Chapter 113
In fact, there was nothing to really prepare.
Akrasion’s belongings were just a sword, armor, and some small essentials. Having wandered battlefields for so long, he didn’t carry unnecessary items in the first place.
So Akrasion’s preparation for departure didn’t even take an hour.
Yet, until the sun began to set, Dante and Akrasion couldn’t leave the Marquisate.
“Hmm.”
“The north is cold. You need to bring proper winter gear. If you only take a few light clothes, you’ll regret it.”
“…It’s summer now, though.”
“Still! Who knows how long you’ll be there? You should take everything you can!”
It was because of Eina’s insistence.
She packed an enormous amount of luggage into a cart, as if moving house.
But Dante couldn’t oppose her.
Eina wasn’t wrong. For now, he could go unarmored, but what if he ended up staying there until winter? It wouldn’t be easy to get winter gear later.
So taking supplies from a well-stocked Marquisate beforehand wasn’t a bad choice.
It just took a bit longer.
Dante watched Eina bustling about, and then…
“Lord Dante.”
A voice called from behind. It was Mileon.
“What is it?” Dante asked, and Mileon hesitated before handing something over.
“…This?”
“This is from Lord Cariel and Lady Ceres. They asked me to give it to you,” Mileon said.
In his hand was a small sword-shaped fibula.
“They seemed to want you to pin it to your cloak when you depart.”
A fibula is a type of pin, usually worn on the right shoulder to secure a cloak or garment.
“Did they make this themselves?” Dante asked as he took it.
For a gift, its shape and craftsmanship were quite crude—like something made by a child.
“Yes. When they heard you were going north, they made it with the help of the servants.”
Dante held the fibula and remained silent for a while.
The unevenly engraved patterns, the crooked grooves, the rough curves—it was clearly clumsy, clearly made by children.
Yet, despite its crudeness, Dante could feel the children’s trembling hearts inside it—their fear and anxiety that if Dante, who treated them kindly, left, they would have no allies in the mansion.
But there was nothing to be done.
He couldn’t take the children to the battlefield, nor could he stay behind himself. They would have to endure on their own.
Mileon remained silent, lips pressed together. He knew better than anyone how complicated Dante’s feelings were.
“Sir Mileon.”
“Yes?”
“Tell the steward and the head maid that I personally entrusted them to your care.”
“I will,” Mileon bowed slightly and then turned and walked away.
Sigh. It probably wouldn’t help much. The steward and the head maid had witnessed what Lucia did in this mansion. But at least now, they would be more careful in their words and actions. That would suffice.
Dante fiddled with the fibula for a moment, then pinned it to his cloak.
Black armor. Red cloak.
On the symbolic colors of Akrasion, a crude sword-shaped fibula was now attached.
It somehow felt heavier on his shoulders, as if carrying the two younger siblings trembling somewhere in the mansion.
He let out a deep sigh and turned around.
“My lord!”
At the perfect timing, a stormy voice called out. It was Eina, running hurriedly while holding her skirt with both hands—quite a comical sight.
The tightness pressing her chest vanished, and Dante couldn’t help laughing.
Eina blinked, confused by Dante’s sudden laughter.
“You did well. Thanks to you, we won’t have to worry about supplies this winter.”
“Right? You can just trust me with preparations like this,” she said proudly.
Her experience in the Duchy had taught her a lot. Dante nodded, ruffled her hair, and began moving.
As preparations were nearly complete, everyone except Mileon had gathered.
No one seemed tense. Stories of Caldrian Kingdom’s cruel battles based on overwhelming force had reached them, but… would it really be as bad as facing a monster wave?
Dante and Akrasion had wandered through hell for four years. No matter how cruel Caldrian Kingdom was, it was nothing compared to the waves they had already faced.
Seeing Akrasion as calm as if going for a neighborhood stroll, Dante smiled slightly.
“Hey, Captain.”
Zionhak raised his hand.
“Everyone’s ready. Shall we depart? Otherwise, we might end up camping outside the mansion tonight.”
Dante looked up at the sky. Indeed, it was darker than before.
“You’re coming along again?”
He gestured to Zionhak to wait a moment, then asked Eina.
“Of course! I’ll always follow wherever you go. Who else would make sure you eat if I’m not there?”
She seemed adamant, clearly determined to follow even if left behind.
Dante nodded, realizing there was no stopping her. He would have to take her along this time as well.
“Remember Belladion Fortress.”
“I will. I won’t wander alone, and I’ll stay away from dangerous areas.”
“Good.”
Dante looked at Zionhak and nodded.
“All right, everyone, let’s go!”
As if waiting for the signal, Akrasion mounted their horses and, along with the cart, set off.
“Your carriage…”
“I can ride a horse too. I learned at Belladion Fortress. The Marquis prepared one for me too, saying I should ride it,” Eina said proudly, straightening her shoulders.
“The Marquis?”
“Yes. He said to take care of you, and gave it as a gift.”
Hmm. Dante glanced briefly toward the mansion. Unlike when he met Isabella, no one had come to see them off this time.
Perhaps busy, or perhaps they deemed it unnecessary. Either way, it was better this way. No awkward pleasantries to exchange.
“Then bring the horses. Ah, bring Sir Mileon along too.”
“Yes!”
Eina giggled and ran toward her horse. Dante smiled, watching her excitement, and slowly approached his own horse.
The road north was wide and well-maintained. Speed was essential.
Whenever Caldrian Kingdom crossed the border, Xenon would follow this road north. Naturally, it was well-managed.
“How long will it take?”
“One day.”
Two days had passed since leaving the mansion. Only a day remained to reach the border.
“If we hurry, we could arrive in half a day, but there’s no need to rush.”
The sun was setting, painting the treeless plains red.
Even with a good road, traveling at night wasn’t wise—especially for Dante and Akrasion on their first time along this path.
“Then we’ll rest nearby tonight.”
“The campsite should appear soon.”
Dante nodded. From the mansion to the border, there were plenty of places to rest—campsites set up by Xenon’s order. Akrasion had rested in such places over the past two days. Tonight they would sleep there and start early tomorrow.
“We should reach by lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
As always, Mileon’s escort was perfect. Not to the second, but nearly flawless. Likely they could arrive by lunch as expected.
“You holding up okay?” Dante asked Eina, who was following closely behind Mileon.
“Perfectly fine.”
Her riding skills were surprisingly good, having learned from knights back at the fortress. Even after two days of hard travel, she showed no signs of fatigue.
Dante studied her curiously.
“Good muscle and bone balance. If she trained with a sword, she’d have decent skill.”
A bit late, but maybe he could teach her now. Eina had remarkable potential.
“There it is,” Mileon said, pointing.
A flat clearing they had passed several times before.
“We’ll rest there tonight, and depart tomorrow morning…”
Dante stopped mid-sentence.
In the distance, where sky met land in a straight line, three plumes of black smoke cut vertically across the red sunset.
“…What’s that?”
A signal fire. And it meant an emergency support request.
