After Hellraider stared at us for a while, I released my embrace from Grelmure. The two of us steadied our breathing first.
Grelmure's head moved here and there as if making sure everything was safe.
Hellraider began walking toward us.
However, a few meters away from where we stood, he stopped, folded his arms across his chest again, and looked toward the trees where Greslan had returned to the forest.
"Come on… let's get out of here quickly…!!!" said Grelmure in slight panic. It seemed he felt the threat from the Groth had not truly subsided.
"What about Sir Hellraider??? Are we going to just leave him here, Sir Grelmure???" I asked.
Grelmure looked confused. He actually wanted everyone to hurry back to the palace, but it seemed he could not persuade him directly.
Grelmure clearly understood he was not Commander Gruzhnil, who could invite Hellraider even without my help as a translator.
"Try telling him to return to the Palace together, Johann…!!! You're the only one who understands him, right???" said Grelmure.
Hellraider's head turned toward us, his gaze directed at Grelmure with a slightly sour expression before turning his head away again.
Grelmure stiffened and stepped back. I became confused again—why did it seem as if Hellraider understood what Grelmure had said?
"Calm down, Sir Grelmure. I can't simply speak to him as if ordering him. Perhaps it's better if you return to the Palace first to inform Commander Gruzhnil about this. Maybe he will come here as well," I said.
"I'll try to keep Sir Hellraider here," I then whispered to Grelmure.
Grelmure nodded as if understanding what I meant. He then turned around and ran toward the palace.
And now it was only me and Hellraider again on this grassland.
I walked toward Hellraider until I stood slightly behind and beside him. He glanced at me once more.
"Yoouuu… you're just disturbing my time…!!!" said Hellraider curtly.
"I'm sorry, Sir, for troubling you. I thank you…" I said while scratching the back of my head.
"Why are you here…?!?!?! Looking for me again…?!?!?! Haven't you learned from what you did…?!?!?!" Hellraider said in a raised voice.
I questioned myself. Why was he still so cold toward me? Even if I stayed near him, I would not speak much anymore.
What happened on the hill yesterday was enough for me to open his eyes to this situation.
I stayed silent for a moment without answering his "accusation." He immediately turned his head away again.
"But… you saved me and Grelmure, and you also didn't use violence against that Lion," I finally answered.
"I decide my own methods...!!! You don't need to pry into my reasons why!!!" said Hellraider harshly.
I remained silent again without responding. I could feel that Hellraider was actually starting to care about me and the people around him.
It was just that he still had too much pride to admit it. I only glanced at him.
Hellraider occasionally glanced back at me; we locked eyes briefly before turning away again for the umpteenth time. Suddenly he turned around and walked toward me with that sour expression again.
Oh… what was he about to do?
"Listen here…!!!! From now on you are only allowed to walk behind me. Never once try to stop what I do!!!! If you break that, you will suffer the consequences from me!!!! You suckerfish bastaaard…!!!!!" Hellraider said threateningly, pointing his index finger at me.
Whaaaat…!!!!! Damn that Hellraider…!!!!! He dared to retaliate with the insult "suckerfish"! He must have been irritated by my "pufferfish" insult! I truly couldn't believe Hellraider came up with a mocking nickname for me! Most likely he was fed up with not being able to threaten me physically like before.
"A-Alright… Sir… I will remember your words…" I said, trying to accept it.
Hellraider turned away again. I tried stepping slightly to stand right at his left side.
Then I extended my right hand toward Hellraider. He glanced at me again.
"What is that…?!?!?!" Hellraider said angrily.
"I will follow what you say. But you must also make sure that you no longer use unnecessary violence and destruction along our journey from now on," I said.
"Get your hand away from me…!!! I don't need any agreement from you…!!!!" Hellraider snapped.
"I've told you that I know the end of your journey. Honestly, I don't want you to end up like that. I believe you're already fed up with everything that keeps happening over and over. You desperately want to know how this ends but you can't. So let this be a symbol that I will be your guide toward something better," I said confidently.
Hellraider suddenly shouted loudly and swung his clenched right fist hard to the ground. His breathing roared heavily.
After calming down slightly, he slowly raised his left hand while trembling.
Ohhh… I truly couldn't believe it! For the first time ever, I had managed to convince Hellraider.
When his left palm touched mine, I suddenly saw a faint white flash between our palms that were pressed together. Hellraider quickly pulled his hand back, shaking it rapidly as if he had been electrocuted.
"WHAAAT… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MEEEE…?!?!?! ANSWER… ANSWERRRR!!!!!" Hellraider roared in anger, immediately grabbing both my shoulders.
I was shocked beyond count by this strange event. Was this because I forced my will onto Hellraider? It was only a handshake, without any threat at all.
"S-Sir… please calm down…!!! I also don't know why you felt that…!!!!" I pleaded.
"Stop thaaat…!!!!" shouted someone, seemingly a woman's voice.
"Sir Hellraider… stop…!!!! You might hurt Johann again…!!!!" said someone who sounded like Commander Gruzhnil.
I looked toward the source of the voices and indeed it was Gruzhnil, Grelmure, and… Princess Glynpatra had come with them to fetch us.
Hellraider glanced at them and immediately released his grip. He slowly walked toward them, his eyes slightly widened.
"I… I can hear your words…" said Hellraider in shock.
Commander Gruzhnil and Grelmure gaped with widened eyes, while Princess Glynpatra covered her mouth with both hands. Everyone present, including me, was equally stunned by the chain of events today.
We all returned to the palace in silence. Emperor Gregustus hosted all the guests until dinner before everyone departed. In the grand and magnificent palace hall, we sat at a round table.
"I don't know where to begin. But… throughout my life as a soldier of The Graendall, I never thought I would witness so many strange events in such a short span of time. I don't know whether this is a good sign… or the opposite. But I must accept it," said Gruzhnil, breaking the silence.
"Sir Hellraider, for now I will not question you. Keep your words to yourself. There is no need to reveal them here," said Gruzhnil, glancing at him. Hellraider returned the glance briefly.
I said nothing. I glanced again at Princess Glynpatra, who was also looking at Hellraider with a faint look of concern.
Yes, this dinner had become very awkward because of my idea to seal our commitment with that handshake.
After dinner ended, all the guests left the palace to return to their respective places. As I walked down the corridor to leave as well, I suddenly heard a woman call my name rather loudly from behind. I turned around and it was Princess Glynpatra walking quickly toward me.
When she reached me, Princess Glynpatra looked at me briefly. Suddenly she embraced me. I was once again very shocked by her gesture. The emperor's daughter, who resembled my mother, hugged me as if a mother meeting her child again after so long.
I… I truly wanted to hug her back and cry, but… I couldn't do that here. Glynpatra is the emperor's daughter, not my mother. I must remain in my reality.
"You're alright after earlier today, young man? Your name is Johann, right? I hope we can meet again soon," Glynpatra said in a motherly tone while gently holding my shoulders.
"Thank you, Her Highness Princess Glynpatra of Grivendal. I also hope to meet you again, Princess," I said, my eyes slightly moist.
"There's no need to address me so stiffly. Just Princess is fine. May you always stay healthy and safe wherever you are, Johann," she said with a smile.
On the journey back to Headquarters, I kept thinking about Princess Glynpatra again. I missed my mother deeply. I wanted to talk with her again as if I were meeting my mother once more.
Without realizing it, tears fell from my eyes inside that aircraft.