On the Road to Valentia
On the day the Rufus Family was utterly crushed, chaos erupted in the Lucent County household as well. The problem wasn't just that a back-alley gang had been dismantled in an instant. The shocking revelation was that this group had been openly engaging in human trafficking and slave trading—acts strictly forbidden by imperial law—and it had all come to light in broad daylight, right in front of numerous witnesses.
To make matters worse, the man backing them turned out to be Edmond von Lucent, the eldest son of the Lucent family. Before the count could even react, the rumor had spread like wildfire throughout Lucentia.
"That filthy bastard... I'll drown him in shit!"
The furious roar of Count Lucent echoed from the grand hall throughout the inner keep, and Edmond von Lucent was expelled from the family that very day. It was a lightning-fast decision, no doubt fueled by years of the wastrel's accumulated misdeeds. The fact that he escaped with his body intact was the final shred of mercy granted to him—thanks to the tearful pleas of his stepmother, Countess Caril.
Regardless, the public's admiring gazes inevitably turned toward the one who had dismantled the Rufus Family and sparked this scandal: Knight Vivian and her master.
"...Thanks to the money confiscated from their vaults, our county should be able to cover part of the fine owed to the imperial court. In gratitude, the count has sent a gift for you, Lady Cloi. Will you accept it?"
Cloi nodded, though a bit flustered, at the words of the knight who had introduced himself as Lambert.
"...I gratefully accept. Please convey my thanks."
"Understood. However, the count is unfortunately indisposed, so he won't be able to attend your farewell ceremony."
"...I understand."
Indisposed, my foot. His stomach must be in knots.
Cloi swallowed her rising retort and forced a polite smile. The moment the knight left the room, she shot a reproachful glance at Vivian beside her. Vivian, in turn, glared even more reproachfully at the black-haired boy standing rigidly in the corner of the room.
Tiny bowed awkwardly toward the lady.
"...Sorry."
Cloi let out a small sigh at his words.
"Our relationship with the count is going to be awkward from now on."
"...Sorry."
"Do you really think you did anything wrong?"
When Cloi asked with an odd expression, Tiny smirked and looked up.
"Honestly? No."
"Tiny!"
Vivian yelped in surprise at the bluntly honest answer. But...
"Hahaha, I figured as much."
Cloi burst into bright laughter, as if she'd never sighed at all. Vivian turned to her in bewilderment.
"If you've committed a crime, you should face punishment. You did well! I'm just disappointed Edmond's punishment was so light."
"Lady Cloi!"
"Merit and guilt must be judged equally, regardless of status. That's what Father always says. Have you forgotten, Vivian?"
"...Of course not."
At the mention of the duke, Vivian could only bow her head meekly. Still, she felt a bit wronged.
"Then why are you looking at me like that...?"
"You said Edmond passed out, right? You should have smashed his limbs so he'd never use them again. Now he's escaped to his maternal family unscathed, without any real punishment!"
"Ah... So that's what you meant..."
Vivian nodded, though a hint of grievance lingered on her face. Watching the two, Tiny chuckled softly.
So it started like this back then, these two.
His gaze lingered especially on Vivian. The Sword Emperor's youngest daughter and the duke's prodigy knight. Perhaps because she'd served as Cloi's personal guard for so long, or maybe that was simply her limit—despite reaching the 4th stage Blader rank in her early twenties, even twenty years later, she never ascended to Aura User.
But after Cloi's circumstances changed in the future, she became a formidable 6th stage Challenger-level powerhouse, guarding her like an iron wall.
They were a legendary duo.
At times like sisters, at times like mother and daughter, their unique chemistry was the talk of the town. The fact that the much younger Cloi often played the elder role only added to the intrigue.
Always entertaining.
Tiny's fond reflection shattered as their eyes turned back to him.
"What do you think, Tiny?"
"...Being stripped of his succession rights is punishment enough for Edmond. It won't absolve his crimes, but calling it no punishment at all would be a stretch."
"See? He's not thirteen at all!"
"...Wow, you're sharp! Your master's the best, Wol. Right?"
Their contrasting reactions were certainly entertaining. But...
"Woof!"
...Wol?
"Ah, it's hard to pronounce, you know. Moon Wolf sounds weird too, so I decided on Wol. He likes it, right?"
"Whine."
Shake, shake.
Wolrang shook his head vigorously, and Cloi squealed in delight, rubbing his cheeks.
Indeed, her habitual use of Eastern tongue was unusual; struggling with pronunciation seemed more common.
...Hang in there a bit. Sorry.
Tiny averted his eyes from Wolrang's crumpled expression.
"Ahem, so you're not blaming me?"
"Of course not. Why would I? You did great, Tiny!"
"Eek!"
Not content with words, the girl—who was still much taller than him—approached and patted his head. The boy's face twisted awkwardly. She even extended her pinky like she was making a promise with a little brother.
"But from now on, tell me before you do anything big, okay? Promise?"
Caught off guard by her gentle demeanor, Tiny smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"...Understood, Lady Cloi."
"Tch."
Disappointed that he wouldn't hook pinkies, Cloi puffed her cheeks, glancing between her hand and him.
She really was young back then.
As Tiny gazed at her thoughtfully, Vivian sidled up and whispered sharply in his ear.
"...Act a little more friendly, more like your age! If you want something, come on."
"Ah. Ha. Ha..."
Tiny laughed awkwardly again. She clearly disapproved of his unchildlike brusqueness, but with the mind of a man in his thirties, he couldn't play the kid that convincingly.
* * *
Cloi's group departed Lucentia the very next day. They had advanced their schedule due to Tiny's testimony about the black mage, but it was also awkward to linger after so drastically interfering in the Lucent succession.
And the boy who had caused both issues now seemed naturally positioned at the side of the group's most noble girl, just days later.
Though he himself wasn't thrilled about it.
Clatter, clatter.
"...Do I really have to be in here?"
"Why? Uncomfortable?"
...Yes, extremely.
How could he not feel burdened by the intense stares of Cloi and Vivian in the cramped carriage? But he couldn't voice that honestly.
"There are other knights outside..."
"They wouldn't come in even if I asked."
Did you actually ask them?
He knew Cloi mingled freely with her subordinates, but he hadn't imagined it started so young. Or rather, that it was even more pronounced back then.
She kept a proper distance in my memories... Maybe that was the result of maturity.
Either way, it was awkward. Tiny cautiously spoke up again.
"...This is my first time in a carriage like this."
It was a casual remark, but true enough.
In my past life, my size kept me out... but still.
What commoner rides a six-horse carriage? But its owner, oblivious, replied calmly.
"You'll get used to it—way more comfortable than a horse. It's enchanted too, so it doesn't shake much."
Tiny sighed involuntarily at her pretty, smiling face.
I appreciate the trust, but we've only just met.
"...Aren't you wary of me?"
"Why? Should I be?"
"No, I mean... not really, but..."
Her nonchalant response left Tiny speechless. Cloi chuckled at his flustered look.
"I don't know your past, but I can guess. To act and speak so unlike a child, you must have suffered a lot."
"Still..."
"If you meant to deceive me, wouldn't you have acted more like a typical kid your age?"
...Ah.
"And because of you, I paid attention to Philes news. I heard a black-haired little knight smashed an underworld gang and freed all their victims. Same with the Lucentia group—I'll say it again, you did great, Tiny."
Tiny could only give a hollow laugh as Cloi winked and praised him anew.
...Right.
He realized he'd overlooked it again: Cloi was among the wisest people he knew. She wasn't one to act without thought.
But his admiration for her maturity was short-lived.
"Above all... this one, Wol."
"Whine."
The tiny Wolrang in her arms let out a resigned snort.
"Kyaa."
Cloi rubbed his cheeks, finding him adorable even then. Only after he went limp with a vacant expression did she continue.
"...Spirit users are said to possess pure souls, and I've experienced it firsthand. That's why I trust you."
Well, I'm not your average spirit user. Still, Wolrang had unwittingly helped again.
This situation wasn't bad anyway.
"Nng."
...Sorry.
He averted his eyes from Wolrang's weary gaze once more.
Just hold out until we meet the duke.
Tiny gave up on escaping the carriage for now.
Might as well hope we get there quick.
He wanted to meet the duke ASAP and see what he'd prepared. Preparations against the cataclysm couldn't come soon enough.
But the road to the duke's domain was so peaceful; pushing to hurry wouldn't fly.
Tiny could only suppress his impatience alone.
Three days later, as Tiny began tensing at the thought of finally meeting the culprit(?) who sent him back in time, the group encountered an unexpected guest at their campsite.
"Lady Cloi, an elf wishes to travel with us for a while."
"An elf!?"
Cloi's face lit up with subtle excitement after her brief surprise. It was understandable. Elves, the fairy descendants famed for their beauty, were always mysterious and enviable to humans.
Moreover, elves were rare in the empire. The empire lay somewhat east of the central continent's midpoint, while Elvenheim was at the far west end.
"I am Erina, attendant of the World Tree. May I greet your leader and request to join you briefly?"
As the gray-robed hood lifted, revealing an otherworldly beautiful face, the group let out soft gasps, forgetting decorum. Light green hair, pointed ears, emerald eyes, and a gentle smile—like a tree fairy reborn.
But Tiny's expression hardened instinctively.
- Woof!
Wolrang's bark echoed in his mind, and the sharply attuned spirit sense blared a warning.
An elf...?
Elves were born with spirit affinity, pure, kind, and peace-loving—or so they said. Yet around this light green-haired elf, who emanated refreshing mana winds, her heart pulsed with...
Bzzz.
No fewer than five circles of foul demonic energy.
...A black mage?