IBWMD 56

~Chapter 56~

Hours later, at the marketplace of Saint Portu.

I was walking the street alone, browsing through the market.

Ahead of me, cheerful children ran laughing together.

‘This really is sudden.’

‘As expected, it’s all gone.’

We returned after pretending to leave for a bit—only to find the skewer warehouse completely cleaned out. Just as expected. And so, we happily rode back.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”
“We’ll take care of the rest…”
“Ahem, ahem! Please leave it to us.”
“…Indeed. Lady Elaine, please disembark here and enjoy yourself a bit.”

…And so, I was unceremoniously kicked out on the way back.

‘…Now of all times?’

Jeremy and Clark exchanged glances.

“…You’ve done more than enough for today.”
“But there’s still stuff to organize…”
“There are three men here. Surely we can manage.”

Honestly, I’m faster than all three of them combined. But before I could say that, Jeremy suddenly halted the carriage.

“Oh my!”
“It’s the marketplace. We’ll drop you here.”
“Huh? Wait…”
“There’s even a play. Enjoy it. Have fun.”
“Happy New Year’s Festival!”

Thud. The door shut the moment I stepped down—and the carriage vanished from sight.

‘Are they seriously kicking me out under the guise of “fun”?’

Still bewildered, I had walked all the way from the entrance to the festival square.

“Thanks a lot—this is how you repay me?”

Yet I laughed anyway. I could tell Jeremy’s gratitude was real.

And more than anything…

‘Thank you so much! Have a joyful New Year!’

The skewer shopkeeper’s radiant smile lingered in my mind.

Thinking of the now well-fed poor felt rewarding.

‘People should do good things now and then.’

Things had gone well.

Even Clark’s previously prickly attitude had softened.

All of it…

“Karl should’ve seen it.”

The words slipped out. I unconsciously touched my lips.

‘Why?’

Why did I want him to see?

“So he’d nag less?”

But then I wondered—hasn’t he been less grumpy lately?

‘Sure, he nags… but then still does everything.’

He feeds me even after scolding, follows me into danger, gives me weapons, helps fight monsters…

He even showed me actual ruins after I made a ridiculous request for dragon relics.

And let’s not forget the time he held my hand… and said those heart-racing words.

Come to think of it, Karl probably knows the Grand Duchy better than anyone—because he’s always by my side.

‘If it’s Karl… he already knows everything.’

I could even picture his reactions.

Smirking while I confronted the priest, or annoyed when I whispered to Zeon.

‘He’d definitely pretend to be jealous again… with that smug look of his.’

And with that, a strange feeling welled up inside me.

‘Aren’t we… a little too close now?’

To the point I could predict his face and tone even in his absence?

But honestly, wasn’t that realization long overdue?

Then came a voice from the stage:

“Oh, my dragon!”
“Cease your wrath! Your partner is here!”

A clumsy play, likely performed by locals—not professionals.

“I shall become human for your sake.”
“My beloved dragon!”

Still, hearing those lines…

‘There’s no way I’m not thinking about Karl now.’

If Karl saw this play, he’d definitely scoff.

‘Or get grumpy, maybe?’

Either way, I could see it—his crooked smile, that smug look.

Sweeping his hair back, saying with his eyes, ‘This is why I hate these stories.’

Then, as if he were right next to me…

“It would’ve been nice to watch together.”

The words slipped out. I froze.

‘It’s fine. We’re just friends… right?’

We’ve caught monsters and explored ruins. He even said he wanted to be a better man—because of me.

‘Are we comrades, then?’

They say comradeship runs deep…

Meanwhile, the amateur play ended. The actors smiled as they took their bows, and dusk set in.

‘Time to head back.’

Beth must be worried.

Just then—

“Wooooow!”

The crowd gasped. I turned with them and saw it.

A stream of golden flames raced across the jagged Saint Portu Mountains like a dragon.

‘Beautiful.’

A golden line slicing the sky—a truly breathtaking sight.

“Daddy, is that real fire?”
“It’s made with magic. It won’t burn anything.”
“It’s the Grand Duke’s magic!”

Families and couples huddled together in awe, warmth seeping into the air.

‘All this… just for this one moment?’

And then, in the middle of it all…

‘I’m the only one alone.’

Realization hit. A sense of loneliness washed over me.

‘Why did they leave me behind?’

Why not enjoy it together?

‘Maybe… I get lonely easily.’

Maybe that’s why I wanted to stop pretending to be a man.

Living a life built on lies—being understood by no one—was just… lonely.

‘I’ve always hated being left alone.’

That’s probably why I’ve hidden it all this time.

‘And lately, I haven’t even had time to feel lonely…’

Because someone’s always been with me.

Sticking by my side in a place where I had no ties.

‘Karl… again.’

Is he seeing this too?

‘That’d be nice. It’s too beautiful to miss.’

“Karl…”

“Me too?”

Then—a hand grabbed mine.

“….”

I didn’t strike or pull away. Because I knew that touch.

Only one person grabs my hand so casually like that.

“Me too… what’s next?”

Under the golden blaze burning the horizon, Karl looked at me and let the words slip from his lips.