The wise man returns

When Evelyn regained consciousness, she was in a white duvet.

“Ah.”

Evelyn opens her eyes and soon realizes this isn't an inn.

All the white silk and luxurious beds were for the lord to use.

“This place... what the hell. ”

Yesterday, I remembered every single thing in Evelyn's mind that was about to wake up.

The last of the assailants were eliminated and the security guard explained the situation on behalf of the guests had a clear memory.

Problem is, I haven't remembered since I started getting nauseous cleaning up the bodies.

“Ugh...”

Evelyn sweeps her tongue through her mouth.

There was no sour feeling when I vomited, but something stingy remained.

Blood!

This was undoubtedly the blood of the enemies since it had never been wounded.

I realized how in danger I was yesterday.

When I fled from the Horse Raid, I had never felt more threatened.

‘Still, Zoldo. ’

Evelyn grins.

I guess I must have been relaxed for a few months in the tower.

That's how comfortable it was to spend time in Ruby Tower.

It was then that Balin opened the door.

“... you're awake. ”

“Oh, yes. ”

Evelyn looks down and answers.

If it hadn't been for Balin yesterday, the people inside the inn wouldn't have been wiped out.

Evelyn looks great even though she fought over a hundred raiders.

I was anxious because I was only in sixth grade, but that's what I thought...

Raiders aren't the only ones gathering while they're busy.

One assailant put Evelyn and everyone else in trouble last night.

I have no idea how powerful it would have been to unite the rest of the crew.

“Didn't I tell you? Stay as far back as you can. Why was that?”

It was then that Balin blamed Evelyn for her mistake with a cold word.

Despite informing them that their number one objective was her, she came in person, commanded the men, and showed her face to the enemy.

That's what Balin was pointing out.

“But...”

Obviously, it was Evelyn who listened to the compliment at that time, so I had to be embarrassed by the rebuke that came right away.

However, Valine spoke out in disdain of her rebuttal.

“It's good to gather people and deal with them in an organized way. Well done, obviously, but you haven't exposed any weaknesses in the process. Am I wrong? ”

“... I'm sorry. ”

Evelyn, who lowers her head, apologizes with a crying voice.

Although it seemed like it would take the soul of countless men, Valine was a horse without a change in her expression.

“Be more careful from now on. We need to get inside the Cadim Empire and compete. There's a lot to do. A lot.”

“... Yes. ”

Balin could no longer accuse her of reflecting sincerely.

Balin turns around and walks out.

“Rest now. Starting tonight, we're going to move a little faster. We've been here three days, so we need to speed up. ”

“Three days?! ”

“I got caught and asked for an annex inside the castle. That's how you know we're leaving today or tomorrow. ”

Knng. When the door closes, Evelyn lies motionless and sighs.

I thought I was just tired, but I had a cold, so I felt uncomfortable because I felt like I had lifted a heavy burden on Balin.

“... Hah. ”

She sighs and pulls up the blanket she pushed back.

If what Balin says is true, all she can do now is rest and cheer up.

One word of reprimand did not make me emperor. Evelyn's heart is steady.

On the other hand, Balin continued to look uncomfortable.

Everyone who passed by was surprised to see that, but Balin was not surprised.

When Valine returns to her bedroom, she sighs and buries her face on the bed.

“Palias... you little...”

Tears drenched in Balin's eyes, calling its name.

What I just blamed Evelyn for was something I said to her several times in my previous life.

Each time, Palias said he would cover the pain of others as much as he could.

“Fool. Why would I do something like that if I can't even take care of myself? ”

Originally, Balin tried to compliment Evelyn on her flexible approach.

It was commendable to take out one of the attackers you missed with outstanding base and leadership.

But when I saw her face, it was a flightless rebuke.

As soon as I opened my mouth, I felt strangled, and I repeated what I had said in my previous life without even knowing it.

The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I was. I didn't like it.

“Ha…”

I knew it rationally. What Evelyn did was not a problem at all.

However, Balin reacted aggressively without my knowledge.

because I knew.

What happened to the person who used to say that all the time.

“... because of you. Palias.”

The tone of Balin, which calls out the name of an old friend, was damp as if it were going to cry soon.

* * *

Balin, who cleared the raid, ate that evening at the Lord's mansion that ruled Pallet Castle.

Rumors of an unidentified movement in Ruby Tower were already widely known throughout the city.

Over a hundred people died in an inn fire.

The aftermath was never small.

Earl Wrighton, who once ruled Pallet Castle, came himself to investigate the raiders.

But all he got was a statement from the victims, and no other leads were found.

“Anything, anything at all... what do you think of them? ”

“I don't know. I just assumed they weren't shy assassins. ”

Survivors testify that the assailants' athleticism is extremely strong.

An attack made up of nothing more than Expert's superiors.

With abilities of this magnitude, they would have succeeded in storming the fortress instead of the inn.

Earl Wrighton, who was not behind it, spread the word to the surrounding castles instead.

Over a hundred of Expert's top assassins have been spotted! ’

‘They're all dead, but we haven't caught them yet! ’

It was specialized in just two words, but the aftermath was enormous.

Not only was the inspection of the entire castle around Pallet fortified quickly, but the nobles who were preparing for the imperial war turned their heads to this side for a moment.

Thanks to that, the fortresses behind Pallet Castle reinforced the inspection in succession.

“Things have been a little noisy around here lately. ”

“I see. ”

Duke Azan, who was lost in thought in the wagon, nods at the horse that comes from the side.

The next woman, Hespia, was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Rudens.

The Duke of Rudens was not a great monarch enough to censor the wagons of the royal family, even though the Cadim Empire is famous for their search was enhanced.

“I wonder what all the fuss is about. You look like a hummingbird in a commotion. Isn't that right, Duke Asan? ”

“Ah. Yes, it is. ”

“Hmmm? Is there another woman besides me? Duke?”

Looking at the commotion outside, Hespia noticed some anxiety in Duke Asan's appearance not long ago.

She took advantage of the family heirloom, but she was very fond of the duc next door.

An unmanned man worthy of being considered the most prestigious of the Sword Masters.

Besides, he had a good reputation and no persecution, so he was the right husband for him.

To hide it, Duke Azan gives you the slippery grip, but he still thinks differently.

‘... ugh. Another woman, with a pretty face like mine? Who were those women you saw passing by? Or... is it that Evelyn bitch? ’

Hespia grits her teeth without even knowing it.

Those women were passing by. They were just blisters to her anyway.

But Evelyn, she was the one everyone and her brother was dying to have.

There was no law against Duke Asan.

Evelyn... how dare you...

Contrary to what Hespea had in mind, Duke Azan had no interest in Evelyn at all.

What he thought was his men sent two days ago.

Selman, Fred, George...

There were more than a hundred knights, but Duke Azan knew all their names and personal details.

They were loyal men, all of whom could trust and entrust their backs.

‘Is there... any survivor? ’

Without realizing that Hespea next door is furious, Duke Azan looks out his chin.

I saw a lot of people passing by, but the duc kept them all in his eyes, but he could only recall one other's name.

Valine...

Rumor has it that quite a number of guests were injured, but the assailants were wiped out by an officer of Earl Wellington.

I didn't want to catch a boy named Balin, but it was unexpected that Evelyn was destroyed without being defeated.

‘This battle for the Emperor's War... must be difficult. ’

He empowered his hands without even knowing it.

The wheels begin to move as if the traffic had been cleared out in front of the wagon.

* * *

After the attack, Balin and Evelyn's group make every effort to reach the Imperial family.

The other nobles who crossed first became more and more disturbed, so it was the only option.

Breaking bridges or roads secretly blocked many obstacles, including basic, rogue masquerading knights, and farmers who taught the wrong path.

Each time, Balin secretly assisted in turning their plans into nothing.

The collapsed bridge was rebuilt using land magic, and ambushing assassins solved it by spreading welcome magic throughout the surrounding area.

Thanks to them, they were able to come to the Imperial family quite comfortably compared to the other nobles.

“There...”

“Yes, it is. Mirren the Ecliptic.”

Evelyn, who was riding the ridge, laughs at the wave of light flowing far away.

For her, which was the Earl's ceremony, Mirren had seen in almost a decade.

Evelyn's eyes suddenly moisten with the memory of her childhood.

“It's worth the pace, risking the dark days. I can rest well today. ”

Valine, who was moving with her, also smiled calmly and looked at her gaze.

Evelyn recalls her ten years ago, but Valine recalls her decades later.

The resurrection of light and gold is a land of ruins everywhere.

Just as they told us that humanity's prosperity was over, Valine had to go through a desolate place with mixed emotions.

‘Yes. The current eclipse, the eclipse at that time, was really beautiful. ’

The whole body of Balin was quietly surrounded by a different feeling than when I saw Cardinal Castle.

Within that, Valine once again makes her determination firm.

I couldn't fail. It shouldn't have failed.

‘It would be terrible to imagine what Leven in the sky would do to me. ’

It's not just Leven. Valine recalls the many people who began with her and slowly defended herself.

Knights who barricaded the door with their bodies, Palias, Iselyn, Kristel. The names of the old comrades have passed.

Soldiers who sacrificed themselves on the front lines with the Horses and took many times as many horsemen.

I couldn't forget the many warriors who volunteered to protect my family and friends.

The fate of all of them rested on their own. Balin, whose shoulders were heavier, leaned against the backrest with a sigh.

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Thank you for reading.