Chapter 93: Sufficient Preparation
Despite being known as the strongest knight of the empire, Hugo always lived with the label of a halfwit.
However, the term halfwit seemed inappropriate. Who could call Hugo, who alone could slay demons that required dozens of knights with disciplined sword skills, a halfwit?
Yet, there were still those who looked down upon Hugo as a halfwit.
The demons of Dawn Castle did so.
But Hugo did not resent them, even if he did not feel fondness towards them.
Even if the moon shone brightest in the night sky, it faded in the presence of the sun.
Glen was the sun.
A prime example was when Glen, despite skipping training and napping, was still unbeatable by Hugo, who diligently swung his sword.
Hugo had been pondering the source of this difference since he took up the sword, but he could not find the answer and eventually fled to the secular world.
It couldn’t be because of different mothers.
Hugo wanted to believe that. Glen’s mother was a humble fortune teller, while Hugo’s mother was a renowned warrior. Hugo pushed himself, thinking the reason must lie within him.
This mindset has not changed even now.
“Do you have something to ask?”
Hugo leaned forward, scrutinizing Shiron. Whenever his nephew came to him, it was usually about something difficult to handle.
Hadn’t he disappeared somewhere briefly? Hugo thought this time would be different. He cautiously addressed his bold nephew.
“Are you sure it’s a matter to discuss in front of others?”
“I’m sorry. But I feel I need to prove it here.”
“That much. Is this woman trustworthy?”
Hugo sighed and turned his head towards Seira.
The woman who suddenly invaded the mansion didn’t try to hide her energy.
Seemingly understanding Hugo’s thoughts, Seira shrugged.
“Relax…”
“Shh.”
“…No. I have no intention of being hostile towards you.”
“Understood.”
Hugo slowly closed his eyes.
If the woman showed hostility and Shiron tensed up, he would immediately draw his sword energy to respond. But judging by his nephew’s casual demeanor, Hugo deemed it unnecessary.
‘There are many things I want to ask.’
Hugo sighed deeply.
‘But.’
He looked at his nephew.
Thump-Thump- Thump-Thump- Thump-Thump-
Shiron’s heart was pounding. Since when?
‘…Since he entered this room. Continuously.’
Despite appearing calm, Shiron’s physiological reactions betrayed him.
“Shiron.”
“Yes.”
“… It’s enough. Leave now. You have nothing to ask.”
“What?”
Shiron’s eyes widened as Hugo motioned him to leave.
“Is it a question too uncomfortable to ask in front of others? If so, I will have this lady leave.”
“No. That’s not it.”
Hugo stared intently at Shiron across from him. After a pause, as if he had made up his mind, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
“Prophecy is a fearsome power.”
“…I don’t quite understand.”
“You probably saw my future and came to this room, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I mean, I do not wish to know my future.”
Everyone in the room was surprised by Hugo’s words.
Shiron and Seira couldn’t understand what Hugo was trying to convey.
Shiron licked his increasingly dry lips.
Hugo, observing this gesture, let out a chuckle.
“Do you know what the demons of Dawn Castle call me? Trash. Yes, trash.”
“You knew about that?”
“Of course. But I don’t think it’s unfair. Maybe their assessment is accurate. After all, I am a coward who fears unveiling the curtain to see the future.”
“A coward? No, Uncle, you are more than…”
“No. I am a coward. Unlike Glen, I am afraid of knowing the future.”
Hugo began to open up to Shiron, speaking from the heart. The thought that this might be their last conversation suddenly overwhelmed him.
“The guardians of Dawn Castle labeled me a halfwit despite my title as the empire’s strongest. That didn’t change.”
Hugo slowly rose from his seat.
“If I had known that I would forever be labeled a halfwit, would I have been able to strive? I swung my sword every day, practiced restraint, and slayed demons. But if I had known the end would be a failure? I’m certain I wouldn’t have reached this point. I would have just been an average knight.”
“…”
“So, keep it to yourself.”
Hugo took out a necklace from a drawer and handed it to Shiron.
He would not hinder his path.
But he would let him do as he wished.
“It’s time for me to leave.”
“…Yes.”
“But before you go, make sure to say goodbye to Siriel. She will be upset.”
“Yes.”
“Please take care of my nephew.”
Hugo extended his hand to Seira with a smile. Seira, with a slightly sullen face, shook his hand. She hadn’t anticipated the situation turning so serious. However, Seira deliberately acted playfully. She disliked gloominess.
“Well, that’s easy for me. After all, I am great.”
“Good.”
Hugo smiled and saw them off.
According to the butler, Philip, Siriel, and Lucia were busy sparring in the training ground.
Walking silently towards the training ground, Seira broke the silence.
“Kid.”
“What.”
“Going to say goodbye?”
“Of course. I don’t want to be resented later. Wait here. I’ll go say goodbye.”
“…Alright.”
Seira watched Shiron walk ahead, pouting.
‘Am I disliked?’
She wondered, but Shiron’s intention was different. He feared Lucia might recognize Seira’s energy.
‘It can be known later.’
It might sound funny, but Shiron was convinced that both Siriel and Lucia were still weak. Despite Seira being a great magician, they easily fell to her mind control, showing it was still too early for them.
Clang- Clang- Bang-
The sound of swords clashing was heard, and in the distance, dust was swirling. Then, a gust of wind cleared the dust.
Siriel stopped the duel as soon as she noticed Shiron’s arrival.
“Brother…? Brother!”
Siriel ran from a distance. Covered in dust and sweat, she looked nothing like a noble lady but more like a rugged warrior. However, Shiron liked that. It proved that Siriel was growing stronger even without him.
“Where were you! I was worried!”
“Sorry. It was because of a certain wretched woman.”
Shiron pulled out a wet towel from his pocket and gestured to Siriel.
“Come here. You’re a mess.”
“Okay!”
Siriel closed her eyes and leaned her face towards Shiron. He carefully wiped her face clean.
“…Are you trying to appease me again?”
Lucia spoke with an annoyed expression.
Having roughly heard from Encia what had happened, she couldn’t bring herself to suddenly confront Shiron about his disappearance.
She heard that some evil wizard tried to kidnap Shiron, but she was just glad he returned safely. However, his expression and actions didn’t quite follow suit.
Whether he knew about such feelings or not, Shiron turned his head towards Lucia with a light smile.
“Lucia. Come here, too.”
“…Me?”
“You’re covered in dirt, too.”
“Okay, fine!”
“Come here quickly.”
As Lucia hesitantly stepped back, Shiron approached her with a slightly quicker pace.
Shiron gently grabbed Lucia’s chin, who was cowering, and started to carefully wipe her face. Lucia could not bring herself to push Shiron away and just closed her eyes tightly.
The cool, wet towel felt good against her flushed face.
“This is the last time.”
“Huh?”
“I might not be able to take care of you after this.”
Shiron shook the wet towel and put it back in his pocket.
“Last time? What do you mean, brother?”
Siriel reacted to the mention of ‘last time.’
“Brother, won’t you wipe my face anymore?”
“Wouldn’t it be a bit embarrassing to do that even when you’re grown up?”
“Adult? What do you mean? Even when I’m an adult, I want brother to wipe my face, though?”
Siriel tilted her head in confusion, but Shiron did not answer. Encia approached from the direction of the annex.
“You’re here.”
“Encia. Take good care of the kids until Ophilia wakes up.”
“Leave it to me.”
Encia answered with a broad smile.
Tap-
Sensing something odd in the air, Lucia grabbed Shiron’s hand.
“Where are you going? Why are you acting like we’ll never meet again?”
“Brother, where are you going?”
“Well.”
Shiron nodded his head in response. Then Siriel also grabbed Shiron’s hand.
“Are you… leaving me behind again? Don’t go… brother.”
“I’m not just leaving you behind. I’m not taking Lucia either.”
Shiron said with a smile, but his heart was heavy.
Tears began to form in Siriel’s jewel-like eyes. His heart grew weaker…
But he had to stay strong. Meeting Seira much earlier than expected, it was right to move the plan forward.
However, Siriel and Lucia couldn’t follow the accelerated plan. Shiron was weaker than them, but he was confident in taking care of himself.
‘Teleport is only for two.’
“Don’t go, brother. Don’t goooo.”
“I’ll send a letter. Make sure to reply.”
“Don’t go! I don’t want to be apart from brother!”
“Shiron. Where exactly are you going?”
Lucia asked Shiron, frowning.
She didn’t understand why she was frowning.
Seeing Siriel cling to Shiron like that, she felt her friend really liked Shiron. But Lucia’s heart was somehow uneasy.
Not because she was angry about the sudden farewell.
Seeing Siriel and Shiron together, it felt like something knotted in her heart was blocking her throat.
“At least I should know where you’re going to send a letter or something.”
“… Didn’t I say my blood vessels are tangled?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to fix that. I saw a possibility.”
“…Brother. Are you going to cure your illness?”
“Yes. So let go of my hand now.”
Shiron felt a bit of cold sweat from the pain in his hand. Siriel’s grip seemed to crush it.
“Yes…”
Siriel, realizing this, let go of his hand with a gloomy expression. The hand she had just held was now red.
Shiron looked at Siriel’s admirable behavior with a pleased expression. The pain of a potentially crushed hand didn’t bother him.
‘This should be reassuring, right?’
Though they wouldn’t see each other for a while, Encia and Ophilia would surely take care of his siblings.
He left a positive and strong impression on Siriel, and it seemed he had built a friendly relationship with Lucia.
“Train a lot. Eat well. Study hard.”
“Yes…”
“Lucia, you too.”
“Ah, okay.”
Surprised that the arrow was pointed at her, Lucia scratched her cheek. It was embarrassing. No matter how much she was treated like a child, she never got used to it.
‘I can’t hold him back if he says he’s going for treatment.’
Lucia sighed deeply. She belatedly realized, but she somehow grasped the intention behind Shiron’s words. She felt like Shiron was lying but didn’t confront him about it.
“I’ll write first when I get there. Say hello to Victor for me.”
“I’ll write a lot! Brother, you write a lot too!”
Siriel said to Shiron, who was stepping back. But Shiron didn’t reply and slowly turned his back, leaving the training ground.
He didn’t even go back into the annex to pack his things. He had already stored everything he needed inside him.
5 years passed.
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