Reunion
“That over there is the imperial capital of the Aslan Empire, Asrian. Impressive even from this distance, isn’t it?”
Jerky—no, Graim von Liberty—pointed proudly at the massive walls visible in the distance. Towering thirty meters high, sturdy enough to halt even a giant, the battlements stretched endlessly onward. The sheer scale of the great city drew an involuntary gasp of awe. Beyond those lofty walls, far in the distance, the golden dragon-shaped roof of the imperial palace thrust skyward, as if a colossal dragon had nested amid the city itself.
A majestic sight, showcasing humanity’s enduring strength. It stirred something deep in Tiny.
Asrian…
The fortress that had held back the beast legions, serving as the foundation for the human alliance’s counteroffensive. A city of grand magic where the legacy of the Aslan imperial family—self-proclaimed descendants of the Golden Dragon—breathed with life. It was said that the Sage’s Tower, the heart of the kingdom alliance, had been built in a bid to rival Asrian’s imperial magic tower. Truly, Asrian stood as the pinnacle of history crafted by modern humanity, especially the human race.
“Impressive from afar, but the inside is even more astounding. Over a million residents call it home, with several times that number passing through— the continent’s largest city! You’ll be stunned the moment you pass through the gates.”
Graim’s proud words didn’t feel like exaggeration at all. And yet…
Things are in chaos inside those walls, no doubt about it.
Chaos centered in the imperial palace, wrapped in a magical barrier so potent that even the relic’s wardings meant nothing. How on earth…?
The question resurfaced, but dwelling on it was pointless now.
“Guess we’ll find out soon enough…”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, nothing. Thank you for the escort, Sir Graim.”
“Haha, at least you’re using my name properly now. To be honest, I was a bit thrown off at first.”
A wry smile crossed Tiny’s face at the knight’s words. This man, an old nemesis in his past life, had given him fresh perspective. Tiny bowed his head politely in sincere gratitude.
“My apologies for that rudeness back then, sir.”
“Haha, no harm done. Plenty of people look alike, after all. I’ve even had folks around me mistake others because of the rumors about your appearance.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s… nothing much, really…”
Graim trailed off, but under Tiny’s insistent black gaze, he chuckled awkwardly and continued.
“…When the rumors spread about the Knight of Radiance being a black-haired, black-eyed boy, my little brother reached out after ages. He thought he might know something about you.”
“…Your brother?”
“Yes. You might not know, but there was a huge scandal in the empire last year. In the Philes territory under Valentia Duchy…”
Graim glanced subtly at Jenas, who smirked and nodded. Relieved, he pressed on.
“The lord of a place called Philes was found dead, rotten to the core. Exactly as you’d guess—evidence of a demon worshipper. Even the priests confirmed it. My brother happened to be a knight stationed there, and he contacted me thinking it might be the same genius kid he knew…”
Graim peeked cautiously, then waved his hands frantically at their hardened expressions.
“Ahaha, don’t look at me like that! How could anyone call you a kid? Must’ve been a mix-up on his part.”
He’d only mentioned it as a hunch, but even he realized how absurd it sounded.
No one grows over fifty centimeters in a year.
As Graim bowed apologetically, Jenas and Tiny instinctively locked eyes.
Graim von Liberty… Hmm, Liberty, huh?
Staring at the familiar face now bowed low, Tiny recalled not his past life, but someone from this one. A knight from Philes who’d shown rare humanity.
That knight from back then…!
The middle-aged knight who’d even given him travel money.
Tiny caught Jenas’s slight frown but burst out laughing and confessed the truth.
“Makes sense. I was that kid. I… owe that knight quite a debt.”
“What!?”
Graim gaped, but Tiny just grinned naturally.
“I’ve grown a fair bit since then.”
He might not suspect now, but the truth would come out the moment Wolrang appeared. No one else had black hair and an animal spirit like that. No point hiding what would inevitably be revealed.
“Ahahaha, I see! Who’d have thought my brother and I both crossed paths with you. What an honor!”
Thankfully, Graim dropped the unnatural growth spurt without further comment.
“Now I’ve indebted myself to both brothers.”
“Haha, indebted? It’s fate! I could boast about this connection for life.”
“If you see it that way, I’m grateful.”
“Haha, I’ll head back then. Traveling openly with the Knight of the North Winds is bound to stir rumors.”
Graim’s gaze flicked from Tiny’s dyed brown hair to Jenas, who nodded. Officially, Jenas was joining the duke’s household late as Blue Wing’s captain.
“Thank you for your help, Sir Graim. I won’t forget it.”
“Haha, no need. The honor was mine.”
With a whinny of his horse, Graim rode off. Jenas immediately fixed Tiny with a stern glare.
“Why…?”
Tiny blinked innocently. He hadn’t done anything wrong, had he?
It was gonna come out anyway. No need to lie.
As Tiny opened his mouth to protest his innocence, Jenas said something unexpected.
“Calling a knight—or anyone—‘jerky’ repeatedly is beyond basic etiquette; it’s unbecoming of a person, Tiny. Lucky for you Sir Graim is broad-minded…”
“…Ah, haha. It… just stuck in my mouth. Sorry.”
“…Good, as long as you get it. Just don’t repeat the mistake. His Grace and I have high expectations of you.”
“Huh?”
The duke, sure—but you too?
Tiny stared curiously, but Jenas just smirked and turned away.
“No matter how strong you get, treat people with respect, or you’ll end up alone. Remember that, Tiny.”
“Yeah, I kn—”
Tiny started to reply as if it were obvious, then paused, a self-deprecating chuckle escaping as realization dawned.
“No, actually… I only knew it in my head. Never really internalized it. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“That’s enough.”
Watching Jenas’s pleased smile, Tiny’s thoughts drifted back to Graim ahead.
It wasn’t empty words; Graim had truly given him pause.
The same person changes with environment and circumstance. Of course.
In his past life, Graim had risen to outer fortress captain amid imperial chaos, arrogant to the end. This knight was a different man entirely. Back then, he’d strutted even before the continent’s top ten knights—hardly polite out of respect for titles like Knight of Radiance or North Winds. Even accounting for twenty years’ difference.
The duke too, and that knight—they’re different from my past life.
He resolved not to judge solely by past-life memories.
Graim’s presence had sparked that realization. And with it…
Maybe even the trash I knew back then could be set straight at this point?
A ridiculous hope flickered for fallen spirit users or wanted holy knights who hadn’t yet gone astray…
“…Nah, not those guys.”
Tiny’s face twisted as he muttered, drawing Jenas’s puzzled glance.
“Ah, nothing. Let’s go.”
“…You know this, but be extra cautious from here on.”
“Yes. Got it.”
His thoughts had wandered too far. At Jenas’s urging, Tiny slapped his cheeks to refocus.
The imperial palace alone was burden enough. In just three months…
…The empire’s direct imperial bloodline will all perish.
And until Cloi—the ill-fated crown princess consort and former princess’s daughter—seized power as interim emperor, the empire would drown in rivers of blood. Countless talents would fall in the carnage.
Better to focus here than Elvenheim.
Reaffirming his choice, Tiny strode toward humanity’s greatest city.
* * *
“Gasp! The Knight of the North Winds!?”
“An honor to meet you!”
“Loyalty!”
Asrian’s east gate buzzed with crowds, but Jenas’s status saw them through swiftly. Not without side effects, though.
“Must be nice serving Sir Jenas.”
“Loosen the reins a bit.”
“Squire, apprentice knight… Ah, takes me back.”
Ughhh…
Playing the dutiful squire tugging Jenas’s horse, Tiny reeled from the knights’ barrage of “advice.” Meant as encouragement, perhaps.
Encouragement? Or jealousy? This feels like hazing.
No position to snap back, he endured.
The silver lining?
“I’m running late, so if you’ll excuse my squire. I’ll visit properly next time to pay respects.”
“Ah. O-of course!”
“No need to be so formal…”
Whether thanks to Valentia’s influence or Jenas’s personal prestige, the outer capital guard treated him like an idol.
Finally escaping the fervent fans, they entered a vast avenue lined with five- to six-story buildings. The throngs of people and goods were dizzying.
“Monster byproducts from the western edge of the continent, straight from Ma-yeok!”
“Arma fruits from the empire’s southern tip! Unbeatable flavor!”
“…Fresh kraken chunks from Carun! Try ’em quick for longevity!!”
…Chunks? No way that exists…
Tiny whipped around, but the crowd had already swallowed the hawker.
Jenas’s amused voice cut in—he’d heard it too.
“Where there’s crowds, there’s con artists. Can’t catch them all; gotta sift wisely.”
“…Ahem, I know.”
He wasn’t clueless, but this life’s first taste of it had him reacting anyway.
…Embarrassing.
Jenas smiled at the boy’s flushed ears but looked away politely.
“Still, compared to Valentino, the scale here is overwhelming. They say if it’s not in Asrian, it’s nowhere. What do you think, ‘Torren’?”
Torren. The alias still felt awkward, twisting his expression. But the capital’s splendor was undeniable.
Impressive… No sewer stench with full plumbing, and twice the people I remember.
Even with past-life memories, his eyes darted everywhere. He truly felt the empire’s pre-civil war prosperity.
As Tiny soaked it in…
“Word travels fast, as expected.”
Eagle-emblazoned knights approached from afar. Guided by Blue Wing knights, it took another half-day before they met Sword Emperor Eschard von Valentia.
The duke, face already furrowed, gawked at Tiny up close.
“…Incredible. What the hell did you stuff yourself with? How’d you balloon like this in under a year?”
Unbefitting an imperial duke. Tiny wondered if he acted this way only with him or publicly, but shoved it aside.
Not the point right now.
With a small sigh, he met the duke’s eyes squarely.
“I couldn’t head to Elvenheim with all the worry. Seeing the capital up close makes it worse. Any guess what those bastards might pull?”
Striking first before the duke could scold him for skipping Elvenheim.
The duke scowled back, sighing softly and shaking his head.
“Nothing certain. Palace security’s airtight. But… comparing your future warnings to now, there’s only one possibility for that mess. Easy to infer.”
The duke’s heavy gaze drifted out the window to the dazzling imperial palace, not far off.