Saikyou Mahoushi no Inton Keikaku (LN) - Volume 10 - Chapter 59

Fifty-Ninth Chapter 

The Smell of the Past 

An hour had passed since Alus and Loki left Vanalis. 

Like Lettie had mentioned on their way there, the temperature was already about the same as in the Inner World. Then again, nature in the Outer World was constantly changing, which was why the creatures that lived there rapidly adapted and evolved, including the Fiends. At any rate, the comfortable temperature was a welcome blessing. 

They’d made their way there in a rush, but that didn’t mean they could take it easy on the way back. In the world of Fiends, humans were the outsiders, and outsiders were ostracized everywhere. But unlike the human world, the merciless Fiends had neither the will to communicate nor the ability to negotiate. However, since they’d already confirmed there were no Fiends around them, now was a good chance for them to catch their breath. 

Alus and Loki had only exchanged the bare minimum of words as they made their way through the Outer World. That was in part because they couldn’t let their guard down, but also because Alus tended to operate alone, so he didn’t mind being quiet for hours on end. At the moment he was running in front so that he could deal with any Fiends they might encounter. 

The silence prompted him to think about the identity of the snow man, including the spell he’d used that controlled an ice sword with his mind. No, in reality, he didn’t even need to guess. He’d realized it the moment he saw it. 

It was also a type of spell he was currently working on establishing the theory for. However, it wasn’t for himself, and he was still in the process of creating the structure so it wasn’t complete yet. 

The fundamentals of that spell were the same as Zepel... Loki probably realized it as well. And the person she’d naturally associate it with was the same that Alus did. 

Alus’s mind was packed with knowledge. He knew taboo spells and even had the privilege of accessing state secrets thanks to his rank. Of course there were spells he didn’t know, but there weren’t many he couldn’t even imagine the theory they were based on. After all, it wasn’t easy to create new spells. 

Yet there were exceptions to everything. In particular, it wasn’t uncommon for nobility to develop a unique spell for their family and keep it secret. It was like a martial arts school and its secret techniques. 

Unique spells born in that way were often only passed down in the family and protected. Adding a new spell to the spell encyclopedia was a great contribution to humanity, as well as a high honor. But in this world where Magicmasters were so valued, having a unique spell that ran in the family as a secret trump card was a way to protect a family’s rank in nobility. 

Suddenly, Alus stopped thinking and sharply exhaled. If he got too deeply involved he’d only end up bumping heads with nobility. Since he had no good impressions of noble society, he had no interest in poking his nose into their business. 

After losing himself in his thoughts for a while, he looked over his shoulder at Loki. “...!” He then clicked his tongue at his own carelessness. 

Slowing down, Alus came to a stop. A short moment later Loki caught up and gazed at him questioningly. “Is something the matter, Sir Alus?” 

Alus placed his hand on her head a little more strongly than usual, as if trying to cool down her heated body. “No, I’m just glad I noticed it early.” He crouched down and inspected Loki’s legs. He was no expert, but it seemed the healing spell cast on Loki hadn’t gone as expected. Perhaps the spell was at its limit. 

Normally it would take weeks for her injuries to heal. They’d left Vanalis too early, and she would’ve been better off resting in a bed like Mujir. 

Seeing his furrowed brow, Loki said with a stiff expression, “It’s not a problem. It won’t have any effect as long as there aren’t any battles with high-classed Fiends!” She desperately made her appeal, thinking she’d be left alone in Vanalis otherwise. 

Recuperating in Vanalis was frankly out of the question. She didn’t want to slow him down, but truth be told, she didn’t want to leave his side. She searched for a way to justify her selfish feelings but couldn’t find any convincing words. 

She obediently sat down on a nearby tree root at Alus’s instruction. Her boot was then taken off, revealing her leg wrapped in a bandage. 

Alus observed her leg closely. Making an accurate judgment in the field was difficult, but it didn’t look good to him. She was hurt in other places as well, but the leg would pose the biggest problem on their journey home. It was hard to tell what kind of strain Force put on the body just by looking. Even the practitioners themselves could unwittingly exceed their limits. “It looks fine for now.” 

“You worry too much! Also, it tickles, so don’t, um...” 

“All right, let’s lower the pace. You wouldn’t want to end up in a hospital room as soon as we get back, would you?” Even if he took her to a military doctor or healing Magicmaster upon their return, maintaining their current pace might seriously harm her leg. “Now then...” 

“What are you doing, Sir Alus?” 

“Hm? I can’t bring myself to leave an injured asset be.” Alus turned to show his back to Loki, kneeling in front of her, as he put his arms behind him. It was a position anyone could tell from first glance...offering a piggyback ride. 

“Asset? I didn’t do anything...” 

“Really now? Even Lettie acknowledged you. So I’m sure nobody would object.” 

There was her excellent decision to consider. Upon finding the snow man, he’d undone his spell and she’d bought time, indirectly contributing to the Shem Azah fight. If not for her actions, there was a good chance they wouldn’t be on their way home. The interference from the snow could have extended the time needed by several days. Her ability to quickly discern the presence of an abnormal existence was worthy of praise. 

“Either you turn back to Vanalis, or you get a piggyback ride from me,” Alus continued. “Berwick and the principal will probably do something about the Institute, so staying in Vanalis for a few days won’t be a big deal.” 

Faced with two choices, Loki frowned since it was practically only one choice. Of course, since Alus was facing forward, he couldn’t see it. 

Sighing, Loki finally resigned herself. But then she realized something and smiled softly so he wouldn’t notice. She felt this was the same as when she’d made her first connection with Alus, when he’d saved her during her first mission. She wanted to keep that a secret from him, since she’d been crying then and showed an embarrassing side. 

Loki reveled in the feeling of the hand on her head, then put her own hand on her head. She felt like the warmth of when he’d touched her head was still there. And it was the same kind of warmth as back then. 

With a bright smile, she timidly leaned over his back. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she was being careful so as not to put too much weight on him. 

Alus bent his legs and casually brought his body up. “Hm?” 

“...!” Loki had grown some, so it was only natural that she’d gotten heavier. But that was a girl’s feelings for you. “Ah! If I’m heavy we can leave my AWRs behind! I have quite a few of them,” she hurriedly suggested, taking the initiative. If Alus were to thoughtlessly claim that she was heavy, then she would probably suggest that they return to Vanalis with a bright red face. 

“There’s no need for that, it’s not like you’re heavy... More importantly, make sure you keep your arms around my neck.” 

“Ri-Right.” They were already so close, but Loki was being so reserved that she didn’t even have her arms around his neck yet. Like he said, she would get thrown off if something happened. 

Loki had dug her own grave, but Alus wasn’t foolish enough to return to the previous topic. “Then let’s go.” 

But as Alus started running, he felt a little awkward. He’d almost blurted it out, but there was indeed something on his mind. It wasn’t her weight, but the two bumps pressing against his back. Of course, if he were to say something, it might be the trigger to something else, so he stayed quiet. 

Alus did his best to push it out of his mind. He lacked the tact to make any comments on a woman’s body, especially her chest area. It was one of the things he’d learned after enrolling in the Institute. 

After a few steps, Alus was back to sharpening his senses and paying attention to his surroundings. Carrying another would slow anyone down, and even Alus couldn’t run indefinitely while carrying Loki. He was very fit, but he couldn’t carry Loki all the way to Alpha. At best he’d go on until her injuries healed a little more, or until they got through some of the more dangerous areas. In the end he’d need to take her legs into account. 

Moments of silence passed. Soon, Loki seemed to calm down, and opened her mouth to break the silence. Her words were quiet and blended in with the passing scenery. “Why did you reject Lady Lettie’s invitation?” she whispered into Alus’s ear. Regardless of what he’d chosen, Loki would no doubt have asked the same question. She wanted to understand what he was thinking. 

Accepting Lettie’s invitation would definitely have been advantageous. Lettie didn’t just want his power; her invitation was made after understanding and accepting him as an individual. She’d clearly stated that that was the reason for creating her squad, and that she was prepared to go against the military’s intentions if need be. 

Having fought on his own all this time, Alus had nowhere to run. Loki was painfully aware of that. In the end, he’d always be put back on the battlefield. As someone who was at his side, she found it very unpleasant. Every mission he was sent out to his death. And she burned with indignation at the thought of the dangerous tightrope walk never ending. Immense strength and ability aside, Alus was still just one person. 

Loki was fine with the military being dismantled if it meant Alus could be free. But reality was different, and when she really thought about it, if he couldn’t escape then it might be best for him to be on the battlefield with someone who was reliable, capable, and who understood him. 

She had no doubt that Lettie was that person. That was why... “Is your unfinished business...those two?” There was no need to worry about such a thing. It was too ridiculous to even consider that those two girls could tie Alus down. Even if he hated giving up on things halfway through, Loki couldn’t accept it. 

“Well, that’s one thing, but it’s not my only reason.” 

“Then why...?!” Loki’s tone unconsciously turned harsh, and not even she knew why. No matter what Alus chose, she would have rejoiced. At the very least, that’s what she thought back then...whether he joined Lettie’s squad or turned her down and returned to the Institute. 

The next moment, she panicked and added, “I’m sorry. I said too much.” 

“True,” Alus said after a pause. 

Loki’s small shoulders trembled at his words. It reminded her that it was the distance between them that had grown and not their relationship. She shrank back at the thought that she’d overstepped her boundaries. She’d asked the question to understand Alus, but her desire to learn everything about him was extremely selfish. 

As if unconcerned about Loki’s ashamed thoughts, Alus repeated himself. “True, I don’t really get it either. But...it’s different from before. That’s just what I thought to myself. Hmph, guess I can’t even understand myself at times.” Thinking back on it, what he’d said to Lettie wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the whole truth either. 

Seeing that, Loki intuited the key to the chaos in Alus’s heart that not even he could understand. It probably lay in the past. And when she realized that, she decided not to hesitate but to take another step forward. 

Her decision was made with a great deal of courage. Her words weren’t meant just to satisfy her own desires, but also to help Alus search his own heart. “Sir Alus, if you’d like, could you please tell me? Nothing might come from it, but I’d still like you to tell me about yourself...about your past...and what you have been through,” she said, staring straight into Alus’s black eyes as if looking for his past hidden within. “I think talking to someone about it would help you understand your own feelings better...” 

Alus quietly listened to what she had to say, and when she finished, he paused for a moment. “It’s nothing interesting. Have you heard that I was in Lord Vizaist’s squad in the past?” 

“Yes, I’ve heard that much.” Loki only knew that Alus had joined the squad and at some point the squad had disbanded. But everything in between was a complete blank. 

During the mission, Louise told her heartwarming anecdotes about Alus. That said, she’d probably only told Loki screened stories. In reality there must have been more to it. Loki only heard the trivial everyday life stories, and not the horror that made up most of it. 

Alus had joined a squad led by Felinella’s father Vizaist, and spent some time with his comrades there. His participation dramatically improved the squad’s strength, and after he joined their mission completion rate was near one hundred percent. 

“If I recall, the squad’s name was the Special Fiend Attack Unit.” 

“So you know that much.” Alus sounded a little critical of her inquiry, so Loki struggled to nod along. 

As far as she knew, ever since that squad was disbanded Alus had never joined another squad, nor did he take an official partner. He’d been attached to squads as part of missions, but mostly he’d operated alone. “Is that why you rejected Lady Lettie’s offer?” 

“Who knows? It’s a bitter memory for me. Even now it gets in the way from time to time... I’ve never once forgotten that day. The day that proved I didn’t need any allies.” 

His final words were said in a monotone. Loki softly closed her eyes to digest everything he’d said. What he’d felt at the time, and whether a scar had been left on his heart as a sign of his determination. Wanting to at least experience the same pain, she let her cheek touch his back. 

It certainly had a person’s warmth...but Loki aside, Alus didn’t think so. To him, he’d already abandoned human warmth. Although there might’ve been something left, it was nothing more than trace heat. Its source had been closed off behind the thick cold door of the past. Should he open that door again, he wondered, looking for the answer within himself. With hesitation, he slowly reached his hand out towards it. 

Suddenly, he felt the heat from the silver-haired girl’s cheek...and finally put his hand on the door knob. It had been years since it was last moved, so the knob was rusty and heavy. 

It was a story about Alus that nobody knew about. The story of a boy who grew up in the military, who knew nothing about the world outside of it. The story of a broken boy.