By Zephyria 
After a moment, Felice looked closely at the children’s faces and spoke again.
“Like all other ducal families, the Duchy of Withrow also holds a new year festival. The format and style may differ slightly… I hope you all welcome the new year with joyful hearts.”
“…”
“And after the new year festival, you will embark on a second expedition.”
They had already heard about this from their seniors, so no one was surprised. They simply listened calmly to Felice’s voice. Felice moistened her lips with tea water, cleared her throat, and spoke in a gentle voice.
“The expedition next year is planned to be a large-scale one. To simultaneously eliminate the Black magician and the monsters he commands, all five companies of the Duchy of Withrow, leaving only the minimum necessary personnel, will head to the Yuil Mountains. And you have two choices before you.”
“…”
“To ascend the Yuil Mountains, or to clear out the monsters near the Owen-Dunmel Canyon.”
This was also something they had heard beforehand. Nevertheless, Duke Withrow conveyed it once more in his own voice, with a clear tone.
It was so that we could make a choice after fully understanding. It was a consideration, allowing us to walk and choose with our own feet, rather than being pushed into a death trap.
Once again, the face of the former head of the Namgung squadron came to mind. He quickly pushed that stern face out of his head.
“Most of the Withrow knights will form a large army and march towards the Yuil Mountains, but that doesn’t mean we can neglect the defense of the Duchy. You will receive more Blessing of Mana, so I won’t have you waste time defending the Duke’s castle.”
“…”
“Generally, conquering the upper reaches of the Yuil Mountains is something only those in their third year or beyond can do… It is early for you. I believe clearing the area near Dunmel Canyon, along with many mercenaries from the Duchy of Withrow, would be a good opportunity for me, and for you.”
“…”
“What will you do?”
His underlying intention to send the children of this cohort to the Dunmel Canyon Extermination Corps was plainly visible.
Hugh Benson had explained this matter, adding a remark. While living in close proximity to Mana, we also had to protect the Second Prince. Discovering the cause of danger and protecting Ruben. Which task should be prioritized was clear. I calmly spoke first.
“We will help with the extermination near Dunmel Canyon.”
Marianne, too, had entered the Tower without going to the Yuil Mountains, wanting to find some clue. Observing the surroundings from a completely opposite path would also be helpful. Now was the time to step back rather than rush forward.
Andy Spooner followed, speaking in a calm tone.
“We will ascend the Yuil Mountains.”
“Have you all discussed it amongst yourselves?”
“Yes.”
Duke Withrow did not show displeasure or elation. With a calm, kind, and benevolent demeanor as if he would listen to everything, he asked once more.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We all agree.”
“We will ascend the Yuil Mountains.”
Seeing the other children in their group answer obediently, Felice finally nodded.
Duke Withrow gave a few more cautionary remarks before excusing himself. As I left the reception room and stood in the hallway, Andy Spooner suddenly approached me, and I stopped in surprise.
She offered me her hand, and I readily took it and shook it up and down.
The child’s eyes, smiling brightly, were a deep reddish-brown.
“Michael Ernhardt, Young Master.”
“…”
“Even if we don’t make it back from the Yuil Mountains, please remember that we chose this path ourselves and tell the world.”
“…Yes. I will.”
“Thank you.”
The child turned around spiritedly. The children’s chattering voices lingered in my ears for a long time.
If Rubel, who had quietly come to my side and intertwined his hands with mine, hadn’t been there, I might have tried to hold those children back again. It’s not that they wouldn’t be able to get seriously hurt, and even if they did, it’s something that would happen in the distant future, not yet.
However, for some reason, I felt apologetic and embarrassed, unable to tear my gaze away. Things that weren’t my fault felt like they were my fault.
I was always the one who fought at the forefront.
I had never considered the feelings of those left behind. I always thought I fulfilled my duty by fighting ahead. But now I could understand the sorrow of those left behind. Only after crossing over one lifetime did the faces of those who waited for me at Namgung’s estate come to mind, and my heart ached.
The path of life, which I am relearning, is always unfamiliar and always new.
Lost in various thoughts, I stood in the hallway for a long time before finally returning to my room at the children’s urging.
❖ ❖ ❖
Tuesday of the fourth week of November. As the snow stopped, Hugh Benson and Elvin Brooks also returned to the Duke’s castle.
When asked what they had been doing, Hugh merely offered a polite smile and didn’t answer immediately. He handed over a bag of donuts as a gift, which the children and I shared, chewing on them like feed for a long time.
As always, I trained my body in the martial arts training ground in the early morning, and after breakfast, I studied the monster compendium. After lunch, I sparred with the children or practiced my Circulating Qi. In my free time, I also practiced Breathing and regulating energy to fully absorb Mana.
That afternoon, a bundle of letters arrived for me.
They were letters from my blood kin and acquaintances who had heard about me through Ranunculus, and they had only just arrived. Besides me, Ruben, Benjamin, and Marianne also received a handful of letters each.
I realized with a jolt.
It was natural that I wouldn’t be able to write letters if I went to the Yuil Mountains. Quill pens, dipped in ink, had to be handled with care. Unless it was a Magic Artifact, it was difficult to carry around and write with, and it took considerable effort to keep the small amount of paper from getting wet. Moreover, to deliver a letter, one first had to hand it over to the Duchy’s messenger, didn’t they?
But even so, after finishing a six-month mission and returning to the Duchy, I should have left at least one letter of greeting for my blood kin and friends.
Although Marianne had conveyed my regards on my behalf in the meantime, how could that compare to stories I wrote myself? It was no different from receiving a mere confirmation of survival.
I had forgotten about the distress I felt for not even writing a birthday card to Ruben, and now I realized I had done the same thing again.
My unfamiliarity with letters and love letters in my past life had left its mark.
There was the incident with the Mutated Monster on the way back, Ruben’s birthday, the joint funeral, and then the ordeal with Marianne and Benjamin, which had completely drained me, and I failed to take care of it. No, that’s not it. It’s all an excuse. It’s my fault.
I felt sorry and regretful towards those who cherished and cared for me.
Marianne’s letter was left with Benjamin, who said he would deliver it the next day, and I hurried back to my room with only my share of the letters, intending to reply quickly. Ruben followed, saying he felt lonely and scared being alone, so I let him stay.
Now that I could write letters comfortably, I should write a lot and convey my news.
I first eagerly opened the letters from my blood kin.
My loving parents, far from being disappointed by their eldest son’s neglect, were more curious about whether my sleeping arrangements were adequate and if I was eating well. My siblings, too, wrote many words of admiration and love for their elder brother who had ascended the Yuil Mountains to protect the peace of this land.
I also replied with kind words.
There was much to write about the bustling affairs of the Duchy.
I wrote about the joy of seeing the Fourth Magic Tower’s mark of the Duchy of Valentia on an Artifact that Ruben and I had chosen together during an outing, stories about street food like lamb skewers and donuts we ate while wandering through the marketplace, and the tale of my astonishment at seeing the heaviest snowfall in this land for the first time.
I concluded by writing that I often thought of my parents and siblings and missed them. I did not write anything that might worry my blood kin or anything that could cause trouble if a messenger accidentally lost the letter.
Still, I thought they would have heard everything they needed to know from my Uncle. I acted with that thought in mind.
The letters from my friends were filled with more honest and candid writings. Shayden’s letter was particularly so.
“Dear Mika,
I’ve heard various stories. There are many questions, but I don’t think they are suitable for a letter, so I won’t ask further. However, next time, I hope there won’t be any private meetings between Edwin senior and me. I was truly startled.
I could hear his voice from the familiar handwriting. Ruben, who kept glancing this way while reading his own letters, met my gaze. The child smiled, folding his eyes.
“Why, Mika?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
What did he say to Edwin, and why did he call Shayden separately?
However, to relay news about me, heard through Ranunculus, to my friends who are known to be close to me, considering Edwin’s prickly nature, he must have done it intentionally. It’s not something to scold. It’s only right to be grateful.
“I am doing well. It seems all our other friends are doing well too. I happened to run into Ivan and his wife recently, and they said they were going to Yulan for their honeymoon. It seems like it’s partly for work, but they looked quite happy, which put my mind at ease.
Ivan’s wife is two years older than me and taller than Benjamin. I was so surprised when I first saw her that I made a slight mistake, but I’m writing this so you can be mentally prepared.
They say they will be in Yulan until next summer. Will I be able to see you then too? I’m not sure.”
The extermination planned for the next quarter was scheduled for twelve months.
After that, there was no guarantee for some time. Both I and the other children felt it was dangerous to return to the capital immediately. Unless, of course, the Black magician, the culprit behind this incident, was caught in the meantime.
I quietly lowered my gaze and continued reading.
Demian was busy running around in all directions, having expanded his business by three more ventures, and Jenny was enduring her difficult new employee life after getting into her desired department.
The department Jenny joined seemed to have frequent company dinners due to many heavy drinkers as superiors, making it tough. I hope her intelligence isn’t dulled by alcohol. I decided to leave a separate note for Jenny.
After passing through various amusing stories, the news he probably really wanted to convey came next.
“Mika, I honestly have no idea what Prince Richard is thinking.”