Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

Although it was late at night, the streets of Flamme were quite bright.

Mana lamps, which were so commonplace they were even provided to ordinary familys, were placed throughout the streets, and these bright lights served to drive away low-level monsters and predators.

Particularly around the outskirts of the city, it was as if they had forgotten the darkness, with the brightness akin to daylight.

Soldiers and knights from the Worden County were lined up, waiting for someone on the deserted street.

“The wind is cold. Wouldn’t it be better for you two to wait in the mansion?!”

Ketn, leading the forces, cautiously approached and spoke to the two women at the forefront.

Liana and Neria were armed with swords and armor instead of their usual glamorous dresses and glared at each other.

“Can you manage to stay awake until this hour, despite going to bed early and rising late? I worry about your fragile body.”

Her face was half-concealed by a helmet visor, but the eyes hidden within were fierce, like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Hehe. I’m more worried about Lady Liana, who is older. The night breeze is rather chilly; aren’t your knees getting cold?”

On the other hand, Neria, lightly armed, appeared small and delicate like a herbivore, but hidden beneath was the potential to reveal fierce fangs at any moment.

“Sigh…”

Caught between these two mistresses, Ketn secretly sighed, feeling helpless amidst the knights and maids standing nearby.

Why had they come all the way here just to act like this? Though he understood their feelings, he still wished they maintained their dignity, considering the situation.

“How about you both enjoy a warm cup of tea while catching up on your conversations? We can’t guarantee when something might happen.”

The soldiers who remained in the territory, along with the knights who couldn’t participate in the operation, were all fully prepared and waiting.

However, this preparation was only in case of emergencies, not to serve as the mistresses’ escort force.

Ketn’s request for them to return to the mansion aimed to prevent a situation where forces would be divided.

“What are you saying? The heirs are on the battlefield now, how can we stay complacent as the mistresses and mothers of the family?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it known that Sir Ketn always loiters in front of the mansion due to worry about his grandson? We feel the same way.”

“……”

Ketn felt unjustly criticized when the blame suddenly turned towards him. Determined to assert his position as the field commander, he stroked his white beard and spoke decisively.

“I understand your feelings, but your presence here only adds more burden to the subordinates. And regarding the misunderstanding, you should know, I’ve never worried over my grandson. Why would I for that troublemaker…”

It was public knowledge that Ketn was often seen loitering in front of the mansion at dawn and late night.

Most people present had witnessed him pacing the main gate with a worried face at some point.

As the soldiers, knights, servants, and maids stared at him intently, Ketn realized he had lost his stance. He awkwardly cleared his throat and turned his head.

***

“You caught it, didn’t you?”

“I merely finished it off. Without you, I couldn’t have caught it.”

Aira sighed as she spoke to Christian, who was insisting the harpy’s head was a gift.

“Still, you didn’t have to bring the head…”

“Alright, I’ll take care of the head; let’s clean up first. This isn’t the time for us to be arguing.”

“Clean up? But first, your wounds…”

“Aira. The direction the harpy first appeared from, the knights conducting operations elsewhere probably fell victim too. I can endure, but what about the other knights?”

“…”

Finally, upon recalling the other members of the hunting party, Aira’s complexion turned pale.

“The only ones who can move properly now are you and Masaya. Those two over there aren’t in any condition to move either.”

Masaya’s mana camouflage wore off, revealing Garcia and Melissa hidden within it.

The two of them were still focusing on recovering their internal injuries, unaware of the surrounding situation.

“Hurry and check before the scent of blood draws other monsters or beasts over.”

“… So you intend to stay here?”

“Yes. I am tired and with those two recovering over there, you needn’t worry too much.”

Masaya, quietly listening to their conversation, nodded in agreement with the idea.

Once Christian saw that the situation was settled, he tried to sit down, but Aira grabbed his arm first.

“… Hey?”

“No. You’re coming with me.”

“What? No, why? I think I explained quite thoroughly?”

Aira frowned at Christian’s response.

“We caught it together, not alone, shouldn’t we both get the recognition?”

“Sigh…”

Unlike Christian, who wasn’t interested in taking over as the family head, Aira’s goal was to become the family head of the Worden Family.

Successfully handling this situation and presenting the harpy’s head to the family could bring her attention and praise from both the family head and the retainers, and perhaps from Liana too.

‘Is he really refusing this?’

Stubborn as ever, Christian showed no intention of backing down.

Christian didn’t reject Aira’s touch; he leaned on her as they walked forward.

“Oh, Masaya, could you stay here and look after those two?”

“That’s quite a demand. Well, since you showed me something interesting, I’ll make an exception.”

“Then we’re counting on you, ms. Masaya!”

Amidst their bickering, the siblings left with Masaya’s words echoing behind them.

Masaya could only watch their retreating figures in a daze.

***

“Ketn, Ketn!”

“Hmm?”

Avoiding the two mistresses, Ketn was busy inspecting the troops when he heard an urgent call from atop the outer wall.

Determining the location, he immediately sprang up and landed beside the soldier calling him.

Despite his advancing age, his movements were remarkably agile, evidencing his status as a knight. The soldiers marveled, their eyes glued to him in amazement until Ketn rebuked them.

“We’re in the midst of an operation. Instead of standing there dumbly, explain what’s happening.”

“A, yes. Uh, something is approaching from over there, but we can’t identify it…”

“Who is coming?”

Although the interior of Flamme and the top of the outer wall were brightly lit by mana lamps, the surroundings beyond were completely dark.

The faint moonlight was mostly obscured by clouds, so soldiers without mana found it difficult to discern what lay beyond.

“This is…”

Ketn enhanced his vision through body activation and looked toward where the soldier pointed. As the soldier reported, something rapidly approached Flamme.

‘Is it a halfling? Their stature seems small…’

Being quite a distance away, even Ketn found it difficult to identify initially. However, its swift approach meant its identity would be revealed soon.

“Open the gate! Open the gate immediately and prepare the medical team!”

Once Ketn identified the figure, he exclaimed with a bright smile, quickly turning pale as if he had received a shock.

However, the soldiers hesitated momentarily at Ketn’s order to open the gates, as the two mistresses were still waiting outside, creating even more confusion.

“Open the gates, immediately!”

When Ketn shouted again, the soldiers hurriedly flung the gates wide open.

Groooan—!

When the gates opened, it felt as though the outside darkness poured into Flamme, sending shivers down everyone watching.

Whirl!

Ketn leapt down from the wall, landing in front of the open gate.

Simultaneously, something darted out from the darkness, stopping before Ketn.

“Sir Ketn…?”

Supporting Christian, Aira tilted her head in confusion at the sight of Ketn blocking their path.

“Aira, can’t we slow down a bit? I’m feeling light-headed from the blood loss… Huh?”

Christian, too, looked puzzled by Ketn’s severe expression and glanced around.

Behind Ketn, standing knights and soldiers, not to mention the two mothers waiting back at the mansion, all wore grave faces.

“Ah…”

Most notably, Neria, who always greeted the children with a warm smile, fainted in shock, prompting Christian to leave Aira’s side and rush to her.

“Mother?!”

“Aunt?!”

Fortunately, before Neria’s body hit the ground, Milly, who had been waiting nearby, caught her. From Milly’s arms, Neria gently opened her eyes and spoke to Christian.

“Blood…”

“My lady! Stay with us!”

With trembling hands, Neria pointed to Christian’s chest.

It was then Christian realized why they had been staring at him with such concern, and he laughed awkwardly.

“Ah… I haven’t pulled them out yet.”

Harpy feathers embedded throughout his body made him look almost like a porcupine. Moreover, the blood from the feather wounds, mixed with the harpy’s blood, had stained his clothes red.

“So like I said… it’s fine. Look how nothing happens when I pull them out!”

While Christian reassured Neria, Aira approached Liana.

Amidst the commotion over Christian’s feather extraction, Liana alone kept her eyes on Aira.

“You… that…”

“Oh, this is a gift for Mother.”

As Aira approached, Liana stepped back in surprise, something unfamiliar for Aira to witness, which caused Aira to stop, equally confused.

“… That is a gift?”

Liana pointed, her fingers trembling, at the object Aira was holding.

Not understanding the problem, Aira looked at the harpy’s head and, realizing something, hastily explained.

“Ah, this, well… Christian said ‘Aunt will be absolutely thrilled to see a harpy’s head, you know!’ with great confidence.”

Even as they traversed to Flamme, Aira felt puffed up with pride, thinking there was no better gift, excited at the thought of being dutiful.

Yet this reaction threw her off entirely. Aira glared at Christian, then turned back to Liana and spoke.

“Christian said you would be happy to receive this.”

“Chr-Christian!”

Liana shot a glare at Christian, realizing there was something gravely misunderstood in Aira’s presentation of the demonic head as a cherished gift.