By Zephyria 
But that strange isolationist policy ended over a hundred years ago, and the Yulan people now freely entered and exited Centrum, buying and selling various goods, including salt. Thinking about whether anyone had crossed that cliff since then felt daunting.
Wyverns lived in the Indus Canyon. Wyverns were large monsters. I was so surprised to see creatures that seemed like they should only be found in the highlands of the Yuil Mountains. Yulan had not had many martial artists capable of dealing with such large monsters recently. After a moment of thought, I asked again.
“Is that path still there?”
“Yes. Of the several temporary bridges that were built, I found one that is still somewhat intact. I spent some time cross-referencing the bridge locations.”
“Then… are we going by carriage?”
“No.”
“…Hmm?”
“The path itself will serve as an excuse.”
Seeing that I didn’t understand immediately, Ruben took my hand and explained kindly.
“According to protocol, we are supposed to be escorted by over twenty people, including four Yulan guards, and three carriages, until we are outside the Yulan Kingdom. But we can’t travel leisurely by carriage like tourists, can we? This is a time when we cannot have anyone observing our every move.”
“…That’s true.”
“So, I used the excuse of passing through the cliff. If we say we need guards of Sword Master level or higher due to the large monsters, a country like Yulan, with its low Mana Concentration, would have very few such individuals to spare.”
“…Ah.”
However, there was still one thing I didn’t understand. So I asked again.
“But… isn’t it said that one shouldn’t camp in another country?”
“If you think about it that way, traveling by carriage is also camping. We aren’t staying at an inn. If we say we’re crossing the Makabi Cliff and heading north, we just need to ensure the number of people is appropriate.”
“How many people are we taking?”
“At least twenty, including myself.”
That many?
I looked at Rubel, myself, and then… just in case, at Ivan and his wife. Ivan nodded his head as if it were obvious. Seeing that, Ruben declared,
“I plan to go with Mika, Baron and Baroness Bikoff, one doctor, and fill the rest of the personnel with laborers from the Eldos Merchant Guild. Depending on the situation, Baron and Baroness Bikoff can return to Yulan or head to Centrum.”
“…Why a doctor?”
“…”
The child’s gaze was sharp.
No, but the more I thought about it, the more absurd it felt. I casually rolled up the sleeve of my left arm and extended my forearm to Ruben. It was perfectly intact, with no scars, and the muscles bulged clearly when I tensed them.
“Look. I’m fine even after several battles, aren’t I? In the beginning, I acted cautiously just in case, but now, I truly don’t need it anymore.”
“…But.”
“It’s a long journey. Even a doctor is a civilian, and she’s too old to be sent on horseback on a path where we won’t be taking a carriage. I don’t want to add cumbersome luggage.”
“…”
“It’s excessive worry. Even for Rubel…”
“…For me?”
The child’s dark eyebrows drooped. Only then did I realize. In my frustration, I had made a mistake. Ruben, who had been covering my hand, withdrew his, showing his displeasure, so I quickly grabbed it again.
Startled by his gaze, which was looking at me with such earnestness, I felt a pang of distress. Gently stroking the tips of his fingers as if to soothe him, I spoke carefully.
“…It’s precisely because it’s Rubel that I’ve been able to endure this long.”
“Then, you could endure a little longer, couldn’t you?”
“No, what I mean is…”
“…Excuse me, but could you two please give me a moment to speak?”
Ivan, who had been watching our bickering, interjected.
Ah, this guy was here too. Embarrassed that I had completely forgotten, my earlobes flushed. Ivan, as always, had a neutral expression and a casual demeanor, but his voice was laced with a deep sigh.
“First, Mikael, let’s have you get another examination. If the doctor thinks further treatment is necessary, we can discuss it again then.”
“… “
“…Very well.”
“And the two of us… if you two are okay with it, we’d like to bring Biban along.”
This was also a puzzling statement. I blinked in surprise, and Ivan shrugged.
“The basic principle of trade is buying goods in one region and selling them in another. For the goods sold, we have to buy something else here… As you know, Yulan has suffered a major flood, making it difficult to find usable items. It seems recovery will take some time, so I’d like to visit Biban and look around.”
“…Hmm.”
“Of course, if Your Highness permits it.”
Ruben didn’t hesitate for long and returned to his composed princely demeanor, granting permission.
Leaving Ivan and his wife in the reception room where the Golden Turtle was visible, I immediately went to meet the wide-eyed quack.
He put on a needlessly serious face and once again scanned me with that long stick. Still, it was a relief. The physician, with eyes that seemed to see the inexplicable, examined me several times, muttering “This can’t be, this can’t be” repeatedly, before saying this:
“You… are completely healed. No, really. How can this be?”
“See? I told you I was completely healed.”
“…”
“…It’s all thanks to Rubel. Thank you.”
Ruben’s lips, pouting with displeasure, were so cute that my throat suddenly felt dry.
After coaxing Ruben a few more times and expressing my gratitude, Ruben finally allowed me to go without the physician. The physician, who had been listening nearby, widened his already large eyes in surprise and asked,
“What? Me? Where to?”
“No, it’s not like that. You can just stay here. We were just talking amongst ourselves.”
“Y-yes…”
“You’ve worked hard. About the medicine…”
“It seems you don’t need the medicine either. However, please keep the remaining medicine well and take it if any pain arises.”
“Yes.”
After that, everything went smoothly.
Ruben and Ivan became busy again. Mika and I did bodyweight exercises in the reception room every day. In between, at the request of the Yulan royal siblings, I performed Jin Gi Do In on Yulan’s fifth prince, Elijah, once more. I also caught and removed from the garden a person who had trespassed, begging to touch the Golden Turtle just once.
Thus, a few more peaceful days passed.
❖ ❖ ❖
Monday of the second week of February. The mages from the First Magic Tower arrived.
Three wizened mages, brimming with Mana, stood before the villa’s door, shouting loudly. Their lack of manners was very characteristic of mages. Fortunately, some of the informants recognized their faces, allowing them to be brought into the reception room without much fuss.
One of them was someone I knew well.
A mage with brownish-red hair, drooping eyes, a face in his early fifties, and the expression of a late teenager.
It was Mage Boulder, the one who had tormented me with a transparent golem during my academy days and had been a great help in developing the Hip-Circulate Method.
The one who burst into the reception room barely greeted Rubel before rushing to my feet.
I was already accustomed to Boulder acting as if he had lost his guts and sanity. However, seeing my brow furrow, Sienna Bikoff, who was doing sit-ups, startled and sat up.
It was natural that he would hear about the request for mages to the capital, but I had completely forgotten. While it’s more comfortable to deal with someone I know than a stranger, my ears were already ringing before I even heard a greeting.
Without surprise, I calmly pushed him away with my toe. I sat on the sofa first and beckoned him to a chair placed far away. Mage Boulder quickly sat down, smiled broadly, and chattered loudly,
“Young Master Ernhardt! I heard the news. I saw the Golden Turtle on the way. It’s fortunate you are in Yulan. From the moment I heard about the first mutated monster, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day we’d meet again. Truly, truly, truly. How did you end up in Yulan? If I had known, you should have sent a telegram in advance. Even though the Yuil Mountains are off-limits, I can freely enter and exit Yulan!”
“…It’s nice to meet you too.”
If only it were just that one person.
Somehow, he brought friends who were just like him. Two mages, around Mage Boulder’s age, clung to the back of Boulder’s chair, nodding and opening their mouths as if wanting to speak too. One mage was enough, but dealing with three at once was overwhelming.
I quickly looked back at Rubel. He approached with a businesslike smile. Rubel squeezed in between me and Mage Boulder, blocking Boulder’s crazed eyes from my sight.
Sienna Bikoff tried to slip away quietly, but I gestured for her to sit on the sofa. If she were to be alone and far away, and something happened, I would surely be scolded by Ivan. Though he made a pouting face again, I didn’t relent.
“Let’s introduce ourselves first. This is Baroness Sienna Bikoff, the wife of my close friend. Please treat her with respect.”
“Huh? Oh, no. It’s fine. Please, just be comfortable…”
“Please, with respect.”
Mage Boulder looked at Baroness Sienna Bikoff with round eyes. It was better to give a heads-up in advance, as it would be a big problem if something happened due to a casual introduction. The unbiased mages greeted her with smiles.
“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Mage Boulder. It means ’round stone’! It is an honor to meet Baroness Bikoff. You are as beautiful as I’ve heard. How are your children these days?”
“I am Mage Johnson! Baroness, you are very tall! Have you personally touched a Golden Turtle as tall as you? What was it like? I really want to hear your impressions!”
“I am Mage Laura. I wish you, Baroness, endless turtles in your future. It was truly a pleasure to meet you today! I am always ready to respect the Baroness with utmost sincerity and passion.”
“…”
Baroness Sienna Bikoff looked at me.
What could I say? As I remained silent, Rubel skillfully changed the subject.
“Yes, you arrived earlier than expected this week. Where did you leave your carriage? Did you come on foot?”
“The Golden Turtle has come ashore, and the creator of the Hip-Circulate is said to have massacred ancient spirits. How could we come by carriage? We used as much Mana as we could to cast Blink repeatedly. This friend here almost died from Circle overload in the middle! Haha!”
“Hahaha! I’m a bit weak-hearted for a mage. But I’m fine now! So, can we go inside the Golden Turtle’s mouth now? I heard we just need permission from Your Highness and Lord Ernhardt.”
“…Did you come alone, the three of you, leaving everyone else behind?”
“Well, knights can’t use Blink, so it can’t be helped! They’ll be here soon.”
“So, about going inside the Golden Turtle’s mouth? I can sleep there tonight. I even brought a sleeping bag.”
“…”
Ruben maintained a gentle smile throughout. The child turned to me with a tender gesture. Once the person in charge arrives, we’ll leave them here and depart quickly. He communicated this with his eyes, and I immediately nodded.