216: It takes time to get a grip on the info, huh?

Familiar ceiling.

I woke up in my bedroom at home, head fuzzy, thoughts sluggish.

First thing: I couldn’t remember when or how I’d fallen asleep.

Then there was this weird exhaustion—odd, that.

...Should’ve drunk a stamina potion.

As I tried to sit up, I noticed someone leaning against me, asleep by the side of the bed.

Leifan.

She has the house key, so it’s not strange she’s here. But the situation’s still unclear.

Ah, just to be clear—plenty of people have the house key!

Jabir, the teacher living here, maid Ryuuko, of course, Maina and Persia, and even Kyle got one.

After all, it’s Kyle’s house to begin with.

When I lifted my upper body, Leifan stirred awake too, lifting her head.

She’s usually full of energy, but she looks oddly drained—kinda surprised me.

“Ah, what’s wrong, Leifan? You look tired or something.”

Honestly, I’m worried about my own state, but I can’t stop staring at Leifan right in front of me.

“Don’t you get it?! I’ve been worried sick ‘cause Craft hasn’t woken up at all!”

“Entirely?”

Wait… what was I even doing again?

I dig through my memory.

Hmm. First, the Empire declared war on Kyle’s territory, Elixir. Yeah. That part’s clear.

Then, we held them back at the new fortress built across the great river. Yeah. Mizuho’s warriors did good work, didn’t they.

The empire broke the stalemate by bypassing the great bridge and launching a direct assault on Goldendown.

Though that part worked out exactly as planned.

Anyway, the imperial main force arrived at the town, then collapsed under Alphard’s strategy. The survivors—elite fighters—were easily taken down by Raidock and the others. Yeah. The plan was a bit brutal, and Raidock was just too strong, but otherwise, everything went according to plan.

Seemed like everything was going perfectly.

“The empire attacked, wiped out the main force, right? Wait… what did I do after that?”

“Maybe you can’t remember?”

“Hold on. I’m just a bit confused.”

I shook the fog out of my brain. My thoughts, hazy and thick, slowly cleared up.

"Yeah. After that, Kyle went to speak with the surviving imperial forces, and then the bee people—no, the Beefiend Clan came back, along with Kyle’s stepmother, Bella..."

My mind was clearing up. Pieces were clicking.

After that... I think it was like...

"Yeah. We fought those damn hornets. Came out on top. Hell, I was surprised to learn the Beefiend Clan was actually the imperial wanderer Lucas all along."

"Yeah... can you remember what happened after that?"

Leifan peered down at me, eyes full of worry. Yeah, if my memories were all scrambled, I’d be worried too. Guess I’ve been out cold for a while.

"Lucas, the fallen fiend... right. He attacked Kyle... no, wait. He was trying to silence Bella..."

And then, finally, it came back to me.

"Wait... I can't remember what happened after that. Something about Kyle shouting... I looked up, and then—uh. No. Can't remember anything more."

Leifan let out a soft, sad sigh, slowly rising to his feet.

"Yeah. You remembered everything, Craft."

"Everything?"

"Yeah. So don't worry. Just rest again, slowly now."

"Was I unconscious on the battlefield?"

"No. Right now, you need to forget everything. Just sleep."

Leifan pressed his forehead against the back of my hand—the exact spot where the sigil of the Evening Alchemist glowed faintly on my left hand.

Could be my imagination, but the mark... it felt like it was telling me to calm down.

So many things I want to ask. But I’m definitely tired. I’ll just go with what Leifan says.

"Alright. Feels weirdly drained. I’ll rest a bit more."

"Yeah. Take it slow. Good night."

And so I just slipped into sleep, easy as that.

◆

When I opened my eyes again, I was dragged to the castle’s conference hall without so much as a proper explanation.

There they all stood, lined up in a row.

King Vaindeck Midlights von Maugaria of the Maugaria Kingdom, and beside him, the living god of the Mizoho Shrine Nation, Muten Ingrum, who could not see.

But he smiled—like he’d sensed my arrival by sound alone. Calm. Relieved.

Not that anyone else knows this, but Muten’s my new little brother, too.

Vaindeck—well, that’s Van’s man. Zaid, Kyle’s older brother. And the head court alchemist, Batista von Helmond, still with that ridiculous, flourished white beard.

Van raised one hand toward me, gave a light wave.

"Looks like you're feeling better. Sit down, then."

I take the seat without hesitation, but I blink a little at the group gathered here. It’s like the night before a final battle with the Empire.

The Mizuho group has Muten at the head, followed by General Shingen Wilhelm. Then the three heads of the Three Great Houses: Hanbee Wilhelm, Motonari O'Brien, and Masamune Saintclair.

Nobuna and Chiyome are sitting at the far end.

On the kingdom’s side, besides those three, there’s Javir the teacher, Maina, Alphard, Persia, Leifan, and Jitarou.

Wait—Lyuco’s here too, working as a maid. That’s rare outside my own house.

The usual adventurer party’s here: Raidock, Solal, Eva, Marilyn, and Camille.

And even the lizardfolk—Julara and Shururu—are here in full force.

Yeah, even me—slow as I am—could tell something big was up.

Wait... ain't someone missing?

Before I could ask the name of that person, Van spoke up. I shut my mouth.

"Craft. Glad you're safe. Everyone here probably felt relieved seeing your face."

Everyone nodded, smiling. Guess I gave 'em a scare. Feels bad, but... kinda nice, too.

"Right then. Let's get to it. Alphard, you explain what happened that day. If anyone else has something to add, feel free to speak up."

"Understood."

Alphard stood, straightened up.

"Let's start from when we defeated the demon lord Lucas. Do you remember Lucas throwing the needle at Vela?"

He looked right at me.

"That was a needle, huh. I thought it was an attack on Kyle, so I shielded Vela. I didn’t see the strike hit her directly."

Alphard gave a small nod.

"That’s right. It wasn’t aimed at Kyle. It was meant for Vela."

"I remember her foaming at the mouth and dying after that."

"Right. She collapsed. No pulse. No breath. She was definitely dead at that point."

At that time?

I caught something in that phrase. The answer came fast.

"But Vela was alive. No, she came back to life… maybe she was just in a state of suspended animation, but she moved again."

"Serious?..."

I’d seen someone in a state of clinical death before, back in my adventuring days. Breathing stops, but sometimes, if it’s only for a short while, they’ll just… breathe again.

Should’ve tied him up for good, just to be safe.

…Even if we had, I doubt it would’ve mattered.

Huh? What do you mean?

"Bela… changed. Not into a monster. Into a demon."

"Huh?"

Alphard waved a hand at me, silencing my confusion, and went on to speak calmly about what had happened back then.

April 28, 2023 — Volume 7 of Cuibron is out!