Chapter 92. Bonds Beyond Wisdom

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 92. Bonds Beyond Wisdom

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"Did you take her down?"

Lord El-Melloi II seriously eyed the young man in front of him, who was casually eating an apple. After witnessing an attack as terrifying as a god's wrath, he found it hard to believe that anyone could survive it.

"She's your enemy. She denied you, so it's up to you to deny her," Cyd shrugged. "Until you solve the mystery with your own strength, I'll just make sure no one interferes."

"Th-... thank you," Lord El-Melloi II was momentarily taken aback, then turned his head away.

"After all, I still need to consider the pride of an old man," Cyd chuckled softly.

"I'd rather not hear that from you," Lord El-Melloi II raised his voice.

"Um... Master," Gray, who was standing nearby, raised her hand, "The one who attacked us earlier, was she...?"

"Hephaestion. At least, that's what she called herself," Lord El-Melloi II held his forehead. Whenever something related to that King came up, he couldn't help but revert to being the powerless fool named Waver, someone who always worried others.

But fortunately, another hero was sitting right in front of him.

As the King's retainer, he couldn't disgrace himself in front of another hero.

"But something's off. No, it's unreasonable. Why..." Lord El-Melloi II closed his eyes. "Why don't I recognize her?"

"Master?" Gray tilted her head in confusion.

"It's okay. This guy has strong faith in his loyalty to that King. Because of that, he was able to see through that 'Hephaestion' and identify her true nature," Cyd's lips curled into a faint smile. "Did you forget?"

"Forget? That's the place I dream of reaching, and I remember everyone there clearly," Lord El-Melloi II lowered his hand. "I've always watched over that place. I remember every single face vividly."

"So, was she lying?"

"No. Whether it was—wait!" Lord El-Melloi II's eyes suddenly widened. "Her appearance... compared to that towering figure, she was indeed shorter. Black hair, gold and silver eyes... Iskandar? No... she's a 'fake' one."

"Oh? Have you already uncovered the truth?" Cyd clapped his hands, somewhat surprised. "I haven't figured it out yet."

"Don't joke around. Don't you possess the blessing of wisdom?" Lord El-Melloi II rolled his eyes. "There's no need to go that far to protect my dignity."

"No, no. My 'wisdom' is just the ability to gather information and deduce from it. But right now, I have too few pieces of the puzzle. Even if I could deny her, it would just be based on intuition, which isn't convincing. But you're different," Cyd pointed to where Lord El-Melloi II's heart was. "You've been holding onto a piece of the puzzle that's uniquely yours. You can prove it, but I can't."

"So you're saying that as a mere mortal, I've surpassed you, a hero? That's something to be proud of," Lord El-Melloi II leaned back on the sofa, his perpetually worried expression relaxing quite a bit.

Perhaps his bond with his trusted King had surpassed even the wisdom granted to heroes.

"So, do you know who the culprit is?"

"No idea."

"You... Don't get too cocky just because of a small victory," Cyd's face darkened. "You've only just begun to unravel the mystery."

"Of course I kno—"

"Bang—"

Before Lord El-Melloi II could finish his sentence, the Mystic Eye Train, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly jolted. Caught off guard, Lord El-Melloi II hit the table with the force of inertia.

"Ouch..." Lord El-Melloi II clutched his knee, his face twisted in pain.

"Master, are you alright?" Gray, holding her reddened nose, quickly stood up.

"I'm fine. That's not the issue here!" Lord El-Melloi II pulled open the curtain. Looking at the scene outside, his expression grew serious. "I was so focused on solving the mystery that I didn't notice—what a blunder!"

"Even if you had noticed, there's nothing you could do," Cyd teased.

The Mystic Eye Train... had stopped!

"Uh... seems like it," Lord El-Melloi II's mouth twitched. "We should go ask the conductor what's going on."

Just then, a somewhat indifferent voice echoed throughout everyone's room.

"Attention, this train is about to enter the Child of Einnashe. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please ensure your safety."

"What?!"

Olga-Marie, who had been pretending not to exist by lying in bed, and Lord El-Melloi II both shouted in unison.

"What is that?" Cyd tilted his head. It was rare to see something that surprised both Lord El-Melloi II and Olga-Marie, so what exactly was this Child of Einnashe?

"Tch, looks like the culprit has made some serious preparations," Lord El-Melloi II impatiently slammed his hand on the window. "The Mystic Eye Train would never do something this dangerous. For them to forcibly change the train's course along the ley lines, could the culprit have altered the surrounding ley lines?"

Completely lost, Gray looked around in confusion before raising her hand. "Um... I'll go outside and take a look."

"Don't!" Lord El-Melloi II rubbed his nose bridge. "This is a forest of Dead Apostles. Going out without being fully prepared is no different from walking to your death."

"Smack—"

Something hit the window, but Lord El-Melloi II didn't pay it any mind. His thoughts were entirely focused on how to get the Mystic Eye Train out of there.

"Mas... Master..." Gray's eyes widened, trembling as she pointed to the spot where Lord El-Melloi II's hand rested. "A h-hand..."

"A hand?" Lord El-Melloi II, still puzzled, looked at the spot where his hand was.

A bloody hand was pressed right where his hand was.

Even through the glass, I can still feel the warmth of your palm, because it's the only warmth in this cold world... Just kidding!

"Wa...ver..."

The bloody hand started to tighten, and in the blizzard, a person slowly stood up.

"Splash—"

Before Lord El-Melloi II could react, his vision was filled with blood.

Lord El-Melloi II: ...

"Phew~ I thought I was done for," the white-haired young man wrapped in a blanket smiled with relief as he held a steaming cup of coffee. "I'm really glad to see you, Waver~"

The frivolous tone made Olga-Marie frown. Unreliable—that was her evaluation of this man.

"Why are you here, Melvin!" Lord El-Melloi II wore an expression of exasperation.

Cyd raised an eyebrow. In his memory, only Reines could make Lord El-Melloi II show such an expression.

"Because we're best friends~" Melvin said nonchalantly. "When I heard you got involved with the Mystic Eye Train, I dropped everything and rushed over here."