Chapter 76

The next day, we were to return to the northern fortress.

As the sub-commander, the one-eyed knight, Kicks, and Tina were preparing to depart, the commander came to see us off.

"Stay well. Be careful on your way back, and don't get kidnapped."

Kugalugu and I were ruffled and tousled by the commander, making my hair a mess. It was rough.

Just as I was about to mount the leader with the one-eyed knight, another person appeared to see us off.

It was Captain Sarell.

"Captain Sarell"

The sub-commander moved away from Aylarx and headed towards him.

I, with my messy punk hair, ran up to Captain Sarell.

"Are you going back?"

"Yes."

Captain Sarell, adjusting his polished glasses, said coldly, and the sub-commander replied briefly.

However, the atmosphere was rather relaxed. They must both be feeling calm.

Especially Captain Sarell, who looked refreshed.

After a moment of silence, Captain Sarell spoke quietly.

"Actually, I've decided to step down as the commander of the main unit."

"Is that... because of this incident, was it decided by the higher-ups?"

When the sub-commander asked, slightly anxious, Captain Sarell chuckled softly.

"I decided to step down on my own. I thought the punishment from above would be lenient because of the influence of my brother, Duke Dairamon."

Captain Sarell said sarcastically.

"What do you intend to do after stepping down?"

"I plan to go to the Sixth Sub-unit."

"The Sixth... in the northwest of Cord? But that place is..."

I didn't understand what the sub-commander was surprised about, but I understood after hearing Kicks explain to Tina.

"The Sixth Sub-unit? Is there a problem with it?"

"Tina, you don't know the Sixth Sub-unit. It's said to have as harsh an environment as the northern fortress. Well, in terms of cold and the knights' roughness, we're way ahead. But it's a remote place, smaller than our fortress, and not as important because there are no spirits nearby. It's a 'poor fortress.'"

The sub-commander must have been surprised that the ambitious Captain Sarell, who was on the elite track, would volunteer for such a fortress.

Kicks also looked surprised as he explained.

However, Captain Sarell continued with a clear expression.

"The deputy commander of the Sixth is retiring, and the position is open, but no one from the main unit wants to go. So I volunteered."

"You'll be a deputy commander, not a sub-commander."

Captain Sarell, who would normally become a sub-commander in a regional unit, seemed to be taking the deputy position as a form of responsibility for this incident.

"The Sixth's sub-commander will probably find it difficult when I become the deputy."

Captain Sarell smiled maliciously.

But then, he became serious and looked at the sub-commander.

"Cromwell, I think I'll take you as a role model. I haven't given up on power, but I believe that polishing myself in a harsh environment will ultimately bring more satisfaction than pursuing honor without the necessary strength. Watching you has made me think that... Also, Cord is far from Dairamon. I'll have fewer opportunities to be called and annoyed by my brother."

The sub-commander smiled slightly at Captain Sarell's last words, spoken in a low voice.

Then he changed the subject.

"By the way, what happened to those five?"

Those five were the Once and others. I had been wondering about them since yesterday, so I perked up my ears.

"Thanks to your plea for leniency, they will likely receive a lenient punishment. ...Fortunately, the spirit also doesn't seem to want a severe punishment."

At that, Captain Sarell glanced at me and Kugalugu.

Of course, that's right. Personally, I just want them to reflect.

"After re-education, I think they'll probably come back to me. To the Sixth Sub-unit, where I'll be."

Captain Sarell couldn't hide his joy and continued with a grin.

"Yesterday, when I told them I was going to the Sixth, they insisted on following me. They're really stubborn. ...Hehehe."

It was a bit creepy, but Captain Sarell's expression of joy was unsettling. It looked like he was plotting something evil.

But the sub-commander, even the commander and Kicks, who didn't get along with Captain Sarell, watched with calm expressions.

Perhaps they had seen a caring side of Captain Sarell through this incident, improving their image of him.

"Captain Sarell, I thought you sent me to the northern fortress because you didn't like me, but maybe it wasn't just that. I was a brash newcomer, and you might have thought it would be better for me. Now I can think that. Just being remembered by name was enough, even if it was simple."

Kicks had said something like that yesterday.

Being remembered by name was indeed a small thing, but it must have been a shock to Kicks, who thought Captain Sarell disliked him.

"Well then. Hehehe..."

We all watched Captain Sarell leave with a chuckle.

...Actually, I thought Captain Sarell had come to see us off, but he left first.

"He's an interesting person—ouch!?"

Just as Captain Sarell left, a colorful bird, Hyliris, landed on my head.

"Milfuria, are you okay? Kugalugu too?"

"It hurts, it hurts, the claws..."

"Oh, sorry."

I asked Hyliris, who had moved to the sub-commander's shoulder.

"Hyliris, I thought you had already left. Where were you?"

"Actually, I was watching Sarell."

"Sarell? Why?"

Hyliris flapped her wings once, then folded them again—though the sub-commander's cheek was hit, he looked happy with the sensation—and shrugged.

"I've been a bit worried about Sarell since yesterday. Not in a bad way. I'm loyal to Hylg, you know."

"I understand."

I nodded quickly, knowing Hyliris would go on about Hylg if I didn't.

"So, I thought Sarell and I were similar. One reason is our slender build."

Hyliris said this, then jumped from the sub-commander's shoulder to the ground, transforming into her human form.

Her small face framed by golden curls, a short grass-green dress, and slender arms and legs.

If she had translucent wings on her back, she would be a fairy straight out of a fairy tale.

"I'm slender too, you know? So I felt a bit sympathetic."

Hyliris sighed, looking at her arm.

I think "slender" fits Hyliris better than "slender," and she's small and cute, but maybe she's self-conscious about her build.

She might be envious of the fuller figures of my mother and Daphine.

"Also, another reason... I think Sarell wasn't loved by his father. Remember, he said something like that before we cornered him? About being insulted and all..."

Hyliris frowned and lowered her lashes sadly.

"My mother never insulted me, but she left me alone, and I never got the love I wanted. So I can relate to that part. I understand why Sarell developed a twisted personality."

I felt like crying and looked up at Hyliris, making a "quinn" sound with my nose.

"Thank you."

Hyliris stopped talking and picked me up, and I licked her cheek to cheer her up.

But as usual, she said, "That's enough. I'm fine," and put me down.

Why?

Hyliris wiped her wet cheek gently and continued.

"Also, Sarell seemed to be bullied by the lord of Dairamon. That lord is Sarell's brother, right? He said things like, 'You're still skinny and pathetic, even as a knight,' and 'I bet you'd fall and break a bone if I pushed you a little, just like before.'"

Hyliris had noticed a group of humans approaching the valley and had been secretly watching them.

She saw Captain Sarell being bullied by his brother.

"Thinking about that, I felt sorry for Sarell. So—"

Hyliris transformed back into a colorful bird and circled our heads with her wings spread.

"I thought I'd move to Cord and occasionally check on Sarell. That way, if he or the five of them start to go astray, I can give them a warning. I want them to stay on the right path."

"Wow! I think that's a great idea!"

Captain Sarell would be very happy to have a spirit visit.

On the other hand, his brother, the lord, might regret the spirit leaving his territory, but it's like he's getting what he deserves for bullying his brother all these years.

"Well, I might change my mind about moving, and I'll only visit Sarell occasionally. I want to visit Hylg and avoid Hydelyn too."

"I think you should go to Hydelyn's place honestly."

You'll get scolded all at once later.

But if Captain Sarell becomes a trustworthy person to Hyliris, like the one-eyed knight is to me, Hyliris might do more than just visit occasionally and help in many ways.

It all depends on Captain Sarell.

If he humbly polishes himself in the Sixth Sub-unit, I think he'll gain many allies, not just the five of them.

"Then, I'll be off. I need to fly to Cord and find a good place to settle."

"Hyliris! Come see me and my mother again!"

"Of course! But put that gem somewhere I can't see it! Otherwise, I might do something, I might! Bye, Milfuria, Kugalugu!"

Hyliris touched my and Kugalugu's heads with her feet as she flew low, then rose high into the sky, leaving a colorful trail behind her.

I watched her go, resolving to return the raw yellow-green gem to Hylg before it caused more trouble.

"Let's go back!"

I ran to the one-eyed knight.

I wanted to see my mother and be praised for completing my mission, and I wanted to see the knights at the northern fortress.

I had seen too many shiny people and things at the castle, and I needed to rest my eyes on the rugged ones.

"Sure."

The one-eyed knight lifted me onto the leader's back, and Kugalugu climbed on skillfully.

"Shall we... leave?"

The sub-commander, looking lonely, mounted Aylarx alone, and the one-eyed knight smiled wryly.

Kicks and Tina were laughing happily.

"It was good to travel with the sub-commander again."

We would be together again at the northern fortress.

Looking up at the one-eyed knight on the leader's back, I said, and he nodded, patting my head.

"Yes."

And so, we left the castle, bid farewell to the commander, and headed back to the northern fortress.

When we return, I'll ask for a wooden ring toy like the one Alecsia had!

＊＊＊

At the Northern Fortress

Mil: "I'm back!"

Remaining Knights: "Mil's back! The sub-commander too!" "What!?" "Finally!" "It was long...!"

Mil: "Everyone, how are you—!?"

Remaining Knights: "Mil!!! (petting and ruffling her hair)"

Mil: "Aaaaah!"

＊＊＊

At the Sixth Sub-unit in Cord

Sarell: "I'm Sarell. I'm the new deputy commander here. Nice to meet you."

Sixth Sub-unit Members: "(Seriously...)"

Sarell: "First, we'll start with a thorough cleaning of the fortress. It's too dirty. Everyone, get a broom and a mop. Not a speck of dust should remain."

Sixth Sub-unit Members: "(Seriously...)"