Chapter 55…
Isabella sat in her temporary office in Belladion, going through the flood of reports piling before her.
The war of swords and spears had ended, but now a war against paperwork had begun.
“You’ve come?”
She greeted Dante, looking somehow even more exhausted than during the war.
“…Are you all right, my lady?”
“I’d like to say ‘of course,’ but unfortunately, no.”
With a deep sigh, Isabella set aside the stack of documents in her hands.
“Honestly, I’d rather be fighting on the battlefield. This sort of thing just doesn’t suit me.”
“What about asking Sir Arthur for help—”
“He’s already collapsed.”
“Hmm.”
Dante hadn’t expected that she’d already used him up. When he gave a troubled look, Isabella chuckled softly.
“Still, it’s fortunate. At least the people and soldiers no longer need to suffer. Compared to what they’ve endured these last four years, this is nothing.”
She was right.
Her words about preferring to fight monsters with a sword were just a joke. Neither Isabella, nor Dante, nor anyone who had lived through that brutal war ever wished to experience it again.
“So? You’re leaving?”
He hadn’t said a word yet. He’d come here right after making the decision.
But from her words—both now and earlier—it seemed she had already guessed.
“Yes.” Dante nodded calmly.
“I’ve gained what I wanted, and done what I needed to. I think it’s time to return to my family.”
“To me, it still seems too soon.”
Isabella’s eyes curved gently.
“The disharmony has been resolved somewhat, but your control over the Stigmata is still lacking.”
Rough. Reckless.
Of course, considering Dante’s age, his growth had been absurdly fast.
But Isabella did not see him as a mere boy.
He was a knight walking the same path as herself.
Perhaps even the one destined to surpass her one day.
That’s why she judged him more harshly.
“I know.” Dante did not deny her words.
He knew that truth better than anyone.
“Still, don’t rush. You’re doing well.”
Impatience is poison.
It could drive growth in the short term, but it was just as deadly.
Isabella saw straight through his condition.
“Flow like water, be steadfast like stone, and noble like the sky. Then one day…”
Wooooong—
The space itself seemed to expand.
Vast and boundless, stretching beyond sight.
It resembled the sky—her attribute.
Dante, overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the sensation, gasped in awe.
“You’ll be able to stand where I stand, and see what I see.”
It would not take long, she believed.
“Thank you.”
He accepted her great kindness with sincere gratitude.
Showing him the path ahead—her actions were the best guidance he could hope for.
“I’d love to cross swords with you one last time, but I simply don’t have the time.”
She pointed playfully at the mountain of documents on her desk.
“When the Grand Duchy has settled down, I’ll invite you to my house.”
“That’s something I’d be glad to hear. Especially since I was sad to see all of Acrassion following you. I’ll look forward to then.”
Like an excited girl, Isabella’s face lit up with anticipation.
After all, Dante’s family housed Xenon Aquites—the Sword of the Empire.
A knight on her level.
Meeting such a person was no small joy.
“Call me anytime. I’ll drop everything and come running.”
“…But you still have work—”
“I can leave it to Arthur. Honestly, he’s better at this than me anyway.”
She laughed brightly. Dante felt sorry for Arthur, probably collapsed in exhaustion somewhere.
“So make sure you call.”
“I will.”
She rose from her chair, smiling warmly, and stepped toward him.
“You’ve grown a lot. When we first met, you were only this tall.”
Back then, he hadn’t even reached her chest. Now, he was nearly eye-level.
Even considering the four years that had passed, it was impressive growth.
Though his face still carried the look of a boy.
“Next time we meet, I expect you to be taller than me.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
When Dante answered, Isabella spread her arms and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, for everything. Because of you, countless lives were saved.”
A sincere farewell.
And so, hearing her final words—
Dante left the Grand Duchy.
Snow lay thick across the fields, and thirteen sets of hoofprints stretched far into the distance.
They belonged to Dante, eleven Acrassion knights, and Eina.
“You should ride in a carriage instead,” Dante said to Eina, who was awkwardly riding beside him.
“N-no!” She shook her head firmly.
“How can I ride in a carriage when everyone else is on horseback?”
Her nose and ears were red from the cold.
“No one would object if you did.”
“Still no!”
Such stubbornness. Dante shook his head with a sigh, though he understood.
Four years had passed since she left their household for the Grand Duchy.
And in all that time, she had waited for him.
Countless lonely days in Belladion, sleepless nights whenever his return was delayed.
Always fearing he might never come back.
And when he did return, she took care of everything herself—meals, laundry, even errands.
Even when told not to, she wouldn’t stop.
She said it was the only thing she could do for him.
Now was no different.
The long war was finally over, and they were heading home.
She’d rather endure the cold by his side than ride alone in a carriage.
Knowing this, Dante couldn’t force her otherwise.
“…If it becomes too much, tell me.”
“Yes, I will.” She giggled, and he found he couldn’t argue further.
He had never once beaten her.
This small but resolute girl.
Even when she was unreasonable, she pushed through with stubborn strength.
It was something Dante, in his previous life, had never seen.
He quietly watched her, her breath puffing white in the frigid air, her face bright with joy.
This time…
He wanted to protect her.
Her pure life and her very being.
“Sir Dante.”
At that moment, Milreon’s voice came from ahead.
“What is it?”
“Something is blocking the road.”
Dante had been too focused on Eina to notice the path ahead.
Looking forward, he saw it—just as Milreon said, something large obstructed the road.
“A tree?”
“Yes.”
A massive tree had fallen directly across the path.
“How deliberate.”
“Judging from the scene, it was felled intentionally.”
“On purpose?”
“Yes.”
At Milreon’s certain tone, Dante sighed.
This was the public road connecting the Grand Duchy to the Empire. Even in winter, many traveled it.
And now that the war had ended, trade had resumed.
For someone to deliberately block it meant only one thing.
“Sir Zeke.”
At Dante’s quiet call, Zionhac approached, looking bored.
“Speak.”
“Take Cain and Elaine. Scout the area.”
“No need. Whoever did this won’t dare face us. If they have eyes, they’d know we’re knights. By now, they’ve probably fled already.”
He wasn’t wrong.
No bandit in his right mind would attack a dozen armed knights.
But Dante didn’t retract his order. He locked eyes with Zionhac.
“And if we just pass through? What happens to the next travelers?”
The bandits would return after they left. The result was obvious.
Innocent people would suffer.
In harsh winter, resisting could even cost them their lives.
Dante would not allow that.
Zionhac grinned.
“As expected, our captain thinks far beyond his years. Don’t you agree, Sir Cain?”
“Indeed. Hard to believe it’s already been four years since we noticed that.”
He hadn’t really doubted Dante—he only wanted to hear his reasoning.
After all, Dante’s genius in combat was unquestioned, but outside of that, little had been proven.
So he’d asked.
And the answer?
“Approved. Sir Cain, Sir Elaine—come with me.”
Zionhac dropped his playful air and commanded with the authority of vice-captain.
Watching him lead the others, Dante let out a small sigh.
If only I were older…
Being young often had advantages.
But sometimes, like now, it made others doubt him.
Every time that happened, Dante longed for the day he turned twenty.
It’s ridiculous to be treated like a child when I’m commander of a knight order.
But adulthood was still six years away.
It had only been four years since his return.
He still had to wait one-and-a-half times longer than what had already passed.
Feeling frustrated, he approached the fallen tree.
At least until Zionhac found something, he could help clear this.
“Sir Milreon.”
“Leave it to me.”
With grace, Milreon dismounted and drew his sword.
He clearly meant to cut the tree into sections to push aside.
CLAAANG—!
Suddenly, a metallic sound rang out.
And then, a fierce blizzard erupted.
This is…!
Dante’s eyes widened.
A familiar energy.
No—a power he could never forget.
He slowly turned his gaze.
Them!
In his previous life—
The ones who annihilated House Aquites.
Who killed his father, Milreon, and Eina.
The same dark, alien, loathsome power.
