Chapter 56

“Thinking of leaving?”

If you count the luggage to prepare, there’s not much.

Just hitch up the horses and we’re good to go.

As if he had anticipated this, Ludhi was already waiting at the stables.

He called out to Carriel who was just entering the entrance.

“…….”

“If that’s what you want, we’ll only remember you as Ruel. If they ask about this in the central region, we’ll stick to that story.”

There was a reason we avoided bringing up this topic during the carriage ride here.

…If that can be called consideration, then so be it.

“Thank you.”

“The night road is dark; why don’t you rest until sunrise?”

“…On the contrary, I’m more accustomed to moving around at this time.”

It’s not that my night vision is particularly sharp, but I’ve spent many nights sleepless with just my thoughts.

But this time is different.

Unlike those days, I no longer have to fear the rising sun for no reason.

“You’re not going to ask?”

“…You must have your reasons. If it were something we could solve by listening, things might’ve been different.”

“…….”

“Thanks to you, it seems like the situation has been resolved well.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Though Lord Raia did the same, both him and Luke were asked to drop formalities.

That was just yesterday, yet Ludhi started speaking casually only just now.

Seeming to know his owner had arrived, the gray horse extended its head, which Carriel petted for a while.

“If anyone comes looking for me, please let them know. If no one does, I’d appreciate it if you gave this to Holy Maiden Alesia as a gift when I leave. She would take better care of it than me.”

“Leaving without a thing?”

“I have to cross the mountains.”

Even though riding a horse is an option, doing so limits the routes available.

Fewer options means it’s easier to be tracked.

Just because it’s been safe until now doesn’t guarantee it will stay that way later.

Time to erase the trail.

“Farewell greetings to the Holy Maiden?”

“…….”

I’m contemplating.

Maybe it’s better to just leave without saying goodbye.

“If my departure causes any trouble, you don’t have to defend me.”

“That wouldn’t be right.”

“It makes my heart lighter this way. Please don’t worry about it.”

With an indifferent tone, Carriel said this.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Yeah. Luke might feel a bit hurt, but blame his own slowness.”

“Please convey my words to Baron.”

“He already knows everything, so stop worrying.”

He extended his hand.

After hesitating briefly, Carriel exhaled softly and shook it.

[If you lack the qualities of a knight, at least excel as a desk-bound official!]

[Look at Luke! He’s grown so much already, hasn’t he?! But why do you look so pitiful?!]

[Dealing with demons?! Do you even know who your father fought against with his life? They are exactly that—demons! Those creatures!]

As if being sucked into a memory.

A flood of recollections overwhelms him all at once.

The baron grows furious, scolding him for his unsatisfactory performance.

And then…

[But Father! The world has changed! Is this all for my selfishness?!]

[Luke, I can’t be like you. I’ve always been a failure from the start.]

[If Father expects nothing from me, then why was I born onto this land?]

…

Ludhi’s self-blame continues.

And then, almost consoling him…

Luke speaks.

[Big Brother, believe in yourself a little more. Aren’t you quick with numbers and sharp-minded?]

[Ah, I’m leaving anyway, and you’ll stay here, right? So why give up? What’s wrong with letting you take over the lordship since you find it bothersome? I’ll travel across this vast continent while you settle down here.]

[Every time Father got angry, wasn’t it you who took the brunt of it for me? I haven’t forgotten that. There’s no way I’d betray you over some position or property. That’s not knightly conduct.]

Time flows onward.

The young man pushes forward despite clashing with his father.

Those few years were truly despair-filled days for him.

But then lavender fields sprouted on the outskirts of the estate.

They actively cooperated with the royal court’s policies, absorbing foreign slaves into citizens.

They redeveloped villages, paved roads, negotiated taxes with merchants, and struck compromises.

[Yeah. You were right.]

The small estate grew large enough to be called a medium-sized city.

Though it could have expanded further, how different would Baronnes be when even the capital suffers from extreme poverty?

By curbing their greed and thoroughly caring for the people they received, they solidified their internal strength.

Had it been wartime, the absence of walls would have made the landscape dangerously fragile.

But without walls, expanding the city proved far less challenging.

[The era of knights hasn’t ended… Still, I failed to grasp how to handle peaceful times properly.]

Lord Raia acknowledged this fact.

Then, he personally tore apart the meat his attendant had been working on.

Toward his eldest son’s plate, he manually transferred all of it.

“Eat well.”

The exchange was extremely brief.

At first glance, it might have seemed cold-hearted.

[…Yes.]

Ludhi suppressed the lump forming in his chest upon hearing that voice.

Slowly, he chewed the meat placed in his mouth, grinding it carefully before swallowing.

If he didn’t, tears and sobs would surely burst forth uncontrollably.

…

“??”

Was it because he spaced out during the handshake?

Looking slightly puzzled, Ludhi glanced back up at Carriel, who broke the awkward tension by speaking first.

“If the opportunity arises, I hope to see you again.”

“Whenever you wish. As long as Baroneurers remains here, we will always welcome you. This message comes through me from Father Himself. Naturally, I share the sentiment.”

Nodding, Carriel left the stable, carrying the additional baggage that had piled up.

Even after lightening the load from the horse and selecting only the essentials, the weight still slowed his steps considerably.

Gliding between trees, ready to leap away once more, he was about to depart when—

Neigh!

From afar came the sound of a horse whinnying, followed by the heavy rolling of carriage wheels grinding against the ground as it appeared on the road.

“Hold on! Just a moment! Stop there!”

Even in the darkness, his pale figure remained unmistakable.

His crimson eyes glowed eerily, like those of a nocturnal beast, making recognition easy.

“We would’ve missed you if I hadn’t hurried a little!”

Ignoring him would’ve been rude, so Carriel stopped.

“Get in for now.”

“…?”

“There are questions to ask, aren’t there? Last time, you went silent after briefly mentioning something, expecting you’d bring it up later. Ah, wasn’t it Holy Maiden Alesia?”

Now that he thought about it, he vaguely remembered following Alesia and Luke under such pretenses.

“Surely you’re going to retrieve the ‘Crownbreaker,’ right?”

“…Crownbreaker?”

“Don’t you know? It’s Grandeous’ beloved sword, isn’t it? Oh, right. Its name is Elbat, wasn’t it?”

Elbat sounded familiar from the Demon King, but this [Crownbreaker] title was new.

“Why is it called Crownbreaker?”

“It seems Grandeous caused endless frustration among the Demon King candidates, hence the nickname. It symbolizes shattering the crown itself, meaning destroying the chances of becoming king.”

For example, he crushed the potential of those who might become Demon Kings.

Hence, Crownbreaker.

“How about it? There are quite a few other interesting stories. Also, I need some cooperation regarding material usage. Simply borrowing the name could cause problems too, you know? I also have some questions about Fortress Carriel…”

“…?”

Sighing, Carriel reluctantly entered the carriage through the open door.

Not long after, the carriage began to move, sending slight vibrations through the floor.

“I thought for sure the successor to that person—if there even was one—would either be in the Demon Realm or come from the Rescue Knights here in the Middle Realm. This is unexpected.”

“I’m equally surprised.”

Originally, knowledge of such an existence was limited to rumors he barely paid attention to.

Once considered a subject used to belittle his father, it was quickly forgotten.

“If it’s not impolite to ask, how did you end up continuing Grandeous’ legacy?”

“…?”

If he says the Demon King told him, what kind of expression would appear on his face?

“I learned it in a dream.”

“Dreams? Hmm, so there was some magical arrangement or trigger involved…?”

Surprisingly serious.

While observing his thoughtful process,

Carriel questioned.

“So, are you heading to Holy Maiden Alesia?”

“Eh… Was I that obvious?”

“Somewhat.”

It really doesn’t matter much.

Whether he departs without farewells or with them.

Does it really matter?

“Anyway, speaking of which. Besides the report on Fortress Carriel, I’m thinking of writing a novel inspired by it. Let me summarize the plot for you—what do you think?”

“…?”

Carriel nodded.

To sum up:

Filiabar uses a pseudonym inspired by me. Though the name changes, the story revolves around someone undertaking a pilgrimage to the posthumous shrine of Fortress Carriel. Turns out, he’s actually the distant descendant who, while visiting, encounters relics and taps into past memories, eventually reconnecting with the spirit and continuing the legacy.

This way, he becomes a hero, or something along those lines. But upon hearing the gist, it didn’t seem like an overly impressive tale.

“But what if we tried this approach?”

Casually recounting his own experiences adapted into a narrative: A rejected knight aspirant embarks on a pilgrimage to the birthplace and holy site of a saint whose name resembles his own. Along the way, he follows traces left behind by the ancient saint, eventually encountering his soul and experiencing his entire life.

Eventually, passing the final trial by grasping the sword once wielded by the saint…

“Oh! That’s great!”

An ordinary sword transforms into either a sacred relic or a sacred sword.

Later, it’s revealed that this fallen knight is, in fact, the distant descendant of the saint.

Through unwavering determination, he overcomes countless trials and tribulations, becoming a renowned knight and hero who saves the world from evil.

“…While suitable for a fairy tale…”

“It depends on how it’s written. Listening to it, this version feels far more romantic. The protagonist’s sense of inadequacy as the descendant of an ancient saint but feeling like nothing himself adds depth. This could fit into a knight or hero novel genre… Would that work? And as a twist, revealing his lineage at the end could double the emotional impact, couldn’t it?”

“…I don’t know much, but if you feel that way, go ahead and try.”

Fortress Carriel had no children.

Yet those who carry his name may be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

“Speaking of which, using ‘Ruel’ as a pseudonym was unexpected. Now that I think about it, Ruelde-sama too… Ah, my apologies.”

“…?”

Is there a connection between Father and the boy cared for by Fortress Carriel?

What are the odds of that?

Carriel smirked bitterly.

“If that were true… It must’ve been an extraordinary bond.”

For how long did they engage in this mix of idle chatter and friendly banter?

The carriage came to a halt.

“…?”

“When you step out, she’ll probably be waiting. Her instincts are sharp. No need to rush—take your time talking. Meanwhile, I’ll organize our conversation here. Since our next destination is likely… there anyway, I’ll accompany you halfway.”

Carriel nodded and opened the carriage door.

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