Interlude: Meanwhile…
The fourth son of the ducal house, Klim Blake, had vanished—and already two full months had passed since that day.
The truth of the incident was simple, brutal, and known only to a select few: he had been abducted in a fit of rage by Ryu, and then offered up as a sacrifice to goblins.
But those who knew this truth were limited to the members of the Viscount Arden household and Marquis Grace alone.
His birth mother, Duchess Olivia, knew nothing of it.
She had rushed all the way from the ducal territory to the capital the moment she received word of her son’s disappearance. With only a handful of loyal retainers at her side, she continued an endless search—one that bore no fruit, no hope, and no mercy.
Her heart had long since begun to crack.
Each day she wandered the outskirts of the capital with unsteady steps, her once-elegant posture reduced to a fragile shadow of itself. The proud duchess, whose composure had once seemed unassailable, now staggered through streets and alleyways like a lost soul, driven by nothing but maternal desperation.
Today, too, she had intended to set out in search of him.
But her body refused.
Her legs trembled. Her vision swam. No matter how fiercely she commanded herself to stand, strength would not come.
…Her body and spirit had reached their limit.
“Olivia-sama. Please, at least for today, you must rest. If you continue like this, you will collapse from exhaustion…!”
“Absolutely not,” she replied, her voice thin yet unyielding. “If I, his mother, lose heart… then who will search for my son?”
“However, it has already been nearly two months since Klim-sama disappeared. We have investigated every underworld hideout we could uncover. There were no traces. To be frank… there are no places left for us to search. Please, rest today. We shall continue in your stead…”
“I am grateful for your concern. Truly. But no. I cannot waste even a single day.”
Her eyes burned—not with anger, but with the stubborn fire of a mother who refused to surrender.
In the midst of this exchange with her knight—
“Olivia-sama. A letter has arrived from the Gran Federation.”
“The Gran Federation? If it was delivered to the capital rather than the ducal territory… then it must be addressed to me, correct? But I don’t recall having acquaintances in the Federation…”
Murmuring to herself, she broke the seal.
The moment her eyes fell upon the sender’s name—
“K-Klim?!”
Her breath caught.
The sender was her beloved son.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded the letter.
『To Mother.
Two months ago, I left home to chase my dream. I thought that perhaps my kind mother might come searching for me in the capital, so I sent this letter here. It’s something I’ve kept secret, but I’ve always dreamed of adventuring across the world. I’m in the Gran Federation right now. Next I might head to the Principality… or perhaps the Empire, the Kingdom, some smaller nation—or even another continent altogether. It will be an endless and harsh journey. I don’t know how many years it will take. I’m not that strong, so there’s a high chance I might lose my life along the way. I may even find a new place to settle down. That’s why I’ve decided to cast aside the name Blake and live simply as Klim. If I survive and manage to fulfill my dream, I’ll come see you again. I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly. I’m sorry for being such a selfish son. Farewell.
From—Just Klim』
The instant she folded the letter closed, tears spilled freely from Olivia’s eyes.
“O-Olivia-sama! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine… forgive me.”
(So… that’s how it is. Well… he was always a child who did the most unexpected things… I suppose this, too, is simply who he is…)
She wept quietly, shoulders shaking, until the torrent slowed.
Then, after composing herself, she rose.
Her legs were still unsteady—but her gaze had regained clarity.
“Very well. We’re returning to the ducal territory. I’ll explain the reason on the way.”
“Eh…?”
“Understood?”
“Y-Yes! At once!”
As preparations began in frantic haste, Olivia allowed herself one private thought.
(Haa… I do hope we meet again. My beloved son…)
In her mind, she pictured Klim’s smiling face—bright, carefree, alive.
And she smiled back.
◇◇◇
“A-Alice-sama, please wait!”
“Nope! I’m an untamable wild horse now—no one can stop me!”
Shaking off the knights who tried to restrain her, Alice charged headlong into a swarm of orcs.
The enemy wielded weapons.
She was surrounded on all sides.
“Kh—!”
There was no possible way her current self could fend them all off cleanly. Blades grazed her. Clubs struck her armor. Blood blossomed across her skin, staining fabric and flesh alike.
Her injuries only multiplied.
And yet—
Her field of vision was expanding.
She could see it now—the battle from angles she once ignored, perspectives she had never bothered to consider. Movements overlapped in patterns. Gaps appeared in formations. Intent flickered in the enemy’s shoulders before their weapons swung.
She was tired.
It hurt.
Her life was on the line.
And her father would almost certainly scold her later.
But—
This was fun.
“Ahahaha! Ahahahahahahaha!”
Laughing wildly, drenched in blood and sweat, Alice swung her sword in a state of near-ecstasy.
…That day, she had poured every ounce of strength into a strike against Ryu—only for him to pinch the blade lazily between two fingers, as though swatting aside an annoyance.
You’ve never fought a battle where your life was truly on the line, have you?
You’ve never suffered a serious injury.
You’ve never carried anything on your shoulders.
Well, you are a noble lady, after all.
A bottom-tier swordswoman who polished technique alone, who’s never killed a person or monster.
An E-rank adventurer who’s merely a little good with a sword.
Don’t blame others because your swordsmanship won’t improve.
A perfect instructor riding in on a white horse isn’t going to appear.
…No wonder you’re weak.
Every word he had spoken stabbed at her chest.
But along with that sting, another memory surfaced.
You want to become the strongest swordsman who can shoulder a nation, right?
Then live a wild, one-of-a-kind life that never fits neatly into a mold.
Smash through your own ceiling.
…The name of that friend of his was Sakamoto Ryoma.
The greatest swordsman in history—the one she admired.
(I’ll reach it too… the same realm as Ryu-sensei…!)
At that moment, blood slicked her palm. Her sword slipped free and clattered to the ground.
“Geggegege!!!”
“…Ah.”
The orcs lunged—
And in the next instant, they were cleaved cleanly in half.
“Alice-sama. We’re returning.”
“Ah… o-okay…”
She was lifted effortlessly onto the back of the captain of the Blanc Count’s Knight Order and carried home.
(Still a long road ahead… but I’ll keep going…!)
◇◇◇
“Well then, shall we head back to the capital soon?”
“Yes! I can’t wait—it’s been so long!”
“Though once we arrive, I must first present myself at the Imperial Castle and prostrate before Her Majesty the Empress…”
“Ah… that’s true.”
Having completed their mission in the Kingdom of Garcia, the branch chief and Zekkai began their journey home—a return that had somehow transformed into something resembling a date.
“I’m sorry for making you wait over a month…”
“I don’t mind. Even mages require leave from time to time. And besides…”
“And besides…?”
“I-it’s my first time having a lover, after all! Ahem—”
“EHHHHHH?!”
Zekkai quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“D-Don’t shout, you fool!”
“Weren’t you super popular back in school?!”
“For reasons unknown, I was generally feared by the opposite sex…”
“I see… That’s the charming part, though. They just didn’t get it.”
Zekkai was strikingly beautiful.
Sharp eyes. Slightly low voice.
In short—her face was intimidating.
That alone might have garnered admirers, but she had also surpassed everyone at the academy in magic and ranked top in academic studies. Flawless. Untouchable. No weaknesses to tease.
And if one earned her ire—life was effectively over.
Fear was inevitable.
“You probably had plenty of female admirers, though.”
“Ah—countless confessions. Unfortunately, I do not swing that way.”
“So you were the unattainable prince of the academy.”
“You’re mocking me.”
“I’m not! I’m praising you!”
Bantering like a married comedy duo, they continued their cheerful return.
“Oh, by the way, it’s my first time too.”
“I assumed as much.”
“Hey! That’s mean!”
◇◇◇
Meanwhile, in the Hizen Domain of Hinomaru.
“Phew~ At last, things have settled down, have they not?”
“Yes. It’s been a long road. Without you, Ryoma-san, it would have taken three times as long.”
“Hahaha. You overestimate this humble one.”
Ryoma had traveled to the former Hizen Domain, newly absorbed into Tosa territory, and had been handling countless administrative matters.
Only now had things finally quieted.
(Should I remain here a while longer… or return to Tosa? Hmm… a difficult choice indeed…)
Just then—
“Ryoma-saaan! A letter from the Empire!”
A young retainer ran up, slightly out of breath, and handed over what could hardly be called a letter—more like a crumpled scrap of paper.
“Such insolence! Sending rubbish like this to Ryoma-san—just tell me who it is and I’ll go discipline them!”
“Patience, patience. Let us read it first.”
He smoothed out the wrinkled paper.
Written upon it was only one word:
『Come.』
Ryoma’s face split into a wide grin.
“Hahahahahahahaha!!!!”
“R-Ryoma-san?! What is it?!”
When he showed the paper, the retainer tilted his head.
“What… is this?”
“It is a message from my dearest friend.”
“A message…?”
“If one were to elaborate, it reads: ‘Come to the Empire. You’re idle anyway, aren’t you?’”
“How utterly lacking in manners…”
“For me, there could be no greater delight.”
“Then… I suppose that’s good.”
Ryoma turned his gaze westward.
A sea breeze carried the scent of salt and distant horizons, stirring his hair gently.
(Shall I go see him, then? It has been far too long… my friend.)