A few days after King Frederickās death, Iām hiding in the mansion of the Henestrosa family in the royal capital as one of those who know about the death of the king.
To think we would thoroughly fell right into Vigoās scheme and was made out to be the ones who assassinated King Frederickā¦
I was finally able to meet Finn again, but I couldnāt talk to him in this kind of situation.
The private room assigned by Cassandra, the owner of the mansion, is a luxurious room made for visitors and has a maid who takes care of my need.
Just that, Iām restricted from getting out of the private room by Cassandra. Iām basically put under house arrest.
When I asked the maid, who takes care of me, it seems that Finn, Noelia, and Cinzia are each given a private room and cannot leave their rooms freely like me.
From Cassandraās perspective, her family might be made out to be a rebel in this situation, after all.
I have to put up with this much.
Since it was said that I would be restricted from getting out of the room until Frontier Count-sama arrives at the mansion, Iām sorting out my feelings for Finn in the meantime.
As Iām absentmindedly staring out of the window, thinking about Finn, the door is knocked and opened.
āI apologize to have kept you waiting. I have finally finished explaining the situation to the nobles in the last few days. I feel bad for having you to live like youāre under house arrest, but if you find any inconveniences, feel free to immediately tell the maids.ā
The one who enters the room is the owner of the mansion, Cassandra.
I promptly get up from the sofa, get on my knee, and lower my head.
āNot at all, I have lived as an adventurer for a long time, so I got no problem. In fact, I find it to be quite comfortable.ā (Alfine)
āI see, then thatās good. If I treat the Sword Master of the current generation badly, Lloyd might complain to me, you see. Oh yeah, our talk got derailed, but today I came to continue the previous talk.ā (Cassandra)
Cassandra looks at the maid who is waiting in the corner of the room as though telling her to retire.
Receiving Cassandraās gaze, the maid silently leaves the room.
The previous talk, meaningā¦
The one when she asked if I would live as Sword Master Alfine or as adventurer Al, huh.
But I should already have given the answer to that question.
In that case, it may be about the thing she whispered to meā¦
But what did she mean by that anyway?
āThat face, looks like youāre confused about what I whispered. I thought that would be the case, so I came today.ā (Cassandra)
āRather than confused, I just donāt know what to sayā¦ā (Alfine)
What Cassandra whispered to me was, āIf you live as the adventurer Al, live with the intention of devoting your life to swordsmanship. If you do, then everything will be fine.ā
āFrom what I saw, the adventurer Al would be known as the āGodly Speed Swordsmanā in the future. Her sword skill should be ranked on the same level as that of Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick-dono. By then, with refined ability and character, you should be able to become a true sword master.ā (Cassandra)
Cassandra says that if I practice swordsmanship as the adventurer Al, I can become a sword master in the true sense of the title.
āA true sword master, is itā¦ā (Alfine)
Although I was given the title of sword master by subduing the demonic dragon Gae Briggs, to be honest, my swordsmanship was not strong at all, and my character was unfit for a person who was called a sword master.
By leaving the royal capital to search for Finn, I naturally came to think that way.
To go to the end of the path of the sword, huhā¦
Deep down, I slightly feel like it is the path that I should tread on after apologizing to Finn.
āAhh, that path opened because of your previous declaration. I saw a future where you would end up taking your own life if you still have lingering regrets as Sword Saint Alfine, you see. That future would cast a dark shadow on my granddaughterās future, so Iām relieved.ā (Cassandra)
āI would end up taking my own lifeā¦ā (Alfine)
Thatās not impossible, huhā¦
If I had remained as Alfine, Iām sure I would think of taking Finn, who had abandoned me and ran away, back to my side, even by force.
However, I came to understand that it was a selfish and egoistical desire by meeting various people during my journey.
Thatās exactly why I could confidently declared that I had abandoned the name Alfine and would live as the adventurer Al back then.
āBut the fact that youāve decided to live as the adventurer Al means that you have sort out your feelings about Finn-dono to some extent, havenāt you?ā (Cassandra)
āYes, wellā¦ I am going to apologize for everything I have done to him. Should he wish to punish me, I will accept it.ā (Alfine)
I tell Cassandra the answer I came to during this journey.
āIf you have that determination, Iām sure youāll be fine. Besides, it seems you have some really good friends.ā (Cassandra)
āFriendsā¦ā¦ā (Alfine)
āYeah, the ones who really worry about you.ā (Cassandra)
Cassandraās words remind me the faces of Meilaās, Maribelās, and Sophieās.
For the longest of time, I thought that only Finn, my childhood friend, understood and worried about me.
However, that is not the case; when I look around properly, there are many people who are worried about me.
I just had never tried to face them all this time.
āIndeed. I have friends now. So, I am sure I am going to be okay.ā (Alfine)
After hearing the advice from Cassandra, I feel like I can completely sort out my feelings about Finn.
āThat is a good expression.ā (Cassandra)
āYou flatter me. Thank you for your advice.ā (Alfine)
āOh, right. I forgot to say that Meila and Maribel, and also a girl called Sophie are coming to see you because theyāre worried about you. I canāt let you go out, so you gals have to stay in the mansion, okay?ā (Cassandra)
After Cassandra went out of the room, the three people who Iām familiar with come in from the back door as though replacing her.