Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 202: The Future from Here

The next morning, Rio woke up early and started practicing the sword beside the house. He was thinking about his revenge, about how he did not feel guilty for killing Lucius and even if the discomfort persisted, killing Lucius was necessary for the sake of his important people. That he understood that avenging his parents would not bring them back or would accomplish anything for him, that Lucius' existence would remain in his memory.

But he took revenge even understanding all that. He thought about how it was okay for him to not have a tomorrow for revenge. But there is a tomorrow and people are waiting for him, Miharu, Latifa, Sara, Ouphia and Alma are at Rock House. Aisia and Celia were waiting for him in Rodania and he wanted to see them again.

Rio was thinking strangely how calm he was even though the discomfort was still there, wondering if it was because he had nowhere to go back. For a moment he wondered if it was okay for him who always followed his selfishness to return, but he convinced himself to be selfish and do so. To go back and protect his peace and future with these important people. Then his revenge against Lucius will be completely complete, and from now on he will live to protect their peace. Even if he didn't want to do it, he wanted to make everyone happy. So, for that sake he would take the sword and return to everyone. That in a world full of absurd things, strength is needed to protect everyone.

While Rio was still daydreaming, Christina and Flora came out. Rio said good morning after stopping his sword and asked if anything was wrong since they were still silent. Christina said that they were surprised to see Rio's black hair again. Rio explained that he did not need to hide while still at home and Flora said that she really gave a different impression. Seeing her like that she felt like, "ahh it really is Rio-sama".

Rio said it was normal because the hair color was unusual in the Strahl Region and asked if they slept well. Christina said that her room was very comfortable and because they did not see the light in the house, they thought she would be outside. Christina praised for working so much from the beginning, but Rio just said that it was just his daily routine.

Christina then said that she remembered seeing Rio practicing the sword after their lesson in the academy and seeing it in the library. Flora then said that Christina was really looking at Rio back then. Christina said puzzledly that she only saw when they happened to be in the same place and that she was also looking at her at that moment. Rio said that he remembered having seen Christina in the library as well and had the two re-enter for breakfast.

After Rio made breakfast, the two sisters praised the taste and Flora asked Rio where she learned to cook. He answered that from a book from the library at the beginning and then he learned many things from Miharu. Flora says that she only talked to him a little during the evening party, but he seems to be very kind and asks if he is anywhere near Rodania now. Rio said that he was with Sara's group.

Then Christina asks if Celia and Miharu know Rio's identity. She replies that before joining the Restoration, Celia lived in another Stone House similar to the one they are currently in with Miharu and Sara's group. They all knew his past, but he only said the information required was minimal. Rio then told the focus on breakfast for now and let the conversation go for later, when he heard Rio say that smiling in the same way as he used to do to Celia in the academy, the two held their breaths for a moment before nodding and eating.

After breakfast, Rio made tea and said to the two that he would answer questions about his past, but previously he wanted to talk about the future. Rio said that now that they had disappeared for two days, Rodania must have been in chaos. Christina agreed and said that most likely some nobles might want to leave the Restoration, because without Christina and Flora there as symbols of their struggle, they had no legitimacy. Flora asks if Hiroaki would not do it as a symbol, but Christina replies that she should marry him or Flora for that.

Rio took out a map and said that reaching Rodania would take one and a half months depending on the weather. Christina later said that the organization could not wait that long, and that Hugenot would not just sit back and wait until the organization disbanded. Christina then asked Rio to bring the two to the capital of Galarc rather than Rodania because Hugenot had no other choice but to ask for the help of the Galarc Kingdom. Rio asked why, and he explained that the minimum requirement for Hiroaki to give legitimacy to the organization was to marry someone who had a blood relationship with their father, or grandfather.

Christina explained how it was impossible to rely on their half-brother living in the capital Bertram, so she would try to use Galarc's royalties. Francis' mother was the younger sister of their grandfather, so Charlotte and her younger sister Rosalie were entitled to be Queen Bertram if Francis agreed. But choosing this method also has its own drawbacks. This method is for when there are no heirs to the original family because the royalties of a country will not simply accept to be replaced by another country easily, and there will definitely be a factional war between the people who support the new nobles, and the people who support the old ones.

If Flora was found alive after the engagement was announced, there would be a major scandal, and canceling it would also not be easy and Hugenot was too impatient. Rio then said that it might be better to continue their return, that if the goal was Galarc it would take a week, but he was worried that Flora had not fully recovered. Flora says that she is fine already, but Christina and Rio disagree and tell her to wait for at least a day.

Christina asked Rio if he would use sword force, Rio reminded him that he could fly and asked how much time they had until Hugenot contacted Galarc Kingdom. Christina thought that they might have a week from now, though, seeing how difficult it was to make it in time Christina asked to go to the Rubia Kingdom first and send a message to Francois using a remote communication magic tool. Rio said it only took half a day to arrive at Rubia Kingdom, which made Christina surprised and relieved to hear it. He apologized to Rio for continuing to cause him trouble, but Rio did not mind. He said again that he wanted to say thank you and I apologize for many things, but he also wanted to ask some questions if possible, and Rio agreed.

After disappearing, Flora is disappointed because it is funny, Christina reprimands her, but Rio says he will do it again later and she is happy again. Then Rio explained how the Spirit Arts were not used due to the difference in difficulty between learning to use magic and Spirit Arts, and if someone who followed the magic formation would not be able to use Spirit Arts. That by the time he was in the academy he could already use it and go back to what happened in outdoor training.

Rio said that he used his Spirit Arts to land safely. He climbs a cliff and hears a conversation about who was guilty of making Flora fall. Christina made a bitter face recalling the conversation, the two apologized to her again. But Rio said there was no need because Flora was just a victim and Christina never intended to frame her. They are unsure and Rio says that he also remembers how Christina was only worried about who harmed Flora and how Flora was trying to defend him. Now that Christina asks if Rio knows who made Flora fall, Rio says that he knows but there is no way to prove it after all this time.

Christina repeated again that they believed her, that she had never believed at all times in Stewart's words about her being frightened. Rio then explained how it was not him who pushed Stewart against Flora but the other two students he asked to pull out the spear that was pierced on his shoulder. Christina then asked if Stewart herself also knew that what pushed her was the two boys when she charged at Rio with a voice full of anger, and Rio answered probably yes.

Christina apologized again to Rio with great embarrassment now for not trying to look better into that situation at that time and place. Rio told her again not to feel any responsibility as he intended to leave Bertram Kingdom after graduating from the academy, that it happened a little earlier than expected.

Christina later said that without being framed, she did not need to use a pseudonym. But he replied that not having to deal with that person was also convenient. Christina said it was too rational, how she had nothing but reason to hate the people who framed her, the Bertram Kingdom and themselves who were half-crying. Rio said that he did not want revenge against Bertram Kingdom, but he did not trust all of his nobles.

Christina said again that this was not about mistrust, that she should hate them, and she should be even more angry. He says that he understands what it means to want revenge and revenge, to live hating someone, and for him to be close to someone full of anger is out of the question. Forgetting his anger and not approaching that person anymore was no problem for him.

Christina said again that Rio was too rational while looking the other way. Rio denied it by saying that he had many bad memories about Bertram Kingdom and things that he could not forgive as well, remembering about Latifa. Christina asks if something more happened, and she replies that one more person besides her is involved so she cannot say it. Christina asked if it was Celia, but Rio denied it and said that he would let her know if there was a chance.

Rio told them again not to feel responsible anymore for what happened to him, but Christina still refused to let go, because it would not work because she did bad things to him. Flora said that she caused a lot of trouble for Rio. Rio said again that nothing came to mind when he talked about it, so he asked again if what he meant was a slap when they met. Christina was embarrassed to remember it and said again that it was not just that.

She said again that she wanted to thank him and apologize to him again. Rio said that he had heard quite a lot of apologies, but Christina still insisted, so he said that he was guilty of the slap incident for touching a Princess with his dirty hands. Christina starts yelling that she's not dirty, that she's innocent, that she's the one who got dirty for hitting her and saying all those things to her even though she saved Flora.

Rio continued without caring for her saying that it was a complicated situation, and Christina still disagreed with him forgiving her. Then he and Flora lowered their heads apologizing again, which Rio said hastily that he forgave them and had already raised their heads. He told them to stop feeling guilty because part of the reason helping them was because they guaranteed that Celia had a good life inside the Restoration, she said, and the two sisters smiled seeing him like that.