Episode 43. The Revealed Truth
Renisha was a type Kassius had never encountered before.
Renisha was unhesitating in everything she did.
Like a gladiator with a sword.
Though she harbored a weakness within, she never faltered, relentlessly moving forward.
Look at the flames burning in the place where the Emperor had sent her to die.
Her pink eyes held an unquenchable vitality.
The unquenchable flame of the gods, Renisha.
She truly lived up to that name.
So small and delicate, yet so full of spirit.
Kassius recalled the castle's condition.
In truth, Kassius only needed shelter from the rain and wind.
He had lived in worse places.
Kassius had been reduced from Hasham's successor to a slave gladiator in an instant.
But Renisha was different.
Renisha had never lived in such a shabby place.
Hiloshine Castle didn't suit Renisha.
Even in that shabby castle, Renisha, shining with dignity, came to mind.
And then the fact that Renisha had become Kassius's wife also came to mind.
'Renisha Lottera, Kassius's wife?'
"I like the Duchess. She's much better than those of us who only know how to swing swords. I couldn't help but admire the Duchess today."
Jerry talks a lot, but he never lies.
He wouldn't lie even if a knife was held to his throat.
Kassius glanced at Jerry.
He thought it was worth listening to Jerry praising Renisha.
"She was always praised as an outstanding person, wasn't she? She gave orders without a moment's hesitation. So I like it. The Captain is treating the Duchess well. What if she runs away? Is this place a bit harsh? And those guys who followed you are a bit aggressive? Try picking those flowers over there. And that one too."
Jerry, who had been praising Renisha, urged Kassius to pick more flowers.
Then he smiled and added.
“But, as expected of a gentleman, flowers suit you well.”
Kassius’s face crumpled like paper.
“Shut up. Get out of here.”
Kassius kicked Jerry’s butt.
“Anyway, Thrion...”
The destructive words of Renisha and the light-butted Terion combined to create this situation.
Perhaps because he had heard the word gentleman so many times, he really felt like she had become one.
Kassius turned his head to see whether Jerry quacked like a duck or not.
“Is it better to have more than one?”
Kassius clicked his tongue slightly and picked some more flowers.
His body felt itchy as he tried to do something he had never done before.
Fortunately, there was someone who was paying attention to Kassius...
“Mom! Pick that man’s flowers!”
“Shh! Mom told you not to look!”
There are many. They've seen everything.
Kassius clicked his tongue again. He guesses this is enough.
Kassius got up, hid the flower behind his back, and said.
"We're going back to the castle! Those who will accompany us, follow us now!"
Kassius walked awkwardly.
He turned around quickly, hid the flower in front of him, and mounted his horse.
Fortunately, the stem was crushed, but the flower was unharmed.
Kassius rubbed the back of his neck, as red as the setting sun, and set off.
Renisha Lottera.
The impact that name had on the residents of Hiloshine was tremendous.
The remaining residents of Hiloshine had gathered here after hearing Renisha's name.
They all sat together in the desolate garden, and Renisha watched them intently.
Renisha's face was utterly calm, sitting with her buttocks against the wooden box she had retrieved from the castle.
"Is... Is Lottera really coming back?"
Someone asked in a trembling voice.
“The old Lottera will not return. Everything has already changed. Kassius here has become the new Duke of Lottera.”
The people’s faces were confused.
To them, the image of Lottera’s master was solidified as the Duke and Duchess who died in battle.
“And I, as Kassius’s wife, have become Lottera again.”
“...You are no longer the Empress?”
It seemed that the news had not reached this faraway place.
Renisha smiled faintly.
“I will never cease to be Lottera. I intend to start Lottera again from here. With your help, perhaps it will be possible.”
“...Lady Renisha...”
The people of the territory called out to Renisha, weeping.
“We believed you would return. We believed Lottera would not abandon us.”
“...I’m sorry I’m late. Thank you for keeping Hiloshine’s secret until now.”
“It was only natural! For it to be passed on to the Emperor...”
Renisha was a type Kassius had never encountered before.
Renisha was unhesitating in everything she did.
Like a gladiator with a sword.
Though she harbored a weakness within, she never faltered, relentlessly moving forward.
Look at the flames burning in the place where the Emperor had sent her to die.
Her pink eyes held an unquenchable vitality.
The unquenchable flame of the gods, Renisha.
She truly lived up to that name.
So small and delicate, yet so full of spirit.
Kassius recalled the castle's condition.
In truth, Kassius only needed shelter from the rain and wind.
He had lived in worse places.
Kassius had been reduced from Hasham's successor to a slave gladiator in an instant.
But Renisha was different.
Renisha had never lived in such a shabby place.
Hiloshine Castle didn't suit Renisha.
Even in that shabby castle, Renisha, shining with dignity, came to mind.
And then the fact that Renisha had become Kassius's wife also came to mind.
'Renisha Lottera, Kassius's wife?'
No matter how many times he thought about it, it felt strange.
Renisha didn't seem to care much, but...
Kassius cared about everything.
What Renisha ate, what she wore, her actions, her words. Everything.
The knights who had come down to the village with Kassius were going from house to house, claiming to be rescuing people from the castle.
The villagers, their faces sticking out, gathered in the square.
Cassius sat by the square's still, gray fountain, staring intently at one spot.
"Hmm..."
It was a flower, blooming in a delicate white color.
Its simplicity didn't suit Renisha.
But, flowers... flowers suit her well.
Kassius nodded.
He looked around and confirmed that no one was paying attention to him.
Kassius cleared his throat and knelt on the floor as if nothing had happened.
He picked a flower with careful hands, even for a rough-hewn warrior.
'We're married, so flowers...'
Kassius had that kind of romanticism, too.
'Flowers aren't practical, but they do have the effect of making people feel good.'
Madame Turiel's advice came to mind.
'It's the flower that matters, Your Excellency. It doesn't matter what kind of flower it is.'
Didn't Turiel say that the flower was important, the flower?
"Hmm!"
Kassius cleared his throat and was about to get up.
Renisha didn't seem to care much, but...
Kassius cared about everything.
What Renisha ate, what she wore, her actions, her words. Everything.
The knights who had come down to the village with Kassius were going from house to house, claiming to be rescuing people from the castle.
The villagers, their faces sticking out, gathered in the square.
Cassius sat by the square's still, gray fountain, staring intently at one spot.
"Hmm..."
It was a flower, blooming in a delicate white color.
Its simplicity didn't suit Renisha.
But, flowers... flowers suit her well.
Kassius nodded.
He looked around and confirmed that no one was paying attention to him.
Kassius cleared his throat and knelt on the floor as if nothing had happened.
He picked a flower with careful hands, even for a rough-hewn warrior.
'We're married, so flowers...'
Kassius had that kind of romanticism, too.
'Flowers aren't practical, but they do have the effect of making people feel good.'
Madame Turiel's advice came to mind.
'It's the flower that matters, Your Excellency. It doesn't matter what kind of flower it is.'
Didn't Turiel say that the flower was important, the flower?
"Hmm!"
Kassius cleared his throat and was about to get up.
"What are you doing?"
"What!"
Kassius screamed, his feet numb.
"Whoa! Why are you yelling!"
"... Jerry?”
“Yes! It’s me, Jerry!”
If Terion was the adjutant in the unit led by Kassius, then Jeris was the action captain right under him. In fact, Terion was better suited to using his head than his body. He became the adjutant because he was suitable to assist Kassius, but in fact, in terms of military power, Jerry was second to Kassius.
“Uh. It’s nothing.”
“It’s nothing... Is that a flower?”
“Do you want to die?”
Kassius’s eyes flashed. How can you be so quick-witted? Kassius glared at Jerry and carefully picked up the flower.
“Oh, you’re going to give it to Lady Renisha? Is that why you were picking flowers? Well, for a captain, you’re very romantic. Good.”
“You really talk too much. Do you know that those kinds of people are the first to die on the battlefield?”
Kassius said coldly, but Jerry paid no attention.
"I like the Duchess. She's much better than those of us who only know how to swing swords. I couldn't help but admire the Duchess today."
Jerry talks a lot, but he never lies.
He wouldn't lie even if a knife was held to his throat.
Kassius glanced at Jerry.
He thought it was worth listening to Jerry praising Renisha.
"She was always praised as an outstanding person, wasn't she? She gave orders without a moment's hesitation. So I like it. The Captain is treating the Duchess well. What if she runs away? Is this place a bit harsh? And those guys who followed you are a bit aggressive? Try picking those flowers over there. And that one too."
Jerry, who had been praising Renisha, urged Kassius to pick more flowers.
Then he smiled and added.
“But, as expected of a gentleman, flowers suit you well.”
Kassius’s face crumpled like paper.
“Shut up. Get out of here.”
Kassius kicked Jerry’s butt.
“Anyway, Thrion...”
The destructive words of Renisha and the light-butted Terion combined to create this situation.
Perhaps because he had heard the word gentleman so many times, he really felt like she had become one.
Kassius turned his head to see whether Jerry quacked like a duck or not.
“Is it better to have more than one?”
Kassius clicked his tongue slightly and picked some more flowers.
His body felt itchy as he tried to do something he had never done before.
Fortunately, there was someone who was paying attention to Kassius...
“Mom! Pick that man’s flowers!”
“Shh! Mom told you not to look!”
There are many. They've seen everything.
Kassius clicked his tongue again. He guesses this is enough.
Kassius got up, hid the flower behind his back, and said.
"We're going back to the castle! Those who will accompany us, follow us now!"
Kassius walked awkwardly.
He turned around quickly, hid the flower in front of him, and mounted his horse.
Fortunately, the stem was crushed, but the flower was unharmed.
Kassius rubbed the back of his neck, as red as the setting sun, and set off.
***
Renisha Lottera.
The impact that name had on the residents of Hiloshine was tremendous.
The remaining residents of Hiloshine had gathered here after hearing Renisha's name.
They all sat together in the desolate garden, and Renisha watched them intently.
Renisha's face was utterly calm, sitting with her buttocks against the wooden box she had retrieved from the castle.
"Is... Is Lottera really coming back?"
Someone asked in a trembling voice.
“The old Lottera will not return. Everything has already changed. Kassius here has become the new Duke of Lottera.”
The people’s faces were confused.
To them, the image of Lottera’s master was solidified as the Duke and Duchess who died in battle.
“And I, as Kassius’s wife, have become Lottera again.”
“...You are no longer the Empress?”
It seemed that the news had not reached this faraway place.
Renisha smiled faintly.
“I will never cease to be Lottera. I intend to start Lottera again from here. With your help, perhaps it will be possible.”
“...Lady Renisha...”
The people of the territory called out to Renisha, weeping.
“We believed you would return. We believed Lottera would not abandon us.”
“...I’m sorry I’m late. Thank you for keeping Hiloshine’s secret until now.”
“It was only natural! For it to be passed on to the Emperor...”
“I really didn’t want to imagine that.”
“I thought so too. That’s why I had to hide it. But this incident made me change my mind.”
Renisha's pink eyes sparkled beautifully in the sunset.
The residents blankly stared at the warm glow of the sunset.
Renisha pursed her lips.
"We will make the most of what we have to make sure no one can touch us. We plan to make this Hiloshine the best in the Hientri Empire."
The residents looked surprised.
"With the capital I have, the resources of Hiloshine, and the power of the new lord, Kassius, it might be possible."
This time, everyone's gaze was drawn to Kassius, who was standing behind Renisha.
Kassius still had his hands behind his back.
"The man who picked the flowers...!"
"Shhh!"
The woman who had covered the child's mouth smiled.
"If it's Kassius...!"
Someone shouted in a shrill voice.
“That’s right, the hero who led Hientri to victory, and the new master of Hiloshine. And... also known as the Knight of the Red Snake.”
Kassius glanced at Renisha’s profile.
She was completely absorbed in the sunlight pouring down on her locks of hair.
The red, blazing sunset suited her better than anyone else.
Renisha looked like a sun goddess.
Slurp.
Red scales appeared on Kassius’ cheeks and then subsided.
“Oh! Really...!”
The people of the territory gasped in amazement.
The Red Snake had entered Kassius’s body during the war.
To repel the beasts threatening Hientri’s borders, even greater strength was needed.
Kassius’s choice to visit the sealing place known as the Red Snake’s Holy Land and accept the Red Snake was his own.
It was a life-threatening decision.
Fortunately, the Red Snake accepted Kassius, and he became a knight with the power of the beast.
It was thanks to this that Kassius could become a hero, that he could overcome numerical inferiority and achieve victory at Chorpa.
Kassius considered this a sacrifice.
It was because of this that people began to shun him even more.
But the people here were strange.
In fact, they were looking at him with even more favor.
Among them, a child whose mouth had been shut by his mother approached Kassius, squirming.
The child extended his arm to Kassius.
"You too, sir? He, he."
The child laughed.
Black snake scales sprouted from the child's arm and then subsided.
The startled child's mother took him and hid him.
At the same time, the shocked Kassius and the calm Renisha's eyes met.
It seemed... Hiloshine was full of secrets Kassius didn't know.
The mother and the people of the territory who had hidden the child were wary of Kassius.
The secrets they had been hiding had been revealed thanks to the child's innocence.
The mother's face, in particular, was pale and emaciated.
“You don’t have to be so nervous.”
Kassius, who was not good at speaking, scratched his cheek.
He didn’t know what to say to comfort them at a time like this.
Renisha was looking at him with an amused expression.
“Hmm. Is that the best way?”
Kassius craned his neck to the side.
Of course, he didn’t forget to leave the bouquet of flowers he was holding in his hand with Jerry before he started.
Kassius’s golden eyes swelled vertically.
Renisha’s face also looked startled at the sight of red scales that instantly covered his face.
Crunch, crunch.
Smoke quickly enveloped him with the sound of bones twisting.
Swirl.
Renisha’s five senses perked up.
Swirl.
“This is definitely...”
What appeared through the dispersing smoke was a giant red snake.
A black diamond pattern was branded on its forehead.
The story he had only heard in words became a reality before his eyes.
“I thought so too. That’s why I had to hide it. But this incident made me change my mind.”
Renisha's pink eyes sparkled beautifully in the sunset.
The residents blankly stared at the warm glow of the sunset.
Renisha pursed her lips.
"We will make the most of what we have to make sure no one can touch us. We plan to make this Hiloshine the best in the Hientri Empire."
The residents looked surprised.
"With the capital I have, the resources of Hiloshine, and the power of the new lord, Kassius, it might be possible."
This time, everyone's gaze was drawn to Kassius, who was standing behind Renisha.
Kassius still had his hands behind his back.
"The man who picked the flowers...!"
"Shhh!"
The woman who had covered the child's mouth smiled.
"If it's Kassius...!"
Someone shouted in a shrill voice.
“That’s right, the hero who led Hientri to victory, and the new master of Hiloshine. And... also known as the Knight of the Red Snake.”
Kassius glanced at Renisha’s profile.
She was completely absorbed in the sunlight pouring down on her locks of hair.
The red, blazing sunset suited her better than anyone else.
Renisha looked like a sun goddess.
Slurp.
Red scales appeared on Kassius’ cheeks and then subsided.
“Oh! Really...!”
The people of the territory gasped in amazement.
The Red Snake had entered Kassius’s body during the war.
To repel the beasts threatening Hientri’s borders, even greater strength was needed.
Kassius’s choice to visit the sealing place known as the Red Snake’s Holy Land and accept the Red Snake was his own.
It was a life-threatening decision.
Fortunately, the Red Snake accepted Kassius, and he became a knight with the power of the beast.
It was thanks to this that Kassius could become a hero, that he could overcome numerical inferiority and achieve victory at Chorpa.
Kassius considered this a sacrifice.
It was because of this that people began to shun him even more.
But the people here were strange.
In fact, they were looking at him with even more favor.
Among them, a child whose mouth had been shut by his mother approached Kassius, squirming.
The child extended his arm to Kassius.
"You too, sir? He, he."
The child laughed.
Black snake scales sprouted from the child's arm and then subsided.
The startled child's mother took him and hid him.
At the same time, the shocked Kassius and the calm Renisha's eyes met.
It seemed... Hiloshine was full of secrets Kassius didn't know.
The mother and the people of the territory who had hidden the child were wary of Kassius.
The secrets they had been hiding had been revealed thanks to the child's innocence.
The mother's face, in particular, was pale and emaciated.
“You don’t have to be so nervous.”
Kassius, who was not good at speaking, scratched his cheek.
He didn’t know what to say to comfort them at a time like this.
Renisha was looking at him with an amused expression.
“Hmm. Is that the best way?”
Kassius craned his neck to the side.
Of course, he didn’t forget to leave the bouquet of flowers he was holding in his hand with Jerry before he started.
Kassius’s golden eyes swelled vertically.
Renisha’s face also looked startled at the sight of red scales that instantly covered his face.
Crunch, crunch.
Smoke quickly enveloped him with the sound of bones twisting.
Swirl.
Renisha’s five senses perked up.
Swirl.
“This is definitely...”
What appeared through the dispersing smoke was a giant red snake.
A black diamond pattern was branded on its forehead.
The story he had only heard in words became a reality before his eyes.
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