* * *

“The ankle was cut, so she must have left a trail. She can’t have gotten far, we need to search quickly.”

Sorin shifted his gaze to the newly arrived group as he was ordering the knights to search for Sellev. It was the Scarlet Scales Mercenary who entered the gate. With them was the fairy who had caused the healers to fuss over his sudden disappearance.

As he watched the mercenary corps move toward the healer, he heard Dreyfe’s voice nearby.

“It’s a shame, but they are undoubtedly the biggest contributor to this battle. It’s not the Guardian Knight Order who is protecting the Empire’s borders, but outside mercenary corps.”

Dreyfe was also looking at the mercenary corps. Cadel, to be precise. He seemed to consider for a moment, then leaped to his feet. He took a step toward Cadel, but Sorin stopped him.

“……Why are you blocking me? I’m not trying to start a fight.”

“It’s Lytos.”

“Huh?”

What the hell was that? Dreyfe’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, slowly growing in size as he considered Sorin’s brief remark, then narrowed again in ferocity.

“That’s bullsh*t, and on what basis? Not all great magicians are Lytos.”

“I remembered his face. I remembered seeing him before. A grandson who looked like Jenga Lytos.”

“……You must be mistaken. Lytos was wiped out. You watched, didn’t you?”

“Only the corpses of the Lytos’ two generations were secured. Officially, all were executed, but unofficially, 3 of the four generations, including illegitimate children, remain unaccounted for.”

Dreyfe’s mouth dropped open at the unheard-of information. His creaky head snapped back to Cadel once more.

“And now, the magician who defended the Empire is…….”

“We must take him to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“What?”

Dreyfe’s expression hardened at Sorin’s assertion. He whirled and positioned himself to block Sorin’s path.

“If you take him, he dies. You know what I’m talking about?”

“…….”

“Yes, call it Lytos. Let’s say it’s his bloodline. But if he approached the Empire to get revenge on His Majesty the Emperor, do you think he would have fought so desperately when the demon showed up? Do you think he would have helped the Knight Order?  If he had sided with the demon, we wouldn’t be able to defend the gate right now…….”

Dreyfe, his mouth pursed and his breathing ragged, grabbed Sorin’s arm, his gaze determined as he looked up at him.

“Let’s just kick him out. Give him a warning, tell him not to come near us again.”

“What if Lytos says no?”

“How can he say no? He knows his position.”

“If he had accepted that position, he wouldn’t have come to the Empire in the first place.”

Sorin gently removed Dreyfe’s grip and slowly opened his mouth to speak.

“The Empire misses Lytos, Dreyfe.”

“That’s…….”

“If the mercenary who defended the Empire was revealed to be the surviving Lytos, it would awaken a barely contained longing. That in itself would be a devastating blow to the Empire. What do you think His Majesty will decide?”

“…….”

“Death is a certainty. One way or another, Lytos will die.”

“……So. He’s going to die anyway, and you want me to take him to die when His Majesty is less wrathful?”

Sorin tore his gaze away from Dreyfe and looked at Cadel beyond, a considerable distance away, but enough to recognize that their eyes met.

It was Cadel who broke the brief eye contact. Sorin held his gaze for a long time after Cadel broke away.

“From the time he came to the Empire, he must have been prepared for death. Just as he chose the Empire over the demon, the choice is his and the outcome is his. We have to do what we have to do. I don’t think he could have foreseen this situation.”

Sorin seemed to have no intention of relenting, and beside him, Dreyfe beat his chest in frustration. The mercenary commander was the returned traitor, but his stomach churned at the thought of doing something he knew he couldn’t do.

* * *

“Once you’re healed and Lydon is conscious again, you two should go to the inn. Tell Lydon to transform into a small fairy, which will help him avoid unnecessary attention, but doesn’t use any illusions.”

“Pardon……? What about Commander?”

“I have businesses to do.”

“In the Empire? By yourself? You haven’t even recovered yet. I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s no need to be so urgent…….”

“Take this.”

Van reflexively grabbed the [Ring of Fate] in his hand, sending Cadel a questioning glance. Cadel seemed calm as if nothing was wrong, but that only made Van more uneasy.

“Wait a week at the inn.”

“Why on earth…….”

“If there is any strange movement of the threads in it, come to me. If not, wait for me at the inn. I’ll find you.”

“……Commander. Have they realized who you are? If so, we’d better get away. If we move now, we might not get caught.”

Normally, he would have done so. Would the lineage of a traitor stride across the Empire and risk its own life unless he was crazy? But Cadel couldn’t leave this place right away, and he couldn’t avoid what was going to happen here.

He needed to be recognized by the Osma Empire no matter what. He had to elevate the Scarlet Scales Mercenary to a Knight Order, or there would be no next. The system’s warning that he would not be able to progress in the story was the equivalent of announcing his death.

If he was going to die anyway, it was better to break through than to evade. So Cadel stroked Van’s anxious head and gave him a small smile.

“If something bad happens to me, you’ll be the first person to know because you’re wearing the ring, and you’ll come to my rescue, right?”

“Even so, for Commander being alone……!”

“I’ll be fine, Van. Just do me a favor and listen to me. Okay?”

It was only through the sacrifices of Lydon and Van that he was able to proceed with the quest. He could not do it alone. The reward for his efforts with them would never betray him. Cadel believed it.

‘I’ve laid enough groundwork, the Emperor can’t kill me.’

It was the same with Van and Lydon. Even if the Emperor tried to kill him, the truth would always come out unless his fellow members, Van and Lydon, were captured. The reputation they had accumulated so far would only spread that ripple.

All the blood and sweat they’ve shed so far, this is where it will pay off.

“Mercenary Commander. I need to speak with you for a moment.”

Sorin, now closer, called out to Cadel. Van glared warily at Sorin, but Cadel casually stood in front of him, his back to Sorin, and touched Van’s distorted brow.

“……Commander.”

“It’s a week. Even if you miss this commander, just be patient.”

Cadel whispered softly and rubbed his brow gently. He playfully brushed a stray strand of hair away from Van’s face, and turned his head toward Sorin.

“Let’s go, I don’t think this is the place to talk about it.”