Published: January 13, 2026
【Murcia】
"...Ugh, I’m so anxious."
I haven’t been able to sleep properly for the past week. My stomach hurts, so I can hardly eat, and I have no strength in my body. If this march wasn’t by carriage, I probably would have collapsed.
Looking out the carriage window at the passing scenery, I noticed that the view has clearly changed from the highway. Compared to three days ago, the forest has grown denser, and the mountains have become more rugged.
The depth of the forest and the steepness of the mountains tacitly convey the threat of demonic beasts residing there. It feels as if the land itself is rejecting human settlement as premature.
"...In a place like this... Van must have been just as uneasy."
My chest aches when I think about Van, who was almost disowned by our father and cast out. At that time, I could only give him the money I had on hand, but I wish I had asked father to assign him attendants, even if it was a struggle.
For a moment, such sympathetic thoughts crossed my mind, but then I remembered that I myself am now in that position and let out a sigh.
"...But Van managed to slay a dragon and gain a noble title in such an environment."
No matter how much I think about it, it seems impossible for me. Even if the dragon were immobilized, slaying it would be difficult. I can only see a future where I exhaust my mana using magic until I’m left hopeless.
Van has been smart since he was little. Surely, he must have devised brilliant strategies for dragon slaying that I could never think of. Still, it must have been a harsh battle.
What can I do when I go to such a village?
As my anxiety deepened, I heard voices from outside.
"H-hey... that..."
"Did we take the wrong road...?"
Hearing the soldiers’ confused voices, I looked ahead. There, a huge building stood in front of us. It was square-shaped and looked quite large.
There was also a huge waterwheel—perhaps it was transporting water to the top floor of the building. From some windows on the lowest floor, white smoke-like wisps were rising here and there.
As we drew closer, I could see a castle wall like one in the capital city beyond the building. Why build a castle wall without defending the building first? Could it be that the threatening demonic beasts come from beyond that wall, so they built a sturdy wall on just one side?
My confused mind conjured all sorts of scenarios, but suddenly the carriage stopped, and a voice rang out from outside.
"I take it this is the procession of Marquis Jharpa Blu Ati Fertio! I am Dee, commander of Baron van nei fertio’s knight order! I welcome your party!"
It was a familiar voice. I couldn’t help but stick my head out of the carriage to see where the voice came from. Standing before the entrance of the large building near the waterwheel was a large man clad in armor. No doubt about it, it was Dee. Two young knights who looked familiar stood beside him.
Seeing Dee and the others looking well, I felt somewhat relieved. Then Espada and Til appeared from beyond them, followed by that former slave boy, and finally Van came into view.
"Van!"
Without realizing it, I called out. Leaning out of the carriage, I waved at Van, who happily waved back with a bright smile.
At first glance, he didn’t seem injured. Despite having slain a dragon, Dee, Espada, and Van all appeared unchanged.
"Brother Murcia."
Van called my name as he approached.
Father was still several hundred meters behind, amidst the ranks of the knight order. It would be a problem if Van, as the lord, greeted and welcomed me first.
To save father’s dignity, I hurried back inside the carriage.
"V-Van... go ahead and greet father first. I’ll talk with you later."
I called out from inside the carriage, but Van casually grabbed both sides of the carriage window and poked his face inside. Startled, I froze as Van mischievously curled the corner of his mouth.
"Brother, it’s been a while. Thanks to you, the territory has grown stronger. Honestly, I wanted to show you first."
Hearing that from Van, I choked back tears that threatened to spill. The help I offered might only have made Van’s future harsher. I had thought that over and over. So, hearing words of gratitude from him brought tears to my eyes.