At the words “Mitchell’s father,” the mercenaries welcomed Hales warmly. Their attitude was as though they were greeting their own father. Kasim bowed his head respectfully in greeting.
“It is an honor to meet you. We should have come to pay our respects long ago…”
A broad smile spread across Hales’s face.
“Not at all. Just as Mitchell said, you truly are brave warriors. I am deeply grateful that you accepted our Mitchell as one of your comrades.”
“You are far too kind. Rather, we are the ones who owe Mitchell a great debt.”
From the mercenaries’ manner, Hales could tell that they truly regarded Mitchell as a comrade. Without realizing it, his shoulders rose with pride.
‘That boy. I thought his peculiar hunger for advancement would make it hard for him to form good relationships, but that was needless worry. To think he has grown so splendidly…’
Hales’s thoughts were cut off by a sudden shout from behind him.
“Uncle Hales!”
A small figure came running like the wind and threw her arms around Hales. It was Juliana. The moment he saw her, Hales’s face filled with joy.
“You were safe, Lady Juliana.”
“Uncle. Waaah!”
As soon as she saw Hales, Juliana burst into tears. It was only natural. Hales had been the reliable captain of Karsel’s guard who had looked after her since childhood, and their relationship could be considered closer than that of an actual uncle and niece. As if all the sorrow she had endured until now came surging up at once, Juliana’s crying went on without end. The one left awkward by this was Hales. He quietly patted Juliana on the back.
“Please stop crying, my lady.”
“Hic… sob…”
But Juliana’s tears did not easily stop. As Hales struggled to soothe her, his expression suddenly changed. He looked at Mitchell with sharp eyes.
“Don’t tell me you…”
Mitchell, turning pale, waved his hands frantically and stepped back.
“N-no, sir. I have never been rude to her.”
“If you had not behaved insolently, why would the young lady be this sorrowful? Stop making excuses and confess honestly.”
“I-I’m innocent. Truly.”
Sparks flew from Hales’s eyes.
“Hmph. This brat still… It seems you’ll only speak the truth after a sound beating with a club. Go find a club and bring it here at once.”
Mitchell’s vision went dark. The joy of reunion had lasted only a moment. Because of that foxlike Juliana, his father’s fiery temper had finally exploded… For Mitchell, calming his father’s anger was the most urgent matter, and there was only one way to do that. He turned around listlessly.
“Understood, Father. I will go find a club.”
“Of course you will.”
Hales cracked his knuckles one after another, showing off his bulging muscles. Though this was the son he had met again after so long, he had not the slightest intention of overlooking wrongdoing. Had it not always been Hales’s belief that one must not spare the rod in educating one’s children? Just then, an unexpected savior appeared. Astonishingly, that savior was Juliana.
“No, Uncle. I wasn’t crying because of Mitchell. I was just happy to see you. Mitchell hasn’t done anything wrong to me.”
“What?”
Hales was startled. Was this not Juliana, who would frame Mitchell and put him through hardship whenever she had the chance? Because of that, even when Hales knew his son was innocent, he had no choice but to treat him strictly. Yet now she was unexpectedly defending Mitchell… Naturally, Hales could not believe it.
“No, my lady. That fellow must have behaved insolently and hurt your feelings. It is obvious without even seeing it.”
“That’s not true. Rather, he saved me several times when I was in danger. Mitchell has done nothing wrong.”
“…”
Looking at Hales, who was left utterly speechless, Juliana smiled gently.
“You know my personality, Uncle. If Mitchell had done something wrong, would I be the type to stay quiet?”
“That is true, but…”
Hales shook his head, his expression saying he had no idea what was going on. His anger had subsided somewhat. After a moment, he looked at Mitchell, who had been watching the situation with an awkward expression, his gaze now softened to a degree.
“Leave the club be. Hearing what the young lady says, it seems you have not done anything particularly wrong. I will postpone your punishment for now.”
Only then did Mitchell, who had been anxiously watching how things unfolded, let out a breath of relief. He had no idea why Juliana had defended him, but for the moment, the immediate crisis had been extinguished. Mitchell gave Juliana one suspicious glance, then cautiously approached his father. Hales gave him an embarrassed smile.
“I was a little hasty. Understand that.”
Mitchell’s tone had become somewhat sullen.
“Father, you’re always like that, aren’t you? Beating someone brutally first without considering the circumstances is your unique method.”
“What did you just say?”
When Hales’s gaze suddenly turned fierce, Mitchell flinched. Thinking that he must not provoke his father any further, Mitchell quickly changed the subject.
“I was just talking to myself. Anyway, what brings you here?”
Fortunately, Hales did not seem inclined to pursue the matter any further.
“I came out to learn news of you and the young lady. Recently, incomprehensible things have been happening one after another in Karsel, so His Majesty told me to investigate.”
“Even so, you should have brought soldiers with you. What were you going to do if something bad happened while you were traveling alone…”
Hales smiled faintly and lightly rapped Mitchell on the head.
“You brat. Are you looking down on your father now that you’ve become a Sword Master? I may not look it, but your father was once a proud royal knight of Penslot. Bandit rabble targeted me several times, but thanks to them I was able to gather quite a bit of travel money.”
“Hahaha, Father, really…”
The mercenaries also laughed heartily along with Mitchell. They had treated him cautiously because of his past as a royal knight of Penslot, but Mitchell’s father was more easygoing than they had expected. And seeing him try to beat his Sword Master son without the slightest hesitation, they could fully understand how Mitchell had acquired such solid fundamentals.
‘Of course. Growing up strictly under a father like that is why his basics are so firm…’
After laughter had gone around once, Mitchell looked at Hales.
“But what do you mean by incomprehensible things? Has something happened in Karsel?”
“The truth is…”
Hales explained the recent events that had occurred in Karsel. He described in detail how powerful nations that had normally never spared Karsel a glance had sent envoys one after another asking to form alliances, and how, though it had been limited to a single occasion, the White Dragon Katroi had become Karsel’s guardian dragon. Mitchell nodded as though it made sense.
“I can understand why Lord Katroi did that. You may not know this, Father, but Lord Katroi is also a member of our mercenary corps.”
This time it was Hales’s turn to widen his eyes.
“A White Dragon is a member of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps?”
“That’s right. It is a little strange that there’s a dragon in the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Corps, but it’s true. You’ll be able to see him soon. He likes drinking so much that he went off to have a cup.”
As if he still could not adjust to it, Hales asked again, stammering.
“How were you able to take a dragon as a comrade?”
“It was thanks to Juliana. Because she stepped forward, Lord Katroi was able to survive… Gah.”
With a sharp crack, sparks flew from Mitchell’s eyes. Hales had struck him without the slightest mercy.
“You brat! It wouldn’t be enough even if you used honorifics for the princess, but ‘she’? What kind of insolent way of speaking is that?”
Mitchell clutched his head with a tearful face.
‘Damn it. First Damon, and now Father too…’
The words “Is my head the village drum?” nearly slipped out reflexively, but he shut his mouth with all his might. Pride could only be utterly powerless before force.
“B-but Juliana has already become a member of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps, hasn’t she? Regardless of what her status was before, once she became a member of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps, we have to treat each other as equals.”
Hales’s eyes widened.
“Eh? What are you talking about?”
Juliana stepped forward and began to explain.
“What Mitchell said is true. I volunteered to become a member of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps.”
“No, what are you saying? A princess raised so delicately is becoming a mercenary? If His Majesty in Karsel were to learn of this…”
“It doesn’t matter if he knows. To be honest, is Karsel truly a kingdom? I’ll probably receive far better treatment as a member of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps than as the princess of Karsel, which is no more than a mountain village in another country. The reason those great powers have come forward asking to ally with Karsel is precisely because Mitchell and I are members of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps. Do you understand?”
“Huh. To think such a thing…”
Hales wore a dazed expression. He seemed at a loss as to what to do. Of course, what Juliana said was true. In his eyes as well, Karsel was not a kingdom, but merely a pleasant mountain village to live in. But as the captain of the guard, he could not readily acknowledge that truth. Hales looked at Juliana with sorrowful eyes.
‘It seems you have tasted much of the bitterness of the world. You truly have changed.’
He did not know what Juliana and Mitchell had experienced, but one thing was certain: the two of them had changed greatly since they left Karsel. Leaving aside Mitchell, who had become calm and bold, Juliana’s change was unmistakable. In other words, she was no longer the immature Juliana of the past. Though her characteristic stubbornness remained the same.
“Please tell Father. I have already resolved to share life and death with the members of Kasim’s Mercenary Corps. As you know well, my stubbornness will never be broken.”
“U-understood.”
Feeling that Juliana’s resolve was firm, Hales had no choice but to nod. Even so, he was deeply troubled over how he should report this matter to the king. After thinking it over and over, Hales looked at Mitchell with a fierce gaze.
“From now on, you must protect Princess Juliana with your life. Do you understand?”
‘I’m the one who should be protected, though?’
Those words surged all the way up to his throat, but Mitchell suppressed them with all his might.
“I will engrave it upon my bones and never forget.”
“I trust you.”
Seeing his father nod with a satisfied look, Mitchell shook his head. Just then, a thought flashed through his mind.
“Oh, right, Father. There is something good.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
Meeting his father’s puzzled gaze, Mitchell puffed out his chest.
“You know full well that I’ve always been a filial son, don’t you? This son of yours has, for once, prepared a fine gift for you, Father. It was so difficult that I cannot possibly explain it all in words. But what matters is that you will be exceedingly pleased. Hah! Where else in the world would you find a son like this? If this isn’t filial piety, what is?”
Watching Mitchell shamelessly heap praise upon himself, Juliana let out a long sigh. Birds of a feather flocked together, as they said, but she simply could not understand how Mitchell was coming to resemble Damon so much.