Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 168: Departure Towards Its Destination

After the welcoming party, Celia followed Rio―― towards the room reserved for her. (Sounds like there's something he wants to tell me. Well, it's true because there's something I want to hear from Rio as well.

By the way, it is true that I have been given a nanny along with the room for myself, but I will be the one who will take care of my personal belongings) Celia thought.

「I will brew tea. So please sit there for now, Sensei. 」

After entering the room, Rio went to make tea for Celia. But, Celia is not sitting on the chair, she went with Rio to the kitchen simply, and—, she,

"Thank you very much . Sorry to bother you even if you are tired. 」

So he told Rio.

「I got a little resistance after attending a night party in Galwark kingdom. Don't you feel tired, sensei? I mean, it's been a long time since you've attended such social gatherings, right? 」

Rio actually, the dog is tired but he is bluffing his way. So he asked that question while boiling some water.

「Well, I'm tired but, it's because I have a lot of acquaintances. It was refreshing in many ways to meet them again. 」

Celia smiled kindly as she shrugged her shoulders.

「I'm happy then. I was worried because we could barely talk in the middle of the party. 」

Rio showed a relieved smile as he said so.

Since he was busy talking to various nobles from the beginning to the end of the party, Rio could not move at all during the party.

(Well, it seems like Celia is really enjoying her time even without me by her side) Rio thought.

「…………. You are surrounded by women from beginning to end, Rio? 」

Celia changed the topic as if she wanted to see Rio's reaction. It seems that Celia is keeping an eye on Rio. -,

「I was worried, so I just saw sensei. 」

Rio replied back with a wry smile on his face.

「……………. . Uh, Y-Yes. Yes, ahaha. 」

Celia was confused, so she replied in a confused voice.

She just wanted to know if there was a marriage proposal from Rio's reaction but, her reaction had even exceeded her wildest expectations. Fortunately, Rio was focused on brewing the tea at the moment, so he did not see his reddened face.

But he was too embarrassed to say anything. And then, while Celia was still looking down with a red face flushed—,

"Completed . We should go to the couch. Are you still awake, Aisia? 」

When Rio said so.

Aisia was currently inside Rio's body in her spirit form, but, even Rio himself, her contractor, had no way of knowing whether she was asleep or awake.

There should have been some sort of reaction if he woke up but—,

「………………」

Unfortunately there was no answer from Aisia.

「It looks like he's asleep. Well, it was a tea party just between us back then. 」

「. 」

Rio smiled with his natural smile as he went to the sofa and sat down. Celia nodded shyly as she followed Rio with an awkward gait and she sat in front of him—

「Uhm, since I've found a job, maybe I should tell you first. There was a newly established academy for the young nobles included in the Restoration. So I would work as a lecturer there doubly by becoming a researcher. I might leave for the Galwark kingdom royal academy. 」

Therefore, she told Rio about the job she just found.

"I saw . Well, I never worry about sensei not getting a job but, that is one thing that worries me less. I really envy the students that sensei will teach. 」

Rio smiled, happy to hear that.

「Ahaha, after all I have nothing to teach you anymore. 」

Celia said so with a grim smile on her face.

"That's not true . Whether it was in the past or the present, I only learned from sensei. 」

「……………. Come, i. The only thing I've taught you is how to save me. I mean, even now …………. I heard it from Princess Christina you saw. You've done things for me, haven't you? 」

Rio shook his head in denial and showed a slightly grieving expression as he told Celia about his plan.

「……………. . I may be worrying too much about you. In that case, did you hear the story about me getting the mansion from the Restoration? 」

Rio asked that question while showing a mysterious smile on his face.

「Yup, I heard it. ………. . And the fact that I'm going to live there. He said that the issue of home transfer arrangements will be made tomorrow. So I can stay there soon. 」

I'm glad you feel that way. 」

Rio smiled at Celia who seemed to be distracted by something.

「It's not" Happy "lho. I'm indebted to you again. 」

「I don't care about such debt. Although it was recognized as my home with formality, in fact, it was sensei's mansion. Because I will give all the documents to sensei once I have handled all the transfer procedure of―― 」

「WAIT, STAY HERE. Let's use your name and you'll bring all the documents as well. Please at least do that! 」

Celia cut off the flow of Rio's talk.

"But……………"

「The great house is yours because of your noble deeds, SO it is yours. I'M NOT GONNA TAKE it from you. That's enough for me as long as I have a place to live. Because I can pay rent with the money I make. Understand? Please do that for me. 」

Although Rio tried to resist her wish, Celia kept begging him.

「No need to pay rent. 」

「No, this is where I have to draw the line. I will pay the rent properly. 」

Celia also rejected the idea.

"……I understand . If sensei says it. 」

「Yes. Let's sign a formal contract once you're done with the general procedure before you begin your journey. 」

「………. Yes you are right . 」

Rio said it in a somewhat tired voice. Then–,

「........... Hey, do you remember? A long time ago when you came to my room before leaving Bertram kingdom. 」

Celia showed a short smile as she said that with a slightly embarrassed face.

「Ya.of course I do. 」

Rio closed his eyes as he recalled the scene back then and nodded at her.

「It was a sad farewell but, now it is not. Right? 」

Celia asked so while looking at Rio face.

"Yes nih . Now I can come visit whenever I want. 」

「Can you promise me? Because even if only by name, Rio's house is in this city. 」

Then Celia asked Rio as if wanting to try and persuade him. But–,

「You're a little wrong about that. It was because sensei was here that I would come again to meet sensei. I have no reason to come if sensei is not here. 」

Rio shook his head as he said so with a wry smile on his face.

「Hee ………. Uh, uh. 」

Celia nodded lightly with slightly flushed cheeks. Lalu–,

「A-I'm fine if you treat it like that but, what I want to say is let's say goodbye to the past and keep facing forward! Therefore, let's start from the beginning. I don't want you to have sad and painful memories like before! 」

He said it with enthusiasm.

「Start again huh? Exactly like that time? 」

Rio tilted his head to hear Celia's speech that didn't seem to fit the current situation.

「U-Uhn. Uhm, there's a hug ………. . During the farewell, right So. 」

After Celia said it in a timid voice, she stood up and went towards Rio.

「Eh ………. Yes yes . 」

Rio also stood up with a slightly confused face. Then–,

「Yup, just stand like that. 」

（. Yes, sensei must have hugged me this way. Could .... Overwrite because the memory of that day is not a good memory. ）

Rio smiled wryly as he hugged Celia's back. Celia hugged Rio even stronger.

Celia's warmth was still the same as that day, as warm as before.

「You have grown much taller than you were that day. 」

Celia looked at Rio with a embarrassed face.

「I get the feeling that sensei becomes shorter. 」

「Yes pardon …………. . It was you who grew too tall. 」

Celia reflexively replied to Rio's disrespectful comment. Lalu–,

「Because I won't be able to say this in front of others, I will say it now. Take care……………… . Rio. Be careful on your journey. 」

Celia said her farewell words to Rio.

"Yes nih . I'm leaving . 」

Rio nodded while smiling lightly at her.

Today, her farewell with Celia became a warm memory in Rio.

◇ ◇ ◇

After Celia left the room――,

「…………. Haruto's. 」

Aisia materialized right next to Rio.

「So you wake up ………. Good morning, Aisia. 」

Rio was a little surprised by her appearance. Although she hoped that she would come out when she woke up, maybe she considered the rare time Rio and Celia to be alone with the two of them alone and chose not to disturb the atmosphere between the two of them.

「Tell me Haruto. Are you worried about Celia? 」

Aisia suddenly asked such a question.

「……………. . I really can't hide anything from you. Yes me. 」

Rio smiled wryly as he nodded resignedly. Then–,

「Then I will stay with him. If you're worried about him, I can stay by his side, you know? 」

Aisia told him so.

「……………. . Sorry, Aisia. I've always used you for my own comfort. Although we should head to the village now, I suddenly decided to go north. 」

Although Rio was a little confused by his choice, guilt immediately attacked him.

「I don't mind even if we don't go to the village. The information from Reis is doubtful but there is no value in the outdated information. That is why it is better to head north as soon as possible even if the possibility of finding the man is almost non-existent. Since it will take two weeks of travel if we return to the village now, perhaps Lucius will leave the northern area during that time. In this case, this small piece of information will be useless and we may not be able to get the proper information about it anymore. 」

Aisia spoke more than usual. His tone remained monotonous as usual.

"……the.Flat . Nonetheless, you still make my feelings your top priority. Even without that information, my actions are no different than using you. 」

Rio said it with an anxious tone.

「I don't care, which one you choose because of that information. We also have no way of obtaining reliable information. My main problem is, what you most want to do, Haruto. I'll follow you if you want to go North. You can even use me if you are worried about Celia. So, what do you want to do, Haruto? 」

Aisia asked that question in such an ordinary tone as if looking through Rio.

「I can't let my guard down around the nobles of Bertram kingdom. Even though I can't always be on sensei's side, I want to at least observe the situation for a while. ………… Even so, sensei himself is an outstanding noble. His current situation was not like when his position had weakened during his time in the royal capital. I have arranged the signing of an appointment in relation to sensei's treatment. So, I think it's okay to leave something like for now. 」

Rio told Aisia about his own feelings in an anxious voice.

「Then, we have to observe the situation for a while and hence, you have to use me. Haruto's. 」

Aisia said so with a flat tone.

「……. Sometimes it confuses me. Why are you willing to go that far for me, Aisia? 」

Saying so, Rio looked at Aisia expecting an answer from her, ――,

「Because I'm there for you. 」

Aisia replied as if it was a fact.

「…………. . Your answer never changed even after a long time of doing so? 」

「So, what do you want to do, Haruto?」

Aisia urged an answer from Rio who was smiling wryly.

（I'm really worried about sensei. Especially for a very good reason. In addition, in order to find out the nature of Aysia and the mysterious man named Reis, I have to go to the village as soon as possible. ）

So he thought. But–,

"One month………… . . No, at most two months, can you stay by sensei's side for that long? I will be back in that time. 」

Rio told her so. Then–,

"good . Leave Celia's problem to me. This time, I won't leave him no matter what. 」

Aisia replied with a firm tone.

◇ ◇ ◇

Afternoon, the next day.

Rio and Celia were led by marquis Rodan towards the mansion near the noble district. They were accompanied by servants, soldiers and Christina.

After the group they descended right next to the entrance of mansion――,

「This is our best property, let's get inside the mansion immediately. Since I will guide you on foot from this point, please hold it with him for a while. Well, please come this way. 」

After saying that, marquis Rodan passed through the gate. Before the road that stretched towards the mansion located on the slightly elevated ground was a large luxurious residence that was one piece above the places where the nobles lived. Around the mansion is a beautiful and well-maintained natural garden.

（Large house on the hill. The entrance gate is only one. At first glance, it will be difficult to attack. The view from inside the mansion is also good, intruders will be easy to detect as long as I put up a magic barrier. ）

Rio followed after marquis Rodan while vigilantly surveying the surrounding areas.

「By the way, the majority of nobles who chose to side with the Restoration are now established in their mansion in Rodania. Thanks to the construction of many new homes, the lack of land is also a problem for us. So, to my deepest regret produced a small plot area for this house but, aside from the size issue I can say that this is the most prominent house. 」

Marquis Rodan talked about the value of this property along with the situation of Rodania while leading the party towards the mansion.

（It's too broad to be judged from defensive value but ………. The size of the site makes sense. There was also the aesthetic sense of the nobles, so was this the true sensei? ）

While Rio was thinking so, they arrived at the entrance of the mansion. Afterwards, they were guided to a tour of the mansion by marquis Rodania.

There are some rooms that are not used because the house is built on the assumption that there will be employees living in it even after the whole family has moved and from its interior design, he suspected that they had spent quite a lot of money to build this luxurious house.

Seeing that Christina was participating in the transfer of treasures, there was no way that marquis Rodan could afford a bad home. It was no lie when he said that this house was the most prominent one in his territory.

「What do you think of this, Haruto? 」

After examining the interior of the mansion, Celia asked Rio.

「It's a nice house. But, since you are the one who will stay in this house, I will leave the decision to you. 」

Rio gave his honest opinion. Without a doubt, the presentation of the property was perfect and it was not like he could ask for more because it remained free.

「If Haruto says so, then I'm with you. Instead, it is a very beautiful home. Except for the ruler of the territory, no other noble could obtain the beautiful mansions in the region. 」

Celia said so with admiration and—,

「Hahaha, I'm happy if Celia-kun says it. May I hear your opinion, Your Highness Princess Christina? 」

Marquis Rodan asked so in a pleased voice.

「........ If they have no problem with this mansion, I have nothing to say. 」

Christina shook her head while looking at Celia and Rio. Although he was still doubtful whether this house was enough as a gift, he did not want to urge them any further since the person involved said that they were fine with it.

"I saw . In that case, may I take that this property will be transferred to Mr Amakawa? 」

"Yes nih . My deepest apologies for imposing this matter on you but, please take care of the transfer documents. 」

When marquis Rodan asked, Rio immediately agreed.

After various contracts are made, they complete the transfer procedure on the same day. And earlier, Rio had given a contract to Christina and Restoration―― Which was mainly related to the Celia―― treatment they received and signed as a written oath. With this written oath, at least it would be publicly known that the Restoration people would not be able to harm Celia.

Since a small amount of furniture was already inside the mansion, Celia would be staying there from tomorrow.