Chapter 26: If We Meet Again Next Time…

“Why does it have to be…”

Taking an active role in subjugating his enemies was what he had hoped for.

But the situation was not good.

“It's better for you too.

Unless the Demon Cult bastards are crazy, they won't touch the Princess's party at this point in time.”

His father's words weren't wrong, but.

‘The Princess is planning to run away from home…….’

Muno swallowed the words that had risen to his throat and looked at his father blankly.

His appearance was a little swollen(?) due to the timing, and thanks to that, his smiling face looked even more heartwarming.

“Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?”

“Ah, it's nothing.”

A kind and capable father.

A benefactor who had created the family that Han Munho of his previous life had dreamed of so much.

But Muno's father, Ryan Drasen, was a knight to the bone.

A loyal knight who followed Count Enoch Trian, the 'Bulwark of the North'.

If he knew about the Princess's plan to run away, the possibility of him helping was…….

‘Almost nil.’

Especially if he knew that Princess Roanna might actually go to 'him' and influence the issue of the succession to the throne.

So, he decided to just keep that matter to himself.

However, it couldn't be helped that it was troublesome.

If Roanna's party disappeared after leaving Drasen, the ones who would be in the most trouble would be the Trian forces escorting her.

But now, he was also part of that force.

Moreover, since he would be the only outsider among them, he would probably be the first to be suspected if the Princess disappeared.

No matter how he thought about it, this was.

‘……I’m X-ed.’

Since the situation was difficult, if he persuaded the Princess to return to Trian quietly for now and run away later, would she agree?

- When I go back, I might not be able to come out until my marriage is decided…….

……Of course not.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“No. I will prepare accordingly.”

“It looks like you do.”

“It’s fine.”

“……Well. I trust you'll handle it well, but outside the territory, you are the face of Drasen.

Be especially mindful of your conduct.”

“Of course.”

“Isn't this your first time leaving Drasen?

I know you want to see the world, but I hope you don't get carried away and mess things up.”

“No, what do you take me for……”

“What do I take you for?

I see you as a thoughtless son who's trying to run away from home in search of freedom.”

He felt a pang.

“……”

“If it were up to me, I'd marry you off to Sir Karina right here and send you off……”

“Ack!?”

“Well, Sir Karina will have her own thoughts.

Try to do well on your way there.”

……That surprised me.

“Why are you so surprised?

It seems both you and the other party have feelings for each other.

I want to see my daughter-in-law soon too.”

“Ha. Haha……. That is……”

A cold sweat broke out.

He couldn't bring himself to say that his prospective daughter-in-law was scheduled to disappear with the Princess soon.

At that, his father chuckled and patted his shoulder.

“I'm kidding.

As I promised, I won't rush you, so just come back in one piece. Be especially careful.”

“……Yes. Understood.”

Should he be careful of the Demon Cult, or the Trian County?

Only worries were piling up in Muno's heart.

* * *

The successive acts of terrorism by a magician in the Drasen territory.

It was enough to awaken Trian's vigilance, which had become lax after the incident 10 years ago.

Ryan Drasen had tried not to suspend the Hunt, but the majority of the nobles did not head to the northern mountain range after the 4-class mage's attack.

In the end, Drasen had no choice but to declare the end of the Hunt and present a large prize to the person with the best performance among the outsiders.

And so, Drasen's ambitious event, held in conjunction with Muno's coming-of-age ceremony, ended in a hasty manner.

The nobles who had gathered began to leave Drasen one by one.

“……The total number of subjugated magical beasts is only about 600. At this rate, it's actually a loss.”

Ryan, who was paying his respects to Esnam's procession just leaving the castle gate, frowned slightly at Palmer's report.

“This winter is going to be tougher than expected.”

“I guess we tried to have it too easy.”

“It can't be helped. Still, it was better than not doing it, right?”

“Of course, it was. Still, the expectations were higher than last year, so it's a shame.”

“Right. I thought Muno would be a help too……. Well, since things turned out this way, it can't be helped.”

“Speaking of which, there he comes now.”

Following Palmer's gesture, he turned his gaze and saw a group leading a splendid four-horse carriage approaching, flying a flag with a gray rose crest.

About 30 soldiers in shining armor, and about 10 workers including servants.

It was a procession that clearly showed that Count Enoch Trian cherished Princess Roanna.

The huge Rokam was riding in the coachman's seat of the four-horse carriage with the coachman.

On the right side of the four-horse carriage was Karina on a white horse. And…….

On the left, Muno was following the procession on a black horse with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

Ryan, who was bothered by his son's sullen expression, unnecessarily picked a fight with the giant sitting in the coachman's seat.

“That friend is a knight, so why is he in the coachman's seat……”

“There must not have been a horse that could handle that size.

It's probably the same reason why you walked all the way here, my Lord.”

“Ah. Right.”

Palmer's sudden remark immediately convinced him.

And at that moment, the window of the four-horse carriage opened right away and the Princess revealed her face.

“Uncle…… Ah!?”

Roanna's eyes seemed to waver for a moment when she saw Ryan's appearance, but she soon smiled and spoke.

“……You’ve suddenly become quite imposing, Uncle. The rumored state of gluttony. It is an honor to see it with my own eyes.”

“Haha. You may laugh, Princess. But there are other eyes, so the title is a bit……”

“What's the matter?

They're all my people.

And I've decided to be like a sister to Muno now too.”

……That kid?

As Ryan glared, Muno desperately shook his head.

Meaning it was definitely not his idea.

‘Well, they are officially cousins anyway.’

Ryan couldn't help but show a chuckle.

“Right. Still, please take good care of my son, Roanna.”

“Rather, I should be the one asking you to take good care of me. Right, Muno?”

“Haaah……”

This kid?

Ryan glared at his sighing son, but he knew well that he didn't look very dignified in his current state.

“I've already said my goodbyes to my aunt. I'll see you again next time, Uncle.”

“……Yes. Let's do that.”

He glanced at Roanna, who seemed particularly bright, and spoke to his son again as if to remind him.

“Escort the Princess well to Trian, Muno.

And when you meet His Excellency Enoch, explain the situation ‘well’.”

It was a statement that a smart kid would have understood the meaning of, but his son's expression was still not good.

“Yes. Understood.”

He just answered in a listless tone after he repeatedly winked.

He wondered why he was really acting like this.

“Haha.

The Young Master seems to be upset about leaving Drasen for the first time.”

Palmer's remark from the side made him guess his son's feelings.

‘Ah.’

He says thoughtless things like wanting to see the world, but he's still a young son.

A smile appeared on its own as his son, who had become much more mature after his awakening, seemed to be showing his old self again.

“Drasen is always here, son.

Take care of yourself and come back healthy.”

“Yes.”

At these words, his son's complexion seemed to brighten a little, which warmed his heart for no reason.

And that day, Ryan waved his hand at Roanna's party…….

No, at his son's back, until the procession of the four-horse carriage that had left Drasen's southern gate was no longer visible.

* * *

Tadaktadak.

In the middle of the night at the encampment.

Roanna, who had been talking about the morning's events in front of the blazing campfire, added with a smile.

“Your uncle really seems to cherish you, Muno.”

……Now she was speaking informally to him openly.

Muno smiled bitterly as he looked at her, who had unilaterally(?) confirmed their friendship.

“……He's a fool for his family, my father.”

He was a child who was not just of unknown origin, but whose very existence was suspicious.

Those were the parents who had taken him in and raised him with all their hearts.

He was full of the desire to repay their kindness, but he didn't know how yet, which was frustrating.

‘In novels and such, people reincarnate into fantasy worlds and rapidly develop their territories with the knowledge of their past lives.’

He felt even more deeply how absurd that was, having experienced it firsthand.

What kind of ordinary modern person would go around memorizing how to make paper or gunpowder?

‘Even if I did, actually making it would be another story……. Damn it.’

He grumbled inwardly, but that didn't mean a good idea would suddenly pop up now.

Still, there must be some knowledge from his past life that would be helpful in this world.

Ever since he had devoured the demon that had tormented him like a chronic disease for the past 10 years, Muno had been constantly pondering that problem.

Above all.

‘The social structure and culture are different, but the people here are not stupid.’

Of course, he was speaking from the perspective of an educated person.

Anyway, most of the minimal civilized tools he could imagine already existed in this world.

Although it was a place with an atmosphere similar to the medieval West, since various supernatural abilities existed, he would occasionally see unexpected strange objects.

Like that tent-like artifact that folded up and shrank to the size of a small bag the moment the Princess in front of him gestured.

“Should I have gone into the sciences after all……”

“What?”

“Ah, it's nothing.”

At the Princess's question, he feigned ignorance and sighed.

“I told you to call me sister. And speak comfortably!”

Am I crazy?

I want to avoid getting involved with her as much as possible.

……He couldn't bring himself to say his true feelings.

“How could I dare……”

As he just smiled awkwardly and trailed off, the Princess chuckled.

“You're so rigid. Hmm. Well anyway, I've caused trouble for you, whom my uncle cherishes so much……. I'm sorry.”

The reality he had been trying to avoid by even forcing himself to think of other things suddenly came before him.

“Are you going now?”

“The farther from Trian, the better.”

“Haaah……”

“Are you going to keep sighing like an old man?”

Try being in my shoes. How can I not sigh?

As he sighed once more instead of answering, the Princess subtly held out her hand.

In her hand was…….

“Don't worry too much. If you deliver this letter to my grandfather, he will surely understand.”

Another sigh came out as he looked at the letter the Princess held out.

Except for the soldiers standing guard outside the camp, most of the party was asleep now.

Roanna, Karina, and Rokam, who were awake alone……. no, the three of them, were already fully armed.

“I even received a commission as a free knight as a coming-of-age gift, but my first report will be that I couldn't stop your beloved granddaughter from running away. Hah, my life……”

At that lament, a bitter smile spread on the faces of the Princess's party.

However.

“I'm rather glad it turned out this way, my younger brother.”

What, you punk?

The Princess's words made his head turn automatically.

“At least if you have my letter, the household members here will be able to avoid punishment.”

“So……. you're saying that if I take the fall, the others will be fine, is that right?”

Muno's attitude was getting more and more cynical.

The Princess just laughed.

“Puhaha. Of course not.”

“Then?”

“If you, a renowned knight from Drasen, couldn't stop us, how could they hold the common soldiers or servants responsible?”

……In the first place, with the three of you moving together, who here can stop you?

“And it creates a witness of 'high status', not a soldier or servant.”

“What is that……”

“That way, my grandfather will worry less.”

The Princess's argument was not entirely unconvincing.

And above all, Muno had already spoken his own words.

“It can't be helped. Since I made a promise, I will keep it.

Although I didn't know I would be helping as part of this party.”

“Thank you, my younger brother. Next time we meet, you have to call me sister, okay?”

At the Princess's not-so-subtle insistence, Muno just showed an awkward smile.

At that, the Princess turned her head with a slightly pouting expression.

“Then, sirs……”

At the ensuing words, the three of them slightly bowed their heads to Muno in respect and turned away.

Karina seemed to have something she wanted to say.

“W-wait!”

The reason Muno was trying to stop them now was definitely not because of that.

“Yes?”

“You're not just going to leave, are you?”

“What do you mean?”

As the Princess was bewildered.

Muno had no choice but to clench his teeth and say something he really didn't want to say.

“If I'm too unscathed, what will the others think.”

“Ah……”

“Touch me up a bit. Just enough not to leave any aftereffects.”

As he, with his eyes squeezed shut, made a strange request that a pervert would make.

The Princess, who had nodded with an 'Ah!', chuckled.

“I'm even more sorry now, Muno. So next time, really just call me sister.”

……No thanks.

Was that answer conveyed by his sullen expression?

Following the Princess's smiling glance.

“Then, I won't hold back.”

Thump.

‘Oh, you son of a……!’

The giant, Rokam, took a step forward and suddenly threw a punch.

Bang

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