EWH Chapter 161

Before long, they spotted a group of people on horseback approaching from the direction of the capital. One knight at the front galloped ahead alone, quickly arriving before them.

“Your Highness! Are you unharmed?!”

It was Aiwen, one of the knights Azar had ordered to stop the train.

“Oh my, why is everything in such a state!”

He practically tumbled off his horse, tears welling up as he looked around. He was wrapped in bandages and looked quite disheveled, making Azar give a bitter smile as he asked,

“Are you injured?”

“Well, somewhat… Haha, yes, I am. But I’m fine! Ah, Melia couldn’t come.”

“I see…”

“But what about you, Your Highness?! Aren’t you badly hurt as well?!”

He scratched his head while responding, then suddenly startled and examined Azar closely. Azar waved his hand dismissively to indicate he was fine. Though slightly tired, he had recovered long ago otherwise.

“Azar.”

At that quiet voice calling him, Azar immediately turned. Then he scrambled to his feet in surprise.

“Wh-what? Sister? Why are you…”

He never expected Elphinesse to come personally. While he hesitated, Elphinesse dismounted and strode toward him. Azar hastily waved his hands.

“Um… please don’t come too close. I’m too filthy. I’m afraid I’ll dirty your fine clothes. Eh? I said don’t come closer! Besides, why did you come here? I’m so surprised to see you, Sister. You could have just sent someone else…”

However, Elphinesse approached right up to Azar, who was backing away awkwardly, and wordlessly embraced him. Azar froze.

“It must have been difficult.”

“…”

At those words, Azar could say nothing, closing his eyes and lowering his head. Then he hugged Elphinesse back. As he felt her hand patting his back, Azar suddenly realized she had become much smaller than him.

She used to look big enough to carry the whole world on her back…

Objectively speaking, Elphinesse was not small at all. She was probably a head taller than most women. Yet he felt this way because he had grown too much. Azar suddenly felt exhausted. Perhaps sensing his mood, Elphinesse spoke with concern.

“You must be tired.”

“I’m fine. Not tired at all.”

But Azar quickly tucked away his weary expression and looked up with a bright smile.

“Right now, I’m just happy you came to get me, Sister.”

Elphinesse’s face was serene in many ways as she looked at him.

What was his sister, who excelled at hiding her expressions, thinking now? Azar couldn’t dare guess. She would have heard roughly what happened from the knights who’d gone ahead. Since he hadn’t heeded her words to hide his power, perhaps she was inwardly criticizing him. She might be thinking she had a foolish brother, that he was a headache, that she couldn’t stand the sight of him.

…But Sister, you’re the one who raised me to be this way. You told me not to tolerate injustice, to be kind to everyone, to view the world with righteous eyes.

Since Elphinesse had always told him such things, he thought she might not be too concerned about this incident itself. That was probably actually the case. Nevertheless, Azar couldn’t help but nervously check her reaction.

“…Are you angry with me?”

At his careful question, Elphinesse quietly looked up at him.

“You’ve learned to say more foolish things while we were apart.”

With that, Elphinesse flicked her finger against his nose. It must have carried magical power because it hurt quite a bit, making Azar grab his nose and lower his eyes.

“I am angry that you were made to ask such a question. But I’m not angry with you. What is there to criticize about your actions? Saving someone’s life, whatever the reason, was the right thing to do. So what worries you enough to say such things?”

“…Because this will surely cause trouble for you.”

When Azar muttered dejectedly, Elphinesse smiled faintly.

“Little brother. I am always dealing with troublesome, petty, and absurd matters.”

Elphinesse’s face was composed as she spoke.

“What difference will one more such incident make?”

Of course, Azar wasn’t naive enough to believe those words at face value. Elphinesse probably knew that too. Nevertheless, she spoke as if it were nothing, worried he might blame himself or think his actions were wrong.

“Azar, let’s go home now. You look terrible. All dirty like a muddy little beast.”

“Sister, really…”

Azar smiled sheepishly while rubbing his cheek with his palm.

***

On a peaceful noon, emergency descended upon the capital’s Magic Tower, which had been utterly tranquil just moments before.

“I apologize! We had no idea you would come so suddenly, eek! No! I absolutely don’t mean to blame Professor Melchiel! Please believe me!”

An orc wearing the tower’s robes waved his large hands frantically as he spoke. He had just been thrust forward like a sacrifice before a predator. With his massive body trembling, he stammered additional words.

“It’s just that we don’t have carriages prepared to accommodate this many people… Th-that is, um…! We’ll prepare carriages as quickly as possible!”

The orc magician ‘Kata’ squeezed his eyes shut as he received the frost-like stares. He couldn’t understand why this human, smaller than himself, was so terrifying.

Kata felt like he was facing a legendary dragon he’d never seen before. Was it those inhuman eyes? The heavy aura emanating from his body? Was this what made an Archmage so different? Damn it. Why did the Archmage have to appear during his guide duty!

Meeting someone far above his superior without any preparation, he wanted to burst into tears, forgetting both his age and size. Indeed, his face looked ready to start crying at any moment.

Just then, Melchiel spoke.

“Take your time.”

“I’ll prepare quickly, ye-eh?”

Kata bit his tongue mid-sentence. Before he could feel the pain, Melchiel spoke again with a cold expression.

“Very slowly, as slowly as possible. I don’t mind if it takes a full day, just take your time.”

Naturally, Kata couldn’t understand these words. This was because Melchiel’s very presence here was already a major event. For a moment, Kata wondered if Melchiel was joking. But he immediately knew that couldn’t be the case, evidenced by the strange expressions on the faces of the Academy students and professors standing behind him.

“Hey, Professor Melchiel? We’re in quite a hurry…”

“And?”

“W-well, that’s why.”

The Magic Department professor who had spoken up boldly immediately lowered his tail.

Kata knew very well that this situation was extremely odd. As that unnamed professor said, they were in a hurry. Why? Because everyone in this Magic Tower knew they had been invited to the First Prince’s birthday celebration. Moreover, that celebration had already been ongoing for ‘two days.’ Today was the third day. In other words, their trip to the capital was already significantly delayed.

Instead of insisting they head to the palace as quickly as possible, he wanted the carriages prepared as slowly as possible?

Kata made a subtle expression and cast a glance as if to ask what this was all about. At the tall man standing right beside Melchiel.

“Please just prepare them quickly.”

The man with red hair reminiscent of wilted roses answered while adjusting his slightly slipped glasses. His voice sounded somehow exhausted.

…Is this man that rumored disciple?

Kata looked at the man with eyes sparkling with curiosity. Rumors about Melchiel’s disciple had already spread extensively throughout the Magic Tower. Unlike others, he stood right beside Melchiel, and his appearance matched the rumors exactly. This must be him, right?

“Slowly.”

Just then, Melchiel spoke again. But he immediately closed his mouth when a voice called “Professor” from beside him. Seeing this, Kata unconsciously gaped before hurriedly covering his mouth with his hand.