TCHB 25

Chapter 25

“Ventus, how many times did you say we have to change carriages?”

I asked while stretching my arms wide.

If we were close to the Empire, we could just travel by magic. But the Kingdom of Asiltaon was quite far from the Empire. The Kingdom of Hedelliron was close enough, so we had moved there by magic, and the rest were similar.

We traveled by using magic to jump to locations close to each kingdom or empire, so it felt like crossing scattered stepping-stones.

“Four carriage changes, then we use magic to go to Hedelliron Kingdom, and then… ah, I don’t know. I think I’ll have to think once we get there. But why aren’t you telling me why we’re suddenly going?”

“There’s something I need to do.”

Something only I could do, at that. I muttered the last part under my breath.

Ventus let out a sigh and then suddenly placed his hand on my head.

Huh?

I looked up at him in confusion, only for him to mess up my hair by ruffling it roughly.

“What are you doing?!”

“It’s not like I said I wouldn’t go. Why do you suddenly look so dejected?”

That’s because… ah, what do I do?! We’re late for the carriage!

“Ventus! Run!”

“Haah, haah…”

Damn it, that was way too close. Exhausted, I grabbed the side of the carriage and breathed in and out heavily. I flopped down onto the seat, and across from me, Ventus rested his chin on his hand and stared at me, his lips moving.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you just asked me to use magic?”

“We have to teleport pretty far. Save your strength.”

I waved my hand as if it were nothing. Fatigue was slowly catching up to me.

It was dawn, and I’d been living like a rich, unemployed loafer lately… Normally, I should’ve been deep asleep right now.

I’d become the embodiment of a kid in a new country who goes to bed absurdly early. Staying awake for several hours past my usual bedtime had left me in terrible condition.

“Alena, just sleep.”

“Not Alenaaa… yawn. Wake me up later.”

The last thing I saw before closing my eyes was Ventus taking off his outer coat. I think he muttered something, but I was too sleepy to understand.

“Ugh, sunlight… I hate it…”

I flailed my arms and woke up.

Where am I?

I blinked with my eyes half-open—so barely open that I wondered if anyone could even tell I was blinking.

“Where are we…?”

My voice cracked. As I frowned at that, a hand holding a water flask appeared beside me.

“…Thanks.”

I opened the lid and drank.

Ah, I finally feel human again.

When I turned my head to return the flask, Ventus was staring straight at me.

“Don’t curse me with your eyes.”

They were very clearly disdainful eyes. Definitely!

“…We’re almost there, so stay awake.”

Changing the subject, huh?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Ventus, who was deliberately avoiding my gaze, trying to see how long he’d keep it up.

Just as he seemed about to look back, the Holy Sword’s voice echoed in my head.

—Alena! While you were sleeping, Ventus sto—

“Aaaah! Holy Sword! Be quiet!”

Ventus suddenly shouted. His ears and face turned red in the process.

I didn’t know what the Holy Sword was about to say, but the two of them immediately started arguing. Well, it was mostly Ventus getting attacked—no, teased—by the Holy Sword.

I watched their pointless bickering. I wanted to join in on teasing Ventus too, but I was just too sleepy.

“Yawn… We haven’t changed carriages even once yet, right?”

“Seriously, be quiet! Alena, this is the third carriage.”

“Huh? Th-third?”

Already? Since when?

Startled, I raised my voice.

Ventus pointed out the window with his index finger. Sure enough, the scenery was completely different from what I’d seen before falling asleep.

“We’re at Hedelliron Kingdom now. Once we get off, I’ll use magic.”

“Did you sleep?”

“Yeah. We’re almost there.”

He answered curtly.

Clatter.

Just as he said, the carriage stopped not long after. Before standing up, I picked up Ventus’s outer coat that had been draped—or maybe laid—over me.

“Here. Thanks.”

“Mm. But earlier you said ‘thank’? What was that—”

“Let’s go! We’re short on time!”

I quickly cut him off and walked ahead.

That totally looked like I was changing the subject, didn’t it?

No, it’s fine. Everything’s fine. I really need to watch what I say, asleep or awake…

I calmed my wildly pounding heart and turned to look at his face.

“This spot should be fine, right? Let’s use magic!”

“You… never mind.”

Ventus seemed willing to let it go.

Yeah. I’ve been hiding a lot lately. Sorry.

I whispered words he couldn’t hear in my heart.

When everyone reaches a happy ending—when everything is okay—I’ll tell you then. Not now. Sorry, Ventus.

I still can’t tell anyone about this situation. Not the Holy Sword, not even Ventus.

“This is…?”

“The Empire.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m a dragon, you know?”

Ventus replied as if it were absurd.

Should I bring up his embarrassing past again?

Besides, for a dragon, Ventus somehow felt… oddly insignificant.

“Uh-huh… I see.”

My answer clearly carried doubt. His eyebrow twitched.

Eek.

“Let’s just prepare.”

After that, I dragged Ventus around everywhere. From magic supply shops to renting an inn, we walked nonstop all day. Naturally, my feet were killing me.

Will I be okay tomorrow…?

Well, it’ll work out somehow!

“Ventus, if I can’t wake up tomorrow morning, kidnap—no, just carry me like today and wake me up.”

Please!

I added quickly and rushed into the rented room.

The inn room was pretty decent. No unpleasant smells, and the bedding was quite nice. When I drew the curtains, not a single ray of light got in. It was practically a blackout curtain.

Wrapped in warm blankets, I fell asleep instantly.

How am I still sleepy after sleeping like that…?

If I have a past life I don’t remember, I’m sure I was—yawn—a professional sleeper…

“Ugh, where am I now?”

This time, my eyes opened properly.

As I stretched my neck and looked around, the scent of the sea tickled my nose.

Don’t tell me…

I shifted slightly, and what entered my view was a vast, deep-blue ocean.

Looks like I slept straight through until the day itself.

How can I lack this much sense of urgency?

“Should I use magic… or not?”

After quickly assessing the situation, I hesitated.

The Emperor was definitely planning to sink this ship to kill the duke and duchess—and Lotte and Kiel along with them.

How could he do that?

Simple. He’d bribe the captain.

Promise to spare his life and give him a hefty sum of money.

If it were anyone else, they might not believe it or go through with it—but this was an order from the Emperor of the Empire. Whether willingly or unwillingly, they’d comply.

One more thing—the captain here acted of his own will. A man blinded by money and greed.

He’d crash the ship into a large rock midway to the island. It was laughably crude, yet the fact that it worked was even more ridiculous.

That’s why I’d planned to cover the entire ship with a magic barrier—just like when Ventus once sealed windows with his magic. That was why I told him to conserve his mana.

As a dragon, this would be easy for him—but I didn’t know exactly how much mana he had, and I wanted to be prepared for emergencies.

Just as the children from my novel were important, Ventus was important too. I didn’t want to hurt him while trying to save them.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah. I finished preparing everything like you said yesterday.”

“Thanks.”

After getting up, I pulled my hood low to avoid being seen by Kiel or Lotte and headed toward the captain’s cabin.

“Wow! Mister! Are you the captain?”

I smiled brightly, raising my voice like a cheerful thirteen-year-old.

The captain looked flustered, then smiled kindly as he tried to send me away.

I wondered if this might happen later instead—but seeing him, I was sure.

“Yeah.”

That man—exactly the greed-ridden character described in the novel.

I left the cabin and told Ventus, who was waiting outside, to stay there. Then I moved alone.

I ran around, roughly measuring the size of the ship and adjusting the thickness and scale of the barrier.

Damn it.

When I turned my head forward, a massive rock loomed close, and chaos had erupted among the passengers.

A complete disaster party.

[Ventus, restrain the captain. And stop the ship as much as you can.]

“Go to Ventus.”

I sent a messenger bird to relay my words.

Closing my eyes, I let mana flow out and formed the barrier. Because of my contract with Ventus, I could borrow his mana.

Thank goodness for that.

Three, two, one… now!

I released a massive surge of mana, creating a large, solid barrier.

“Hh—”

My strength gave out as my mana drained instantly, and I collapsed. I’d never pushed myself this far before—my head was spinning.

The ship was moments away from crashing into the rock, yet somehow Ventus managed to stop it.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected him to.

“It’s… over…”

As I sat there, completely drained, a shadow fell over me.

Ventus?

I looked up—and instead saw dark blue hair glinting in the sunlight.

He looks like Kiel—no, idiot! It is him!

Blue eyes reflected my flustered expression.

He curved his eyes into a perfect smile.

A gentle, affectionate smile.

And that was what shocked me most.

Wait—who are you?!

The Kiel I know doesn’t smile like that!

And why are you here when you should be with your family?!