Elias drove south down the highway, with his shadow horse kicking up clouds of dust that obscured the mountains to the north. It was more of a trail that had been pounded down by thousands of feet over hundreds of years than a proper road, but it was still infinitely better than the rough path they'd taken to the mountain.
I opened a built-in window inside the wagon and stuck my head outside to enjoy the outside air. My hair flapped wildly in the breeze. I much preferred a style of travel where I could feel the wind whistling past my ears, it was cooling.
As always, Elias was in the driver's seat. Next to him was, of course, both Catherine and Patricia. I sat beside Natalie who was sleeping at me, drooling through my outfit, she looked just like a sleeping child.
Ned had mostly recovered from his injuries while Alta was sleeping at Barry's lap, he didn't move a muscle because he was completely drained from mana. While Cassius sat in the back, the supplies were stored evenly.
I leaned forward and asked Elias something in a hesitant voice.
"Umm, was it really okay to just leave like that? Should we help the village restore their lands? There were admits of reconstruction after we left? Shouldn't we help them?"
Elias responded casually without turning around
"Hm? Nah, not really. If I'd stayed any longer, then things would have just become more of a pain…Plus, I think it's better for the bureau to help instead because they are heavily supportive when in these kinds of situations."
"I suppose you have a point." I replied
"You're… really soft, you know that? Like… you're always worrying more about others than yourself."
I smiled awkwardly, while Natalie was clinging inside my robe, sweating over a distance. My brother's reunion was relatively simple, we first met in an inn, he denies himself that he was a complete stranger, and awkwardly accepts that he knows me better. It was an unexpected reunion for me because we didn't meet in a span of eight years.
Then, Cassius decided to join in, he slipped around the wagon and sat beside me. Cassius leaned at the end of the wagon and asked Elias.
"Elias, who is Alistair to you?"
"Oh, he was my mentor, also my friend."
Elias said it directly while Cassius smiled awkwardly at that. Not only had he mourned over the deaths of adventures he couldn't have known for more than a few days, he stayed behind to help the villagers that had nothing to do with him, and even forgave Alta.
And now, despite the fact that Elias had practically kidnapped him, Cassius was still worried about Elias's relationship with me. I had figured any noble willing to throw their life away to become an adventurer would have to be an oddball, but there was even more than that. Cassius was kind to a fault, to the point where Elias worried about him a little.
"You're a nice person."
Cassius was momentarily flummoxed. He knew they were praising him, but it felt weird as a guy to be called nice by girls.
"Wh-Who cares about me… I just wanted to say you should have explained your reasons properly."
"My reasons."
Elias raised his eyebrows in confusion. Cassius scratched his cheek awkwardly before continuing.
"Yes. Your reasons for killing your mentor… even though you have deep connections to him, you still didn't kill the man who shaped your life."
"I did, didn't I? He was an enemy, so…"
"Even if that was a good reason not to save him, that wasn't a good enough reason to kill him, right? You should've spared his life, I think you shot him in the leg instead of killing him on the spot. Have you felt no remorse about the man who molds your life?"
Cassius was absolutely right. Elias had assumed the impact of killing Alistair with no hesitation. Of course, Elias was a father figure to him, he thought about the nature of life. It seemed Cassius had seen right through them.
Are all nobles this good at observing people, or just him? I was honestly impressed
"Come to think of it, that was bugging me too." Catherine said, as she pulled her head back in to hear their conversation. Elias hesitated for a moment , unsure of how to answer. But before he could say anything. Patricia answered for him.
"Elias's a tsundere."
"Tsundere?"
Elias kept a perfect poker face, hiding his true thoughts from plain sight. The others all repeated the unfamiliar word, confused.
"We're you trying to repay her kindness? Or was it just your way of looking out for her?"
Elias sulkily turned away. Realizing Patricia must have figured it out. But the truth is that, I casually spread the word to Patricia, knowing that my brother's attitude was edgy, pragmatic and cold.
Since it didn't look like Elias would elaborate, it fell to Patricia to explain. The gist of it was that Elias hadn't wanted me to know Alistair's truth about my father's death.
Alistair had said it himself. The immoral knight he'd made a contract with had wanted to kill Elias. It was obvious he'd used Alistair for that very purpose. That last attack of his had clearly aimed at me. Alistair had just been collateral damage.
Naturally, his death was in no way of my fault. I've become bedridden for the past three days. He'd sold his soul to a demon of his own free will because of his greed. He'd reaped what he'd sown. And even you decided he wasn't to blame for his own actions, it was clearly the knight who had dealt the fatal blow, and thus his fault.
That was why Elias had killed Alistair himself, he wanted to get revenge on our fathers death. He had wanted to stop this madness once and for all, to avenge my father and Elias will use his strength for the love of the family.
Halfway through the trip, Alta, Barry and Ned all fell asleep. Carin was still in Elias's shadow vault, cleaning up the mess he'd made. Their ruthless behavior became more of a kind individual due to Elias grueling torture. They behave quickly like puppets.
"Hehe, you really are a tsundere, Big Brother." I said
"So that's what it was…" Elias replied
"I see. So Elias has a cute side to him as well, then." Catherine added.
Everyone looked playfully at Elias after I finished explaining his motives. I pointedly continued not looking at anyone.
"Haah, there they go, off in their own little world again. When will I get to be like that with him?"
"This is really sweet, isn't it?"
"Hmm, while I personally prefer being insulted and debased… that looks somewhat enticing as well."
The other three watched Elias and Catherine with a mixture of awkwardness and jealousy. Patricia had puffed her cheeks out and was pouting loudly.
Sensing her displeasure. Catherine looked over at Patricia, and then back at Elias, you can't do anything over his adopted daughter. The silent entreaty in her gaze was clear.
"Patricia deserves a reward too." Patricia had risked her life to save me. If it hadn't been for her senses and timely intervention, I would've died and been brainwashed completely. Since it happened over a split second, my brain is still safe and not fully hypnotized. Patricia disabled the hypnotic process a split second, saving both my brain and my life. Otherwise, I would've been a mindless monster.
Elias definitely owed Patricia for saving his little sister's life. He understood that fully well, so though he grumbled a little he dutifully turned to Patricia.
"Patricia. Umm, you were a real lifesaver. It's a bit late, I know, but… thank you."
He'd worked up his courage to finally convey his gratitude, and all he got in return was a surprised stare and those words. A vein throbbed in Elias's forehead, but he knew he deserved it, so he held his anger in.
"Well, I guess it's my fault your reaction time like that… but honestly, I really am grateful, you know?"
This time, Elias properly met Patricia's gaze and showed his gratitude once more. Patricia felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, then she stared fidgeting abashedly. Her cheeks were bright red, and she was looking anywhere but Elias.
"Umm, it wasn't anything special, so you really don't need to thank me for anything, J-Jeez… What's with you all a sudden! That's really embarrassing, you know."
Elias smiled faintly and asked something that has been bugging him for a while.
"Patricia. I was wondering… why'd you jump in to save my sister? It's not like you knew her very well or anything. Not enough to risk your life for her, at least…"
"Because she's someone important to you, Elias."
"That's it?"
"Huh? Well, yeah, that's the only reason."
"I see…"
Elias's expression was hard to read. I certainly was an important existence to him. He was his little sister, he left the Rynd household ever since I was ten, he showed me gratitude over his little sister more than anything.
Even without Catherine urging him on, Elias knew Patricia deserves some kind of reward.
"Patricia. Is there anything you want me to do for you?"
"Eh? Anything I want you… to do for me?"
"Yeah. Think of it as like… a reward for your hard work. Just keep it reasonable, okay?"
Patricia was taken aback. She'd just done what anyone would have for their comrades, so she felt like Elias was trying to exaggerate her achievements a little. She groaned herself and looked at me for help, but I looked back and simply nodded. Patricia thought about it for a few seconds more, then broke out into a wide grin. She nodded back to me and turned to Elias.
"Okay, then I want you to take my first kiss."
"Denied."
Elias instantly shut her down. Patricia glared sulkily at him.
"But why? That was clearly supposed to be your dear moment! Right? Right?"
"I told you to keep it reasonable."
"It is reasonable."
Taking Elias first kiss was too much for Patricia, even though she is deeply loved by Elias, he lends out a disgusted face. I was even shocked by Patricia's request. After that, Patricia teared up.
"Come on, don't cry… Catherine was my daughter. I can't change that now. And you, well, I do care about you, but that's not really the same thing as love… so you know…"
In a span of a few seconds, Patricia's excitement had transformed into indignation.
"Elias, you dickless bastard!"
"Hey… cut it off!"
"Dickless wimp! Homo! Good-for-nothing loser! Pervert!"
She let out all of her pent-up frustration at once, peiting Elias with insults. Behind her, Cassius and I let out a chuckle.
"Brother. Personally, I wouldn't take that kind of disrespect." I said
"Hahahahaha… She really called the guy who wiped out an army of five thousand monsters… a dickless bastard… Hahahaha." Cassius joins in
They made no effort to hide their voices. Elias seriously considered throwing them out of the wagon for a second, but Catherine's reproachful glare kept him in check.
Elias awkwardly turned back to Patricia. He promised to himself he'd strangle Cassius later. As for me… she'd only enjoy it, so he decided to ignore me.
I sighed again, Elias just harrumphed unhappily, while Patricia was the only one that tried to be polite. With that, the adopted daughter of Elias, Catherine has decided to join in, as the wagon sped toward the town of Allure.
Little did they know that another meeting awaited them there. And that even further down the road, there would be one even more important reunion.
"Town Allure, here I come!"