Farewell To Friends

“…!? Princess Patricia!”

Having teleported from the battlefield where Fafnir and Lindwyrm fought and returned to the foot of Mount Baldia, Jonah and the others joined up with the Imperial Army waiting near the forest exit.

They could have teleported directly here from the start, but deciding it would be bad if others saw the ancient magic, they chose the slightly more troublesome route.

“Y-you’re safe…”

“Indeed. The White Dragon has been slain by the Black Dragon. I will return to Helsing ahead with Jonah and the others and report this. You all should promptly begin preparations to return to the Empire.”

“Y-yes!”
“Y-yes!”
“Y-yes!”

Patricia held up Lindwyrm’s scale as she spoke, and the knights and soldiers saluted with complicated expressions.

They had assumed that until the others returned, nine times out of ten they’d either be killed by the White or Black Dragon, or they’d change their minds and come back without fighting—either one of the two.

But confronted with such an unexpected result, they were instead bewildered.

In other words, this would demonstrate that the knights and soldiers who had accompanied Patricia were useless…. or worse…

…No, it’s not just being useless or worse.

They had abandoned Patricia as she went to the place of death, and even wished for their liege’s death.

“W-we will accompany you!”

“Y-yes! It’s quite a distance from here to Helsing! Princess Patricia can’t go alone…”

“No. Besides, it is faster if I go alone.”

“…!?”
“…!?”
“…!?”

Told quite bluntly that they were unnecessary, the knights and soldiers turned pale.

They had offered to accompany Patricia at least to keep up appearances and avoid blame upon returning to the Empire, but they were curtly refused. Their own and their family’s lives were at stake, so such a reaction was to be expected.

“…Ah, do not worry. This matter couldn’t be helped. So don’t dwell on it and prepare for the return.”

“Y-yes…”

Taking in Patricia’s words, which said a lot without saying much, the knights and soldiers hung their heads.

They had been spared by her mercy, but more than that, they realized they had lost pride and honor through their own decisions.

“Well then. Jonah, Henrik, let’s go.”

““Y-yes!””

The three left the knights and soldiers behind and continued through the forest.

Without looking back even once.

“Well… Mom and Grandma will be worried at home, so we’re heading back. Of course, Jonah, you’re coming too, right?”

Emerging from the forest with Kelba Village in sight, Henrik asked Jonah.

In his mind, Jonah was assumed to be returning with them.

But.

“Henrik, I’m sorry… I’m heading to the next one.”

Jonah shook his head, wearing a sad expression.

Yes… Jonah’s goal was to encounter the world’s legends in the time he had left. Having experienced several meetings and partings in the past two and a half months, he set out in search of the next legend.

“Heh heh, I thought so. I had a feeling…”

“Sorry…”

“Don’t apologize! Besides, aren’t Jonah and I friends?”

“…! Y-yeah!”

“Vou! Vou!”

Henrik rubbed his nose with a finger and grinned, and Jonah smiled back and nodded.

Kuu seemed to be saying “Me too! Me too!” and barked enthusiastically.

“Ehehe! Of course Kuu too!”

“Vou!”

“Wa! That tickles!”

Jonah frolicked as his face was licked.

Precious friends Jonah had made after being flung to the northern lands by the Fairy King Oberon.

This journey, too, had brought encounters he couldn’t ask more of.

“Well then, we’re off!”

“Yeah! Goodbye!”

“Take care.”

Kuu raced over the snow toward Kelba Village with Henrik on his back.

Watching the backs of the lone boy and the animal, Jonah and Patricia smiled and waved… but.

“Hmm…”

Patricia squinted as she looked at Henrik and the others.

“…? Is something wrong?”

“No… It looked as if parts of Henrik and Kuu’s bodies were glowing…”

Jonah also looked at Henrik and the others, but there was no sign of the glow Patricia described.

“Perhaps the snow reflected the sunlight and made it look that way?”

“Hmm… that might be so.”

She responded to Jonah but tilted her head, unconvinced.

Why Patricia could notice that radiance is unclear, but it might be because she is a special presence in this world.

“Well, whatever. More importantly, Jonah, you told Henrik you were ‘going to the next one’—do you have any idea where you’re headed?”

“Uh, um…”

Pressed close by Patricia’s beautiful face, Jonah grew a bit flustered and averted his eyes slightly.

After all, Jonah was still a boy. He got nervous, and wished she wouldn’t get her face so close if possible.

Yet unconcerned, Patricia leaned her face even closer.

“If you haven’t decided yet, why not come to the Empire with me until then? I, Patricia, wish to reward you—you, the greatest contributor to the slaying of the White Dragon Lindwyrm.”

“Ehhhhhhhhhh!?”

Jonah couldn’t help but exclaim at Patricia’s offer.