Chapter 47. Good Morning
It felt like a typhoon had just swept through.
Johann’s sudden appearance truly left me dumbfounded.
To think that scroll was a summoning scroll!
I didn’t even know such things existed. They said it was such a rare magical item that even nobles rarely got to see one, let alone commoners.
<Hahaha. It’s because I’m Marseus that I bestowed it upon you.>
Johann explained cheerfully in the reception room where we met again, properly dressed this time.
As always.
He’s the only one excited about this.
Well. Thanks to him, my gloomy mood had completely vanished.
I suddenly felt regretful for using the summoning scroll so carelessly. Shouldn’t I have saved it for a truly dangerous moment, like when fighting undead and facing a life-or-death situation?
Hmm, come to think of it…
I wonder what Johann was feeling when he gave this to me that day?
I pondered, looking at the torn scroll placed on the bedside table.
I’ll come running anytime, anywhere.
I’ll leap into a place crawling with undead in an instant to save you.
Perhaps that was the sentiment behind it…
Twinge.
Somehow, I felt touched.
“Reality wasn’t quite so glamorous though.”
I giggled, recalling Johann summoned in his robe.
He probably never dreamed he’d end up wasting the summoning scroll like this either.
Should I ask for another one when I wake up tomorrow?
I thought, pulling the blanket up to my chin. Honestly, I considered asking even earlier in the reception room…
“Why did Mihail have to butt in.”
He kept interfering at every turn, making it impossible to have a normal conversation. Even Johann’s cheerful smile turned cold when he looked at Mihail.
One thing became clear from this.
The three heroes dislike each other.
Well, it’s not surprising.
Anyway, it had been a day of unexpected surprises.
Perhaps because of that, sleep eluded me well into the early hours.
I closed my eyes, trying to force myself to sleep. But Johann’s face, changing from surprised to cold to cheerful… kept appearing in my mind, causing me to toss and turn for quite some time.
* * *
I overslept.
Feeling the golden sunlight streaming through the curtains, I nuzzled my face into the soft pillow. Awake, but with eyes still closed.
Why hasn’t anyone come to wake me?
Is the purification training cancelled?
Well.
They must be busy entertaining the emperor who arrived.
“……”
Do I not need to go help with the entertaining?
At this sudden thought, I furrowed my brow. Still refusing to open my eyes.
“Looks like you’re awake.”
“……?!”
Am I dreaming?
Why do I hear Johann’s voice right next to me?
When people are too shocked, all their functions freeze. I turned to stone, then opened my eyelids a beat late.
“Huh!”
“Good morning.”
Discovering Johann smiling brilliantly in the sunlight, I bolted upright. He was sitting in a chair a little distance from the bed, his long legs crossed.
On the round table were a newspaper and teacup, untouched for quite some time by the looks of it.
So he had been watching me sleep this whole time…!
“Why are you here? What are you doing here?!”
“Ah. Your memory really is terrible. You summoned me at such a late hour.”
“No, don’t say it like that! Someone might misunderstand if they heard!”
“I tend not to care about others’ opinions.”
“That’s not what I mean!”
Ah, really!
He’s teasing me first thing in the morning!
As I glared at him intently, Johann stood up with an amused smile. Now I noticed his attire was typical of Sahar.
“Oh…”
It suits him well.
A man I thought would only ever wear formal uniforms now dressed in flowy, loose-fitting clothes — how should I put it? It gave off an exotic vibe and a strange charm.
As I stared blankly, he narrowed his eyes deeply.
“If you want, I could help you bathe.”
“……!”
Has this guy lost his mind!
I unconsciously gripped the pillow tightly. Fortunately, I exercised remarkable self-control and didn’t throw it at Johann.
Finding it amusing for some reason, Johann laughed out loud.
“Hahaha. Hurry and get ready, then come out.”
When I asked ‘Why?’ with my eyes, he replied, narrowing his eyes deeply.
“We have somewhere to go.”
* * *
Sahar was a big city.
I wonder if the people of this city know that undead swarm beneath the ground. They probably don’t.
But even if they did know, nothing would change.
After all, a city protected by a hero gave people such a sense of security that it negated all those dangers.
“Where are we really going?”
I asked, watching Johann walk leisurely with his hands behind his back. He looked around, surveying the surroundings, before speaking.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to Sahar. It’s developed a lot.”
“When was the last time you came?”
“Let’s see. It was in ruins back then.”
“Ah…”
Don’t say such things so casually.
The sudden comment left me unable to ask anything more. Not knowing where to look, I awkwardly gazed at the street.
The bustling noise of the city filled my ears.
A scene and atmosphere clearly different from Elmon.
I wonder how Johann sees this city?
An idle curiosity arose, and I discreetly rolled my eyes to look up at him.
Ah.
So that’s how he sees it.
With eyes like a deep sea that seem to encompass everything…
At this moment, I truly saw Johann’s blue eyes as the sea. The sunlight shimmering on them was like waves rippling, and beneath… like the sea with unfathomable depths, I couldn’t see it all.
Did I stare too intently?
Sensing my gaze, Johann turned his head.
Afraid of being caught peeking, I quickly looked ahead. I hear a chuckle from beside me.
Now he’s going to tease me again.
Asking why I was staring so entranced.
Ugh…
But the words I expected didn’t come.
Wondering why it was quiet, I snuck another glance, and saw him looking ahead again with a pleased expression, lazily curling up the corners of his mouth.
What is it?
Why are you smiling to yourself?
“……”
Well…
It’s not bad.
Feeling a tickle somewhere in my heart, I bit my lip inwardly. Like Johann, I looked ahead again.
And so we walked side by side down the street.
* * *
We arrived at what appeared to be a museum.
“Was this here before?”
Johann nodded lightly at my question.
“I’ve only heard about it too, this is my first time visiting in person.”
“There are things even Your Majesty doesn’t know?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t know.”
He added with a grin.
“Reports come in on how it’s managed.”
So you’ve only read about it on paper.
I wanted to retort, but decided to restrain myself a bit. Somehow, I felt I’d been too casual with him since he came to Sahar. I even raised my voice a few times.
If Jesuf had seen, he would have made a fuss about disrespect.
“The exterior looks decent.”
Johann said, looking around as if it wasn’t bad.
The square, sand-colored building was enormous, with various sculptures carved on the outside. It seemed to commemorate the achievements of the three heroes who fought the undead.
“Sir Andantino’s exploits stand out.”
“……”
As I muttered, looking at the overwhelmingly numerous sculptures of Mihail, Johann let out a scoff as if he couldn’t accept it.
“It’s good we came to look around. To think they’d secretly do something like this.”
“Didn’t we come here unexpectedly because I summoned you?”
“Whether in Sahar or Hilton, I was planning to visit you once.”
“…Really?”
When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, Johann cleared his throat softly and began climbing the stairs.
Oh…
He seems to be feeling awkward now.
I blinked quietly as I stared at his broad back.
What a cute guy.
He shows his human side sometimes, doesn’t he?
With a smirk, I followed him towards the museum entrance.
How many steps had we climbed?
Johann suddenly stopped, as if he’d discovered something, then began climbing the stairs again slowly.
Wondering why he was acting like that, I tilted my head and looked up. Soon, I could understand why Johann reacted that way.
“You’ve come, Your Majesty.”
Was Mihail supposed to come along too?
Hmm. No, no.
I have some sense too.
Judging by Johann’s icy expression, it didn’t seem so.
“Miss Sera.”
When Mihail called my name then, Johann’s expression grew even colder than before. It was so fierce that I felt I might catch a cold in this warm city.
Why are you really acting like this…
Pretending not to notice Johann’s state, I responded to Mihail.
“You were at the museum too, Sir Andantino.”
“Yes. I had a feeling His Majesty would come.”
Mihail smiled at me, but somehow the content of his words seemed aimed at Johann.
The air is cold.
Whenever these two meet, they seem ready to freeze the air.
I shrank my shoulders as much as possible, like a shrimp caught between whales. But my efforts to erase my presence didn’t last long.
Johann sneered.
“You’re quite twisted, Sir.”
“What do you mean?”
“Somehow, I thought it strange that you left me alone with Sera… this morning.”
“…Seeraa?”
The last part was me.
Why is he suddenly being so cringeworthy?
Ah, I’ve got goosebumps on my arms.
Unfamiliar with him doing something he doesn’t usually do, I said seriously,
“Please call me as you usually do, Your Majesty.”
- ianthe
remember to support the authors everyone~ (๑'ᵕ'๑)⸝*