Chapter 79

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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While walking for a while, I used my divine eye to closely observe the ladies, when suddenly Rose seemed deep in thought, and then she stood up with such force that it seemed like a loud noise was about to be made.

Then, she started running towards me with incredible speed.

(I have to hide! I have to hide!)

Feeling a hostile atmosphere, I instinctively hid.

But soon, my mother followed and caught up with her at a speed that seemed to be due to the level difference.

I hid around a nearby corner and listened to their conversation.

Then, I heard my mother raise her voice, saying,

"What do you intend to do!?"

What could she be so angry about?

Then, Rose, whose voice wasn't particularly loud but carried well, said,

"There is someone. Someone with the talent of a hero. He can..."

(What? Who is she talking about? Ah, no, it's me. It must be me.)

Just as I thought that, my mother gave me the answer.

"No way!! I absolutely won't let Rain go to war!! I've already decided not to involve him in this war!"

(So it's me... And also, I don't want to go to war. I'm already fed up with it. I want to avoid it for a while.)

Actually, I thought, I don't want to go to war ever again.

"Only he can change this situation. We should ask him."

"No way. I won't let him be involved in war while he's still a child!"

Immediately after, Rose, with a face I had never seen before, said,

"Let go. I have somewhere I need to go."

But my mother, with equal seriousness, said,

"I won't let go. I can't let you go to Rain."

(Mother... I don't understand everything, but I get that Rose wants me to go to war. Did my father also participate in the war? Hmm, what should I do... I want Rose and Mother to get along, but there are things I can and can't do.)

While I was deep in thought, I continued to use my divine eye. Rose, losing her patience, started to chant a spell.

(No, no, no, wait! That's not good!!)

I hurriedly tried to stop her.

"Wait a moment!"

That was all I could say. Since Rose seemed excited, I walked slowly towards the ladies, preparing my magic power to cast a defensive spell at any time.

"Rose, I don't know what's going on, but using magic is not the answer," I said, trying to reason with her.

Rose was surprised by my sudden appearance and then realized what she was doing, lowering her hands.

"Rain..."

My mother called my name.

"Mother, are you okay? You shouldn't get so excited so soon after giving birth."

I was surprisingly calm. It seemed like I was handling the situation calmly, but my legs were trembling. I didn't want to be put in the position of mediating a fight.

"I'm fine. You should go back to your room," my mother said.

There was no way I was going back.

"I won't go back. Especially not now, given the situation."

"Go back to your room!!" my mother suddenly shouted, trying to send me back to my room.

Despite feeling like I might wet myself, I clearly said,

"I won't go back! I won't go back. I won't leave until I understand this situation."

My mother seemed to calm down.

"I'm sorry for shouting. Yes, you are that kind of person. But this is an adult matter. It's not something a child should be involved in. Do you understand? If you do, go back to your room."

I still didn't want to leave. I couldn't ignore Rose's urgency. I had to hear what they were talking about before I could leave.

"Mother, Rose, who usually doesn't talk much, is so serious. I can't ignore that. I've only seen her this serious about my father..."

I suddenly looked at my mother. She lowered her eyes, looking sad. I was naturally confused.

"What?! No, what?! Why?

General Rudegar? And General Pinold should be next in line, right?

Are they having a hard time? With Lady Pretaria there?

And, to begin with, the law of this country says that my father doesn't have to go, right?"

All the questions I could think of came out of my mouth. My mother remained silent.

"Mother! Answer me! Is Father going to war!?"

When I pressed her, Rose spoke up instead.

"Yes. Rondo is going to war."

"Rose! Stop it!" my mother shouted, but Rose, calm, said,

"Since we've come this far, we should talk."

She turned to me and said,

"The vanguard has broken. General Rudegar is dead, and Lady Pretaria is severely injured. She can't return to the battlefield. There's no one else who can be a general except Rondo."

I understood the key points.

"So why do I have to go?" I asked directly.

Rose answered matter-of-factly,

"The empire's quasi-hero can only be stopped by you."

I see...

Then, I retract my previous statement. I can't not go...

"Stop it!!"

My resolve to go to war was interrupted by my mother's anguished cry. She hugged me and said,

"It's okay! You don't have to go to war!"

"But, Mother, Father..."

"It's okay! Rondo will manage," my mother said, but Rose countered,

"Rondo's abilities can't counter a level 8 mage."

"What do you know about him!! You've been locked in your room reading books all the time!"

"I know! I've been... watching him for a long time. I know his strength. I understand. He can't defeat a quasi-hero."

Rose, more loudly than usual, said,

"He might be able to manage!"

"But what if Rondo dies!"

"That's our job as adults, not to push it onto this child!"

"I would if I could! But I can't help Rondo. Only Rain can..."

Rose, on the verge of tears, said. Her voice was hoarse, and her body was trembling as if holding back something.

Sofia, who didn't want Rain to go to war, and Rose, who wanted Rain to protect Rondo because he was the only one who could counter a quasi-hero-level level 8 mage, after Pretaria was injured.

(Both are right.

I understand Mother's and Rose's points of view.

But...)

No matter how this conversation went,

"I will go to war, Mother," I declared.

Sofia hugged Rain tighter and said,

"No, Rain. I can't let you go."

Rain hugged her back and said,

"I know Father's skills. But Father can't counter the strongest individual. That's why I need to go. If something happens to Father, I'll be filled with regret for the rest of my life. I'm going to protect my family."

Sofia's expression changed, and then her sad face twisted even more. She said,

"Right..."

and then,

"Let me think about it for a moment," and walked back to her room with a hollow step.

I reached out my hand and said,

"Ah..."

but only a pitiful sound came out, and I let my hand drop.

Are you okay?

I couldn't say those words. I was already causing my mother so much trouble, no, so much worry.

The guilt I felt towards my mother.

The determination that I had to go.

The anger at the situation that kept bringing conflict.

These complex emotions swirled in my heart.

Whether she knew it or not, Rose said,

"Rain, I'm sorry..."

and bowed her head in apology.

"Rose, don't apologize. I'm grateful. If Father had gone to war without me knowing and something had happened, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

I comforted her. Whether Rose asked or not, I had already decided to go when Father went to war. I made that decision when the war started.

"Still, I said what was convenient for me. Sofia is not wrong. It's natural for a parent not to want their child to go to war. It's clearly wrong for me to drag a child under 10 to war. I'm really sorry."

She bowed even deeper.

"No, it's really okay."

"By the way, why did Mother stop the conversation at that point? I thought it would continue for a while..."

Since she kept bowing, I changed the subject. Rose raised her head and said,

"Do you know what kind of person Rondo's father was?"

Rose's question was sudden, but I was used to it, so I didn't panic and said,

"Yes, of course. He joined the war as a general when Luminon was under attack and died there."

"That's right.

But there was one problem with that."

"What problem?"

I asked, and Rose nodded.

"Rondo didn't know that his father had joined the war."