Chapter 31

The mansion became very active as the date was just around the corner. It was a long schedule that would last for several weeks, so there were many things to pack, from food to sleeping bags.

[ED/N: Sleep on the ground, you dimwits.]

[T/N: (≧▽≦)(≧▽≦)]

Unlike the usual interval of several months, the expedition was quite hasty. However, no one expressed their dissatisfaction. They knew what happened on the last expedition, so they just prepared more thoroughly than ever before.

The last few days were a rush, everyone was in a hurry preparing, such as repairing swords and replacing corroded armor. Ian, who was the only one out of the hustle and bustle as he had nothing to pack. He was looking down from the terrace. The white snowfield was melting away.

“…..”

The weather suddenly warmed up.

It was possible for the constantly pouring snow to stop, but the temperature was much different from yesterday too.

The weather was generally cold enough to leak in even through thick clothes and while putting one extra layer on top of it, but today it was warm enough to not have to wear anything.

There is also a warming phenomenon.

If yesterday was mid-winter, today was a clear spring day.

When I saw the snow melting, which had been accumulating even after cleaning it up before, I remembered the first time I woke up here. I think it was just like this back then. I even enjoyed the sun on the terrace. Then Logan returned, and from the next day, the window froze. What exquisite timing.

When Ian looked up a little more, wondering if there really was a Meteorological Agency, he saw people walking around in a hurry. They were the servants who diligently moved their luggage near the entrance. They had to camp in the forest for a few days, so they took as much as they could. It was prepared for dozens of people, so it was worth it.

[T/N: The luggage was quite big or heavy but as they will be camping in the forest for a few days and as it is for several people, taking that luggage was worth it that’s what they are trying to say.]

However, what was questionable was the meaning of the expedition.

At first, I thought I was going to war, but now I don’t think so.

Talking about fruits and herbs, he seemed to go to explore the inside of the forest at first glance, but it was strange to take dozens of armed knights with him. It was certain that there was a big beast, but it was too brutal to just collect plants.

If not, he is looking for something else.

He remembered hearing Kyle to himself that there was no harvest on the last expedition, so there was a good chance.

[T/N: Here “no harvest” probably means that they didn’t get anything or found anything on their last expedition.]

In fact, it was best to ask. Unlike before, Ian was able to write a little bit. Another way was to ask Kyle or Claude. Kyle, who especially likes to talk about everything, would immediately say everything he knows and doesn’t know.

However, Ian did not do so because of the atmosphere that exuded.

Nobody said it out loud, but everyone knew it.

It was Schwartz, who even suggested to accompany him and even brought up Rox. Even Kyle did not accurately explain the expedition, even though he knows Ian is from a foreign country. Seeing that everyone is saying it on the premise that they know it, it would be strange to ask a question.

So it would be better to see with your own eyes than to have unnecessary doubts.

Even if he knew it in advance, it would be the same because he had to go on the expedition anyway.

Thinking that way, I loosened my arm that was holding my chin. As if he had waited, an order was given to convene in front of the mansion.

“Everyone, stand by!”

The knights, who led and lined up their horses, wore black armor like they did back then. Metal armor, which reflects light and shines, is not realistic no matter how many times you look at it. At the training ground, Ian always rolled around on the floor in comfortable clothes, and now he finally looked like a proper knight, which was funny.

It was when he had such foolish thought while loading the simple luggage handed by the maid on Bella’s back.

“Prince, are you really going?”

As Ian turned his head to the familiar voice, Kyle, who seemed to have arrived last, was waving his hand. Bella, who was standing quietly, grunted anxiously, as if she recognized the brown horse walking beside her.

Ian, who quickly noticed it, shook his hand to stop him there, and Kyle, who had a wounded face, stopped walking a little away.

“All right, all right. I won’t go close. Bella, am I forgiven then? Huh? Will you forgive me?”

I’m going to do it, but I won’t. Although he felt Ian’s cold gaze, he put his hands together to pretend to rain toward Bella. It was a moment when he turned his head because he seemed to have no intention of becoming serious. With the sound of something pouring down, swearing came from not far away.

“Load it straight, you b*stard!”

As he turned his eyes to the sound, he could see a familiar face. Seeing that he hurriedly sat down and picked up the jerky pouches spilled on the floor, he seemed to have caused another accident. Puck! When the man next to him kicks his back, he can’t keep his balance and falls forward. Like other knights, a large footprint was carved on the back of a child who was not wearing armor.

“It’s cream puff.”

It was the blonde hair that caught his eye whenever he looked at it.

Shyu, who slowly stood up from his seat, seemed to have hit his face, and his forehead and the tip of his nose were red.

The pouches that were picked up at the most were scattered to the floor, and another handful of swear words flew in as they watched Shyu reaching out again in a hurry. The man was the one who kicked it, but he shouted when he dropped it again, and raised his hand as if he had to pick it up.

Is that Turk?

Ian tilted his head, remembering what Fred said one day in front of the fountain. He wondered who beat him like that every day, but now he saw his face.

“Cream puff is gonna accompany me on this expedition. It’s because we can’t put all the luggage on the horse. That doesn’t mean I can’t even take a servant with me… So I think he would be good.”

Ian wondered before why he took a child out of nowhere, but he kindly explained the reason too. Since it was Shy with a screw missing, Ian wondered if he could communicate properly.

“Can he ride the horse? Surprisingly, he’s our deputy chief’s special disciple. It was the first time I saw the noble Claude get mad while teaching someone. It’s a case of hard work and perseverance.”

“……”

I didn’t even ask. How did you answer that?

Kyle, who ghostly read Ian’s question, proudly answered and shrugged.

Puck! In the meantime, the man’s hand raised once more. Shyu, who is smaller than his peers, couldn’t stand it and staggered. The man, who seemed quite accustomed to hitting his head with his palm, grabbed Shyu’s head as he was about to fall and pulled him up, but no one stopped him.

It was a clear show of violence that took place in the presence of everyone. Ian only saw injuries here and there, but this was the first time he saw him being hit. Even Kyle, who was thought to step out of the way like last time, was just watching.

Weren’t you best friends?

He had a face that was dismissive, even though he was always playing and joking with cream puff.

It was around the time he turned his head to see how he was being treated. His eyes met with Shyu, who was dragged back.

“…..”

In an instant, his dazed eyes lit up with vitality. Shyu, who was full of joy, started waving his hands towards Ian. Ian stared at him thinking if he was asking for help, but it was obvious that he was not. It was just because it was nice to see his face after a long time.

At least once a day, it was Shyu who hid at the table where Ian sat. It was all about wriggling next to him or writing his name on the paper Ian wrote all over on, but he hadn’t seen him since Logan started to show his face.

It was only natural that other knights could not come close because they were far away. Kyle’s behaviour was unusual, most of the time he even gave a hard time to the highest-ranking officials. So Ian had no other idea. Since he had never been asked to come, it was Shyu’s choice to decide where to be.

Urr urr.

The pouch in his arm fell back to the floor again.

Following Shyu’s gaze, the man looks this way. His eyes were torn and his nose was especially big. He smiled briefly, noticing who he was looking and waving at.

“Why do you think that prince will even help you?”

Shyu, who was still waving, turned his head at the sarcastic question. He looked like he wanted to respond, but it didn’t matter to the man and he opened his mouth to Ian.

“Hey, if you’re close, you should help. Why are you staring at me?”

We’re not that close.

If he sits next to me every day and writes his name, is that what you call close?

When he blinked at the ambiguous standards, the gaze that had been glancing at this side since earlier changed blatantly. It was time to fix the luggage in advance and check the condition of the horse. Schwartz and Claude, who were supposed to help organize the situation, were currently checking the route for the last time in the Grand Duke’s office.

Strangely, Ian looked around slowly once again in a situation where he seemed to have seen this somewhere. As he passed by the child who was being beaten and the man who was obviously arguing, he looked at the human beings who only watched with their mouths shut, a strange feeling came along.*

Where did I see it? 

The moment he thought about it for a short time, something flashed through his mind.

Ah, this.

“Can’t you hear me?”

This is a typical introduction to the title of punishing evil and promoting good.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

T/N: POOR SHYUUUUU (༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ)

*For those who cannot understand this part, Ian is talking about the situation. The situation that a kid being beaten by a man and everybody else is just watching the kid getting beaten without doing anything, seems familiar to Ian. Maybe when he was a kid, he experienced a similar situation.