28

Kansas sighed while shaking his head. Sadly, those who truly considered the present to be peaceful would not have that capacity, Kansas said as he lowered his eyes.

“You are a marquess, are you not? Is it not the role of a kingdom’s noble to work for the kingdom and for peace?”

“With each generation, blood thins. With each generation, dignity also thins. The reason I am now working as a marquess is not for the royal family, but for the kingdom. A noble must devote himself not to the royal family, but to the kingdom and its citizens. That is the noblesse oblige I believe in. If, in that process, I must sit upon the throne, then I shall sit upon it. If I must discard ‘myself’ and become a wise king, then I shall become one. Captain Gaus, now is the first and last time I can act.”

Kansas looked straight into Gaus’s eyes without wavering or looking away in the slightest.

His resolve could be seen there.

Gaus let out a long breath and answered him.

“…The path we walk is the rut left behind by that esteemed person. If Lord Ains—no, Lord Ains is by your side, Lord Kansas, then perhaps that, too, is the path we ought to take.”

“To be able to walk through an era with that Demon God, the Silver Snow Sorcerer, is the height of honor for one as untalented as myself.”

“If the words Saint Silica-sama left behind were true, then the road ahead is a path of carnage. Do you have the resolve for that as well?”

This time, it was Gaus who stared into Kansas’s eyes.

Kansas quietly took in Gaus’s words.

“I have already thrown my glove at the Eternal Witch who stood on the royal family’s side in the royal castle.”

“With such resolve… Lord Kansas, you have the vessel of a sorcerer.”

Across the table, Gaus extended his right hand to Kansas.

Kansas also extended his right hand, and the two firmly clasped hands.

“Well then, Sir Ains, take care.”

“Yes, I’m happy you went out of your way to see me off, Kansas-san.”

In front of the gate of the Brandy Marquess Family’s villa, located in Eastern Kirk, Ains and Kansas exchanged a handshake.

Sophia and Talidge stood beside Ains.

“Ains, try not to cause too much trouble over there, all right? There was technically that whole flow where you became my attendant, so sparks will end up flying over here too.”

“I know, I know. Even I understand that much common sense.”

Ains nodded confidently at Laika’s words.

However, neither Kansas nor Laika believed his words.

“Sophia-san, I’m counting on you, all right? Ains is definitely going to look like he’s about to run wild.”

“Of course. I am Lord Ains’s attendant, after all. Assisting my master is my role, so please leave it to me.”

“…No, you look like you’ll run wild together with him, though.”

Sophia sent Talidge, who had spoken sarcastically, a stern look. When she turned her eyes toward him, Talidge dodged it playfully.

The luggage, including the food they had received from the Brandy family, was stored inside the item box in the form of a ring that Ains wore.

Since they had told him to use it to support himself on the road, Ains decided to accept their kindness.

“I was in your care for quite a long time, Kansas-san. When I return from over there, I’ll bring back some souvenirs, so please look forward to it.”

“Hahaha, I have not gone to the port city in quite some time, so I will look forward to that.”

“Laika, you should also listen to the Sorcery Academy’s lectures in moderation and keep training the way I taught you, all right? If you’ve become at least a magic officer by the next time we meet, that’ll be perfect.”

“That’s true. I have a best friend I need to protect too, after all. I’d like to become strong enough that I can protect her with ease.”

Kansas gazed at his daughter, who declared that, with gentle eyes.

“Well then, I’ll be going!”

Ains started walking with Sophia and Talidge.

They walked through a residential district lined with magnificent mansions, and when they reached a corner, he looked back at the Brandy residence.

Laika had one arm on her hip, Kansas was standing upright and still seeing them off, and Riste remained with her head bowed behind them. The three of them looked small in the distance.

No matter the era, when setting out on a journey, there was always a strange feeling where excitement from anticipation mixed with a slight loneliness. Ains did not dislike that either.

Ains waved his left hand widely to them and turned the corner. Once they were out of sight, he immersed himself in the lingering feeling while thinking back on the time he had spent in the Brandy family’s care.

Life in the royal capital had been full of nothing but new discoveries.

Magical culture, food culture. The development of magical tools and their adaptation to daily life.

Ains’s expectations also swelled for the port city he was heading to next.

“Lord Ains, before we head to the port city, shall we have a meal in the common district? As they say, an empty stomach makes for something or other. Stamina is important for a long journey.”

Sophia said.

“You’re way too obsessed with food. What’s the point if the attendant travels more for gourmet food than the master does…?”

Talidge said with a shrug.

“Wh-what did you say!? It is not that I had any such intention, Talidge! You do not understand my concern for Lord Ains’s body—”

Sophia let her words run on rapidly as though rattling them off.

As usual, Sophia and Talidge’s argument would probably begin again.

Ains had been looking solemn as he fondly thought of his farewell to the royal capital, but that feeling was blown away by the two of them.

Ains thought that the journey to the port city this time would likely not be boring either.