Welcome to Hell! - Chapter 263: Day of Departure (2)

After leaving the royal capital, we headed towards the camp where our comrades were waiting for us, accompanied by Chris. The surprise of her joining us brought joy, especially since we had thought we would part ways there.

“Chris is coming with us? That’s wonderful!”

“Yes. I look forward to our continued journey together, Chirik.”

Among us, Chirik was the most delighted by Chris’s decision to accompany us. Chirik and Chris have known each other for a good long time. She was not only a master of swordsmanship to Magna and Nana but also dearly beloved by the children. The kids waiting at the camp would surely be thrilled by her arrival.

However, in contrast to Chirik’s joy, there was one among us who seemed to be dejected. It was Lappy, who had to part ways with Liselotte, with whom she had shared a close bond.

After bidding farewell to Liselotte, Lappy clung to my back and didn’t move at all. It seemed she had already said her goodbyes to Liselotte the day before, but she still couldn’t help but feel sad. They had been as close as sisters.

Perhaps Lappy wished for a longer farewell, but unfortunately, Liselotte chose a public place for their parting. Lappy who fully understood the situation had no choice but to leave without much exchange of words.

I was feeling somewhat guilty for such an outcome, so I allowed Lappy to do as she pleased without saying a word. I think that she would remain downcast for a few days.

“Are you okay, Lappy?”

“…No, I’m not okay. Please comfort me Chirik.”

It was Chirik who expressed concern for the disheartened Lappy. Lappy, who was like a daughter to me, and Chirik, who was my disciple, naturally grew close with eachother. This was clear from the fact that Lappy often sought comfort from Chirik even though she was older than him.

Chirik gently stroked the head of Lappy, who clung to my back. Following his comforting gesture, I felt Lappy’s grip on me slightly loosen. It seemed Chirik’s consolation had a soothing effect on her which was a relief to me as well.

“Is Lady Chris a warrior serving the ‘Goddess of Protection’? Then, you must be quite skilled?”

“In comparison to Antares and the others, I’m more or less in the middle. Just think of me as part of a group of such individuals.”

“The demons are much stronger than I expected. No, it must be because, despite being demons, they never neglect their training. I can’t help but respect that… But Lady Chris, there’s no need for formalities with me. Even though I’m older, I’m still a newcomer and not of much help.”

“Understood. I’ll do just that.”

Lorenz and Chris were talking with each other in the cargo area of the carriage. Naturally, this was not their first meeting. In order for him to accompany us, it was important to obtain permission from Liselotte, who was supervising us. No matter how much we insisted it was fine, if she objected, he wouldn’t be able to accompany us.

What worked in Lorenz’s favor was Liselotte’s thoughtful yet accommodating nature. While she set forth several conditions, she ultimately granted Lorenz permission to join us. When Lorenz came to report his permission to me, he was smiling like a little boy.

However, during that time, Lorenz had spoken only with Liselotte. It would be impossible for a guard to interrupt her master’s conversation. As we would be traveling together henceforth, it was crucial to foster camaraderie to better understand each other.

After traveling the highway for a while, our carriage approached a forest on the outskirts of the capital. Outside the forest, the carriages of our comrades who had been left at the campsite emerged and it seemed like they had packed up the camp in anticipation of our arrival.

“Ah, you’ve arrived… wait, is that Chris?”

“It’s been a while. I’ve been ordered by the lady to join you. Let’s get along well, everyone.”

Upon disembarking from the carriage, Chris was met with looks of surprise from our comrades, yet her joining us was something to be welcomed. She had traveled together with us before, so she was naturally accepted.

However, the reaction to Lorenz, who appeared after Chris, was more complex. Everyone was aware of his circumstances, his presence, and the fact that he would be joining them. Despite this knowledge, an inevitable awkwardness prevailed, which could almost be described as a typical trait of our group.

“Everyone, this is Lorenz, who will be joining us.”

“My name is Lorenz Reiner. I look forward to working with you.”

Despite Lorenz’s courteous greeting, the response from our comrades was less than warm. Lorenz, who had willingly chosen to join our difficult journey, might have seemed odd, but he was by no means a bad person. It would be best to slowly close the distance during our travels.

This lukewarm reception seemed to be within Lorenz’s expectations as Lorenz was neither upset nor disappointed. I should probably help him integrate. I connected telepathically with Tigar.

[When it’s time for a meal, try to strike up a conversation with Lorenz.]

[Sure thing, boss. If he’s going from a guest to one of us, sooner is better than later.]

Tigar seemed to grasp my intentions well, befitting his former status as the leader of the Lugall squad. Even now, I wish he would take my place, though he would undoubtedly shy away from the suggestion. I’ve always believed he was far more suited for leadership than I am….yet no matter how often I proposed the idea, he always said no. Until he decides to step up, it seems I have no choice but to do my best here.

Ah, that reminds me. Speaking of Tigar, I must ask him whether he has reconciled with Leo, one of those who stayed behind. Before I could bring it up, Tigar reached out with his thoughts.

[Hey, boss. What do you think is the best way to make up with Leo?]

[Come now, asking me of all people… Is what I want to say, but I suppose things haven’t improved between you two?]

[That’s right. I went to say goodbye to Zald and the others, but he blatantly avoided me… Maybe I went too far in our fight.]

Their brawl had indeed been fierce. Despite the healing powers of a demon and Sharl’s spiritual healing he received, it took until the evening for him to regain consciousness.

Since Tigar had conceded the battle, Leo was technically the winner of their quarrel. However, the victory was hardly something to boast about, given the circumstances. It seemed Leo himself faintly sensed that Tigar had let him win after he woke up since he never claimed victory outright.

[But we won’t be seeing each other for a while. I’d definitely regret it if we didn’t talk about something.]

[Yeah, I get that… But it’s hard to start a conversation if it’s not the right moment…]

[The right moment, huh… Hmm…]

Tigar and Leo were not just important comrades to me but also shared a bond akin to a close-knit family. The thought of them parting on tense terms was something I didn’t want to see. It was time to wring out whatever wit I had.

Tigar was looking for an opening to engage, while Leo felt a sense of guilt over having the victory conceded to him. That’s it; an idea struck me. After conveying my plan through telepathy, Tigar seemed impressed and left to gather what he needed for the plan.

“Zald, Sophie.”

“Ah, boss.”

“It’s a bit sad to think we won’t see each other for a while.”

After parting ways with Tigar, I approached Zald and Sophie, who had chosen to stay behind as well. Zald and I had shared many conversations in the royal capital, and I had also spoken with Sophie, who decided to remain with him. Although it was saddening to think we wouldn’t see each other for a while, it didn’t seem like the time for lengthy conversations. I settled for a firm handshake with the two of them.

Next, I intended to bid farewell to Bolts and Leo…. but Bolts was nowhere to be seen. Realizing what I was looking for, Zald shook his head in disbelief.

“Bolts isn’t here. He didn’t come.”

“…What do you mean?”

“He said he had no one he wanted to say goodbye to.”

“Julius and Ariel looked so sad, I couldn’t bear to watch.”

Incredibly, it seemed Bolts had wasted his last chance to see us before parting ways. It was hard to believe he wouldn’t even meet Julius and Ariel, with whom he usually spent his time… What did we mean to Bolts?

It appeared he hardly felt any camaraderie with us, which deeply saddened me. I had failed to close the emotional distance with Bolts.

[Boss, we might as well not consider Bolts one of us.]

[We’ll keep an eye on him, just in case.]

[…That might be for the best.]

Zald and Sophie seemed intent on excluding Boltz from the category of comrades. Looking back, Boltz’s reluctance to voice his own opinions or desires must have stemmed from not considering us his comrades.

And as the leader, I agreed with the two people’s opinions expressed through telepathy. There was also the matter in the Galar Kingdom where he had clearly hidden something. While I wouldn’t go as far as to call him an enemy, it was clear that we needed to remain vigilant.

“Don’t mention this to Leo. He can’t hide his feelings.”

“What about me?”

Leo’s straightforward nature made it impossible for him to engage in any form of deception. He was inherently bad at keeping secrets, as his true feelings would inevitably reflect in his facial expressions and behavior. Moreover, Bolts would likely remain oblivious to the caution we harbored against him precisely because Leo acted as usual. For these reasons, it was best to keep this matter hidden from Leo.

Just when I was advising the two to keep this from Leo, the very subject of our conversation approached us. Unlike Leo, I wasn’t as straightforward so I effortlessly fabricated a lie.

“I was just looking for you, Leo. The goals you’ve set might be challenging to achieve. You’ll likely face many obstacles.”

“…Yeah. I’m prepared for that.”

“Good, that’s the spirit. You’re like a little brother to me, and I believe you can accomplish them.”

Claiming I was looking for him was a lie, but the rest reflected my true feelings. I believed in Leo, who looked up to me as his older brother. I was convinced that he could accomplish even the most challenging goals.

“Bi… Big brother…! I’ll do my best!”

“Yeah. You’ve got to push yourself.”

Tears welled up in Leo’s eyes when Tigar who was carrying a great sword on his shoulder approached him. While Leo was wiping away his tears with his sleeve, Tigar who had moved close to him pressed the great sword he was carrying into Leo’s hands.

“Dad…?”

“This is the sword I use. It’s the best one we have right now.”

Our weapons were mainly spoils of war from the battlefield. As a result, their quality was inconsistent, but we prioritized using the best among what we had. The great sword Tigar held was one he had taken from a white-armored soldier he had defeated.

The true strength of the armored soldiers, including the white armored soldiers, lay in their integrated weapons, but there were some among them who preferred to use proper weapons. Tigar’s great sword was one such weapon and it was a work that matched Tigar’s skills.

“You might not be able to master it with your strength yet… but you’ll soon handle it much better than I ever could.”

“Dad… I…”

“Or do you lack confidence? You think you can achieve grand goals without being able to wield something like this?”

“…I’ll show you! I’m the man who beat Father!”

“Yeah, that’s the spirit. Keep it up, Leo.”

Tigar ruffled Leo’s head vigorously. His hair was all messed up, but Leo didn’t even show any signs of displeasure. This was how the clumsy pair of father and son reconciled.