Asran's Departure
Asran lounged with a bored expression on the sofa.
As a scion of a deep-rooted military family, and with his father Alion being the strictest adherent to etiquette, Asran was the only one who could sit so casually in this house.
"How much longer do I have to wait?"
He muttered with a mix of irritation, and Rules—sitting straight-backed opposite him, reading a book—answered in his lazy drawl.
"Just a little longer. Father is a very busy man, so we should understand that."
"If even one drop of his understanding had been poured our way, I would have been riding on his coattails."
Asran snapped back, but Rules said nothing.
From his perspective, he had already waited an eternity.
He knew his father was busy, yet if all it took was a short tea break, they could have delayed the work. Instead, they handled everything on schedule and were clearly planning to meet.
This gathering had been painstakingly arranged to reconcile the two of them, yet without a single word spoken. Rules found his father's stubbornness equally disagreeable.
If the younger brother exploded in frustration right here, everything would be ruined.
Rules suspected Alion was deliberately claiming the lead, but even so, the sight of his brother holding back out of consideration for his older sibling was rather admirable.
Once, hearing the order to wait would have sent Asran storming out cursing.
Rules now felt genuine gratitude toward Rai. The academy had taught his brother well.
"Oppa, a message has arrived from the academy."
The youngest brother, Adiel, trotted over with his short legs, holding a small envelope in his hands. Asran sat up and accepted it.
"No one came... Wait, it's from Raine."
"Is it from a friend?"
"Yeah... no. Not a friend. A teacher."
"Oh? The academy teacher wrote you a letter himself? Brother, you're amazing."
"I just helped a bit."
Seeing Adiel's sparkling eyes looking up at him, Asran puffed out his chest and strutted a little.
Rules glanced at the book with a look of disdain, but Asran paid him no mind and opened the letter.
It was a handwritten note from a Pure Mage stationed in the province, transmitted through communication magic. The handwriting was different, but the tone was unmistakably Rai's.
"Using cipher again? How needless."
"Has Brother been assigned a secret mission?"
"No, just trying to tease me with the cipher."
Unless they used communication magic directly, sensitive matters always involved a pre-agreed code to pass through at least one intermediary.
Since there was nothing particularly secret, Asran casually decoded the message he had been given before.
His smile gradually faded as he read.
"This idiot... what the hell is he planning?"
Asran's face twisted. Rules looked over and asked after a moment.
"What does it say?"
"... ... I can't tell you."
Asran crumpled the letter into a ball and tucked it into his pocket, lost in thought for a moment.
"Brother..."
Adiel tried to speak, but Rules raised a hand to stop him.
At times like this, it was best to leave him alone until he figured it out.
It felt odd that his brother was deep in thought, but Rules calmly waited for Asran.
With a heavy sigh, Asran shot to his feet.
"Brother, sorry. I have to leave for a while."
"Who are you meeting?"
"Yeah, I need to help out a friend... it might take me a few weeks to come back."
Asran avoided eye contact, clearly embarrassed to say so.
The older brother who had worked hard to arrange this meeting between father and son was weighing on his mind.
But Rules nodded.
"Go ahead. But make sure you get your father's permission."
His eyes had been sharp and suspicious, yet Adiel never hesitated when helping someone he couldn't reveal to others.
Rules had already sensed the hidden cipher and the brother's sigh of lamenting "idiot" and decided not to stop him.
From childhood, Adiel had run straight ahead, never yielding to danger or threats.
Even when Asran had retreated behind an excuse of "thinking," Adiel had stood his ground against the evil right in front of him.
As the person who had tried to create this meeting, Asran felt a twinge of regret, but he had no intention of halting his trusting younger brother.
He could always make another visit with his father if needed.
The thunderous younger brother had finally learned to look around. After all the struggling, Asran was proud to support him.
"Alright. Adiel, sorry. When I get back, let's play together."
"Please return safely, Brother."
"I'll be fine. I'm invincible."
Asran ruffled Adiel's hair and headed for the family study.
He would have gone anyway, even without Rules' advice.
To cross the border, the family crest was required.
Before the study door, Asran took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in."
In Alion's sharp voice, Asran twisted his neck and stretched as he entered.
Alion sat at the desk, writing something on documents with his butler's help, and glanced at his son before returning his gaze to the papers.
"You couldn't wait for even one of those?"
"I thought you had grown a bit... but no."
Every word was infuriating, yet Asran held his tongue and spoke.
"Sorry, but the all-happy-time Brother created is getting postponed."
"... ... Reason?"
"Someone I need to help."
Alion looked up at his son, his hand still writing on the documents until he finally signed and passed them to the butler.
During the silent staring contest, Alion saw that Asran's eyes hadn't wavered at all and let out a small laugh.
"The coward has grown up quite a bit. Demian said the teacher was a good instructor."
"I never had any fear to begin with."
"So you came looking for something to say? You want something, don't you?"
"There is one thing I need to borrow... and an apology. It sounds like an excuse, but since I disrupted the schedule for my own reasons, I thought it was polite to ask for your understanding."
Alion's cold face widened in surprise. The butler dropped the documents he was holding.
"S-sorry."
"You seem flustered, Belusha. As head butler, you need to pay more attention to your bearing."
"Understood."
Alion was teasing his head butler, but even he was taken aback and dropped the pen in his hand.
Luckily, Belusha had glanced over to avoid the spill.
Asran found the atmosphere odd but stayed silent, waiting for Alion's next words.
"So what do you want?"
"The family crest. I need to cross the border."
Alion furrowed his brows at the mention of the border.
Even in the era of peace, a large family like the Scapes crossing the border would stand out too much.
"You planning to flee abroad because you're scared of me?"
"What? Father has nothing to be scared of. I have to help a friend."
"So that friend must be precious enough to make you bow your head to me. You even broke the meeting Rules worked hard to arrange. Poor Rules must be heartbroken."
"I got permission from Brother too. I'll come back and apologize properly."
Alion stared at the unyielding Asran until he extended his hand to Belusha.
His lifelong attendant understood perfectly and brought the family crest seal.
"The weight of the crest is heavier than you think. Can you handle it?"
"Gah, just stamping a seal is heavy? Don't worry, Father. If you say anything, I'll make the Scape family the one that sends me out of the Empire."
"What a boastful brat."
Despite the words, Alion smiled faintly as Asran's confident answer pleased him, and he stamped the documents to grant approval.
Following his usual habit, he neatly folded the permission slip and placed it in a proper envelope, handing it to Asran.
"Don't cause trouble."
"I can't promise that."
"You say that but expect me to hand it over? Normally one should say 'understood' and accept calmly."
"Better than making a promise you can't keep."
"You're really not suited for politics... Alright. Go."
Alion waved dismissively at the letter in his hand.
When Asran turned to leave, Alion called after him in a flat voice.
"And don't get hurt. Your mother is worried."
Asran looked back, but Alion continued writing without giving him another glance.
Asran's lips curled into a smile.
"I won't break that promise. Don't worry. I'm invincible."
Leaving the ignoring Alion behind, Asran walked out of the study.
Alion, acting as if nothing had happened, set down his pen and glanced at Belusha.
His half-white hair and neatly trimmed beard made him look like a dignified gentleman, yet the smile on his lips was irritating.
"Belusha, you look unhappy. Change your expression."
"Congratulations, Master. Your son has grown significantly."
Having known Alion since he was a child, Belusha knew everything about him.
A faint joy lingered on his usually expressionless face.
Alion let out a groan and leaned back in his chair.
"How did you manage to teach that goat who never listened to 'work hard at home'?"
"The instructors at Legandia Academy must be truly exceptional."
Belusha returned to his usual butler demeanor, erasing the unpleasant smile, and answered in a gentle voice.
"If we had called him home last year, there would have been a major disaster."
"It was the overprotective father's delusion."
Alion glared, but Belusha calmly organized the documents.
Alion sighed and stood again, scanning the stack of papers on the desk.
"The idiot son bragged that he would elevate the Scape family's reputation. In the meantime, this useless father must focus on maintaining the status quo."
"That's right. If he falls further, it will be hard for the son to face me at inheritance."
"Stop with the unnecessary gossip. You seem in a good mood today."
"I have every reason to be. I got to watch my son's growth up close. His academy grades are rising, and he proved his strength by advancing to the round of sixteen in the Martial Tournament. The Master would be pleased."
Alion didn't answer, but the smile on his lips couldn't be hidden.
Asran left the study and headed straight for the stables.
Since the family originally belonged to the military, simple equipment for emergencies had been prepared in advance.
With just weapons, he could depart immediately, but Asran slung the bags displayed on the rack and surveyed the horses.
"The horses are ready. You may leave whenever you wish."
A voice came from behind. Turning, Asran saw Demian holding the reins.
Demian had been Asran's instructor since childhood and had clashed with him constantly.
Asran's eyebrows furrowed, still remembering the insults and mockery he had spat.
"What are you trusting me with?"
"Haa— whether the young master trusts me or not is irrelevant. If you're from the Scape family, you should have good eyes for horses. This is the finest among the current ones. If you don't trust me, check the horseshoes or saddles. No, of course you should. I never taught you to verify the horse you ride yourself?"
Demian countered with equal sarcasm as he handed over the reins.
Asran quietly alternated glances between the horse and Demian, then silently placed the bags on the saddle and inspected the animal.
Demian felt no displeasure at the thorough check.
He was the one who had taught Asran to always verify before riding.
It was a bit disappointing that Asran had completely ignored him when spoken to but had changed after learning from the academy teacher, yet...
"Learn more from that teacher Rai."
"I'm already learning a lot. Don't worry."
"Learn more. Ingest everything he has like it's your last meal. He is an excellent instructor."
Demian had stepped down from the instructor position without any protest after watching Rai teach.
Asran smiled inwardly at the word "excellent," but he mounted the horse without showing it.
"You've gotten softer."
"It was stressful teaching a lazy human. Now there's no need for that."
"Win-win for both sides?"
"I suppose so."
Demian lowered his head in agreement with Asran's words.
"Young Master, please return safely."
"... ... What are you doing?"
"Offering my prayers for your safe journey. You will lead the Scape family one day, so you must show it."
"Bullshit. Keep it normal. There are older brothers here. Why would I drag the Scape family? And if I ever do, I'll kick you out first."
Asran's irritation showed, but Demian looked up at him with a completely expressionless face.
"Then keep it normal. Don't cause trouble and return safely. Don't get into accidents and use your head for anything ahead..."
"Enough. Enough. I'm leaving."
As the nagging continued, Asran scowled and galloped away on the horse.
Asran found the family treating him differently strange, but something far more important than that occupied his thoughts.
The letter from Rai contained only a brief message urging him to stop his foolishness: "Stop acting high and mighty and wait patiently like a good boy."
Asran urged the horse forward, feeling that he could no longer see Abigail if he didn't stop her now.