Almark, although it was already the long sword that had been delivered to the sheath, did not intend to mislead, either, in front of Gizarte's body.
"... Yes. Precisely, he's the son of a northern mercenary. I'm not a mercenary anymore."
That's what Almark said and nodded.
The non-Ward servants are in a rush to rescue the guards falling into the garden and clean up the scattered door fragments.
One of the servants approached Ward and struck him in the ear, and the conversation with Almark was broken once.
That's when Almark noticed Morgen looking at himself with a bright blue face.
"Morgen... did you realize that too?"
"... yeah. I overheard you waiting in the room, talking to the enemy mercenary. You were talking about your father."
"Yeah. They seemed to know my father. He said things like fighting and losing."
Nod honestly.
Ward gives some instructions to the servant, then turns to Almark.
"Mr. Ward, I didn't mean to hide it. I..."
As Almark tried to elucidate, Ward shook his head and took control of it.
"From the very beginning, I've noticed. You have a different vibe from the rest of your alumni at the School of Magic. And tonight's calm attitude......"
I'm sure of it, Ward said.
"Nor have I ever met a mercenary in person until today. Making war a business, sometimes brave, resolute, sometimes brutal outrage. I weighed people's lives with gold, and all I knew was rumors from some hearted people that they were hated like snake scorpions.
Almark listens to Ward in silence.
"Those were the very people who came to this mansion today. I just asked my servant, the guard man, 13 people who lost their lives and 4 seriously wounded. One intact person and two minor injuries are those who gave up their roles and escaped to help.... I'm not to blame."
... Again, couldn't the guards?
Almark closed his eyes.
If only I had more power.
If only I had stood around better in anticipation of today's raid.
There must have been as much we could have done.
Those born in a peaceful country have lost their lives that they do not have to lose.
"You don't have to feel responsible for their deaths"
Ward's voice was calm.
"They did their job well."
Ward was right.
Without their desperate resistance, they wouldn't even have had time to evacuate Wendy.
Wendy must have lost many of his servants, including Ward.
"Right..."
Almark nods.
But I can't help thinking about it.
The death of a mercenary is a prepared death.
They don't know when they're going to die on the battlefield. They're always ready for that, whether they're unconscious or not.
That should have been the same for the Ghizaltes and Delans, today's raiders.
But did any of the guards at the mansion who lost their lives think they might die today?
Considering that, something bitter remains in Almark's heart.
You're supposed to be used to people dying.
I've slashed so many people myself.
Ward goes on to say, knowing or not how Almark feels like that.
"I felt the horror of what was called a mercenary was a smudge. There were only eight of us, and we didn't give one casualty to get rid of 20 of our guards. Exactly like the righteousness of war. Honestly, I was terrified."
And look at Almark.
"Lord Almark has defeated almost all of those beastly people by himself. Your tremendous power is equally terrifying to me."
Almark solidified.
It was natural for me to be told.
I know that, but when this old butler, loyal to Wendy, told me that, Almark remembered the feeling that his heart would be eagled.
The kind of trust that I think I've built steadily with Wendy so far is overshadowed from the ground up.
That was a fear Almark had never felt before.
"Ah..."
I tried to say something, but I can't speak well.
Behind Almark's brain, Wendy's smile floated away.
"I believe!
Suddenly, Morgen screamed.
When Almark looked back in surprise, Morgen, who had a bright blue face until just now, turned his face bright red and looked at Almark with a desperate look he had never even seen.
"It's none of my business if he's a mercenary or his son. Almark believed me. I believe in Almark, too."
Morgen's voice was up.
"Almark, whether you're a mercenary or not, I believe you!
Morgen shouted so with tears all over his eyes.
"Thank you, Morgen. I..."
That's it, Almark got stuck in words again.
I didn't know what more to say.
"... Lord Almark, Lord Morgen. Don't get me wrong."
There was a calm Ward voice.
As Almark turned around, Ward had a serene look, just like his voice.
"What I just said is only my personal feelings. It doesn't matter to me as a bar-herb butler, such as my personal feelings."
Ward was stretching his spine perfectly.
"There is no room for my personal emotions to enter my work as a butler"
That, having served this House for many years, is perseverance as a butler.
"I have no right to discuss the necessity of being a mercenary. What matters to me is that Lord Almark saved your daughter's life."
Nothing more important, Ward said.
"Lord Morgen asked good things. Lord Almark, whether you're a mercenary or not, that has nothing to do with it. You risked your own life to save your daughter. That's enough for me, for one thing. Only then can I place my full trust in you."
Ward turned to Almark and Morgen, bowing his head deeply.
"Lord Almark, Lord Morgen. Thank you very much. Your courage and dedication. The lady was saved because of that. On behalf of my Lord Elmond, who is far away in Galentore, I thank you."