Chapter 5: Days Before The Catastrophe ⑤
In the borderlands, the Old Capital (Bienetta) was renowned as an S-rank Clan that no Seeker of the Arcana Kingdom was unaware of. Among them, the Tezoro Brothers, Kuroe and Kuroa, stood out with an exceptional presence.
Having made the decision to leave the Clan, they had completed most of the handover to trusted individuals and were living a peaceful life in Bordaf.
However, just as they settled into their new routine, they received a summons from the kingdom. This was due to their efforts in addressing the issues surrounding the great disaster known as the Sealed Domain. Naturally, the achievements of the Old Capital (Bienetta) as an organization were recognized, and not just the two of them, but also the other executives were invited. Initially, they considered leaving everything to the named executives and declining the invitation themselves.
One day, the two were set to have dinner with Ichiro, as promised. The venue was a high-end restaurant frequented by top-ranking Seekers—famous and expensive, yet far from stylish.
Upon entering and announcing their names, they were led by a staff member to a private room. There, Ichiro raised his hand, appearing somewhat tense. The room was soundproofed, as expected for a high-ranking party.
Even as the meal began, Ichiro wore a troubled expression. The two waited for him to share what was on his mind. Eventually, he bowed his head and asked for their help.
“Raise your head, Roh-san. Right, brother?”
“Yeah, of course, Roh.”
For them, refusing was not an option. With their words as a cue, Ichiro began to explain his situation, even as they ate.
The connection between the Hero and himself—the confrontation he would face when summoned by the kingdom.
His troubled expression revealed his inner turmoil. They wanted to alleviate his worries, but how could they…? The Hero’s mysterious ability felt like grasping at clouds.
“Well…”
Kuroe crossed his arms, wearing a serious expression. Kuroa, sitting next to him, tugged at Kuroe’s sleeve.
“Don’t worry, brother. This time, I think I can be of help to Roh-san.”
It seemed Kuroa had found some direction in which he could lend his support. At his words, not only Ichiro but Kuroe’s expression brightened as well.
The three then spent a delightful time together. A relaxed Kuroe laughed heartily. When Ichiro mentioned his love for cooking, perhaps in a moment of spontaneity, Kuroe invited him, “Let’s cook together next time!”
Kuroa, at that age where he wanted to stretch his wings, took a sip of Kuroe’s wine, and his face scrunched up in surprise, letting out a small “Ugh” as he stuck out his tongue.
As time passed, just as they were about to leave the restaurant, Kuroa suddenly remembered something and pulled out an item from his Magic Bag, placing it on the table.
“Roh-san, this is it.”
What lay before them was a disk-like object, resembling an oversized frisbee adorned with geometric patterns.
“What is this?”
“This is a prototype of the Improved Crane’s Guidance, designed for both miniaturization and portability.”
Ichiro was taken aback. The size of this prototype was far too different from the Crane’s Guidance he knew.
“It requires a massive amount of rare materials like rare ores and magic stones, and the consumption of Mana is extraordinarily high. There are countless aspects that need refining, so even if we continue to improve it, mass production seems unlikely… But still, I think it has turned out well enough to be called a ‘prototype.'”
When the conversation turned technical, Kuroa became particularly loquacious.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”
Ichiro struggled to find the right words, repeating “whoa” twice.
“I worked hard to have it ready for today—when I could meet Roh-san!”
Though Kuroe, who had been listening, knew that most of the trials had been completed before arriving in Bordaf, he chose not to mention it.
“That’s amazing… No, really.”
At Ichiro’s praise, Kuroa puffed out his chest proudly. Ichiro had known from the previous episode of the Crane’s Guidance that Kuroa was a capable developer. However, to achieve such improvements in such a short time was astonishing. He was not well-versed in such technology, but he understood that ordinarily, it would be impossible. Yet, Kuroa had accomplished it. Supporting the S-rank Clan from the shadows, Kuroa was undoubtedly a true genius.
“Then—”
The words slipped out reflexively, and Ichiro was surprised at himself, almost swallowing them back. He felt as if he was confronted with his own baseness and ugliness, lowering his gaze in distress. What he was about to say felt like a devil’s wish. What on earth was I about to say?
“It’s okay, Roh-san.”
It was Kuroa who spoke up. He could see the heavy, painful conflict in Ichiro’s expression. Kuroa wanted to do anything to alleviate his suffering.
Driven by Kuroa’s voice, Ichiro slowly lifted his face. There was no longer any way to stop himself.
“Kuroa, I’m going to ask for something unreasonable. If it’s impossible, that’s fine. But this is probably something only you can do. I’ll provide as much money and materials as needed. I’ll pay whatever price you ask.”
Shadows crossed his face. Whether it was the pangs of conscience or something else, his throat tightened.
“So, will you grant my wish?”