MTM 137

The party headed straight for Carseon. Before leaving, Zed subtly asked Ser about his intentions. He explained that since he could not guarantee how long they would stay in Carseon, he would take him there if he intended to go to the Land of Abundance. However, Ser firmly shook his head.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go with you. It’s not just because of the seal; I don’t know what you’ll think, but… I just keep thinking about Harto.”

Those words were sincere. His eyes were filled with genuine worry and compassion as he looked at Harto. Zed also felt that there was no longer any need to be wary of Ser.

And there was one more reason for that. It was Allen.

“Ser, look at this! I asked Nina to sew on a fallen button, but she sewed it in the wrong place.”

“What? Wait, why is the button attached here?”

As Allen thrust his sleeve forward with an incredulous expression, Ser laughed in disbelief. Ser then quipped that he was much better at sewing and told Allen to leave it to him next time. He added with a touch of coyness that it wouldn’t be free.

Allen and Ser have grown close during their stay in Etheria, they exchanged trivial jokes and laughed incessantly. Sometimes they would whisper to each other and secretly play pranks.

The change in the two people alone filled the carriage heading to Carseon with a liveliness different from the previous heavy atmosphere.

“Well… it is certainly a rare and fascinating sight, but I’m not particularly interested in that side.”

As if he could see right through Zed’s thoughts while watching the two of them chatter loudly, Leon, who was standing nearby, muttered with a sour expression.

“And we are the same as before?”

“Of course. Zed and Harto transcend species… Hmm, let’s stop there.”

Leon stopped talking. He didn’t want to unnecessarily upset Zed and incur his hatred. Fortunately, Harto didn’t seem to have heard. His attention was focused solely on the black rabbit Sleepy he was holding in his arms. Harto had named it ‘Sleepy’. Because the rabbit slept so much, he would say, “Sleeping again? You only sleep. My Sleepy rabbit~,” and the name eventually stuck to him.

Harto smiled upon seeing Sleepy sleeping soundly and peacefully amidst the noise, then looked up and asked Leon.

“Leon, what’s that you put next to you?”

He had been curious about the old book Leon had been holding dear ever since before he got into the carriage.

“Oh, you mean this? It’s a cooking recipe book the restaurant chef gave me as a gift! Just look at this; it’s filled with dozens of secret recipes passed down through generations!”

Leon flipped through the pages in an excited voice. On the worn paper, ingredients were drawn one by one alongside densely written handwriting. It was a treasure-like book containing someone’s precious years, where the thought and affection embedded in the cooking could be felt intact.

“Did you sneakily take that?”

When Allen asked with a skeptical look, Leon immediately protested that he was being unfairly accused. His face was full of vitality as he passionately spoke about how much he was favored at the restaurant and how much he struggled to turn down the offer to remain as an apprentice.

Leon, you’ve really changed a lot…

Harto felt a renewed sense of wonder as he watched Leon. The Leon from the original novel that Harto knew was a character who struggled immensely with communicating with others. However, before he knew it, he was learning how to blend in and converse naturally not only with his companions but also with strangers he was meeting for the first time.

There likely wasn’t a specific trigger. Unlike the mercenary group that used each other as a means to achieve a certain goal, perhaps it was the time spent walking alongside those who chose to do so of their own free will that changed Leon.

And that was a story that applied not only to Leon but also to Harto himself.

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“The air definitely feels different from here on.”

The carriage arrived at the border of Carseon in less than half a day. In contrast to Etheria, as they approached Carseon, dense coniferous forests stretched out one after another on both sides of the road, revealing the silhouette of a castle through them.

Carseon’s castle was built of ash-gray stone that had silently endured centuries of wind and rain, instead of the pure white marble of the imperial palace of Regnovar. Vines climbing up the rough grain of the walls tightly wrapped around the pillars, and wildflowers blooming in every crevice created a mysterious and sacred atmosphere.

As the carriage reached the base of the city walls, the knights of the Regnovar Empire guarding the entrance approached and began their inspection. A brief tension arose among the party upon facing the imperial knights, but the search was not as thorough as the one at Belnok. Thanks to this, the party was able to enter Carseon without any major setbacks.

As the carriage crossed the gate, the greenery of the forest welcomed the party even more intensely.

“Wow….”

Harto, who was engrossed in looking at the scenery outside, naturally exclaimed in admiration.

Despite being the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Carseon, it felt more like being in the middle of a vast forest than a city. Surrounded by dense trees on all sides, it felt like entering a peaceful countryside estate. Occasionally, when expansive fields appeared, flocks of sheep, cows, and horses could be seen grazing, and nameless, fragrant fruits hung temptingly from the short trees.

Although it was the middle of winter, the air here was warm like the beginning of spring. While the geographical advantage of being located much further south than the empire certainly played a role, the fertile soil and humid climate, thanks to a blessing bestowed long ago, were producing abundant crops.

Clack.

Just then, Zed gently opened the carriage door. A cool breeze, laden with the refreshing scent of the forest, blew in the carriage. The party took deep breaths of the clean air.

“In the summer, the forest becomes denser and the breeze is cool. It would have been better if we had come then…”

As he entered Carseon’s territory, Zed’s expression noticeably relaxed. This place was like a spiritual home, where his mother was born and raised, and where fragmentary memories of his childhood lingered. Although he had not visited often, the air of this land, which resembled his mother, brought him unparalleled peace.

“I want to come again in the summer, Zed.”

Harto took Zed’s hand. The golden eyes that met his sparkled like sunlight. Zed was delighted by his words.

And so, until they arrived at their destination, the group enjoyed the refreshing breath Carseon gave them for a while.

“I have something to tell everyone in advance.”

Just as the gray outer walls of the castle came into view, Zed called the party together. His voice was heavier and more serious than usual.

“First, I plan to use my identity to enter the castle. Then, they will let us all in to verify our identities. However, until the verification is complete… no, even after it is verified, their attitude toward us will be closer to coldness than hospitality.”

“Even if you reveal that you are Prince Ares?”

When Allen asked with eyes wide in surprise, Zed remained silent for a moment and observed the expressions of the group.

“I have been missing for the past three years. I have no idea what kind of contempt and suffering Carseon has endured from the Empire during that time. I heard from Daniel that the ostracism intensified to a cruel degree after I disappeared. In such a situation, if the prince whom they thought was dead were to suddenly appear… it certainly wouldn’t be welcome. Even if they pointed their swords at me, I would have nothing to say.”

Before becoming a vassal state of the Regnovar Empire, Carseon was a holy nation with a long history. Accordingly, the people’s pride was also high. However, in the three years since the princess, Zed’s mother, passed away and Prince Ares turned his back on the place, Carseon had been slowly crumbling. Crown Prince Magnus stripped Carseon of its autonomy using the disappearance of the 7th Prince as a pretext and tightened the noose around them by forcing unbearable tribute every year.

Now that the tyrannical Magnus was gone, it would be entirely up to Daniel to rectify the relationship between the Regnovar Empire and Carseon. However, unraveling the tangled mess and establishing a new order was by no means a task that could be completed in a short time.

Did they understand the depth of the sense of indebtedness Zed felt? The group nodded with expressions that showed they fully understood.

“Then, how do you plan to move after you safely enter the castle?”

Allen asked to lighten the mood.

“I plan to go to the central temple inside and meet the High Priest. I intend to check the remaining records regarding the Demon King’s seal there and find out more about the fragments.”

Allen nodded at Zed’s answer. He understood that, given he had chosen Carseon as his next destination, there were indeed doubts that could not be resolved solely through conversation with the Seeker.

“I have a suggestion.”

At that moment, Leon, who had been listening quietly, cautiously raised his hand.

“How about some of us stay outside the castle?”

At the sudden proposal, everyone’s eyes turned to Leon.

“As Zed said, we don’t know how they will treat us inside the castle. I think we need to leave people outside to gather intelligence in case of an emergency, and have a contingency plan in place to come rescue us from the outside if things get dangerous.”

Leon’s words were absolutely valid. Zed also agreed with his keen judgment.

“I’ll stay outside.”

Ser spoke in an indifferent tone. Leon nodded, he had expected it and continued speaking.

“Then Ser and I will stay outside to handle the situa…”

“Me! I’ll stay!”

Before Leon could even finish speaking, Allen loudly interrupted.