Chapter 50

Miguel leaped out of the carriage and dashed toward the distant grassland.

Ian, who had crawled out from under the chair, first helped Lucy down and then climbed out from under the carriage.

He seemed awkward with the new equipment, moving his shoulders and limbs around.

The basic material was still leather, but iron plates and chains were thinly added to vital points like the shoulders, knees, and chest.

"Be mindful that the empire might send a pursuit team. Move accordingly."

Meb, who had stepped out of the carriage, said.

Ian shrugged.

"I know. Don't worry. We'll move as fast as we can."

According to the plan, by the time the news of Lucy reaches the empire, they would already be in the north.

"Huh. Something must have happened in just half a day, I was so scared."

Miguel brought the baggage cart he had hidden in the grass.

It was something he had bought in the outer city.

Another intentional clue to prove that Ian and Miguel were a team.

While Philip and Miguel started loading the luggage onto the carriage,

"Sir mercenary."

A maid approached Ian.

One of the survivors rescued during the Night of Madness.

"I have nothing else to offer in return."

She handed him a thick robe and a cloak.

"I heard the north is cold. I hope this helps."

"...Thank you."

Ian said awkwardly.

He hadn't expected such a return favor.

Moreover, it wasn't just for Ian.

There were also robes and cloaks for Miguel and Lucy.

Lucy immediately put on the robe.

The highlight was the food.

She had prepared a lot of cheese and dried meat. The dried meat, in particular, was a high-quality item with plenty of spices.

Ian thought it was enough to eat for every meal.

"Please take good care of Miss Lucy."

The maid bowed deeply and stepped back.

This place is still a place where people live.

While Ian was smirking, the preparations were completed.

Miguel turned the carriage around and leaped out.

"...So, this is farewell."

Meb finally said.

Her gaze, looking at Ian, Miguel, and Lucy, was filled with affection.

"Well, we'll meet again someday."

Ian said matter-of-factly.

"Because I need to be paid."

"......!"

"Until then, don't die."

"...Yeah. Stay alive. Ian."

Meb nodded resolutely.

Ian's gaze suddenly turned to Philip.

"If he acts like he's eager to die, you must stop him. That's your role as a retainer."

"Yes, sir."

"And if necessary, abandon the kingdom. I already know you have no attachment to it. The same goes for him."

While Philip coughed, Ian looked back at Meb.

"Living as a wandering knight might not be a bad experience."

"...A wandering knight."

Meb's eyes darkened.

After a moment, she asked.

"If you were a wandering knight, where would you go?"

"I'll go wherever my feet take me. ...But eventually, I'll go to the empire. I might meet old friends while wandering there."

Meb's gaze met Ian's, and he shrugged.

"Of course, it's just a possibility. If Agel Rane prospers, that's a good thing too."

It's unlikely, though.

After saying that, Ian leaped onto the luggage compartment of the carriage.

Miguel, who was standing behind, bowed deeply.

"It was an honor to serve you, sir."

"I feel the same, Miguel. You were an excellent retainer and guide."

"Don't forget what I taught you, Miguel."

Philip added.

Miguel smiled meaningfully.

"Don't worry. I've heard that you treated him very well. I'll do my best too."

"Yes. Thanks to you, it was enjoyable…."

Philip turned his head suddenly.

Miguel smirked.

"Being a man, crying."

"It's just dust in my eyes…!"

"Sure it is."

Miguel patted Philip's shoulder and looked down at Lucy.

"Say goodbye, miss. This might be the last time."

"It's not the last time."

Lucy said calmly.

"I've read books. After completing my studies at the temple, I can return to the world. I'll come back then. So, sister."

Lucy looked up at Meb and finally hugged her.

"I'll see you again. Definitely."

Meb's eyes trembled.

After a moment, she hugged Lucy's shoulders and replied.

"Let's meet again."

Lucy stepped back and climbed into the luggage compartment.

As Miguel got into the driver's seat, Ian, who was leaning against the luggage compartment, nodded.

"See you again someday."

Clack, clack—

The carriage carrying the two mercenaries and the cross-dressing girl disappeared into the darkness.

"...They really left."

Philip said to Meb, who was standing beside him.

"Yes. Now it's just us."

Meb, as if trying to shake off her lingering thoughts, quickly climbed into the carriage.

As Philip followed her to the driver's seat, he added,

"About what Sir Ian said to me."

"Yes."

"If the time comes, I will follow. Not for the kingdom, but for you, sir."

Meb, who had raised her eyebrows, smiled faintly.

"Don't worry, Philip. I no longer intend to sacrifice my life for the kingdom."

The carriage headed back to Agel Rane.

While looking in the direction where Ian and his group had gone, Meb murmured.

"There's still a debt to be paid. And there are still family members to meet again."

Throughout the journey back to the mansion, Meb's gaze remained in the same direction.

Of course, she didn't even dream that there was someone in the city looking in the same direction.

***

Squeak—!

A swift hand caught a mouse crawling on the roof.

The one who bit into the mouse's body in one bite was the vampire fairy, Tesia.

Sitting on the edge of the eaves like a cat, she sucked the blood from the mouse in her mouth while gazing beyond the city.

Her silver hair, now shimmering in the moonlight, fluttered slightly, and her straight nose twitched.

The sweet scent she was targeting was finally moving away from Agel Rane.

"...Heh."

Tesia's eyes curved.

Memories of the past flashed through her mind.

After recovering her strength by eating wild animals and monsters for a while, she began to search for Ian's scent.

She couldn't forget his scent.

The sweetest and most appetizing scent she had ever smelled since becoming a vampire.

She didn't know why he had such a scent.

But she couldn't escape the desire to drink his blood someday.

After weeks of arduous effort, she finally found the scent.

Following it led her to this Agel Rane.

And here, she unexpectedly encountered a feast.

On the night of the red moon, delicious monsters began to appear.

Their blood had a faint but similar scent to Ian's.

Of course, with her current abilities, she could only drink a few of them.

But that was enough.

She became faster, more agile, and stronger.

The thirst that had once paralyzed her mind was no longer felt.

"...If I keep following, I can keep eating such things."

Tesia, spitting out the mouse, muttered.

She wasn't yet strong enough to drink Ian's blood.

But she had a premonition that she would gain something by following him secretly like this.

"Maybe someday...?"

Tesia smiled, revealing her blood-stained teeth.

When she could kill Ian, she would be much stronger than she was now.

Perhaps she could even kill all of those damn things in Lu Sade.

Tesia's head, chuckling silently, suddenly turned.

"...Hmm."

Her eyes relaxed.

Because the children were standing side by side.

The children, holding candles, were frozen in place upon seeing Tesia.

The legs of the children who met her eyes trembled.

Some of them were wetting their pants.

Rumors about her had already spread throughout the outer city.

Tesia's red eyes glowed faintly.

"You are very lucky."

The children's eyes began to relax one by one at her singsong voice.

Tesia, leaping up, landed in front of them.

Her red tongue licked her fangs.

"Fortunately, I'm not hungry yet. So, go home. When you wake up, you'll forget all about this."

The children nodded dumbly.

"Don't wander around at night. It's dangerous. Understand?"

"Yes…."

"Yes…."

The children answered in a dreamy voice.

Smiling, Tesia said,

"Then, snacks, disperse."

The children scattered.

"...Maybe I should have taken one or two."

Tesia, looking at their backs, murmured and then kicked off the ground.

Her silver hair fluttered as it disappeared into the night sky beyond the city.

The next day, many people in Agel Rane claimed to have seen a silver eagle.

The king considered it a good omen.

***

"Where are you headed?"

The border guard asked, alternating his gaze between the identity badge and Miguel's face.

"To Lu Sade. I have relatives there."

"The two people sitting behind you?"

"One is my son. The other is a close friend I hired as a bodyguard."

"A long journey. Without your wife."

A rather sharp question.

But Miguel frowned.

"Didn't you know what happened in Agel Rane?"

"I do."

"That day, I lost my wife. Before I could grieve, His Majesty announced that he was preparing for war."

Miguel looked at the guard with eyes that seemed to suppress sorrow and anger.

"So, I decided to return to my hometown. I finally settled down after a lifetime of sword fighting. If I die, who will raise my child?"

"......"

The guard, who had a tone of resentment, scratched his chin.

He looked at the name of Agel Rane engraved on the identity badge and finally said,

"Was that night in Agel Rane really that terrible?"

"It was hell."

"It seems the rumors were true... I heard that Sir Meb Riel, the swordmaster, and a mercenary killed the corrupt duke. Is that true?"

Miguel, who had twitched his lips, nodded.

"It's true. His Majesty vouched for it."

"Even after all that, there's a war... It seems His Majesty is determined to kill us all."

The guard muttered and handed over the identity badge.

"You can't make your child an orphan. Go. And be careful. I heard the security in Bel Rond is not good."

"Thank you for your concern."

Miguel took the identity badge.

The guards who had been blocking the road stepped back.

Ian and Lucy, who had made eye contact with the guard, nodded.

The border gate was getting farther away.

It also meant they were outside Agel Rane.

After sitting silently for a while, Miguel suddenly smiled.

"See? I told you I could fool them."

"Well, it wasn't bad."

Ian nodded readily.

The idea to pass through