A Dual Crest Summoner In Infinite Summoning World

"What will you do?" Kenzo asked. He too had heard the whole letter as Sable read it out loud for Granny.

"Kenzo!" Auren called him out. It was a sensitive thing, and a guy at least deserved some time to think it over—no matter what his decision was.

"What? It's a great opportunity! Isn't it?" Kenzo tried to defend himself. Though, he did move away from Auren as if sensing threat from him.

Dante rolled back the parchment and seemed lost in thought. Sable and Granny exchanged looks nervously. As if suddenly remembering something, Dante looked at all of them and then at Kenzo and replied with a smile,

"Yes, it is a great honor. If a lord invites you personally, it usually means they want your allegiance."

Auren could see signs of trouble on Dante's face, but they were not because he had a difficult choice to make. He had already made the choice—he seemed worried as to how to act on it.

"Duke of Summer is Lord Grove Keeper's firstborn. It would indeed be a great honor," Granny commented from the side.

"I can't accept," Dante said, looking at her. "Being in his service means leaving this place, leaving all that we have built here."

"Once you settle down there, it won't be hard to bring Sable and the kids with you," Granny reasoned. "Refusing the Duke when there's a good chance he'll win the raid this year is not exactly a very wise decision."

Dante looked at Sable. She simply nodded. "It is better not to get in trouble for no reason. You can accept with a condition that you will only serve a short time, then we can return to Rootfast. It is ultimately your decision, though. I will accept whatever you decide. And don't worry—if we go, all of us go. Including Mother."

"I don't hav—" Granny was about to say, but Dante cut her off.

"No, she is right. If we go, all of us will do so, or I won't accept it."

Granny sighed. "Guess a year or so living in a city won't be so bad."

Auren had no idea what to say. Sable was right—ultimately, it was Dante's choice. He was the only one among them who had traveled far and knew the different cities and nobles. But leaving this village.. leaving all these people.. the look on Kenzo's face after hearing all of it was heartbreaking, to say the least.

Auren could say for sure that more facilities did not always mean a better life. He had lived all his life in the city and had never felt as free as when he did so walking peacefully at the side of these vast green fields. There were many things Auren wanted to change in the village, but the village itself was never among that list.

Auren grabbed Kenzo by the shoulder, reassuring him with a smile on his face. But he himself was not fully sure, so his expressions were not as effective. The three adults noticed the simple scene and had no idea what to say. At last, Dante said,

"If the Lord Keeper agrees for my services to only extend till the raid ends—I won't even have to stay for a year. If it's like that.."

"If it's like that, we can manage on our own till then," Sable finished his sentence, the couple exchanging a glance filled with understanding and sacrifice.

Auren and Granny also exchanged a look. There was a way here that would work out best for everyone, but that required Auren to step up. Granny seemed to support his decision. Auren nodded at her and said,

"You don't have to do that for us." Dante and Sable looked at him. Auren continued, "Dante, take Sable and Theren with you. Grandma and I can look after each other."

The three adults and even Kenzo looked at him with eyes filled with too many emotions to name. If there was one common emotion in all of them, then it could be pride. Auren wanted to kick Kenzo for acting like his mother. There was no match for the happiness Auren could see in his eyes, though.

Guess he had more than one brother to look out for in the future.

He rarely called Dante and Sable 'Father' and 'Mother'—it was a very odd thing that he used their names, but after years of him doing so, all three of them had accepted it and stopped correcting him long ago. Auren had a hard time calling them his parents—to him, no matter how he looked, Dante and Sable were more like friends than parents.

He had learned to deeply care for the couple. Auren knew it was very unfair of him, but that was the truth, and he hated faking feelings he did not have.

"We can't leave you behind," Sable said. It was more of a pleading than a statement, though. Auren could see in her eyes that she had already partially accepted the possibility as valid. T-his c*ha^p-t$er was ma*de% p.oss#i@bl^e by the c!om*mu*ni*t@y* at MV|+LE*M-|%P*Y%R+.

"You are not leaving me—it is my selfish choice to stay here. I like this village, I do not want to move into a city."

Now, that was a half-lie. He was indeed curious to see the city of this world—but that was the only thing that he could say which would allow Sable and Dante to consider this option without any guilt.

"Let's not think about it too much," Dante concluded. "First I need to go there and see if there is a way I can get out of it without offending Lord Keeper. Only if there is no way to do that will I consider taking you guys with me."

Everyone nodded, including Kenzo for some reason.

Auren continued his training. Now, there was probably no chance of Dante joining the raid of the barons since the Duke had called on him. But still, the need for Auren to get better did not diminish. It had actually increased a little considering there was a chance he and Granny would have to live here without Dante and Sable.

Wild animals aside, there were many more human animals that they had to beware of living on their own. Gaining as much strength as possible was a necessity now.