episode_0060

000

“In accordance with the true and fair kingdom laws, the Woodknocker family’s title is demoted from `Marquis` to `Baron`, and 70% of their assets are confiscated.”

A heavy and low voice echoed in the office.

Eustace, sitting in a chair, listening to the decree from the royal herald.

Without expressing any dissatisfaction, he humbly accepted the result.

Originally a criminal involved in an organization and incident that could cause significant damage to the kingdom.

Due to Hughes Woodknocker’s misdeeds, it was an incident in which not only his noble title but also his entire family could have been annihilated under joint liability.

However, with the testimony of the returned Guild Master Luti Syonse,

considering that he made great contributions to the subjugation of the Severed Tree.

He was spared punishment other than the demotion of the family’s title and the confiscation of assets.

Even so, with only 30% of the assets remaining, he would not be able to continue the family’s business.

And the servants and Hughes’ concubines would no longer stay in the family.

The main house in the royal capital would also be having its assets confiscated by the royal people by now.

After the royal people left.

Eustace tidied up the now-empty mansion.

Including the unpleasant antiques his father left behind.

He decided to give away the family’s furniture, which he no longer needed, to those who did.

The last things left for him were.

A light armor riddled with holes.

And the silver shining holy sword Mysteltain.

Perhaps because he had used a lot of power in the fight against the Severed Tree.

He felt that his magic power had weakened since that day.

But it was still a light and sharp master sword that was more than enough for Eustace.

As of today, this mansion will also become a building without an owner again.

Eustace packed his things in a small bag and locked the door to the training hall for the last time.

He still held the status of a nobleman, but he was not very interested in such things.

Knowing that he had no talent for business either.

He had no intention of becoming a merchant like his father.

“Oh! You’ve come.”

The place Eustace visited after leaving the mansion was.

The `Bolt` blacksmith shop where he had his armor and sword made before.

A man with a thick beard, whose entire body of muscles seemed to be two or three times the size of Eustace’s.

Bolt, the owner of the blacksmith shop, greeted Eustace happily.

As if he didn’t care much about the arrogant attitude Eustace had shown before.

He had a smile on his face.

“You’ve become quite a manly face in the past few days.”

Bolt said so and lifted up the prepared items.

`Light armor` and a `steel longsword` of the same type as the ones he had ordered before.

“I told you it would be better to make new armor. Well, I’ll fix that hole-ridden one for now.”

Saying that, he received the armor that Eustace was holding.

“But. Do you need my sword now? If you have that holy sword on your waist?”

Eustace glanced at his holy sword and raised the corners of his lips.

“Talcheck was a `Sword Saint` even without a holy sword. I, as his last disciple, will simply follow his teachings.”

“Heh heh. Showing off. You haven’t even learned for a few days.”

Saying that, he hands over the sword in its scabbard.

As Eustace was about to take out the money from his pocket to pay, Bolt waved his hand.

“Think of it as a gift to the disciple of my father’s friend.”

Bolt said that and went inside the blacksmith shop with the light armor.

Eustace stared blankly at Bolt’s back for a moment.

Without saying a word, he took out a bottle of liquor from his father’s warehouse from his bag, left it there, and left the place.

His footsteps were not light at all.

He had gone through various things and grown, but.

He was still a person who couldn’t even do his part properly.

Therefore, if he didn’t improve a little more.

To his mother, to Tio, to Talcheck.

He wouldn’t be able to face them when they met again someday.

And.

“Leona…. Someday, I will make sure that your ears hear my name.”

Clenching his fist tightly.

The young man opened the door of the Adventurer’s Guild.

001

Luti and Perdia walked slowly, passing through the city gate.

It was such an early hour that neither of them had started work yet.

“Hoo~ They’re gone. Everyone.”

When Luti quietly sighed and said that, Perdia nodded beside her.

“I hope Cleon-nim and his party arrive safely at the academy.”

“Yeah. They’ll be fine. They’re all strong.”

This time, Luti nodded in response.

They don’t know when they will meet again.

A month, maybe a year. Maybe even later than that.

One never knows what will happen in life.

Of course, as Luti, who would not die of old age until Cleon grew old and died, it was okay.

“Are you okay? Perdia.”

“Yes. Of course, it is lonely to be separated from Cleon-nim, Ryla-nim, Sasha-nim, and Kuon-nim, but….”

Perdia lightly placed her hand on her chest.

“I have things to do in this city, and we will meet again someday.”

Perdia also had faith in everyone.

As if to protect the place where they would return.

She smiled as she looked at Luti.

“Then, I’ll see you again later.”

As Perdia, who entered the city’s plaza, bowed deeply and turned around.

Luti also walked in the direction of the guild.

The sky is clear. A pleasant breeze blows today as well.

She hoped that such a breeze would blow in their path while they were away from her.

“… …”

The next moment.

There was a gust of wind that swept past her.

When Luti turned her head in surprise.

`She` was standing there.

Her purple hair, long enough to touch the ground, was messily braided into several strands, excluding the large bundles.

She wore pants and an outer garment made of cloth that seemed easy to move around in.

It didn’t seem to be a tight material, but the curves revealed in the clothes swaying in the wind were visible.

The most noticeable feature was that she was very tall.

Wasn’t she a head taller than Cleon?

On her head, she wore a wide-brimmed navy blue hat, like the ones worn by witches in old stories.

When she slightly raised the end of the brim, revealing her eyes.

Her eyes were as if an overflowing magic power imprint had manifested.

A cross-shaped flame that floated in a color like amber gemstones.

It was a special imprint called `Sage’s Eye`.

It was magic that only one person in the world could possess.

“Long time no see! Luti!”

A voice as if calling an old friend.

Luti swallowed hard and smiled.

But deep down, she couldn’t help but be surprised by her appearance.

One of the four heroes who traveled with Sword Saint Talcheck and Hero Resia.

The `Great Sage` who defeated herself along with them.

“S, Sophia.”

That was the name of the woman with the cheerful smile.

“Where’s Cleon?”

002

“Rubella~”

A girl calling her master’s name while walking briskly along a mountain path.

Her attire was still in a servant’s uniform.

With Rubella, who was wearing a ribboned women’s fedora and hiding her face, walking beside her.

They really seemed like nothing more than a noble lady and her maid servant.

“What is it this time.”

Already, for more than a day since leaving the city.

Her magical sword- Barisada, had been calling her name countless times.

Asking her about this and that.

It would be easier to ignore her, but-.

“Why didn’t you go with Cleon?”

“That’s…. I don’t particularly have a reason to go with him.”

She only asks difficult questions like this to answer.

She knows the reason.

Most of the magic power that makes up Barisada’s body.

Was received by mixing bodies with Cleon.

Barisada’s manifestation also felt a considerable attraction to Cleon.

Thinking about that makes her head hurt a little.

Not only herself, but even her magical sword.

“Hah.”

A burst of laughter came out.

She mustn’t be swayed by the atmosphere.

“Of course. It’s true that I received help, and I admit that we get along well, but.”

Even so.

Was she such an easy woman to allow her heart so easily?

All the misfortunes that had befallen her so far.

Just, if he was by her side.

That she might be able to endure it.

She could never say such things in front of him.

Rubella looked down at Barisada.

“We can’t keep receiving his help forever. We will do what we have to do.”

“Yeah. Punish those guys who run a brothel for the Black Magic clan in the royal capital, right?”

Rubella nodded.

The marquis is dead, but those who bought slaves from him are still in the shadows.

She now has the power to deal with them.

Then there was no reason not to act.

At that time.

Rustling. Three masked men walked out of the mountain’s bushes, making a sound.

“Heh heh…. A young lady and her servant alone in a place like this?”

“Looking at them, they seem like a young lady from a rich family…. We can enjoy them in many ways, right?”

“The little one is mine! Don’t you touch her!”

They were vulgar and foolish bandits who were so annoying to look at.

“…Sigh.”

Rubella put down the luggage bag she was holding and grabbed Barisada’s hand.

“Don’t even think about doing anything-”

The next moment.

Her body moves above them.

What she held in her hand was a beautiful black sword.

The men were briefly mesmerized as they watched her spinning around.

“Sky Pillar.”

003

A black space that seems to have nothing in it.

In the middle of it, only a figure wearing a black robe is standing.

Quietly reading something, like a book.

He covered it up when he felt a presence.

When he raised both hands.

The magic circle that had been engraved in advance on the floor around him glowed and rose.

If you follow the lines of light that extend from the circle in three directions at equal distances.

Before they knew it, something like a `stone tablet` was floating in the air, emitting different colors of light.

Among them, a voice was heard from the stone tablet emitting blue light.

“Ryla Flamewatch is returning.”

The voice was that of a middle-aged man.

The human form is not visible, but conversations are being held without showing faces using the stone tablet.

“Dragon Word magic used to subjugate the Severed Tree, huh. Interesting.”

Next, the voice came from the green stone tablet.

The voice that came from this side was that of a young woman.

“But what’s more interesting is her party accompanying her. Especially the person named `Cleon`.”

Finally, the voice came from the red stone tablet.

The voice was androgynous, and it was hard to tell whether it was male or female.

“Ryla is completely on their side. She probably wouldn’t even think about betraying them.”

The two stone tablets were silent for a moment at the voice of the blue stone tablet.

And-

“It doesn’t matter. She has her own uses.”

The green stone tablet let out a laugh at the story of the red stone tablet.

Then, the person in the black robe, who had been silent until that moment, opened his mouth.

“What should we do, Black Synod?”

With a voice like a disciple seeking guidance.

He asks the three stone tablets.

Then, the three stone tablets stopped speaking.

And they gave guidance and trials to their only disciple.