Northern Bodyguard Duty
A solemn air hung in the duke's office. The towering stacks of documents on the desk had dwindled considerably, and the middle-aged man seated there, immersed in his work, looked far less fatigued than before. This change had come recently. A new problem had cropped up now, true, but the relief—like having a nagging tooth pulled—couldn't be hidden.
It was all because of that boy who had shown up one day and turned everything upside down. Even the Rakatus family—one of the four pillars upholding the Claire Empire—had thrown everything they had at it and failed. There was no choice but to call it a miracle.
"Estate Manager Burn reporting to the family head, sir."
"Come in."
Burn entered cautiously, giving Duke Everchan Rakatus a respectful nod before placing another bundle of documents on the desk.
The Claire Empire was in the midst of its golden age of power. Bearing the weight of one of its four pillars was no light burden. Everchan stared blankly at the new papers for a moment, then pressed his fingers to his brow to ease the tension in his eyes.
Recently, the Rakatus family had been beyond busy—too much so to dismiss with a word. The changes that boy had brought allowed them to advance another step. Everchan had shown his mental image in high society with this very intention in mind from the start. Still, fatigue was fatigue; there was no escaping it.
The Rakatus were already a house of immense power. With their youngest daughter awakening her mental image to boot, requests to at least show their faces poured in by the dozens each day.
That was the reality for lower nobles who couldn't awaken to magic. Even as nobles, securing a magic tutor was a heavy burden. In the end, they had no choice but to cling to those in power, just as before.
"Family head, we have an audience request."
As expected, Burn had brought not just documents but news of yet another request. Everchan flicked his hand to signal him to continue—then paused abruptly. The way Burn phrased it struck him as odd.
Normally, anyone seeking an audience with the Rakatus family head would send a lavish letter dripping with flattery. It couldn't be conveyed so simply in words. It was etiquette—and in a way, the law.
For a weak noble to forgo propriety with the highest echelon was tantamount to picking a fight. Only two types could speak so casually: those who had lost all fear and were issuing a challenge to the Rakatus, or another top-tier noble whose name held equal weight.
"Who is it?"
Everchan lowered the hand from his brow and asked. His voice carried heavy weariness, but if it was the latter, he couldn't brush it off lightly.
"Lady Selasier Hiatt, the eldest daughter of the Hiatt Grand Duke family."
"Hm."
Everchan let out a low hum as he straightened in his seat. The Hiatt Grand Dukes undoubtedly fell into the latter category. The title of grand duke wasn't handed out lightly. These days, perhaps only a Grand Archmage might earn it. The current imperial family, obsessed with power, already clashed fiercely with the four great houses. Yet they had granted the grand ducal rank for one reason alone: as recompense for guarding the northern wastelands.
In truth, the four houses viewed each other's authority as nearly equal.
"Tell me more."
His daughter and the boy had visited the north together. It was too exquisitely coincidental to call mere chance. At the same time, an amusing thought flickered through his mind: this, too, might be connected to the boy. Everchan smiled gravely.
"You're talking about the north, then."
"Aye. The north."
In the makeshift training yard behind the cabin, a small mound of earth served handily as a spot to rest now and then. Kalen and Blamia Dranus sat there, deep in conversation.
The north was a place he'd visited before. The scenery of that Winter Island wasn't easy to forget. But Blamia's temperament left no room for beating around the bush. There was nothing to do but accept it straight.
"What's the reason?"
"Reason? Simple enough. Both Rakatus and Hiatt came asking at the same time."
Blamia looked bitter, tinged with apology.
"Rakatus says Hiatt's gone back on their word, making it hard to keep the promise. Hiatt wants to borrow you, brat."
That explained Dekaum Rakatus's hesitation before leaving. He must not have had the guts to say it himself and figured it was better coming from Blamia. A sound judgment, that.
If Kalen had heard it directly then, an endless conflict might have erupted. It made sense enough now. Magic's nature created vast gaps even between single hierarchies; a giant like Blamia didn't need to watch his step. If anything, others should be watching his.
But that was the world they lived in. Even Blamia was now a very old man. By his own account, though his hierarchy was nominally 6th, his real power hovered at the tail end of 5th. An aged giant, in other words.
The heads of the other four houses were all pushing toward 5th. Four at the edge of 4th against one at the edge of 5th... the outcome wasn't easy to predict. His days of battlefield experience were far in the past. And the threat posed by the Dranus name—a house that had once dominated the world and even menaced the imperial family—would be blocked at all costs upon its revival.
The current imperial will, backed by the other three pillars, would stand against Dranus. With no family head or eldest son, Dranus's strength boiled down to Blamia alone. Protecting Sinat and the family while fighting? It wasn't enough.
Blamia knew this well, and it filled him with guilt toward Kalen. He could handle it alone if he had to. But loading such a burden on a kid who hadn't even had his coming-of-age rite? He couldn't shake the thought.
Still, Kalen was a bit angry. All that talk of benefactor and debt, and in the end, they'd broken their promise. He didn't think Everchan was the type, but from what he'd heard so far, it seemed that way.
"Rakatus ain't in the wrong, brat."
Blamia, ever perceptive, caught the misunderstanding.
"You think just the Rakatus alone could handle Dranus reviving? You've still got some innocence left. Naturally, Hiatt agreed to it too."
Hearing it out, it rang true. No matter how elite the Rakatus, they couldn't restore a powerhouse like Dranus single-handedly. The promise had been made originally as a joint effort between Rakatus—fulfilling Eliana Rakatus's wish—and the northern Hiatt.
"Word is, Hiatt changed their mind recently. They won't join unless you go, they said."
The Hiatts, rulers of the north, had no interest in political games. Managing the north alone was exhausting enough; they had no spare attention for elsewhere. But based on the good relations between the current Hiatt head and Rakatus head, they'd agreed to participate.
Rakatus had prepared for Dranus's return in alliance with Hiatt. Hiatt's sudden withdrawal threw it into disarray. That was what it meant when they said all four houses would block Dranus's revival: if Rakatus stood against them, Hiatt would too, since they shunned politics.
In short, without Hiatt, Rakatus lacked the power alone.
The revival of the Dranus family that Blamia and Sinat so desperately desired. Kalen had grasped the situation.
In the end, just head north again, and it would be settled. He'd planned to visit once more anyway. Fixing this malformed mental image and his body meant relying on raising his hierarchy. The north, rife with battles, was perfect for it.
"What do I need to do there, Master?"
"Thanks, kid."
"It's nothing."
Blamia gazed at the silently smiling Kalen, his mind a whirlwind. Each passing day, looking at the boy reminded him painfully of Citram. It hurt most when this sacrificial side shone through. He'd resolve to part ways with Kalen, only for another feeling to rear up.
Before he knew it, affection had grown. No matter how great the debt, was it right to cast out this kid who sacrificed himself to help fulfill their wishes? Their parting had been fated from the start, but memories had piled up to bury that.
Blamia's heart grew ever more tangled.
"...Bodyguard duty."
"Escort again?"
"They said you'd know when you get there. Hard to explain details without accepting first."
"It's fine. Might as well break through to 3rd Hierarchy while I'm at it."
The north was the Claire Empire's foremost frontline. Bordering enemy territory, monster battles were constant. One of the few places where sword took precedence over magic. Swords, men, tradition—it might seem outdated. But that uniqueness had forged the north as it was.
Such a place naturally lacked hands. Going as a bodyguard rather than a mercenary felt a touch off, but whatever. This would be the last.
Finish this smoothly, and Dranus could revive. What Blamia and Sinat yearned for. He'd repay his debt, bid them farewell with a smile. A perfect, clean ending all around.
Sinat tugged at his heart a little, but even with Dranus revived, it wasn't like they'd never meet. In time, busyness would wean her off her dependence anyway.
Just wrap up this northern trip well. It fit every goal: raising his hierarchy, repaying Blamia, granting Sinat's wish. No reason not to go.
And so, scarcely after returning to the cabin, Kalen resolved once more to head north.