Reset Life – Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Re.Extra: Spring Has Come (4)

His face was seen to be brightly colored.

She tried to speak with her trembling lips. But it didn’t work well. Speaking now was harder than any training she had ever done.

“Ibi, thank……”

“Wait a minute!”

Her lips were opened just in time.

The words that had been blocked exploded, and a scream-like voice briefly echoed in the hallway.

She put her hands together on her chest. It was an unconscious movement, but she ended up holding the ring Arisein had given her.

After taking a short breath, she said.

“I, Ri, Risel, tomorrow. I’ll answer you tomorrow. I, I still don’t know what to say……”

“Ah…… Yes. I understand. I was too hasty. Um, then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Arisein smiled softly, looking at her confused appearance. Levidian thought that smile was the strongest weapon in the world.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to explain why her breath was taken away the moment she saw his smile.

Arisein smiled and turned around. And he walked away happily without looking back.

Levidian watched him, then startled at the thought that he might turn around, quickly went into the room.

Click.

She locked the door and pulled the string next to the fireplace. The ignition device moved, setting fire to the fuel, a mixture of firewood and coal.

She collapsed in front of the fireplace, her legs seemingly losing strength. And she looked at her right hand, which was tightly clutching the ring.

She was so surprised and had gripped it so tightly that her fingers wouldn’t open. She was flustered, but slowly opened her right hand with her left.

Inside was the ring Arisein had given her.

“Should I…… accept this?”

It didn’t look expensive.

He probably chose a simple design considering her personality.

The size seemed to fit perfectly on the ring finger of either hand. He must have been looking closely at her hand while helping her up during training for the past few days for this reason.

“Risel, why do you always make people……!”

Are you only good at surprising people?

I’m not ready at all.

She clenched the ring in her hand again. Only then did she realize what she had been hoping for from Arisein.

The ring taught her.

It was warm.

It felt warm, as if his warmth had permeated it, even if it was just a feeling.

A woman holding a precious object was there.

Her slender shoulders trembled slightly.

The sparkle that shimmered and fell from her eyes was more beautiful than anything else.

March 17, 375 of the Imperial Calendar.

Today was the ‘Day of Spring’.

It was the day when the average date of the biological start of spring was calculated across the Empire, and from March 17th, the official imperial documents could include seasonal records using the term ‘spring’.

Spring is a beautiful time.

Life that had been dormant during the winter awakens and stretches languidly.

In order for the explosive vitality of summer to flourish, life must first exist. Spring is the time when all life is resurrected, the time when their survival begins.

Like everything in the world, what is alive is always beautiful.

Small sprouts sprouted on the mountain ridges, allowing animals awakened from hibernation to satisfy their hunger.

Although it is spring, there is life that disappears, but all life circulates.

This too is providence, and beauty.

The ice that had been frozen all winter cracks and water flows, and the clean, cold water sparkles under the warm sunlight, singing a hymn of resurrection.

Just as all things in nature do, the spring birds become a choir, reciting the doctrine that the seasons are the work of the great god.

Sing! Rejoice!

The age of death and gloom is gone.

The age of life and joy has come!

Spring has also arrived in the Imperial Capital Nek.

Although spring arrived earlier in Nek than the standard date, March 17th becomes a new spring in the eyes of everyone.

Now there is no snow to be seen, and on the soft, dry ground, a child’s bare feet can enjoy the pleasant sensation.

Under the golden sun, people sang of Achuni and enthusiastically welcomed spring.

Even those who had been gloomy until the day before all had bright smiles.

Oh beautiful spring.

I shall praise your radiance!

Arisein Pen Herduke felt that the sunlight had never been as warm as it was today.

He had a normal dream, neither a nightmare nor a good dream, after a full night’s sleep like in the past. It was a dream he wouldn’t remember after waking up the next day, but it was also a spring joy to smile happily, intoxicated by the remnants of the dream.

Spring has come.

“Alright! Let’s have a good day today!”

His morning is ordinary.

He wakes up, washes his face, and washes his hair.

While his hair is drying, Marlin comes in and prepares his clothes for the day.

He has no important appointments today.

As for work, he finished it all yesterday, so he just needs to hand over the Eastern Army’s supply plan to the Imperial Defense Headquarters. An Imperial Army officer was scheduled to visit around lunchtime today.

He hummed a tune as he changed his clothes. As always, before breakfast, he practices swordsmanship with Levidian and Lea.

“Hum~ Hmmm~ Hmm~.”

“Oh my, Young Master. Did something good happen?”

Marlin, who was making the bed, looked at him with a curious gaze. Arisein smiled brightly and said.

“No. It’s the same as usual.”

“You seem more cheerful than usual?”

“Well, that’s because…… spring has come!”

It should have a different meaning, but Marlin just laughed. In fact, she was also feeling happy because she thought that spring had started today.

The degree may vary from person to person, but spring is always a pleasant time.

“Then, I’ll go train.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Marlin watched Arisein leave cheerfully with a pleased expression.

The days when she could call him Young Master were not far off. Next month, he will officially receive the title of Viscount, and then she will have to call him Viscount.

It’s natural for the second son of the Duke’s family to become a Viscount, but there were rumors among the servants of the noble families that he would be promoted to Count before six months had passed.

There were also opinions that it was ridiculous, but she firmly believed it.

‘Of course! Who is our Young Master! It’s ridiculous that the Knight of Light who saved the Imperial Capital is just a Viscount. Of course!’

Marlin, who had practically raised him when he was young, couldn’t be more proud of the grown-up Arisein every time she saw him.

She nodded with a satisfied expression and meticulously cleaned his room.

Being a servant of a great person is rewarding in its own way.

“Huh? Lea, where’s Teacher?”

“She hasn’t come out yet?”

“I can see that. That’s strange. She’s not usually late. Wait a minute. I’ll go check.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Lea focused on his training.

Arisein calmed his pounding heart.

After what happened last night, it was understandable that she would be reluctant to come out. But now he wanted to clarify their positions.

They couldn’t stay as ‘comrades’ forever.

He stood in front of the door and straightened his clothes and hair. He felt awkward doing things he didn’t usually do.

“Ahem. Ibi, wake up!”

He heard shuffling footsteps inside the room. Arisein smiled, listening to the footsteps approaching the door.

She must have been awake already, but she was probably hesitating, not knowing how to act.

The door opened, and he prepared to greet her with a big smile. So he wasted his effort.

“Good morning, Young Master. Teacher has already left, as she was not in her bed.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Arisein, with a sheepish expression on his face, leaned his head in and looked around the room.

Levidian’s room, which was originally not very decorated, was no different from a guest room except for a few books and a vase that she had bought herself, and a still life painting of a baby rabbit that she had shown particular interest in.

It’s been the same for years.

“Then I’ll continue cleaning.”

“Okay. Good work.”

Arisein scratched his head and shrugged.

Since the mansion was large, they might have missed each other on the way, or she might be running somewhere in the mansion’s vast garden.

‘Then…… should I look for her?’

He decided to run around the mansion as a form of exercise and look for Levidian. Whenever he saw guards, servants, or maids, he asked about her whereabouts.

Every time he asked, he was told that they hadn’t seen her.

After making a full circle and arriving at the place where Lea was training, she was still nowhere to be found.

He found it strange, but thought she would come eventually, and continued his usual training after sparring with Lea.

It was time for breakfast.

The dining table, without Ecaledon and Donthernon, was quite empty. Arisein led the atmosphere of the table with a bright appearance that made his mother and younger brother wonder.

After the meal, he went to Levidian’s room. There, the maid who was supposed to attend to her in the morning was at a loss, looking at the cooling breakfast.

He went around the mansion.

She still hadn’t appeared.

He waited until lunchtime, but she didn’t show up.

The lunch he had prepared for her had grown cold.

Anxiety. Unease.

Arisein met every single servant in the house, one by one. He even met the mage in service.

No one had seen her since the sun rose today.

After the last servant shook their head, he immediately headed to Levidian’s room.

He entered the empty room and opened the wardrobe without hesitation.

There, the clothes she usually enjoyed wearing remained untouched. He was about to feel relieved, but then he suddenly doubted his eyes.

Something that should have been there was missing.

She always kept her sword and backpack in the right corner of the wardrobe. She said she always kept things in a fixed place so they were easy to find.

They were gone.

And so was the dress he bought her for going out.

“Why?”

He collapsed in front of the open wardrobe.

He didn’t want to believe it.

He didn’t want his anxiety to become reality.

But she was gone.

She had disappeared.

“Why.”

For what reason?

“Why-!”

Thump!

He screamed as he hit the floor.

Spring has come.

Levidian had disappeared.

And she didn’t come back.

***

Residential area near the Herduke Dukedom.

Unlike what you might see in a castle, Bertan Smith is not a blacksmith, but a shoemaker.

A solid shoemaker who sometimes thinks that it would be fitting to change his last name to Shoemaker, said to his friend Hummerd Taylor, who runs a vegetable shop, which doesn’t suit his last name Taylor.

“Hummerd, I saw something strange last night.”

“There you go again. Do you really want to change your last name to Shoemaker that badly? Then I guess I’ll have to change my last name to Broccoli. Tsk.”

Hummerd never failed to give Bertan a jab every time he came to him for advice, saying he had seen something strange. Bertan considered most of these as a sign that he should change his last name.

A 30-year friendship allows you to understand a lot without words.

Hummerd had long since realized that what Bertan wanted was the certainty that he shouldn’t change his last name.

Thanks to having a good friend, Hummerd, who had acquired the ability to steer any conversation in the direction he wanted with any excuse, exercised the patience he had acquired through similar experiences.

“So, Bel. What kind of vision was it this time?”

“Well, last night, I was thirsty……”

It must have been a little past midnight. Bertan, annoyed that he hadn’t left a glass of water by his bedside, grumbled as he drew a bucket from the well in his backyard.

His wife always told him to fill the water bucket, but she always forgot before going to bed. And he couldn’t drink the water meant for his children, could he?

As a good father who loves his children, it was only natural that he should endure this much. (Hummerd focused on the fact that Bertan didn’t mention being afraid of his wife’s nagging.)

After drawing the bucket from the well and taking a sip of water, he unconsciously looked around.

His house was connected to his workshop and shop, and he looked at the sign hanging on the shop, thinking that ‘Smith Shoemaker’ still sounded strange. (Hummerd didn’t bother pointing out that this was Bertan’s usual thought.)

At that moment, he heard the sound of clothes flapping in the air. It sounded like someone waving a flag, and it also sounded like the amplified sound of a bird flapping its wings.

Startled, he looked around and saw a black object flying towards the Herduke family mansion, that is, to the northeast.

If there was something that flew in the auspicious direction of northeast while he was having such thoughts, wouldn’t it naturally have a positive meaning!

Bertan was convinced that this was a sign to change his last name.

Hummerd nodded, listening attentively to his childhood friend’s story. Then he lit his cigarette and organized his thoughts.

‘What do you use to control a madman? Was it a club?’

It seemed that his friend’s obsession had finally driven him to see things. He recalled the contents of a book he had recently read about delusional disorders in human psychology.

Feeling sorry for himself that he had to cure his friend’s delusion in the midst of spring, Hummerd said.

“Bertan, I have no doubt that what you saw is the absolute truth. However, it’s too coincidental to connect what you saw with your thoughts, and your such thoughts have been ongoing……”

Hummerd decided to exercise infinite kindness.

Spring has come.

It’s a season where one can be generous about anything.

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