Kazere Village

Gregory, whose personality was so closely copied that one couldn't deny he was his father's son. Hemingway wore a meaningful expression.

Feeling that he had been in the wrong, Hemingway did not probe further about the martial arts tournament and began to reproach himself. It was a markedly different attitude than usual.

"I may have given you such a momentous task without knowing anything at all... You've suffered because of this useless father... In the end, participating in the martial arts tournament was merely a temporary measure to prevent war, wasn't it..."

Gregory looked at Hemingway's forlorn demeanor and thought that he had succeeded in persuading him.

However, at the same time, seeing this unfamiliar side of Hemingway made Gregory's heart ache in some way.

Gregory soon realized the reason. Though Hemingway was not truly his father, the image overlapped with the father he'd had in his previous life.

Gregory's father in his previous life had never shown a weak side either, yet thinking that he must have had aspects like Hemingway caused Gregory's heart to hurt.

For those reasons, Gregory decided to encourage Hemingway.

"In the end, the outcome was good, wasn't it? As long as we keep quiet, no one else has to know of this."

He judged that if things could be buried, it would be best to do so quietly here. If the royal family were to learn of the event, Hemingway's position could also be in jeopardy, on the pretext that he had issued an order fraught with risk.

At those words, Hemingway lifted his head and looked at Gregory. Then he asked again.

"The outcome was good, you say... Are you trying to persuade me to bury this incident? Hmm... I suppose I haven't heard exactly how things ended to decide so hastily."

Gregory explained only the results—omitting all mention of the Stria group and the trap he had set.

He explained, of course, that no one had been hurt and that they had safely escorted honored guests from the neighboring Blandi Kingdom.

Hemingway welcomed the news enthusiastically. At this time, the need for capable people was greater than ever. The members of Radian's family were all individuals who could produce distinct results and become great assets.

Thanks to Gregory, Hemingway seemed to recover a bit.

"I see... Indeed, reporting this to the royal family would earn a favorable reply."

After seeing Hemingway's reaction, Gregory, feeling relieved, made a request.

"Therefore, I have something to ask. Please grant permission for them to settle in a village on the outskirts."

Hemingway nodded.

"That's only natural. I, as your father, will take responsibility and grant it. Come along for a moment."

Hemingway led Gregory to his office, where he wrote two letters on the spot and handed them to him. He also included insignias signifying citizenship in Arme to be given to Radian's family.

One letter was addressed to the chief of the village where Radian's family would stay, and the other was meant for Walter.

Hemingway clearly explained the origin of those letters.

"One is for your request, and the other is to state that from now on, you needn't always seek your father's permission."

Gregory looked at Hemingway, wide-eyed at his words. Hemingway's words meant that he trusted Gregory enough that as long as Walter approved, Gregory would not cause any major trouble.

Now, if he only secured Walter's permission, Gregory could act freely, and only in the case of failure to win Walter's approval would he need to consult Hemingway.

Gregory felt secretly pleased but suppressed the smile rising to his lips, wanting to maintain his dignity.

"Thank you. I will relay them at once."

Hemingway waved his hand as if to say Gregory could now leave.

"You may go."

Gregory gave a deep bow and left the office. Then, for the waiting family of Radian, he headed toward the outskirts of the village called Kazere where they were.

***

A shabby house that looked roughly assembled from planks. Surrounded by rice paddies and fields, in the midst of roughly grown weeds, the buzzing of insects resounded. Nevertheless, that was the chief's house in the village of Kazere.

Although the door was so thin it seemed like it would break, Gregory thought it best not to enter without permission and knocked carefully.

Creeeak—

Soon the door opened with a chilling creak. An old man, stooped over, emerged leaning on a cane.

"Who are you? You hardly look like someone who would visit this shabby village..."

Gregory immediately handed him the letter.

After receiving the letter, the old chief squinted and held it up to the light before showing a flustered expression.

"Wow, directly from the kingdom?"

Gregory waited patiently for the chief, who muttered once he understood.

"You must be referring to those who arrived recently. Understood. Thank you."

And so, Gregory notified the chief. As the letter explicitly forbade discussing its contents, he could prevent rumors from spreading in advance.

After the chief pointed him toward where Radian's family was, Gregory went there.

A wide river and tents pitched nearby.

Gregory met Vasili, who was just coming out of one of the tents, bowing his head.

"Did you succeed?"

At Vasili's question, Gregory nodded.

"Yes. Now you can live in Arme."

Gregory handed the insignia received from Hemingway to Vasili, and, quietly enjoying the atmosphere of the place, he suddenly asked something that had come to mind.

"By the way, why did you decide to settle here?"

Vasili replied as if it were obvious.

"For the time being, it's best not to attract attention."

That was true. If they tried to grow too quickly and acted openly, their identities would soon be exposed, which would immediately lead to war.

If they were captured as prisoners or couldn't escape in time, surviving would be impossible.

Still, Gregory's curiosity remained.

"I meant, why did you choose this particular place?"

"Do you really not know? Isn't it romantic and full of charm?"

"But... there are places far more beautiful than this."

"It's enough. This place is still the best for me. Not knowing how much longer I have, I just want to rest for a while breathing the fresh air and the scent of grass."

Gregory agreed with his sentiment. Just as he harbored attachments to Vatinocan, Vasili also had his own attachments.

At that moment, Radian cut in.

"How much longer? What do you mean, you're still perfectly healthy."

"......"

Gregory then inquired about their future plans.

"What are your plans from here on?"

Vasili answered immediately, as if he already had plans set.

"For now, I'll build a splendid house in the area, tend to a garden and farm, and try to heal my weary body and mind."

Radian agreed with Vasili.

"And once things have stabilized and the area is more developed, we'll gather those with a talent for battle and establish a new knight order to prepare for war."

Radian continued. He had seen Gregory's blank expression, sensing that Gregory was again lost in thought.

"Don't worry. Forming a new knight order will be after the rebuilding of the Zaikov family. I don't plan to ask for your help again."

He proclaimed his ambition with confidence.

If someday the Zaikov family shakes the economy of Arme, such ambition would be hard to ignore.

At that point, the Arme Kingdom itself might come asking them to create a knight order.

'I see... There certainly is a need to prepare for Blandi Kingdom.'

Gregory pondered their words deeply. As they said, the Stria group would have quieted down for now, but with both the Laderios and Zaikov families destroyed, the Blandi Kingdom was now in utter chaos.

Though rebellion triggered by people's hunger from failed trade had been suppressed, the economic damage was now so severe that everyone was falling into confusion.

The citizens, who had only just been calmed, were bound to rise up again soon. In times like these, when survival is hard, a collapsed economy is not easily revived.

In conclusion, there was no time to waste. Before things grew even harsher, it was possible that the Blandi Kingdom would choose the extreme measure of starting a war itself.

'Hmm... Just when I thought I'd finally calmed things down, the situation only keeps getting more entangled.'

TL's Corner:No matter how hard Gregory tries to stop the war, it is always looming over their head...Now, he needs to take care of the repurcussions of his actions with the Dawn Knight Order...

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