Chapter 145, Where One Belongs (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The back of her head felt like it was shrinking.

 

[I should have just left my hair down.]

 

Dmirea briefly regretted it.

 

Since this was a meeting with the King, she had worn a neat white shirt and pants with a short black jacket. On top of that, she had done her hair up in a tidy updo to look more polished.

 

Because of this, she could not tell if the stiffness prickling at her scalp came from the braid and updo she had forced into her short hair, or from the burgeoning killing intent that seemed to belong to Kalian.

 

*Whew.*

 

She could hear Ren, who was standing behind Rmain, quietly exhaling. It seemed like this current feeling was indeed due to the killing intent.

 

Having this thought, Dmirea decided that on her way out after meeting Rmain, she should go find Kalian for a sparring match.

 

She was not the type to just return to the mansion after feeling such intense killing intent. Her competitive spirit was exactly like Sleiman’s in that regard.

 

Just then, Ren approached Rmain’s side and spoke in a low voice.

 

“It appears the situation has concluded, Your Majesty.”

 

He was saying this because Kalian’s killing intent had disappeared as if washed away. And Rmain nodded once in response.

 

Rmain already knew about the incident Valkan had caused. However, regarding that problem, he only thought that Kalian and Plants would discipline Valkan a bit more strictly. Therefore, he did not consider it a major issue.

 

Unable to sense the killing intent, Rmain, who could never know what kind of mood Dmirea and Ren had been in while keeping their positions until just moments ago, opened his mouth.

 

“I’m grateful for your involvement in Prince Kalian’s matter last time.”

 

“It’s an honor to have been of help.”

 

Dmirea responded with a slight smile.

 

“Now that we’ve become close, isn’t it natural to help each other through difficulties?”

 

[‘Now that we’ve become close,’ huh?]

 

Though Dmirea had played along with the rumor out of necessity, she now confronted Rmain about his decision to cement it as fact without clearing the air, and without a single word of consultation. Not to mention, she still had not heard a whisper about compensation for the help she had given.

 

“Indeed.”

 

Rmain looked at Dmirea, who was saying it was natural to ‘help each other through difficulties.’ Since Siegfried had already helped Kalian with his difficulties, she was implying that it would be proper for the Royal Family to help Siegfried when difficulties arose for them in the future.

 

Dmirea was certainly different from Sleiman or Ian.

 

“It’s only natural. I won’t forget.”

 

In the end, Rmain promised future assistance in this way.

 

Although Dmirea had already decided to definitely receive ‘compensation for help’ from Kalian as well, that was that and this was this. After all, no matter how weak Rmain’s power might be, he was still the King. There might come times when a name that was only symbolic in nature would be needed.

 

Having secured a satisfactory promise, Dmirea showed a small smile and bowed her head slightly. Then she brought out from her pocket the real reason she had come to see Rmain.

 

“A message came from the Duchy asking me to definitely deliver this to Your Majesty.”

 

Rmain chuckled when he saw what it was.

 

It was money.

 

The cost of the hot spring trip that had been skipped and avoided was sent through Dmirea.

 

Sleiman’s dark intentions were completely transparent. That was why he laughed. It seemed like a scheme to create another point of contact between Kalian and Dmirea.

 

“Duke Siegfried seems to view the Third Prince quite favorably.”

 

Naturally, Sleiman was not thinking of placing Dmirea as a Princess Consort. He must be thinking of taking Kalian as a son-in-law.

 

While Rmain was having these thoughts and nodding slightly, Dmirea, who was sitting across from him, opened her mouth.

 

“Siegfried does not incur debts, Your Majesty. That’s all there is to it, so please don’t have any other misunderstandings.”

 

It was well-packaged, but ultimately it was saying she was displeased.

 

She was just here to repay borrowed money, so he could not try to connect Kalian and Dmirea’s relationship or have any misconceptions, that was what she was saying.

 

Rmain, the cow-like father of Plants and Randel, briefly laughed at the thought of how such a talent could have emerged from that simple Sleiman.

 

* * *

 

Whether they were the ones who caused trouble.

 

Or the ones who did not cause trouble.

 

Valkan Mages felt a life-threatening danger today that would rank among the most memorable days of their lives so far. No, for the majority of these Mages, today’s events were certainly the most chilling experience they had ever encountered.

 

The Mages who had blown up the tavern had only said one thing: ‘This incident has nothing to do with Valkan.’ But no one could have imagined that Kalian, who always smiled kindly, would immediately rush over and rage enough to shake the Royal Palace while even spitting out curses.

 

But ironically, the only one who completely understood the fundamental reason why Kalian was so angry was Plants alone.

 

It was war.

 

Kalian had experienced war.

 

That was something even Plants’ mind could not fully imagine. Plants also knew that the chilling aura that had extended all the way to Chermil Palace to deliver a warning to Plants was not something created through just any ordinary experience.

 

Paying for broken carriage costs, repaying medical expenses, compensating for store property damage, covering up the crime of destroying Heisia Palace. From such minor matters, Kalian knew better than anyone that one must believe in and rely on their superiors so that when faced with such terrible realities, they could entrust their lives without hesitation.

 

There was no way Kalian did not know where that trust originated from.

 

Kalian had taught Plants that one must take complete responsibility for what someone entrusted to them in order to be entrusted with greater things.

 

The fact that having such built-up trust meant one less person would die. Kalian must have learned this through direct experience, while fighting in war.

 

“I’m also human. Sometimes I can’t help it.”

 

That was why he got so angry, and Plants understood this. Knowing that Plants understood this, Kalian brought up these words.

 

The two were waiting for Arsene, who had gone to report to Allan about today’s events. In the midst of this, he brought up another seemingly random comment.

 

That he had briefly lost it today.

 

Because he too was human.

 

Plants thought that when Kalian was a Prince of Secritia, he probably looked similar to what he displayed today. Since Chase had definitely said he had ‘become much duller’, he might have been more aggressive and more cruel then, but it was certain that he was someone who cherished his people terribly.

 

Such a person had experienced war. Probably everyone had died.

 

There was no way he could think it would be okay to experience the same thing again.

 

Because he was human. That was why he had lost it.

 

“…I know.”

 

Plants, who was sitting on a chair outside the training ground, answered like this while looking toward the training ground. Toward such Plants, Kalian opened his mouth again.

 

“And the reason I got angry at you, older brother…”

 

“I know that too.”

 

A few months ago.

 

Plants, who was sitting in this very spot watching Valkan’s training, had decided to take charge of Valkan. Although Kalian had asked for his opinion first, it was definitely Plants who had made the decision.

 

Having done so, he had only regarded Valkan as a power temporarily borrowed for maintaining his own life.

 

Had he not kept his distance and tried to avoid taking responsibility? The way he turned away from and evaded the burden he should bear was no different from Rmain!

 

While knowing better than anyone that this way, he would not be able to protect his own people, let alone his own life, he had been acting exactly the same way. That was why Kalian got angry at Plants just as he had done with the members of Valkan.

 

“Because that’s how we survive. Me, and those Mages too.”

 

Unlike himself, Plants added more words.

 

Now that he had decided to learn, it seemed he had decided to properly confirm that he understood Kalian’s intentions.

 

Toward Plants, who had endured the annoyance, Kalian grinned.

 

“As expected, older brother Plants is smart.”

 

“Stop barking again.”

 

Even though it was clearly a completely different laugh from when he was angry, Plants momentarily felt his fingertips grow cold. It was because the chill from Kalian that he had faced a little while ago came back to mind.

 

If Plants, who had stood in front of Kalian for just a brief moment, felt this much, then the Mages who had fully endured Kalian’s outburst while Plants was rushing over were in no condition to receive training. Therefore, Plants and Arsene agreed to cancel today’s training.

 

That definitely meant to go home and rest.

 

It absolutely did not mean to do ‘such things’.

 

Plants, seeing what the Mages were currently doing, unconsciously sighed and muttered.

 

“My little brother’s job is to bark every day, and those guys’ job is to go crazy every day.”

 

At those words, Kalian burst out laughing.

 

Because it was worth it to hear such a long sentence coming from Plants’ mouth.

 

According to Arsene’s classification, the Mages were ‘hopeless lunatics’. They were still discussing with completely pale faces whether to erect Kalian’s statue first or Arsene’s statue first.

 

Even though the rest they had been permitted was absolutely not for such purposes.

 

They looked so intense that anyone watching might mistake them for creating new Magic Spells. It was an extremely Mage-like, peaceful sight.

 

After laughing for a while, Kalian opened his mouth when his laughter had barely ceased.

 

“How very Mage-like.”

 

Plants, who had momentarily forgotten that the damn younger brother sitting next to him was also a Mage, let out a short sigh. Plants, who had not answered for a while, asked without turning his gaze away from the Mages.

 

“They must have been strong. Back then too.”

 

At the sudden question, Kalian briefly closed his mouth.

 

“Are you asking about Valkan from that day?”

 

“Yes.”

 

There had been countless emotions in Kalian’s eyes as he watched Plants trying to protect the Mages, but not a single one was resentment. That was why he could ask. Because he knew that Kalian saw his past and present selves as completely different people.

 

“…They were strong. Terrifyingly so.”

 

That was also why Kalian could answer too.

 

Briefly setting aside the thought that he would never reveal it, he spoke of that day’s events for the first time.

 

How strong a group Plants had created.

 

At Kalian’s words, instead of bowing his head, Plants examined Valkan’s hopeless lunatics one by one.

 

Whether the cause that had led to such behavior was the disappeared Heisia Palace, strawberry ice cream, or because of Chase’s words, even Plants did not know. He was just gradually changing.

 

Toward Plants, who was still looking ahead, Kalian’s words continued. Of course, it was not another story about Valkan’s future.

 

“From tomorrow, I’d like you to also look at the Knight Orders. How about it? I think it’s about time we should start preparing for Valkan’s integration.”

 

There was no reason to reveal more details about past events to Plants. It was enough to know just how strong Valkan had been. What good would it do to bring out memories that wouldn’t be pleasant to think about?

 

“You should keep training diligently with Valkan, and make sure to show your face to the Karen and Roan Knight Orders, too. Since they’re not forces that can be combined overnight anyway, I’ll look into the Seal of Oath in my own way, and older brother, you get the Knight Orders in your hands in your own way. I think that would work. I want to integrate them into Valkan as quickly as possible.”

 

Anyway, since Plants had decided to bring their power over, there was no reason to delay.

 

Of course, even if quickly, it would take time.

 

Plants would need to first get the Knight Orders completely in his hands before combining them to avoid any major problems.

 

Therefore, Plants, who had already been thinking of doing so anyway, nodded, and Kalian opened his mouth again.

 

“You can manage them the way you saw today.”

 

The method of making people yours and handling them, Kalian had shown this today. Responding appropriately to the Knights was something Plants would figure out himself. If he made mistakes, he could be taught again at that time.

 

Plants only moved his head this time as well.

 

Seeing this, Kalian smiled broadly once more and opened his mouth.

 

“Ah. Don’t think about suppressing them with force. You’ll lose. You’re surprisingly weak, so don’t try to fight and just handle things well in your own way.”

 

“Stop barking.”

 

Having barked to his heart’s content today, Kalian readily nodded. It meant he would stop barking now, and that he had barked enough for today.