Chapter 66

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After a while, someone came to Rain's room to pick him up.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting! I'll show you the way now!"

"Yes, please take care of me."

Saying this, Rain put on his cloak, pulled up his hood, put on his mask, and attached the bag containing his magical tools before following.

When they reached the carriage stop, Rondo was there.

"Father..."

"Rain, this is where we part.

First, take this cloak."

Saying this, he handed Rain a white cloak with intricate embroidery, clearly a high-quality item even to a layman's eye, to replace the black cloak he was wearing.

"What is this?"

"This is a magic-blocking cloak.

When you hide the ship, it will prevent you from absorbing the magic power of the spell.

It's one of our country's national treasures.

It has been specially lent for this mission. Don't lose it."

"Thank you."

He was wondering what to do with it. In the worst case, he planned to keep the ship he was on out of the range of the spell.

"That's all from me.

Your carriage will leave through the East Gate and head straight east.

I will leave through the North Gate and head to the northeastern military port."

"Yes..."

He knew this, but the thought of going to battle and killing people made him feel sad and lonely.

Noticing his mood, his father patted his shoulders twice firmly and then pulled him into a tight hug.

"It's okay! You are my son! Failure is not an option! You will definitely succeed!"

He felt a bit more courageous.

"Yes, thank you!"

"And...

No, never mind.

Just do your best."

"Yes! You too, Father."

I think he wanted to say, "Come back alive."

There are no death flags in this world, but there are unlucky words.

The things you really want to ask for are things you pray for in your heart.

So I prayed this:

(Please come back alive)

After that, the carriage began to move.

They rode in silence for a while.

There were almost no guards.

Instead, they were all elite, around level 40.

They rode in almost complete silence for more than half a day.

Kou seemed nervous, not cracking his usual jokes, and his face was tense. Worried, I cast a spell on him.

As an older brother, I should have encouraged him, but with my lack of life experience and the fact that I was probably more nervous than he was, I couldn't say anything.

Making light of the situation to ease the tension would be inappropriate, especially with lightly armored knights riding with us.

Making light of the situation would lower Rain's reputation.

But I couldn't think of anything to say, so we continued in silence, heading west.

Finally, as the sun was about to rise, they reached a river and boarded a boat.

"From here, we will go east along the river to meet up with the troops, then move around the eastern side of Saring Island to the southeast, and finally head to the northwest where the battle will take place."

"Understood."

Then they rode the boat for a while.

Once they were alone in a two-person cabin, Rain decided to speak to Kou.

"Kou, are you okay?"

Kou's stern face relaxed a bit.

"Lord Rain...

I am nervous. Thanks to your magic, I'm not feeling nauseous, but it's my first battle, so..."

It's understandable. Kou is still a child, not even ten years old.

"I'm sorry to have brought you here at such a young age."

He felt apologetic.

"What? Lord Rain is only six years old too! Even though I'm two years older, I can't be concerned about you."

He said this with a slight smile.

"I have the duty of a noble, but Kou was forced into this, right?

It's completely different."

"Is it? But being by Lord Rain's side is a considerable happiness for us."

"Why is that?"

"Maybe you'll understand eventually.

I realized it when I was told, and I'm here because I accept it.

Lord Rain doesn't need to worry about it.

You bought us for this, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's right.

Everyone is so tough."

Being lectured by a child.

It didn't feel bad.

"Being a slave, and with almost no buyers, makes you tough too."

"Huh?

But, Koumei-class should have many buyers, right?"

His abilities are also very excellent.

"Huh? Haven't you heard?

We spent a considerable amount of time in the slave house."

"Really? Those people are blind."

Such useful abilities are rare.

"No, without knowing the contact method you found, they are just that."

"Why is that?"

"Our abilities are transferable, but even if transferred, they don't make us that strong.

The magic is just Duo, so if the country were to buy, they would just buy Duo normally.

It's too expensive for adventurers to buy."

Huh? 35 gold coins?

Are adventurers poor?

But he decided to hear him out.

"Even if bought, they are children and need to be raised, and two of them need to be supported.

They should have been cheaper, but the slave traders didn't lower the price much, so they ended up as unsold inventory."

Hmm? That guy was so stingy! People are not what they seem.

"Then a year passed before a buyer was found."

That was me.

"That person bought us and spent a considerable amount of time traveling to Pornesia."

Hmm? What does that mean?

"Then we received an explanation.

We were told that you would buy a child in the future and that we should serve that child. I didn't understand at all, but I was really surprised when you came."

"Huh? I don't understand."

He couldn't help but show his confusion.

"I heard later that the first person to buy me was Lord Rain's mother."

"Huh? So, she bought you first and then passed you to me?

Then, what?"

"In simple terms, you were always in the palm of her hand."

"What...?"

An unexpected fact.

He intended to outsmart his parents, but he was always in their palm.

"What a surprise."

Of course, he wasn't angry.

He was amazed by their deep love.

"Can I become an adult like them?"

Their greatness made him feel anxious again.

Can I catch up to them?

"Who knows?"

Kou said.

"Who knows? You..."

"I don't know. I'm a child too. But having a wonderful adult nearby can be a goal, can't it?"

"You're right. That's true.

From now on."

"That's right. From now on."

Kou's carefree attitude was appreciated at times like this.

Then they arrived at the military port in the east.

Rain and the others put on their cloaks and masks and got off the carriage.

"Thank you for your hard work.

We will now board the military ship and head to our destination."

"Understood."

He then surveyed the area with his Divine Eye. In the dark, people were moving quietly.

They were probably busy preparing.

There was also a square wooden box about two meters on each side.

Inside was something that looked like a magical tool, but when he identified it, it only showed up as a pile of junk.

"What is that?"

He asked.

"Huh? Oh, you can see it well.

It's nothing. It's just something shaped like a magical tool."

"Why have something like that?"

"It's for an excuse later.

We can't reveal Lord Rain's ability.

We'll say it was generated by that device."

"I see, that's why it's being carried so boldly."

"Yes.

Let's board now.

That ship."

He pointed to a medium-sized ship that didn't look much different from the others.

It had oar holes on the side.

Medium and small ships use oars and sails, and wind or wind magic stones as fuel.

But large ships use sails and magic stones as fuel.

They boarded the ship and greeted the captain.

"Lord Rain, thank you for your long journey!!"

He saluted. He had a stern face and a very serious image.

"No, thank you, Captain Riedra.

I'm surprised you accepted such an outlandish plan."

He couldn't understand why they would so readily execute a plan made by a child.

"You don't need to call me 'Lord'!

We just follow orders!

If the higher-ups order us to execute the best possible plan, we will do so to the best of our ability!!"

He said clearly. It was the first time he had seen such a serious military man.

"I see. Thank you.

Then I have nothing to say.

Please take care of me."

He bowed deeply.

He was a man who commanded respect in a different way from Rondo.

The captain then relaxed his salute a bit.

"I'll do my best too.

It's your first time on a ship, so let me know if you need anything."

He said this and then returned to the captain's cabin.

Rain and Kou went to their assigned room, took off their cloaks, and climbed into the hammocks using a footstool, and discussed the operation until it began.