CH 51

At the man’s response, his colleague smirked.

“Well, then, what are you doing here? You should go home safely and sew.”

“Do I have any alternatives when the country is telling us to fight? What kind of choices do people like me have? But still, well, I feel a newfound strength thinking that if we defeat these monsters, our family can live peacefully at home.”

“Missing my son is making me lose my energy. Those damn monsters should stop advancing.”

“That’s true. Nevertheless, our country is relatively better off…”

The man trailed off. In reality, unsettling thoughts had been swirling in his mind all along.

So, if monsters are pushing forward to this extent in this bordering kingdom, what kind of situation could it possibly be in the Empire, the country above them…

However, Kleinin had shared a border with Carshion for hundreds of years.

The man sighed, reassuring himself that such a large country couldn’t possibly be in dire straits.

“…Well, whatever. I guess it doesn’t matter. I just hope that somewhere an extraordinary person emerges and resolves these matters, so that people like us can live in peace without having to deal with this.”

“A hero of turbulent times? Is that what you’re talking about?”

The man chuckled with a sense of resignation, as if mocking the story that was detached from reality, while looking at his colleague who laughed loudly.

And on top of the castle walls, there was a gaze fixedly observing the two men.

The border with the Carshion Empire. Esdelle Ophius, who was here on behalf of the prince for an inspection tour, murmured while looking at the soldiers who were laughing disparagingly amidst a place filled with the corpses of monsters.

“… A hero of the turbulent times who can resolve this situation. It would be great if such a person really existed.”

Esdelle soon turned around. The blonde man, with a taciturn expression, avoided eye contact and looked in a different direction. However, Esdelle paid no mind and approached him with a smile, initiating a conversation.

“Don’t you think so, Young Master Firenze?”

In response, Miller Firenze, who had come together with Esdelle, responded with a blunt expression.

“… Considering that even Carshion, which has numerous ‘heroes,’ couldn’t completely stop the monsters and allowed them to reach Kleinin’s borders… Well, who knows. I’m not sure if such a person really exists.”

It started out as a goblin or an orc, a common enough monster that people were used to seeing it. But it didn’t take long for them to evolve into the kind of intermediate-level monsters that one would only see in books.

Moreover, ever since stronger and more numerous monsters started descending from the north, he heard that the Carshion Empire, located above Kleinin, had been exerting all its efforts to resist them.

Thanks to the long-standing relationship between Kleinin and the Empire, Kleinin still maintained an optimistic attitude, perhaps due to the belief that Carshion would resolve this situation.

In fact, Miller Firenze, who probably had more information than anyone else in Kleinin, couldn’t let go of the hope, ‘Maybe’ when he first arrived here.

However, as he witnessed the pouring descent of monsters, his thoughts gradually changed.

“I thought the same way. But the situation has reached a point beyond the capabilities of human power, even with ‘heroes’ or whatever.”

“…..”

“Uncle… Marquis Ophius said that this was not an accident, but the work of a person with ability. But judging by the scale and severity of the damage, it seems to be at a level surpassing human intervention, comparable to a natural disaster.”

Miller silently agreed with those thoughts. Meanwhile, a group of weary-looking soldiers were gathering near the blazing flames that were busy burning away the monsters.

It was a spectacle that almost resembled an exhibition. However, considering the inability to estimate when the relentless onslaught of the enemy, which needed to be defeated, would come to an end, it may be even more daunting than a war.

However, what if that man were here? Miller suddenly had that thought. If it were that man who possessed that disturbing power…

Miller blinked for a moment, then turned his head to the now silent Esdelle. He was met with a sly smile as Esdelle looked back at him.

His instincts told him he had screwed up.

“Recently, Young Master Firenze… you seem to ponder a lot, often mentioning ‘Ensis.'”

“…..”

“As if you’ve seen something unforgettable there.”

As he said that, Esdelle added a mischievous remark.

“But perhaps you’re just ruminating on your lingering feelings for your ex-fiancée.”

Miller was aware of the mysterious ability possessed by the young man before him, but they hadn’t spent enough time together recently for the other person to grasp what thoughts he frequently had.

That statement implied that he had been observing him consistently, even outside of meetings or official occasions.

When Miller’s eyes met the fleeting golden gaze, he closed his mouth tightly.

He couldn’t give away any more clues. He needed to clear his mind.

… Liddell still didn’t want that information to be revealed.

“Well, it was a long-standing engagement, you see. Suddenly breaking it off would result in more than just a few losses, so I’m still dealing with the aftermath, yes.”

Miller snorted and ran a hand through his hair, who swiftly composed his expression befitting someone leading the group of merchants of the country.

Even the brief moment of silence just now seemed so natural that one could easily pass it off as nothing out of the ordinary.

Perhaps if the young man in front of him wasn’t his counterpart, he could have pulled it off convincingly.

“Aha, I see.”

“…..”

“Oh, there’s no need for you to be so cautious.”

Esdelle had already confirmed the necessary information multiple times and, after speaking directly to the prince, had even sent an investigator down to Ensis. So, his attempts were practically meaningless.

He arched an eyebrow, feeling that somehow his abilities were making him look worse and worse.

“I’m sorry for unintentionally reading your private thoughts, young master… But as you know, we are in a situation where we have to try something, anything.”

Since the king’s illness, the young prince has been left to look after the affairs of state alone.

Fortunately, the prominent figures within the palace walls, who held influential positions, were still showing a cooperative attitude towards the royal family. However, as an inexperienced prince, he lacked the power to control all the factions and exert dominance over them.

Meanwhile, the momentum of the wizards who played a role in repelling the monsters was increasing, and the dissatisfaction among the northern lords who were directly fighting against the advancing monsters continued to accumulate.

There was a need to divert their attention momentarily and find something that could provide relief.

He had no expectations for the so-called heroes that the common people talked about.

But if the royal family – and by extension, Kleinin’s – shield, Catlan, could provide some good news to lighten the atmosphere.

‘… I suppose the prince would never consider using others for his own benefit.’

In that moment, Esdelle vividly recalled the violet eyes symbolizing the bloodline of the Kleinin royal family.

The prince’s appearance, smiling brightly like an ordinary boy, remained unchanged from when they first met.

Of course, their first meeting was forced by the calculations of the adults.

Once, when Esdelle Ophius lost his parents in an unfortunate accident, Callen Ophius, who felt sorry for their nephew, wished for Esdelle to make friends of his own age.

It was also an indication within the royal family that they wanted to provide a friend and a close confidant for the prince, who grew up without any siblings.

When these two individuals, whose relationship was entangled in understanding, met, Esdelle Ophius, who had already sensed the intentions of the adults, couldn’t simply be affectionate towards the other person.

The prince, however, merely smiled, delighted at the fact of having a companion of his age.

How innocent, Esdelle thought.

However, ironically, young Esdelle was saved by that very smile.

“…..”

As the situation escalated, there was a growing unease about the prince leading the nation, but the eighteen-year-old youth, who had once lost everything, had this thought.

Even if everyone turns their back, let me stand by that innocent friend’s side of mine.

“By any means necessary. Isn’t it the duty of a loyal subject to lead the situation as his master wishes?”

Esdelle, in a calm voice, murmured.

Not long after Edwin Roelich’s departure, I asked Hisch about the identity of the ‘small and weak’ witness he had spoken of, and it didn’t take long to find out.

“… I ran into a child who lived in a nearby village. I asked if he was okay since he seemed hurt, but he quickly ran away…”

Hisch, too, mumbled with a look of great surprise. It seemed he hadn’t even considered the possibility that Sir Edwin would track down the ‘small witness.’

On the other hand, upon hearing his words, I roughly guessed the situation.

Perhaps, just as Hisch headed to that location upon hearing the news of monsters appearing, Edwin Roelich must have followed the traces of the monsters and ended up meeting that child.

“I wish you had been more thorough in your use of the artifact I gave you. Even if you hadn’t, why didn’t you… Ugh.”

I hit Sein’s side to silence him as he started to nag. It was clear that whatever came out of this tactless guy’s mouth would be something like, “Why didn’t you get rid of the witness?”—heartless words devoid of sympathy or remorse.

Hisch, seemingly a little flustered, lowered his head, but I didn’t want to blame him.

Expecting someone who had lived a normal life all their life to move with suspicions, questioning everything in their surroundings like a spy from a movie, would be unreasonable.

Moreover, killing a child just because they saw him? Not only was it unacceptable, but the very idea that Hisch would engage in such behavior was against all reason.