By Zephyria 
The last week of October.
The children who received Tom’s call began to head to ‘Royne Territory,’ the meeting place, one by one. Herman and I are also currently using the School Transportation Portal to move to the school first, and then heading to Royne Territory from Adelmaide. This was because it was a much shorter travel distance.
Royne is a region next to the capital, Adelmaide.
And the reason for gathering there was that the Teleportation Portal to ‘Villenus Territory,’ the final destination of our trip, was only located in the capital of Royne Territory, the city of Burke.
A carriage was still convenient for crossing one or two adjacent territories or moving within one territory, but when trying to cross territories far away, Teleportation Portal were convenient after all.
In fact, Teleportation Portal that traveled between territories like this were prevalent.
I thought it was a technology only available at school… but it turned out to be a widely popularized technology. However, the disadvantage was that you could only go to places stored in the Teleportation Portal, and currently, there were not many Portal going to small, remote territories.
All of that was information I learned while heading to Royne Territory with Herman.
In addition, the reason Villenus Territory was chosen as the destination for this trip was that ‘Billens Coast’ was famous as a safe and beautiful tourist destination, and Ardian’s authority allowed us to stay freely at the imperial family’s villa there.
There was no reason for anyone to object to being able to enjoy the scenery of the sea while comfortably looking around without spending money. Connections with ‘high-ranking people’ were really good at times like this.
“Villenus Territory has been popular with people from other territories for a long time. It seems there are many beautifully decorated cities.”
“Hmm.”
“Billens Coast, where we’re going, is also trying to become a tourist destination, so it seems there are many people visiting recently.”
Herman chattered beside me. I could clearly feel the excitement in his voice. I was looking at something called ‘Imperial Travel Magazine,’ which was said to have been produced to promote Villenus Territory, when I suddenly asked.
“How much further do we have to go?”
“Ah. We’re almost there.”
Herman looked out the window. I also followed suit and opened the car window on the side where I was sitting and looked out. Perhaps because we had already left Adelmaide and were between the territories heading to Royne, all I could see were vast plains and sparsely located forests. At that time, as if he had been listening to our conversation, the coachman sitting beyond the curtain of the carriage spoke to us.
“We’re almost there, gentlemen. You’ll see the entrance to Royne Territory in a little while. Have your passes ready.”
And really, not long after that.
Just as the carriage seemed to slow down for a moment, I saw the territory’s gatekeeper approaching to check the passes. The gatekeeper roughly checked the pass that Herman showed him and allowed us to enter, and the coachman also moved the carriage after leaving a greeting saying to have a good day.
After passing through the forest at the entrance to Royne Territory like that, it was soon to the capital city of Burke. This was because Royne Territory itself was not very large, so the distance to the capital in the center was not far either. Immediately after arriving in Burke, while Herman was greeting the coachman, I got out of the carriage first and looked around the square.
We were supposed to meet in Burke’s square, so we’ll meet somewhere here….
Just as I was thinking that, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. When I turned around, Tom was there as expected. Whether they had already met and joined up first, Zeon and Ardian were also with him.
“It’s been a while since the exam! How have you been?”
Tom ran up to me first and spoke. Tom, who was still maintaining his squirrel-like plump figure, was wearing clothes that exposed his arms. Unlike the area around the imperial capital, which was always warm or chilly without large temperature changes, Billens Coast, where we were about to go, always maintained a high temperature, so it seemed he had come wearing light clothing.
Perhaps because of the bright clothes, the atmosphere was a bit different from usual. And it wasn’t just Tom who felt that way. Everyone was wearing light clothing, and the clothes were also relatively brighter in color than the academy uniforms, so it felt somehow unfamiliar.
“Yeah. So-so. How about you?”
“I’ve been doing well! I got my grade too. My parents liked it more than I did. We even had a party at my house on the day the results came out.”
“My house was similar. Come to think of it, how did you get your first grade?”
While Herman and Tom were continuing their conversation on one side, Zeon approached and stood next to me as if it were his designated seat, and Ardian, who had come in front of me, readily spoke to me.
“Hello. It feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you.”
As he said that, he smiled gently, curving his eyes.
He had been unable to have a proper conversation because of Cloud’s interference all along, and after the vacation, all I had seen of him was briefly during the certification exam, so it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that. After looking at his face for a moment, I turned my head. There were various reactions I could have, such as, “That’s right,” or “It’s been a while,” but for some reason, I couldn’t.
It’s awkward.
I was feeling an inexplicable awkwardness and discomfort toward this guy right now.
Why?
Strangely, I couldn’t treat this guy like I treated the other servants. Until now, I had said it was because he was a target of vigilance… but now, it was a situation where I didn’t have to do that anymore.
“……”
When I thought about it, it had been like this ever since I started seeing him as something other than a target of vigilance. Since I couldn’t get a grip on my heart, as if I was losing my way and wandering, wasn’t it becoming more and more awkward and uncomfortable to deal with him?
‘What is this guy to me…?’
When I avoided his gaze without answering, Ardian let out a small laugh and lowered his head. I was surprised to feel a shadow cast over my head and quickly stepped back. The face that had been getting closer moved away again. He looked at me, matching my eye level, and curved his eyes once more.
“I’m disappointed. It’s been a while, but you don’t even accept my greeting.”
“…Don’t joke around.”
I frowned and pushed his face away. Ardian, who burst into laughter as if something was funny, had a face that looked somehow pleased. He had been on edge for a while, so it seemed he was glad that Cloud wasn’t around.
At that time, Zeon, who had been quietly watching for a while, suddenly spoke.
“Raymond, how about we move now?”
It was a conversation that was no different from usual, but for some reason, there was no strength in his voice. Since something similar had happened last time, I was worried and turned around, but Zeon, who made eye contact with me, only smiled once with a face that was no different from usual this time as well.
“…Okay. Let’s move.”
After that, we arrived together at the ‘Teleportation Portal Station,’ where Teleportation Portal were gathered. There were a lot of people coming and going on the Teleportation Portal at the station, and it was easy to find the Portal you needed to use because each Portal had its destination written on it.
“The station is huge! It’s my first time at a station.”
“Mine too.”
“The Portal to Villenus… Ah, it’s over there.”
We approached the attendant in front of the Teleportation Portal labeled ‘To Villenus’ for assistance. The attendant, who was receiving money and allowing people to pass, turned his head and his eyes widened as soon as he saw us.
“Ah! My goodness! Aren’t you Prince Ardian?!”
He recognized Ardian. Ardian said, “You’re working hard,” and the attendant, who was quickly bowing and grinning from ear to ear, continued.
“Thank you. Where are you headed? Are they with you?”
“We’re going to Villenus. They’re all with me.”
“Understood. You can just go ahead and get on!”
In other words, it was free.
But Ardian refused such special treatment and paid for everything himself. Anyway, not a penny came out of my wallet, so it was the same as free.
“Thank you, Your Highness! And everyone in your party! Have a pleasant trip!”
The attendant, grinning so wide that his lips almost touched his ears, saw us off with the utmost courtesy. As we boarded the Portal with the attendant’s farewell, our vision briefly flashed white due to the Portal’s activation.
In the blink of an eye, we were teleported and arrived at the Teleportation Portal station in Villenus Territory.
“We’re here!”
Tom was the first to run out as soon as we arrived at the quiet station in Villenus Territory, where there were no people. Following him towards the station exit, an attendant briefly stopped us to check our numbers. It was a formality that didn’t even ask why we were here.
“Have a good trip, Your Highness. And to your companions.”
Seeing the Video Orb next to him, it seemed that the ‘sending side’ had already received information about us. Thanks to that, we passed through without any hassle. Leaving the station, I looked around, listening to Tom’s excited shouts.
It was a village where a salty breeze blew from somewhere. Only villagers who looked like fishermen were passing by, so the atmosphere was quite different from the regions I had seen so far.
“The villa is this way.”
STM
Ardian, who had first moved towards the coast, turned to us and said. Following behind him, I took a deep breath and felt a sense of ease. The salty, unfamiliar air was relieving my busy mind.
“Zeon, have you ever seen the sea properly?”
“Yes. The Rebygild Territory is also on the coast.”
“So it was.”
“Please come visit Rebygild someday. Everyone will surely welcome and be happy about your visit. I’m not the only one who remembers and feels you.”
Indeed. There would still be members of the Ballyhard Family left. Zeon was the only one among the Ballyhards who had made a Contract of Eternity with me, but even without the contract, everyone followed me well. I would be glad to meet them again too.
‘A new home for the Demons.’
I smiled slightly, reminiscing about the old days.
“Alright. I will definitely visit.”
At that moment, Zeon, who had been quiet for a while, called out to me.