MTM 100

“Zed Shaden?”

After Isadora finished breakfast, she asked Harto, who had come to see her, for the name.

“Yes, one of my companions… The other two are Allen Kravier and Leon Finer.”

Harto tried to calm his pounding heart and called out the names of his companions one by one.

“Wait…Zed Shaden? That sounds familiar….”

“Yes?”

Harto’s eyes widened. Could it be that Isadora already knew Ares Carseon’s alias?

As he waited anxiously for an answer, Isadora picked up the communication device on the desk and activated it.

“This is Commander Isadora. Is there anyone in Saela who can report on the current situation?”

After a moment, the communication device crackled and a voice answered.

-Yes! Commander, this is Ardo, working at the Saela branch!

“Good. You reported seeing a blond man there earlier. Let me ask again. Do you remember his name?”

For a moment, Harto felt his heart skip a beat.

‘No way, no way… ‘

-Zed Shaden! We’ve confirmed that he moved to the western branch.

“As expected, my memory was correct.”

After confirming his identity, Isadora removed her hand from the communication device and turned her gaze to Harto. Harto, who she’d expected to be delighted by the news, was shaking in disbelief, contrary to expectations.

“Is Zed… really there? That place… where, where is it…?”

Isadora answered calmly to Harto’s trembling voice.

“It’s located west of Arnovar. It’s a distance you can reach in half a day.”

“Half a day….”

“If necessary, we can communicate directly with the branch through the communication channel.”

“……!”

That meant he could contact Zed right now.

Harto couldn’t even tell where his heart was beating. It was clearly in his chest, but the thumping sound reverberated like a drum across his face.

The moment he learned that Zed was Ares Carseon, his reason told him to stay away from him.

‘When that sprout fully grows and takes firm root, not even the fate given to you will be able to shake you.’

What Reina had said came back to him vividly.

‘I can change it… . I can do it too… .’

Harto nodded quietly, his resolve firm. It was an expression of his will to communicate directly with Zed.

“Alright. I’ll contact them. Tell them what’s happening here and they’ll connect right away.”

Isadora immediately manipulated the communication device and attempted to communicate with the branch in the west.

“If it weren’t for yesterday, you could have contacted him sooner… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Actually, now is better….”

If he had contacted him right away yesterday, he might have passed by without even knowing that Zed was Ares Carseon. He thought, how fortunate it was that he found out before it was too late.

Clink.

Meanwhile, the butler came in with tea. He explained that chamomile tea, with its subtle floral scent, had a calming effect on the mind and body. But it didn’t work for Harto. Even after finishing the entire cup, his heart was pounding. It wouldn’t calm down.

“Pyu…?”

As if reading Harto’s anxiety and impatience, the elements suddenly emerged and landed on Harto’s lap.

“It’s alright … I was just a little nervous….”

Harto held them tightly with both hands, carefully stroking the elements that were worried about him.

Chzzzzzt

Just then, the communication device began to vibrate and glow. Isadora received the call without delay.

“This is Isadora. Where are you? Is it the western branch?”

-Yes, commander! The branch has been connected!

Harto jumped up from his seat.

“You’ve heard the report, correct? I heard there’s a man named Zed Shaden over there. I need to talk to him immediately.”

-Ah, that’s… .

“Is there a problem?”

At the trembling voice of the troubled member, Isadora’s gaze hardened and she glanced at Harto.

-Ha, that’s… he left early this morning, before dawn. So… he headed straight to headquarters, where you are, Commander.

“Here?”

Even Isadora looked surprised when she heard that.

“Does he know where this place is?”

Yes. From what we heard, it seems he has a connection to you, Commander.

“To me?”

The moment he heard that answer, Harto had a gut feeling. Zed also knew that Isadora was the commander of the Royal Knights.

“Then… Zed is coming here….”

Harto couldn’t hide his anxiety as he looked out the window. Even though he knew it would take at least half a day, he felt as if Zed would enter the mansion at any moment.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll contact you again.”

Isadora, who had cut off the communication line, rose from her seat and approached Harto.

“Harto, who is that Zed Shaden?”

“Ah….”

Isadora seemed to have already figured out that Zed Shaden was an alias.

Harto hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“It might be a bit… long story.”

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Finally entering…!!”

At sunset, Allen exclaimed, his breath heavy as he entered Arnovar.

“Wow… This place is truly a different world….”

On the other hand, Leon looked around with wide eyes, overwhelmed by the scenery that was completely different from that of the Belgarde Empire.

It was understandable. Carriages and horses bustled along the well-paved main road, and beneath the dug-out tunnel, a vast market unfolded before their eyes. The crowds seemed endless, and the lively chatter and the calls of merchants hawking their wares echoed incessantly.

Leon desperately wanted to go down and take a look. But he knew he couldn’t do that now. He was so exhausted, he wanted nothing more than to throw himself on the ground and lie down. He’d been riding nonstop since before sunrise.

“By the way, it’s more vibrant than I thought. I heard the Regnovar Empire is a tough place for outsiders to make a living. At first glance, it seems like there’s quite a bit of racial diversity. Of course, not as much as Belgarde.”

“I heard that too. Was it just a rumor?”

Leon also agreed with Allen’s questioning words.

“It’s just because it’s the capital. The people who live here receive special treatment under the protection of the imperial palace.”

“Really? Just because they live here?”

“Yes. That’s why they’re all corrupt and full of vanity. They may look flashy on the outside, but… that’s not the case in reality.”

It was a desperate need to survive. The Emperor of the Regnovar Empire was a man who would mercilessly purge anyone who showed even the slightest sign of discontent or rebellion. Zed had witnessed these atrocities with his own eyes since childhood.

So, it was a place he never wanted to return to. He desperately wanted to find Harto and get out of here as quickly as possible.

“This way. There’s not much left.”

The small talk was brief. Zed tightened his grip on the reins, hurrying to his destination.

“Oh my, I don’t even have time to catch my breath….”

Allen followed him with a deep sigh. Leon, unable to take his eyes off the bustling market, followed suit.

After a while, as the sun had completely disappeared in the evening, the group finally arrived in front of the Grenhardt mansion.

“Hey, stop! What are you doing?”

At the entrance to the mansion, a guard shouted loudly to stop them. Zed dismounted and held out a letter from the western branch of the Royal Knights’ Order from his inner pocket.

“…Ah! I’ll take you this way!”

The guard’s demeanor changed in an instant. He quickly opened the ornate iron gate and ordered another guard to summon a carriage to transport the group. He meant to allow the horses, having traveled a long way, to rest in the stables, and then take them to the mansion in another carriage. The scale of the Grenhardt mansion was, as one might imagine, vast.

“What? Is it my imagination? It feels like they were waiting for us.”

Allen, who had gotten into the carriage, looked puzzled, but Zed just stared out the window in silence.

“…Maybe Isadora knows my identity.”

“Even though you didn’t tell her your real name?”

Leon and Allen had heard on their way here that Zed and Isadora had a connection from their academy days.

“I don’t know how she found out, but… the Royal Knights might have described my appearance… Wait!”

Zed, who had been talking in the swaying carriage, caught a glimpse of something outside the window. Then, suddenly, he flung open the carriage door.

“Stop!”

“Zed? Why all of a sudden?!”

Allen screamed in horror, but Zed jumped out before the carriage could even come to a complete stop.

“Zed!”

Leon and Allen’s shouts were simply dissipated by the wind. Zed ran across the garden. Darkness had descended on the garden, and the clouds had just parted, casting a dim moonlight.

His gaze was fixed on one spot: on the hill leading up the path leading to the garden, beneath a giant redwood tree, stood someone.

Zed approached slowly, trying to calm down his ragged breathing.

“Is it an illusion…? Or… a dream…?”

Zed muttered to himself as he advanced. With each step he took, the grass rustled, and the moonlit lily of the valley flowers glowed softly around him.

When he was close enough to see the person’s face,

“Zed….”

Harto’s face appeared as he heard a small voice calling him.

“……!”

It was Harto. The Harto he had longed to meet was right before his eyes.

Without a moment to hesitate, Zed rushed forward and hugged his small body tightly. He held him tighter than ever, fearing he would vanish like a mirage if he didn’t hold on tightly.