CHAPTER 41…………………………………….
“Where’d that guy crawl in from? What a nasty-looking fellow.”
“I heard he came from the Northern Mountain Range? Hey, better be careful not to run into him.”
The members of Devel whispered as they stared at him.
Some even clicked their tongues openly with a scowl.
His name was Gurter.
The only person here who truly knew who this northern man was—was none other than Devel’s leader, Chenler.
Chenler looked at his appearance and recalled an old memory.
‘Geretias.’
One of the Empire’s very few Sword Masters.
If he remembered correctly, the man once belonged to the Kereis family.
He supposedly died while helping civilians during the “War of the Four Brothers.”
Yet here he stood, alive—and protected by none other than the Duke of Kereis himself.
‘I didn’t even recognize him at first.’
Chenler hadn’t recognized him at first because his appearance was nothing like before.
Worn-out clothes and a shabby hat… one eye hidden, as if injured.
Anyone would’ve mistaken him for a beggar needing charity.
But Chenler had seen him up close during the war.
How could he ever forget that gaze?
That deadly look in his eyes.
And on top of that, Gurter was infamous for his vile temper.
‘Tch. To think the spy planted by the Duke is a Sword Master… If I’m not careful, I won’t even have bones left.’
Chenler chuckled dryly, then faithfully carried out the Duke’s orders.
“Send the boy to Gurter.”
“Yes.”
“From this moment on, no one in Devel is to lay a hand on Ron.”
Friedgen lifted his head slightly.
Meeting his eyes, Chenler repeated firmly:
“Only Gurter will be in charge of the boy.”
Gleaming dark-blue hair flowed over the boy’s small shoulders.
Between the strands of his long bangs, his red eyes glimmered.
Ron stood before the huge, towering man.
Gurter glared at him with his single, fierce eye.
“You meet your master and don’t even know how to greet him?”
“……”
The sudden situation left Ron frozen.
He had simply followed Chenler’s subordinate to this place and met this man.
But… master?
His small shoulders curled inward.
“What? Afraid I can’t see properly because of this eye? Think an ugly one-eyed man can’t be your master?”
“……”
“Tch. Even so, it’s better than your ridiculous long hair covering your eyes. Here. Take a look.”
Gurter tugged off the eyepatch.
A deep, hollow black cavity was revealed.
Yet Ron did not look away.
Gurter found this odd.
People always reacted in one of two ways:
They either recoiled—or mocked him.
Just then, whispers drifted into Gurter’s ears.
The Devel members were watching.
“What an amusing pair. Kuk.”
“Pfft. I think I know why the boss put those two together. A beggar teaching a lion cub—what a sight.”
Gurter raised his voice intentionally.
“Where’d this little rat come from! You can’t answer when I speak?!”
WHAP—
His staff swung at Ron’s head.
But Ron dodged in the split second before impact.
The staff cracked against the ground instead.
Gurter swallowed hard.
He had once lived as the captain of the Kereis Knights.
He had trained all four brothers—including the current head of the family, Getre.
He was the one who had told their father Veil that Getre possessed the strongest energy.
And yet—this boy’s presence was like nothing he had ever felt.
“Tch! How dare you defy your master!”
He shouted, though his heart was still pounding violently.
Ron had dodged a surprise attack.
The boy was supposed to be around twelve years old.
Thin, small, frail-looking.
He’d only meant to scare him a little.
But something felt… off.
Gurter furrowed his brow, picked up his staff again—
“I am your master, Gurter! Now hold out your head!”
This time, he forcibly grabbed Ron’s head and smacked him.
“Ugh!”
Ron held his head in pain.
Gurter lifted a smug eyebrow—
yet his heart continued pounding.
Because from this frail child, he felt something indescribable.
A presence he had only sensed from one man before—
Getre Kereis.
And Ron was his son.
“Follow me.”
They moved somewhere secluded, away from other eyes.
Gurter faced Ron.
“Your name is Ron, right?”
“Yes.”
He looks just like his father…
Gurter swallowed the words and spoke differently.
“Fine. I will take you under my wing.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I’ll train you and make you strong.”
“……”
Ron let go of his aching head and looked up at him.
Curiosity filled his red eyes.
The boy had never seen someone so large in his whole life—not even in the slave markets.
This man claimed to be his master and hit him right away.
Yet strangely… Ron did not dislike him.
Every other person who had hit him had done so with genuine hatred.
As if looking at a disgusting insect.
But this man wasn’t like that.
Yes, he hit him with a staff—
but he watched him carefully, sometimes even smirking.
And he called him Ron.
“Why do I… need to become strong?”
Ron asked innocently.
Gurter closed his mouth, then slowly opened it.
“Because only the strong can protect the people they love.”
“People I love?”
“Yes. Someone so precious you want to protect them with your life.”
“……”
Ron seemed deeply lost in thought.
Gurter smirked mischievously.
“Do you want to go back to being that pitiful slave child?”
“……”
“If so, then fine. Suit yourself.”
Gurter turned away—
but then felt a strong tug on his clothes.
He laughed inwardly.
Yes. That’s the Kereis bloodline.
He lowered himself until their faces were close.
Staring intensely into Ron’s red eyes, he said:
“Unless you possess the will to survive, you won’t endure real training. Do you want this?”
“…Yes.”
“I asked if you WANT to become strong!”
“Yes! I want to protect! I want to become strong!”
Seeing Ron clench his small fist, Gurter let out a short laugh.
“Good. I don’t know who you want to protect, but I’ll make you strong enough to do it.”
With his huge hand, large enough to crush the boy, Gurter gripped Ron’s shoulder.
Opening a child’s heart was no easy task—
any normal kid would’ve burst into tears just from his presence.
But this child was Ron Kereis.
Even without remembering his bloodline, his entire being screamed “Kereis.”
“With that resolve, you’ll go through brutal training. Can you endure it?”
“Yes! I can!”
Ron looked up at him and repeated the words engraved in his heart.
Someone you want to protect more than anything.
If you’re strong, you can protect the ones you love.
He wanted strength.
He desperately wanted it.
“Of course, before that… I should fill up that empty heart of yours first.”
Ron blinked, confused.
Gurter bent down and hugged him tightly.
“Ugh! I—I can’t breathe!”
Gurter loosened his grip slightly.
Ron gasped like a tiny bird catching air.
“There. Better?”
“…Yes.”
Tap, tap.
His massive hand patted Ron’s back.
Not knowing what to do, Ron fiddled with the fabric of his clothes.
A deep, gravelly voice murmured near his ear:
“You’ll become incredibly strong. No one will be able to stand against you. But your heart… will remain warm and kind. I promise that as your master.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“……”
Ron felt his eyes sting.
A sniffle escaped his nose.
He rubbed at his eyes with small, trembling hands.
He had never heard words like these before.
They sank straight into his heart—
and broke the dam.
He began sobbing with little hiccups.
“Go on. Cry. Letting your tears out is important too.”
Gurter didn’t panic; he gently comforted the pitiful child.
You’ve suffered so much, haven’t you?
You don’t have to anymore.
Those who endure deep pain and sorrow are always rewarded with happiness someday.
As soon as I finished my walk, I ran straight to the office.
Britta had told me the Duke—no, Father—was looking for me.
A letter. It had to be a letter.
Without thinking of noble etiquette, I burst through the office door—
“Duke—no, Father!”
I froze in place.
Because before me was a scene I had never imagined.
The Duke sat on the sofa—
and little Crimu was sitting on his lap.
They looked like the warmest father and child in the world.
“……?”
And beside them was an even stranger sight—
The butler, Devuier, stood next to them with little Roro cradled in his arms.
He was stroking the puppy’s fluffy fur gently.
What was this—
some panel from a wholesome family manga?
Like “Diary of Handsome Men Raising a Child.”
Still, both greeted me properly.
“Anne, come in.”
“Welcome, Lady Anne.”
“Nuna!”
Crimu beamed at me, and I waved to him before sitting down.
The Duke looked happy—but also faintly worried.
I immediately opened the letter he handed me.
[Ran, hello?
I got a name. Ron.
The name you gave me.]
I lifted my gaze.
The Duke was watching me.
“Ron didn’t remember his real name. This is my fault. I called him Ron when I met him in the cave.”
“…I figured as much when I read the letter.”
“What do we do now?”
“There’s no choice but to let him use the name Ron. Instead, I assigned him a master so he can grow stronger faster. The sooner he becomes strong, the sooner he can return.”
I continued reading.
[I’m doeng training. Ever day I work hard.]
The crooked, clumsy letters made my chest tighten.
But he had definitely improved since our earlier exchanges.
And… he was training.
The Duke spoke as he watched me.
“He must’ve treasured his memory of you. Choosing the name you called him—it shows how deeply it stayed in him.”
His expression contained both sorrow and pride.
“He must’ve learned many new words. And this training… what kind is it?”
I looked at him curiously.
The Duke smirked.
“I found him a very strong master. The boy will endure well.”
After a pause, he let out a deep breath, calming his emotions.
