68. Engagement – Item

A week later, Lena emerged from the church.

“Ouch, that hurts…”

The broken bones had healed, but I hadn’t bestowed the healing blessing on parts that would heal on their own, so half of my body throbbed.

As I limped home, several tribe members greeted me warmly and inquired about my well-being.

Most members of the Ainar Tribe, while clucking their tongues and saying, “Tsk, tsk, why did you do that?” were actually praising Lena and Leo’s impulsive actions.

Lena, puffing up with pride, cleared her throat and puffed her nose.

Dad sure scolded her badly, but it turned out well, so that’s fine. If only the last part hadn’t gone wrong, it would have been perfect.

The fact that I was caught off guard by the Old Phantom Fox’s actions was my downfall. The complacency born from fighting for my life had ruined everything.

Once it struck me that I nearly died, my earlier pride faded, and guilt overwhelmed me.

How worried must everyone have been? It seems Leo did well in the end…

‘But why hasn’t he come to visit me?’

Pouting, she hobbled home.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Oh my! Didn’t you say you’d come tomorrow? I was about to go out to greet you!”

“I just came out quickly. Where’s Dad?”

“He went out to meet friends. Are you feeling okay? Oh dear, you’re still half-baked. Did you eat? I told you so many times…”

Lena sensed that her mom’s nagging was going to get lengthy. “I ate!” she lied and dashed into the empty lot. In the lot, Leo was practicing something, swinging a two-handed sword with only his left hand.

“Leo! I’m back! Why haven’t you come to see me even once?”

As Lena approached, she wanted to complain a little, share her story about hunting a fox, and apologize for her mistake…

But Leo remained focused on training and said nothing.

With her feeling a bit awkward, Lena sat down on the ground, waiting for his training to finish.

Lately, Leo had changed a lot. He used to be polite and could never refuse a request, but now he had become gruff. The last time I asked him to drink beer, he flatly refused, saying he was tired.

‘Does this sudden leap in swordsmanship have something to do with it?’

Did personalities change when one gained enlightenment?

But Lena didn’t pay much mind to Leo’s change. She liked him no matter what his state was. Her easygoing nature didn’t allow her to fuss over trivial matters…

“Hey. Where are you going?”

Just when Leo seemed to stop training, he was heading inside the house.

“Leo? You’re already going in? Leo?”

Lena called out from behind, but he didn’t answer. He just went inside his house nonchalantly.

“What’s up with him?”

Leo acted as if he didn’t see her. But Lena wasn’t the type to let that slide. She followed him up the stairs, speaking again behind him.

“Leo? Leo? Can you hear me? Leo! Hey! Leo, let’s play! Huh? Leo! Why aren’t you talking?”

Ouch, that hurts.

Lena followed him up the stairs with her aching leg, but,

– Thud.

Leo shut the door as he entered his room.

What in the world?

‘What’s he up to? Maybe he’s trying to surprise me with a gift or something?’

She thought, waiting for a moment, before kicking the door open.

Ouch, that was a bad idea.

Contrary to her expectations, Leo was just sitting on the bed.

Feeling a bit disappointed and annoyed, Lena crossed her arms on her waist and said,

“Leo! Why aren’t you talking? If you keep ignoring me, I’ll get angry.”

“……”

On the other hand, Leo felt like he was going to die from the agony.

He had actually been planning to shoot back a remark as soon as he saw Lena.

How disheartening.

Yet, when Lena came out to the empty lot and called, “Leo! I’m back!” he suddenly lost his words. The reality was far different from the resolve he had prepared alone.

His heart was easily swayed by her voice.

‘This is going to get worse from here on out…’

In the future, he wouldn’t be able to move in front of Lena either.

Leo steeled himself.

He had something he needed to do. He had to check whether a cancellation of the engagement was possible.

If not, then this scenario would have to either aim for the throne or rely on some other scenario to clear.

“Go away. I’m tired.”

Despite his steely resolve, that was all that came out.

It was hard to be rude.

With each passing moment, Lena grew happier. Even now, he guessed it’d be impossible to hold a proper conversation later, so he needed to distance himself from her as soon as possible.

However, in his heart, he also hoped Lena would just leave him be, wanting to delay the situation even for a moment longer.

Of course, Lena wouldn’t comply. She outright pulled a chair and plopped down in front of him as she said,

“What do you mean tired? Hey, hunting monsters is really tough. I should have done better. Back then…”

Lena was about to start chatting, seemingly forgetting that Leo had been ignoring her words, pushing him harder.

In the end, Leo blurted out, “Yeah, you almost got me into trouble.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect so much blood to spill.”

But Lena took Leo’s words lightly. All she did was apologize, thinking she had inconvenienced him.

I can’t take this anymore.

It wasn’t easy pushing away someone who genuinely cared for him. Lena’s eyes, that looked at him without a shred of doubt, pierced his heart, leaving him speechless.

Noticing the turmoil within Leo, Lena asked,

“Leo? Why do you look like that?”

“…What?”

“You look super gloomy. Like you’re about to die.”

“I’m just… tired.”

“Really? Okay. Take a rest.”

Seeing Leo roll back onto the bed, Lena went out.

What’s wrong with him?

‘Does he think it’s his fault that I got hurt? I’m fine… I guess it is partly my fault.’

She hobbled her way down the stairs.

Ouch, that hurts. I need to rest too.

The thoughts of the two young people lying on their respective beds crossed paths in completely different ways.

*

Lena had to maintain her healing for another month.

The blessing of healing, used as sparingly as possible, had only managed to knit her bones together, but it couldn’t alleviate the shock that coursed through her body.

To make matters worse, she caught a cold and couldn’t move from her bed.

Meanwhile, Leo’s behavior was odd. He didn’t come to see Lena at home. He hurriedly finished his meals and left the table.

By this point, even Lena, who was usually dull, couldn’t help but notice something.

Leo was avoiding me.

‘Why? Why is he avoiding me?’

Despite suffering a severe cold and symptoms, the only thoughts in her mind revolved around Leo.

I’ll have to ask him when I feel better.

Then one day, just as the snow began to melt, urgent news arrived at Abrival Castle.

War had broken out.

The chief of the Ainar Tribe summoned three Great Warriors and the tribe representatives for a meeting.

The elderly chief struggled to sit at the head seat, and his son, designated as the next chief, spoke in place of his father.

In summary, the Austin Kingdom had declared war on the Belita Kingdom and that some tribe members needed to be conscripted as soldiers.

The tribe representatives stirred uneasily.

“Our Abrival Castle is a strategic point near the Jerome Holy Kingdom, so how can we be subjected to conscription?”

In response to that question, the chief’s son conveyed the news that the Holy Kingdom had declared it wouldn’t be involved in the war.

“Thus, we need to fill the numbers and select warriors. If we take one from each household, that would be too many. Should we take volunteers first and, if we don’t have enough, choose from among the warriors… how should we proceed?”

“Why not draw lots?”

“I think it wouldn’t be too late to see how many volunteers we get first.”

The chief’s son came to a conclusion based on the gathered opinions from the representatives.

“Then let’s do that. Oh, and of course, the Great Warriors can’t participate in this war, right? The Lord has earnestly requested it…”

The tribe representatives jumped up in protest.

“Of course not! How could we send our tribe’s symbols to someone else’s war!”

“Exactly. Fortunately, all the children of the Great Warriors are already warriors themselves, so they can participate in their stead.”

At that moment, Dehorman, who had been silent, finally spoke up.

“I shall go. Lena is ill now.”

“What?”

His words drew everyone’s attention, creating a ruckus.

“No! A Great Warrior participating in someone else’s war is unacceptable! That cannot happen!”

“That’s right. And what about the hunting team, Great Warrior?”

“The dispatch day is still some time away; by then, wouldn’t your daughter have recovered?”

Despite the deluge of protests from all sides, Dehorman remained unfazed.

“Lena has only recently become a warrior and is still a child; her injuries are severe, and she needs a long recuperation. But I won’t abandon my duty, so I will participate.”

“That is a disgraceful thing. How can a parent go to war while leaving their child, who is a warrior?”

“I’ve said all I needed to say.”

Dehorman made his point and crossed his arms. He then closed his eyes as if to signal he wouldn’t listen any further.

The tribe representatives muttered in confusion, and the old chief rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

After the meeting ended, Dehorman returned home and called his family and two men from the Dexter family to share the news.

For the first time, Leo heard that Dehorman himself would go to war. Until now, it seemed that Lena was to be sent in his stead…

Lena was upset.

“Why is Dad going to war? I should be the one going!”

“…You’re still not fully recovered.”

“I’m almost all better now! Dad, that can’t happen!”

“It’s already been decided.”

“Dad!”

Dehorman abruptly went into his room. Lena followed him, nagging and complaining, but it was no use.

Lena was furious, claiming that it was disgraceful, while Dehorman countered that sending his young daughter off to war was even more disgraceful. Lena retaliated by saying that mentioning the age of a warrior was shameful.

Speechless, Dehorman finally shouted, “It’s already decided!” and kicked his daughter out of the room.

Angry, Lena ran to Leo’s room to vent her frustrations.

But for some reason, Leo responded with vague answers and seemed disinterested. Annoyed by his attitude, Lena stamped her feet and shouted, “What’s the matter with you!”

Leo felt his resolve softening. He could evade Lena normally, but it was hard to withstand when they met and conversed face to face.

He broke out in a sweat trying to weave excuses to escape.

The arguments between Dehorman and Lena escalated daily, yet the outcomes were entirely different.

Days later, at a tribal meeting held to recruit warriors and fill the shortage of personnel, a better proposal emerged.

The old chief drew a line, stating that there was no way a Great Warrior would participate in a war that wasn’t their own. He then suggested acknowledging Lena’s merit in capturing a monster to some extent.

The meeting concluded before Dehorman could voice any complaints.

The tribe representatives thought it wouldn’t be a big deal if Lena sat out. To them, it was far more significant that a Great Warrior would go to someone else’s war.

The honor of the Ainar Tribe was in question… If a Great Warrior was set to go, it likely meant there was no one else to send.

Dehorman resisted this, claiming he couldn’t shirk such duties, but the other Great Warriors stopped him.

“Let’s acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. Your daughter achieved something huge. For a newly adult girl to capture a monster is a tremendous feat.”

“…Who can’t catch one with a trap?”

“There are plenty who can’t. Besides, I heard the trap wasn’t that impressive. Quit being so rigid. No one believes you and your daughter are shirking your duty.”

“……”

Dehorman accepted the result with reluctance.

As long as his daughter didn’t go to war, he thought losing a bit of honor was alright. While it might be foolish for a warrior to think this way, he didn’t want to see his daughter get hurt.

The image of Lena’s bloodied figure still haunted him.

*

At last, the day of dispatch was approaching.

The conscripted warriors and soldiers left through the city gate with their families seeing them off.

Feeling like she was somehow benefitting from this, Lena took a long, lingering look at the city gate.

Leo also stood at the city gate for a while, but he felt a completely different emotion than Lena.

Once, Lena had set off on that path alone; twice, they had left together. One time, she returned, and the other time, she didn’t.

This time, neither of them was leaving.

Leo felt a small pang, but it didn’t last long.

He left Lena behind and returned home alone. Even though a new path had opened before him, his heart couldn’t find peace.

Leo wasn’t the only one to come home early.

Dehorman, looking somewhat ashamed, hurried home without finishing the dispatch ceremony.

“Are you drinking again? Honey, do it in moderation.”

“…I’ll just have a little.”

He gathered the drinks and cups with a gloomy expression and headed towards Noel’s room, where the two fathers chatted the whole day.

By the time Dehorman finally emerged in the evening, he looked much more at ease.

A few days later, Noel Dexter summoned Lena and Leo to his study.

“I have something to tell you both. But first, Leo, take this.”

He handed a sword to his son.

Leo took it with confusion as a message appeared.

[ Achievement: Bound Item, 0/3 ]

[ Sword – Indestructible. ]

The items had appeared for the first time.