Chapter 69
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 69
"Why?"
"I need to stop by the Subjugation Unit Office in the Imperial Capital for training."
"Training?"
"Yes."
Lucella nodded in agreement.
"If you're going to train, why not do it with me at home? I've been training really hard lately too."
To become the kind of muscular man that Amelia adored.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that will work. The training at the Subjugation Unit is quite different from what you're doing."
Unlike Edwin, who was learning basic footwork and swordsmanship, Lucella and I had first learned how to protect ourselves from magical beasts. It was to prepare for real combat situations like surprise attacks from monsters.
After that, we ran three laps around the Training Ground to build the kind of stamina that wouldn't falter even after staying awake all night.
"The training is too different for us to do it together. Besides, after training ends, I also need to meet with the mages."
"Mages? How fascinating!"
The mages I'd read about in fairy tales were mystery itself.
Edwin was eager to meet the mages and follow along with Lucella. As always, he hoped she would be the first to suggest they go together.
But Lucella's expression grew troubled.
"Would you mind waiting at the Bellomen Mansion for a little while? I'll come back after I'm done and play with you."
He should have answered that he understood, but his head wouldn't nod.
Both of them always collapsed in exhaustion after going through Temple training and Subjugation Unit drills.
Lucella tried her best to play with Edwin, but she couldn't hide her fatigue.
She always played with dolls with bloodshot eyes or dozed off while stacking blocks. From Edwin's perspective, it was only natural to feel disappointed.
"...All right."
In the end, Edwin reluctantly nodded his head.
"Thank you for understanding, Edwin."
Lucella gently stroked Edwin's cheek and turned away. The sound of hoofbeats had stopped, which meant the carriage had arrived.
'Can't I come along too?'
The words rose up his throat.
Edwin knew that Claude was in the Imperial Capital.
He also knew that Amelia sometimes came to visit and had dinner with them together.
At those times, he felt left out, as if he alone were being excluded. He wanted to throw a tantrum and ask them to take him along in the future.
"...Have a safe trip."
But Edwin said nothing.
He didn't fully understand why the two of them had become so busy, but he could guess that he was the reason behind it.
"I'm heading out, Edwin!"
"I'll be back soon."
Edwin waved his hand at the retreating figures of the two.
Click.
Soon the wide-open door closed, and silence settled around him. It was time to return to his room.
But Edwin remained standing in front of the door for a long time.
Though the number of servants was countless, his heart felt hollow.
* * *
With the Monster Subjugation Unit's departure imminent, Lucian and I intensified our training regimen.
I practiced sensing magical essence even while asleep, while Lucian strengthened his purification abilities and familiarized himself with the appearances of magical beasts so he wouldn't be startled by them. I studied their characteristics alongside him, knowing that knowledge was power—understanding monsters thoroughly would surely aid us during the subjugation.
Mornings were spent at the Temple, afternoons in the Imperial Capital, and evenings in my room studying monsters. This routine continued relentlessly day after day.
Unfortunately, I had no time to play with Edwin because of it.
Thankfully, Edwin never complained about our absence. Instead, he kindly told us to rest, knowing we must be exhausted. This only deepened my guilt.
Still, Edwin had his father. The Duke surely looked after him in places I couldn't see.
I deliberately thought this way to suppress the guilt gnawing at me.
And finally, the day of the Monster Subjugation Unit's departure arrived.
"Please be careful out there, Young Master?"
"And you as well, Miss Rilprey. I'll pray for your safe return!"
With our bags packed full, Lucian and I received tearful farewells from the servants as we headed toward the Imperial Capital.
We planned to join the Subjugation Unit directly rather than go to our destination separately, departing together with them.
Edwin accompanied us all the way to the Imperial Capital, wanting to see us off one last time.
"Lucian, will you be alright? You'll have to dress yourself and eat alone there. Obviously, there won't be any attendants to help you."
"I can do it all, so don't worry. I'm an amazing ability user!"
"You won't complain about wanting to go home later?"
"Of course not! A man of honor doesn't go back on his word!"
As I listened to Lucian's confident declaration, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Capital.
Lucian, Edwin, and I descended at the Knight Order Training Ground, our designated meeting place. Before us stood the Subjugation Unit, lined up in perfect formation across ten rows.
"Wow."
"That's so cool!"
Lucian and Edwin gasped at the sight of the unit members. The fully armored soldiers cut an imposing figure, their polished silver armor gleaming brilliantly in the light.
"You've arrived, Miss Rilprey."
The person who approached us was Claude.
"Sister!"
Amelia, her hair tied in twin braids, was with him.
"Lia!"
Lucian and Edwin rushed toward Amelia.
Watching the two children chatter happily together, I turned my attention to Claude.
"Am I late?"
"No. Your timing is perfect."
Claude shook his head in response.
"His Majesty will be here shortly to see us off. After a brief farewell with families, we'll depart immediately. You and Lucian should stand in the third row from the front and board the carriage there."
"Understood. Let's go, Lucian."
"Yes!"
I led the eagerly responding Lucian toward the position Claude indicated.
Soon after, the Emperor appeared, attended by numerous courtiers.
"There's no point in lengthy speeches, so let's make this quick."
"There's no point in dragging this out, so let's just wrap it up quickly."
The Emperor cleared his throat and opened his mouth with a solemn expression toward the assembled members.
"I am forever grateful and apologetic to those of you who stand at the forefront for the Empire. I sincerely hope you all return safely this time."
The Emperor's words ended there.
Yet he did not step back, meeting the eyes of each member standing before him one by one.
"And."
The Emperor's serious gaze fell upon me.
"The mages who have promised to join us."
At the Emperor's words, a man and a woman who had been standing behind him stepped forward. Both wore cloaks bearing the Imperial seal.
"These are the most skilled mages from the Imperial Magic Division. They can manifest everything Miss Rilprey desires."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
I bowed respectfully toward the Emperor. Mages were rare and precious resources, after all.
"They're all fragile as glass marbles from spending their days cooped up in laboratories conducting research. I do hope you'll take care that they don't shatter."
"Your Majesty."
The mages called out to the Emperor at his jest.
"Everyone seemed so tense, so I thought I'd lighten the mood a bit."
The Emperor chuckled heartily and changed the subject.
"Now then, let us depart."
"As you command!"
At the Emperor's words, all the members responded with spirited enthusiasm.
"Aunt, what does that mean?"
"It means we will obey your orders."
Of course, excluding Lucian.
As the Emperor left, families who had been waiting in the corner of the Training Ground rushed toward the members.
"No news is good news, as they say."
"Now, you should tell your father you'll be careful, yes?"
"Father, please return safely!"
The members exchanged warm embraces with their families. Some even kissed their lovers.
But unfortunately, neither Lucian nor I had family rushing toward us.
'This is too much. How can he not even show his face on the day his own son departs?'
I had suspected it from the moment the Duke of Bellomen pushed Lucian into the Monster Subjugation Unit, but he truly was beyond reproach.
I looked down at Lucian, who stood holding my hand. Lucian was staring intently at Xenon, who was sharing a warm embrace with his father.
Did Lucian perhaps miss his father too?
"Lucian."
"Hmm?"
"Don't you miss your father?"
"Um... I'm not sure."
Lucian scratched his cheek with his index finger.
"I don't really want to see him, but it feels like I'm thinking of him a little."
"..."
"But when we're together, it feels like I can't breathe."
I wasn't sure whether to call this fortunate or lamentable.
"Aren't you sad? Everyone else had their families come to see them off."
"Not really sad at all."
Lucian shook his head at my question.
"My family came to see me off too."
"Family?"
"Yes. My little chickpea."
Lucian pointed toward something. There—
"Big brother Lucian!"
Edwin came running toward Lucian.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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