Does this count as a breach of contract with the princess? How should I explain this away if I am asked to pay a penalty? If I can’t escape, what are the chances that I’ll be punished in some way?
Rather, why haven’t the actors come out yet? After we get the signatures, I’ll have to take Miss home and help clean up the kitchen at least. I also have to drop off Milvance-san. Oh no, I don’t have time to dawdle. Let’s see, first of all, the signatures.
Reiru thought of many things in a matter of seconds.
“Reiru, I’m here to pick you up. Let’s go home.”
Rd alprsdpl vs Qks’p lmralppksdzlpp osaep, Slkaw rasxrvzu alrzkle,
“If you’re lucky, you might even get a handshake.”
Gio was staring at Reiru with a somewhat puzzled look. Reiru struggled to think of a way to explain the value of a handshake.
Rather, what is he doing here?
Paffamzia was a provincial town far from the royal capital and the orphanage. Reiru wondered how wide Gio’s scope of activities was, to meet in such a place.
In all of the confusion, Reiru took no notice of Gio’s words that he was here to pick him up.
“Uwah… he said, ‘Let’s go home.’ It’s just like that time when my dad went to pick up my mom after she’d left after a fight.”
Reiru’s eyes opened wide as another brawny beastman suddenly poked his head out from behind Gio’s broad shoulders.
His big ears flicked, and as Reiru subconsciously followed their movements with his eyes, the beastman grinned at him.
Reiru was a bit embarrassed, wondering if all the beastmen, like Milvance-san, were beautiful.
“Hey, Gio. What are you picking a fight for? Stop intimidating that naive looking young man. More importantly, we have to find your brother first.”
“That’s right. Let’s hurry to Reiru-dono.”1
“Exactly. Gio, you also want to see him soon, right?”
“That’s right. Gio-dono, where is Reiru-dono?”
Four more figures appeared from behind Gio and the beastman, and they began pestering him.
Gio frowned dubiously.
“What’s wrong with you guys…? Reiru’s right here.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s here.”
Gio gestured at Reiru in front of him.
“What?”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
“You’re kidding…”
The people who suddenly appeared were staring at Reiru, which made him feel all the more uncomfortable.
The beastman declared while twitching his nose,
“He’s not kidding. He smells just like Gio’s amulet. Heh, I see, Gio’s amulet has a lock of his brother’s hair.”
“Reiru-san has had a little bit of a makeover.”
For some reason, Milvance gave an explanation.
“Eh! That’s not just a little makeover, he’s a whole new person! Gio! How could you tell it was him!?
“Huh? Of course, I knew it was him. What are you saying?”
“I don’t understand!! Do you have a beastman’s nose or something!?”
The beastman suddenly stood in front of Reiru, ignoring the others who were fussing about what was going on.
“I was on Gio’s team, a beast warrior. Nice to meet you, Gio’s brother.”
” Y-ye…”
When the beastman offered his hand, Reiru reached out reflexively, and the beastman took Reiru’s hand and knelt down immediately.
“Huh?”
“Hey!”
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Gio shouted at him, but the beastman didn’t pay him any attention and looked up into Reiru’s eyes.
The other four people were speechless.
Reiru felt that the atmosphere had suddenly become tense.
“Brother of the hero, Gio Lufter, Reiru… Can you tell me your surname?”
Reiru was at a loss for words without understanding.
He was so confused that he didn’t even hear the high-pitched cheers that had been rising around them for some time due to the way the situation was developing.
“Reiru has no surname.” Gio quietly muttered.
Some orphans had surnames, some didn’t. Reiru, whose parents’ names were unknown, was the latter.
The beastman’s ears drooped.
“… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
Gio’s friends knelt down one by one and bowed their heads in front of Reiru, who was simply bewildered.
“Reiru. To his name, his blood, and his life, along with all the prayers and vows that have been handed down since ancient times…”
As the beastman spun words, the surrounding air mysteriously shook with each successive note, and the minute vibrations of the echos ran across Reiru’s skin.
The sudden metaphysical experience struck Reiru with instinctive fear, and he hugged the little girl and searched for Milvance. She calmly stood there. The little girl watched the scene unfold in front of her with amusement, but she was not afraid.
Unable to grasp what was happening, Reiru sought out Gio.
His eyes met Gio’s. Perhaps sensing Reiru’s fear, Gio embraced Reiru’s shoulders without saying a word.
Soaring wind, call the rain
Voices ring, awaken within
Fire burning, keeper of light
Heaven on earth, I’ve realized
Bless, your world
Bless, your realm
Reiru
Given his name, his blood, his life exists
The keeper of fire, of light he is
Heaven on earth, I’ve realized
One by one, they chanted the strange words over the voice of the beastman, repeating them in concert and spreading them over and over until they rained down on Reiru as if from the heavens.
Those didn’t sound like human words at all, but somehow Reiru understood the meaning of all of them.
It was a brief moment that seemed like an eternity; as if he had been struck by a myriad of noisy voiceless voices; as if he witnessed an invisible light storm.
It was the feeling of being transported to a world of purity and emptiness that couldn’t exist on this earth.
When everything was over and he finally heard the familiar clamor, Reiru’s skin was covered in goosebumps and sweat.
As the ringing in his ears dissipated, he felt a strong arm holding him as his body wobbled with a slight dizziness and a sense of discomfort.
TN: The winner of november patreon chapters is Shimanith. Congratulations. Please contact me on discord so I can send you link. I have finally opened my patreon and kofi tiers where you can get access to 2 chapters prior to public posting. I will update there every Thursday. Only Chapter 11 Part 1 is on patreon and kofi because Part 2 is still in the middle of editing. Part 2 will be up tonight.
Also, special shout out to Elena because she did an excellent job, polishing the ancient song. I was really troubled by it because I have never translated song before. Check out patreon and kofi to support Elena and me.
Thank you very much for your patience and I am sorry this week’s chapter was late. Enjoy reading.