A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 93

• Chapter 93 : I walked alone in the royal capital…

[She’s still not coming back… Does it take this long to chat with someone?] (Seto)

Seto, who was left alone in the room, was lying on his bed, feeling anxious.

However, Satis and the rest had not returned at all, so Seto was bored out of his mind.

He waited for another half hour, but they still had not come back.

If Satis was coming back, he would have been able to tell by sensing her presence, but there was not even a trace of it.

Maybe it’s okay for me to go out if it’s just for a bit. I could kill time by taking a walk or something. (Seto)

It was just a little bit of selfishness on Seto’s part.

He decided to go outside, but without straying too far from the inn.

He asked the front desk to leave a message for Satis, saying that he would go for a short walk in case she was looking for him.

Thus, Seto set off on a walk alone in the royal capital.

The moonlight welcomed him, and the bustling streets created a mature atmosphere.

This made Seto feel a little more jovial, with his heart racing as he proceeded.

Feeling as if he himself had become an adult, he looked around at the stores and people passing by.

Yes, he felt joy at first.

However, Seto’s mood gradually cooled down, and he gradually felt lonelier.

Surely everyone had reminisced about the past while walking alone in the city at night once in their life.

Back when he was a child soldier, there was once a grand festival in the royal capital he was affiliated to, and he watched it from afar.

The warm atmosphere of it entered his vision as light, but in reality, he was all alone in a dimly lit room.

Since he possessed an aptitude for magic swords, he was treated a little better than the other child soldiers, but he was still like a little bird trapped in a cage.

How did he feel when he watched the festival at that time?

He could not remember anymore, and the more he tried, the more he felt as if something was blocked deep inside his heart.

Looking up at the night sky, there were stars all over it, and the moon was shining brightly.

The night back then must have been the same as this one.

But now, he had Satis by his side, someone with whom he could enjoy the city and its scenery.

However, he felt a little remorseful about cheerfully going on a night stroll by himself like this.

Now that he sought warmth, Seto turned around and headed back to the inn.

He was still too young to be walking alone in the city at night.

Then on his way back to the inn, he was called out by a familiar voice.

He looked in its direction and saw Holmes sitting at a table outside a restaurant, munching on some spare ribs with lots of appetite.

[Hey, boy! Been a while. Fancy meeting you here, it’s like we’re tied by fate or something.] (Holmes)

[Holmes? What are you doing here?] (Seto)

[Work, of course. I just wrapped up everything and was having dinner. What about you? You going on a night stroll by yourself? Pretty damn austere, ain’t it?] (Holmes)

[I’m done with my walk. I’m on my way back to the inn now.] (Seto)

[Hmm~. Hey, what happened with that missy who’s always with you? You didn’t get into an argument, did you?] (Holmes)

[No, we didn’t. She’s just having a drink at the bar right now. I wasn’t allowed in, so I stayed in our room, but I got bored, so…] (Seto)

[Hey now, you gotta have more patience than that, kiddo. That missy is gonna be worried sick. You shouldn’t give a woman so much grief, y’know? Kahaha!] (Holmes)

Holmes’s hairy face broke into a wide smile as he chugged down his liquor in one gulp.

The smell of alcohol mixed with the aroma of gravy tickled Seto’s nostrils, but he was not tempted.

That smell made him grimace, then he shrugged his shoulders and folded his arms.

Looking at Holmes’ cheerful expression reminded him of something, so Seto asked him a question.

[Like you can talk. You know. I’ve spent some time in Benjamin Village.] (Seto)

[Ohh, the village of oddballs?] (Holmes)

[The village of eccentrics. …No actually, calling them eccentrics might still be rude. Anyway, that’s where I met a woman named Kilim who was assigned there as a guard, and she was looking for you.] (Seto)

[BFFFT—?!] (Holmes)

The moment he mentioned Kilim’s name, Holmes spat out his drink and choked.

She had done everything she could to support Holmes’ lifestyle, yet he ran out on her like a lowlife whose misdeeds were brought to light.

[So, you ditched her after she earned so much money for you? What’s up with that?] (Seto)

[Sh-Shuddup! Grown-ups have all kinds of circumstances!] (Holmes)

[I don’t wanna become this kind of grown-up.] (Seto)

[Well, I just taught you what not to do as an adult. As for the fee, you can pay for my mea—… Sorry, I’m just kidding. So don’t glare at me like that, please. But… I see. That idiot Kilim still hasn’t given up on me, huh.] (Holmes)

[It looked to me that she still likes you. Why not go see her?] (Seto)

[Can’t. She’d kill me.] (Holmes)

[Hey.] (Seto)

[I’m just kidding. I’ve been hired for a rather important job.] (Holmes)

[An important job? Like what, fighting the Demon King’s army?] (Seto)

[No. There’s someone even more troublesome than them. But you don’t need to know the details. You just go and make some beautiful memories with that missy of yours.] (Holmes)

[I see…] (Seto)

[Ah, that reminds me. Since you were in Benjamin Village, did you meet Ryodou?] (Holmes)

[Hm? Yeah, I did.] (Seto)

[Did he say anything in particular?] (Holmes)

[Like what?] (Seto)

[…Nah, nevermind. Forget I asked. Hey, shouldn’t you go back to your inn or something, boy? The missy is gonna freak out.] (Holmes)

[Ah, right. Got it. See you later.] (Seto)

Seto hurried back to the inn.

As he watched him leave, Holmes picked up his last spare rib.

[…So that’s the legendary boy soldier “Destruction and Storm” Seto, huh. I’ve been suspicious of you ever since I saw how you fought in the city of Clay Shut. Why are you with that woman… with Satis, who is one of the leaders of the Demon King’s army, when you’re supposed to be with the Hero’s party? There’s just so many things I don’t understand.] (Holmes)

Holmes’ mercenary instincts were now directed at the world.

It was in a kind of extreme situation due to the war between the Demon King’s army and humanity.

Something was about to happen underneath the surface, in a realm that was beyond Holmes’ understanding.

The man could not help but have that pressentiment.

It was as if a singularity that would be the starting point of disaster had manifested itself.

Holmes squinted his eyes and wondered if Seto was at the center of it all.

The Demon King’s army has suddenly lost its military strength and is on the verge of defeat, the hero’s party has gone missing, travelers and villagers are being attacked, two people who should be enemies are now living together, and finally… Nephthys has chosen this moment to become active. Well damn, don’t tell me there’s a connection between all this? …Even if I consider that, I still don’t have enough intel. (Holmes)

Holmes took a bite of his spare rib and ate it all in one go.

He had accepted Osiris’ request rather casually, but even he himself never thought he would come to such a conclusion.

A sticky atmosphere weighed down on Holmes.

He thought that perhaps he had been too optimistic to think that the world would have a happy ending after the defeat of the Demon King’s army.

Meanwhile, Seto arrived at the inn and sat alone on a bench at the front desk.

He was trying to wrap his head around a few things that bothered him during his conversation with Holmes.

I wonder what kind of work Holmes was taking on. And he knows Ryodou. He looked like he was concerned about a friend who lived far away. Have they both met in the past? Hmm… (Seto)

He put his hand to his chin and closed his eyes in thought.

It was then that Seto heard the voice he had been longing to hear.

[Oh? Seto. What are you doing here?] (Satis)

[What’s thiiiis? Did you come out here because you were lonely? See, I told you that you shouldn’t leave a child alone in his room!] (Gravis)

[Seto isn’t that much of a child! He can stay home alone just fine!] (Satis)

Ack! (Seto)

[Um, Seto. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong? You look really troubled.] (Hydra)

While Satis and Gravis were having their little spat, Hydra bent down with a worried look on her face and asked Seto.

[Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to feel the night breeze. That’s why I was here.] (Seto)

[Is that so? If you have any worries or concerns, you should tell m—… Or rather, tell Satis. You shouldn’t make her worry, okay?] (Hydra)

[Yeah, I know. …So, how was the bar?] (Seto)

[I don’t drink alcohol so I only had milk, but… Um, that girl… Gravis-san, was it? She’s one hell of a heavy drinker. Satis lost her patience with her halfway through. It was hard to control her.] (Hydra)

[Ahh… Thanks for your efforts.] (Seto)

[By the way, Seto. We’re going to have an important talk in your room. Of course, we want you to join us.] (Hydra)

[An important talk?] (Seto)

[Simply put, it’s about the time we spent in the Hero’s party.] (Hydra)

[…Okay.] (Seto)

Seto and the girls went to their room to talk.

This was the moment when the destinies of the four of them were now completely intertwined.