Chapter 39

"Looks like he's gone."

As he watched the white fox cub leave, Grail chuckled and muttered.

It was quite painful to act indifferent towards Mil, who clung to him.

"Well, I feel pretty bad for Mil, but it was really interesting."

"She was cute."

Kicks and Tina also said with a relaxed smile.

"We should set off before we lose sight of Mil. Is the sub-commander still around?"

"--- Your sub-commander is right here."

In response to Kicks' words, a tall man appeared from behind the building.

He was in his mid-fifties, with a stern face and thick eyebrows, and his short-cropped hair was sandy.

He also had a short sandy beard and age-appropriate wrinkles, but his well-built muscles gave him a youthful appearance.

He had the presence of a commander who leads the knight corps.

"Commander, you were there. And the sub-commander too."

Grail turned around and said.

Cromwell, the sub-commander of this fort, was being dragged out from behind the building by Gauss, who had his arm around his shoulder.

The difference in arm strength between the slender Cromwell and the bear-like Gauss was obvious.

However, even without that, Cromwell seemed to have no strength to resist. He must have been watching Mil with the rabbit backpack, as he closed his eyes and seemed to be replaying the scene in his mind, being dragged along by Gauss.

Grail, Kicks, and Tina all pretended not to notice Cromwell's state.

"Was that small one a child of the snow spirit? I heard from the royal family, and it was indeed a cute one."

Gauss laughed heartily. If Mil had been there, she would have been frightened, thinking it sounded like a bear roaring.

"So, has the discussion with the commanders concluded? The conclusion is the same as last night?"

When Grail asked, Gauss nodded his thick neck slightly.

"Yes, Cromwell wishes to continue his mission here, and I think this place and the people here suit him. Thanks to that little fox, he seems more lively than when he was in the capital. However, the prince's wishes are also a factor, and Sarell won't give in easily. He's a troublesome man, indeed."

While revealing his true thoughts, Gauss showed a piece of paper.

"I've already told Grail, but this is a letter from the prince. The prince wishes to speak directly with Cromwell. Therefore, Cromwell will have to return to the capital with me."

Gauss put away the letter with the royal seal and patted Cromwell's shoulder firmly.

"When you return to the capital, you must talk not only to the prince but also to Sarell. I want you to settle things with him so I don't have to be there. You two should come to an agreement."

"Commander, you just don't want to face Captain Sarell, do you?"

Cromwell said with a sigh.

Gauss was not good with Sarell.

Although he cared for Cromwell as a subordinate and would support him if necessary, he found it troublesome to deal with Sarell until that moment came.

"I just don't get along with that guy."

Gauss made a bitter face, similar to Kicks when he talked about Sarell to Mil.

Gauss, who had risen through the ranks to become a commander, was a broad-minded person who didn't care about small things.

However, what Gauss saw as a strength, Sarell saw as a weakness—being rough and careless. Sarell, who was intelligent but meticulous and persistent, had a completely opposite personality, so it was inevitable that they would clash.

Sarell didn't openly challenge Gauss, the commander, but in the main corps' meetings, he would nitpick at Gauss's rough plans, which had become a regular occurrence.

"Still the same, huh."

Grail laughed at the childish frown on Gauss's face.

Grail had little interaction with Sarell and didn't know much about him.

However, the few times they had met, Sarell had treated Grail as if he didn't even exist.

Grail, like Gauss, was a man who had risen through the ranks, and his rough appearance might have made Sarell dislike him.

Gauss looked at Grail and said,

"Unless something happens to change Sarell's impression, we'll probably never get along."

He said it in a somewhat childish tone and frowned, and Kicks nodded in agreement, as if to say, "I understand."

"So, about that little fox, you're going to the capital to deliver a letter from Snowlea, right?"

"Yes, Snowlea didn't give many details yesterday, but from what Mil said, it seems that's the case. I don't know the contents of the letter, though..."

Grail answered, recalling yesterday's events.

The humanoid Snowlea had quietly appeared at the fort after Mil, who had come to play at noon, had left.

There, she had asked Grail and the others to escort Mil to the capital.

"I'm worried about Milfia going alone. Such a lovely child walking on the road might be kidnapped. I want you to follow Milfia and protect her in my place."

The beautiful snow spirit made this request without asking about Grail and the others' schedules.

However, Grail, who was used to the spirits' selfishness, immediately agreed, saying, "Understood. I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"You can just make the necessary arrangements. I flew to the human king's place before coming here and got his permission."

"Permission?"

"Permission for you, as a knight, to prioritize Milfia over your duties at the fort. You can't move freely without permission from your superiors, right? The king also said you can take a few skilled people with you."

Grail was slightly surprised by Snowlea's proactive actions.

"What are you planning? The capital is too far for Mil. She might have to pass through crowded towns, and exposing her to unfamiliar human eyes is something you would dislike the most."

When Grail asked, Snowlea lightly covered her mouth with her sleeve and stared at the ground expressionlessly.

"If I send someone nearby, they'll come back immediately."

"... What do you mean?"

"It's none of your business as a human. I intend to send Milfia off early tomorrow morning, so I'm counting on you. I trust you to some extent."

Snowlea then added before returning to the mountains,

"Oh, by the way. Don't come up the mountain for a while from tomorrow. Don't go to the altar at the foot of the mountain either. If you can't keep this, I can't guarantee your safety. Tell the townspeople the same. We won't need offerings for a while."

Although Grail didn't understand what Snowlea was planning, he couldn't ask further if she didn't want to explain. Pushing too hard might anger her, and she could cause a blizzard out of season.

Snowlea wouldn't attack Grail and the others unless provoked, but talking to a spirit with a different sense of perception required more caution than talking to royalty.

"So, Grail, you're going to the capital with those two, right?"

Gauss called out to Grail, who was lost in thought.

"Yes, Kicks and Tina. Since the sub-commander and the commander are also going to the capital, we'll go as a group of five."

Grail glanced at Cromwell, who nodded deeply. He was also concerned about Mil.

Going to the capital with the cute little fox was definitely more fun than going with the bear-like Gauss.

"That means we'll be the sub-commander's escort and Mil's guard. But if both the sub-commander and the deputy are absent, who will be in charge of the fort?"

Kicks folded his arms behind his head and asked, and Gauss answered.

"Don't worry. I've brought Vista and Orpheus. Even a young guy like you should have heard of them. Vista is older than me but is a capable old knight who has been a sub-commander before. Orpheus also has ample experience and skills. They are the right people to entrust the fort to."

"That's good to hear! The knights here might do something crazy without the sub-commander and deputy."

"Are you saying that, Kicks? You're the one who might do something crazy."

As Tina pointed out, Cromwell took the reins of his horse.

"Are the preparations complete? Then let's set off quickly."

To avoid drawing too much attention, Cromwell wrapped a plain-colored cloak over his blue knight's uniform, and Grail, Kicks, and Tina also put on similar cloaks.

Gauss seemed to have already prepared to return to the capital.

"We need to catch up with Mil before we lose sight of her."

Grail mounted his horse gracefully and said.

Thus, the four from the northern fort set off with Commander Gauss.