Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 226

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 226 – With Him

The next morning after the battle, the sea dragon ship Leviathan returned to Ishtalika.

However, Cain and the others stayed back in the capital city of Heim to guard the World Tree of Gluttony.

Only Lloyd and the crew returned, and they landed in the capital of Ishtalika, reporting that Ain’s rampage has stopped.

…Incidentally, the aftermath of last night’s battle reached the continent of Ishtar.

An unnaturally strong wind was blowing in many places, and high waves were crashing into the shore. The sky was dark and overcast.

Lloyd looked at the scene with a complex expression on his face and hurriedly made his way to the castle.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Your Majesty, I’m back.”

It was still too early for the first water train.

But that didn’t matter to Sylvird and the others, even at such an early hour. Laralua and Krone waited nearby.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Lloyd. I’d like to skip the formalities. How is Ain…?”

At Sylvird’s urging, Lloyd omitted the greeting.

“Ha. It seems that the efforts of Arche-sama, Cain-sama, and Sylvia-sama have borne fruit, and Ain-sama’s rampage has been brought under control. Sylvia-sama said that he is currently in a dormant state.”

“I-Is that true…? Ain, Ain was saved, wasn’t he…?”

“Of course, Your Majesty!”

Sylvird stood up and expressed his joy, and Laralua and Krone hugged each other in relief.

“However, there is one thing we should be concerned about.”

But then Lloyd opened his mouth as if to pour cold water on them. He looked up with a serious expression on his face and stared at Sylvird as he began to speak.

“We don’t know how to help Ain-sama regain his self-control. That’s because even though we were able to suppress the rampage and save Ain-sama’s life, the World Tree of Gluttony itself still stands in the capital of Heim.”

“…That’s not a story I want to hear too much about.”

“I agree. …However, since Sylvia-sama is still looking for a way, the three of them stayed behind in Heim to keep watch.”

“What did Sylvia-dono say about the situation where the rampage was suppressed?”

“According to Sylvia-dono, Ain-sama may be resisting in his heart. That is what she said.”

Then Sylvird furrowed his brow and approached Lloyd.

“In other words, you mean that Ain’s will and the will of the Demon King… or something like that, clash?”

“That is correct. It seems that Ain-sama is fighting the Demon King alone in his heart.”

The fact that Ain was fighting alone made Krone react more strongly than anyone else.

“Ain, alone…”

She murmured to himself and then clenched her hands in front of her chest.

She felt a great emptiness at the thought that she could have stayed safely in the audience chamber.

“Is there nothing I can do?”

“…I’m afraid all we can do now is wait.”

Sylvird fell silent when he heard Lloyd’s answer. But without a pause, Krone opened her mouth and says

“Lloyd-sama, may I speak as well?”

“Mm. Krone-dono… of course you may.”

“There is no guarantee that Ain will return to normal, and there is a possibility that he will go on a rampage again, or worse… we may have to defeat him. What do you think about that?”

“…..”

“As the Marshal, I would like to hear your opinion.”

This was a question Lloyd did not want to hear.

Lloyd, who had received a detailed report from Sylvia at the scene, was certainly able to answer Krone’s question.

Next to Krone, Laralua looked at him with serious eyes, and Lloyd opened his mouth as if he had given up.

“To put it bluntly, if we can’t find a way to restore his consciousness… and if Ain-sama is defeated by the Demon King’s will, then that seems to be the case. In that case… if the world is in danger, we’ll have to think of something else.”

He was vague about what he meant by “something else,” but it could only mean one thing: the defeat of the Demon King.

“Ist! I’m calling all the researchers from Ist to go to the royal capital! No matter what it takes, gather all the information you can!”

“Wait, Your Majesty… no, dear! Calm down!”

“Laralua, come with me! In the name of the King and Queen, issue the strongest possible order! I will call the lords to the castle!”

It was with such force that Lloyd and Krone were stunned. Sylvird strode out of the audience chamber, and Laralua hurried after him.

“Lloyd! Send me a detailed report on paper! I’m going to… that person!”

“H-ha!”

And when Laralua finally left the room, only Lloyd and Krone remained.

“Well then, Krone-dono… I’m going to prepare the documents to present to Laralua-sama… Have you heard from Dill and Chris?”

“Chris-san is resting in her room and has not regained consciousness yet. Also, Guard Officer Dill is resting in Katima-sama’s laboratory.”

Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief to hear that Chris and Dill were safe, but the mention of Katima’s laboratory raised a question mark.

“Katima-sama’s…? What exactly happened?”

“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain… Martha-sama is in the lab as well, so if you want, why don’t you go check on her?”

This was an unusual and uninformative answer for Krone. We knew he wasn’t dead, but that was about all the information that could be given.

“I see. Then I’ll check on Dill first.”

“Yes, then I’ll… “

Then, as Krone also started to move,

“I’ll… go to the harbor for a bit.”

And said quietly, following Lloyd out of the audience room.

The look on Krone’s face as she said this was a beautiful expression of determination.

◇ ◇ ◇

Krone, who had come to the harbor, made good use of her position and approached the large ship belonging to the August Trading Company.

“Ain… It’s okay; I’ll be right there. Just wait a little longer…”

She stood on the dock and looked at the sailors who were working. The sailors were surprised by the young lady’s sudden arrival and asked her politely what she wanted.

“Take the ship. Go to Heim.”

Krone turned in Heim’s direction and spoke these words.

“My lady…? Is that an order from the castle…?”

“No. It is my order.”

“…Then is it an order from the chairman…?”

“I’ll say it again. This is my order.”

The faces of the various sailors all turned strange. At a time like this, the young lady was heading for home.

They suspected that it was tantamount to suicide and asked for more details.

“My lady, I would like you to explain why you are heading for Heim.”

“I don’t think I need to explain, but if I had to, it would be because I have an important errand to run.”

“Therefore, if we cannot hear about this important business, we cannot send the ship.”

Then, unusually for Krone, she showed everyone her understandable irritation.

This was strange. One of the sailors who had been watching the situation ran off to tell Graff and Alfred.

“Is it that even my words are not enough?”

“…No, it’s not that. It’s more that I want to be careful because it’s you.”

“You don’t have to worry. It’s my decision.”

“No, please wait a moment. I think the chairman or Alfred-sama will be here soon…”

It was not far from the harbor to the main office of the August Trading Company.

If they rode horses, the distance could be covered in a few minutes, and Krone feared Graff and the others would arrive.

“…Please. We don’t have much time. Please, send a ship to Heim.”

Even Krone, who usually outwit her opponents calmly, let out a weak voice in this urgent situation.

The sailors felt sorry for her, but they continued to shake their heads, saying that they couldn’t put her in danger.

“All right. Then I’ll move the ship myself.”

Taking advantage of a moment when the sailors weren’t looking, Krone stepped forward. She placed her foot on the gangplank and walked briskly onto the ship.

She was confused by the swaying sensation, but she didn’t stop and continued to board the ship.

“My lady!”

“No, it’s dangerous, so please don’t move!”

Although she was relieved to have climbed off the gangplank safely, Krone didn’t know what to do next.

Perhaps because of this fear, the sailors from the dock spoke to Krone.

“I-it’s okay. We haven’t hoisted the anchor…if she’s alone, she can’t move it!”

But when one of the sailors realized this, they all calmed down.

They decided that forcing her back would be dangerous, so they continued to call out to her from the dock.

“…This is no way to move the ship.”

Hearing their voices, Krone realized that she cannot move the ship alone. She looked around the ship with a sad expression on her face, but she still cannot find a way out.

“Krone! What are you doing…!”

Having heard most of the story, Graff had already guessed what Krone was up to. So he shouted at her with a terrified expression on his face,

“I know what you’re thinking! You want to go to Heim and get close to him, don’t you? But I won’t let you go to such a dangerous place!”

“…Grandfather, I’m an adult now. So please let me make the decision…”

“No! No matter how many theories you come up with, I won’t accept it this time!”

“Grandfather! Ain is fighting alone right now… and I can’t just sit here and wait for her!”

“I’ll say it again… no. Calm down and come back! Go to our house and show your faces to Harley and Lyle, who have just been taken under our protection!”

Perhaps because of the busyness of things, Krone had not yet been able to see Harley and Lyle again.

When Graff pointed this out, he opened his hands as if to reassure Krone.

“I understand Krone’s situation. But let’s spend some time as a family and calm down… shall we?”

“Of course, Grandfather and Mother. And it’s important for me to spend time with my father and Lyle. But right now, I should be at Ain’s side.”

“What makes you say that…!”

“Isn’t it obvious…?”

Krone looked down at Graff and the others. She thought about Chris from the other day, and she couldn’t get the image of her sacrificing her body for Ain out of her mind.

When she thought about what she could have done for him, she felt a tight, crushing pain in her chest, and Krone took several deep breaths.

“Because my feelings for him…”

Like a revolving lantern, the party at Augusto’s mansion came to mind. Receiving the Star Crystal, sensing Ain’s personality, and cherishing the feelings she had nurtured since coming to Istalika.

And then she spoke with a voice so fragile and lovely that it dazed everyone else, full of feelings that pierced the heart.

“It will never change―my love… is a matter of life and death.”

Depending on who is watching or listening, these words may seem utterly ridiculous.

They may make one feel disappointed, thinking that she has become so absorbed in love that she has forgotten everything else.

However, for someone who gave up her family name, braved dangerous journeys, crossed the sea, and continued to work hard with single-mindedness, these words were full of great conviction.

In the end, Star Crystal also smiled, her smile fading, and looked at Graff with a wish in her heart.

“I understand. More than anyone else, I understand how Krone felt! But still, I cannot accept it… Krone, please come back.”

Graff’s feelings are also painfully evident. He doesn’t want to send his precious granddaughter to a dangerous place.

“Please… let me go to Heim… Grandfather…”

This time, Graff would not give in. And since Krone was also unable to cross the sea by force, it occurred to him that the situation had reached the point where there was no other option but to give up,

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

A mighty roar of fury echoed throughout the royal capital.

At almost the same time, the sea around the harbor rose high into the sky, and a wall of seawater formed around the harbor of the royal capital.

Yes, the best companions had gathered to be with her.

“Wh-what is that…!”

Graff hurriedly dismounted his horse and stared at the strange phenomenon spreading over the sea.

The reason soon became clear.

“Thank you. You came… El and Al.”

The two sea dragons that appeared were El and Al. As they appeared on the surface of the sea, flanking the ship that Krone was riding on, their beautiful scales reflected the morning sun.

The two deftly extended their necks, allowing Krone to stroke their heads. Then, they let out a satisfied yowl, proudly displaying their ability to control the currents.

“No, no! Krone… come back…!”

The crew and Graff approached the ship, trying to stop it as it slowly began to move.

“Grrrr… Aaaaaa!”

But El would not allow it. While El threatened them, Al cut the gangplank with water, and the ship was completely free. Once that happened, there was no stopping them.

By manipulating the ocean currents to increase their speed, the ship with Krone aboard overtakes the Leviathan anchored off the coast.

Accompanied by the two sea dragons, Krone set sail for Ain.

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