Chapter 74

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Under the Night Sky
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#74

The blunt words made the elder blink, confused about how to respond. But his deliberation was brief; he quickly nodded his head in agreement.

“We will surely find a clue about the curse. No, I will strive to find one.”

…If the Lycans’ curse could be broken.

Parnas, unlike other nations, maintained a sizable Lycan military force.

The painful drawback was that they couldn't be drafted for about a week each month, but due to the geographical characteristic of being surrounded by mountain ranges, there were no soldiers as efficient as Lycans for managing the borders.

If the curse could be lifted, not only would military spending be reduced, but the number of available troops would also increase significantly.

They might even be able to fight on equal footing with both the Empire and Dopein, even ignoring the disadvantage of the Mirage Herb.

The only problem was…

Where could she find someone capable of deciphering an ancient language?

Someone proficient in humanities like language, culture, and history, preferably with an interest in mythology and religion.

A search among the philosophers would likely turn up a few scholars, but philosophers were a notoriously eccentric bunch, so she was reluctant to entrust them with the task.

There wasn't really a suitable person…

“Ah. Right.”

Suddenly, a person who fit all these criteria came to mind.

Lucy placed a hand on the elder’s shoulder and nodded, accepting his proposal.

“Very well. I will support you to the best of my ability. I hope you will bring good results.”

Finishing her words, she lifted her eyes to look again at the statue on the altar. Beyond the elder’s voice, which was now reciting his thanks with a much brighter face, the tale he had just told replayed in her mind in slow syllables.

The light that split the sky.

Parting into three branches to bring forth life…

A dragon. And life in the south.

Following this train of thought, Dopein came to Lucy’s mind.

The southeastern part of the continent. Dopein, the land where Fire Dragons live.

Once a paradise of forests and rivers, it had now become a barren land due to desertification.

…Dopein, crossing the border and getting on her nerves.

Annoying bastards.

After all the chaos they caused to swallow a whole country, they should have stayed quiet for a while. But to stir up trouble in the borderlands using Mirage Herbs, of all things.

How should I deal with these fools?

Her round eyes gradually narrowed, and as Lucy looked at the dragon, her gaze shone with an exceedingly sharp light.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The smoke from burning the mementos cast long shadows through the red sunset. After tidying the graves once more, Walter split off a vanguard to escort the children and the elder.

Even the sunset that had dominated the sky gave way, and night soon fell. Maintaining a somber mood, the group turned back towards the Southern Command.

“Your Majesty. Perhaps it would be best for you to return to the capital first.”

A hint of genuine concern could be detected in his placating tone.

He was probably lost in thought because of the tragedy in the village. She understood his sentiment, but returning to the capital at this hour would require Whees to make a long-distance flight.

Lucy expressed her preference to travel back by land with Walter rather than trouble Whees so late at night.

After some thought, Walter proposed a compromise: they would return to the Southern Command for the night, and Lucy would head back first tomorrow. Lucy accepted.

And so, night fell.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

Stepping out onto the balcony, Lucy unconsciously rubbed her arms.

“They call this the south, but it’s as chilly as Parnactium at night.”

A cool air rose from the dew-covered grass. In terms of temperature, the capital in the north was likely colder, but the Southern Command seemed to have a greater diurnal temperature range, making it feel even colder than the royal palace.

As she debated going back inside, shivering in her thin chemise, Walter, who was already on the balcony, picked up his outer coat from the tea table and draped it over Lucy’s shoulders.

Despite the considerable chill, Walter, dressed in light clothing, casually rolled up his sleeves as if unaffected.

“Why did you come out when it’s so cold?”

“The person who said they were just stepping out for a moment didn’t return for a long time, so I came to see what was wrong. Aren’t you cold?”

Walter answered with a shrug. As he tilted his head, his black hair fell across his forehead, casting a deep shadow over his eyes.

“My apologies. I was lost in thought watching the stars. With no clouds tonight, the constellations are particularly clear.”

She thought he was smoking, but it was the constellations. A reason befitting him.

With a wry smile, Walter tilted his head back to look at the sky. Lucy pretended to look at the sky while stealing glances at Walter’s profile.

Beneath the dusky night sky with its crescent moon, the sight of a man dressed all in black, his face pale, created an atmosphere that was both mystical and vaguely unsettling.

Lucy’s gaze, fixed on Walter, slowly lowered.

Two unfastened buttons, the prominent line of his throat, and his well-defined collarbones.

When she raised her eyes again, she found Walter looking down at her with a stoic expression.

He always appeared so ascetic; he probably had no idea how decadent he looked when he let his guard down in a private setting.

Smiling inwardly, Lucy averted her gaze.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

As if finding Lucy’s quiet smile strange, Walter ducked his head slightly to meet her eyes.

Instead of saying it was nothing, Lucy raised a hand and swept back the stray hair on his forehead.

“Just… thinking that there never seems to be a quiet day. Today was another eventful one.”

As she murmured with a sigh-like laugh, a small twitch went through Walter’s eyes. Not knowing how to react, Walter subtly leaned back, his flushed ears hidden by his hand.

“I should have come alone. To have brought Your Majesty here and have you face such a calamity… I am deeply sorry.”

His voice, muttering to himself as he avoided her gaze, was lower than usual. Lucy shook her head and opened her mouth to say it was fine.

“Calamity? The Lycans who suffered are the only ones to be pitied. You need not worry about me. But aren't you tired? You’ve been here working for a week, and I heard you were up at dawn today inspecting the outposts.”

“It’s an annual task, so I’m used to it. Waking up at dawn is also a habit, so it’s fine. It’s Your Majesty who must be more…”

Walter, who had been speaking with a placid expression, seemed to startle at his own words, his eyes widening slightly.

“…tired. I must have overstayed my welcome in Your Majesty’s quarters. I will take my leave now.”

“Why so suddenly… It’s been a week since I’ve seen you. Stay a little longer. What constellation were you looking at so intently?”

Walter briefly wondered if there was a hidden motive in her request to stay a little longer, then concluded that such a thought was itself disrespectful and bit his lip without realizing it.

After taking a deep, internal breath, he composed his words to sound as casual as possible.

“In autumn, the Goldfish Constellation is clearly visible. Over there… yes. That constellation, with the six stars connected in a radial pattern, is the Goldfish Constellation.”

“A goldfish… really? It looks more like a starfish.”

“Most people seem to see it that way, but since it is named the Goldfish Constellation, I perceive it as a goldfish.”

No matter how she looked at it, it didn't resemble a goldfish at all; it just looked like six stars scattered about. But he, being the textbook man he was, had to insist on ‘goldfish.’

Since it didn’t matter anyway, Lucy nodded obediently.

“Do you like the Goldfish Constellation?”

“It’s not so much that I like it… Something just came to mind, and I was thinking.”

Walter glanced at the hem of her chemise fluttering in the wind, then tightened the coat around Lucy’s shoulders as he continued.

“The peasants in the Hyverge County believe the harvest season has arrived when the eye of the Goldfish Constellation shines brighter than the North Star. They hurriedly begin to reap the wheat and rice and pick the fruits.”

“That’s unusual. Don’t people usually count by the waxing and waning of the moon?”

“They do. Most farming is based on the lunar cycle, but in the county, they have a peculiar custom of adjusting the farming schedule by gauging the position of the constellations. It could be called a regional characteristic, I suppose…”

As Walter gazed at the stars, an emotion fainter than nostalgia yet deeper than regret slowly spread across his face like watercolor.

Observing his expression, Lucy asked with a hint of a smile.

“Why? Does seeing the constellation make you miss your hometown?”

Walter gave a wry smile and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Very rarely… there are times I miss it… but when I look at the night sky like this, I feel that everywhere is connected by the sky, so it’s alright. Come to think of it, I used to think of Your Majesty’s well-being whenever I saw the North Star.”

“Before? When?”

“When you were in Pomnos. I was worried that in your delicate state, you might fall ill in such a cold place.”

It wasn’t a distant memory, yet it felt ages ago. Recalling the cold northern winds at the mention of Pomnos, Lucy suddenly questioned his words and looked up at him.

If he thought of me whenever he looked north…

Does that mean Walter was conscious of me even back then?

Come to think of it, even when we first met, he acted as if he knew me very well. He said he knew my mother, but it still felt a bit strange.

…This feels a little odd.

Even though she knew his words about thinking of her while watching the stars held no great significance, it somehow felt romantic.

A ticklish feeling fluttered in her chest, and she found herself fiddling with her collar.

“Your Majesty. Are you by any chance tired right now?”

“I’m not particularly sleepy…”

“In that case, would you permit me to escort you outside for a moment? I know a place where we can view the stars in a different way.”

Walter bent his knee, lowering his body and opening one arm wide.