I felt the power inside me slowly draining away, and then Cartia revealed herself.
[…Frey?]
I sensed a mix of confusion, longing, and a hint of affection and animosity in Cartia’s emotions.
As a result, the tense atmosphere and sense of combat that had been swirling between Aaron and me dissipated.
“You haven’t forgotten.”
A voice filled with warmth.
Hearing Frey’s voice, Cartia narrowed her brows.
[Are you really Frey?]
“And you? Are you really Cartia?”
[Considering how you’re talking, it seems like it is… but… wait, what happened to you? What’s with that shabby Great Sword and that mismatched armor… No, no. That’s secondary. Why are you so much weaker?]
“I had my reasons.”
[Reasons… well, that sounds great. But why has your way of speaking changed so much? Do you realize how much I want to slap you? Look at that stupid expression. Why? You had your reasons, and now you’re just shutting up?]
“…You really are Cartia, aren’t you?”
In the friendly banter going back and forth between Cartia and Frey, even Aaron, who had been exuding a sharp atmosphere, sheathed his killing intent.
Along with that, Rubia and Ser, who had approached from behind me, also collected their killing intent and began to grasp the situation.
“Noah, what in the world is going on right now?”
“Ah, Vamilion… I mean, Frey… um… that armored person seems to be a friend of Cartia.”
“Vamilion is… a friend of Cartia?”
Rubia, with a bewildered expression, shifted her gaze back and forth between Cartia and Frey, then turned her attention to Laila standing behind her.
Receiving that gaze, Laila shook her head as if indicating she didn’t know, closing her eyes.
If she’s closing her eyes… is she assessing Cartia’s situation?
I didn’t feel any animosity from Aaron or Vamilion. It seemed like there were only those two in this space.
I could feel the weight of Frey in my hands.
I checked my condition, ready to wield Frey at any moment.
For just a moment… just for a moment it should be fine.
Exhaling, I focused on the Great Sword connected to my soul. The Great Sword embedded in a distant land.
I recalled each battle that had unfolded in Cartia.
From the sensations I felt through the Great Sword, it didn’t seem like the people of Cartia would lose.
There still seemed to be a powerful monster, but with Heinzel now, it wouldn’t be hard to finish it off. Even if the remaining Masters attacked, Heinzel would never be defeated.
Surely, he would protect everyone.
The only problem was…
“Noah?”
“Uh… yes?”
“Is there… anything wrong?”
Rubia, with a worried expression, was checking my body from head to toe.
“Ah, no… I’m fine.”
“Really?”
There was no need to inform them about what was happening in Cartia… I didn’t want to.
Right now, it would be overwhelming to follow what was unfolding right in front of me.
If I diverted my attention unnecessarily, I’d be in a situation just like a little while ago, where I couldn’t do anything.
I had said that friends, especially between Rubia and me, shouldn’t have secrets… but now it couldn’t be helped.
“I-It’s fine.”
I nodded vigorously—nod nod—and turned my gaze away.
There, the conversation between Cartia and Frey continued. Cartia poked fun at Frey, and Frey laughed it off with a smirk… such trivial chatter.
Ser, quietly observing from the side with her arms crossed, listened to their conversation, contemplating something.
“…You’re still a crazy one, huh? I’d love to just kill you right now.”
[Hey, don’t use such strong words. Do I look weak?]
Cartia giggled, waving her finger back and forth. Then she sent a transmission into my mind.
[Don’t worry about the situation outside. Everything will be fine.]
[…Everything will be fine?]
[Yep. Just trust me and wait.]
Something about her tone felt certain.
[But… if that happens, won’t Cartia…-]
[Shh. Listen to me. If you listen to an adult well, you might get jelly even while sleeping.]
[I don’t need jelly… I just hope… Cartia doesn’t disappear…]
Cartia’s lips curled slightly into a smile as she looked at me with surprise.
[Thank you.]
Then she turned her head back to Frey.
“Haah… Alright, let’s put the chit-chat aside… what on earth happened to make you look like this, Cartia?”
[You really don’t know??]
The amusement disappeared from Cartia’s face as she crossed her arms again, wearing a serious expression.
“Hm?”
[You seriously don’t know anything, do you?]
“What… are you talking about?”
[Ah… so you don’t understand, huh? Well, there’ll come a day when you do. To explain briefly, the current situation is my unique ability… wait, no. Not yet. It’s too early.]
“Cartia. What on earth are you trying to say-”
[Right. You will understand one day. So, I can’t tell you about this yet. But… there will definitely be a time when I can tell you. When that day comes… no, will that day really come? Perhaps-]
Frustration flashed across Frey’s face, and he stomped towards Cartia.
I immediately raised the Frey I had been holding and positioned myself next to Cartia.
“Ugh… Cartia! What on earth are you talking about?!”
[Ah, is it really going to end up like this… So it is, huh… Sorry, Frey. Right now, I can’t say anything. But when the time is right… then you’ll find the answer… No, is that just speculation?]
Cartia’s strange yet somehow familiar way of speaking contorted Aaron’s face.
Ser, who had been silently listening next to us, also looked thoroughly perplexed.
Laila, who had been standing with her eyes closed, was the same.
The expressions and atmosphere of everyone, except for Rubia and me, twisted into something harsh.
“…Rubia, Noah. Do you understand what Cartia is saying?”
Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Ser let out a frustrated sigh and unfolded the barrier of wind that blocked sound.
“Why?”
“I can’t understand it at all. But your expressions seem calm as if you do.”
“Ah.”
Looking at Ser with a confused expression, Rubia quickly nodded as if she understood.
Then, with an immensely composed face, she spoke.
“I didn’t understand a thing. Not one bit.”
“Eh?”
“I didn’t understand. Not at all.”
“Then why…”
“Why, you ask… well, it seems I’ve become accustomed to such speak since everyone I’ve met so far has talked like that.”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t help but let out an admiring gasp at Rubia’s words.
Ser tilted her head in response.
“Who the hell speaks in such a frustrating way?”
“…You do.”
“What? I don’t use that kind of speech… do I? Hmm.”
Ser let out an embarrassed hum.
Her face hardened.
“…There’s a reason for everything.”
“I see.”
“Don’t take it that way.”
“Okay.”
“Just answer me once.”
“Sure.”
At that moment, Ser, having covered her face with both hands, turned her back and muttered softly.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m glad you realized it, even if it’s now.”
Rubia chuckled, patting Ser on the shoulder to recalibrate the mood.
“By the way, what could be the sudden reason for Cartia acting like this? Moreover… why are those two, Aaron and Frey, having a calm conversation?”
“If we think back to how it started, it doesn’t seem like they came here just to fight.”
“That’s true… it does seem that way.”
“Hm…”
Whether they came to fight or not.
Ideally, I’d want to get rid of both of them right here, right now. If I didn’t make the same mistake as before, it would be easy to do.
But as I thought so, I found myself getting a bit calmer at the sight of Cartia laughing and chatting with Frey, who had been my master and friend.
Also, the emotions I felt from Cartia added to that.
Longing, joy, relief, regret, guilt, reassurance.
Hope.
Those emotions, Cartia’s smiling face.
It held onto my ankles.
Meanwhile, Frey, who was still being teased by Cartia, started to let out a killing intent.
Cartia began to exude a threatening momentum in response.
But it was faint.
There was no real intent behind it.
As if they were so familiar with each other, they began to draw their swords, releasing similar powers.
[Are you really going to fight? Is it because you’ve been stuck in that body for a thousand years that you’ve become senile? Doesn’t your goddess fix your body?]
“Stop with the nonsense.”
[Heh, that’s rich coming from you.]
“…You crazy woman.”
[Oh! Your act is gone!]
Giggles—a laughter like any other time.
Then Cartia’s irritating voice added to the mix.
[Tsk. As expected, I don’t want to engage in swordplay with someone like you. So.]
Cartia’s gaze locked onto me. The Frey in her hand swayed slightly.
Then, the barrier of wind I had set up to block sound dissipated without a trace.
[Go, Noah-mon! Headbutt!]
“…Huh?”
[Noah-mon!! HEADBUTT!!!]
“Uh…?”
As I stared at Cartia, perplexed.
[Noah, you’re the only one who can do this. So I’m asking you.]
Her serious voice echoed in my head.
The anger that had reached a breaking point was conveyed.
[Kill that fucking imposter posing as Frey.]
