Side Story 21. Claude’s Past (2)

Brother, have a safe journey.

Leah, who came to see off the extermination party while preciously clutching the wooden unicorn figurine in one hand, was more composed than expected. Compared to last night when she cried tiny tears begging him not to go, she really was.

Though still looking tearful, she even waved her hand.

Claude turned around just as he was about to mount his horse.

Showing an imposing presence among the tall knights, he went straight to Leah. The long-legged young duke’s well-proportioned body moved with large strides.

“Leah.”

Reaching his sister, he bent down to meet her eye level. As he did so, his long fur-trimmed cloak flowed down onto the snow-covered ground.

“Yes, brother.”

“Don’t cause trouble and listen well to your nanny. You absolutely must not go outside the castle.”

Remembering how Leah had secretly hidden in a cart and carried out a ‘Great Hilton Castle Escape Operation’ while he was away on extermination last year, Claude still felt chills. As anxious as he was, he emphasized each word.

“If you do it again, I won’t let it slide this time.”

“I won’t see you for a whole month.”

Leah pouted her lips, letting out a small “Hmph……” in a sulky voice.

It was understandable. Not only was she suddenly being scolded when she came out to say goodbye, but she had already been thoroughly scolded for last year’s incident. From her perspective, it must have felt unfair.

Claude could clearly read the dissatisfaction on his sister’s face, which openly revealed her inner thoughts, but he had no choice.

The situation in the south was getting worse. The north couldn’t be called safe either. Was there any guarantee that the flames of abnormal undead appearances in the south wouldn’t spread to the north?

No.

Perhaps it had already begun.

Recalling the report Kiel had brought a few days ago, Claude took a quiet breath. The area to be exterminated this time was planned to be much larger than in previous years.

A month? As if.

It was a schedule that would easily take over three months.

If Leah knew, she would surely throw a fit. She probably wouldn’t let him go quietly. For all he knew, he might only be able to leave after seeing his cloak completely torn.

Imagining the chaotic farewell scene, Claude stroked Leah’s head with one hand. A gentle aura hovered in his expression.

“We won’t see each other for a month, and this ugly face will be the last thing I see.”

“What are you saying.”

“It’s tough enough going to exterminate undead, and now this?”

“……”

“It’s draining my energy, sister.”

“……”

Despite her prim and sulky expression, Leah was now hugging the wooden unicorn figurine tightly to her chest. Her expression and actions were at odds.

Finding it so lovable, Claude could hardly bring himself to leave.

It was an unsuitable thought for a twelve-year-old boy, but having lost his parents early and raising his precious little sister, he felt like he might never be able to let her marry.

Why am I having such old-mannish thoughts?

Thinking he was having all sorts of useless thoughts, Claude straightened up. Just then, the knight commander shouted.

“Your Grace! We must depart now! Quickly!”

“Be quiet and stand by.”

Claude, who had shown a bad temperament since childhood, frowned deeply. He hadn’t properly said goodbye to Leah yet. What was the rush for these grown men, as if it would matter if they set up camp after the sun went down.

Claude, who was sturdier than most adult male knights, clicked his tongue.

When he turned back to Leah, spring had already bloomed on Claude’s face. The knight commander, who had been through all sorts of hardships, was a bit hurt by that extreme mood difference, but it was none of Claude’s concern.

“I’ll be back. Don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone.”

“Alright, brother. Don’t get hurt. If you do, you’ll get a severe scolding from me, you know.”

“Sure.”

Thinking that even getting scolded would be quite enjoyable, Claude stroked Leah’s head one last time. Then he turned and walked among the northern knights.

Deep black hair and blood-red eyes.

The young duke, who had already reached the realm of an Enchanter, was an object of fear and respect for the knights. Age didn’t matter in the face of power. Appearances were just a shell.

The red calamity that turns cruel and merciless when exterminating undead.

The knights followed Claude, who was becoming strictly disciplined, recalling that fierce appearance he never showed to Lady Leah.

The sound of mighty hoofbeats shook the ground.

It was the beginning of the regular extermination that the northern knights set out on.

* * *

Pabababak!

Red spikes rose one after another in the air and on the ground.

Whisper of Calamity.

It was the Enchant that Claude wielded.

That magic-like power, exuding a terrifying aura resembling its master, instantly annihilated the group of skeletons that were rushing in.

“Huff… huff……”

Claude looked around, breathing heavily. It was different from last year. Why did these leeches keep swarming in?

“Search magic.”

He ordered the mages gathered in one place. The quick-witted mages promptly cast search magic to check if there were any more undead auras in the vicinity.

The wind mage through the wind. The earth mage through the ground.

Among them, Austin, the wind mage showing outstanding ability, finished his search first and spoke.

“A massive aura is detected to the north. Normally it wouldn’t be included in the extermination range, but since we’ve come this far, it might not be bad to sweep it all away.”

Claude glanced at the still bright sky and ordered the knights.

“We’ll rest for an hour and then depart.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The knights answered in unison.

Claude tilted his water flask to wet his throat and looked around. It felt ominous. It seemed that the phenomenon of excessive undead appearances occurring in the south was beginning in the Grodes Mountains as well.

Why is this happening…

“Since we’re here, we should sweep away as much as possible.”

Repeating what Austin had just said, Claude frowned.

It’s already been three months.

Leah must be waiting anxiously.

Just thinking about it made his heart tighten as if he had entered his sister’s mind, but it couldn’t be helped for the safety of all of Hilton.

Still, we should withdraw after dealing with these ones.

D*mn undead bastards.

Cursing inwardly, Claude roughly swept his black hair back.

The cold wind slapped his face fiercely. However, compared to the harsh reality of undead swarming, it was nothing more than a gentle breeze.

* * *

If the messenger bird hadn’t arrived on time, Leah might have deceived her nanny’s eyes and slipped out of the castle.

It wasn’t something she was trying to do out of curiosity or mischief like last year. She was worried sick about her brother. Leah genuinely felt fear.

But as soon as she unfolded the short note tied to the bird’s leg, she was relieved. It was Claude’s handwriting.

[On the way back.]

How far had he gone to exterminate? Did some incredibly strong undead appear? Brother would have easily defeated them all, right?

As if she had never been worried sick, Leah now went around the castle with an excited face. Shouting “My brother is the strongest! He’s the best!” to everyone she met here and there.

The extermination party returned to Hilton Castle a month later. By then, the fervent enthusiasm for her brother had already cooled.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

Kiel greeted the lord who had protected Hilton with a bow.

“Where’s Leah?”

Claude looked for his sister as soon as he arrived. Unfortunately, they arrived past midnight, so the castle was quiet.

“She fell asleep waiting.”

“I see.”

Claude nodded slightly and went up the central staircase.

It was as he had expected. However, it was better to choose a forced march, even if it meant seeing his sister’s sleeping face, than spending one more night camping on the road.

He headed straight to his sister’s room. He opened the door carefully, lest he might wake her up.

The room with drawn curtains was dark. However, a faint streak of moonlight was flowing in through the slightly parted curtains.

Relying on that dim light, Claude went to Leah’s bedside.

The boy’s hand, already calloused, gently stroked his young sister’s forehead.

“Did you do well?”

The small whisper created gentle ripples before seeping into the air.

Although it was a greeting as soft as a lullaby, surprisingly, Leah stirred. Then she slowly opened her eyes, revealing her pretty green eyes.

“……Brother?”

She stared at Claude with eyes full of sleep. Soon realizing it wasn’t a dream, she abruptly sat up and hugged him.

“What? When did you come!”

“Just now.”

“Your body is cold.”

“Because I just arrived?”

There was laughter in Claude’s voice as he answered.

Though she said he was cold, Leah clung tightly to him and asked.

“Why did it take so long?”

“It just turned out that way.”

Claude brushed it off vaguely. He decided not to say now that it would probably be like this from now on, that he might have to go on another extermination in a month or two.

After all, it was their first meeting in four months.

But this, he had to say.

“Leah.”

My one and only sister.

My beloved family.

“From now on, you must not go outside the castle. Understand?”

“Why? Isn’t it okay now that you’re back from extermination? I want to go play in the fields. I might find something interesting.”

“It’s not possible anymore. I’ll find interesting things for you, so just play in the garden.”

Leah blinked her eyes with a puzzled face. But perhaps because the atmosphere around Claude was so serious. Instead of whining, she quietly nodded. Her hand gripping Claude’s clothes was full of strength.

Feeling that touch, Claude emphasized again.

“You absolutely must not go outside the castle.”

The small head nodded in his arms.

Claude patted his sister’s back and renewed his determination.

No matter what happens, he will protect Leah.

Because Hilton Castle is safe.

Inwardly repeating the mantra that would become his farewell greeting every time he left for extermination from now on, Claude stayed by Leah’s side until she fell asleep again.