Ch.7070. Shall We Head to the Forest of Death Now?

“You need to take me with you too.”

“You should train with Rio and Luna!”

“No! I must be by Lucien’s side!!”

“Weren’t you the one who said you’d never go to the Forest of Death?”

Jawill Wilson raises his voice, his face flushed red.

“That was only when Lucien wasn’t accompanying the young master to the Forest of Death, but now it’s different, isn’t it!?”

“Wow… How can a knight of House Alphonse beg not to go with me, but now that Lucien is coming along, you’re willing to risk your life? Isn’t something wrong here?”

“…Aren’t you stronger than me, young master?”

“Lucien might be stronger than me, you know?”

“Being a dragon, he might become stronger than you in the future, but not right now.”

I understood Jawill Wilson’s feelings.

I knew how powerful the bond of raising someone could be compared to blood ties.

However.

I’m satisfied with just Lucien and myself entering the Forest of Death.

We’ll be hunting in areas with relatively weak monsters based on the information I got from Evarin anyway.

Besides.

Realistically, Jawill Wilson would obviously be a burden.

Didn’t he spout nonsense after being intoxicated by Evarin’s scent last time and promptly faint?

I made this decision thinking it might be better for him to build his strength by training with Rio and Luna.

“Have you forgotten how unhelpful you were last time?”

“But you’re going to such a dangerous place with Lucien, young master!”

“It’s fine, I’ll avoid dangerous areas based on the information from Evarin. I’m not recklessly entering like last time.”

“Even so, rather than just the two of you, Rio or Luna—”

“Rio and Luna already have plenty of experience hunting monsters. If anything, it’s Lucien who lacks experience.”

Seeing that he shows no sign of backing down, Jawill Wilson stares at me intently before heaving a deep sigh.

“Haaa… You really won’t go into the deep parts?”

“Of course not. I’ve personally experienced how dangerous the Forest of Death is.”

“Then please take good care of our Lucien.”

I gave a meaningful look at Jawill Wilson, whose shoulders had slumped.

“Jawill Wilson.”

“I’m listening, sir.”

“I know you’ve been training hard lately. However, the fact is you’re still lacking compared to Rio.”

“Isn’t Rio naturally strong?”

“No human is born strong. That means Rio is also training diligently where no one can see.”

“Then how can I become stronger?”

I clearly remembered when I first met Jawill Wilson.

The once arrogant and haughty young man had gradually transformed, his eyes becoming more intelligent as if his life’s purpose and determination to protect someone had solidified.

Occasionally, glimpses of his old self would surface, but that too was part of his charm.

“I understand your impatience. Especially when you’re watching Rio and Luna grow right before your eyes.”

“…That’s right. Seeing them makes me painfully aware of my lack of talent.”

“But that’s just for now. I believe you’ll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in a few years.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because you’ll be with me for life.”

Jawill Wilson isn’t an extraordinary monster like Rio and Luna.

Of course, he’s just an extra in this world, like ‘Selden Alphonse.’

However.

I don’t dislike him.

He may not be as talented as the protagonist’s companions, Rio and Luna, but he’s full of humanity and unlike others, he’s someone who will silently guard my back in the future.

Having unintentionally steered the conversation in an emotional direction, Jawill Wilson fidgets uncomfortably.

“W-when I told you I loved you in the Forest of Death, that was because I was intoxicated by the succubus’s scent.”

“Huh? What’s that about?”

“I’m just saying in case you misunderstood, but I like women.”

“Anyone can see you like women.”

“Then what you just said…”

Haaa…

The problem with this guy is that he doesn’t understand even when you compliment him.

I furrowed my brow and sighed deeply.

“I meant you’re a comrade I’ll be with for life!”

“Ah, I see… Does that mean Rio and Luna won’t be with you for life?”

“They’re so talented that they might find the world too small if they stay by my side.”

“But they might still want to be with you, young master.”

That’s actually what’s giving me a headache right now.

In Rio’s case, I could explain it clearly or suggest he experience the wider world with the protagonist, Serion Lykus, and he’d understand.

The problem was Luna Brill Heart.

In the original story, Luna Brill Heart accompanied the protagonist Serion Lykus only because she was the only one who could prevent the ‘Blood Massacre,’ nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, a strong camaraderie did blossom between them in the end.

It was a problem I needed to solve eventually.

However, dealing with the monster wave was the current priority.

I smiled meaningfully at Jawill Wilson and continued.

“Do you want to be with Rio and Luna?”

“Yes, being with them would greatly help you become the family head in the future.”

“Family head? I have no intention of becoming one.”

“Come now, there’s no need to hide it from me.”

Wait, first Patherix and Miria Alphonse, and now Jawill Wilson too…

I’ve never said or acted like I wanted to become the family head, so why do they keep misunderstanding?

If this reaches the ears of the first and second sons of House Alphonse, nothing good will come of it.

“Why do you think I’m ambitious for the family head position?”

“If you have no ambition for it, why explore the Forest of Death? You could just order knights to hunt monsters.”

“Is everything because of Leike territory?”

“I think you see it as a kind of practice. When you become the family head, you’ll have to manage vast territories.”

“Is that all?”

“It’s the same with your attention to knight training. Aren’t you building strength for the future?”

Hearing it put that way, I could see why they’d misunderstand.

Everyone except me isn’t certain that a monster wave will occur.

So my current actions might look like a performance to prepare for the successor position after returning to the family.

‘Hmm…’

What can I do about these misunderstandings?

Even if I told them a monster wave would definitely occur, they’d just think I’d lost my mind.

I can always clarify that I have no interest in the successor position after resolving the current situation.

“Think what you want. I won’t stop what I’m doing even if I’m misunderstood. Just focus on training hard with Rio and Luna.”

“…Understood.”

Convincing Jawill Wilson left me feeling drained.

I could have pushed through like a bulldozer without any explanation, but that would have been disrespectful to his dedication in caring for Lucien.

After all, Lucien follows Jawill Wilson like an uncle, second only to me.

“Phew…”

By the way.

After absorbing the Ogre Magic Stone last night, I gained numerous stat increases along with a skill called Hourglass.

I rejoiced when I checked the system window.

I had obtained a skill similar to the protagonist Serion Lykus’s.

* Hourglass: Upon activation, turns back time by thirty minutes.

However, the skill permanently disappears after 3 uses.

It seemed like the same skill in name.

However, the difference was that Serion Lykus’s Hourglass could turn back time by one hour and would permanently disappear after 5 uses.

Despite the differences in usage count and time reversal, it was still an overpowered skill.

‘Now, when should I use this to make the best impression?’

The protagonist Serion Lykus uses all his charges to save himself from dangerous situations and to save his companions.

While it’s an incredibly powerful ability, I know better than anyone as a reader that this skill alone can’t change everything.

The number of uses is limited, after all.

Knock knock-!

Just then, a knocking sound came from the study door.

I immediately straightened up.

“Come in.”

Creeeak-!

As the study door opened, Lucien slowly walked in.

He wore a combat outfit made of thin cloth to emphasize agility, with vital areas covered in sturdy high-quality cowhide.

Additionally, he wore a cute white hairband on his head and lightweight leather boots on his feet.

It was obvious that Jawill Wilson had put a lot of thought into the preparation.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of his doting uncle-like behavior.

“Did Jawill Wilson prepare this for you?”

Lucien, seemingly uncomfortable in his first real combat outfit, squirmed with a reddened face.

“…Yes, it’s still quite uncomfortable.”

“It looks like Jawill Wilson spent his own money on this.”

“I already thanked him earlier. But he seemed quite disappointed about not being able to come along…”

“I explained it to him clearly, so he’ll be fine.”

“Ah… I see.”

Still embarrassed, Lucien fans his flushed face with his hand.

I rose from my chair and picked up the Raiden Sword that was leaning against the desk.

“Shall we head to the Forest of Death now?”