The Knight Deserved It
“Truly, young master has returned! This nanny, Illeia, is overjoyed!”
Mealtime arrived. By evening, the nanny had regained her senses and immediately set about preparing dinner. Though she had always been frail, today she brimmed with energy, moving swiftly as she cooked.
“But to serve the young master such a meal upon his return…” A shadow of worry crossed her face. “I’m sorry. If I could, I would have prepared something far better…”
Her expression darkened, and for good reason. Though she had cooked, the ingredients were so scarce that not a single lavish dish graced the table. Only humble fare, the kind commoners might eat, adorned the surface.
‘Things must be worse than I thought.’
Indeed.
‘Hmm. If I’d known, I would have brought gold or jewels from the other world.’
You were the one who refused the offerings, Lord Albert.
‘I never imagined it would be this bad.’
Upon his return, the count’s household awaited him with a life of luxury. He had seen no need to bring anything back, leaving most of it behind. Who could have guessed?
‘Who would have expected the family to have fallen so far?’
“It’s fine, Nanny. This is more than enough for me.”
“Hohoho, thank you for saying so. You should eat as well, young lady. The young master’s return after ten years must feel rather awkward for you.”
The nanny gently addressed Elena. Though Elena had acknowledged Albert as her brother, accepting him seemed difficult. It was only natural. Ten years had passed. Much had happened, and as lord she had endured many unsavory experiences to protect the territory. She had survived by telling herself she was alone. Now her blood relative had returned. Of course acceptance did not come easily. Awkwardness was inevitable.
“Yes… it is a little awkward. By the way, Nanny, are you feeling all right?”
“Pardon? Hohohoho, I feel wonderful. Strangely enough, I’m overflowing with energy!”
“Nothing feels off with your body?”
“Hmm, there is one odd thing.”
“What is it!?”
“My wrinkles have disappeared.”
“Eh?”
“Look at this. My hands, my face! The wrinkles are completely gone. I feel as though I’ve grown younger!”
The nanny spoke with a bright smile. When she had woken, she could hardly believe it. The tremendous vitality coursing through her body was exactly as it had been in her youth. The joints that always ached no longer hurt, and the pains that had plagued her were gone.
“I feel completely better! Hohohoho, at this rate I could live to two hundred without any trouble!”
“No, you could easily reach five hundred.”
“Eh?”
Albert spoke casually as he ladled stew. “I used the Sage’s Tear potion on you. It was made by mixing World Tree sap, dragon’s blood, spring water blessed by spirits and received from elves, and basilisk blood.”
He tasted the stew. It lacked the flavor of what he had eaten in the other world, yet it warmed his heart.
“Thanks to that potion, your body is overflowing with life force that had been depleted, to the point the vessel itself—”
‘Ah, this is tedious. Just think of it as your body getting better.’
Is that not an important detail? You should explain it thoroughly.
‘Too much trouble.’
“I simply fed you something good for your body. You’ll live comfortably to five hundred, and you won’t suffer from minor ailments in the meantime.”
“……”
“……”
The nanny and Elena exchanged glances. They clearly did not understand what he meant.
“You used something so extraordinary… on me?”
“It’s nothing. I made it for my parents and you in the first place.”
Their parents’ deaths had been unexpected, but that was beside the point.
“Brother, how did you obtain it…?”
“Hmm, that story might take a while.”
“It’s all right. I’m curious as well. For ten years… what exactly did you do, young master…?”
“Hmm…”
Even the nanny joined in. With a resigned sigh, Albert briefly explained how he had vanished from this world ten years ago, crossed over to the other side, become a hunter, conquered gates, and eventually returned. The explanation alone took two hours.
“So… you crossed dimensions?”
“That’s right.”
“And you were the strongest hunter over there?”
“Yup, that’s exactly it.”
A faint look of disbelief appeared on both their faces. He felt no resentment at their doubt. After all, the tale was utterly preposterous. Expecting them to believe it immediately was impossible.
“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter to me. Even I would have trouble—”
“I believe you.”
“Nanny.”
“No matter what you did, young master, I can believe it. I am simply… content that you have returned safely.”
The nanny offered a gentle, motherly smile. A mischievous impulse stirred within him at that soft expression.
“But you said it took you a hundred and ten years to return…”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then you’re older than me?”
“……”
“Should I call you ‘big brother’ instead?”
Watching the nanny wink playfully, Albert burst into laughter. Elena, who had been holding back until now, also erupted into giggles.
It’s a lovely sight.
‘This is what family feels like.’
The meal had been enjoyable for the first time in a long while.
* * *
After the pleasant dinner, Albert accompanied Elena to the study.
“It’s just as I remember.”
The study had changed little from ten years ago. Nostalgia welled in his eyes. Back then, he had loved playing here. Watching his father work had been pleasant, and the scent of books filling the shelves had been comforting. Above all—
“This has changed.”
From the study, one could look down upon the entire territory. He had once adored the view and scenery visible from here. But now, so much had changed.
“Elena.”
“……Yes.”
She still seemed awkward, speaking to him with formal respect. Or perhaps it was only natural. After hearing his story from the other world, she could hardly drop the honorifics so easily. A wall still existed between them.
‘That wall is something I’ll have to tear down with time.’
“What exactly happened here? Why did our count’s house become a barony? And why did Father and Mother, who were always so healthy, pass away?”
“……”
Her complexion darkened. Just as Albert had experienced countless events over a hundred and ten years in the other world, much had evidently transpired here as well.
“That is……”
She steeled herself, about to speak with difficulty, when—
“My lord!”
The knight, Kaizen, burst in. It was an exceedingly rude act. The study was a sacred space where the lord conducted official business. Naturally, one was expected to knock and receive permission before entering. Yet Kaizen had opened the door at will. It was a clear disregard for the lord’s authority, revealing how little he truly respected Elena.
“Kaizen……”
“Have you considered raising our wages? We were fortunate the orcs fled today, but there’s no guarantee the same luck will strike again.”
His eyes gleamed with arrogance. That demeanor was nothing like a knight addressing his sworn liege. The contempt was plain to see.
“Oh my……”
Kaizen’s gaze landed on Albert, and he looked mildly surprised. The man was tall and well-built, with a strikingly handsome face. Moreover, the aura he exuded…
‘It’s almost as if I’m looking at Lord Lian……’
“Who might this be?”
“……He is my elder brother.”
She had called him “brother” in front of the nanny, but deliberately used the more formal “elder brother” before others.
He distinguishes well between public and private matters.
‘Of course. Whose brother do you think he is?’
Kaizen’s expression turned peculiar.
“Elder brother? The one who ran away ten years ago and never returned?”
Kaizen tilted his head, scrutinizing Albert as though appraising merchandise. It was an incredibly rude attitude.
“So you claim to be the young lady’s elder brother? Hah, only now……”
“How insolent.”
“Pardon?”
“If you knew my relationship to the lord, my position should have occurred to you naturally. As a knight, your conduct toward your liege and even their family is utterly disrespectful.”
“Aah~ What’s this? It seems you expect some sort of special treatment?”
He grinned, a vile smile curling his lips. The sight was utterly repulsive.
“You’ve been gone for ten years and apparently don’t know how things work here. You shouldn’t expect noble treatment in this place. As you’re well aware.”
He subtly drew up his mana, attempting to pressure Albert. The System reacted instantly.
Hostile intent detected from target.
Counterattack possible.
Shall I eliminate him?
With your command, termination within 0.1 seconds is feasible.
‘No, that’s enough.’
Albert decided to see how far the man would go.
“Strange. I am clearly the legitimate heir of House Legrian, a noble recognized by the kingdom. Yet you say I shouldn’t expect noble treatment…… You know what this means, don’t you? Your current attitude constitutes—”
“Insult to nobility, is it? Puhahaha!! Do you truly believe that applies here? Do you intend to kill me? Will that really be all right?”
Kaizen shot a sidelong glance at Elena.
“If we die, how do you plan to defend this territory? With mercenaries refusing to come and no way to hire other knights—”
Kaizen’s confidence stemmed from one fact: he knew Elena could never discard him, no matter what. Even though she was a noble, the reason he could act so brazenly was because he understood that as long as she refused to abandon the territory, she would never eliminate them.
“Without us, there will be no one left to protect the land. Am I wrong?”
“That is……”
Elena hesitated to answer. Instead, Albert replied in her stead.
“You’re right.”
“Uhahaha, see? I’m right, aren’t I? My, you’ve only just returned after ten years away, yet your head works quite well. So the idea that you could receive noble treatment here……”
“You’re right about that.”
Albert raised his fist. Then, with a sharp gaze fixed on Kaizen, he brought it crashing down.
“Kuhak!”
“You’re the one who deserved the punch.”
Elena’s face filled with shock. He shouldn’t have done that! Kaizen was a vital force defending the territory. Such treatment was unacceptable. Yet why……?
‘It feels like a weight has been lifted from my chest! I can’t even remember the last time I felt this good!’
The sensation was thoroughly satisfying.