But as Valtos hung his head in dismay, a small, furtive smile appeared on Raid’s face. The criteria for compatibility with the Hero spell had yet to be determined, but a point of similarity across all Heroes was their tendency toward selfless acts and sometimes even self-sacrifice. Although Valtos had been artificially selected as a Hero through Viteos’s inhumane schemes, and there were many who’d proven more worthy than him before they were eliminated, the fact remained that Valtos had eventually been bestowed the Hero’s power—and the reason for this, Raid felt he’d finally seen from Valtos’s somber confession.
Ariel had also picked up on Raid’s thoughts. She had never thought about how Valtos felt about his role as a Hero. He was naturally arrogant and self-centered, yes, but today she felt like she could finally relate with him in some small way—and it was all thanks to Raid’s deep understanding of the Heroes that he was able to draw that part of Valtos to the surface.
“Ariel,” Raid called. “Feel free to treat Valtos as you would a common soldier.”
“Understood. I suppose he would be useful as a shield on the front lines or as a decoy during retreat.”
“Are those really my only two uses?! A meat shield or a decoy?!”
“Blame your life of indolence in the capital,” Ariel said with a bright smile. “Dian and I have been working on the front lines for years. It’s high time you make up for all the load we’ve carried in your stead.”
“Ack... There goes my gallant battlefield debut!” Once again, Valtos slumped in defeat.
Raid shook his head. As they said, what goes around comes around. All the time he’d spent leisurely was now coming back to bite him from behind, and very rightfully so.
“Hmm?” Fareg suddenly looked up. “Excuse me, I have a call to take.” He took some distance from the group while taking out a magic device from his pocket. After a short exchange, he walked back with a mystified look on his face. “Freeden... My father just called, but...”
“Oh? Is he finally disowning you?”
“Do you think I’d report that to you?!”
“I’m just messing with you. So, what’s up?”
“He said he wants to welcome you back and is inviting you to our estate. Apparently, the headmaster is still busy at the moment.”
Raid narrowed his eyes. “Ah... I see,” he muttered, nodding. “Millis, no response yet from Elise?”
“Hmm... Nope, none. Shall I try again?”
“Yeah, please. If she doesn’t respond, we’ll head straight for the Verminant estate, so go and buy whatever else you want to while you can.”
“Oh, oh! I still want to try a ‘crepe’!” Norn said.
“As do I!” Valtos added.
“My wallet keeps getting lighter and lighter...!” Fareg wailed. Alas, he was seized from both sides by the duo and dragged to the food stalls.
Meanwhile, Millis had just returned her communicator to her pocket. “Nope. Still not connecting.”
Raid shrugged. “Figured.”
“What? Then why did you ask me to try again?”
“Just to be sure.” Raid waved his hand with a wry smile. “Well, they still let us go around the city... From the looks of things, it shouldn’t turn out badly.”
Ariel sensed something was off about Raid’s behavior, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out why. “Lord Raid... Are we perhaps causing you trouble?” To the people of this world, Ariel, Norn, and Valtos were essentially invaders. Normally, they would’ve been apprehended and detained upon arrival, even if they came in with Raid and Millis.
Surprisingly, Raid swiftly shook his head. The slight tension in his features was gone too. “Oh, well, that may be one of the reasons, but no—this is actually about me, not you. Don’t sweat it.”
“About...you?”
“Well, long story short, I’m in a bit of a...weird position in this world. So, whatever’s happening has probably got to do with me. If anything, you’re the ones getting dragged into my business.” With a strained smile, Raid gave Ariel a pat on the shoulder. “All right. Let’s wait for them in the automobile, shall we?”
Ariel and Millis got into the automobile after Raid. Soon, Norn and Valtos returned, carrying more food in their arms. Once everyone was seated, the magic automobile departed.
“Ariel, look—this is a ‘crepe’!” said Norn, handing her one of the food packages. “The old man running the shop said it’s a dessert filled with strawberry and cream!”
Ariel accepted it with a smile. “Thank you very much, Lady Norn.”
“Hey, lad! Do you see this? You can order it with meat too! Truly delectable!” Valtos crowed.
Fareg slumped over, completely drained. “Good for you... I’ve never seen anyone eat ten crepes in one sitting. Are you even digesting everything properly?”
“But of course! My stomach is endless, for I am the crown prince!”
“What does being the crown prince have to do with your stomach...?”
Fareg and Valtos’s bickering carried into the passenger compartment from the luggage carrier. All the while, Raid sat quietly in his seat, swaying along with the automobile.
Concern budded in Ariel’s chest at the sight—
“Ahh... So sweet... So yummy...”
“Oh! Ariel, you got some cream on your cheek!”
—but more prominent yet was her contentment from eating the delicious snack in her hands. Truly, sweets were the quickest way to a brighter mood.
Millis hummed. “Come to think of it... Fareg, did you tell your father that we were back?”
“No, I left the estate as soon as I got your message. I told Valk to prepare to welcome you all back, so perhaps she informed my father along the way.”
“Ah, so there must be a ‘welcome home’ banner waiting for us in the estate...”
“What? How did you know?! It was supposed to be a surprise!”
“Well, we appreciate the sentiment,” she said with an awkward smile. Then, she cocked her head. “Anyway, since you didn’t tell him, maybe the people in the Institute did for us?”
Eventually, the magic automobile stopped in front of an extravagant mansion with a vast yard, incomparable in size and scale to the estates they’d seen along the way. The lavish scenery, however, was currently filled with quite the number of patrolling knights.
Fareg squinted. “What...?”
“Hmm? What’s the matter, Fareg?” asked Millis.
“Those are...House Verminant’s magic knights.”
“Ohh! I’ve heard stories about them.”
“They are composed of the cream of the crop among the first-class magicians and are regularly dispatched to subjugate large-sized manabeasts. During festivities, they are even entrusted with the safety of the royal family and other VIPs...” Fareg trailed off. “But why are they all here?”
“I mean, they’re your family’s knights, aren’t they? I suppose your father called for them,” Millis said.
“No... He doesn’t usually summon them to the estate. Meetings are conducted in the magicians’ garrison near the royal capital.” His narrowed gaze cautiously scanned the knights. “Father has never gathered them here in our estate. Just what—”
“Oh,” Raid said, speaking up for the first time since they got in the automobile. “They’re probably here for me.”
Before Fareg could say anything in response, Raid alighted from the luggage carrier and headed straight toward the front door—until the knights suddenly pointed all their weapons at him. He halted his steps, natural and unfazed, as he raised both hands up with a wry smile on his face.
“Don’t look so tense now; I’m not going to do anything. I’d appreciate if I could talk to your superior, though...”
“That would be me,” said a man as he cut through the crowd of knights. He appeared to be in the prime of his life, and his hair was a very distinct shade of red.
Fareg immediately burst out of the magic automobile and yelled, “Father! What is the meaning of this?!”
“Calm down, kid,” Raid said. “He was just about to explain, wasn’t he?”
“Indeed, Sir Freeden,” replied the man. “I, Martis Verminant, have been issued a directive by His Majesty the King of Vegalta...” As his solemn voice boomed across the front yard, Martis narrowed his eyes into a cold gaze and declared, “Raid Freeden, you are hereby detained under suspicion of subversion of the state and incitement of foreign threat.”