Chapter 12

Right now I cant complain that galloping on the horse will knock my butt around.

Because its best to prepare a spare horse, Im currently riding a horse on my own.

Saralegui is riding with Adalbert, to be more precise, I should say hes tied onto Adalberts back. Ive never seen such a depressed-looking piece of cargo. Seriously, I cant believe that there are men in this world who dont envy muscles.

To be honest, Im really extremely pleased with myself right now. Although the danger isnt over yet, and Im still in a pinch, but having my vision back makes me feel as though theres nothing I cant do, as though theres nothing in the world beyond my means.

I can ride a horse on my own, get away from the equestrian people who plan to kidnap the Seisakoku emperor for a ransom, solve the problem of the oasis water source, save Jason and Freddy, and in accordance with their wishes, help Venerain other words Hazel, reach the royal tombs, make sure the Box is safe and then return to Shin Makoku.

After that Ill fulfill the promise I made my brother and return to Earth, return home.

The maseki in front of my chest heats up again after so long, too, so I believe everything will go smoothly.

Yuuri.

Still a little nervous being on horseback, I glance to my side, and see Conrad riding up to me. Although were on the run, his expression is very calm, and hes smiling at goodness-knows-what.

Youre riding well so high up, huh.

Are you trying to say riding on a high? Please spare me the cold jokes![1]

Im not.

It seems its been a long time since I saw Conrads gentle smile. How strange, not long ago we saw each other every day.

While you were away, I practiced properly.

Is that so? Looks like you had a good teacher.

I cant say hes lying, either.

I feel as though just being able to see makes my riding skills fifty percent better.

Yuuri, about that

His tone sounds like hes going to say something important, so I lean my body forward in order to hear him better, and at the same time I apply pressure with my thighs to make sure I dont fall off.

What is it?

Your soul

I never hear the rest of it, because Adalbert, in charge of the rear, issues a warning in a voice that can be heard clearly even during a game,

The pursuers are here!

So soon!?

Because theyre equestrian people, as long as they go all out on their horses, theyre extremely fast.

Wolfram catches up to us, the corners of his lips curling up. Under these circumstances, all he can do is smile strangely. Despite his angelic looks, he can also say something so mature. To think he can show a smile completely unlike his two brothers, saying such brave words.

Watching him grow up so quickly recently, I cant help but feel panicked. If I keep assuming hes on the same level as me, one day I will surely be left behind in the dust.

I maintain my balance as I look behind meas expected theyre right, although its only the size of a one yen coin, I can still see the speeding horses kicking up a cloud of dust in the distance.

With this its not too good to continue having Adalbert holding up the rear, once they take out weapons like crossbows, hell soon have to strike out. Saralegui, tied on his back, must now be experiencing a terror unlike any other before.

Adalbert! Come over to the front!

Understood. I really dont want to, but at the same time I dont want anyone wetting themselves on my back.

I already used the toilet before we set off.

Looks like hes not that terrified after all.

Rushing over to the front, Hazels steed raises its front legs majestically. Hazel Graves steers the brown mare to stand on its hind legs with her brilliant riding skills.

BOYS!

Whats the matter!?

We have a situation in front!

I focus my gaze and see a building about as tall as a hill in the distance. At first I thought it was a pyramid, but its not a simple pyramid shape, more like a slightly crooked mound, but its height and width are both several times that of Japanese ancient tombs. Maybe its the kings or emperors family tombs, otherwise its seriously too huge to live in.

But the problem right now isnt the tomb itself.

The danger isnt the historical building, but the new power that had been long since waiting in place ahead of us. A large group of people stand in a horizontal line, probably not more than two hundred people in total, and theyre advancing onto us.

From this distance I can see the shadows of spears and axes on their backs, so I can deduce theyre soldiers. But theyre different from equestrian people hot on our tails, because there arent a lot of soldiers on horseback, most of them are foot soldiers. Although we cant be sure if theyre friends or foes yet, or even completely unrelated to us, just a group we happened to stumble across, but we cant still be sure of their true identitiesbecause their limbs are different from normal people.

Could it be the revived group

Right now isnt the time to call them such a cute name. Those guys are all dead people, theyre the accursed undead that attacked us back before we entered the underground tunnel.

We have no choice but stop the horses, and our pursuers may also have realized that their messiah is with us. In that case, if things get bad all we can do is ask Adalbert for help

Your Majesty, maybe this is just me.

Hazel asks in a careful tone unlike her, as though theres something she finds hard to say.

That cold case ahead of us, I keep feeling as though Ive seen it before.

What cold case

Only after she says that, do I see that opposite us, and start disbelieving my own eyes. I have indeed seen it, my vision capturing the image and sending it to my brain, which then quickly analyses the image. But I cant believe that the answer I get is correct, so I start wondering if my eyes that just recovered are problematic.

I refuse to believe that what my eyes see is an illusion.

Wolframs low murmur to himself gives me a confirmatory answer.

Gurrier

It cant be, right?

It cant be.

How could it be.

Gurrier Josak is obviously there I dont want to keep remembering, grabbing my throat with my left hand, my fingers grappling my neck tightly.

Josak is still alive.

If thats true, even if theres a stone stuck there, I still want to squeeze a sound out of my painful throat. I dont know whether the words I hear next are Conrads, or my own.

If it really is him, then that before was an illusion, and, my, hypothesis

No, its exactly as Your Majesty said.

Right now, Lord Weller seems absolutely polite and humble.

It cant be!

Although his tone sounds very heartless, but he probably noticed long ago.

The man that looks like Josak rides a red horse in the middle of the group. Hes wearing different things from when we were separated, his body wrapped in a grey cloak thats easily mixed up with the sand, something the equestrian people commonly wear. Hes not wearing the hood, so his orange hair flies in the wind, and the distance is too far for us to see his eyes clearly.

Is it the blue Im familiar with? Or a scarier color? Or some other emotionless color?

In front of the mans horse, theres something that looks like a mountain of rags. Having noticed our gazes in him, he carelessly tosses the item over. The black object lands in the sand with a thump.

The object wrapped in rags slumps on the soft sand.

It has limbs, and the back of that black-haired head is facing us.

Theres also something that seems like glass on his finger, sparkling in the sunlight. Although his shoulders twitch a little, they stop immediately. That person is alive, at the very least hes still alive now.

His head moves slowly, the black hair rubbing against the ground, it seems like he wants to raise his face, but he cant so its buried back into the sand. He doesnt groan, and I cant hear any breathing sounds.

But I know who he is. All from a glance of his forehead, and those eyes with the same color as mine, I know.

Murata?

He doesnt hear me.

W-why Josak

My body reacts one step faster than my mind. I cant control myself at all.

Hold on a second!

How do you expect me to wait! Murata

Conrad holds me back by putting his hands under my armpits, preventing me from jumping off the horse.

I will definitely save him, so please hold on a second.

How will you save him!?

No matter what methods I use, I will definitely save him.

But!

Saralegui walks over to where were arguing, his steps unsteady, it was probably Adalbert who let him down. His face and neck look even fairer under the desert sun, and then he asks something completely meaningless in a happy tone.

Yuuri, do you remember the contents of the deal?

Ah!? At a time like this, what are you talking about! Its obvious now isnt the time to discuss that!

Listen!

The powerful order makes me shut up.

I said before I wanted a certain persons life, right? Looks like its exactly as I expected. Ive decided.

I already said its not the time to discuss that.

But not your life, mine. You have to let me leave this country safely.

Eh, why

Saraleguis golden eyes, sparkle like a cat forced into a corner. But even though hes been forced into a corner, there isnt a hint of despair in his eyes. The corners of his lips even lift into a fearless smile, my first time seeing such a smile on him.

Because the situation has changed.

His gaze goes over Josak, looking at someone in the back. A slender body wrapped in a hooded cloak rides a white horse in the flying yellow sand, that appearance alone a worlds difference from the surrounding soldiers. Suddenly, my pinky starts heating up again, the pale pink ring tightening harder and harder, but not to the point of pain.

Why?

A strong gust of wind blows up the hood hiding that face.

The same hair, the same face, the same figure.

Yelshi

The young Emperor of Seisakoku, Yelshi, smiles with the same golden eyes as his older brother.