardsCan you be any more pathetic? Making Lieze-chan worry this much. Show some strength and reliability.


    Le knew she was backed against the wall, so she changed the topic and threw the arrow back at Kyle.


    Ive given up on that at this point. I know Kyles a sore loser in every regard.


    This hurts more than being scolded most of the time


    Liezesment almost forced Kyle down on his knees. All the tension previously governing the air now changed into a familiar air he knew from back in his hometown, allowing everyone present to rx a bit more. The face-off with Le that Kyle had feared didnt happen after all.


    AhemAnyway, I dont have any intention of standing in your way, nor do I want us to be enemies.


    Le knew that continuing the conversation would only inflict more damage than anything, so she cleared her throat once and then emphasized that they were simply on opposite sides of the same coin.


    However, Ive got my own circumstances here, and to exinNo, to make sure you understand that, I called you here.


    That I understandso, can we get to the exnation? We came here expecting answers. Kyle became more serious again as he stood tall, facing Le.


    Naturallyis what I would like to say, but things arent exactly going smoothly. If possible, Id love for you to wait another two to three days. Of course, I prepared your lodging, so you can enjoy the sights during that time. Le put one hand on her jaw and showed an expression like she was thinking.


    The hell? You called us here and now you have that attitude with us?


    What was that?


    Seran showed a rebellious response to Les statement, who now raised one eyebrow. The people who knew her understood immediatelythis was amon gesture of hers whenever she suffered from a bad mood. Kyle, Seran, and Lieze immediately tensed up.


    And thats why Iined that you got here early. I thought youd show up after Seraias birth was a done deal, and thats what I based all our preparations onand yet you showed up already, Le red at Seran with a reproachful tone, while also beingpletely right.


    In not even ten days, maybe even today or tomorrow, Kyles new sibling, his new little sister will be born. And yet, he left Seraia behind toe to Sura all because he couldnt forget about Les words.


    Seraias infinitely more important, so why did you prioritize little old me?


    It seemed to turn into aplicated birth no less, so much so that they had to ask for the help of a trained assistant magician of the Empire. No doubt, Le was worried about her old friend.


    I mean, you called for me, so


    But from Kyles point of view, Le was asking for too much. He was worried about his mother, but this whole invitation was far too ominous to keep on hold. However, Kyle only now remembered that Le was never good at using her words. There was often trouble resulting from her being sparse with words only for Kyle and Seran to act with what they thought they knew. Even now, Le most likely assumed that Kyle would stop by after Seraia had safely given birth.


    Normally, you would prioritize your mother, you dumbass!


    Met with a roar filled with hostility, Kyle couldnt help take a defensive position. And as if that wasnt enough, he ended up being attacked from two sides.


    Actually, I was thinking the same thing. You could have waited a bit longer Lieze raised her voice to take Les side, making Kyle feel like he was stabbed in the back.


    It was no surprise that Lieze would have preferred to stay by Seraias side, as she was like family to her, but since she found out why Kyle was so desperate to leave, she didnt try to argue. Of course, she still had her ownints.


    I meanWhat was the point of me being there?


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    However, this answer devoid of any consideration only made Lieze more furious.


    Youre her son! Of course you have to be there! How can you not realize that?!


    Butstaying with her is Dads job, right?


    Kyle almost forgot about his own father even existing, so he frantically added him as a reason. He grumbled to himself,ining that she was fine with it not even two minutes ago, but Lieze kept onining.


    I feel bad for Seraia having such a non-caring son


    Les anger quickly subsided as she just sighed to herself. Agreeing with that were Lieze and the others, all giving Kyle a judgmental look.


    Anyway, lets go to that lodging you organized for us.


    Realizing that he had no way of winning this battle, Kyle decided to run away and looked for his excuse.


    Its located in the northern district, called Forests Lakeshore. Just tell them I sent you. And also Le nced past Kyle and looked at Minagi, who had remained silent up to this point. Sougas not present. But hell join us in a few days, so dont worry.


    Minagi stopped moving for an instant but still followed after Kyle without looking at Le. She didnt say a word more than that and just shrugged her shoulders, saying shed contact the groupter, and walked away herself.


    Are you sure about this?


    Yeah


    Kyle called out to Minagi, but she didnt say much. That wasnt anything out of the ordinary, but ever since she was reunited with Souga during the past civil war, it was like there was always a shadow following her. She seemed pale, so Lieze and Kyle had always been worried about her.


    Are you okay? Lieze approached Minagi, too, but her expression remained stiff.


    Kyle, have you visited this ce before? Minagi changed the topic, which made Kyle stop in his tracks.


    Why do you ask?


    Kyle turned around with a dubious look in his eyes, praising himself that he managed to keep a calm face despite being utterly shaken inside.


    You seemed like you knew where you were heading, so I was curious.


    Anybody who had juste to a new location they had never visited would be slightly hesitant to go anywhere, and yet Kyle stepped on with a confident strut to the point Minagi couldnt stop herself from pointing it out.


    She said it was in the northern district, so I just made my way north, though?


    He looked through his memories from when he was here in his previous life and answered with a calm voice, sighing in relief that he managed to cover it up. And right as Minagi wanted to say something, Seran jumped in.


    Still, I wonder why that old hag went out of her way to summon us here.


    She must have some special reason, I betI could think of a few, but its too early to guess.


    As Seran tilted his head, Urza gave ament of her own. Minagi seemed a bit bothered that she got interrupted, but she presumably decided against pressing the matter and let it slide.


    Kyle, do you have an idea?


    She said she wanted us to understandSo it must be rted to this ce in some way. Maybe it is about the gods worshiped in this ce.


    Kyle put his money on the fact that this location had something to do with what Le wanted. She must have something that she can only show them here.


    What elseProbably Princess [Glorious] Sakura. Even I know her, after all.


    Princess [Glorious] Sakurathe princess of the Holy Kingdom and one of the three people in the human race who could use supreme-tier magic, specializing mostly in divine magic. Lieze dropped the name of such a celebrity. She follows a long line of [Enlightened] who had been given powers directly from the Goddess of the Earth Cairys from the days in the ancient long past. Princess Sakura is the single daughter of the current king, destined to be the next ruler.


    I wonder what kind of princess she is. Cant wait to meet her.


    Lieze was amoner through and through. However, she was allowed to meet influential people from Zilgus and Galgan during her journey, so she might have be drunk on the luck she had experienced so far, which is why she said that so nonchntly.


    Rumor says she is one of the strongest magic users humanity has to offer, right? To think someone would steal this title from meHow peculiar. Shildonia shed a confident smirk, feeling excitement at the possibility of being able to meet Sakura for all sorts of different reasons.


    Just being able to see her is going to be extremely difficult. Unlike those princesses we know, Princess Sakura rarely shows herself in front of people, and most of what you see are pictures.


    Souvenir shops here in this town often sell pictures of Princess Sakura. Each example of this, she showed a blissful smile, but every shop added its own rendition. Because she rarely showed herself in front of people, she rose to something akin to a princess of legend.


    And in each of them, she looks beautiful


    Each painting seemed elevated from this earthly realm. She had something divine to her. And yet, Seran only showed a strained expression.


    Whats wrong? Arent you excited thinking about meeting her?


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    Normally, Seran would jump at any chance to meet a beauty, but he was oddly docile today, which caught Urzas attention.


    Judging from all my experiences so farI feel like something aint right.


    Having met the famous princesses of Zilgus and Galgan,pletely different from how they were rumored to be, Seran grew dubious.


    That said, Id love to see her with my own eyes, so I wont say no to a chance of possibly meeting her.


    Well, like I said, I dont see us being lucky enough to meet her, so we can just forget about her. Kyle said so without much thought, but the others sighed in disbelief, almost certain that the exact opposite would happen.