I was left alone in the room with Yuyoung. Yuren also said she would stay, but I pushed her outside. It was about hearing other people’s stories from others.
So, it’s better to hear as little as possible about this. Of course, Yuren was involved as the former commander, but considering her personality, I figured it was best for me to hear it alone.
Even if I approached delicately, it wouldn’t be enough. Knowing her personality, she might just rush in and slap my back with encouragement that wasn’t really encouragement. I turned my gaze to Yuyoung.
“If you said you were friends… does that mean you’re not friends anymore?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Not at all?”
“I… I don’t know how to explain it.”
Yuyoung’s lips were parched, and she gulped down water from her cup. Her eyes, trembling with anxiety, were clearly visible. It was slightly different from before.
Earlier, during the negotiation, she had maintained a smile. But now, she was showing a variety of expressions, making her seem more human and relatable than before.
“To be friends means to have deep camaraderie, but… I don’t know, she wasn’t that close. So, I suppose we’re just keeping a casual relationship?”
“So, you were close before, but now it’s awkward?”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Is it wrong?”
“…No, that’s exactly right.”
Yuyoung glared at me for a moment but soon sighed in agreement with my words. From my perspective, it seemed that Yuyoung had lingering feelings for Bayard. Did Bayard cut ties?
If Bayard really cut ties, then if that’s true, it means Yuyoung is beyond hopeless. I shook my head. It wasn’t the time to give a definitive answer yet.
I could listen a bit more and decide afterward. Of course, it would be my job to sniff out any lies during that process.
“How did you end up drifting apart?”
“Why should I tell you that?”
“Maybe I could help.”
“That’s a valid point.”
Yuyoung was surprisingly easygoing about it. Was she really hoping to reconcile with Bayard? Or did she have other feelings? I still couldn’t get a clear read.
“About 300 years ago, back when we were just kids, we happened to meet.”
“300 years ago?”
“Yes, is there a problem?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
I clicked my tongue. Since Yuyoung said she met 300 years ago, that meant Bayard must be over 300 years old too. Well, Cluna was older, so maybe that wasn’t strange?
Yuyoung continued to unravel her story. The Twelve Tribes, for the sake of camaraderie, received education at a single Seodang institution since their childhood.
Yuyoung also attended the Seodang according to that tradition, but the problem was, she was bullied there. After all, the Rat Clan was the physically weakest, so it was inevitable.
“But the Rat Clan is the best among the Twelve Tribes, right?”
“Come on Commander, you know there are many who envy those in power.”
“……”
“Of course, not everyone is like that.”
When thinking about the future, negative feelings can’t be helped, but could childen understand that? Back then, many incidents of violence and hatred were left unchecked. Yuyoung said Bayard was the only one who helped her in those tough times.
It wasn’t an unexpected fact. Bayard, despite being shy, always stepped up to the plate when it mattered. He clearly had that kind of backbone. I thought so for sure.
“You look surprisingly calm about it.”
“I figured Bayard would be able to do that.”
“I see. So you have a lot of trust in her.”
“If a commander doesn’t trust their team member, who will?”
“That’s a simple statement, but it’s hard to uphold.”
Back then, as a child, Bayard was like a hero from a fairy tale. He never tolerated injustice and would punish the kids who bullied others.
Well, being from the Bear Clan, he probably didn’t lose out physically against any beast. Naturally, Yuyoung became friends with such a Bayard.
“Though we were both struggling, I think we managed to overcome it.”
“Just like when it rains, the ground becomes firmer.”
“Oh, that’s one of the Rat Clan’s proverbs. You seem to know it well.”
“Just a bit.”
“I thought that would only strengthen our bond even more.”
I still don’t know what the catalyst was. It’s just that somehow our friendship turned sour. What could it have been? No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t figure it out. And so, we drifted apart.
Then, as time went by, when we met Bayard again, what was I to say? The image I once knew was gone. Why was that? Even though we had already grown apart.
Still, the reason why he lingered in my mind was that Yuyoung secretly supported Bayard afterward. She got into the Royal Knights thanks to her recommendation.
“Of course, it wasn’t just because we were friends. At that time, the betrayal of the Six Tribes caused a significant shake-up in the blood alliance of the Twelve Tribes.”
“So, you included the Bear Clan in the new Six Tribes?”
“Yes, it wasn’t because of Bayard that I chose the Bear Clan. Their strong physique was useful, which is why they were selected among the Twelve Tribes.”
“I see, I see.”
What’s this? It seems like there’s a hint of tsundere? Right now, Yuyoung’s cheeks were flushed as she denied it more strongly than necessary. I almost burst out laughing but instead forced a smile and crossed my arms in thought. If this was true, it meant Bayard and Yuyoung had been close friends since childhood.
But this story wasn’t one I could be sure of right now. I hadn’t heard anything directly from Bayard yet. In the end, would I have to hear it directly from her?
“I’ve heard what you said.”
“If it’s okay, could you give me a chance to speak with Bayard?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t guarantee that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I still can’t fully trust your story.”
I needed to hear both sides.
Someone might think of them as friends, but for someone else, it could be a nightmare they didn’t want to revisit.
*
When I found Bayard’s room, she was having a conversation with Ruby and Clara. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say she was breaking up a fight.
If you put them together, they keep fighting, and if you don’t, they get lonely and drive you insane with their antics. So it was somewhat helpful.
At the very least, until I arrived, Bayard wasn’t lost in gloomy thoughts. Of course, instead of being gloomy, she was confused, but that was better than being gloomy. Thinking so, I helped Bayard break up the ongoing fight between Ruby and Clara.
“I managed to get them apart.”
“Yeah… I’m exhausted…”
“By the way, is now a good time?”
“Huh? Yes! If it’s alright with you, I’m fine!”
I wondered what she was imagining. A blush crept onto Bayard’s face. Surely, it couldn’t be what I was thinking? I forced a smile and said.
“I just met Yuyoung for a moment.”
“Yuyoung…”
“Do you know her?”
Like trying to fill your stomach with your first bite, I couldn’t outright ask. So I decided to ask subtly. This way, it hurt less.
“Yes, yes. She’s a friend I hung out with during childhood.”
For now, Bayard recognized Yuyoung as a friend. If that’s the case, it means Yuyoung’s words weren’t just nonsense. I nodded and said.
“Were you close friends?”
“At least, that’s what I thought…”
“What do you mean?”
“Um, at some point, our relationship soured…”
I was a bit surprised. Who would have thought they could have the same thought? This implied they really were close friends…
“But right now, it seems quite lacking.”
“That… Yuyoung got tired of me and left first…”
“She left first? Yuyoung?”
“Yes…”
Bayard answered with a gloomy look. Because of that, I felt a headache coming on. If Yuyoung’s words weren’t lies, then it meant they both considered each other friends.
It was merely something that twisted their relationship that had gotten in the way. Thinking back, I heard that after the Dwarf Republic, the next to annihilate would be the Twelve Tribes.
If that’s true, then it must involve Yuyoung, the leader of the Twelve Tribes, and Bayard. Because Yuyoung thinks of Bayard as a friend.
However, in the original story, all the Royal Knights were annihilated. So I couldn’t help but wonder how Yuyoung, who lost her close friend, might have rampaged.
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