NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 87
**Episode 2-b. For Freedom and Adventure.**
Even while running like that, my lips kept pouting.
I knew in my mind that it shouldn’t be this way, but when confronted by the fact that I had become a little friendly with another female, my body reacted first.
Emotions aren’t something that calm down just because you organize your thoughts.
While it wasn’t a boiling rage or an overwhelming sadness, I still wanted to express my dissatisfaction by pouting my lips.
And there was Eileen, barely chasing after me as I ran towards the orphanage.
“Asha, huff… huff… please slow down… huff…”
“…”
I wondered if she was afraid I would get into an accident or if she was genuinely worried about my well-being. Despite panting like she was about to die, she did her best to follow me.
Maybe that was why, but as I looked at poor Eileen for a moment, my heart calmed down a little.
The feelings of jealousy that had flared up were gradually being soothed by the sight of that girl with brown hair running around wildly.
To be honest, she looked so miserable that I felt guilty for pouting my lips in discontent.
“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to puke… Huh, huff…”
“I’m not going to kill you. I’ll question you, but I’m not a murderer who just kills anyone, so what do you doubt so much?”
Besides, I had never really lost control of my emotions and shown any outburst except when my identity was revealed.
Even so, it was a bit disappointing that she still feared and doubted I would kill someone.
As I thought about that, Eileen lifted her head as if trying to reply to me, collapsing on the ground and panting.
“Huff… Huh. I’m not doubting you… Ah, my head is spinning…”
“If it’s not doubt, then what is it?”
She pouted her lips and shouted in response to my question.
“It’s concern, concern…! Asha, you’ve only been in the city recently, and you haven’t had time to unwind… It’s possible you might make a mistake because emotions are piling up. You’re human too, Asha.”
“…”
“Phew… Ah, I’m going to live. For a moment, I almost followed my late grandmother’s call…”
“…”
Eileen truly was a strange person.
Despite having fled in a state where she was reduced to tears and wet from fear, she now approached me without hesitation, grabbing onto my clothing.
After being so terrified that she couldn’t even look me in the eye, she now sought my help with a smile, extending her hand towards me, which I found bizarre.
“No, and why can a magician run so well…! Aren’t all magicians supposed to be weak…?”
“…, just exercise regularly. If you’re done resting, keep up. I’ll walk slowly.”
“Umm… could you possibly carry me? My legs are giving out…”
Actually, now that we had arrived in the duchy, it seemed like I should be saying goodbye, yet she insisted on coming along to help me.
Eileen replied, “Then you can just lie there. I’ll run on my own.”
“No! I’m just joking, just joking…! If I run, I’ll really die!”
Despite her ticking words and actions, she still smiled brightly and chased after me.
“Hey, Asha smiled!”
“…, I didn’t smile.”
I couldn’t help but let my lips curve slightly upward.
She truly was a strange person.
We slowly walked until we reached the orphanage.
“It’s nicer than I expected! Is an orphanage supposed to be this big?”
“…”
It was indeed a rather grand and large building for a place meant to take care of abandoned children, just as Eileen said.
The spacious grounds were surrounded by a suitable height fence.
The building was about four stories high, looking clean and luxurious as if it had been well-maintained.
Beyond the fence, a considerable number of children could be seen.
Each one was beaming with a smile, wearing clean clothes and jumping about eagerly.
And then…
“How did you all arrive here?”
An elderly woman accompanied by several children approached us and spoke.
“Um, we came to see a noble lady who entered here.”
Eileen hesitantly glanced at me before explaining the reason for our visit.
“You’re a guest of Lady Lucia, I see. Please come inside. I’ll guide you.”
“Yes, th-thank you!”
“It’s nothing. I’m Tershi, and I’m taking care of the children here.”
The elderly woman introduced herself with a smile.
She walked ahead, looking at the children kindly, an affectionate expression on her face.
Then…
“Wait! You’ve come to find me so quickly! Were the starving commoners actually…!? Well, then it can’t be helped. We must find the head cook and quickly give you a hearty meal!”
“…”
“…”
Meeting a strange noble lady again made me think she was an even stranger person.
“If you’re really that hungry, I can offer you the snacks I brought for the children!”
I had the instinct that the conversation wouldn’t end like this.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not why we came. I’m here to find Ain, Lucia Vicente Todorica Seymour.”
“Yes…?”
I interrupted her by stating the reason for my visit right away.
“I’ve come all the way from the empire to find Ain.”
“Uh, you’re looking for Ain…?”
Upon hearing that I was looking for Ain, she tilted her head in surprise, looking perplexed.
“Yes, he’s an important person to me.”
“Uh, um…”
“Do you know where he has gone?”
Her expression was frustratingly dazed as if she were deep in thought, and she kept tilting her head.
“Ah!”
“…”
“Could it be… you are that ash-colored… or the light…?”
She soon seemed to realize something, applauding and looking as though she wanted to see inside my robe.
Did Ain even share that much with a stranger?
Knowing that it was for my sake, I felt a mix of frustration and jealousy, pouting my lips as I removed my robe.
“Wow… such a pretty person. Just a moment, are you not ash-colored? Did this Lucia Vicente Todorica Seymour make a rude mistake…?”
“…”
Since it was just the three of us inside, I took off the necklace, bracelet, and anklet I was wearing and looked at her again.
My appearance began to shift smoothly.
The formerly plain colors of my hair and eyes became dull, and the mana that had been tightly suppressed stirred and spilled out.
And…
“…please save me.”
“I won’t kill you. And your tone has changed.”
“Please save me.”
The noble lady, who introduced herself as Lucia, raised both hands and looked at me with glistening eyes.
“I told you I won’t kill you.”
“B-but the commoner behind you…!”
The words she stuttered out were strange, so I turned around to see Eileen making a mischievous face, arms wide open.
“Ke ke ke, you better kneel and beg! You wouldn’t want to taste the terrifying ash-colored Asha’s anger!”
“…, Eileen.”
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just teasing, you know? I can’t tease her like this if she doesn’t know anything! At this rate, I hope she pees herself and becomes my comrade.”
“…”
This isn’t just strange; this is outright madness.
I thought that and used my mana to bind Eileen tightly, tossing her off to the corner.
“Umpf…! Ugh!”
Her semi-scream echoed in the room, but I casually ignored it and bowed my head toward the noble lady in front of me.
“I’m sorry. My companion has been rude.”
“Uh, um… it’s okay…”
She was still a naive child yet to become an adult, so I hoped she would understand with a broad mind.
Anyway.
We had quite a lengthy conversation at the orphanage.
After a while, I released Eileen, and the three of us chatted, letting the time pass.
If I were to tell you what kind of conversations we had…
“Hehe! Falling for my noble qualities, Ain will become mine…!”
“Huh.”
“…, what did you just say?”
“W-was there a problem…?”
“Please beg for your life quickly. Hurry…!”
“Did Ain just say you belong to him? Aren’t you going to regret that statement?”
“Please save me. I was joking. I have no feelings for Ain beyond comrade. I’ll retract that statement.”
“Well done…! You’ve preserved your life, Lady!”
There were moments of little jealousy like that.
As our conversation continued, noble discussions would occasionally intrude.
“Huh…! How romantic! Eileen Frigia Delphinium, you’re a model of nobility!”
“Lady Lucia Vicente Todorica Seymour also has awesome ideas about helping commoners!”
“If my noblesse oblige combines with your romanticism, we could create an astonishing level of nobility!”
“Yes, Lady! Would you like to travel with us?!”
I wondered if there was some sort of connection between them as they jumped excitedly while hugging each other’s shoulders.
After this bizarre situation repeated several times, I looked at the two with a slightly annoyed expression, and they raised their hands together, saying they made a mistake.
And then.
“Ain has left the duchy for Litera.”
“Is that so.”
“Indeed. Ah! Tershi, who’s downstairs, recently received help from Ain and came to this place, so you should speak with her before he departs!”
Within this long conversation, there were some things I desired.
Ain had traveled from the duchy to a village called Litera.
According to Lucia and Eileen, it was a place where letters would come flying in, a village where only chosen individuals received the gift of letters.
So, I planned to head there as well.
With that thought in mind, I bowed my head in gratitude, and Lady Lucia proudly puffed out her chest slightly larger than Eileen’s, greeting me.
“Nobles have small chests, huh.”
“No! That’s rude!”
“Right, it’s rude, Asha!”
I chuckled at the two who pouted their lips and moved towards the door.
Before long, the sun began to set.
The once raucous orphanage now only echoed with the gentle breaths of children who had played themselves to sleep.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes, thank you for the guidance.”
As I walked down the corridor, an elderly woman approached to speak with me first.
“Did you get everything you wished for?”
“There’s still one more thing, but since Lady Lucia asked you to obtain it, may I ask?”
“Haha, what can an old woman provide…?”
I asked her.
“How was Ain in Litera?”
“Oh. Aah…”
She nodded as if recalling something.
“Haha, you came here to search for a benefactor, didn’t you? If I must tell you, that person has fulfilled this old lady’s wish.”
“…”
“He was a kind, gentle, and shining person. His companions as well… They are likely inspired by his light to fill his side and move forward together.”
The elderly woman smiled faintly, reminiscing as she took out a letter from her bosom, looking at me.
“In my seventy years, it was the first time I saw such a beautiful sight. Losing two children and despairing, I never knew this world could shine so brightly.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I don’t know what others think, but to me, it was the most beautiful light created by that person. Did the words of this old lady provide you with some answer to your questions…?”
From her eyes, brilliant flames rose, fiercely blazing.
“Yes, they did. Thank you.”
“Haha, then I must go check on the children. It’s late, so please return safely.”
After politely bowing my head and saying goodbye, I noticed the vitality in her retreating figure as it grew distant down the corridor.
There was an unusual liveliness for an old person, and no scent of death lingered.
Thus.
Eileen and I wandered the streets after leaving the orphanage when night was nearing.
“We can leave tomorrow! The village where letters come flying in…! How romantic!”
“…”
Just as Eileen said, it seemed we could set off tomorrow right away.
I felt good.
Since the day went well, I was in high spirits, and my steps felt light, causing an unintentional smile to grace my face.
And then, hmm.
“Since we’ve achieved our goal, how about grabbing a beer in good spirits…?”
“Yes…?”
Perhaps feeling good, the memory of the bittersweet alcohol from yesterday swirled slightly in my mind.
The vague taste of beer brushed past my mouth.
“Well, since we’ll be leaving tomorrow, I could have one last beer before sleeping stonily.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s go to the tavern.”
In reality, the flavor of that liquid flowing down my throat was quite delightful.
Aside from the potential headache I might have in the morning, I could understand why people drank.
“No, no…! If I get drunk and sleep like that, I’ll just leave you behind and go return to my lodgings on my own?!”
“You just have to sip it slowly, a little at a time.”
So long as I didn’t gulp it down, it should be fine.
And so.
I went back to the tavern with Eileen, ordered beers and some simple snacks.
“Eileen.”
“Yes…? What is it?”
Seemingly upset that she couldn’t drink because she wasn’t an adult, Eileen stared at me while munching on snacks.
“Just eat as much as you want. You look great, you know?”
“Okay~”
I found myself chuckling at her and sipping my beer cautiously.
As I expected, as long as I drank carefully, I wouldn’t end up collapsed on the floor.
Moreover, the light inebriation with each sip spread through me, causing my lips to curve upwards slowly.
Thus, we shared light conversations in the bustling tavern, hearing voices from others around us.
“Did you hear? Something incredible happened in Litera this time.”
“Are you talking about that ridiculous story about dozens of letters flying in at once? Ha, your news travels slow.”
“Then, is that false? It doesn’t make sense that so many would be selected at once.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
What they were discussing was certainly the tale I had heard earlier.
“No. There were hundreds of adventurers who witnessed that event—there’s no way it’s false. Plus, there’s a rumor, too. It’s about the incompetent Ain, who supposedly received three letters there.”
“What…? Don’t spout such nonsense. It’s far more befitting to say he died somewhere remote!”
To the adventurers who underestimated Ain, that news was shocking.
“What can we say for the guys who returned from Litera and became like that?”
“Maybe they all got smashed while drinking.”
“Even the comrades he brought received letters, but if you don’t want to believe it, that’s your choice. Either way, if it’s true, more news about that guy will be coming soon!”
The splendid scenery of a village created by Ain was slowly being shared and spread through the mouths of the people.
With the sound of clinking beer mugs ringing out, the tavern buzzed with excitement.
I was already smiling softly, sipping my beer there.
Ain was moving far away.
“Eileen.”
“Yes, yes?”
“We’re leaving right now.”
“W-what? So suddenly…? Asha, you’ve had a drink too…?!”
“Our destination is Litera.”
So, I too would pursue the land Ain had first set foot on.