SML Ch 41

Chapter 41

After safely returning to the castle, Reynald gathered the young men and a few residents who were still awake and explained his situation to them. After listening quietly to his long explanation, Volant hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“So, uh… to sum it up in one sentence… you’re saying the lord has been slacking off, and those folks came here to drag him back?”

“Slacking off? I clearly quit my job and retired! My successor has already been appointed! But suddenly, they’ve gone back on their word and started saying something else entirely!”

Reynald almost raised a hand to smack Volant’s back, but when he saw the lingering bruise near the youth’s eye, he held himself back. Moreover, Volant wasn’t the only one misunderstanding the situation. Judging from the strange looks on the other young men’s faces as they glanced between Reynald and the princes, they were probably entertaining similar misunderstandings.

“Anyway, these gentlemen will be staying here just for tonight and leaving tomorrow. They’re truly honored guests, so we must treat them with proper courtesy befitting their status.”

“I believe there’s been some misunderstanding, Sir Reynald. We never promised to return tomorrow. His Majesty the King has ordered us to bring you back to the royal capital without fail….”

“Are you not understanding what I’m trying to say, Prince Arun?”

Just leave already, would you? I even saved your lives—can’t you at least listen to what I’m saying? Reynald shot Arun a subtle glare to convey that sentiment, but the prince only lifted his chin proudly and met Reynald’s eyes head-on.

At least Serna seemed to understand Reynald’s intentions, silently observing from the middle. Reynald even thought that if Serna had come alone, he might have been able to talk him into leaving after a proper conversation. Of course, Serna had never once succeeded in breaking Arun’s stubbornness before, so it wasn’t like that would help right now.

“Having experienced it firsthand, I understand now. This territory is absurdly dangerous, and it’s no place for someone like you, Sir Reynald. If you refuse to come back with us, not only His Majesty but I as well will remain burdened with constant worry.”

“And you dare talk of danger in front of me, Your Highness? This land holds no red dragons or hydras, and I have spent countless years subjugating monsters. This much is nothing to me.”

“But you yourself admitted your strength has waned and that you can no longer fulfill the duties of the kingdom’s Knight Commander. How can we possibly leave someone in such a dangerous place?”

“I may have grown weaker, but not to that extent….”

“Which means, then, that you still have the capability to serve as the kingdom’s Knight Commander, doesn’t it? In that case, how can you allow such talent to rot away in this remote land? One way or another, there seems no reason for you not to return with us.”

This brat… he sure knows how to corner someone with words. Normally, he’s thoughtless about everything, but at times like this, his mind works sharply. Reynald swallowed a sigh, glaring at Arun.

He understood the reasoning, but that didn’t mean he wanted to return. At least here, unlike the royal capital that brimmed with endless headaches, life was comfortable.

Not every Knight Commander of the realm needed to be the strongest monster slayer. Simply living each day sincerely, helping the people of the fief in whatever way one could—that too was a meaningful life. Reynald had genuinely come to believe that over these past months.

Besides…

“……”

Reynald cast a sidelong glance at Alex, who had remained silent all this time. As expected, the youth’s reaction was different from the others.

Unlike the others, who seemed merely curious or entertained, Alex appeared faintly hurt, quietly averting his gaze. Just like when they had first met in the infirmary and he’d suddenly lashed out without reason.

Even now, Reynald hadn’t figured out why Alex acted so strangely toward him. He had thought that by becoming closer, he’d eventually find out naturally.

Not only Alex but Volant too wore a bittersweet expression. Reynald wasn’t eager to part ways with that young man either. Volant had thrown himself in front of him, stopping him when Reynald recklessly rushed out, saying, “You helped us, so of course we’ll help you.” That kind of sincerity wasn’t something Reynald wanted to just leave behind.

If possible, he wanted to grow closer to them. He didn’t want to just suddenly disappear.

‘Right, I was going to ask for some time, wasn’t I?’

After much pondering, Reynald finally recalled that thought. Arun might be stiff-necked, but he wasn’t so heartless that he would refuse such a small request. If Reynald explained that he needed a short respite, perhaps he could convince him…

But just then—

Serna, who had been silent, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Brother Arun?”

“What is it?”

“In my opinion, pressing the matter in such haste won’t help us. Even though we owe our lives to Sir Reynald, we’ve only been insisting on our own position. Isn’t that impolite?”

“Insisting on our position? Returning to the capital is for Sir Reynald’s own good as well—”

“Don’t you think Sir Reynald must have his own reasons for wanting to stay here? From what I see, both you and Sir Reynald are exhausted. Wouldn’t it be better to sleep on it and discuss again in the morning?”

“…Hmm.”

“And there’s also something I urgently need to speak with you about, brother. Just the two of us… later.”

Serna nudged Arun’s side subtly as he trailed off. After a moment of thought, Arun nodded. Reynald, puzzled, looked at Serna, who merely smiled faintly and shrugged as if to say, Just trust me.

‘Is he… trying to side with me?’

Reynald couldn’t guess his exact plan, but Serna’s suggestion was definitely welcome. After all, Reynald himself was exhausted from the day’s chaos. Perhaps after some rest, his head would clear and he could think about the future more calmly.

“Shall I show our guests to their rooms?”

At that moment, Heide interjected lightly, and Reynald nodded. Midnight was fast approaching, and the other youths clearly needed rest as well. They exchanged curious, slightly worried glances before dispersing.

“Good night, my lord.”

Volant spoke almost as if bidding a farewell and left the castle for his home. Lost in complicated thoughts, Reynald returned to his chamber and lay down.

He was so worn out that he should have fallen asleep immediately upon hitting the bed, yet oddly enough, sleep eluded him. He tossed and turned for a long while, lost in thought.

“My lord… I wonder if you’ll really end up leaving.”

The road from the castle to Volant’s house was fairly long. Unlike the other young men, whose homes lay in a different direction, Volant had to walk a good distance alone.

With the wyverns driven north, there weren’t any monsters roaming nearby now, so there wasn’t much danger. But traveling through the dark wilderness alone inevitably invited many thoughts.

‘Was what Alex said before not so wrong after all? That the lord would eventually leave anyway…’

Alex might be brusque, but he was sharp about things like this. Perhaps he had suspected it from the start: the new lord was certainly a good man, someone strangely magnetic, but for that very reason, he would never stay in a backwater village for long.

‘Who was it that said this? That good people always leave early.’

Perhaps it was some elder lamenting during his family’s funeral. Of course, it didn’t quite apply here—the lord wasn’t leaving because of misfortune but rather going somewhere better.

Volant didn’t know exactly what the royal capital was like, but from Reynald’s words, it was surely better than here. At least there were no monsters in the capital, so no sudden deaths from monster attacks. Volant had seen far too many people around him meet such fates.

‘Though my own family died for a different reason than monsters… well, that hardly matters now.’

Ever since that incident last year that claimed his family, Volant had lived like a hollow shell. The new lord was the one who had brought back small joys and liveliness to his days. With Reynald around, even the mundane routines of life had somehow become fun again.

The annual grain theft raids into the rat-people’s village, clutching their growling stomachs… the aimless sparring games with wooden swords when there was nothing else to do… even the spring-cleaning they’d always dreaded. He hadn’t realized those chores could be so enjoyable.

Being with Reynald somehow made all those trivial moments delightful. Every mundane, recurring event felt special. Surely the other youths felt the same.

‘At least we managed to help the lord in the end. If it had just been him helping us the whole time, it would’ve left a bad taste in my mouth.’

At least they had contributed in rescuing the princes. That alone was enough. Even if Reynald left with them tomorrow, Volant felt some closure.

‘Still… it’d be nice if he stayed longer.’

Only if Reynald himself wished it, of course. Or maybe he could just visit now and then. After all, the lords of neighboring villages didn’t stay in their castles year-round either—they lived in the capital and only visited the fiefs during the slower winter months.

Harboring such vague hopes, Volant trudged back toward his empty home.

Before opening his door, he turned back and glanced toward the castle. Above it, a slow-moving swarm of bats—creatures usually only seen in the Swine Forest—circled lazily before dispersing into the night sky.