94

“The war is over! The wild men have withdrawn!”

A young soldier ran down the street, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Someone grabbed the soldier and, as if unable to believe it, asked.

“They suddenly withdrew? That can’t be.”

“It’s true! Among those who returned early this morning with Sir Rupert was the leader of the wild men.”

“What? So Sir Rupert captured the enemy leader?”

“No, he apparently persuaded him. He ordered a withdrawal to the north already.”

A variety of emotions crossed the faces of those who heard this.

Some still doubted the wild men’s intentions, but most wore expressions of relief and joy.

“That’s a relief. Thank goodness!”

“At last we can return to Sturnhelm.”

Among the soldiers filling Northwatch, the news spread quickly.

The commotion carried its heat all the way to the south gate of the castle.

“News travels fast.”

Hamel, quietly leading a horse with his hood up, spoke in a low voice.

Rupert, also hooded, nodded with an awkward expression.

“It’s the news everyone has been waiting for.”

“Indeed.”

Hamel answered calmly and came to a sudden stop.

The guards, forewarned, had left the south gate wide open.

Hamel and his party, faces concealed, mounted the horses they had been leading.

Watching them, Rupert couldn’t hide his disappointment and spoke up.

“Must you leave so quickly? We haven’t even had a proper celebration yet.”

“I’m sorry.”

Hamel bowed politely.

Ono snorted and added.

“Yes, don’t worry about it. In truth, he’ll just shirk the tedious aftermath onto Lord Raikard and you, and run off.”

“Ah.”

Rupert opened his eyes wide and looked at Hamel.

Hamel glanced at Ono, swallowed, and replied.

“…That’s somewhat true.”

The situation at the castle was rather complicated now.

Early that morning.

Hamel and his group had arrived in Northwatch with the Black Wind.

Raikard was greatly surprised by their return.

They had prepared themselves for the possibility of never seeing them again, because the plan had been reckless.

That shock and gladness was even greater.

When they moved to the meeting room, Raikard asked what had happened.

Hamel, speaking for the party, briefly recounted the events.

David, who had created undead and chimeras in the northern shrine.

The barbarian alliance organized to confront them.

The three-day reprieve Hamel had earned from the Black Wind.

The dungeonization of the shrine.

And the fight with David.

Hamel downplayed his abilities as much as possible and described the events in an objective tone.

Raikard’s face reflected astonishment and joy as he listened, prompting exclamations.

Raikard praised them as heroes and even showed signs of pride in Rupert.

‘So far, so good, but…’

Hamel remembered what had come after and grimaced.

‘So what happened to the wild men? The monsters are gone, so they must have dispersed.’

‘Well…’

‘No. They did not disperse.’

‘What? Why… and who are you anyway?’

‘I am the leader of the group the barbarian alliance calls that mob. I am the Black Wind.’

‘…What?’

At that moment, Raikard’s face looked as if it might crack.

The alliance had not broken apart; instead it had clustered more tightly around the Black Wind.

If fear had once united them, now what bound them together was the camaraderie of overcoming danger together.

The tribes that had once threatened the alliance’s stability had been purged by the Black Wind, leaving over ten thousand hardened warriors who obey orders.

Their cohesion and organization were no longer sloppy as before.

Raikard, having grasped all this in the brief conversation, grew serious.

It put him in a difficult position as the one responsible for defending the north.

“Aren’t they still negotiating? Those two.”

“Yes. It probably won’t be resolved in a day or two.”

Rupert only then nodded as if understanding.

They had prevented war, but that didn’t mean everything was over.

If the clearly differing interests of the two groups couldn’t be reconciled and narrowed, war could break out again at any time.

Hamel had no intention of getting involved in such a long and uncomfortable struggle.

It was no longer his estate from now on.

Ono, who had been quietly listening, spoke up abruptly.

“I don’t know what you’re all worrying about. If Rupert and the Black Wind pair up, won’t everything be solved?”

“Eh? What do you mean…”

Rupert shook his head in surprise as if he’d never considered it.

“Who would want someone like me?”

“…Foolish fellow. You’re worse than Hamel.”

Ono clicked his tongue, and at that moment.

Hamel, who had been silently insulted, swallowed his resentment and spoke slowly.

“Sir Rupert. You are the head of Glenval and are meant to be the guardian of the north.”

“That is…”

“Whether by duty or by birthright, it doesn’t matter. The worth of that position isn’t diminished by those things alone. If your value diminishes, there’s only one reason.”

“…”

“It’s when you yourself lower your own value.”

Rupert could not raise his head at Hamel’s words.

Hamel tapped his shoulder.

“Have confidence.”

Rupert nodded vigorously.

“…I will. To be worthy of my position.”

“Good.”

Hamel slowly changed the subject.

It was truly time to leave now.

“Take care of your health.”

Hamel bowed his head and slowly urged his horse forward.

The rest of the party followed behind.

From behind the departing group, Rupert made a vow.

Hamel had protected not only Rupert’s life but things more precious than life itself.

For him, no sacrifice was frightening.

If the day came when Hamel needed him.

Even if it ended in ruin.

He would help Hamel without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Hamel walked along the road, enjoying the pleasant early-summer breeze.

Spring had already come to an end.

Judging by how much of the northern snow had melted, it would be full summer by the time they reached Haidern.

How would the estate have changed?

He had been away for less than half a year, but he was curious about how the estate had changed during that time.

Hamel was slightly surprised at himself for having such thoughts.

‘This feeling… isn’t bad at all.’

He had never waited for the coming tomorrow like this before.

His steps were lighter than ever.

---

“I can’t believe it. This is Haidern?”

Ono muttered with a look of genuine surprise.

‘Indeed.’

Hamel nodded in agreement with Ono’s reaction.

Merchants bargaining over salt quarried from the salt mine.

Inexpensive, high-quality goods brought in from the harbor.

Farmers cultivating the fields, and disciplined soldiers patrolling the estate and its roads.

The estate had developed beyond recognition during Hamel’s absence.

He could hardly believe this was Haidern, which until last year had been on the brink of ruin to the point the term “failing estate” seemed generous.

The improved estate didn’t differ much from how it had been when Hamel was a child.

Of course it still lacked a lot, but its noticeable growth was undeniable.

Such progress could not have been achieved overnight.

Hamel recalled, step by step, the things he had done.

Making sure the citizens did not starve or fall ill throughout the winter.

Strengthening security so they could devote themselves to their work.

Improving the marketability of salt and drawing merchants to the estate.

Further, raising the estate’s name and investing money to build infrastructure.

All these things meshed like gears and had now finally begun to show their shine.

‘It seems the hardships of last winter were not in vain.’

Hamel felt something welling up in his chest.

It was a full feeling that could be called pride or, better yet, joy.

Daniel, and Rena as well, wore expressions indicating they were quite impressed by the estate’s appearance.

Daniel snorted and asked Rena.

“How is it, Rena? This is the priest’s estate you were so eager to see.”

“…Yes, it’s a pleasant place to live.”

Perhaps she remembered being drunk.

Rena passed Daniel with a slightly stiff expression.

Since losing consciousness after getting drunk at the feast, she had avoided alcohol entirely.

Hamel shook his head and scolded Daniel.

“Sir Daniel.”

“It was a joke. There’s just no teasing as satisfying as with Ono.”

Ono, pretending not to care, twitched his ear.

Then he snapped his head around and glared at Daniel.

“…What did you say?”

“Ah, did you hear? I didn’t mean for you to hear, though.”

“Is that so? Your mouth seems to move on its own, so I’ll sew it shut. Then it’ll move less, won’t it?”

“I’ll pass.”

Ono fumed while Daniel teased him.

Hamel urged his horse toward the mansion, listening to the now-routine bickering between them.

Clop clop clop

With their hoods up, no one recognized Hamel.

Thanks to that, Hamel leisurely rode up to the mansion on the hill through the lively streets.

The two guards standing at the gate, as if waiting, swung the main door wide open.

When the large gate opened, a well-kept garden was revealed beyond it.

Many familiar faces had come out to greet them.

“Welcome.”

Antonio the priest, the estate’s representative.

Arandel, head of the Blue Mane clan, who handled the estate’s internal affairs and management.

Dain, the captain of the guard, and his foster son Den.

They had all gathered upon hearing Hamel’s arrival.

“Have you all been well?”

“Yes, thanks to Hamel’s care.”

Bowing in greeting, Antonio smiled and raised his head.

He was still young, but experience had already settled into his face.

Hamel gave a faint smile as he looked at the reliable man.

“That’s good. Has the estate been trouble-free?”

“Yes. Things are running smoothly. Benjamin has been working without rest.”

Benjamin, who had left the Lawrence Trading Company, had, as promised, established a trade guild directly under Haidern.

Following Hamel’s arrangements, he had traveled north and was making a tidy profit by monopolizing trade in cheaply purchased weapons from the Sorn estate and the salt that had piled up unsold in Haidern.

The estate would grow even wealthier going forward.

Hamel nodded with satisfaction.

“Very well. Anything else?”

“Not particularly. Because the lord has become so famous, many have come calling and tried to ingratiate themselves…”

Unlike when the estate was declining, many people had recently taken notice of Haidern.

Some because of the estate’s development potential.

Others were interested in Hamel, the estate’s lord.

From the Mage Tower to the north, his deeds had been nothing short of an adventurer’s legend.

“Everyone seems eager to be close to Hamel.”

“Handle them tactfully.”

Hamel honestly had no intention of forging connections with them.

Though he had become lord, he did not want factions aligning with him or to be entangled in lords’ interests.

“I’ll direct them to the headquarters.”

Antonio nodded.

But then, as if remembering something, he spoke up.

“Ah, but… Lady Irene Rengbaster, the lord of Rengbaster, has asked several times about Hamel’s return. Shall I give her a courtesy visit as well?”

Irene Rengbaster?

Hamel paused.

Why would she be seeking him now?

Hamel shook his head in puzzlement.

“Rengbaster is different. It’s a matter directly related to the estate. Send them a formal notice of my arrival.”

“Yes.”

Having received Antonio’s answer, Hamel turned his gaze to Arandel.

Hamel recalled the Blue Mane clan, who would be staying in the estate after encountering people connected to the old gods in the north.

“Arandel. Is the Blue Mane clan doing well?”

“Yes, my lord. Thanks to your consideration, everyone has settled in well.”

Having relocated to Haidern’s forest, they appeared more open than before.

They sought new jobs to integrate into the estate, and since many were excellent hunters, most were recruited as soldiers for the estate.

Thanks to Hamel’s directive to invest heavily in the military, they were able to hire them all.

“Dain. How are the soldiers doing?”

“Yes! Including myself, there are five knight-level troops. The standing force is about one hundred, and half of them are hunters from the Blue Mane clan.”

For an estate with a population of about two thousand, that was an unusually large number of soldiers…

It’s fine.

The estate’s growth rate was remarkable.

The estate’s population was increasing rapidly, and the better the security, the more prosperous the estate would become.

The soldiers were well-armed with equipment bought cheaply from Sorn.

With proper training they would become formidable troops even compared to other estates.

“I’ll come see them in person later. Please prepare a place.”

“Yes!”

Just then, as Dain gave a crisp salute.

Pitter patter

Something darted across the garden.

A black-footed rabbit.

It was the ancient evil god sealed in the salt mine, Azidahaka.

Judging by its appearance, it had been behaving well.

Perhaps it liked life here.

It had grown plump.

Ono leapt from his horse and grabbed Azidahaka’s ear.

“You rascal. How much weight have you put on while I wasn’t looking? Aren’t you a pig, not a rabbit?”

“Peep!”

Azidahaka snorted at the comment, turned, and kicked Ono in the face.

“Gah.”

Startled by the unexpected attack and letting go, Ono watched as Azidahaka ran off.

“You, you little… If I catch you, I’ll roast you as a rabbit!”

Enraged, Ono chased after the creature straight toward the mansion.

Those watching burst into laughter at the sight.

Despite returning after a long time, there was no sense of awkwardness.

Is this what it feels like to come home?

Hamel tilted his head at the ticklish feeling and eagerly took in the scene with his eyes.

So he could remember it for a long time.