Chapter 63
“Finally……!”
Rache sparkled her eyes as he saw the checkpoint come into view.
If he just passes that checkpoint, it’s finally the end of the long subjugation. he can wash with warm water and sleep in his own bed!
“I was so sick of it, really…….”
After setting out for the specter subjugation, it was fine up to about ten days.
Thanks to Daphne, with the boosted morale, they started the investigation without delay.
There were people who got injured in the process, but there were no deaths. So everyone gathered more strength and marched on.
But after ten days passed, they couldn’t find out anything. Because the black mage they were chasing disappeared without a trace.
In the end, without finding out what was affecting the mana stone distribution, why they tried to intercept the mana stones, etc., their purpose and plan, the subjugation squad had to return.
Guardian Nike and Fiona thought it unpleasant to return without revealing anything, but everyone except them teared up with joy as soon as they saw the castle gate.
Wandering around without a destination to find an enemy that doesn’t appear is no different from wandering the desert without a map to find an oasis.
Anyway, having returned to the capital, they each marched forward, forward, with similar wishes.
“Hey, Rache. You’re not going back to your family home this time either?”
Kenrick, who gave her a ride on the horse, asked while placing his chin on Lache’s shoulder..
“No need to go out of my way.”
“Even after what happened with Daphne last time? What was it, the amazing brother…….”
“Ah, shut up!”
Rache pushed Kenrick’s face away hard with his cheeks flushed red. Kenrick playfully leaned back and giggled.
“Love or hate, family is family, right? Huh?”
“……No, it’s not.”
“You’re becoming an amazing brother, huh? You’re not even going to show your face when your little sister is sick?”
“I told you not to say that! And Daphne is…… fine. She said she wasn’t worried much.”
“For saying that, you sent a bunch of stuff packed.”
“Ah, I said shut up!”
Since he couldn’t say up to the point that Daphne collapsed from mana exhaustion due to manifesting sword aura, Rache deliberately acted disgusted as if it was no big deal and pushed Kenrick away. But Kenrick didn’t back off easily.
“Rache.”
He said in a deliberately serious voice, unlike just now.
“Still, go visit once. The situation at the archduke’s house doesn’t seem good lately.”
“……What?”
Rache’s body jerked.
“Not good? What do you mean?”
“Hey hey, don’t move. You’ll fall.”
Thanks to Rache moving wildly as if forgetting she was on the horse, Kenrick gripped the reins tighter.
“Well, it’s not serious.”
Kenrick continued in a softer voice as if to calm Rache.
“After handling the calamity last time, His Majesty hasn’t given any orders to the hero, right? So among the gossips, there’s talk that actually the hero failed, and His Majesty was greatly disappointed and cast out the hero.”
“What the……! Nonsense!”
“Calm down. Even if the calamity is strong or whatever, I don’t think it could survive in front of that archduke. But, well. You know. Since the archduke dislikes using power in front of people, there are many guys blabbering this and that about the archduke’s power.”
“…….”
Rache clenched his fist tightly.
No matter how much he doesn’t like the archduke, even if he’s a fool idiot who can’t even properly play the role of a nominal father, still, she acknowledged the archduke’s skills at least.
But stupid kids who aren’t even from the archduke’s house, what? Failed? His Majesty angry?
Ha! It’s utterly absurd. Rache ground his teeth.
“His Grace is strong.”
“I know that too.”
“If he sets his mind to it, he could destroy a kingdom overnight.”
“……That sounds sincere, which makes it scarier.”
Kenrick leaned his cheek against the back of Rache’s head while gauging his mood.
“Anyway, go later at least. You’re still the eldest son of the archduke’s house. Go check the family situation, comfort the servants a bit. Huh?”
“……I’ll think about it.”
“Sheesh, so cute.”
“I said I’ll just think about it.”
Kenrick gave a soft smile toward Rache, who snorted and turned his head away.
Then, seeing the checkpoint that had gotten close before he knew it, he let out a long breath.
“Ah, finally arrived. Oof, stiff. Gotta rest once inside.”
“Me too. I feel like I could sleep right now.”
The line at the checkpoint is long.
But the subjugation squad won’t need to wait in line. Nike and Fiona were already ahead confirming the subjugation squad’s identity. Once confirmed, they’ll let them pass the checkpoint first.
But…….
“Hm?”
Kenrick’s eyes narrowed.
“Hey hey.”
He said while tapping Rache.
“Don’t Nike and Fiona’s eyes look a bit weird?”
“Huh?”
Only then did Rache look where Kenrick pointed. There, Nike and Fiona were looking at them with sparkling eyes.
“Why are they looking at us?”
“……When they’re like that, it means they have something for us to do.”
“No way. Surely. After rolling like dogs in the subjugation squad for nearly two months, if they make us do something, that’s not human…… Ah, those guys aren’t human kids.”
As if Kenrick’s words were a trigger, Nike and Fiona started waving their hands vigorously at them.
“sir Kenrick! And Rache!”
They shouted loudly.
“You two have something to do.”
“Yes. A very very very great task that only you two can do!”
“…….”
Kenrick took a deep breath and lifted his head to the sky. Gee, perfect day to die.
“Rache.”
“What.”
“I’m on the horse right now.”
“Yeah.”
“Should I bolt?”
“……Doesn’t sound bad.”
It was then, when strength tensed in Kenrick’s hand holding the reins.
“Yeah. No. Where are you bolting to.”
Nike, who had approached before they knew it, grabbed the reins Kenrick was holding.
Aw shit. Kenrick recited a short curse and looked down at Nike.
“What, where to? What are you making us do?”
“Umm, it’s nothing much.”
Fiona said with a bright smile.
“For sir Kenrick, we’ll make you an instructor.”
“……Yes?”
“For Rache, we’ll make you a teaching assistant.”
“Yes?”
What the hell is this bullsh…….
“Ta-da. Named ‘Hero Training School’!”
“You all have been given the heavy responsibility of teaching the trainees at the training school. Waa. Exciting. Clap clap clap!”
Nike and Fiona suddenly held up a large sign.
Kenrick and Rache blankly stared at the sign.
What is this. Is it fake?
“Ah, don’t look like that. We’re doing it too. Me and Fiona and Nike are instructors too. The best, right?”
“Haa…….”
Kenrick dry-washed his face and shook his head.
“I really want to run away…….”
Rache, watching them, stealthily raised her hand.
“Um, but I’m an apprentice guardian.”
At Rache’s words, Nike’s lips curved up into an arc.
“Now it’s time to become a full guardian slowly.”
“Yes?”
“Think of it as the final test. We’ll watch how well you supervise and control the kids as a supervisor.”
“No, no. If you say it so suddenly like this, I’m really flustered…….”
“Come on, let’s go!”
Nike cut off Rache’s words mid-sentence and grabbed the reins. Wait, going now? Lache’s eyes shook wildly.
“M, my luggage not unpacked yet?”
“No time for that. We have to go prepare quickly.”
“…….”
Getting farther away.
My comfortable bed.
My peaceful holiday…….
Goodbye…….
“I really want to cry…….”
***
Early morning.
Daphne is out at the training ground.
But not alone like usual. Right next to Daphne was Sio, yawning widely.
“Ah……. I’m not a morning person…….”
“Change from now on.”
“Do I have to……?”
“Didn’t you say you’d help me! Until I enter the training school, I plan to squeeze and absorb everything from you!”
“Applause for lady Daphne’s shamelessness in trying to take someone’s secrets at will, clap clap clap.”
“Shut up.”
Daphne poked Sio with her elbow. But no force in it.
Tormenting Sio right now was one of the things she absolutely shouldn’t do in Daphne’s plan.
Hoo, hoo.
After a few deep breaths, Daphne crossed her arms and lifted her head. And started spitting out the words she had thought of one by one.
“I don’t want to learn from the likes of you either. But what can I do? Not only are there no books left with records about magic swordsmen, but it’s hard to find the method!”
“Umm.”
“So I have to learn from you. Since you’re the great sage considered to know everything!”
“Uumm.”
“Aren’t you the one who knows all the truths of the world and pursues truth! The guy who’s half crazy because he’s too smart!”
Shio tried not to, but couldn’t stop his lips from twitching up.
Ah, why compliment this much.
Feeling like he got recognition from that Daphne, he felt strangely proud. Shio chuckled.
“If you say it that much, I have to help. Ha, being too excellent is the problem. Everyone around bugs me like this.”
Yes.
Daphne cheered inwardly.
-Great sage, you want to learn what? But sages have really strong pride and hate teaching anyone, I heard.
-Method…… method. Ah! How about complimenting wildly? If our young lady, the genius of the century, floats him up, great sage-nim will fall for it too!
Anne. Thank you. You were right after all.
Daphne smiled brightly and flashed her eyes at Sio.
Alright, I’ll suck you dry to the bone! Muttering that.
“What should I teach first? Well, I know so much that I don’t know where to start, but still…….”
It was then, while half-listening to the puffed-up Sio’s words.
“lady D, Daphne?”
A familiar but recently unheard voice pierced their ears. Turning her head quickly, someone standing on the opposite side was visible.
“Right now…….”
It was Teite, messed up to the point where if put next to a beggar, you couldn’t tell apart.
“Did you leave me like that and get close to another guy……?”
He sat down with a thud, with an expression like he lost his country.
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By Anna 💓
