Ch.279. Who Do You Think You Are?! (3)

I check my attire.

Clothing focused on mobility and comfort.

Dark colors overall, the kind that won’t show stains from dirt, dust, or blood.

I secure the pre-sharpened sword at my waist, and on my thigh, a dagger along with a small hatchet, steel needles, and metal scissors.

I gather supplementary tools as well.

Emergency funds won’t be a concern for a while, as I’ve been steadily saving.

I pack recovery potions for emergencies and dried powder medications for external wounds, also checking and packing antidotes that can neutralize certain toxic reactions.

‘As for the rest…’

I’ll get dried rations from the storage.

Keep the backpack minimal.

But knowing well the truth that the lighter the load, the harsher the journey, Kariel inspects everything meticulously.

With the hood, cloak, and windbreaking robe in place.

Finally, shouldering the backpack completes the preparations.

In my mind, I’ve gone through this dozens—

No, hundreds of times, thinking and rethinking, checking every detail.

Now that I’m actually doing it, I feel overwhelmed.

Just a little, I feel excited.

Though that feeling quickly faded.

‘Spare shoes too…’

If I could bring a horse, it would ease the burden of carrying supplies, but that’s not an option.

…Even if I somehow caught a wild horse later, I have no saddle, and moreover, encountering wild horses within the Empire is no easy task.

…Let alone capturing one.

Tap tap.

Tapping the floor with leather boots that reach above the ankles, Kariel…

“……”

Calmly surveyed his room.

He had left a letter on the desk, but after brief consideration, he retrieved it.

The only remaining item is the lute.

That… I’ll grab it on my way out.

After looking toward the window, he turned away without regret and stepped out of the room.

“…Young master.”

There stood Sylphia, holding an oil lamp.

“Y-you’re going to where the lady is… aren’t you? Right?”

“……”

“T-today is still a joyous day, isn’t it? And… I heard the rumors. That you magnificently defeated the prince?”

There’s some inaccuracy in those words.

But Kariel didn’t bother to correct her.

“S-so… now…”

“Sylphia.”

“……”

Normally.

A count’s family would have dedicated maids or servants, and it wouldn’t be strange.

However, the Brendiar family, newly ennobled and initially called rootless…

Due to their meteoric rise, they still lacked a foundation.

Also, thanks to his frugal mother and father who disliked pomp and ceremony.

The mansion was managed with minimal staff.

Even this was due to the Emperor’s consideration; otherwise, they wouldn’t even have a gatekeeper or gardener.

The maids were hired help, paid wages to assist with the work.

And.

Sylphia was someone Kariel himself had brought in to be employed.

“……”

Right.

I almost forgot.

“Young… master?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“…For being inadequate, sometimes getting irritated with you, and taking out my frustrations.”

At that, Sylphia opened her reddish-brown eyes wide and shook her head vigorously.

“N-no! That’s, that’s because I’m clumsy and incompetent. S-slow to catch on…”

“It’s alright.”

I stroked her black hair as I spoke.

“Still, because you were here, in this household, I could somewhat…”

What should I say?

Words fail me.

There must be an appropriate phrase.

Still, it’s empty.

But my gratitude is sincere.

“If only I… could have been someone capable… someone who could solve your troubles…”

“Enough. Don’t blame yourself.”

I handed her the letter I was holding.

“The academy break is almost here, and I need to sort out my thoughts, so I’ll be leaving the Empire for a while.”

“……”

She must know.

That I’m leaving home without a word to my father or mother.

Perhaps she’s sensed for some time that I have no attachment to this household and have been wanting to leave.

…I must have shown many such signs.

“You will… come back, right?”

…Was that so unexpected?

Did she think I’d leave forever?

“……”

That’s true.

If I weren’t who I am now.

Certainly.

I would have intended to leave forever.

So they couldn’t find me.

I would have tried to reach the edge of the continent by any means.

“Come to think of it…”

Before.

I wanted to go beyond the continent, beyond what maps showed.

To the other side.

…I can’t remember when that was.

Not at all.

“I’ll wait.”

Stepping back, she bowed her head calmly.

Then, with eyes full of moisture, trying hard to smile at me.

I thought her appearance was truly beautiful.

“For the day I can serve you again.”

“……”

Sylphia didn’t insist on accompanying me or following me on my departure day.

We both understood each other’s circumstances too well.

For her, who needed to care for her sickly mother and siblings.

It was an inevitable choice.

Disappointment?

Not at all.

At her young age, she was diligently fulfilling her role.

Though she might want to play like others her age, to be pampered by her parents.

Despite being younger than me.

From the first time I saw her, though she lacked… finesse, she always tried her best.

“Is there… anything else you’d like to say?”

“Let me think.”

I pondered for a moment.

“I’ll think about that later.”

I will leave forever.

But not now.

Disappearing like a fugitive doesn’t seem right.

After the academy break, there will be the Imperial Equestrian Competition.

Alesius and my former acquaintances will likely attend in large numbers.

Descendants of heroes and champions.

All strong contenders for victory.

“……”

There.

I’ll pour lye over it all.

And bring it to a definitive conclusion.

So I’ll never return.

So that even they…

…can never welcome me back.

Clearly and definitively.

…I will pour lye over it all.

====

On the way to the park after climbing over the mansion wall.

“It’s a son! A son!”

“Oh my! Really?”

“Goodness!”

People were pouring out and making a commotion as if a festival had broken out in the middle of the night.

Pulling down my ash-gray hood, I retrieved my lute from a secluded part of the park.

Then I hastened my steps again.

“A blessing for the Empire!”

“Hail Hero Lueld! Hail Saint Ermina!”

“His Majesty the Emperor is heading to the Grand Cathedral after hearing the news!”

“I heard Lord Bariel is already there!”

……

It sounds like a story from another world.

The district is vast, and the road ahead is long.

As usual, I climb up the building walls to the rooftops and quickly move to exit the area.

The indifferent wind and the countless celebrating masses below.

They were genuinely rejoicing and offering blessings.

That scene.

Continued until I reached the city walls much later.

“……”

After scanning the patrol personnel on the walls, I identified a spot where I was unlikely to be detected from my vantage point on a tall roof.

Landing on the ground, I dashed quickly and climbed the city wall as if scaling a vertical surface.

Then immediately.

I threw myself over the wall, silencing my movement.

Suddenly.

As I jumped, I turned my body to look back.

The receding wall fills my vision firmly.

Growing larger, it becomes…

Eventually, like an insurmountably high barrier that I can never return to.

Thud!

After completing a full rotation in mid-air, I landed safely on the ground and immediately pressed myself against the wall.

Outside the walls, patrol personnel naturally roam as well.

I’ve studied their patterns beforehand, but that’s only what I could observe carefully.

Even so, watchful eyes might be gleaming somewhere else.

Staying hidden in the shadows, away from torchlight exposure, I wait before making my move.

Outside the walls.

Choosing a densely forested area wasn’t without reason.

‘Same direction as my destination… less chance of detection.’

This area is intentionally used for external patrols as well, but that’s not a problem.

In the forest.

In the woods, in the wilderness, I…

…am far more at home than any ordinary human.

I climb a tree immediately to read the wind direction, considering how my scent might spread as I move.

I need to leave a certain area to be free from patrols.

Camping in this vicinity would be like begging to be caught.

I’m not here for a picnic; I can’t afford to be held back.

Even this movement is measured.

The goal isn’t to traverse quickly, but to steadily leave this zone.

As I swiftly moved between trees.

Something caught my eye.

Two horses tied to a tree.

And someone stroking them.

When that person looked up at me,

Kariel wondered for a moment if he was seeing things.

Having just landed on a tree, I turned my back cautiously and glanced in that direction.

“……”

Someone wearing a fur hood was staring up at me from the darkness.

Just then, as if by coincidence, the moon emerged from behind clouds.

Passing through the gaps between trees.

It scattered light specifically toward that area.

As they pulled back their red hood with white fur trim.

A cascade of crimson waves unfurled.

Blue eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.

Became visible.

“Why…”

Are you here?

And of all times.

……at this moment.

“I haven’t been waiting long.”

So for a moment.

“Let’s have a conversation while we catch our breath.”

Kariel Brendiar.

“Or should I say Baron Lutia now.”

“……”

Turning away and disappearing.

That would be one choice.

“……”

But just the fact that she had personally come here.

Made me unable to refuse her proposal.

After all, she has done nothing wrong.

If there’s any fault, should I blame her merely for existing, for succeeding through her efforts?

That would be wrong.

That would be unjust.

In the end, my unnecessary emotional expenditure toward her is just a product of my inferiority complex.

So.

“Very well.”

I descended from the tree and approached her.

Particularly brilliant moonlight seemed to settle only around her.

Elhermina Berk Enzul.

My childhood playmate.

Equally a descendant of heroes and champions.

Their heir.

Yet you and I are so contrasting.

Reflecting the moonlight, she was extremely beautiful, steadfast, dignified, and refined.

As people say.

As they describe her.

In that girl’s heart, frozen steel was planted.

Even her golden blood. Even her veins.

Perhaps.

Frozen ice-cold.

And yet.

Everything this cold-hearted girl showed was kindness, nobility, and sublime self-sacrifice.

What landscape is reflected in those blue eyes of hers?