Young Duke Maltein was crouched in a small hole beneath intertwined tree roots, muttering incomprehensible words.

“He was in this state when I found him. It seems he encountered a Storeworm right before his eyes.”

Medric furrowed his brow at Walter’s explanation.

Though Kuzan was a magician capable of using magical power, Medric knew this was his first time participating in a subjugation campaign, following in the footsteps of Duke Maltein.
How unfortunate that the first magical beast he encountered was an A-rank creature.

Terrified, Kuzan showed a completely opposite demeanor from his usual attempts to assert himself in front of Medric.

“No… no… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Although he was far from being a warrior, he was someone who could have matched strength with a Storeworm.

If he lacked courage and perseverance to this extent, he shouldn’t have come to this area with so many people in the first place.

Along with these resentful thoughts came a sense of guilt for not stopping him. Medric ran his hand over his face, creating deep wrinkles.

When Medric took a step toward Kuzan, he shrieked and curled up even tighter.

“I tried to talk to him, but he doesn’t seem to hear anything.”

Walter added by way of explanation.

Medric looked at Walter once, then back at Kuzan.

Trembling and repeating the same words, Kuzan Maltein.

Medric approached him and struck his cheek hard with his fist.

A dull thud echoed loudly.

“What is this…”

Even Walter was surprised and asked Medric.

Kuzan, perhaps startled by the strong pain, looked at Medric with shocked eyes.

“It seems you’ve finally come to your senses.”

Walter tried to say from behind that this wasn’t coming to one’s senses, but it was useless.

“Ah… ah…”

Medric raised his fist again at Kuzan, who couldn’t even speak properly now.

“Ahhh!”

Anticipating another blow, Kuzan screamed preemptively.

“If you want to talk with me, you’d better get your wits about you.”

Only then did Kuzan nod his head vigorously up and down.

“Do you know how many people have died because of your misguided orders?”

Medric appeared genuinely angry.

“This is no time for you to be losing your mind and acting stupidly.”

“Ah…”

Kuzan seemed to be crying.

“Your fallen subordinates won’t come back. You’ll have to live with their memory and guilt in your heart for the rest of your life.”

No matter how much of a mistake it was, the lives of the dead would not return. Even if he tried
his best to live properly from now on.

Kuzan stared blankly at Medric and shed tears.

He was now remembering the subordinates who had died before his eyes, finally realizing his own stupidity.

Whether because of the past trauma or what lay ahead, Kuzan wept silently.

Once joined with the subjugation force, he couldn’t return even if he wanted to. Having come this far meant he had to remain until the end of the campaign.

From now on, he would be fighting in a war where losing one’s life at any moment wouldn’t be surprising.

“Pull yourself together, and when you come out of here, show the demeanor of a proper commander. At the very least, don’t inflict a second wound on the hearts of subordinates who have lost friends and suffered injuries because of an incompetent superior.”

Medric decided to leave, thinking Kuzan needed time.

***

Only after collecting the bodies and treating the injured knights could the subjugation forces return to their quarters to rest. Medric informed them that the departure of the subjugation force would be delayed by a day or two due to the knights’ injuries.

He had wanted to return quickly to his territory, but the situation made that impossible, leaving him feeling frustrated. With Eve’s face appearing in his mind, he couldn’t even sleep.

Medric woke up early in the morning for training and headed toward a secluded part of the forest. He drew his longsword and swung it several times.

“The Duke is training from early morning. I should also train and cultivate my mind from now on.”

“……”

If there was something even Medric hadn’t expected, it was this.

Kuzan, the eldest son of the Maltein ducal family, had woken up earlier than Medric and was following him around like a shadow.

Medric ignored him, finished his morning training, had a simple breakfast, and then reviewed documents while drinking coffee in his quarters.

“To handle paperwork even on the battlefield. I’m seeing you in a new light. I should also establish a routine of handling simple work in the morning.”

“……”

‘Did I hit him too hard yesterday?’

Medric looked down at his fist.

He began to wonder if Kuzan had turned into a different person after being punched hard by Medric.

He had certainly hit him hard to bring him to his senses, but not hard enough to completely change his mind.

“How far do you intend to follow me?”

“I plan to follow the Duke wherever he goes.”

Kuzan was being excessively submissive to him.

“Wherever…?”

“Yes, even if it’s to the battlefield, I’ll gladly follow.”

Medric sighed deeply.

It was good that Kuzan had changed his mind and decided to take the right path, but…

‘Is this really the right path?’

Well, since he seemed determined to follow Medric everywhere, it would be fine as long as
Medric guided him along the right path.

Yes, it was a positive development.

But right now, Medric wanted to do something without any interference.

‘I want to contact my wife.’

He hadn’t been able to contact her since arriving here.

Moreover, this was the last free time before the subjugation campaign began. After this, he
didn’t know when he would be able to contact her again.

He looked at Kuzan, who was sticking close behind him.

He didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.

“Aren’t you going to look after your knight order?”

“I’ve already given all the necessary instructions.”

“How diligent.”

Medric frowned.

“Yaaawn… Good mor—aaah!”

David, who was coming out of the tent stretching, was startled and stumbled.

“Is the person I’m seeing in front of me really Young Duke Maltein?”

David rubbed his eyes and pointed, as if he was seeing someone who shouldn’t be there.

Kuzan frowned with his characteristic look of disdain, as if he were looking at an insect.

“How dare a nobody point fingers.”

The clicking of his tongue confirmed that he was indeed Kuzan Maltein.

Medric blinked in surprise as he looked at Kuzan.

It seemed he hadn’t changed into a different person after all.

Noticing Medric’s gaze, Kuzan was startled and quickly composed his expression, standing directly behind Medric with his head bowed.

David, surprised by Kuzan’s behavior, pressed close to Medric and whispered in his ear.

“He looks like the Young Duke Maltein I know, but why is he here? And what’s with that behavior?”

David disliked the Maltein family.

With a grimace suggesting he didn’t even like breathing the same air as them, David asked Medric.

“I don’t know either. He’s been like this since morning. Try to get him away from me. I want to contact my wife.”

Medric spoke as if just being between them was draining his energy.

“Oh my, have I been interfering with your contact with your wife? How thoughtless of me.”

Kuzan bowed his head and belatedly moved aside.

“Then, I will return when the subjugation campaign begins. I look forward to working with you, Duke Archild.”

It was quite a respectful greeting.

Though the phrase “look forward to working with you” was a bit irritating.

“It seems he felt the difference in ability yesterday and decided to cling to Your Grace.”

David said, glancing disapprovingly in the direction Kuzan had disappeared.

“Who knows. Either way, stop picking fights with him. He seems to have reflected a lot after losing his subordinates yesterday.”

“Hmph. Does reflection erase the wrongs he’s done? Unless he’s truly repenting…”

“He probably repented all night.”

David’s eyes widened at his response.

“Really? To the extent that Your Grace would say so? But why is he still like that with me?”

Medric looked at David.

He was about to ask if he really didn’t know, but decided against it.

Still, it was fortunate that Kuzan had come to his senses. Being strange was a hundred times better than being lifeless. Thinking of it as a positive development, Medric decided to view the situation optimistically.

Medric finally found himself alone and made brief contact with Eve.
Having given her a communication stone in advance, contacting her wasn’t difficult.

After a few rings, there was a click as she answered.

“Are you doing well?”

“Of course. It’s only been two days since you left.”

“That’s true. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Are you eating properly?”

“You treat me too much like a patient, Duke.”

Eve’s soft laughter came through the communication stone.

A faint smile appeared on Medric’s face.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well. We’re planning to depart for the Berenta Mountains tomorrow.”

“…If you’re planning to depart, then you must be at Bekins Plains now.”

“That’s right. There was an incident yesterday, so our departure has been delayed by a day or two from what we expected.”

“I see. I hope you return without any problems.”

“I will. If anything happens at the mansion, contact me anytime.”

They ended their simple conversation, checking on each other’s well-being.

Though they hadn’t said much, Medric felt strangely relieved.

He placed his hand over his strangely tightening heart and shook his head.

‘I really have it bad.’

Despite knowing it was strange, a smile spread across his face.