102. The Four Heroes Mobilize!
It was probably because the name had been so intensely burned into my memory as a child, but Lepia still remembered that name clearly.
“Hic. Hic….”
“Princess. Don’t cry.”
When she fell down while playing at her maternal grandparents’ house, just like the other kids, Lepia burst into tears.
Whether it was because she was in pain, or because she was sad, or because she wanted them to pay attention to her.
Whenever she cried, the people from her maternal grandparents’ house would come and comfort her. Then she would stop crying or cry even more. Lepia’s reactions were divided into two big categories.
If they stopped, the people from her maternal grandparents’ house would also split their responses. If she stopped, they would say “good job,” and if she continued crying, they would use various methods to stop her crying.
“Princess. Stop! If you don’t stop quickly, a scary being will come!”
“Huh?”
“Baba Yaga is coming! A scary being that appears out of nowhere and snatches you away with invisible hands! Because of that being, the uncles and grandfather here would have been in big trouble!”
To the young Lepia, her uncles and grandfather were all sturdy knights. It was said that all the people from her maternal grandparents’ house were the brave heroes of Lasquer.
But these knights were in big trouble? To the young Lepia at that time, it was an incomprehensible thing to say.
Time passed, and as Lepia grew a bit older, she decided to ask what she had been curious about for a while.
“Uncle, what exactly is this Baba Yaga?”
“It’s a scary ghost, princess.”
“Hey, don’t joke! What is Baba Yaga!”
“It is a ghost, princess! It’s a really terrifying existence!”
“Uncle!!”
No matter how much she pouted and begged, the people from her maternal grandparents’ house seemed unwilling to talk about the existence called Baba Yaga. So, at first, she thought they were just teasing her.
But as she grew older, year by year, Lepia realized that it wasn’t just her maternal grandparents playing a prank.
They were truly afraid. While being afraid, they also held a sense of awe. That was why they didn’t casually talk about that existence.
Even the brave knights who were recognized in Lasquer. Because of just one person.
What exactly was Baba Yaga? Lepia decided to find out with curiosity.
And a while later, she got the hint from the war with the Empire that she had been born before.
“The war in which my grandfather and uncles participated… the people who were active in the Empire at that time… and a noble from the Empire who single-handedly defeated a master and brutally crushed the Lasquer knights….”
It wasn’t a lot of records. It was inevitable because this was a record of defeat that Lasquer wanted to hide. To erase.
But it was huge. This noble from the Empire was beating up the Lasquer knights like a divine hammer.
Among the victims were, of course, several of Lepia’s maternal grandparents’ people.
After seeing that, Lepia finally realized the identity of the person she was looking for.
The person whom her maternal grandparents feared and respected. A being so powerful that they almost treated him like a ghost. A strong person who even the knights admired despite being the knight among knights.
“Baba Yaga.”
Lasquer called that person’s name the monster of Friedrich.
And after quite some time from that, right now.
“Friedrich County. Count Friedrich! No way?! Ba, Baba Yaga?!”
Lepia finally saw the real thing of what had been half a legend until now.
To be more precise, the real son of it.
*
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, this world has many parts that connect with my previous life.
Medals of Honor, Cross Medals, Martial Merit Medals, Legion of Honor.
‘…No, damn it. Thinking about it, why is it only talking about medals? I’m going crazy.’
Anyway, that’s it. And I could easily understand what the title ‘Baba Yaga’ that the princess said just before meant in what feeling and what meaning, because it connects with my previous life.
“……”
First of all, it’s definitely not a good meaning. It means it’s not a name that the best definition of righteous, honorable, and brave knight in Lasquer would give.
Instead, it’s likely the opposite. An unresolvable existence, a terrifying enemy, a monster you never want to face again. Something like that.
Seeing that title coming out of the princess’s mouth, I feel like I really did what I did when my father was young.
‘Father. Did you do all that and then ask me to take care of the princess from Lasquer?’
If your granddaughter from the place where you threw a punch is not scared of me, that would be good.
With a sigh inside, I adjusted my posture slightly. To catch up with the princess Lepia who was about to run away in the exact opposite direction after being frightened… but…
“Oh my. Yes, yes! That’s right! It’s Count Friedrich’s Karl Adelheit! Count Friedrich! Why do I remember now?! I was such a fool! Oh my. Oh my!”
“……?”
What? I thought she would be terrified and run away. But it wasn’t?
“L, Lepia Princess?”
“Yes. Ah, ah! No. Please don’t call me princess. Treating me as a student here should be enough!”
“But….”
Because I was afraid of diplomatic disputes later with that. Especially not with some random person, but with someone who received the Medal of Honor, if the rumor spreads that he treated a foreign princess casually, I can’t even imagine what would happen.
“I’m too sorry. I heard that you’re also a senior to me, and you even saved me….”
“Understood. Then, Lepia junior. The title Baba Yaga that I mentioned a moment ago, are you asking if it’s referring to my father?”
“It’s probably correct! The battle between the kingdom and the Empire 23 years ago. The noble who was active in Friedrich County at that time. If your father was active at that time, it would be correct.”
First, cross-verification was confirmed. The father I know and the Lepia princess… hmm. It seems almost certain that the Baba Yaga that Lepia knows is the same person.
Then, the question that arises here. I thought she would be very afraid or scared, but she’s relatively fine. Why? Isn’t it normal to run away? Isn’t that the natural story development?
“It’s a bit surprising, junior.”
“What do you mean?”
“The title Baba Yaga, as far as I know, isn’t really positive. So, how should I say it. A term for terror? Ghost? I don’t think it was called with that meaning.”
“Eh… wait a minute. How do you know that? That’s what my maternal grandparents mainly called it.”
Ah.
“That. Um. There’s a feeling to it, right? And junior was surprised too.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Lepia smiled slightly and continued.
“At that time, it was definitely like that. But… there are things like that. Extremely powerful enemies don’t just get angry or have enmity, but they become awe-inspiring. My mother country, Lasquer, has that. Even if it’s the family of an enemy, excellent knights are respected.”
Hmm. Should I see my father as a knight…? He does ride horses and swing swords like a knight, but I haven’t seen him being stubborn about honor or anything. Rather, he was the one who considered extreme practicality and highest efficiency.
“From what the people from my maternal grandparents heard, Baba Yaga. So, the noble who was in Friedrich County at that time was really amazing. He gave an overwhelming fear that made you feel like he killed countless people without dying.”
“……”
“Now, even my maternal grandparents and I think of him as a being similar to many famous knights from Lasquer. I didn’t know that he would be your father, Karl Adelheit.”
I wonder if my father left me a message after seeing this far and told me to take care of him.
Honestly, I would want to take care of him too. A partner who respects and respects me with awe towards me. This is subtly precious!
“And… um. Originally, I was going to ask others, but… since I met you like this.”
Lepia suddenly bowed her head with a polite expression. She even bowed halfway at the waist.
Whether she was exiled or not, she is still the princess of Lasquer. Not collateral, but direct line, so it could be called the pride of the royal family, but I never thought she would be so unreserved.
“Thank you. For saving me. No matter what the situation was, no matter the reason. The feeling you gave me at that moment was warm. As a princess of the kingdom and as a person. I sincerely conveys my gratitude.”
“It’s nothing special. It’s just that I can’t stand by and watch someone in danger.”
“You’re a good person, Karl Adelheit.”
A good person. Well, am I a good person? I don’t know. When I go to the afterlife later, I’ll have to ask my comrades. Whether I was really a good person.
“Call me Karl senior comfortably. Junior. As you said, academy—kyu lu hu k!”
*
The Karl Adelheit Disabled Veterans Pension Foundation. Finally, all the sponsors of the foundation were decided.
The four people who confirmed all the identities of those sponsors all expressed the same opinion.
“With this much, it looks like we can build a small kingdom with the pension foundation.”
The Empire imperial family. Dukes. Many marquises and imperial counts. In addition, the Bright Light Church was added, so it seemed like it was more than just a pension foundation.
Let’s quickly tell this good news to the protagonist too! He must be jumping for joy! Thinking that, the four people who were looking for Karl had to sigh “no?”
“Who is that woman?”
“I’ve never seen that face before?”
“Karl. My friend… no matter how popular he is, there’s Selena, that’s not it!”
“Let’s quickly go and pull him away. If Selena sees her, it’s definitely going to spark at us too.”
The four leaders nodded and quickly ran to grab Karl’s back.
“As you said, academy—kyu lu hu k!”
“Karl senior?!”
“Hotcha! We’re borrowing this kid for a bit!”
“Just saying, this guy has an owner!”
Our friend wasn’t just collecting medals, but also collecting women! Haha! Envious guy haha ha!