Etude of the Solitary Bandit | Chapter 1

[healingbonds]

| index | >> Chapter 2
Thank you Chi for providing this event's translation!


Akira: We’re leaving on a mission tomorrow. I should bring my water bottle; now where did I put it?
Ah......This cuff button is from back then......
Haha, what a throwback......



I enclose the cuff button in my palm and trace my memory.
To the day of the Northern wizards’ first practice mission....

✦✧☾✧✦

It is a night some time after the resolution of the Flying Shadow incident that occurred in the Central Capital.
I hear voices, seemingly raised in argument.

Akira: ......Hmm? What happened......? One of the voices sounds like Bradley’s......

Bradley: ......Fine, whatever! Well, I’m not gonna ask again! Have it your way!

(Door closing)

The door slams. I hear loud, deafening footsteps approach, until Bradley appears in front of me.
He holds two glasses in his hand, cradling a bottle of fine-looking whiskey.

Bradley: If it isn’t the Sage. Good timing — come with me.

He says, while tossing me a glass.
I shake my head, while scrambling to catch the glass.

Akira: Eh? Alcohol? But I don’t really drink......

Bradley: Huh? What are you, a brat? Everyone’s taking a shot at turning me down today.

Akira: Did someone turn you down?

(Footsteps) (Pours whiskey)

Bradley looks irritated and walks away brusquely. He twists open the bottle of whiskey and pours it into his glass with one hand.

Bradley: I don’t know an idiot like that. He got really heartless in the short time I’ve been locked up.
Even though I picked him up when he was worthless and showed him all that kindness — I even treated him like my partner, you know?

Akira: Treated him like your partner? Is there someone you knew from before in the magical headquarters?

Bradley stops in his tracks. Looking at me out of the corner of his eyes, he tilts the glass of whiskey back and downs it in one swift motion.

Bradley: There isn’t.

Akira: Really...... ? Snow and White have been saying, "There are lots of wizards who have been brought together by fate this time."
So I thought that you might also......

Bradley: Hmph. I’ve got no fated connections. You just end up with a lot of acquaintances once you’ve lived a long time. That’s all.
If one side severs things, then that’s the end. — Take this back to the kitchen for me.

Akira: Eh? Hold on......

(Footsteps)

Bradley walks away without even giving me time to hold him back.
At a loss, I look down at the two glasses.
One glass is used; the other untouched.
The two glasses — smelling strongly of alcohol — somehow seem forlorn.

Akira: ("That’s the end." ......That sounds so sad. I wonder who he was talking about......)

I sigh and begin to walk away with the glasses, when —

(Crashing)

A tremendous sound rings out, and the ceiling crashes into the floor.

Akira: Eeeeh........!?

I look up in surprise. A hole has opened up in the ceiling of the magical headquarters, and I can see the night sky right through it.

(Woosh) (woosh)

The silhouette of figures on brooms flying swiftly across the night sky — is that Mithra and Owen?

Chloe: What was the noise just now... Woah!! The magical headquarters have been destroyed!

Rustica: Are you all right, Sir Sage?

Rustica and Chloe come rushing over to me. Chloe carries a picture frame in his arms: I hear the twins’ voices coming out of it.

Snow in the portrait: Honestly. What a troublesome handful. It seems like Mithra and Owen can’t shake their attitudes from Northern Country.

White in the portrait: Well, it’ll probably take some time for them to get used to things here...... How concerning. We’re about to start a mission soon.

Chloe: Is it really all right for the Northern wizards to go on a mission together, even with Sir Oz around......?

Snow & White in the portrait: Who knows......

Chloe: Eeeh......?

Snow in the portrait: Ohoho. The key to success will be Bradley.

Akira: Bradley? Isn’t his magic weaker than Mithra’s and Owen’s......?

White in the portrait: His magic may be weaker, but Bradley is a quick-witted man, and he’s good at playing his cards.

Snow in the portrait: Rustica. Could you carry us to Bradley’s room?

Rustica: Certainly.

✦✧☾✧✦

I step into the courtyard, watching over the night sky nervously. There, I find Rutile and Cain.

(Flashes of light)

The clash between Mithra and Owen is intense, but Mithra has the upper hand. Owen’s broom starts to sway unsteadily.

(Bang) (Flashes of light)

The next moment, gunshots resound through the air as a new silhouette on a broom appears in the night sky.

Akira: (Ah... It’s Bradley.)

Bradley: You two look like you’re up to something interesting. I’ll join in as a favour — Which side am I backing!?

Owen: .....How annoying......

Mithra: You came at the right time. He’s being a pain, so I’d like you to stop him.

Owen goes motionless, as if he’s scared. He clicks his tongue and vanishes like smoke into the night.

Akira: (Ah, I see... When Mithra and Owen are fighting, whoever gets Bradley on his side will win.)

His brazen declaration might even have been a calculated move on his end.
In line with my suspicion, Bradley doesn’t stay to exult in his victory after Owen vanishes, he simply disappears with an even more irritated expression than before.
He must have obeyed the twins, albeit reluctantly.

Akira: (Like Snow and White said, Bradley might be the key to getting the Northern wizards to work together......)
(I’ll try talking to Bradley when I get the chance. I’m a bit scared, but......)
(Maybe I can’t be the kind of person who drinks with him, but I can be a friend who shares a cup of tea with him......)

| index | >> Chapter 2