* * *

Supplies for the next dispatch could be obtained from the kingdom. After distributing potions and other supplies to his subordinates and sending a telegram to the Empire announcing his departure, Cadel packed his things.

Lastly, Cadel, who hung the uniform that the servants had washed on the wall, moistened his dry lips. It was already early evening, and Van still hadn’t come.

‘……I need to go myself.’

He couldn’t treat Van right in this ambiguous state. He felt like an animal being led to the slaughter, but he couldn’t put it off any longer.

Leaving the room, Cadel pulled the hood of his robe deep down over his head. He wasn’t headed for Van’s room.

Yingmar Swamp. The place where Kunra was.

‘I’m miserable, but I don’t have the courage to confront Van yet.’

What if Van changed his demeanor and despised him? The thought made Cadel’s breath catch in his throat.

Whether Van had heard the truth or not was better left to Kunra. Cadel would have to inform Kunra that he was moving on to the next location anyway, so he had every reason to spare himself some pain for now.

Once out of the castle, Cadel grabbed a carriage and headed for the swamps. He had deliberately chosen an expensive horse-drawn carriage, but by the time he arrived, the sun was already setting.

He hadn’t memorized the route perfectly, and he worried that he’d waste time getting lost.

[What’s going on again, halfling?]

Kunra’s voice rang in Cadel’s head not long after he entered the swamp, and after following his lead, Kunra was soon seen inspecting the demonic summoning circle and the magic circle fragment next to it.

Kunra sensed Cadel’s presence but didn’t look at him.

“Is it time to leave already?”

“We’ll be moving tomorrow morning. ……How’s the analytics going?”

“Still vague. It’s hard to gauge the exact size of the finished magic circle, and it’s not easy to determine its use from these fragments. It would be much easier if this one could see it in person, but I can’t leave the mountain.”

He seemed annoyed because he couldn’t easily overcome something easy. Cadel walked next to Kunra, who had a frown on his face and looked down at the magic circle together.

“Maybe we’ll find a new magic circle fragment in the sealed area we’re going to tomorrow, and we’ll be able to make some progress on our analysis.”

“You bet.”

Staring at the magic circle didn’t answer the question. Nevertheless, Cadel clenched his jaw shut and stared at the intricately drawn magic circle.

He knew he should ask Kunra about Van, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He didn’t want any answers. No matter what answer came out of Kunra’s mouth, he couldn’t reassure himself. It was the difference between being anxious and uncomfortable.

But he had to ask.

‘I’ve decided I’m not going to deceive any more, and this is only going to make Van suffer.’

No matter how painful it was, it must end. Biting down hard on his lower lip, Cadel took a deep breath to steady his trembling lips. But just as he was about to ask the question.

“What happened to that guy?”

“……Pardon?”

“The one who came to me last night.”

Kunra’s gaze, which had been fixed on the magic circle the entire time, shifted.

“I heard you sent him to get information about yourself, halfling.”

“So…….”

“I told him everything. I only told him about your soul, but that alone seemed overwhelming.”

Van had heard it all. Cadel’s complexion went white at the realization. Kunra stared at Cadel and said in a somber tone.

“I let him go because he walks so well even when he’s lost his mind, but it’s bothering me. For a berserker, mental strength is important. If it seems dangerous, kick him out, for once he’s crazy, he knows no friend from foe.”

Van knew everything, but he wasn’t angry, didn’t question it, didn’t leave the Knight Order. Cadel didn’t know how Van felt, or why he treated Cadel the way he did.

However.

‘If that’s Van’s choice, I’ll go with it.’

If Van pretended not to notice, he would act as if nothing had happened. If he was organizing his thoughts, he would wait in silence until he was done.

Because it was difficult to endure, he tried to pour out the truth to Van. He would accept whatever the consequences were.

‘As long as he doesn’t leave…… I can do anything.’

Biting his lip, Cadel looked out the carriage window. The swiftly changing landscape was gradually filling in with lush vegetation, signaling that they were nearing their destination.

“We’ve encountered High Demons at every seal circle, and somehow I have a feeling we won’t be able to avoid them this time.”

Cadel turned his head and made eye contact with Garuel, who was sitting next to him. He nervously shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s been that way since before I joined the Scarlet Scales Knight Order, but to have demons targeting not only the seals in the Empire but the outer seals as well. That’s pretty bad. We’ll need to hear the full report, but I doubt we could have avoided conflict with the demons by going elsewhere.”

“I’m pretty sure the Demon Realm is up to no good.”

“Do you think it can be stopped?”

“No. You can’t avoid a fight.”

Garuel only grinned in amusement at the flat answer. He didn’t know that Cadel was predicting a second Demon War, but he knew that Cadel was right, that there would be a big battle soon. It was a hunch of sorts. The world was not doing well.

“There should be no wasting time trying to guess whether something will happen or not.”

“Wasting time going through procedures is what royals do best, right?”

“And that’s the problem.”

With a bitter smile, Cadel’s gaze shifted to the other side, where Yozen hadn’t uttered a word since climbing into the carriage.

Yozen and Garuel were the only two members of the group riding in the carriage with Cadel. Yozen was brought by Cadel himself, as he hadn’t yet blended in with the others, and Garuel’s place was taken by a simple lottery. The rest of the group was in the other carriage.

It was fortunate that Garuel was selected. If it had been Van, Cadel would have felt awkward, and if it had been Lydon, he would have been tired because he didn’t know if they would get into an accident. It was lucky that Garuel was the winner among the most acceptable Lumen and Garuel.

But that was only from Cadel’s perspective, and from Yozen’s perspective, it seemed like a bad combination.

“Speaking of which, Sir Yozen. Are you a drinker? I’d like to join you for a drink sometime. There’s nothing like a drink for socializing, is there?”

“I don’t drink.”

“Oh no, is it the unwinding factor that keeps you away? Or is it just the taste? If it’s the latter, Sir Lydon has a favorite fruit wine that he drinks well.”

“It doesn’t matter why, I don’t drink.”

“That’s sad. Then, would you like a cup of tea?”

“…….”

The corner of Yozen’s mouth, which had drawn a calm line, twitched slightly. Cadel, sensing a creeping sense of death, stabbed Garuel in the side.

“Stop bothering him. Why are you being so mean to Yozen?”

“Haha, are you jealous, Knight Commander? This is different from the affection I have for you. Please rest assured.”

“You’re talking nonsense again.”

“I just want to become friends with other members of the same group. Sir Lydon breaks down quickly when I give him something sweet. Hmm, what can I do to gain favor?”

Even if you ask me, there is no information. If Cadel had to pick something Yozen liked, well.

‘Maybe the neck of a pig-like bastard.’

The head of a waste aristocracy might win some favor. Cadel thought for a moment, then shook his head and tipped Garuel’s chin up to silence him. Garuel’s face, resting on Cadel’s palm, tilted to the side, pressed their cheeks together.

“You can’t just touch me like this. Sir Yozen is in front of us, Knight Commander.”

“I told you not to talk strangely.”

Cadel withdrew his hand in horror and glanced over at Yozen. With his blindness, Garuel’s words alone could be misinterpreted as something strange.

However, Yozen always blocked any possibility of misunderstanding with his soft voice.

“I can’t see the substance, but I can feel the outline.”

“Ooh, in what way? I was curious about the secret to being able to fight cleanly without errors even though you lost your eyesight.”

“You wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you.”

“Are you challenging my comprehension, Sir Yozen? Fine, I’ll take it. Now, go ahead and tell me.”

“…….”

Cadel felt Yozen’s killing intent, which had stagnated for a moment, boiled over again, but he decided to ignore it. After all, Garuel had regenerative abilities. Cadel felt like he wouldn’t be bothered if Yozen stabbed him once.