A Fragment Of A Bond With The Crown Prince

“Oops—if I keep you too long, that’d be bad.”

If he lingered too long, Aurora and Priscilla would find them, ruining Jonah’s quiet departure.

Considering their obsession with Jonah, it would definitely become troublesome. With that in mind, Carlo ended the conversation.

“No, it’s fine. More importantly…”

Jonah handed over the letters he had written earlier.

“I know we already said our goodbyes, but inside are my thanks for Aurora and Priscilla. Please make sure they receive them.”

“Yeah, I got it.”

“And also… about that magitech device.”

“Magitech device?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Carlo look puzzled, Jonah nodded.

“That device was created secretly by Duke Langheim. That alone qualifies as rebellion against the Empire.”

There were two possible reasons for secretly developing such technology:

One: to create a superior weapon and use it when the time comes.

The other: to sell it for profit at a high price.

The Langheim house was one of the five great ducal houses—they had the power to harbor imperial ambitions.

Selling prototypes to other nations—letting them test unstable weapons—would be a convenient double benefit.

Foreign trade brings wealth, and any war-minded nation would desperately want Imperial-grade magitech. They would gladly trade with Langheim.

“In any case, this can’t be overlooked. So I want to entrust the device to someone I trust more than anyone, and ask them to report this to the Empire.”

“Well, since the serpent monster’s gone, we don’t need the device anymore, so fine… But who’s this ‘someone you trust more than anyone’?”

“Yes… Count Hagenberg and his daughter, Lady Marguerite.”

Marguerite—the girl Jonah had opened his heart to on his first journey.

Even now, just saying her name made his chest warm.

“Heeey… Lady Marguerite, huh?”

Seeing Jonah’s expression, Carlo grinned knowingly.

“…Do you perhaps know Lady Marguerite?”

“No, not exactly…”

Jonah stiffened at the mention of Marguerite’s name, making Carlo laugh even more.

Jonah didn’t realize it, but the reaction was jealousy. It was obvious he had feelings for her.

“I see, I see. Well, good luck.”

“Come on! Don’t tease me!”

Carlo kept smirking, giving Jonah a warm, teasing look.

Jonah protested in frustration.

“Alright, alright. I’ll deliver the device to Count Hagenberg like you asked.”

“P-please do…”

“Leave it to me.”

As Carlo thumped his chest confidently, Jonah eyed him skeptically.

He trusted Carlo, but worried he might say something unnecessary and upset Marguerite.

“Alright, those two are probably on their way.”

“Y-yeah…”

With the conversation over, Jonah pointed at the floor and swiftly drew a magic circle.

And then—

“Mr. Carlo… truly, thank you for everything.”

“Yeah. …Jonah, if something happens—or even if nothing happens—come back anytime. Even if you being more talented than me pisses me off.”

“A-ah… yes!”

Carlo scratched his nose, embarrassed, and Jonah beamed with joy at his words.

After all, Jonah—once called a ‘failure’—had just been told the opposite.

“Well then… see you.”

“Mr. Carlo… please stay well.”

“Idiot, that’s my line. Don’t do anything reckless.”

With Carlo’s wry smile as the final image, Jonah teleported back to the border forest.

“Hehehe…”

Remembering what Carlo said, Jonah smiled softly.

This journey too had given Jonah wonderful encounters.

“Where should I go next…”

Taking a book from his leather bag, he began scanning for the next legend.

“Oh my. If you’d stayed in Benedia, you could’ve lived the rest of your life comfortably as a hero, you know?”

“—!?”

That woman’s voice—the one from his dreams—suddenly echoed.

Jonah looked around, but no one was there.

“They knew your origins and your illness and were still kind to you. You even had two beautiful maids. What’s there to be dissatisfied about?”

“I-I’m not dissatisfied… I just… want to see the next legend…”

“Oh, stop pretending. In the end, you’re just afraid of being abandoned again once you’re close to dying.”

“…………………………”

Struck directly in his deepest fear, Jonah bit his lip.

He knew Carlo wouldn’t abandon him… yet the thought of being cast aside someday still terrified him.

But—

“Even so… I’ll keep traveling.”

“…Is that so.”

With that final whisper, the woman’s voice faded.

“…Let’s go.”

Gripping his leather bag, Jonah walked deeper into the forest with stiff steps.

—Leaving behind a small fragment of a bond with that playful, easygoing, yet truly strong, kind, and dependable man… like an older brother.