episode_0096

“Thank you for your hard work, Erincia. Now that we’re done with the installation for today, shall we go back to the dorms?”

[huh.]

Early evening.

Elden and Lumiang were returning to their quarters after arriving at the final location and finishing installing the mana detection device.

Nothing special happened.

The streets were peaceful, and only those who had not yet prepared for winter were bustling about in the desolate mountains.

It’s almost as if it’s a lie that there might be something called black magic lurking there.

Lumiang was walking down such a peaceful street.

“Huh? It’s really Prince Elden!”

At the sound of the child’s voice that suddenly burst out, both Lumiang and Elden had to stop walking.

And Elden, who had been called by that young voice, turned his head and saw the shaggy boy.

“… ?”

He was a little boy who looked to be about ten years old.

He had something like a holey lump of rock that he had picked up somewhere tied tightly around his neck like a cloak, and he was holding a crumpled iron pot like a piece of paper as a shield, while in his other hand he was holding a wooden sword carved from a thick tree branch.

And around the boy stood two boys and one girl, and the three little ones were carrying crude weapons such as wooden axes and wooden mallets.

Judging from their attire and the way they were lined up, the boy who had spoken seemed to be the leader of the group.

Elden asked with a puzzled look on his face.

“… Do you know me?”

“Yes!”

Elden’s doubts deepen.

A little boy who knew himself would usually get scared and run away.

What little child would greet an adult with a sharp, unfriendly face and a bad reputation?

What more so when a commoner child speaks to an aristocratic adult?

Of course, his reputation is now recovering, and those who have experienced him laugh that the rumors were false, but it was still strange that a commoner kid who knew who he was would approach him ‘first’ with a bright smile.

Of course, the doubt didn’t last long.

“You saved my mother and me on the day of the wedding festival!”

“Oh, that kid?”

Only then did Elden remember and smile faintly.

Because there was only one time when I saved a mother and child who were almost victims of their father’s merciless violence.

Moreover, he was a child who was impressive for his mature speech that did not match his age.

He gave money to that little girl and her mother and told her to go far away from the tyrant called family.

So, the faint smile that had hardened must have been due to worry.

Because remaining here might mean being once again trapped in the shadow of the released tyrant.

of course.

Although the mud was a little wet, there were no signs of bruises and he was playing soldier peacefully, which told me that there was no need to worry.

“I told you to leave this place, so why are you still here?”

To the somewhat sharp question, the little boy answered, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Ah… My mother said that this is my hometown and that I wouldn’t be able to make a living if I went anywhere else.”

Tch.

Elden clicked his tongue slightly.

Continued violence weakens humans.

Humans who have become so weak become chained, accustomed to violence, and subjecting themselves to violence becomes a habit.

Then, eventually, even when the shackles of violence are removed and the fence collapses, they try to stay there by putting on their own shackles and building a fence.

It may be foolish, but to them, that is the life they have lived and the life they will live.

That’s why Elden clicked his tongue, but he realized that he had taken a wrong turn when the little boy continued talking.

And I had to feel that that was a really lucky thing.

“My father passed away. He said he got into an altercation with a group of prisoners in prison.”

“I see. That’s fortunate.”

It was bitter to have to consider the death of a family member a blessing, but it was a consolation that Elden could provide, knowing better than anyone that sometimes family was worse than beasts.

The little boy chuckled.

“Hehehe. It’s all thanks to Prince Elden! You’re my idol!”

A ten-year-old boy laughing innocently at his father’s death might seem odd to some, but not to Elden.

He, too, wanted more than anyone else to see the person who had driven his child’s life into the abyss of debt die a cruel death.

To him, the child’s innocent smile felt more like a sense of kinship than a sense of alienation.

“Okay. I didn’t mean to greet you, so take good care of your mother.”

Buck buck.

Elden, who was stroking the little boy’s head with a happy smile, tried to end the reunion briefly.

But.

“Wait a minute, Your Majesty!”

The little boy called out to him.

This world is a thorough class society.

If his mother had seen this, she would have been guilty of blaming her son for his reckless behavior, but to Elden, it was just a little boy calling him, so he had no reason not to respond.

“Why.”

“I’m still lacking in training, so I may not be of much help, but since we may meet again, if there’s anything you need, please let me know! I want to keep my promise to repay your kindness!”

Elden looked around at the boy and his limbs, who were showing a determined will, with a smirk.

In terms of will, they were no less than any other mercenary group.

“I also want to be a great person like Confucius who helps the weak, so I formed a mercenary group with like-minded people! The name of the mercenary group is ‘Ella’, which is the first letter of Confucius’ name! Just ask me for anything. Of course, I’ll do it for free!”

“… … Ella Mercenary Corps?”

“Yep!”

chuck!

A kid who has seen it somewhere, with his sword neatly held at his side and his heels clicking together, assuming a ceremonial stance.

Elden smiled again at the sight, which was both funny and cute, and pretended to be worried while stroking his chin.

He was willing to accept the children’s game of mercenary play.

“Hmm… .”

Little children waiting with bated breath for their mission to be handed down.

Elden, who had been looking at the brightly opened eyes, soon opened his mouth.

“I was just returning to my lodgings, so I guess I should leave the Ella Mercenaries to guard me.”

“Good-!! Thank you!!”

The kids clapped their hands and jumped up and down at the thought of escorting a noble, perhaps the first mercenary-like mission they had ever undertaken since the founding of the mercenary corps.

and.

“… … .”

Lumiang, who was silently watching the scene, felt a truly strange feeling.

Every sight was new, strange, and fascinating.

A sight of a commoner child who would normally be terrified of nobles approaching and greeting them without hesitation.

A delightful sight of people praising and idolizing a noble young man who was once known as a villain.

A scene where he asks to repay the favor by borrowing the name of the young master and creating a mercenary group.

and.

Elden Raphelion responds seriously to the play of such children at eye level.

Elden Raphelion smiles happily as he looks at those children.

The warm sight of him creating a scene that was unimaginable in the past, where he would have just made fun of and destroyed children’s pranks, made Lumiang smile.

“So, what is the name of the leader of the Ella Mercenary Corps?”

“Yes! I am Captain Verom!”

“Captain Berom. Then please take good care of the escort.”

“Trust us and leave it to us! Ella Mercenary Corps! Formation! Action!”

“”Wow! Wow!””

Elden, who puts his heart into protecting the innocence of young children.

Is it because the sight is so beautiful, wonderful, and touching?

Lumiang, who couldn’t take his eyes off of Elden for even a moment, realized once again why the two women fell in love with him.

And almost in response to Elden’s question of why he was staring so intently.

‘Because it’s so cool.’

It was Lumiang who almost blurted out those words, and it was Lumiang who had the absurd thought that it was fortunate that he had contracted a disease that made it impossible for him to speak for the first time.

Thump thump.

For some reason, my heart started pounding again.

**

“Can I become a cool person like Confucius?!”

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone who doesn’t look like a nobleman, Confucius!”

“What’s it like outside the Grand Duchy?! There are really a lot of monsters!?”

“Oh! Be quiet! Ella Mercenary Corps, focus on your mission! The safety of our customers is our top priority!”

… … Oh.

Distract yourself.

I think I know why moms of many children sometimes seem to lose their minds.

Unlike Berom, who maintained his composure as the leader, the other three kids were chattering and distracting the whole time they were walking.

Fortunately, the Ella mercenary group stuck out their lips but remained silent in response to the captain’s reprimand, and were heading to their quarters.

“Why is the fountain over there so crowded?”

A crowd of people was seen gathered around a small fountain in the corner of the square.

It was a fountain with a statue of a baby holding a book in one hand and a cane in the other.

Berom answered quickly.

“That place is famous for granting wishes, and is always crowded with people because it is the fountain of Delve, the child of Devorn, the god of wishes.”

Oh, a fountain that grants wishes.

This is a fountain that is not in Elden’s memories from the original, even though he stayed in the Grand Ducal Palace for quite a long time, starting from the preliminaries of the Great Wedding War.

I’ve been traveling around the western part of the Northern Territory, but I’ve never seen a fountain that grants wishes.

Of course, it’s just a fictitious belief, but just as there is a modern culture of stacking stones to make a wish, there are places to lean your heart and pray for hope everywhere, so I decided to pray lightly.

“Shall I borrow it once?”

At those words, Berom raised his wooden sword and shouted at his members.

“Alright! Ella Mercenary Corps! Our client is moving to a crowded place, so be on guard and be fully prepared!”

““Wow! Wow!””

… … you little punks.

Did you learn it from a bandit group rather than a mercenary group?

It’s actually quite cute that the way he puts in his effort is somewhat barbaric.

So we arrived near the fountain… .

“Here comes the VIP! Make way for me! Over there, lady! Don’t push!”

“Fat guy on the side, watch out!”

““Wow! Wow!””

We arrived at the fountain under the ardent, if not violent, escort of the Ella Mercenaries, and thanks to them, Lumiang was able to arrive safely.

Everyone seemed to agree with the children’s escort, thinking it was a joke.

All sorts of objects were thrown into the fountain’s water.

Although it wasn’t very wide, it was a deeper fountain than I thought.

“What are you throwing and making it rain?”

“They say that the more precious things you throw, the faster your wish will come true.”

“Really?”

hmm.

The more precious it is, the higher the probability.

If I had known this was going to happen, I would have packed something from the accommodation.

All he had was a sword and some money, so he took out a silver coin.

Since I was just doing it for fun and had no intention of risking my life, I threw the silver coin and made a wish.

‘Please make all of our members, including Erincia, happy. Please give us a pretty old lady, Mr. Rendler.’

Lately, it seemed like Render had been feeling a little lonely, so I added a line and ended my wish, and then I looked at Lumiang.

I was praying with my hands clasped together, but I must have prayed for quite a lot before I raised my head after about 20 seconds.

Originally, the empty wish was not asked or spoken.

So I turned around to walk with Lumiang, and in that split second, I saw a small white ring shining beneath the water.

I thought someone must have thrown it since there were many people around me praying for wishes.

The only thing that came to mind when I saw that ring was…

“Some of the things thrown away seem to be valuable. If someone takes them, will their wish not be granted?”

It was a question, and thanks to Berom’s answer, the question was easily put to rest.

“The Archduke of Winterfell guards it. I haven’t heard of anyone stealing it, but I’d imagine stealing it would be punishable by death.”

“Is that so.”

Well, a tourist destination needs to know how to maintain its essence.

Thanks to the enthusiastic escort of the Ella Mercenaries, I was able to safely leave the fountain and arrive at my lodgings. The moment I entered the living room of my lodgings alone, I heard loud noises.

“I, I’ve felt that, that, that thing in Elden’s middle too?”

“Huh?! Are you talking about the penis?!”

“Yeah! Okay, this isn’t a joke, is it?!”

“I, Confucius touched my chest?!”

“What?!!! Elden touched that big thing?!!”

“Yes! You touched it twice!”

… .

… … ?

… … … ??

… … … … What kind of conversation is this???