Chapter 10
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to accomplish it.”
Evelyn, who had come down from three days of training in the snowy mountains, lied smoothly and expressed her gratitude.
She had hunted monsters by following the instructions he had given. Fighting monsters was different from sparring with knights.
I feel stronger now.
She couldn’t help but smile with pride.
“It seems you’ve achieved something. I’m glad to hear that.”
Elliot naturally escorted her.
“Thanks to you, I was able to develop real combat sense.”
Evelyn couldn’t hide her excitement as she recalled the feeling of cutting down monsters in the snowy mountains.
If I come to the North, I’ll be able to keep fighting strong opponents like that, right? The thought that she could continue growing stronger made her heart soar.
“Will you return to the capital immediately?”
“Yes. I need to check on my brother.”
She wanted to see that her brother had woken up safely. The goddess hadn’t said that the evil god would be resurrected immediately.
Maybe there’s still a bit of time.
Evelyn fidgeted with her fingers and glanced at Elliot.
“I anticipated that, so I prepared a teleportation circle in advance.”
“If it’s the one in Caderian, I can travel alone just fine.”
“Even riding without rest, it would take at least three days to reach Caderian.”
That’s why she’d been planning to switch horses along the way. They also needed to leave the Graham territory before the storms in the snowy mountains grew more intense.
“We’ll use a teleportation circle connected to the Magic Tower. But, would it be alright if I accompanied you?”
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
Is this considered part of the sponsorship too? Receiving such excessive consideration after so long made her feel like she might get indigestion.
I’m not that great of a person… Ever since it was revealed that I’m the Hero, the Grand Duke’s overly respectful attitude made it hard to know how to respond.
“Of course, I don’t mind. Rather, I should thank you for going this far for me.”
“Let’s say it’s my passion for nurturing talent, so please don’t worry.”
He’d already thought that far ahead?
“To learn swordsmanship from me, you’ll probably need to join the Northern Knights. Do you think the Count will allow it?”
“If I tell Father the truth, he’ll gladly send me.”
Even if he didn’t, she had planned to come North for her brother’s sake. During her three days in the snowy mountains, Evelyn had reflected on her role as the Hero.
And on what she could do for her brother.
For her brother, who had been asleep for fifteen years, to regain power in the family, it would be better if she stepped aside.
Rather than have her newly awakened brother constantly compared to her, it would be better for him to regain his strength and reclaim his rights as the firstborn.
Besides, just as the Grand Duke had said, it was also appealing to prepare for the resurrection of the evil god with his help in the North.
If she stayed in the territory, she’d have more opportunities to climb the snowy mountains and grow stronger, faster.
Accepting the Grand Duke’s offer was also the right path for the Empire.
Not to dismiss knights from other regions, but there was a clear difference in skill compared to the Northern Knights who fought monsters directly.
To prepare for the resurrection of the evil god, the overall level of the Empire’s military had to be raised.
The Grand Duke’s help was essential.
She still didn’t understand why the Emperor was wary of the North, but even if he found them unpleasant, he would have to acknowledge their strength.
If the North fell, the Empire would fall too.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes. And you, Your Grace?”
“I finished earlier as well. Let’s head to the capital immediately.”
Elliot guided her to the place where the teleportation circle was located. The moment Evelyn opened the door, she gasped at the sight of the enormous magic circle.
“This is the biggest teleportation circle I’ve ever seen.”
Though she had visited the Magic Tower often, even there she had never seen one this large.
“The mana cost on the sending side is greater, so it has to be this large,”
explained the mage with a bow after Evelyn’s comment. Then, as he activated the circle, he spoke into a communication stone.
“This is Philian of the Graham Duchy. Two users for the teleportation circle: Duke Elliot Graham and Lady Evelyn Barrett.”
A response came from the other side.
“You may proceed. Have a pleasant journey.”
Evelyn wanted to say it wasn’t a “journey,” but the teleportation circle activated before she could speak.
“Welcome to the Magic Tower.”
When they opened their eyes, a mage from the Magic Tower welcomed them. Evelyn ignored the mage’s eager eyes directed at the Grand Duke and quickly moved forward.
“The Grand Duke has arrived in the capital.”
At the imperial mage’s report, the Emperor’s brow twitched. Normally, he wouldn’t be informed of every noble’s comings and goings, but the movements of a major figure like the Grand Duke warranted attention.
“They say he came with Lady Evelyn Barrett and looked to be in a great hurry.”
“Lady Barrett, hmm…”
He had sent someone to the Count’s family to verify the rumor that she had recently become a Sword Master.
It had been a headache for the Count for years since his eldest child suddenly collapsed over a decade ago.
“Did the Grand Duke come alone?”
“Yes. Some attendants came with him, but they don’t seem to be knights.”
Hmm.
At the mage’s words, the Emperor stroked his chin. He had already been uneasy about repeatedly rejecting requests for reinforcements from the North.
Did Lady Barrett find some medicinal herb in the snowy mountains? After dismissing the mage, the Emperor sank into thought.
The Grand Duke’s sudden movement seemed suspicious no matter how he looked at it. Perhaps he had made a deal with the Barrett family—herbs in exchange for knights?
That seemed plausible.
Since the imperial family refused to help, the Grand Duke may have been looking for another house to assist him.
Still, something felt off. The Emperor couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it.
With a snap of his fingers, a shadowy figure appeared before him.
“Investigate the Barrett family’s activities. Track all their dealings with the Duchy.”
Once the shadow disappeared, the Emperor hesitated for a moment before picking up a sheet of parchment. He wasn’t thrilled, but it was polite to at least meet someone who had traveled so far.
Though he disliked making the first move, sometimes the curious one had to dig the well first.
The Emperor penned a letter subtly requesting the Grand Duke to visit the palace to discuss the issue of reinforcements.
“Welcome.”
The Barrett estate was in an uproar, hosting the Grand Duke who had returned with Evelyn. Count Barrett greeted him nervously.
“Thank you for your hospitality despite the sudden visit.”
“I’ll go see my brother first.”
Evelyn, anxious to check on him, bowed politely and quickly disappeared.
“My lady.”
Standing outside Leonel’s room was Tommy. The moment he saw Evelyn, he frowned and opened the door reluctantly.
“Go on in.”
As soon as Evelyn stepped inside, the door shut behind her.
“Evelyn! My sweet girl!”
“Brother?!”
The moment she entered, strong arms swept her up in an embrace. Evelyn’s eyes went wide as she looked at the man hugging her.
“It’s me.”
She saw violet hair like her own, and bright golden eyes like lemons. His gaze was clear, and his body… solid?
“Your body! What happened?! You were skin and bones—how did this happen?!”
Forgetting she should keep her voice down, Evelyn frantically looked over her brother.
“I’m fully healed. I don’t know why, but my height and muscles are all back. No—better than before, actually.”
Becoming the Hero was the right decision.
Evelyn clapped a hand over her mouth, overwhelmed. If her brother had grown up without collapsing, would he have looked like this?
Tears began to stream slowly down her cheeks.
It was the right choice.
Just as she promised, she would give everything to defeat the evil god. Better to give her life than to see her brother fall again.
“How did you manage to wake me up?”
Leonel gently wiped away her falling tears with his large hand.
“First, have this, Brother.”
After crying for a while, Evelyn wiped her face with the towel Tommy handed her, then took an herb out of her subspace pouch.
“Is that… a weed?”
“This might look like nothing, but it’s a famous herb from the snowy mountains.”
“Oh, I heard from our parents. So this is the reason our family is receiving support from the Duchy?”
Evelyn nodded.
The official reason was that the Duchy wanted to support a talented girl capable of climbing the snowy mountains alone to gather herbs.
So even though it wasn’t a legendary herb, she brought back something to use as a token.
Leonel took the herb with a slightly guilty expression.
