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chapter 25
The party had begun.
The victory celebration was lively and boisterous.
Huge pigs and cows were roasted whole, and troll meat—considered a delicacy—was piled high.
Honey wine, a specialty of the North, was brought in large quantities and distributed evenly to everyone.
“Meat! Wow, this is amazing!”
“Right? Northern trolls are tender, and the juices just pour out. And no matter how long you cook it, it never gets tough.”
“Ooh…”
Steak that never cooled and stayed medium-rare forever. This was truly extraordinary meat.
Lawrence dunked a large chunk into a special sauce and took a big bite.
Juices burst forth, and the aroma spread fragrantly.
Even on Earth, he hadn’t tasted steak like this. And to have it here, in one of the harshest lands—the North—it was almost worth all the hardships endured to get this moment.
“Mm! Just as I thought!”
“Hey, you’ll get fat if you just eat meat, you know?”
“Nah, you need to eat a lot while growing. It all goes into height, right?”
“R-Really?”
Loria teased lightly, but when the conversation turned to height, her eyes lit up. Objectively, Loria wasn’t short, but sandwiched between Leila and Lawrence, she looked like the youngest. Subtly conscious of this, Lawrence tore some meat for her.
“Eat well and grow~.”
“I’m your sister, you know—!”
“What? Just having fun? Loria! Cheers!”
Leila suddenly approached, offering honey wine to Loria.
Lawrence intercepted her cup.
“Ah-ah, we’re still minors. That’s censored.”
“Oh? Really? But this much should be fine, right?”
“Nope. You can drink something else instead.”
“Okay, then bring something else. Wait!”
Leila disappeared again, and this time, Lake approached.
Having followed the Duke on a mission, he returned safely and seemed proud. Sitting next to Lawrence, he spoke warmly.
“May I speak freely? I’ve heard from my father—you treated my sister.”
“Please, make yourself comfortable. You’re only a year older than me, Lake.”
“Thanks. Lawrence, you can call me ‘brother’ too.”
“Will do. No injuries, right?”
Lake nodded. Then he lightly touched Lawrence’s forearm.
A natural gasp escaped him. Having been bedridden for quite some time due to a curse, Lake had a sullen expression.
“I couldn’t do much on the mission. I lost a lot of muscle and couldn’t exert much. But you… even if you weren’t a mage, I’d believe you’re a warrior. Amazing.”
“Haha, I didn’t have to study separately, after all.”
“I almost want to train together. Can you teach me how you built such muscles?”
Another muscle enthusiast? Lawrence gave a brief explanation.
The two then engaged in an in-depth conversation about building muscles, while Loria watched quietly, smiling.
‘Impressive.’
Though she teased him daily, Lawrence’s abilities were beyond amazing—almost miraculous. Even the family would have to acknowledge him now. Without a Mana Lord, Lawrence could truly become a great mage.
“I wonder how the Duke evaluated you.”
“My father? He surely praised me greatly.”
“Oh, Princess.”
“Princess? Just call me a friend. Oh~ look at that smooth skin. Can I touch it?”
Flustered, Loria nodded, and her cheeks were gently squished. The small incident nearly triggered magic from her younger sibling’s laughter, but it was minor.
Everyone was enjoying themselves when Lawrence noticed someone.
‘Why is that person sulking again?’
Freya, the Phoenix Mage Corps leader, was quietly sipping honey wine in a corner. She stared blankly into a small fire, clearly troubled.
Lawrence excused himself and approached her.
“What are you doing here alone?”
“Ah, Prince.”
“Everyone else is having fun. You seem to have much on your mind.”
“Indeed. I’ve been thinking about what research to continue at the Mage Tower and how I should interact with you. And…”
Freya hesitated, then confided a doubt regarding Medea.
“My Lady made a proposal, but I can’t remember why, and why I agreed. I’ve been reconsidering carefully.”
“Hmm… honestly, the Duchess doesn’t see me favorably.”
Freya only nodded silently. Being a legitimate heir, few would favor Lawrence, a bastard. Successfully completing missions would only intensify her hostility.
“I also know she ordered your elimination.”
“…”
“Freya, think carefully why she involved a neutral commander.”
“Perhaps… she intends to cut off loose ends.”
It wasn’t a hard guess. Freya’s pupils trembled slightly. Lawrence offered her some well-cooked meat.
“See you at the Mage Tower. I’ll keep my promise about the research.”
“Thank you.”
Perhaps her research could aid in artifact creation. Knowledge grows through exchange, and Freya’s research would surely influence Lawrence. She accepted the meat, lost in thought again.
Lawrence left quietly, not disturbing her. Tomorrow, he’d send the final dispatch, and a report would follow. Things were about to get interesting.
#2
The Montemer family.
Finally, evaluations from all Northern families arrived.
Montemer’s evaluation was, of course, top-notch. True to their magical prestige, the letters detailed their diverse contributions, big and small.
Edward reviewed all letters, waiting for the final dispatch.
Flap—.
As if drawn by mana, the dispatch arrived. Edward received the letter as it unfurled.
‘I wonder how Duke Lancel evaluated my children.’
Edward slowly read the letter. It included assessments of Loria, Lawrence, the Phoenix Mage Corps, and the Alzeras Knights.
The letter contained both displeasing points and noteworthy achievements.
‘Alzeras betrayed us, and Lawrence pledged eternal friendship to the Duke…’
A faint smile crept across Edward’s lips. He had waited a long time. Many things would soon change.
‘Anis, your wish is finally beginning to come true.’
In this time when the Guardian’s curse weighed heavily on fate and life, the time to correct the distortion had come.
Flame of blue mana consumed the letter.
Edward gazed at the drifting clouds, gauging the time. He realized preparations needed to accelerate. The upcoming events were clear in his mind, and time was shorter than he expected. He waited for his children to arrive—they would soon face trials again.
‘Grow endlessly.’
His eyes stared endlessly toward the horizon.
#3
A few days passed.
Today was an honorable day—the return of those sent to the North.
Though their travel times varied, it was customary for everyone to gather at the Montemer family home.
Those who arrived first would rest; those farther away would hurry. The longest journey was, of course, Lawrence’s party to the Gaudi family.
Medea comforted those who arrived early, anxiously awaiting the rest.
“Do you think he survived?”
“Even if he did, did he do well?”
“Don’t act rashly.”
“Yes, Mother.”
The immature hope that Lawrence had failed was silenced as Medea kept her gaze on the grand hall’s entrance. Would her wishes be fulfilled? She held her skirts tightly, enduring the dull wait.
“The group that went to the Gaudi family for the suppression mission has returned!”
Finally, the awaited group appeared. Everyone held their breath.
In the distance, flags appeared—Montemer and Gaudi emblems fluttering proudly.
The bearer was none other than an eleven-year-old boy with dark red eyes: Lawrence Montemer.
The Duke’s fur-lined cloak and their banners.
“That… that is!?”
“No way—!”
The heads of families who had come to see the mission results were astonished. What had this young master brought?
A confident smile, slightly taller stature, and especially—the Gaudi family flag and Duke’s cloak. The shock was immense.
“That’s definitely the Duke’s cloak, right?”
“Yes. The lingering mana, the still-glossy fur—it’s black, yet shines silver. That cloak is his symbol.”
“How could he….”
The most shocked was Medea. Her hands trembled, pupils dilated. Why… that brat!
“What on earth did he do…!”
All eyes on Lawrence and his party, standing proudly. The Alzeras Knights were absent, but that didn’t matter now. Lawrence’s clear voice echoed in the hall.
“Lawrence Montemer, the Phoenix Mage Corps, and Loria Montemer have completed the suppression mission and returned safely.”
“Well done.”
Rumbles, like celebratory fireworks, echoed Edward’s voice. Everyone frowned, but Lawrence kept smiling.
Then someone questioned:
“But where are the Alzeras Knights?”
“Yes. If they didn’t come, it isn’t a complete return.”
“Surely you didn’t abandon the knights?”
Clearly, they wanted to find fault. Lawrence said nothing, looking at Edward. No need for long explanations—the head of the family’s declaration would suffice.
Edward stood, voice full of mana:
“Listen.”
“……”
“The Alzeras Knights and Commander Demian attempted a contract with a dark mage to become Death Knights. Lawrence, Loria, and the Phoenix Mage Corps assisted the Duke in preventing this. If there’s doubt, visit Duke Lancel yourself.”
No one could refute this. Lawrence, watching Edward’s unwavering stance, felt ‘truly fatherly’ for the first time.
Meanwhile, Medea’s face contorted beyond expression.
“We’ve returned safely.”
Lawrence’s smile shone brighter than ever.
