﻿\setgamedatatitle("Glace_08")

\text
At night, with few customers left in the tavern, Caym sat
alone, polishing a vision stone.
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\text
The stone, held up to the faint light, was so mysteriously
beautiful that just gazing at it calmed Caym's heart like a
still sea.
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\text
At that moment, a man approached.
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\text("Günther")
Mind if I join you?
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\text("Caym")
Sorry, but I don't make a habit of drinking with men.
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\text("Günther")
Oh? Even if I show you this?
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\text
With that, Günther held out a bottle of liquor to Caym.
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\text("Caym")
Hm? Günther, don't tell me...
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\text
Caym's eyes widened.
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\text
He put the vision stone away in its box and took the bottle
in hand.
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\text("Caym")
This is that legendary liquor said to be produced only in
small quantities in Adonai...
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\text("Caym")
I heard the rumors too, and searched all over that town for
it... but I never managed to get my hands on any.
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\text("Günther")
An old friend of mine makes that liquor, but since he works
alone, there's never much to go around.
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\text("Caym")
Hence, the legend... huh.
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\text("Günther")
He's a stubborn old man, but every now and then, if he's in
the mood, he'll let me have some like this.
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\text
Günther took the bottle, poured a cup, and offered it to
Caym.
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\text("Caym")
Hmm. I'll gladly accept.
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\text
With that, Caym closed his eyes and took a sip of the
liquor.
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\text
He took his time, savoring it on his tongue before
swallowing.
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\text("Caym")
...Delicious.
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\text
Günther also emptied his cup and let out a deep breath.
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\text("Günther")
Ah, that's good. I really love that old man's liquor.
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\text
Günther poured another drink into Caym's cup.
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\text
This time, Caym slowly savored the liquor, one sip at a
time.
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\text("Caym")
If you get your hands on it again, let me know. I may not
usually drink with men, but for this liquor, I'll make an
exception anytime.
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\text("Günther")
Haha, that's probably one of your virtues.
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\text("Caym")
Virtues? What are you talking about?
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\text("Günther")
Well, think about it. There's a liquor you like, and an old
man who can make it.
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\text("Günther")
You could just capture that old man and have him brew for
you alone, so you could drink it whenever you want... but
you don't do that.
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\text("Günther")
Even though you have the power to do so.
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\text
Günther took a sip from his cup, watching Caym.
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\text("Günther")
If you want it, why don't you just do it?
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\text
His eyes, honed over many years, carried a deep, heavy, and
piercing light, like a sharpened spear.
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\text
Caym endured that gaze for a while, then emptied his cup.
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\text("Caym")
Even if I forced him to make it, the taste of this liquor
couldn't be recreated, could it?
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\text("Caym")
Besides, a phantom is best left as a phantom. The fact that
it's hard to get is part of the value.
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\text("Caym")
Doing something that would ruin that would be the height of
tastelessness.
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\text("Günther")
Haha, you really are a strange one.
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\text
Günther's gaze softened.
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\text("Caym")
Were you testing me?
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\text("Günther")
If I may be so bold.
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\text("Caym")
And if I had given an answer you didn't like, what then?
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\text("Günther")
I would have cut you down.
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\text("Caym")
I see. Well, I'm not someone who'd be taken down by you so
easily...
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\text
Caym set down his cup and looked straight at Günther.
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\text("Caym")
Let's get to the point. The booze is making me sleepy.
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\text
Günther finished his drink as well, straightened his
posture, and bowed his head to Caym.
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\text("Günther")
I came to thank you. Thank you.
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\text("Caym")
...Thank me? For what? I haven't done anything for you.
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\text("Günther")
Not for me. For Glace-sama.
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\text
Günther raised his head and continued.
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\text("Günther")
Though she is the symbol of this country, Glace-sama has
also lived as a Shrine Maiden offered to Winga.
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\text("Günther")
No, it's more accurate to say she was made to live that way.
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\text
Günther corrected himself with a self-mocking tone.
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\text("Günther")
She had no freedom―she didn't even have a sense of self to
begin with.
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\text("Günther")
But that Glace-sama―just the other day, she smiled at me.
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\text("Günther")
Seeing Glace-sama's smile, I... somehow felt saved.
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\text("Günther")
Even as I offered my sword to Glace-sama, I was bound by my
own position and could do nothing.
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\text("Günther")
I couldn't save her from her situation, from her position...
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\text
After saying all that in one breath, Günther unclenched his
tightly held fist.
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\text("Günther")
But you were the one who changed Glace-sama's situation.
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\text("Günther")
You saved Glace-sama. That's why... I just wanted to thank
you.
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\text("Caym")
I see. You're still a youngster, not even half my age, so
your thinking is pretty naive.
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\text("Caym")
I just wanted to make Glace my woman. I only got rid of the
obstacles so I could have her, that's all.
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\text("Caym")
You know what I've been doing to Glace, don't you?
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\text("Caym")
It's not the kind of thing anyone should be thanking me for.
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\text("Günther")
Heh heh heh, hahahahahaha!!
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\text
Günther suddenly burst out laughing.
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\text
His loud laughter was out of place in the quiet tavern.
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\text("Caym")
You're hurting my ears. If you're going to laugh, keep it
down.
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\text("Günther")
Ah, my apologies. I was just so happy, I couldn't help but
laugh.
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\text("Caym")
Happy? Aren't you upset that your own daughter was taken by
the Demon Lord?
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\text("Günther")
...Daughter, huh. Well then, let me answer this way.
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\text("Günther")
For a daughter to marry a man I approve of―what could make a
parent happier?
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\text("Caym")
...Hmph, that's disgusting.
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\text("Günther")
Say whatever you want. No matter how you feel, that's what
you've done.
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\text("Caym")
Is that all you wanted to say? Then I'm leaving. If you want
to thank me, swing your sword that much harder. That'll be
for Glace's sake too.
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\text("Günther")
Yeah, I'll do just that.
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\text
Caym shoved the small box containing the illusion stone at
Günther and stood up.
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\text("Caym")
Consider it thanks for the drink. It's yours. Even if all
you're good for is swinging a sword, you should at least
have enough magic to use that, right?
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\text
With those words, Caym left.
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\text("Günther")
Hmm... Is this an illusion stone?
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\text
Günther opened the small box and took the illusion stone
inside into his hand.
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\text
He poured his power into it, making the illusion stone glow.
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\text
And then Glace's face appeared.
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\text("Günther")
O-oh... Glace-sama...
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\text
It wasn't the Glace who once sat on a cold throne.
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\text
It was the current Glace, with a smile fitting her age.
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\text
Günther gripped the illusion stone, put his feet up on the
table, and drank straight from the bottle.
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\text
Tears glimmered in his eyes.
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\text
There he was, a man tormented by duty, position, and his
oath, now shedding tears of joy.





























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