By Zephyria 
Complex emotions settled into silence.
One-third of Sword Masters who graduate from the Academy ascend the Yuil Mountains. My kin, though they may have regretted my prolonged journey, would not have worried about me returning dead.
I, too, did not seriously consider my death at that time.
But now, I feel the need to prepare for more possibilities. It’s partly because I don’t know how strong Wesley Kiadris is, and partly because I don’t know when the scheme he’s preparing will be completed.
What if he can’t melt the continent immediately after defeating me? Gods live for such a long time. If the continent were to perish a hundred or two hundred years after my death, how heartbroken would these fragile souls be to lose me?
And who would they end up blaming?
At the very least, I hope the ones my kin blame are not Rubel.
I couldn’t tell my timid, fragile parents and young siblings what to do after my death in advance. If they heard my worries, they might have tried to stop me from leaving.
My three kin, who had trained their hearts enough to bear their noble and dignified positions, were trustworthy in that regard. Indeed, though all three stiffened their expressions, they did not show any agitated emotions.
The first to speak was Hendel Valentia. My maternal cousin placed several flower-shaped cookies on my plate, her voice unusually affectionate.
“Still, I believe you will succeed and return.”
As if to cheer me on or perhaps to comfort me, I smiled sheepishly at her gentle voice.
Following her, Aizen Valentia also placed a chocolate-filled baked good on my plate.
“There will be some defensive Artifacts left at the townhouse. I don’t know if they’ll be useful in a battle between Grand Sword Masters, but it’s better than nothing. Take some. I’ll try to find more during the intensive training, so take those too, and also…”
“If.”
Uncle Oscar, who had been silent the whole time, interrupted Aizen’s words in a low voice.
“If something truly dangerous happens, run away.”
“… .”
“Don’t think about jumping in to solve it. After careful consideration, do it only when you feel you can. What I said about you stopping Wesley Kiadris…”
“I know. You said it to give me a reason to train.”
“… .”
“I said it just in case. I will do my best and return.”
“…Yes.”
Clap! Hendel clapped loudly, drawing attention.
“Then let’s talk about something more important now.”
“…More important?”
“So, when did you and the Second Prince become… you know? During your first Hunting Festival? Or before that?”
“… .”
He told me to run away if something dangerous happened.
No matter how much I wanted to escape, I couldn’t. I broke out in a cold sweat like someone suffering from heatstroke as my kin pressed me with questions. No matter what I answered, Hendel and Aizen’s expressions remained unsatisfactory, leaving me worried.
❖ ❖ ❖
Our conversation went on for quite a while, and it was already past midnight.
Uncle had told me to stay and sleep, but I only had my measurements taken and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
The knights guarding the Imperial Palace gates operate on a four-shift system. There was no way such a large palace wouldn’t have a place for me to rest, and the knights who would open the gates would be awake, so it didn’t matter what time I arrived.
Ruben must be asleep by now.
I should leave a message for him to visit my room as soon as he wakes up. I wanted to see his sleeping face, but it was a shame I couldn’t because of the many eyes watching. Then again, if Ruben were asleep, people coming and going would just be a nuisance and bother him.
Thus, I arrived at the Imperial Palace with a peaceful mind.
Given the hour, I expected no one to be coming or going, but it was unexpectedly crowded. Carriages bearing the seals of various families were stopped, unable to enter the palace, and many knights were busy showing their faces and identifying themselves to the Imperial Palace bodyguards in sequence.
I grabbed someone nearby and asked.
“Why is everyone standing here?”
“H-Huh? Could it be, Lord Ernhardt?”
“Yes. It’s me. So, why are you all standing here like this… .”
I was now accustomed to strangers recognizing me. I replied calmly and looked at the dark green-haired man who appeared three or four years older than me. He stiffened his shoulders and answered directly.
“Well, the mobilization order came out four hours ago. So, most of the knights who came to bid farewell to their relatives are only arriving now. Since they have to verify their identities and inspect their belongings, the procedure is taking a while.”
“Hmm.”
“Didn’t the First Prince Faction also send several knights? If there’s any possibility of unrest, the more thorough the inspection, the better. However, we can’t discriminate against the knights of each family, so everyone has to stand here and be inspected one by one.”
This fellow in front of me must be a knight of the Second Prince Faction.
It was awkward and embarrassing that he knew me, but I didn’t know his name. I’d have to discreetly ask others later. I memorized his face again.
“…Why are you looking at me like that…?”
“No, I’m just going to join the line.”
“Yes? Ah, ah. Ah… Stand behind me, no, wait. Just a moment. Steve!”
The green-haired knight flinched and called over a few knights waiting in front of him, then placed me in front of them. Then another person who recognized me sent me further ahead, and the person in front of him also sent me ahead…
Somehow, through successive concessions, I ended up at the very front of the line.
Then, the knight guarding the gate looked at me with a bewildered expression and asked,
“No… Lord Ernhardt, why are you standing in line?”
“…Hmm.”
It felt awkward to answer, “Because everyone else was.”
I just smiled, and he smiled back and shrugged.
“The intensive training will be held at the detached palace on the east side, but it would be better for Lord Ernhardt to see the Second Prince first. The Prince asked to be informed when Lord Ernhardt returned, so he’s probably awake.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
No matter how often I came and went, was the Imperial Palace’s security like this? I grumbled inwardly, feeling awkward and embarrassed. As I familiarized myself and arrived in front of the Second Prince’s Palace, a knight who recognized me immediately directed me to the reception room, so I did.
Is Ruben waiting for me this late? I worried that I should have come a little earlier and walked briskly. However, in the reception room I arrived at, there were already several guests. I scanned their faces and pondered.
It was understandable that Marianne and Benjamin would be disappointed about not being able to accompany this expedition. I thought Samantha Andrei and Bailey Barton, who had greatly helped Ruben in Biban, had become Ruben’s close aides. I also exchanged nods with Mac Weaber, whom I had been introduced to as Rubel’s friend.
The most surprising thing was that Edwin Kiadris was sitting here. Why on earth?
“Why are you looking at me like that? Like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“…Hmm. It’s good to see you.”
“Not at all. Why are you so late?”
I was taken aback by his aggressive behavior the moment I saw him.
Not wanting to argue in this setting, I first surveyed my surroundings. There were so many people that, in addition to the usual sofas in the reception room, several chairs had been brought in, and we were sitting around a table.
Ruben offered me the seat next to him, and I readily took it. His smile was so bright and beautiful.
“What were you talking about?”
“…Are you ignoring me now?”
“Hold on, Senior. He’s Michael.”
Marianne said with a slight smile, stopping Edwin.
Indeed, Marianne skillfully and calmly accepted Edwin’s petulance, showing how affectionate and great a guy he was. It was quite astonishing to me, who remembered Marianne screaming Edwin’s name whenever it was mentioned during our Academy days.
Edwin seemed about to grumble something more, but I didn’t bother to listen.
As always, Ruben offered a kind explanation.
“The people here will help you, who will be in Floyd, and me, who will be in the capital. Since everyone will likely be busy once the intensive training begins, we gathered to say hello first.”
“Ah… Lord Hugh Benson.”
“He should have been here with us, but both of them are currently assisting the gods.”
Since I was to take the lead, it seemed they had selected individuals among the seventy-odd knights to assist me. I nodded, and Ruben turned to a woman who was repeatedly wiping her face with one hand.
Even though Ruben glared, Mac kept making sounds like a camel coughing, “Kuh, kuh-kuh.” I couldn’t understand what was so funny.
“…While Lord Hugh Benson and Lord Elvin Brooks are assisting the gods, Mac Weaber will be by your side. She has an appropriate title and is acquainted with many knights, so she handles difficult people well. Don’t you remember?”
“Yes.”
When I was staying in the Widdrow Duchy, three people with red, blue, and yellow hair had gotten Ruben very drunk. All three were Ruben’s peers and sons of noble houses with considerable backing.
Among them, Mac Weaber was a tall woman with long, red hair flowing like a lion’s mane.
She said she was close with both Ruben and Lucilla. Before reuniting at the duchy, she was one of the friendly, loud senior students I didn’t know well, but I kept her in mind because she was Ruben’s friend.
Mac, who had been lost in laughter, suddenly stood up and offered her hand for a handshake.
“I heard you’ve achieved a lot in the meantime. Congratulations, Lord Ernhardt.”
“…Ah, yes. Thank you.”
At the Widdrow Duchy, they treated me like a child, but now they were respectfully addressing me with honorifics, which felt utterly strange. I couldn’t tell if they were showing me respect because of the other people present or if they had simply decided to change their attitude towards me.
“Lord Samantha Andrei and Lord Bailey Barton will assist Mac Weaber. I asked them separately because it would be more convenient if they were acquainted with Mika.”
“I ask for your continued support this time as well.”
“Yes. We ask for your continued support.”
Samantha Andrei bowed respectfully, and I returned the greeting by bowing my head.
Come to think of it, all my close friends got along well with Ruben. I remembered Ivan, Jenny, and even Damian referring to Ruben casually and treating him as an equal during drinking sessions. Was it all Ruben’s doing that he assigned my friends to important positions or took care of them separately?
Lost in such thoughts, I sat quietly for a moment, and Ruben’s gentle voice continued softly.
“So, what we were talking about was…”