10 Years After – 32
Let’s Go to the Palace
Luchila knew about the Hero Ruck.
“Yo-you are the Hero Ruck?”
“Cluck-cluck.”
“Yes, I am.”
Gerberga must have been surprised too.
I hadn’t expected Gerberga to know about Ruck as well.
Luchila was a member of a faraway tribe in the north.
I felt a little gloomy when I thought about how far my name had spread.
“That’s why I’m close with Eric.”
“So that’s why. That’s amazing.”
“Cluck!!”
Gerberga flapped his wings furiously and then flew over to my lap.
Chickens could fly if it was a short distance.
“Wh-what is it, Lord Gerberga?”
“Cluck!”
“Lord Gerberga wants to greet the Hero Ruck.”
“Is that right.”
If Luchila said it, maybe it was true.
But did Luchila really understand what Gerberga was saying?
I doubted it. I really did.
“Cluck-cluck.”
Gerberga clucked as he stretched his neck towards my shoulder.
It was almost like he was asking for a hug.
And so I gently hugged Gerberga.
“Cluck.”
Gerberga cooed.
“Lord Gerberga loves the stories about the Hero Ruck.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He was very happy when I read the storybook to him.”
“What? Storybook?”
I didn’t know that there was such a thing.
I looked at Goran.
“Ah, now that I think of it, there was such a thing. Eric decided to have them freely circulated across the country in order to facilitate reading comprehension.”
“We have one too! Do you want to read it?”
“…No. Not at all.”
There was no part of me that wanted to read a book about myself.
After that, Goran contacted the palace.
We were immediately granted an audience which would allow us to see Eric.
“I am so nervous.”
“You don’t have to be so nervous, you know?”
“R-really?”
Serulis tried to help Shia relax.
We entered Goran’s carriage and went straight towards the palace.
When we arrived, a servant led us to a waiting room.
“So this is the palace.”
“It’s amazing.”
“Cluck!”
Shia and Luchila were looking around.
Luchila was holding Gerberga, who was also very excited.
I hadn’t been in the palace for a very long time. Over ten years, really.
The atmosphere seemed quite different.
I looked around the room. All of the decorations and furniture was different from ten years ago.
They were of high quality but not extravagant. It was probably Eric’s taste.
Just then, a boy came in with some tea.
He seemed very confident in the way he moved but looked younger than Serulis.
After he left, I said to Goran,
“He seems pretty young for a Chamberlain.”
“He’s the chamberlain’s apprentice. Eric supports countless apprentices.”
“Really?”
Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Itte kara 10 Nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita
