Saito shook his head and pushed Louise away from him. Louise looked up at his face surprised.
Saito had an painful expression on his face.
After seeing such an expression on his face, Louise bit her lip.
“...Why such a face? Did something happen?”
“It's nothing.”
“I understand. As soon as we return, I will search for a way to send you back to your world.”
Louise said while hesitating. Apparently, she misunderstood. However, Saito thought it was good to let it be this way.
“...It's alright even if you don't help.”
“What?”
“I mean, you will marry soon, so you shouldn't bother about searching for a way to send me back.”
“What? Don't tell me you are worrying about that? You're still thinking about words I said in the La Rochelle hotel? Indeed, I said 'marry' at that time... But, but I wasn't serious about it.”
Louise turned her face away from Saito.
“It is not possible to marry yet. I am still not a splendid mage... And I haven't found a way to send you back either...”
Saito thought.
Indeed, Louise might not marry because she feels responsible for me. And because of that she won't be able to marry until I find my way home. Saito thought it would be bad for Louise. I do not think this is fair for this dazzling, beautiful, nice and gentle Louise.
“It's alright. I will look for the way to return alone, so you should marry.”
“What a selfish thing to say, you are my familiar! Defend me until we can find a way to send you back!”
Louise said and intensely stared at Saito.
“I cannot defend you.”
Saito's shoulders dropped down lonely when he said it.
“Remember what happened.”
The spectacle of the travel revived in Saito's head. When they started shooting the arrows, he was saved by Wardes. He was defeated in the duel with Wardes. When they were attacked by the man in the white mask, he could not save Louise.
It is always Wardes saving you. I was not able to do a thing but stand and watch.
“I am not a strong mage like the Viscount. I am just a normal person, even if they say I am the legendary familiar 'Gandálfr'. I don't know how to fight. All I can do is just swing a sword around recklessly. I can't protect you.”
Louise's palm struck Saito's cheek.
“Coward!”
Saito spoke without changing his expression.
“Let's separate from here on Louise. You return with the viscount by griffon while I return with the Eagle. When I get back, I'll look for the way to return to my world. As things are, I am indebted to you already.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Idiot!”
Louise shouted. Tears started running from her eyes again. Still, Saito didn't answer. He just watched Louise tremble.
“I hate you! I hate you!”
Saito muttered while veiling his eyes. “I know.”
Louise turned on her heels and ran down the dark passage. Saito patted his cheek. The place where it was hit still ached and made him feel very sad.
“Good-bye, Louise.”
Saito said in a small voice. Though he thought that he would not cry, tears were streaming down and did not stop.
“Good-bye, my gentle and lovely master.”
Chapter Nine: The Final Battle
The next morning…
Within Newcastle's port inside the cave, Saito stood in a queue to board the Eagle, surrounded by rushing people that were not able to leave with Marie Galante.
“Because of love, sometimes it is necessary to let go...” Derflinger muttered silently. He was hanging by a string on Saito's back. It was unbearable, during days like these, to have no one to talk to.
“Stop saying it…”
“Why?”
“I feel sick when you say it.”
“You mean ‘Because of love, sometimes it is necessary to let go’…That?”
“Why don’t you stop saying that?”
“I understand. If my partner is asking, I won’t say it anymore. Yet, we have to discuss a few things about our future. Have you decided where to go, since we have lots of free time now?” Derflinger asked, pretending not to know.
“Maybe to Arukattsu.”
“And there we will look for the way to return to partner’s former world?”
“Why would you be looking for it? I’m the only one who is an alien here, right?” Saito said.
A way to return home? Louise said she’ll help search for it, but he shouldn't rely on that. Even though leaving Louise's city was something hard to do.
“Then you should become a mercenary.”
“Mercenary?”
“Yes. With a sword on your shoulder, at one battlefield today, and then wandering to another country and battlefield tomorrow. Poor income, but at least your rage would be satisfied, right?”
Saito muttered.
“And with a bad teammate.”
“What, without me as a partner, an ordinary guy like you would be left behind instantly.”
“Even if your greatest power is rusting.”
“How rude. But I forgive you, since you are my partner. By the way, partner, I recalled one thing the other day…”
“What?”
“Partner, you are called Gandálfr?”
“Aah, because that’s the name of the legendary familiar. When I first heard it, I was amazed. I—”
“Wait. Wait just a moment, partner. I think I remember the name…”
“Really?”
“No, it is an extremely old memory… It was very long ago, I just caught it in a corner of my head…”
Derflinger kept on muttering “hm” , “aha”, and “aah” repeatedly.
“Maybe you are confused since it was a long time ago. Besides, where is the head of a sword anyway?”
Derflinger thought about it for a while.
“The handle, maybe?” He said, making Saito laugh.
It was finally Saito’s time to board the ship. When he rose up the gangway, he saw that the refugee ship was everything one could expect it to be – many people squeezed next to each other so that it wasn’t possible to find a place to sit on the deck.
Saito looked at the limestone cave from the edge of the gunwale. At that moment, Louise was in the middle of her wedding. Saito shut his eyes tightly at that lonesome thought.
People still kept boarding the ship one after another. It was really overcrowded and a mass of people pushed Saito around the deck. Someone’s elbow hit against his injured arm, making Saito scream.
Meanwhile, in a chapel, where the Founder Brimir's portrait hung, Crown Prince Wales was waiting for the bridegroom and the bride to appear. There were no other people around, as everybody was busy preparing for the upcoming battle. Wales also had planned, once the ceremony was over, to prepare for the battle as well.
Wales was dressed in the Crown Prince’s formal uniform. He wore a bright purple mantle, the symbol of the royal family, and a hat with seven colored wings, the symbol of Albion's royal family.
The door opened, Louise and Wardes had arrived. Louise stood with a dazzled expression on her face, so Wales had to urge her to come and stand in front of him.
Louise was puzzled. Everything happened so suddenly. Wardes barged into her room this morning and brought her here, without even waking her up properly. She was puzzled, because desperate feelings were swelling in her mind. She came here without thinking, still half-asleep. Because of the prince who was determined to die and Saito’s attitude yesterday, she was very depressed.
Wardes, after telling Louise that it was “Time to do the wedding now”, put on a bridal veil borrowed from Albion's royal family on Louise’s head. The veil was nicely made, and the flowers, that were eternally fresh due to magic, made it look indescribably beautiful.