Chapter 54

And the next day, I finally returned to the Orion territory.

(I went with such a light heart, but so much happened.

It was a bit tough on me mentally, being the old man I am inside.)

I grumbled to myself.

There were good things, great things, and bad things, but it was a fruitful week.

(The princess incident is still confusing.

I wondered later if I should have listened to her...

But this is a true story of how I lost a friend due to a real failure.)

I thought it was more effective than if someone with friends had said it, and I lay down in the carriage on the way back.

"Rain, are you tired?"

Father, who was riding with me, asked.

I couldn't talk while lying down, so I sat up again.

"I'm tired, indeed.

I didn't expect such a series of surprises... It's no wonder it's called the capital."

"No, a princess kidnapping incident like that doesn't happen every year.

This year is particularly chaotic."

"Haha, just kidding.

But I really hope it doesn't happen again."

"I agree," he said, and we both laughed.

For some reason, I wanted to see the castle.

So I opened the curtain on the carriage, which was designed to prevent assassins from seeing inside, and stuck my head out of the small window to look at the castle.

I could see someone waving from a balcony, though it was small.

"Huh?

Is that the princess?"

I guessed it must be her.

I couldn't see her face clearly.

I waved back.

"Rain, that's dangerous.

Come inside."

"Yes," I said, stopped waving, closed the window, and pulled the curtain shut.

"Was someone there?"

"Huh?

No, nothing," I replied.

(They must have dealt with the people who were fired.

Then the princess learned something about human connections.)

I interpreted it grandly.

(If my past failure helped, it was worth it.)

I secretly worried that all my serious lectures afterward would amount to nothing.

A few more days passed, and after a long journey in the carriage, I finally returned home to the Orion territory.

When I got to my room, Kou and Mei were waiting.

I was happy to see Kou and Mei after so long.

I hugged them tightly.

"Whooaaaaa!! Kou! Mei! It's been so long!!

So much happened in just a week!!"

My excitement meter was off the charts.

"Long time no see, Master Rain!" they both replied.

"Listen, I have a story to tell... It's a tear-jerker..."

I tried to tell them about the capital, but they quickly looked behind me.

"By the way, where's Lisa?" they asked.

"Huh? She's visiting her family."

"Ah, I see!"

"Right," I confirmed.

Lisa had parted ways with us in the capital and returned to her family.

"Anyway, listen, Kou and Mei!"

I continued.

"Master Rain, have you changed?" they asked, a bit taken aback.

I moved away from Kou and Mei, sat up straight, and said, "Well, a lot happened."

"Then, just one question," Kou said.

"Did you have fun?" Mei asked.

"Yes! Very much!" I replied.

A little while later, Father called me to his study for a serious talk.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Father."

"Good to see you, Rain. Sit down."

"Yes," I said, sitting in the chair.

"What is it?"

"Hmm, how have you been recently?"

(Well, to be asked how I've been recently...)

"I'm doing well, as always," I replied.

"Is that so... Then, how about your status, especially your level and magical talent?"

"Things are going smoothly. I haven't leveled up much since then, just one level. My magical talent hasn't changed."

It takes a lifetime to improve, so it doesn't just go up easily.

"I see... Then, let's get to the main point. Ahem!"

He cleared his throat dramatically.

"Rain, I want you to officially inherit the Orion family.

I've been hinting at this to the public, but now I will announce it officially and grandly."

He said it abruptly.

"Eh?! No! Wait! Isn't it too early?!"

I was only a few days away from turning six. It was clearly too early.

"Compared to other nobles, it is quite early.

But the earlier, the better.

Normally, we would take more time to see if a child can manage the territory and to keep them on their toes.

But you are different.

You are a genius, the first in the history of the Orion family.

The other children are still unknown in terms of their abilities.

But I can confidently say that no one can match you.

So, you are the only one.

I will announce it to the people when you turn six."

He declared.

"Wait, Father!

I haven't decided to inherit the Orion family yet!"

"Why not?! ...Oh, I remember, you said something about leaving the family before.

I won't allow it! Absolutely not!!"

He said it with the angriest face I've ever seen.

I was momentarily scared, but it was a complete misunderstanding.

"No, no, forget about that... I have no intention of leaving after all that happened."

After all, I wouldn't say such nonsense as becoming an adventurer after everything that happened.

I understood my abilities, position, and the expectations of my parents.

But,

"I don't have the confidence to manage a duchy, especially such a vast territory."

I had reconciled with my parents.

But that's a different matter.

I had become closer to my parents, but I wasn't mentally strong enough to manage a territory.

"You will gain that confidence as you grow.

Everyone is nervous at first.

You won't be managing the territory alone, and I won't die the moment you take over.

It won't change much from before.

It will just be a bit more work with greetings."

(That's a big problem!)

Reconciling with my parents doesn't mean I'm no longer shy with strangers.

"Wait, wait! It's too sudden! At least give me a year... no, six months!

As you know, I'm shy! I can't handle a sudden influx of greetings!"

"..."

"You're right... I was too hasty.

I apologize, Rain.

I was a bit anxious."

"That's right...

I was also very anxious.

What happened? Did something make you anxious, Father?"

I asked lightly to change the heavy atmosphere and to show that I wasn't holding a grudge.

"A report came from a spy in the neighboring Badragia Kingdom.

They are gathering troops and planning to launch a war on a scale of hundreds of thousands against the Lymion Kingdom to the north."

It was a heavier topic than I imagined.

About a week later,

On July 7, 6538,

The Pornesia Kingdom declared war on the Badragia Kingdom, which borders to the west, and the Lymion Kingdom to the north.