The Knight of Clingy Young Ladies

026.

What was thought to be the greatest obstacle, Sinat’s case, turned out to be smoother than expected.

– …Hey! You have to promise to come back this time!

The resurrection of the Dranunus Family was also something Sinat longed for.

Since her initial move toward the Lacatus family was for that very purpose, it wasn’t hard to understand that things had taken an unexpected turn.

Kalen, to whom she smiled and conveyed a farewell, looked as if she had made some kind of decision, but it seemed as though the approach of the family’s revival complicated her thoughts.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good.”

The northern region is a place where combat frequently occurs.

It’s difficult to easily withdraw manpower from there.

Even if it’s just one person coming for Kalen, it isn’t that small a number in this context.

This could be seen as the northern region showing as much courtesy as possible.

Kalen was preparing various supplies while waiting for the person from the north to arrive.

He already knew what to prepare from the last time he visited the place.

“Kalen.”

“Yes?”

Blamia called Kalen by diminutives such as “brat” or “you,” revealing a lot about his personality in just one term. Despite the fact that there wasn’t anyone around who called him by his proper name, Kalen has grown accustomed to this treatment.

Still, it surprised him. Recently, Blamia had been showing a frequently troubled expression.

It was especially pronounced when he looked at Kalen. If his previous worries were only about projecting the tragedy of his grandson, it had now developed into an overwhelming friction against the memories they’ve built.

Thus, calling him by his name had become a somewhat novel act.

“Thank you. Truly I mean it.”

“Yes.”

Polite words like “take care”- were not fitting for Blamia. He was always that irascible and brusque old man. Talking incessantly without order didn’t suit his temperament.

Thus, Blamia had a hard time expressing what he wanted to say. Kalen, too, understood Blamia well…or rather, he understood Blamia’s heart.

From benefactor to master and then to something else, their relationship was transforming into something indescribable.

“Is everything alright?”

At that moment, while a slight silence was enveloping them, someone knocked on the door.

Judging by the time and situation, it was undoubtedly the person from the north.

“It looks like they’ve arrived.”

“I’m leaving now, Master.”

“Alright.”

Thus, the boy headed to the north once again.

The old man could only look at the boy’s back with concern.

*

Intimidating.

No better word could describe the man in front of him.

The north could be seen as one of the last places where swords are still regarded higher than magic. The long, deep scar on the left cheek made it easy to guess that he was indeed from the north.

Moreover, he was stoic. Ever since guiding Kalen to the carriage, he hadn’t uttered a single word. He simply crossed his arms and dozed off.

It wasn’t all unpleasant.

Kalen was not much of a talkative person either. Though he had grown slightly more conversational due to Sinat and Eliana, he was fundamentally regarded as calm and taciturn. This kind of quietness was more to his liking.

‘Guard?’

The task he would undertake in the north was also related to guarding. Basically, protecting someone, most likely a high-ranked child from the north.

Since an internal strife in the north had been reported, the role of a guard didn’t sound too surprising.

There had been no direct confrontations when he was with Eliana. The last time he interacted with someone was during a checkpoint on a northern road.

This journey had an additional goal: breaking the third level. Thus, Kalen wanted to face as many opponents as possible. He had enough theory but sought more battle experience. In this peaceful time, finding combat was hard, but he held some expectations due to the northern region.

The woman he encountered at the checkpoint came to mind.

Her well-developed physique suggested a mature woman.

‘…Wine.’

The only thing he recalled was the color of her hair resembling red wine. He had thought she was likely someone from the Hiart Family. Now, the thought that he might be assigned as her guard made him grin.

“What’s so funny?”

“Aah! You startled me!”

A harsh voice as fitting as his appearance.

The man had already opened his eyes and was glaring at Kalen with his arms crossed.

“Are you mocking the northern carriage?”

“Huh?”

“This is no ordinary rig. It’s something that has survived thirty years in the north. You’re too young to even comprehend something like this.”

Kalen had no choice but to cancel his words.

Far from taciturn, it was quite the opposite.

Suddenly wide awake, the man began spitting out words.

What’s worse, all of it was based on completely mistaken assumptions.

As Kalen kept being misjudged, his disposition also got disturbed.

He hadn’t said anything, yet he was being pressured by assumptions for the first time.

It wasn’t outright criticism, but rather the sincerity behind the look and tone that made it even more bothersome.

“Nothing like that.”

“Huh?”

“I wasn’t laughing at the carriage.”

“Hmph. All that oily stuff you’ve been stuffing down your throat makes your words slippery. In short, you’re a liar. Let me tell you, this carriage…”

“Ah.”

Something was terribly wrong.

Kalen couldn’t help but feel that.

*

“I apologize for misunderstanding.”

“…It’s fine.”

“Still, I should say something about this carriage. It’s the soul of the north…”

“Oh, we’ve arrived.”

Misunderstandings were eventually resolved, and as his body was gradually cooling down, the carriage stopped. When Kalen uncovered the patched window, surely enough, everything was covered in snow.

“Come out.”

The man kicked open the carriage door and jumped down.

Although it could’ve been done gently, it was clear he wasn’t an ordinary person.

“What should I call you?”

“Hm?”

Kalen followed the man who had already walked far ahead, his footprints clearly visible on the white snow.

“Ah. Come to think of it, we haven’t introduced ourselves. Call me Craeders.”

“I am Kalen.”

“Right, Kalen. Follow me.”

The entire speech during the carriage ride had, amusingly, omitted his name.

Kalen heaved a sigh and chased after Craeders.

The wall extending endlessly.

Gigantic enough to almost be called a city wall, it separated the parts of the north.

Already the inland that could be considered the northern region had been reached, but beyond this wall truly lay the ‘north’.

They had a developed culture and upheld traditions. It was a place where swords were more respected than magic and where combat could break out anywhere and at any time.

Soon Craeders talked with the soldiers guarding the city wall, and the massive gate opened with a loud creak. Turning his head slightly, Craeders said,

“Welcome to the north.”

It was a kingdom built on the snowy plains.

“You’re from outside, aren’t you?”

“He’s handsome though?”

“Isn’t he kinda young?”

“He’s got a staff, how cute.”

“To think Craders Knight is here too. What a pity…”

Behind the city wall was a village.

While villages like this could be found easily in other places, the real truth was that it was one of the safest places.

After all, the wall faced inward toward the inland region of the north—not the border.

In the north, it was the rearmost area.

Further inside after passing through the wall, there were military bases. Right at the end appeared the mansion of the Hiart Family.

Although even that place could be considered a front-line area, hardly anyone dared to provoke the Claire Empire, so peace was somehow maintained. Currently, the biggest headache for the north was the monsters. The clear disparity in their numbers compared to other regions resulted in accumulated damages.

Amid that situation, the domestic situation of the north was not stable either. It was bad enough that people used the term ‘civil strife,’ making the north practically an unstable kingdom.

“Kal… what was it again? Just Kal. Actually, I find it easier this way.”

Craeders lightly tapped his sword at his waist and grinned.

While Kalen never expected anyone other than Sinat would call him like that, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. It felt like the first familiar thing in a place filled with unfamiliarities.

Kalen looked at the women gathering around, whispering to each other. It was a very old-fashioned village that seemed to lack the modern touch, but it was oddly endearing.

The women smiled and waved their hands when their eyes met Kalen’s.

“Hey, watch out Kal. They’re unmarried women; they’ll sweep you off your feet in a blink.”

“…”

“Haha! I’m just kidding, Kal! No need to look so serious. They generally don’t kidnap outsiders as companions. They’re just teasing because there are no men in the rearmost areas.”

Then is it true that they kidnap men for marriage?

Kalen felt a bit dizzy.

“Hm… There’s a culture in the north that you don’t necessarily need to know about.”

“Culture…”

“Still, don’t take the wine bottle if offered.”

Saying that, Craeders strode with his long strides. Kalen took a moment to quietly look around the village and then followed.

The cheerful laughter of the women slowly faded.

Each time he passed through a village, the surroundings dramatically changed.

The number of buildings resembling barracks far outweighed houses. They were getting closer to the Hiart Family.

After passing the last barrack and walking for about fifteen minutes…

“Ah, we’re here.”

At the end of Craeders’ statement, a colossal mansion came into view.

“Is it a castle?”

“Hahaha. Does it look like one?”

“Yes.”

“Depending on how you see it, I suppose. As a reference, that mansion has preserved the soul of the Hiart family as they’ve protected the north through generations… Damn it! Where is this brat going?”

Once the mansion’s door, which resembled a castle’s, was opened, the inside appeared unexpectedly peaceful. It was more reminiscent of the cold weather than the warmth of people.

Luxury is a sin in the north.

Making even more winter coats was more helpful to life.

Magic to counter the cold was a common method, but that’s what someone who doesn’t know the north would say. Tradition is more important than anything in the north.

Breaking traditions by choosing magic over swords after centuries of preservation was never going to be easy.

And it was precisely because the Hiart family had been the rulers of the north for generations that this tradition could be maintained.

It also speaks to the greatness of magic that it managed to break through this strong traditional bond.

The north was essentially a different world divided by the long city wall.

“Hey, you. Opening the door like that, you’ll get scolded by Grandpa Makbel.”

“Is that the head butler?”

“Uh-huh. That cranky grandpa insists on everything being perfect. He’s got some weird eyeglass covering one eye like you…”

“Craeders.”

“Huh!”

That one word from behind was undoubtedly an elder’s but carried a certain weight, different from someone like Blamia.

“H-Hey, Old man…”

“Is this boy the young man the Lord mentioned?”

“Uh, uh! It’s him! His name… it’s Kal! Let’s go with Kal!”

“…Kalen.”

The old man referred to as Makbel certainly looked strict.

His pointy mustache seemed to confirm that impression.

“Craeders, you should leave. I’m tasked with guiding the Lord.”

“Understood.”

Craeders let out sighs of relief as if he’d been spared death, covering his mouth and whispering into Kalen’s ear,

“Watch out, Kal. This old man doesn’t like anything that goes against etiquette… it’s worse than death.”

“Are you coming or not?”

“Alright then, I’m off!”

With that, Craeders quickly disappeared.

Makbel, meanwhile, adjusted his pointy mustache and scrutinized Kalen.

“Follow me.”

His slightly hunched back spoke volumes about the long years of dedication.

“Are we going to see Duke Hiart?”

“Hmm. I might answer ‘yes,’ but we probably have different ideas about who the Duke of Hiart is.”

What did he mean by that?

If speaking of the Duke of Hiart, one would primarily think of the head of the family, wouldn’t one?

Was this related to the ongoing civil strife? Kalen cautiously guessed and asked again, but received the same answer.

“He may become the Duke of Hiart.”

Eventually giving up on getting a straight answer, Kalen quietly followed Makbel. The internal layout of the mansion was indeed expansive, justifying the initial misconception of it being a castle. Following the maze-like corridors, Kalen soon realized how disorienting the place actually was.

After some time,

Once they turned a certain corner, Makbel finally spoke.

“We’ve arrived.”

At the end of the dim corridor lay a small room. It was eerily quiet, and it seemed inappropriate to be the head’s chamber—it was somewhat too small.

Even considering the north’s aversion to luxury, the idea of the head of the house being in such a complex place and the grandeur expected from a duke’s room felt oddly incongruous.

Kalen approached the door cautiously, feeling an unfamiliar sense of tension. After adjusting his mind, he opened the door, and

“Hi?”

An unexpected person greeted him with a casual hello.

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