Chapter 171: That Wretched Mimi
"You've come, have you..."
The deep, resonant voice cut through the quiet crackle of the campfire. Hearing the soft crunch of footsteps behind him, Gallantmon, who sat perfectly upright atop a slab of broken ruins, slowly opened his eyes.
As the Royal Knight's words trailed off into the cool night air, a slender figure settled down onto the stone beside him.
The first grueling day of training had finally concluded. Exhaustion had claimed the camp quickly; the Digimon were scattered across the clearing, their steady breathing blending into the ambient sounds of the digital wilderness. Once Belle had drifted into a deep sleep, Mizuki had quietly slipped out from under his blankets. He had sought out the solitary knight keeping watch at the edge of the perimeter.
The towering, armored warrior and the quiet, unassuming youth struck a sharp contrast against the dark backdrop of the ruins. Yet, bathed in the warm, flickering orange glow of the bonfire, the scene carried a strange, quiet harmony.
"Are you not going to rest?" Gallantmon asked. The dancing flames reflected off the polished metal of his helmet and the calm depths of his eyes. "After everything that transpired today, you must be exhausted. Humans are fragile creatures, unlike Digimon. Your bodies require time to mend."
"Thanks for the concern, but I'm doing fine," Mizuki replied. He picked up a thick branch and tossed it into the center of the fire, watching a flurry of sparks rise into the dark sky. "I didn't exactly do much of the heavy lifting today, anyway."
He brushed the ash from his hands and let the silence stretch for a brief second.
"Gallantmon... can we talk?"
"...Oh? What do you wish to discuss?" The knight did not turn his head. His tone remained perfectly neutral, offering neither an invitation nor a dismissal. He simply kept his gaze fixed on the burning wood.
Mizuki knew better than to wait for a warmer opening. Opportunities like this were rare, and he needed to seize the moment. He organized his thoughts, staring into the same flames, before voicing the heavy question weighing on his mind.
"It is about what you intend to do."
Silence hung between them. Gallantmon did not offer a single word.
Taking the quiet as permission to proceed, Mizuki pressed on. "I know this might sound like I am overstepping, but... there are much safer, far more efficient ways to investigate the X-Program."
He turned his head to look at the knight's impassive profile. "You have probably noticed a thing or two about the nature of my power, and Belle's, haven't you? The manipulation of fate, the manifestation of miracles. The ability to directly rewrite data... or rather, the power to grasp the very foundational code of this world."
"I must admit, I underestimated the depth of your strength," Gallantmon replied. His voice was low, unhurried, carrying the weight of centuries as he acknowledged the sheer scale of the power Mizuki and Belle wielded.
Mizuki opened his mouth to press his advantage, to offer a concrete alliance, but the knight raised a gauntleted hand, cutting him off before a single syllable could escape.
"Indeed. If I were to borrow your power, my investigation into the X-Program would undoubtedly become much simpler." Gallantmon lowered his hand, his grip tightening slightly on the shaft of his lance. "However... please allow me to refuse."
The knight's voice remained perfectly calm, yet it carried an immovable weight. It was the absolute, unyielding determination of a warrior who had already chosen his path.
Mizuki studied the rigid set of Gallantmon's shoulders. He let out a slow breath, immediately abandoning any further attempts at persuasion.
"So this is your resolve." Mizuki offered a small, respectful nod. "I understand. I apologize for bringing it up, Gallantmon."
"...It is fine. I understand your intentions perfectly well." Gallantmon shook his head, brushing the apology aside with a magnanimous grace. "After all, you share many similarities with the former Yggdrasil Majesty. That you would take such active, protective measures is entirely within my expectations."
"The former Yggdrasil, huh..."
Mizuki caught the fleeting, deep softness in the Royal Knight's eyes. It was a look of deep longing. Without entirely meaning to, the words slipped past Mizuki's lips.
"Could you tell me about Him?"
The campfire popped. Gallantmon remained perfectly still.
"Of course, if bringing it up offends you—" Mizuki started to backtrack.
"It is no offense," Gallantmon interrupted softly. "On the contrary. Being able to recount the glorious past of Yggdrasil Majesty is both our absolute duty and our greatest honor."
The heavy tension in the air shifted. Gallantmon finally turned his head, the firelight catching the edges of his visor. Beneath the shadow of his helmet, Mizuki could see his own reflection in the knight's eyes.
"To tell you everything about Yggdrasil Majesty... even if I were to speak without pause for several years, it would not be enough time to cover His greatness." Gallantmon let out a quiet sigh, the sound metallic and weary. "Considering the little time we have left before dawn, I can only offer my apologies for now."
"Is that so..." Mizuki smiled faintly. "That is truly a pity."
"..., compared to ancient history, I am far more interested in learning about your past right now." Gallantmon shifted his grip, using the tip of his massive lance to gently prod a burning log back into the center of the fire. "Since you clearly have no intention of resting, why not speak of your own origins?"
"My past..."
Mizuki blinked, the words catching in his throat. He certainly hadn't expected the stoic Royal Knight to suddenly turn the interrogation back on him.
Before he could formulate a proper deflection, a pair of pale, slender arms shot out from the darkness behind him, wrapping tightly around his neck in a sudden ambush.
"Be—Belle?!"
A familiar, sweet scent washed over him. Mizuki didn't even need to turn his head to know exactly who was clinging to him like a koala.
"Mizu—!"
Currently resting in her petite, child-like form, Belle had absolutely no trouble hanging her entire body weight off Mizuki's back. She leaned over his shoulder, her soft cheek pressing against his as she aggressively poked his face with her index finger.
"You actually snuck out of bed while I was sleeping! I am very unhappy right now! That is exactly what I am saying!"
She puffed out her cheeks, her voice taking on a theatrical, exaggerated whine. "We promised to be together forever, you heartless man, Mizu! This relationship is completely over! I am divorcing you!"
"Sorry, sorry," Mizuki laughed, reaching up to gently pat the arms wrapped around his neck. A sheepish, entirely defeated smile spread across his face. "I just saw you sleeping so soundly. I really didn't want to disturb you."
He paused, his brain finally processing the bizarre vocabulary she had just used. His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait a second. What kind of weird term is 'heartless man'? And what is with this 'divorce' talk?" Mizuki twisted his head slightly to look at her. "Belle, where exactly did you learn these words?"
"Hm? From Big Sister Mimi. Why?" Belle blinked her large eyes, the very picture of absolute innocence. "Big Sister Mimi told me that whenever you do something that makes me unhappy, I am supposed to call you a heartless man."
An image instantly flashed into Mizuki's mind. He could perfectly picture Mimi tapping the side of her own head, sticking her tongue out playfully, and winking.
'Ehehe~'
Ehehe your head!
A vein pulsed faintly at his temple. He forced his jaw to unclench, suppressing the immediate urge to shout a retort into the empty night air. He let out a long, exhausted sigh, looking at the innocent girl hanging off his back with absolute helplessness.
"Belle, seriously." Mizuki's voice was deadpan. "Stay away from Mimi in the future. She is a terrible influence."
A sudden, low sound broke the silence.
It was a light chuckle.
Attracted by the unexpected noise, both Mizuki and Belle turned their heads simultaneously, looking toward the source.
For a long moment, they simply stared. The imposing, legendary figure of Gallantmon sat before them, his broad shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
Feeling their bewildered gazes locked onto him, Gallantmon froze. He cleared his throat, raising a massive, armored hand to wave awkwardly in the air.
"Apologies... I lost my composure." The knight straightened his spine, attempting to regain his usual dignified aura. "I assure you, I was not laughing at your expense."
He lowered his hand, his gaze drifting back to the dancing flames. "I just... felt a bit nostalgic."
"Nostalgic?" Belle tilted her head. She blinked, her clear, bright eyes reflecting the firelight, making her look even more curious and lively. "Could it be, Gallantmon, that in the past, you also interacted with Yggdrasil just like us?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the Royal Knight's dignified aura shattered completely.
Gallantmon stiffened, his crimson cape jerking sharply as a distinct note of panic bled into his deep voice. "Ho—How dare you! I am absolutely not such a frivolous being!"
Mizuki watched the legendary, terrifyingly powerful warrior stammer and fluster like a caught child. He glanced from the defensive knight to the purely curious Belle, and a look of deep realization washed over his face.
No wonder Gallantmon had looked at them with such deep nostalgia earlier.
So, the Royal Knights actually used to interact with the God of the Digital World in the exact same chaotic, overly familiar way?
Mizuki bit the inside of his cheek to hide his growing grin. It seemed the great and terrible Yggdrasil Majesty had actually been quite the humanized, long-suffering parent in the distant past.
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