Chapter 34

"Maybe it's because you're used to it?"

As Vaiz strode ahead, Livio called out to him from behind.

The white-robed man, whom they had beaten up, had used a transfer spell that led to a dedicated room in the castle. Before the mage waiting for the man's return could shout or cast a spell, Vaiz and Livio had knocked him out, taken his robe, and were now walking through the castle.

To avoid suspicion, the man, whom Renetta had healed, had tied up Renetta and Sophie with ropes and presented them to the king as a successful kidnapping. When Livio was about to punch the man as the ropes wrapped around Sophie's body twice, Vaiz stopped him, and his footsteps were so confident that it was hard to believe it was his first time in the castle.

"I scouted the place when I was invited to the first princess's birthday party."

"Party?"

"Yes. There were talks of peace. I intended to bring back a good mage as a symbol of peace, so I scouted the castle. That's when I met Renetta."

"...Wow..."

Livio looked at the king, who didn't seem to fit the white robe, thinking he felt like a brazen burglar. It was incredibly rude to scout another country's castle and try to poach a mage, and in the end, he had even taken the princess. It seemed he had caused some trouble at the time. This guy is scary.

Vaiz must have had a reason to believe Renetta couldn't be left in this country.

"By the way, why did the peace talks with this country, known for its arrogance and aversion to diplomacy, come up in the first place?"

"Because they're arrogant. They didn't like the fact that I was gaining power. The peace talks were just a facade; they wanted to put me in a disadvantageous position."

What a load of crap.

Well, there's no helping it. Such people deserve to be stripped of everything. They should be grateful to still have their lives.

Livio nodded, and Vaiz stopped. The door in front of them was extravagantly decorated with gold, giving off an air of grandeur, as if it belonged to someone important.

"There are no guards, huh?"

"That's because it's warded with magic. They probably didn't expect anyone to break in."

I see. They didn't anticipate someone entering the castle with a mage from the inside. Typical of a country that overestimates its own power.

Vaiz opened the door without hesitation and entered the room, which was dazzlingly opulent. There were gaudy golden ornaments everywhere, and the room, which was uniformly white, was not to Livio's taste. Raised by barbarians, Livio had no appreciation for art or aesthetics. If someone were to call this a noble's refined taste, he would just nod and agree.

"Terrible taste."

Vaiz, who was both a noble and a barbarian, snorted and walked into the room. Whether it was because the other party really had bad taste or because Vaiz was proving his barbarian nature, it was hard to tell.

Oh.

Vaiz had walked through a forest, and it seemed there was dirt on the white carpet, but Livio figured it was just his imagination. He rubbed his shoe soles vigorously, thinking it would be better to clean them at the entrance rather than leave dirt in the middle of the room. It wasn't out of malice, just a consideration. If Livio really wanted to cause trouble, it would be much worse. This was just a little prank.

"Someone who believes in their own strength would hide something they don't want to give away in their own room, I think."

"Got it. If I want to find Vaiz-sama's weakness, I should break into his room."

"Try it."

Livio's sarcastic joke had no effect. Vaiz smiled cynically, and Livio pouted.

This king had been friendly from the start and always teased Livio. Despite being a king, he led his troops from the front, and even when Livio, a mere knight, spoke rudely, he just smiled. It was annoying, but Livio couldn't help but find him cool. Livio was still a child in many ways.

"By the way, didn't you say to call you Vaiz outside? How long are you going to keep using 'sama'?"

Vaiz frowned as he rummaged through the desk and shelves. Well, this guy always looked serious.

"...'Ya'"

"Why?"

It's not out of respect.

That's not it at all. Livio wasn't the type to unconditionally respect nobles, and while he didn't dislike Vaiz, he wasn't so devoted that he needed to use 'sama.' Of course, he wasn't afraid either. Since Vaiz had told him to call him by his name, there would be no punishment for doing so, and Vaiz wasn't the kind of man to hold a grudge.

"You and your father aren't the type to be so formal, are you?"

"Rude."

It was rude, but it was true.

The Warian family had risen to prominence not because of political prowess but because of sheer physical strength.

A family that could do anything they wanted just because they were strong. Livio's father, Osneil Warian, was a quiet knight, but he probably didn't have any loyalty to the royal family; he just kept quiet because it was easier. Livio, his son, thought he was just being quiet to protect the family, the clan, and the country, and that most Warian men were like that.

So, when a large number of monsters appeared at the border.

When this king, with whom they had formed a joint front, said, "We want you in our country," only the commander of the knights panicked. A normal knight would have been angry at the insult to their loyalty, but the Warian family was different. Livio just thought the king was a strange person, and his father just watched the flustered commander as if it were someone else's problem.

So, well. Yeah. The reason he called Vaiz 'sama' wasn't because he was a serious, good boy.

"Because..."

"Huh?"

"...I can't even call Sophie-sama properly yet, so it feels wrong to call Vaiz-sama by his name first."

"..."

Ouch. Ouch. The gaze was painful.

It felt like the gaze was piercing his face. Or maybe it wasn't? Was his face full of holes?

He instinctively touched his cheek, and Vaiz said in a trembling voice, "You..."

"What? If you're going to laugh, just laugh. I'm a pathetic man, after all!"

"No, I—"

If you're going to laugh, just do it. All at once! Come on! Do it!

Feeling like a fish on a cutting board or the last surviving soldier on a battlefield, Livio looked at Vaiz's face. The statue he was holding cracked with a snap, but he didn't care. There were plenty more.

"You're cute, you know?"

"!"

Being called cute by this man was worse than being mocked.

Vaiz's face, with its furrowed brows and shoulders shaking with a chuckle, was the face of an adult looking at a small child. What a humiliation!

It was as embarrassing as when his grandparents saw a drawing of himself that his mother cherished. If it had been a normal drawing, it would have been fine, just a family-oriented, good mother. But no, his mother, who was bold and a bit crazy, had dressed up the young Livionis in a dress and drawn him. The result was a girl-like figure that was hard to believe was a little barbarian who swung a sword.

When his grandparents saw the drawing, instead of just laughing, they praised it, saying, "How cute!" Livionis was so embarrassed he wanted to die. His younger brother, patting his shoulder, had a lukewarm look in his eyes!

"...What about you, Vaiz-sama?"

"Huh?"

Livio, wanting to get back at him, called out to Vaiz's back as he headed for the door.

The room beyond the creaking door was spacious with a large bed. It seemed to be a bedroom.

"Renetta-sama. What was it about her that made you propose to her?"

Without hesitation, the tyrant, who had just torn the pillowcase, turned around with a puzzled look.

"She's 14 years younger than you."

What—?

"What?"

"What's the matter? Can't you do anything with someone 14 years younger?"

"I have Sophie-sama."

"That's not the point."

Well, Livio thought about it.

Livio was 16, so 14 years younger would be... 2 years old.

"...I'd be a pedophile, wouldn't I?"

"Exactly."

"Ugh. But Renetta-sama is 17, not 2. She's old enough to get married."

"What do you think of me?"

What do I think?

Livio poked his head out of the wardrobe and watched as Vaiz flipped and tore the mattress in a mad scene.

It felt more like a serial killer than a treasure hunter.

If their eyes met, he should give up. He would definitely be caught, and the killer would be happy. That's how it felt.

"...A walking hazard."

"I'll snap you in half."

That's the kind of guy he is. Livio didn't say it out loud.

But, I see. Hmm.

Livio understood what Vaiz meant and returned to the wardrobe.

"Are you feeling guilty?"

"Well, yes. I brought her here as a fiancée to cut ties with this country and to keep her close and protect her."

Surprisingly considerate.

Vaiz, who took care of animals and people he picked up until the end, had even saved a foal from a monster attack. The foal, with no place to go, had grown into a beautiful, wise, and strong horse with a red coat. His growth showed the character of this man.

"She doesn't know much about the outside world yet. It would be too cruel to marry her off to an old man. She should find someone she likes and live a normal, happy life, like you."

It doesn't seem like he's even considering the possibility that she might like him.

He's just taking care of her because he picked her up, like a poor foal. He's not putting her in a romantic context.

Well, a man who looks at 14-year-younger girls without discrimination is a bit of a horror. But if he was picky, it would be even worse. "I like 14-year-younger black-haired, black-eyed girls!" That's creepy. If Sophie had been told something like that by a 14-year-older man, Livio would have to cover her eyes instantly. He couldn't let her see the man being minced.

But, because it's Renetta.

If this king, who is loyal and emotionally deep, says it's because of Renetta, no one can criticize him. That's what Livio thinks.

"...You care about her, don't you?"

"Well, I do think it's cute that her expressions have become more varied."

Oh—

Livio, feeling exasperated, threw a glittering, embroidered mantle. Exasperated, exasperated. Listen up, everyone in the world. The "cute" just now.

This man said it the same way he said Livio was cute.

Livio couldn't tell the difference in Renetta's expressions and wouldn't take care of a girl he didn't like so diligently. Yet, Vaiz's "cute" lacked the passion Livio felt for Sophie.

This was definitely going to be a mess.

Livio thought. Better to let it be a mess.

Because, for some reason, it seemed Renetta hadn't been treated well in this country.

One day, she was taken away from a world full of enemies. She was told she didn't have to return to her country and was made a fiancée. She was forgiven for anything she did and even given fresh bread. Wouldn't you fall in love with someone like that?

Livio had fallen in love with Sophie at 13 and had been running ever since.

Compared to Renetta's story, their meeting was a thin, forgettable episode. If he told someone, they'd probably say, "That's it?" But that's it.

"Don't toy with a young man's heart, old man."

"Huh?"

It's the worst because he doesn't realize it. No, it's his charisma that makes people gather around him. That's what charisma is, right? It's about being charming.

It's a good thing he took Sophie away before she fell for someone like that. Livio pulled at the embroidered shirt. It's expensive. Oh, it ripped. Well, it's fine.

"Huh?"

There was something he could feel at the end of the flashy shirt.

It wasn't a fancy outfit. It was magic.

"Vaiz-sama!"

Livio threw the clothes on the floor. Ugh, the mantle, the coat, so heavy. Rich people who can't move on their own! Let them turn to stone from shoulder pain.

"...A barrier, or a seal...?"

Carved into the wall was an ancient magic circle.

"Do you understand it?"

"I'm not very good at magic, but—"

Livio had always been curious, so he wasn't completely useless with magic. He could even store his sword in a magic stone thanks to his knowledge of magic.

Livio took out a magic stone from his pocket.

The faintly red magic stone contained a spell to dispel barriers and seals, given to him by Renetta with the words, "It contains spells to dispel barrier and seal magic. The number of uses is limited, but it should work on any magic in this country." Only Renetta, who could use extraordinary magic and knew all the magic in this country, could create such a powerful magic stone. It was given to Livio by Vaiz, who had little knowledge of magic, with the words, "You keep it."

Livio channeled his magic to activate the spell.

The magic stone and the magic circle glowed brightly. When the light faded, the wall in front of them disappeared.

A small, stone room appeared, dusty and musty.

It looked like no one had entered for years.

In the room was a single book.

"There's a barrier."

"It's well-protected. This could be interesting."

Vaiz's smile was that of a villain.

Well, they were stealing in another country's king's bedroom, so it wasn't entirely wrong. Oh, doing bad things is fun.

Livio channeled his magic into the magic stone again.

A red light was emitted, and when it faded, the magic stone broke.

"The spell Renetta-sama put in has run out. Both the seal and the barrier were high-level magic."

"Wow, they must have protected it well. It would be a problem if someone with bad intentions took it."

"Yes, and it might be seen accidentally in the process."

Vaiz, flipping through the pages with a grin, said, "Huh?" in a disturbing voice.

This king usually responded with a casual "Huh?" when called, but this was different. It was a "Huh?" that felt like a hand grabbing his ankle from the depths of the earth or a bloodstained sword at his throat. In other words, a "Huh?" that was on the verge of a serious outburst.

"...Vaiz-sama?"

Livio, raised by the country's fiercest beast, was unfazed. But he could tell something significant was written there. Vaiz, who rarely lost his composure, was angry.

And when such a person gets angry, it's usually for someone else.

In other words, something that would hurt Renetta was written there.

Is it okay to ask, Livio wondered, observing Vaiz flipping through the pages. He flipped them so fast. Was he really reading them all?

Well, it doesn't matter, Livio thought, and went outside.

He decided to keep watch so no one would come in, as Vaiz seemed to have found something useful. Better late than never.

According to Renetta, the mages were busy dealing with a "curse" that was slowly leaking out of a certain room and into the castle. If they were caught, they could just knock them out. Apparently, a "curse" was leaking from a certain room and into the castle. Thanks to the divine protection and Renetta's magic, Livio and Vaiz were unaffected, but the white-robed mages they had encountered on the way seemed to be in poor health. Take care.

As Livio pulled his hood deeper, Vaiz came out.

"Whoa."

"What?"

"You're in a terrible mood."

"Indeed."

Indeed.

It was the kind of anger that would make Livio make a mistake. It was more like a killing intent. He was this angry and still had no romantic feelings. Explode, you charmer.

"Let's go."

"To the room with the curse?"

"Yes. The king and Renetta probably have different ideas about the curse. Once the barrier is down, the king will start shouting in the room."

As Vaiz stormed out of the room with a roar of anger, Livio followed.

Just then—

"Help me, Livio!"

The moment he heard the voice, Livio was already running.

Where was the voice coming from? Not nearby. The opposite direction. And below. Livio drew his sword as he ran. Faster, faster. Faster.

Only his father, Matcha, and his father's horse could catch up to him when he ran this fast. He was confident in his speed. Thoughts of Vaiz and hiding his black hair under his hood were long gone from his mind.

He just ordered his body to run faster.

Grateful for his animal-like senses, which had been praised by his knight school instructor, Livio ran in the direction of the voice.