Episode 57. No Matter What
“Come with me to the Kingdom of Contana. Even if you were here, the guardian wouldn't return to Periat.”
If she didn't regain her strength, the guardian might never return.
But she couldn't leave Periat and let it be.
After all, Bercheria sought the Awakened to protect Periat.
“I already regret enough that I've been trapped in the tower and neglected Periat.”
She hadn't forgotten Lacrahan's plea for help for the people. She knew how much they had suffered, how much they had suffered.
She wanted to find the power as soon as possible and make amends for them. So that everything could be restored to its rightful place.
“Thank you so much for helping me today. But I think we can stop talking about going to the Kingdom of Contana.”
Bercheria turned her head toward the sea and fell into thought again.
Dipper watched her profile with a complicated gaze.
He had thought seducing Bercheria and taking her away was a simple matter.
So he left his land behind and flew all the way here.
“This will complicate things.”
Bercheria muttered, turning to Dipper.
“Huh? I didn’t hear what you said.”
Dipper straightened his face and smiled brightly.
“You’re tired, so come here and rest. I’ve got everything organized, so you’ll be comfortable.”
Bercheria walked closer to Dipper and bowed her head.
“Thank you. I hope I can repay you for today later.”
She settled comfortably in the seat he had made for her.
Lacrahan hadn’t been able to go to his bedroom until dawn, wandering outside. Immediately after Bercheria disappeared, he descended the castle and searched for a place where she might be.
He was worried that Bercheria had thrown herself into the water and hoped for a miracle recovery using her healing powers.
He knew that her powers had completely evaporated and never returned, but he wondered if she had risked her life on the small hope that she might return.
He knew Bercheria would never have made such a decision, but he was worried.
“Whew.”
Lacrahan, who had been circling the same spot, suddenly saw two familiar feet appear in front of him.
“Huh, huh.”
Laurent, panting heavily, stumbled over to Lacrahan and grabbed his shoulder as soon as he saw him. Lacrahan frowned as she looked at Lauren, who seemed to be embracing him.
“...What is it?”
“I'm so tired, huff, huff.”
Their faces were so close that he could clearly feel Laurent’s hot breath.
It gave him goosebumps, but he was the Prince of a neighboring country, so he couldn’t just throw him to the ground.
Lacrahan kept his head as far away from Laurent as possible. He was already in a state of confusion because of Bercheria, and he didn’t want to meddle in Laurent’s affairs.
“If you don’t mind, why don’t you go inside and get some sleep?”
“Oh. That won’t do. I have something to do.”
Laurent let out a long breath and straightened his back.
The lizard that had clung to Laurent’s shoulder every day was nowhere to be seen today.
But that wasn't important.
If Laurent didn't go in, Lacrahan could just go in.
"Then I'm off. Prince Laurent."
Lacrahan gave Laurent a brief nod.
As he turned to return to his room, Laurent grabbed his cloak.
Lacrahan's lips twitched as his balance was pushed back, and his throat tightened.
"Prince Laurent."
He was about to tell him to please go inside and get some sleep since it was late, when he blurted out something unexpected.
"Bercheria."
"...?"
"I found where she is."
Lacrahan instinctively took a step toward Laurent.
It wasn't "Do you know where she is?" It was "I found her".
But she couldn't leave Periat and let it be.
After all, Bercheria sought the Awakened to protect Periat.
“I already regret enough that I've been trapped in the tower and neglected Periat.”
She hadn't forgotten Lacrahan's plea for help for the people. She knew how much they had suffered, how much they had suffered.
She wanted to find the power as soon as possible and make amends for them. So that everything could be restored to its rightful place.
“Thank you so much for helping me today. But I think we can stop talking about going to the Kingdom of Contana.”
Bercheria turned her head toward the sea and fell into thought again.
Dipper watched her profile with a complicated gaze.
He had thought seducing Bercheria and taking her away was a simple matter.
So he left his land behind and flew all the way here.
“This will complicate things.”
Bercheria muttered, turning to Dipper.
“Huh? I didn’t hear what you said.”
Dipper straightened his face and smiled brightly.
“You’re tired, so come here and rest. I’ve got everything organized, so you’ll be comfortable.”
Bercheria walked closer to Dipper and bowed her head.
“Thank you. I hope I can repay you for today later.”
She settled comfortably in the seat he had made for her.
***
Lacrahan hadn’t been able to go to his bedroom until dawn, wandering outside. Immediately after Bercheria disappeared, he descended the castle and searched for a place where she might be.
He was worried that Bercheria had thrown herself into the water and hoped for a miracle recovery using her healing powers.
He knew that her powers had completely evaporated and never returned, but he wondered if she had risked her life on the small hope that she might return.
He knew Bercheria would never have made such a decision, but he was worried.
“Whew.”
Lacrahan, who had been circling the same spot, suddenly saw two familiar feet appear in front of him.
“Huh, huh.”
Laurent, panting heavily, stumbled over to Lacrahan and grabbed his shoulder as soon as he saw him. Lacrahan frowned as she looked at Lauren, who seemed to be embracing him.
“...What is it?”
“I'm so tired, huff, huff.”
Their faces were so close that he could clearly feel Laurent’s hot breath.
It gave him goosebumps, but he was the Prince of a neighboring country, so he couldn’t just throw him to the ground.
Lacrahan kept his head as far away from Laurent as possible. He was already in a state of confusion because of Bercheria, and he didn’t want to meddle in Laurent’s affairs.
“If you don’t mind, why don’t you go inside and get some sleep?”
“Oh. That won’t do. I have something to do.”
Laurent let out a long breath and straightened his back.
The lizard that had clung to Laurent’s shoulder every day was nowhere to be seen today.
But that wasn't important.
If Laurent didn't go in, Lacrahan could just go in.
"Then I'm off. Prince Laurent."
Lacrahan gave Laurent a brief nod.
As he turned to return to his room, Laurent grabbed his cloak.
Lacrahan's lips twitched as his balance was pushed back, and his throat tightened.
"Prince Laurent."
He was about to tell him to please go inside and get some sleep since it was late, when he blurted out something unexpected.
"Bercheria."
"...?"
"I found where she is."
Lacrahan instinctively took a step toward Laurent.
It wasn't "Do you know where she is?" It was "I found her".
"You said you found Bercheria?"
"Yes. That. That thing."
Laurent finally seemed to be breathing a little easier, puffing out his chest.
Lacrahan was still looking at him with a puzzled expression.
In fact, Laurent wouldn't have been inclined to tell Lacrahan this story if it were really necessary.
It would be great if he could find Bercheria and rescue her on his own.
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible at the moment.
"It's because it's a cliff above the sea."
“What?”
“Oh, no. This is just a soliloquy. Does Your Highness know about the Divine Condor?”
The Divine Condor.
He was clearly referring to the condor he had ridden when he ascended the tower with Bercheria.
“Are you talking about Muha?”
“Huh? You know?”
It wasn’t just a passing knowledge.
He had already heard it and seen what he looked like.
“It has something to do with Muha?”
“It does have something to do with it, but I really don’t know.”
Laurent had been beating around the bush, afraid that telling Lacrahan everything he knew would surprise him.
But now he was so angry he couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Ugh, that’s not right,”
Laurent shouted.
“That Bercheria is in Muha nest! Bercheria!”
“What? Failure?”
Anxious, Gerard was waiting for Dylan in his room when he heard a shocking sound.
“Failed?”
He asked Dylan, who was reporting to him in disbelief, the same question twice.
“How can that be? You just failed to capture a woman?”
Dylan stood there, dumbfounded, unable to respond.
Leading the Imperial Guard, he had always considered himself no match for the average man.
It wasn’t arrogance.
Among the existing knights and the King’s bloodline, no one could possibly defeat Dylan.
“The situation was unavoidable. By the time we arrived, she was gone...”
“You call that a lie!”
Gerard was on the verge of exploding.
For someone who normally wouldn’t move from the Imperial court to come all the way north was a testament to his passion.
He couldn’t say how long he’d waited to obtain Bercheria, but shouldn’t the Emperor’s Guard Commander understand this?
“Dylan, listen carefully. I’ve been here twice and been told there was nothing they could do.”
“...”
“That’s why I killed them both. The ones who told me that. You know?”
Even though Gerard insisted on threatening him, Dylan didn't move from his original stance.
If he could, Gerard would kill Dylan right then and there.
But the problem was, there was no one else who could do it for him.
He had to whip him into finding Bercheria, no matter what.
"So what are you going to do?"
Gerard sighed deeply.
He felt like this was fucking impossible.
"Go find her. Come find her, no matter what."
"Yes."
Squeak.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened behind Dylan.
Groovy, who had gone to wash up, came into the room to sleep and froze upon finding the two men in such a menacing mood.
"..."
Groovy glanced at Gerard and walked back toward the door.
Dylan lowered his voice to Groovy, who was irritating him with his constant pacing.
"If you're going to come in, come in. If you're going to leave, leave quickly. You're getting in the way."
Groovy, who grew up in prison, seemed to adapt well thanks to his natural quick wit. But in situations like this, his inexperience with the outside world inevitably showed.
Finally, at a loss, Groovy backed away.
Then, when he spotted servants walking down the hallway, he had no choice but to retreat back into his room.
Dylan closed the door before the Lacrahan servants could pass by and spot Gerard.
“Your Majesty.”
Groovy bowed to Gerard and stood hesitantly against the wall.
Gerard stared at them through narrow eyes, sucking air in through his teeth.
Then, glancing at Groovy, who was standing against the wall, said,
“When we go back, put him in prison first.”
“...!”
"Yes. That. That thing."
Laurent finally seemed to be breathing a little easier, puffing out his chest.
Lacrahan was still looking at him with a puzzled expression.
In fact, Laurent wouldn't have been inclined to tell Lacrahan this story if it were really necessary.
It would be great if he could find Bercheria and rescue her on his own.
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible at the moment.
"It's because it's a cliff above the sea."
“What?”
“Oh, no. This is just a soliloquy. Does Your Highness know about the Divine Condor?”
The Divine Condor.
He was clearly referring to the condor he had ridden when he ascended the tower with Bercheria.
“Are you talking about Muha?”
“Huh? You know?”
It wasn’t just a passing knowledge.
He had already heard it and seen what he looked like.
“It has something to do with Muha?”
“It does have something to do with it, but I really don’t know.”
Laurent had been beating around the bush, afraid that telling Lacrahan everything he knew would surprise him.
But now he was so angry he couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Ugh, that’s not right,”
Laurent shouted.
“That Bercheria is in Muha nest! Bercheria!”
***
“What? Failure?”
Anxious, Gerard was waiting for Dylan in his room when he heard a shocking sound.
“Failed?”
He asked Dylan, who was reporting to him in disbelief, the same question twice.
“How can that be? You just failed to capture a woman?”
Dylan stood there, dumbfounded, unable to respond.
Leading the Imperial Guard, he had always considered himself no match for the average man.
It wasn’t arrogance.
Among the existing knights and the King’s bloodline, no one could possibly defeat Dylan.
“The situation was unavoidable. By the time we arrived, she was gone...”
“You call that a lie!”
Gerard was on the verge of exploding.
For someone who normally wouldn’t move from the Imperial court to come all the way north was a testament to his passion.
He couldn’t say how long he’d waited to obtain Bercheria, but shouldn’t the Emperor’s Guard Commander understand this?
“Dylan, listen carefully. I’ve been here twice and been told there was nothing they could do.”
“...”
“That’s why I killed them both. The ones who told me that. You know?”
Even though Gerard insisted on threatening him, Dylan didn't move from his original stance.
If he could, Gerard would kill Dylan right then and there.
But the problem was, there was no one else who could do it for him.
He had to whip him into finding Bercheria, no matter what.
"So what are you going to do?"
Gerard sighed deeply.
He felt like this was fucking impossible.
"Go find her. Come find her, no matter what."
"Yes."
Squeak.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened behind Dylan.
Groovy, who had gone to wash up, came into the room to sleep and froze upon finding the two men in such a menacing mood.
"..."
Groovy glanced at Gerard and walked back toward the door.
Dylan lowered his voice to Groovy, who was irritating him with his constant pacing.
"If you're going to come in, come in. If you're going to leave, leave quickly. You're getting in the way."
Groovy, who grew up in prison, seemed to adapt well thanks to his natural quick wit. But in situations like this, his inexperience with the outside world inevitably showed.
Finally, at a loss, Groovy backed away.
Then, when he spotted servants walking down the hallway, he had no choice but to retreat back into his room.
Dylan closed the door before the Lacrahan servants could pass by and spot Gerard.
“Your Majesty.”
Groovy bowed to Gerard and stood hesitantly against the wall.
Gerard stared at them through narrow eyes, sucking air in through his teeth.
Then, glancing at Groovy, who was standing against the wall, said,
“When we go back, put him in prison first.”
“...!”
Groovy’s face paled at the mention of the prison.
He had always lived there, and he had thought he might never be able to leave, but hearing the reality made his heart sink.
Perhaps it would have been better if he had never known about the outside world.
Watching Groovy tremble involuntarily, Gerard said with a smile.
"But you know what? If you find Bercheria, I'll spare you from prison."
Groovy gaped, his mouth hanging open in a daze.
"...Huh?"
"Bercheria, can you find her? Want to try?"
Gerard's lips twisted upward.
Originally, when someone was being used, the best material was the most desperate.
Of course, he threatened Dylan with his life, but this kind of person's nature made him inevitably dull.
But what about Groovy?
Born and raised in a dungeon, he's breathed the outside air. No matter how calm he may appear, how desperately he must be right now.
That kid would probably sell his soul just to avoid returning to the dungeon.
Gerard called Groovy over and sat him down.
Groovy knelt and bowed at Gerard's feet.
"If you find Bercheria, I'll give you a fitting reward."
"A-a reward?"
"Yes. I'll give you a house. Somewhere quiet and secluded."
"...!"
"And I'll give you enough to live off of for the rest of your life. It won't be much, but enough to live frugally."
Groovy's hand, resting on his lap, was trembling.
And there was another advantage.
He always lacked the things he desperately wanted, so he was overwhelmed by a few coins.
In short, it was incredibly cost-effective.
"How about coming to Bercheria?"
Groovy collapsed flat on his face, his forehead touching the floor.
"I'll do my best. I'll do my best."
Just being able to avoid the dungeons was enough to make him want anything.
And he'd give him a house and money.
Just find him a woman.
"Please trust me!"
Groovy shouted with all his heart.
"Yes. Don't disappoint me."
Gerard rose from his chair and walked toward the entrance.
When Dylan opened the door, he turned to Dylan as if remembering something belatedly.
"But what about Lacrahan?"
"...What do you mean?"
"No, that's right. My servant died, so why aren't you holding Lacrahan accountable? Shouldn't you be able to bring him in or lock him up?"
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