Knights of Tristein (1)

Kleio only blinked, so surprised that even the alcohol clouding his mind seemed to fade away.

“But the moment he broke the [Covenant], a small void arose within him. Do you believe that is natural? I don’t. I knew that humans are the sum of their memories and experiences and that they collapse when those are lost.”

“Are you saying that because of his memory loss, Pierce Klagen has become an entirely different person?”

“Yes. It’s unimaginable to those who knew him. There must’ve been something about love or justice in his lost memories. He showed me how far humans could fall when they lose those things.”

Kleio filled Mietsu’s cup and set down the now empty bottle. All of the snow in the bucket had melted, turning into lukewarm water. A substance changed shape with temperature. Likewise, a person’s mind could be transformed into a completely different form than before.

“That’s why it is terrifying. If Pierce’s memories could be restored, perhaps his sense of honor and justice might as well, but… I don’t know how.”

Kleio’s mind rushed around.

‘He’s saying if the penalty could be removed, Pierce might not remain with Aslan, right?’

At that moment, the light of Promise flashed in front of Kleio’s eyes, like the buzzer in a quiz show.

[―User’s narrative involvement increases.

Cumulative rate: 35%]

‘What, seriously?!’

It made Kleio think he had been correct and that the author wanted him to do something about it.

‘I need to take care of it?!’

***

The next morning…

“Wake up!”

“Wake up, Lei!”

Kleio was on the verge of crying as the twins opened the window and stole his blankets away.

“Ah, guys, please lower your voice. My head hurts so much…”

Kleio rolled around, hugging his pillow, but the twins relentlessly pulled him out of bed and carried him to the basin of water.

“Wow, you told us to drink lightly, but you stink of alcohol!”

“Fool!”

The bitter twins continued to wake him up despite his cries.

“Stop, help me…”

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Kleio went down to the first floor after barely washing his face and getting dressed. His complexion was bright as the snow accumulating outside, a terrible hangover pounding at his head. It felt like his stomach was doing somersaults.

‘In the end, we drank all the remaining vodka… Damn it.’

He had acquired a lot of useful information, but the cost had been immense. It was a level of binge drinking even a young liver couldn’t handle. Arthur, who had left much earlier, didn’t seem to like it. He was having breakfast with the twins, who had a pile of crepes and smoked salmon on their plates. Isiel, who was looking at Arthur and Kleio, silently ate porridge. There were also fried pancakes with ricotta cheese, rye bread covered in honey and goat’s milk, and boiled eggs. It was a good breakfast, but it wasn’t food that he could eat with his terrible hangover. Kleio held onto a glass of hot water as Mietsu approached the table with two bowls in hand.

“Hey, Asel, I thought you were doing well yesterday, but you look very behind?”

“Mr. Mietsu… You look to be in good shape.”

“This isn’t easy. Arthur can’t stand that drink.”

“Ah, you and Lei are too strong. Humans can’t drink like that…”

Arthur grumbled, pointing to the empty vodka bottles lined up on the bar table.

“What?”

Mietsu placed a bowl in front of Kleio and a similar one in front of himself. A familiar and savory scent wafted from the bowl.

“Asel, try this. It will help a little.”

“Sir, why do you only favor Lei? You met him for the first time yesterday!”

“Because he shared a cup with me until the dawn brightened the world. He’s a man among men, my friend. You were disqualified after I dragged you to the bedroom.”

Kleio grabbed a spoon with trembling hands and scooped up some of the broth Mietsu had brought him.

‘…This!’

It was a taste that opened his eyes.

‘It’s like seolleongtang!’

Mietsu scratched his beard as he watched Kleio breathlessly eat the soup.

“How is it?”

“It’s very delicious. Thank you.”

“It’s grilled beef bones and brisket, seasoned with salt and pepper, and with thinly sliced leeks. It’s good for a hangover.”

‘So it is seolleongtang.’

Kleio had already fallen in love with Tristein Manor.

‘I have to hire a chef from the Tristein territory when I return to the capital.’

The flavor was a bit different from the herbs used, but it was close enough that it warmed his heart as well as his stomach.

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After breakfast, the party left the inn together. The owner of the pub saw off the party who had raised his sales enormously. Horses and carriages laden full with luggage had gathered in a small square in the town below the clocktower. There were mercenaries dressed up as if they had come directly from the port standing out in the square as well. The party rode in a carriage together, along with Mietsu.

“It’s already cold, but it will be twice as cold when we go up to the residence. The others are knights, so they’re fine, but you’re a wizard, so can you wear it?”

All the children wore thick fur coats, but Mietsu seemed to be only concerned about Kleio, who was wearing a thin autumn coat.

“I’ll get you a fur coat later. A child like you will freeze and die up here if you’re not careful.”

“Thank you for your concern, but this is warm enough.”

Kleio wore a rabbit fur muffler, with sturdy winter boots that Dione had given him and fur-lined gloves. The magic tools were doing their job admirably, as he was so warm, he felt drowsy. Lippi and Leticia intervened for him.

“The coat is a magic tool. Though it looks thin, it feels very warm. I’ve tried it before too!”

“It’s also light. Fur’s so heavy it will weigh Lei down!”

“Well, it’s a magic tool clothing? It’s been a while since I’ve been to the capital, so I didn’t know the fashion.”

“What fashion? This is the only temperature-controlled clothing in the country.”

“Lei broke the dungeon and received it as a reward.”

“I heard the news of the Door of Mnemosyne through rumor… Not only did these kids go in, but this weak friend joined you? Too dangerous!”

Kleio was half-asleep from his hangover, despite the fact they were talking about him right there.

“I understand your worries, but Kleio Asel is a great wizard. Without him and the rest of us, we would’ve never been able to destroy the remembered world.”

“That’s right, Isiel.”

“It’s more than that.”

“Huh, yes. It’s been the first time since Arthur that Isiel praised another.”

“Because Lei is that great! Great wizard, can’t you cast me some healing magic?”

Arthur, also dying from a hangover, came to Kleio without missing a beat.

‘Oh, this child.’

“I hate you.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

Wizard magic couldn’t be applied inside one’s own body. They had drunk together, so wouldn’t it be unfair if only Arthur were freed from a hangover? The possibility of Kleio getting out of a hangover right away seemed far off.

“Look, hey. It’s very cold here, and I drank too much, so even my old wounds are sore.”

Kleio flinched.

“Are you being honest?”

“When the weather is bad, I can understand what the old veterans would always talk about.”

“Oh, I’m proud of this eighteen-year-old!”

Mietsu squeezed an arm around Arthur’s neck, and the prince began to struggle.

“Don’t do that, sir. We still have to go a long time before we get there.”

Mietsu clicked his tongue, letting Arthur go. With a deep sigh, Kleio opened his circle with a sore head. The children familiar with his circle reacted normally.

“Huh, Arthur, you want a spell cast?”

“Why, are you doing it?”

“Kleio, your condition also looks very poor. Don’t overdo it; Arthur should know how to refrain from drinking on his own.”

“Hey, don’t do it.”

Arthur pretended to cry and sat beside Kleio.

“Hey, everyone’s too much. Lei, you’ve opened the circle, so save me from hangover hell!”

“When you open your mouth, my motivation disappears.”

His magical formula rose from the bottom of the carriage, wrapping around Arthur with dancing lights.

“[Come dance around me,

And keep me dancing still,

Although I may drink my fill,

Sobriety is like a jewel,

That I do adore] 1)”

He had never dreamed of quoting a poem such as a Drunken Man’s Praise of Sobriety as a mantra.

“Wow, that’s great. How can you make up a mantra like that? My hangover has vanished. Thank you so much, Lei!”

“In this world, you are the only one who manages to be so extravagant. Ugh.”

The children were so excited they had forgotten all about Mietsu. His smile had vanished as he turned his head, staring at Kleio under the shade of the carriage. It was hard for him to believe his eyes that such a brilliant magical expression had come from such a sickly boy.

‘Is this that so-called genius?’

He was also a knight at one time, knowing the magic of a wizard. However, the magic this pale boy used was different from what he knew. The magic had been raised casually while they chatted, freeing them of their hangovers.

‘The accuracy of the formula follows the caster’s memory. He has the same skill as Zebedee.’

The youngest son of the Asel family, who had suddenly appeared to join Arthur, had a calmness and sense of judgment beyond his years. Mietsu was convinced that this young wizard would be a terrifying

1) 「A Drunken Man’s Praise of Sobriety」, WB Yeats.