Chapter 251 - Split Up

Cecil didn't know if it was because he was lucky or not, but after regrouping with the human army, the commander only thanked him and the girls for holding off the beastmen.

Although every one of the High Commander's adjutants and lieutenants commented on how young Cecil and the rest were, they didn't dare try to undermine them because of their age. They all saw the power these 3 had displayed when they fought back the army of beastmen.

If they happened to annoy or provoke even one of these 3 individuals, it might spell the end for their own army. Besides, the powerful were respected in this world and this gave Cecil and the rest some favorability in the eyes of every high-ranked personnel in the army.

Better to have another friend than another enemy. Cecil thought this was favorable for him as well since he didn't need to do much to gain the favor of the humans.

After Cecil had given a curt report regarding the beastmen and his party's condition, he was dismissed by the High Commander and was sent to regroup with the army's 11th division which just so happened to be the mercenary battalion. There were also a few adventurer parties present in this division so the Wanderers were able to fit just right in place.

"Hmmm... Maybe we should register as a mercenary group when we get to Midgard." Cecil said as he was lying down on the sofa...while resting his head on top of Serilla's lap. The girl was stroking his hair lightly.

"What's that darling?"

"I think we should form a mercenary group when we get to Midgard."

"Why?"

"I overheard from the other mercenary groups and adventurer parties that the condition on Midgard isn't as peaceful as it is on Urrugdrasil."

"Is there some kind of war going on?"

"It seems so. It's not on the eastern side of the continent where will be initially touching down on when we get there, but many mercenary groups are planning to head over to the wars that are apparently going on in the western regions once they've settled their activities here. I think I heard them say it was some war between the Regulus Kingdom and the Merkruz Kingdom."

"Okay...but why are we heading over to the battle?"

"That's because Regulus is one of our objectives." Cecil replied.

Serilla was a little surprised to find out that Cecil already had a destination in mind. Didn't he say that they were just going to search around Midgard with no clear plan in mind?

"I had a 'future dream' a week ago... I saw that my sister was living in a kingdom called Re-something...I'm can't recall, but from the information I acquired from the human adventurers and mercenaries, there are only 2 Kingdoms on Midgard that begin with the letters R and E."

"There are two huh...are we going to visit them one by one?"

Cecil sat up on the couch and pulled out his magic tome. Earlier, he was able to befriend an adventurer party that lent him a map of Midgard which he had quickly memorized and transcribed into his tome.

"This is the border and over here are the Regulus Kingdom and the Revertia Holy Kingdom." Cecil pointed out on the map inside his magic tome.

Serilla leaned in closer and saw that the Regulus Kingdom was all the way on the western regions of Midgard. It was at the opposite location from where they would first arrive on the human continent, the Chaotic Eastern Border Regions, where multiple small powers would fight and vie for power over one another.

The Revertia Holy Kingdom was also on the western side, but it was on the southwestern area, opposite of the Regulus Kingdom that was on the northwestern area.

"Hmmm... That means we'll be making 2 trips?"

"...I don't know yet...but I plan on separating the party into two..."

"...Eh?"

"D-don't worry! I'll have a proper talk with both of you before we officially decide things! I-I won't do this unfairly..."

"..." Despite his words, Serilla's eyes were beginning to brim with tears and this shocked the boy.

"D-don't cry okay? I'm not doing this so I could separate myself from either one of you...You're precious to me too. Okay, Seri?" Cecil said and leaned in for a quick kiss.

"!" Serilla's eyes widened in surprise and her previous sadness was swept away like it was nothing. She immediately pounced on Cecil and continued their kiss.

"Hm!"

Cecil was about to push Serilla away when her tongue began invading his mouth, but he let her be and responded by kissing her back.

"Ahem!"

The two were interrupted after a while as Lucia walked in from the kitchen in her apron.

"Jeez, no fair Seri! You've been hogging Cel since earlier!"

"Ehehe~ sorry Lulu~ I couldn't help myself!"

"Muuuhhh..." Lucia began pouting, but quickly told them that lunch was ready.

The army was currently on the move right now. Yuna was acting as the driver and keeping Silver company while the other 3 spent their time inside the wagon.

On the dinner table, the 3 were enjoying their meal when Cecil brought up his earlier 'discussion' with Serilla.

"Uhm, Lulu, Seri...I hold both of you dear. But for the latter half of our journey once we've set foot on Midgard, we'll have to part ways for a bit."

Lucia froze in place and her spoon dropped onto her plate with a clang.

"W-what's that?"

Cecil pulled out his magic tome and spread it across the dinner table on the empty area he had cleared in the middle. He opened up the Midgard Continent map and pointed towards the two kingdoms that he wanted the party to visit.

"There are 2 kingdoms that begin with 'Re'... Lulu, you already know that my sister is in one of these 2 kingdoms. I don't want to waste time by taking unnecessary detours between those two kingdoms so we'll separate once we've reached the western regions."

"O-okay?"

"..."

Cecil saw Serilla's lack of response and smiled gently at the two girls. "It'll only be for a couple of months. Remember, we still have to get to the western regions before we split into 2 teams. We'll be spending a long time together before that!"

"Y-yeah...but..."

"It's okay Lulu...you guys should go together and I'll split into a different team with whoever Cecil decides to assign me with..." Serilla said in understanding.

"W-wait Seri, now that's just unfair to you!"

"...What're you guys talking about?"

The two girls snapped their attention to Cecil when they heard his insensitive comment. "We're discussing the allocations, you idiot! If this was before when it was only us two Cel, I wouldn't care! But now, no matter how I see it, it'll be both unfair if either me or Seri gets paired up with you!"

"Huh? Well, the two of you aren't pairing up with me..."

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

"I already decided. To make things fair, you two will be going together. I'll head off on my own and take Silver with me... We'll get a different monster to pull the Wanderer for you guys later on."

Lucia was a little dumbfounded at the allocation.

"Me and Seri..."

"Will pair up...?" Serilla finished.

"Yup, you two together while I'll go alone. Of course, it goes without saying that the Wanderer stays with you two."

The two girls immediately began pouting, but then they began giggling. Cecil had these placements in mind so that he wouldn't act unfairly to either one of the girls. These two understood that so they had no objections to his decision.

This at least showed that he cared for both of them now. Of course, Serilla was immediately elated when she thought up to this point.

"He~eh, Cel already accepted Seri, huh?"

"Eheheh~ I wuv you darling~"

"Enough....finish your food already," Cecil replied curtly as he stored his magic tome. He didn't deny it, but from his actions, he had certainly acknowledged it.

The lunch started on a surprising note, but it ended with a good atmosphere between the 3.

"For now, we should make preparations to head over to the Midgard Continent. I overheard the high commander saying that the border powers were planning to retreat back to Midgard by the end of next month."

"Mhm."

"Also, most of the adventurer parties that had come over to Urrugdrasil have already gone back to Midgard. The ones in the army right now are all planning to head back by the end of the month, so we should follow them."

"Sounds like a plan~" Serilla added.

"Phew, looks like we'll officially start our adventures in the Midgard continent soon! This is exciting!"

Lucia was excited to know that their new journey would begin. She was also anticipating the moment when she and Seri would finally meet Cecil's family. It was going to be a totally nerve-racking moment, but she was prepared.

"I can't wait to meet your family, Cel~!"

"Me too, darling~"

"Hmm...Yeah, me too," Cecil said with a faint smile. The faces of all his family members flashed in his mind one by one and he felt a large sense of excitement bubbling up from within.

"We'll definitely find them!"