Part 2 Chapter 54

Part 2 – Episode 54

It was the day that I’d returned from the Kingdom of Banahel to Ostita by airship to then board a train bound for Corphinium that I realized just how troublesome it was to be Andert Fager. 

“It’s Andert Fager!”

That single shout was where it all began.

In my defense, all I had been doing was sitting in a corner of Ostita Station, feeding Ash some dried fruit snacks I’d paid an outrageous amount of money for nearby.

Tweet. Tweet.

Whenever Ash accepted treats, he became just like he had been as a baby hawk—spoiled, affectionate, and chirping like a little chick.

Watching him like that was one of the few hobbies I had.

I never imagined it would attract so much attention.

“Fager! Please shake my hand!”

“Andert Fager! Do you know the Sword Demon?”

“I’ve seen the newspapers, Andert Fager! After reports came you arrived in Ostita and then vanished, I’ve been waiting here for you this whole time!”

“My goodness, that’s really the Fager we’ve only ever seen in the papers!”

“There are many second-generation Imperial citizens living in Ostita! Could you say a few words of encouragement for them?”

“What’s the bird’s name?”

“Ash.”

Where am I? Who am I? I felt terribly overwhelmed.

The cheers of a crowd were not unfamiliar to me, but just because they weren’t unfamiliar didn’t mean I had ever grown accustomed to them.

Whenever I received praise, attention, or treatment that felt beyond my station, it left me uneasy.

Of course, when I caught people trying to pluck out strands of my hair so they could pass them down as family heirlooms, “uneasy” wasn’t quite the word. My fists started itching at that point.

Still, this wasn’t a marketplace in Midwinterre. I couldn’t exactly lose my temper here.

The reason these people welcomed me so warmly was probably because I was a veteran of the Magic War.

But not every veteran was treated the way I was.

These people only needed a glimpse of my face to know my name. They recited my accomplishments. They wished blessings upon my future.

And yet, if a veteran who had lost a leg visited Ostita Station, no one would chant his name or shower him with attention the way they did for me.

Which was only natural, I guess. Unless a fellow passenger happened to strike up a conversation and ask, “How did you end up like that?” how could anyone possibly know he had served in the war?

Even so, it bothered me.

To me, this applause sounded like applause stolen from someone else.

“Move!”

At that moment, someone began forcing their way through the crowd toward me.

“Damn it, move! All of you clear out before I report every last one of you for obstructing official duties! Bunch of rats!”

Huff, huff.

The person who finally emerged was someone I recognized immediately. He brushed off his shoulders with an expression of profound irritation.

“Honestly, what a disgraceful lot… whew… People never think about anyone but themselves!”

The male Legion civil servant – the one I’d remembered as being perpetually sharp-tongued and a knacker for nagging.

He wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, then abruptly grabbed my hand.

“We’re leaving this station immediately, Andert Fager. We’ll have to borrow the seat next to the cockpit, but it’ll be far more comfortable than trying to board a train in the middle of this circus!”

This guy…

Was he always this dependable?

Clinging to the man’s hand as though it were a lifeline sent by the gods themselves, I escaped the station with him.

Every time a stranger tried to approach me aggressively, he would immediately spit insults and threats in their direction, driving them back. Thanks to that, even with a trail of human trash tagging along behind us like a string of candy wrappers, we managed to reach the airship safely.

“It’s fortunate that we ran into each other. I really—truly—nver expected you to actually come here, though…”

He glanced at me, then cleared his throat loudly.

“Ahem. Because you suddenly disappeared, my work nearly became much more troublesome! J-judging by the fact that you were wandering around the station in your original appearance, I assume you didn’t realize your face is known even here in the Republic of Kontaninos!”

“Something like that. Sorry for causing trouble.”

“Where exactly did you go?”

“Just… to the place where I died once…”

“D-died?”

The man looked stupefied by the statement.

By then, after nearly thirty minutes of brisk walking without a break, passing through employee-only corridors, we finally reached the airship preparing for departure.

Waiting in front of it was a female civil servant who was just as familiar as the man.

“You’ve arrived! Though, um… Sir Andert Fager’s complexion looks…”

“He’s in a vulnerable mental and physical state. Prepare a blanket and some warm milk.”

“A vulnerable state? I-I understand.”

Like I was a newborn infant, the woman—who was at least two heads shorter than me—guided me by the hand and carefully settled me into the compartment behind the cockpit as though handling something fragile.

Vrrrrrrr—

The roar of the machinery quickly filled my ears.

Amid the noise, the female civil servant somehow managed to deliver a proper introduction.

“Allow me to introduce myself again. I-it’s an honor to meet you like this! I’m Ricky, from the Legion Guild’s Support Management Department, Sir Andert Fager! I look forward to working with you!”

After checking that Ash wasn’t startled and seemed perfectly fine, I gave a weary nod.

“Right. I’m the feeble Andert Fager… and you are?”

“C-cough! M-me?”

The man who had been drinking water thumped his chest and looked at me in surprise.

When I nodded, he averted his gaze slightly before answering awkwardly.

“I’m… Michele, from the same department. Since Ricky here is the one assigned to handle any joinees from Grayspear, I doubt you’ll have any reason to see me again.”

“That’s right! I’m still lacking in a lot of areas, so I’m learning under him! Senior Michele is so amazing that, when it comes to getting things done, he’s easily among the top three people in all of Legion!”

“Ahem. That’s enough nonsense!”

“Ah! Y-yes, sir!”

Unlike Michele, who seemed to have finally relaxed a little, Ricky still looked incredibly busy, both mentally and physically.

I wondered what had her so flustered, digging through her bag like that.

Then—

“Sir Andert Fager! If it’s alright with you, I’d like to give you a brief briefing on the upcoming schedule!”

Right now?

In this noise?

Impressed by her stamina, I nodded.

Immediately, Ricky raised something shaped like a spoon in her hand and pointed it at the inner wall of the airship.

Clear black letters appeared across the hull.

<Briefing for Sir Andert Fager,
Who May Be Unfamiliar with Modern Culture,
Regarding the Sixth Entry into the Wall of Fire>

A moment later, a loud round of applause echoed through the cabin.

What was that?

Some kind of sound effect?

“The expedition entering the Wall of Fire this time consists of a total of four parties! Ranked by overall standing, they are: the Sword Demon Party, the Flame King Party, the Black Mask Party, and the Siagot Party!”

Black Mask?

That freak is coming too?

‘Well, Spolia is the god of the Western Continent. It wouldn’t be strange for him to enter the Wall of Fire personally.’

Because our first meeting had been such a disaster, I wasn’t particularly eager to run into him again.

My attention shifted to the map of the Wall of Fire’s interior.

“Each party will advance separately from its designated starting point. Two days from now, all parties will join each other at the midpoint. After reaching the final destination together, each party will return independently. No party has ever been completely wiped out during the return journey, but casualties occur every expedition, so caution is advised.”

The marker labeled “Sword Demon Party” occupied the lowest point of the four routes, and the routes themselves were omitted, presumably for security reasons.

The next focus was the big question mark.

Q&A

“We’ve been informed through the Guild that Sir Fager isn’t yet very familiar with the Guild and Party systems. Do you have any questions about the Sword Demon Party?”

It was, apparently, a perfectly timed Q&A session.

“Who’s the Sword Demon?”

“……”

“I met the Flame King on the way here. Is the Sword Demon that type of person too?”