Volume 6 Chapter 71 Just Because You've Gotten Older, Doesn't Mean You Can Become an Adult, Right？
The two who returned the small boat to the island came back to Victor's port town with few words.
The quiet cabin inside was just as it was when Randy and the others left yesterday.
The only change was that the teleportation gate had stopped working due to running out of energy.
Anyway, the unchanged quietness of the cabin and the lively sounds from the port outside made the two glance back at the teleportation gate──at Braubelg beyond it.
Liz, biting her lip and clenching her fists, might have realized the meaning of Cedric's hug just now.
But whether she kept it to herself was either Liz's strength or just her wish to avoid saying something ominous.
Anyway, Randy couldn't tell which it was.
Still, there was something Randy could say to her now.
"Don't worry."
Liz, who was patted on the shoulder by Randy, showed eyes that seemed to say, "But..."
"I'll talk to the old man."
Randy promised that.
He would keep his word.
That is what Victor is all about.
"And..."
Randy smiled and placed his hand on Liz's head.
"His Excellency is here, and Sir Cedric is undoubtedly a genius. He's the only person I admit is a genius."
Randy, as if convincing himself, was unknowingly raising his voice.
In fact, Randy recognized Cedric as a genius.
This acknowledgment was comparable to the trust he placed in members of the so-called exploration team, like Luke and Harrison.
Their time together was short, but he felt he understood the depth of Cedric's talent.
And Cedric was the only man who made Randy think, even for a moment, that it was okay to lose.
"Those 2 chose to fight without running away. They have a chance of winning."
Of course, there were duties as nobles, but as Randy said, they chose to face the enemy there because they had a chance of winning.
...even if that chance was small.
It is the exceptional people like Cedric and Lucian who accomplish things that seem as tiny as threading a needle.
"That's... right."
As Liz nodded, just as Randy was about to nod back and say, "That's right,"
'Yeah, Braubelg is not soft enough to be worried by kids like you.'
Alan's voice came from outside the cabin.
"...Old man?"
'I would appreciate it if you could open this.'
Thanks to the Rune from Liz and Ellie, nobody except Randy and the others could enter.
Remembering this, Liz hurriedly opened the door from the inside.
"...Welcome back, you two."
On the other side of the door stood Alan and Volcan, both wearing exasperated expressions.
* * *
"Really now. You just had to go to Braubelg and come back all gloomy."
"I'm not gloomy!"
Alan sighed in the magistrate's mansion, in his office.
He and Volcan sank deeply into the sofa.
Facing Randy and Liz sitting across from them, Alan sighed again, thinking they had things to do.
Randy pouted at Alan's endless sighs, saying, "That's what this is about."
In fact, they were studying transportation methods needed for Clarice's development in the town.
That's why they had gone flying to Braubelg.
It's not that they didn't understand the situation.
Still, Alan and Lucian said they could welcome the enemy, so maybe they thought it wouldn't be so bad.
They felt they would be fine.
But the enemy was more serious than they expected.
No, it could be said that Randy's awareness was too naive.
Even though he had a second chance at life, he had never experienced war before, so it was understandable.
It wasn't surprising that he didn't know.
No matter how small and weak the opponent, one should never let their guard down in war.
That is what fighting is all about.
Not to mention against a major power.
"This is more troublesome than I thought."
Alan laughed and said, "Of course it is," seeing Randy's bitter face.
"It's obvious. We're dealing with a nation larger than a kingdom. They're not a foe we can handle."
Alan, still laughing, explained that their own dispersed forces were probably just half of the enemy's numbers.
"This isn't a laughing matter."
Alan shook his head at Randy's furrowed brows, saying, "What else can we do but laugh?"
"How was Lord Lucian? Didn't he smile?"
When Alan smiled at Liz, he then started talking about how Lucian had acted last night.
He told her how, contrary to usual, Lucian had been acting strangely, almost like he was amused.
"I told you, didn't I? That he's not really someone who can be 'affected' by others."
Alan emphasized 'affected' even more, and Randy and Liz exchanged looks.
"Don't worry. We adults aren't so soft that your kids need to fret about it."
Alan smiled, but from Randy's perspective, seeing him in person still made him uneasy.
The sight of Randy's worried expression made Alan sigh a little and show a serious face.
"If you're so worried, tell me. About what you saw──how you felt about the empire's true strength..."
When Randy looked into Alan's straight gaze, he remembered the huge explosion Elliot showed.
From Randy's view, Elliot wasn't strong.
Still, his strength alone was pretty threatening.
Almost like a normal soldier couldn't even compare, even if they teamed up.
Even someone like him, if he blew himself up, wouldn't matter... It's clear the enemy's forces are large and well-equipped enough to toss away their own as expendable pawns.
Such an army is coming.
It makes sense Cedric and Miranda are ready for anything.
Randy keeps recalling many things, but the strongest feeling he has is this one.
"I want to help my friends heading into danger. That's what I thought."
Randy looked straight at Alan again, then told him he had shown Victor-style salutes to Miranda.
Alan and Volcan exchanged looks and smiled just a little at that fact.
Seeing their reactions, Randy tilted his head, and Alan apologized, turning back to him.
"Victor-style salute... from you?"
"Yeah."
"You..."
Alan, with a hint of something hidden in his words, made Randy furrow his brow and say, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"If you've got something to say, just say it outright."
Randy furrowed his brow, but Alan just shook his head with a smile and said, "Nah, it's nothing."
"Kinda rude..."
Still tightening his brow, Randy looked annoyed, but Alan shook his head again and changed the subject with a quick "By the way."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)