Chapter 36

Avoiding the shock of the branch commander, I confronted him with the information I got from Kicks.

"Branch Commander, are you going back to the 'capital'? And in your place, Captain Sarell is coming here, right?"

Saying it all at once, the branch commander stopped and looked surprised.

"Why do you know about this?"

"I'm a spirit, so I know everything."

I claimed the omnipotence of spirits to ensure Kicks wouldn't be blamed for the information.

"I want you to stay as the branch commander here. I don't want anyone else."

"Mil..."

"Do you know? Captain Sarell, despite his 'cheerful appearance,' is apparently a nasty person. I can't forgive that."

If he's going to wear his hair in a 7-3 part and round glasses, which is a somewhat challenging look, I hope he has an interesting personality.

"Mil..."

At first, the branch commander looked touched, but now he called my name with a deflated voice.

"Captain Sarell is indeed hoping for an assignment to this northern fortress. However, I still want to work here. I like the environment and the subordinates here, and I can gain experiences that I wouldn't get in the capital, where there are many collaborators."

He softened his gaze but quickly turned serious again.

"That's why I want Captain Sarell to have the same experience, but at the same time, I don't think I can entrust this fortress to him. Since our backgrounds are similar, I know Captain Sarell to some extent, but I think he would have a disastrous compatibility with the knights here."

I almost laughed at the word "disastrous," but the branch commander looked very serious. He must be genuinely worried about the relationship between the knights and Captain Sarell.

Indeed, the knights here have a 'strength-first' attitude, where they respect strong people. If a commander who isn't strong but acts important were to come, it would be obvious that the branch wouldn't hold together. The branch commander seems to be concerned about this.

"Anyway, why is there talk of you leaving here?"

I thought it might be because of a fixed term, but apparently, that wasn't the case. The branch commander explained:

"There are two reasons. One is that the prince requested that I return to the royal guard. I've done it before."

I knew the branch commander and the eldest prince of this country were childhood friends, but I didn't know he had been a royal guard before coming here. However, I understand why the prince wants him as a guard. It's better to have someone you trust by your side.

"The other reason is that my father and brother, and of course my mother, have suggested that I return to the capital. They are worried about me."

The branch commander laughed in a troubled way.

"My father and brother, and of course my mother, are very anxious. Even though I'm not young anymore, they still see me as the 'youngest child.' They worry if I'm not suffering in the cold and remote northern fortress. Especially in winter, they worry if I can survive, and every early spring, I receive a letter asking if I'm 'still alive.'"

Sighing with a smile, the branch commander seemed to accept it. It's clear he's loved by his family, and it made my heart warm.

"Putting family aside... I can't ignore the prince's words. Supporting the prince is my ultimate goal. So, I intend to return to the capital someday. Being apart from Mil... I can't bear it, so I try not to think about it. But someday, I must achieve my goal."

"When? How many years from now?"

Feeling down, I leaned my nose toward the branch commander. I need to practice my teleportation to be able to go to him freely. The branch commander smiled quietly and said, "I don't know yet."

"But as I said, I don't intend to return to the capital now. I'm not strong enough to be the prince's guard. I want to train here. It might be difficult to surpass Grail, but I at least want to be on par with him. I'll consider returning to the capital after that."

"Grail?"

I tilted my head, wondering why his name came up, but then I saw the branch commander's embarrassed face and realized. Like many other knights in the northern fortress, the branch commander aims to match the strength of the one-eyed knight. He uses it as a benchmark to measure his own strength. When he feels he can stand shoulder to shoulder with the one-eyed knight, he might return to the capital with confidence.

"Keep this a secret, okay?"

The branch commander, worried about my loose lips, hurriedly tried to silence me.

"Leave it to me! So, Branch Commander, will you properly decline this time?"

Putting my front paws on the branch commander's knee to stand up, he nodded to reassure me.

"Yes. I'll tell the prince, my father and brother, and Captain Sarell and the commander."

The branch commander patted my head. The commander is the highest-ranking person in the knight corps, the general. He is currently heading to this northern fortress with a letter from the prince to the branch commander. He is expected to arrive around evening today. The branch commander intends to convey his desire to stay here to the commander first.

"Will the commander listen?"

"Probably. He knows I was restless in the capital."

Laughing modestly, he seemed to be self-deprecating. Hmm, I'm worried if the branch commander can do it alone. He seems a bit weak. The commander is staying at the fortress tomorrow, so I need to ask him not to change the branch commander here.

That night, after I had decided this on my own, while preparing to sleep in my den—my daily routine is to smooth out the dry grass on my bed for better comfort—my mother appeared in human form and faced me.

"Milfia, I have something to talk about."

When she said this in a serious tone, I thought, "I've heard this before."

Yes, it was when I was given a month of babysitting duty.

(I have a bad feeling...)

What will I be asked to do this time? Is Mother going to the capital again? With these thoughts, I looked up at her with anxiety.

"What is it... Mother?"

"You will have to stay alone for a while."

She started the conversation the same way as before. It was the first time I had to stay alone for more than a day, and I remember feeling very anxious.

But now, even if I'm given a month of babysitting duty, I can endure it. I'm not alone in my small world anymore. I can play with the one-eyed knights, Father, and Kugaru, so I won't feel lonely.

So, will it be a month again, or maybe two months? I'm three years old now, so I can handle it... but two months might be a bit too much. Not being able to see Mother for that long would be too sad. No, two months is impossible. Maybe a month and a half...

While I was thinking this, Mother spoke quietly.

"I have a favor to ask. I want you to go to the capital alone on an errand starting tomorrow."