The Weight of Expectations

More time passed after that.

Sian worried that Theodore and Leon might fight again, but fortunately or unfortunately, they were only somewhat awkward in front of Sian and didn’t argue much.

One good thing was that Leon, having adapted to the physical training, began to show more vitality than before.

His body, weakened by the human trafficking ring, had gradually improved by eating well and resting at the mansion, and now he was even more energetic as he engaged in moderate physical training.

Just as Sian thought it was time to start training in earnest, someone visited the Dark Elf village.

The person Sian had been waiting for had finally returned.

“It’s been a while, Sian-nim.”

“Welcome back, Ryuisa.
You’ve worked hard coming such a long way.”

Sian said, pleased.

Sian had asked Carli to inquire about Ryuisa, but didn’t expect to find him so quickly.

Sian inwardly felt relieved as Sian faced Ryuisa, who had visited the mansion.

“Hahaha, if it’s Sian-nim’s command, of course, I have to rush over!”

Ryuisa burst into hearty laughter, thumping his chest with his pot-lid-sized hand.

Sian looked at Ryuisa with a somewhat awkward expression.

He was a handsome man with long ears, the symbol of an Elf, soft purple hair, and dark skin that suited a Dark Elf.

Like most Elves, who generally had delicate features, his face was neat.

Except for the large scar that ran across the middle of his face.

“Hahahahaha!”

“…….”

Moreover, he had a booming voice.

He was a completely different character from the image of an Elf who loves forests and peace.

That’s why he was treated as a heretic in the village.

“Anyway, I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”

“Thank you.

Sian-nim, you still shine.

No one I’ve seen traveling the continent has even come close to Sian-nim’s heels.

And also…….”

“Ha…… hahaha…….”

Sian became increasingly dazed by Ryuisa’s constant flattery.

It was clearly just words of courtesy, but unlike the taciturn Dark Elves, Ryuisa always told such tall tales whenever they met.

“Come to think of it, it’s good timing because I had something to give to Sian-nim.

I recently went into a dungeon, and guess what, a minotaur came out, and that guy was so persistent…….”

“……I see.”

Sian simply nodded at Ryuisa’s ensuing adventure story.

Interrupting him would only lead to an even longer adventure story.

So it was better to let him talk until he was satisfied.

“Hmm?

Ah, is that the child?

The beastkin kid Sian-nim wanted me to take care of?”

Ryuisa, who had been talking to his heart’s content, glanced at Leon and said.

Leon’s blue fur, as he chased butterflies in the yard, seemed to have caught Ryuisa’s eye.

Sian smiled and called Leon.

“Leon, come closer.”

“……?”

Leon hesitated and then slowly approached Sian.

But he seemed awkward with Ryuisa, whom he was meeting for the first time, and hid behind Sian.

Sian chuckled and gently pushed Leon’s back with her hand.

“His name is Leon.
Leon, say hello to Ryuisa.”

“Woo…….”

However, Leon, frightened by Ryuisa’s fierce appearance, couldn’t say anything and shook his head.

It seemed difficult to soothe the very frightened Leon right away.
Sian looked at Ryuisa, embarrassed.

“It seems the child is shy.”

“Haha, it’s alright. That can happen.”

Fortunately, Ryuisa didn’t seem offended.

He probably knew how he looked to children.

Instead, Ryuisa narrowed his eyes and stared down at Leon intently.

“Ryuisa?”

“Hmm…… but this child, his fur is blue?”

“Why is that?”

“Well, that’s…….”

Ryuisa hesitated to speak and glanced at Sian.

Sian was startled and recalled the memories from the original story.

Could it be that Ryuisa knew about Leon’s circumstances?

Ryuisa, who had wandered the continent for hundreds of years, might know about the beastkin kingdom.

Sian swallowed hard.

[Ryuisa, try not to say anything that might shock the child.]

[Yes, I understand…….]

Watching Leon tilt his head, Sian sent Ryuisa a telepathic message.

Meeting Leon’s innocent eyes, Sian smiled as if it were nothing.

Beastkins with clean and vibrant fur had stronger powers.

Just as humans were divided by class, beastkins were ranked in order of their strength.

Blue wolf beastkins like Leon were called the Blue Wolf Clan, and they were a particularly rare and powerful race among the beastkins.

When an epidemic broke out among the Blue Wolf Clan, Leon was unfortunately separated from his family and captured by a human trafficking ring.

All of that was revealed around the middle of Part 2 of the original story.

So it was something that Leon shouldn’t know about now.

“Anyway, what do you think?

Are you willing to take care of this child?”

“Of course.

It would be an honor if you entrusted him to Ryuisa! Haha!”

Fortunately, Ryuisa was interested in Leon.

Sian thought that Ryuisa would know something about beastkins, but didn’t expect him to know about the Blue Wolf Clan.

‘He really got around.’

Sian thought to herself, giving a wry smile.

“Do I have full discretion over his training?”

“Yes.

Do as you wish.”

“It might be a bit harsh?”

“That’s…….”

At Ryuisa’s lowered voice, Sian glanced at Leon.

Leon tilted his head and looked up at Sian.

“……?”

“…….”

Sian understood what Ryuisa meant.
It meant that he wouldn’t teach Leon in a gentle way.

Leon’s past as a gladiator s*ave in the arena in the original story ironically became the foundation for him to survive in future adventures.

Even if Leon hadn’t been separated from his family and had lived in the beastkin kingdom, he would have gone through a rather harsh coming-of-age ceremony.

After all, beastkins pushed their cubs off cliffs to raise them strong.

So there was no reason to hesitate to answer.

Ryuisa’s training would surely give Leon the strength to survive in many future adventures.

“Yes, I’ll entrust everything to you.”

“Haha, I understand.”

“……?”

Ryuisa nodded and laughed heartily.

Only Leon, unaware of his impending fate, continued to tilt his head behind Sian. 

Lord Renold was a lord who managed a regional territory of the Orta Empire.

But it was a small territory with only one small city and some rural villages.

Even that was close to the Mountain of Death, so the land wasn’t fertile.

It was difficult to farm, and even if they did, most of the crops had to be abandoned due to poor harvests.

Moreover, Lord Renold wasn’t even the true owner of the land.

He was essentially a lord proxy who managed part of Count Dave’s territory.

He was currently consumed with extreme anger.

“How am I supposed to solve this!”

Lord Renold shouted, slamming his large, thick hand on the desk in front of those who usually served as his hands and feet.

They bowed their heads before the enraged Lord Renold.

“Huh?
If you all have mouths, say something!”

“…….”

No one dared to open their mouths at Lord Renold’s sharp voice.

Seeing his aides keeping their mouths shut as if they had been glued, Lord Renold became even angrier.

His current situation was truly a dilemma.

To make up for the dwindling taxes, he picked fights with manageable neighboring territories to start wars, but far from gaining fertile land to make up for the taxes, he was repeatedly pushed back in the wars due to unexpected counterattacks.

As a result, Lord Renold only wasted money on war funds, and failing to show any results, he was in danger of being kicked out empty-handed.

No, he should be grateful if he was only kicked out empty-handed.

If Count Dave found out about this, his head might be cut off.

As long as he received regular tributes, Count Dave, who was indulging in luxury and pleasure in the capital, didn’t care about territorial affairs, so there had been no problems so far.

But at this rate, everything could be over.

“Why is everyone silent! Zenon, you speak.”

“Th, that’s…….”

Zenon, one of the aides, was the one who had first encouraged Lord Renold to wage territorial wars.

But now, he couldn’t say anything with a troubled expression.

Lord Renold glared with bloodshot eyes, panting.

“Do you know what will happen to you if I fail?
Huh?
Do you think I’ll die alone!”

“Ahem.”

At Lord Renold’s words, the aides coughed, turning their heads away.

They were already in the same boat, so Lord Renold’s words weren’t wrong.

But they didn’t have any particular solutions either.

“Um…….”

“Huh?”

Then, a man in the corner cautiously opened his mouth.

Lord Renold’s head snapped around.

His chubby face was flushed with excitement as he puffed out his breath.

“Who are you……?”

“Ah, my name is Kay, and I was recently appointed as an aide.”

“Is that so……?”

‘Was there such a person?’

Lord Renold tilted his head.

Come to think of it, he had cut off the hand of one of the aides who had shamelessly embezzled money and kicked him out, and then hired another one on someone’s recommendation.

Lord Renold nodded, belatedly recalling the memory.

“Alright, Kay.

If you have any ideas, speak up!”

“Yes, Lord.”

Kay’s eyes gleamed as he lowered and raised his head.

He soon continued in a calm tone.

“Didn’t soldiers recently go missing in the Mountain of Death?”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

Lord Renold recalled the soldier’s report and answered.

Because villagers had suffered in that unpleasant mountain, he had sent soldiers to search, but news came that some of them had gone missing.

Lord Renold shuddered, feeling unpleasant just thinking about it.

“But what does that have to do with anything?”

“What if we spread rumors about that?”

Kay raised the corners of his mouth and asked.

 Lord Renold looked at him with puzzled eyes.