While on our way to the audience chamber, I continued to engage Bilston in conversation. “Sir Bilston. By any chance, have you lost anything recently? Maybe often, as well? For instance, an empty cartridge….”
“Pardon?”
[A term not fitting the worldview has been used and therefore….]
“I mean, such as misplacing a portable magical explosive….”
“Your highness, do I look like such a pathetic fool capable of doing that?”
I just couldn't think of what to say here.
When looking at that stiff walking posture or the firm pectoral muscles, or even that slightly dopey expression on his face, this guy was definitely Yi Hyeon-Seong, but…. But, according to 'Character List', he was not him, but the character of this world's setting, 'Bilston Framer'.
I re-read the 'Overall Rating' portion at the bottom of the Character List.
– Once upon a time, there used to be two souls living within this body. He was a knight of the kingdom, and at the same time, a shield of someone else.
The 'knight of the kingdom' bit must be referring to 'Bilston Framer', while the 'shield' bit must be referring to Yi Hyeon-Seong.
– The shield waited for his master to appear. He waited, and then, waited some more. Finally, the master of the shield has appeared after a long wait, but the shield can no longer perform its role anymore.
The most important portion was this part. I kind of realised that Yi Hyeon-Seong had been waiting for other companions to arrive.
The issue here was with the number – just how much time was this 'long wait' thing implying here?
“Your highness?”
I couldn't help but feel complicated when looking at the man staring back at me with those dopey eyes.
There were only two things I could be sure of at the current juncture.
One, Yi Hyeon-Seong had been entered into this scenario far earlier than me.
Two, he had been swallowed up by this world's Great Fable and his ego had disappeared.
[Great Fable, 'Kaixenix Archipelago', is smacking its lips in your direction.]
['The 4th Wall' is glaring at 'Kaixenix Archipelago'.]
In that case, could the others who didn't possess [The 4th Wall] have ended up in the same state as Yi Hyeon-Seong?
“Your highness, did something happen?”
I wordlessly stared into Bilston's large eyes.
This guy was definitely Yi Hyeon-Seong. But, could he really be called 'Yi Hyeon-Seong' right now?
“I'm sorry, Sir Bilston.”
“I beg your pardon? Why so suddenly….”
“I must've put you through a lot of hardship. I know that it was difficult for you to protect me until now.”
I wasn't addressing Bilston Framer right now.
“I always used the excuse of being too busy and didn't take good care of you. Even though you have saved my life several times already.”
Yi Hyeon-Seong helped me out many times during our journey towards this scenario. I had enough chances to share a deep, meaningful and personal conversation with him, but as it was the usual case, his spot in the queue continued to get pushed back under the pretext of me preparing for the next scenario.
I believed that we understood each other without the need to say something. I believed that the Fables we earned together could ably sub for us in that regard.
And the end result of that was this.
Bilston must've thought of something after he heard me because he wiped his nostrils while shifting his gaze to the outside view.
“Your highness, you really do possess a warm, gentle heart.”
[Character, 'Bilston Framer', has been moved deeply by you.]
….I wasn't trying to impress him but someone else, though.
Without saying anything else, we continued down the long hallway.
Portraits of the previous kings lined up the walls of the hallway in sequence. The one that caught my eyes the most among them was a depiction of a lone man holding up a broken sword in the middle of a storm.
– The First Ancestor, the Storm King Ulysses Kaixenix the First.
I stopped walking for a moment and studied that painting.
“It has been my honour to serve you throughout my life, your highness.”
I turned my head around, and Bilston began telling his tale as thick teardrops formed around his eyes. He locked his gaze at the distant parapets of the castle and continued on.
“Can you still remember it? I almost lost you when you were around seven years old, your highness.”
“….Mm?”
Chapter end
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