The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

24 – The Missing Thing (03)

025.

Knock, knock-

A solemn atmosphere filled the office.

The mountain of documents that had been piled up on the desk had significantly decreased.

The middle-aged man sitting at the desk, working, seemed much less fatigued.

This was due to a recent change.

Although a different problem had arisen, he couldn’t hide the relief, as if a painful tooth had been extracted.

It was because of a boy who had appeared one day and turned everything upside down.

Even the Lacatus family, one of the four families supporting the empire, couldn’t do anything about it despite their best efforts.

It could only be called a miracle.

“Internal Manager Vern, sir.”

“Come in.”

Vern cautiously opened the door and entered, nodding once to Duke Everchan before placing the stack of documents he had brought on the desk.

The Claire Empire, enjoying its powerful heyday.

The position of one of the four pillars supporting the empire was not something easily manageable.

Everchan stared blankly at the additional documents, then pressed his temples and relaxed his eyes.

Recently, the Lacatus family had been so busy that it couldn’t be simply dismissed as such.

Thanks to the changes brought by the boy, they had been able to take a step further.

Originally, they had intended to show their presence in the social circles, but the fatigue was inevitable.

The Lacatus family already possessed immense power.

With their youngest daughter awakening her magical abilities, requests to see her face even once numbered in the dozens each day.

Such was the life of lower nobles who had not awakened their magical abilities.

No matter how noble they were, hiring a magic tutor was a burden.

In the end, they had no choice but to attach themselves to powerful rulers as before.

“Sir, a request for an audience has come in.”

As expected, Vern brought news of an audience request along with the stack of documents.

Everchan was about to gesture for him to continue speaking but paused for a moment.

The audience request Vern mentioned sounded strange.

Usually, those who wished to meet the head of the Lacatus family would send a lavish letter filled with flattery.

It wasn’t something that could be conveyed so simply with words.

It was both a courtesy and, in a way, a law.

For a weaker noble to not show courtesy to the highest-ranking noble was nothing short of a challenge.

Those who could act like that were one of two kinds.

Those who had lost their fear and were challenging Rakatus.

Or, another highest-ranking noble who was not overshadowed by the name of Rakatus.

“Who is it?”

Everchan asked, lowering the hand that had covered his brow.

His voice was laden with fatigue, but if it was the latter, it was not something to be taken lightly.

“It is the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Hiatt.”

“Hmm.”

Everchan let out a low hum and adjusted his posture.

The Grand Duke of Hiatt’s family clearly belonged to the latter category.

The title of Grand Duke is not given to just anyone.

In the present day, it might only be given to a great mage.

The current royal family, which values power, was in a tense situation with the four families.

Nevertheless, the fact that the title of Grand Duke was bestowed meant only one thing.

It was a reward for guarding the remote northern region.

In reality, the authority seen between the four families was almost the same.

“Continue speaking.”

The daughter and the boy had also come from the north.

It was too coincidental to be a mere chance.

At the same time, it was undeniable that a very interesting thought crossed his mind, that this too might be related to the boy.

Everchan smiled thoughtfully.

*

“The north, you say.”

“Yes, the north.”

The makeshift training ground in the backyard of the cabin.

The small mound of dirt there served well as a place to rest from time to time.

Kallen and Blamia were sitting there, talking.

The North was a place I had visited before.

The scenery of that winter island was not something easily forgotten.

However, Blamia’s personality was not one to beat around the bush.

It meant that I had no choice but to accept it as it was.

“What is the reason?”

“The reason? It’s simple. Both Lakatus and Hiatt asked for it simultaneously.”

Blamia had a bitter, somewhat apologetic expression.

“Lakatus said that Hiatt had changed his mind and found it difficult to keep his promise, and Hiatt asked for you, the little one, to be sent.”

This was the reason Decaum Lakatus hesitated before leaving.

He didn’t have the courage to say it himself, so he thought it would be better for Blamia to tell me directly.

That judgment was indeed correct.

If Kallen had heard it directly, an endless conflict would have begun.

In that light, it was not incomprehensible.

Given the nature of magic, where even a single rank difference could show extreme disparity, Blamia, the giant, had no need to be cautious.

No, rather, it was the others who should be cautious of Blamia.

But that’s the way the world is.

No matter how great Blamia was, he was now a very old man.

He said himself that his rank was 6th, but in reality, it was closer to the end of the 5th rank.

In short, he was an old giant.

Even the heads of the other four families were aiming for the 5th rank.

If four people at the end of the 4th rank and the end of the 5th rank clashed…

The outcome would be hard to predict.

It had been too long since he experienced a battlefield where lives were at stake.

Moreover, the threat that the name Dranus carried.

The world would surely do everything in its power to prevent the revival of a family that once ruled the world and even threatened the imperial family.

The current imperial family’s will, along with the other four pillars, would stand against Dranus.

With only Blamia left to protect the family and Sinat, it was an impossible task.

Blamia knew this well, which is why he felt sorry for Kallen.

He could have solved it all on his own if he wanted to.

However, I couldn’t shake off the thought that it was too much of a burden for a kid who hadn’t even gone through the coming-of-age ceremony.

But Kallen was a little angry.

They talked about benefactors and whatnot, but in the end, they broke their promise.

I didn’t think Everchan was that kind of person, but from what I’ve heard so far, it seemed so.

“Lakatus is not at fault, kid.”

It was Blamia who noticed the misunderstanding.

“Did you think that the Dranus family could regain their power with just the Lakatus family? You still have some innocence. Of course, Hiatt agreed to it too.”

In hindsight, it was true.

No matter how high-ranking the Lakatus family was, they didn’t have the power to turn around a powerful family like Dranus on their own.

Originally, this promise was to be carried out in exchange for Lakatus fulfilling Eliana’s wish, with the help of Hiatt from the north.

“Recently, I heard that Hiatt changed his mind. He said he wouldn’t join the cause unless Kallen was sent.”

Hiatt, known as the ruler of the north, had no interest in political drama.

He was already quite exhausted with the affairs of the north.

He had no room to turn his attention elsewhere.

However, based on the good relationship between the current head of the Hiatt family and the head of the Lakatus family, he decided to join the cause.

Naturally, the Lakatus family prepared for the return of Dranus with the help of Hiatt.

But the sudden news of Hiatt’s withdrawal disrupted the plan.

The statement that all four families would block Dranus from regaining power meant just that.

Since Hiatt had no interest in political drama, if Lakatus blocked it, he would block it together.

In short, without Hiatt, Lakatus alone was not enough.

The revival of the Dranus family, which Blamia and Sinat desperately wanted.

Kallen roughly grasped the situation.

In the end, wouldn’t it be resolved if he went to the north again?

Originally, he was planning to visit the north once more.

Fixing this abnormal mind and body could only rely on raising his rank.

The north, where battles were most frequent, was the perfect place for that.

“What should I do when I get there, Master?”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Blamia silently watched Kallen, who was smiling quietly.

My mind was in utter turmoil.

As the days went by, it became more painful to think of Sitram while looking at Kalen.

Especially when his sacrificial nature was highlighted.

When I resolved to part ways with Kalen, another feeling would arise.

Despite the deep bond and the immense grace received, could I really abandon the little one who sacrificed himself to help me achieve my goal?

Although our separation was predetermined, we had created enough memories to overshadow it.

Blamia’s mind grew increasingly complex.

“…It’s an escort mission.”

“Another escort mission?”

“They said I’d understand once I got there. They couldn’t give me details without my acceptance.”

“It’s fine. Since I’m going, I might as well break through the third rank.”

The North was the forefront of the Claire Empire continent.

Not only did it border the frontier, but battles with monsters were also frequent.

It was one of the few places where swords, not magic, were predominant.

Swords, men, tradition.

It might seem a bit outdated.

But that unique distinction shaped the North as it is today.

Naturally, such a place was always short-handed.

Though it felt a bit odd to go as an escort rather than a mercenary.

Anyway, this was the last time.

If I could complete this mission safely, the Dranus family could be revived.

It was what Blamia and Sinat longed for.

I could repay my debt and part with a smile.

A perfect and clean conclusion in many ways.

Though Sinat weighed on my mind a bit, there was no reason we couldn’t meet again even if the Dranus family was revived.

In time, the busy work would help me let go of my dependence.

In the end, it was a simple conclusion that I just needed to complete this Northern mission well.

It aligned with the goal of raising my rank, repaying my debt to Blamia, and fulfilling Sinat’s wishes.

There was no reason not to go.

Not long after Kallen returned to the cabin,

he resolved once again to head north.