[The relic known as the Moon Stone has not been found. There are records of relics related to time, but even those are just records, and whether they actually exist remains unknown.]
“…That makes sense. I used it after all.”
The reason for requesting another investigation into the Moon Stone was Adrian’s words.
Is it really possible for someone to find out about my reincarnation?
If I knew whether the Moon Stone triggers reincarnation or something else, I could think in a different direction.
I haven’t pondered much about the reincarnation itself.
No one has ever mentioned my previous cycle, and no one has apologized to me like Adrian did, so I had always thought it was natural.
This reincarnation is something only I remember; there wasn’t much evidence to suggest it could affect others.
“The possibility that Adrian could see it… maybe it’s worth considering.”
What Adrian mentioned was undoubtedly my memories.
About the deaths I have experienced, and the lives I’ve lived. How does she know so much in detail about it?
It could be interpreted as the power of the Saint, but a speculation arose that this could be related to the Moon Stone.
There wasn’t much time to uncover anything right now.
There were many tasks to be done in the South, and I didn’t have much time to worry about the background of my reincarnation.
Today was the day to head to the South.
Going to the South with Adrian and visiting the Temple of the Moon is the first task.
I’ll have to carve out some time to move alone.
I don’t think it will be too difficult.
If it’s Berod, he’d probably prefer that Adrian and I part ways and act separately.
North, South. Places I headed to achieve my desired goal.
Things were resolved quite simply in the North.
Prioritizing power, I defeated Bunta and captured the leader of the Immigrant Tribe alone, stamping my status as someone not to be trifled with.
It wasn’t bad for them to misunderstand the relationship between Adele and me.
If they took it as fact, at least those lieutenants wouldn’t think of me poorly.
Hasn’t it always been like that? I could trust that much.
During the week I stayed here, I made some effort to advance relations with the Paladin of the Moon Tower.
After all, there were quite a few people who thought of me as nothing more than a ‘loser.’
Adrian realized that my reputation was poor and provided a lot of help in various ways.
So now I didn’t receive gaze quite as blatant as before.
Training with the Paladins alongside them, I managed to plant the impression that I wasn’t just an incompetent fool without any ability, as rumored.
Compared to the Paladins, my physique was lacking, but my skills could be said to be at least comparable to Berod’s.
When asked where I honed this ability… I just replied with a smile.
Wouldn’t it be a bit strange to say I learned it by getting beaten up by Berod directly?
Adrian fell asleep in my arms, and just like that, another week passed.
The gains I accumulated in this short time were not insignificant.
Not to mention that my perception had shifted from being just a stranger to the Saint’s friend and guest.
“It should be about time.”
Putting away the letter from Arwen in my pocket, I slowly clear the thoughts that filled my mind.
I tucked the letter into my pocket and slowly emptied the thoughts that had been filling my mind.
As I gazed at the ticking clock, I picked up my pre-packed luggage and moved towards the door.
Knock, knock—
As the knocking echoed, I grabbed the doorknob and opened it, revealing Adrian waiting on the other side.
The worry about whether things would feel awkward between us afterwards was just my personal concern.
In fact, if anything, we seemed to be a bit closer now, as Adrian naturally reached out and took my arm.
“Are you all set?”
“Yes, but where is Lord Berod?”
“I sent him off separately. Since the carriage will just be the two of us, it’s fine.”
“True.”
I thought Adrian would be upset about Lord Berod, but he was actually quite excited about heading south.
He mentioned it was his first time going so far.
While we did have some serious goals to tackle, the schedule was more like a tourist trip over a few days based at the Temple of the Moon.
I had initially thought to keep things light as well.
Unless fate had other plans, I didn’t expect we’d run into Teresa until we were well away from the Temple of the Moon.
If she had any intentions, she likely wouldn’t come all the way to the Temple.
But if Adrian were to be put in danger…
Well, I certainly wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“Robert?”
“…I just forgot something for a moment. I’m fine now.”
Was it strange that I had been quiet for so long? Adrian pulled me closer and asked.
I had been deep in thought about Teresa.
Despite my urge to leave things as they were, I found myself getting involved and stirring up trouble.
It was about time to bring this to a close. My connection with Teresa had to end here in the south.
I helped Adrian into the carriage, but he held onto my sleeve as I tried to sit across from him.
“Sit next to me. I’m fine with it.”
“I think Lord Berod might not be fine with it, but that’s irrelevant.”
Surely the Saintess wouldn’t mind.
I exchanged a quick smile with Berod, who was playing the role of the coachman for this carriage.
At first, he had been intimidating, but now he just looked like a doting grandfather to Adrian.
That said, if Adrian got angry, Berod wouldn’t be able to do anything, so maybe a grandfather with no backbone would be more fitting.
“If Berod gets angry, just let me know. Robert is my friend after all.”
“I really appreciate that.”
“It’s nothing. Just… I feel guilty about it.”
Adrian still felt quite guilty about that ‘dream.’
Even when I told him it was alright, he insisted on making things comfortable for me, saying he wasn’t alright.
It was burdensome, yet in a way, I thought it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
Sitting next to Adrian, I leaned back as the carriage began to move, turning my gaze out the window.
“Robert, have you ever contacted Miragen?”
A moment later, I heard a voice.
While I laughed at the gesture of him tugging at my sleeve, it struck me that I hadn’t reached out to Miragen even once.
I meant to contact her, but I seemed to have forgotten while dealing with Adrian’s matters.
I think I forgot for a moment because of Adrian’s business.
“I’ve never done it, but it seems I have to.”
“Have you really never done it? I thought you would know at least once since it’s the room where Miragen stayed.”
“I couldn’t because of Adrian.”
“Huh?”
“I thought about it all day. It bothered me that you cried in front of me.”
It was my way of excusing not being able to contact Miragen, but when Adrian heard that, he released the sleeve he was holding and cleared his throat.
Looking at his slightly red cheeks, I realized I had made quite a blunder.
It’s a statement that can easily be misunderstood, especially between a man and a woman.
“…Oh, I see.”
Adrian, whose ears were flushed red, quietly gazed into the void on the opposite side of the carriage.
It was amusing, and I chuckled for a moment, but I quickly realized that trying to speak to him would only backfire.
It would be better to try contacting Miragen instead.
I pulled out the artifact and released my magic power, and soon a signal rang out.
Beep-
Then came a short sound followed by a voice from beyond.
It was quite a curt voice.
It sounded pouty, and I could almost picture her lips sticking out without even seeing her, which made me giggle softly.
-Why? Why did you contact me?
“I was curious about what you were doing.”
-You forgot for about a week, and now you’re a bit curious about what I’m up to, huh?
“I didn’t forget! I thought of you sometimes since you stayed in the room His Highness used to live in.”
-…Uh, you stayed in the Moon Tower, huh?
When I nodded, Miragen was slightly surprised that another paladin had allowed me in.
The fact that the Moon Tower was called a forbidden zone for men must mean their roles were effective.
If Miragen reacted this way, it probably meant that Adrian had given me a lot of leeway just by letting me in there.
“I received help from Adrian. We’re friends, after all.”
-Friend, huh? Good excuse. I’m curious how innocent Adrian was fooled, but I’m busy right now, so I can’t talk for long.
“It seems like things are going well in the Northwest?”
By now, the Teranite mine must have exploded.
When I asked, Miragen, who had been quiet for a moment, sighed and opened her mouth.
-I think about it sometimes, but Duke Taylor seems a bit mysterious. How did you know without me saying anything?
“I just guessed. If Your Highness has a reason to be busy, that must be it.”
-The Teranite mine exploded properly. I want to say it’s thanks to you, but… strangely, whenever I think of the Northwest, my heart feels heavy. I just feel sorry. Have all your wounds healed?
Her voice had darkened a bit, so I answered with a deliberately bright smile.
As for my wounds, I was in much better shape than before, so it was fine.
I had been physically strengthened, perhaps because Adrian had poured his divine power into me.
At my answer that I was fine, Miragen seemed relieved and spoke up.
-I hope you won’t overdo it next time. No matter how dangerous it is for me, you have a tendency to underestimate your own life too much.
I hope you won’t push yourself too hard from now on. No matter how dangerous I am, you tend to undervalue your own life.
“I’ll be careful.”
– It’s not about being careful; I heard you’re heading to the South again. I usually don’t say this, but please, if you consider me even a little bit.
Miragen, who had been hesitating, whispered softly.
There was a faint tremor in her voice.
A mixture of worry, compassion, and sympathy for me quietly spread.
Her voice was quite gentle, unlike usual, and I could only listen in silence.
– Come back safe. Answer me.
“…I understand.”
– I can’t believe you even after saying that. Next time you contact me, let me hear Adrian’s voice. You’re not with him right now, are you?
“We are together, but it seems he’s not in a talking state.”
– Is he asleep or something? Alright then. I’ll contact you later; I’m pretty busy. Take care!
While still looking at Adrian, who was gazing blankly into space, I responded to Miragen’s emphasis on her busyness with an understanding nod.
I wonder if I can keep my promise about not getting hurt this time.
It would be nice if I could, but the South isn’t that forgiving of a land.
I quietly stared at the Artifact, which had disconnected with a sound.
Sometimes, it wouldn’t be bad to stay in touch.
When my thoughts get complicated, just hearing someone’s voice can surely lift my mood.
My chaotic thoughts about my reincarnation and Moon Stone had long since vanished.
I tucked the Artifact into my pocket and approached Adrian, whose state had improved quite a bit.
“Ro, Robert? Have you finished all your calls?”
“Yes, I just wrapped it up a bit ago. But why are you so surprised? I just came a little closer.”
“Because your arm touched mine…”
Even though she had said she was anxious and didn’t hold my hand well, her reaction made me chuckle for no reason.
Heading to the South held complicated meanings for me, yet just for this moment, I could forget all of those thoughts.
Adele, Adrian, Miragen—they could all be considered important to me in this life.
Turning my back on Adrian’s reddened face, we simply leaned against each other and looked out the window.
With the speed of our conversation, the landscape changed rapidly.
As we got closer to the South, the forests and trees thickened, casting shadows as they reached for the sky, blocking the sun.
The sunlight, faintly touching the branches, shattered and darkness settled down.
Only then did I realize we were drawing closer to the South.
The shadowy silhouette of the forest ate away at the path, revealing only the light from the cart’s lantern ahead.
This eeriness must be the warning the South sends to us.
Dark and murky.
Confusing and violent, this land was once home to the dragon that tried to steal the sun.
Clop-clop—
The sound of hooves loudly pierced the silence.
And so we moved forward.
Towards the place where this forest shadow deepens.
To be more precise, towards the South.
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