Chapter 45 – Preparations to Leave
“At least with this… even if I leave my post, diale should be fine, right?”
Elwin smiled brightly, like a man relieved of a persistent toothache.
One year before the start of the original LAMPAS story—that is…
“This year.”
He believed now was the best ti to twist the narrative from its intended course.
But the thought of the Elder Council leaping in like starving wolves the mont he stepped away… was an annoying one.
“Sure, the executive officers are favorable to and Pan, but not the Elder Council.”
Outwardly, they acted like harmless, doddering old n.
—Us old folks? What help could we possibly be?
But they were always lying in wait for a weakness to exploit, their bloodshot eyes scanning for the slightest gain—no different than the beggars that lined the streets.
“It was ti to cull them anyway.”
Before venturing into enemy territory, one must always strengthen the ho front.
Elwin first approached the Elder Council mbers—excluding Gregory Jaeger—quietly, without anyone realizing he was making contact with them.
—Hello, Elders!
—O-Oh? Lord Elwin! What brings you here…?
—I just realized we haven’t spoken much. I thought this would be a good opportunity to get closer. May I co in?
Swaying the elders had been easy.
By acting like a naive, immature teenager, he gradually eased their suspicions and lulled them into comfort.
“They probably thought, ‘He’s just a kid, even if he’s a Special-Class Hunter,’ or ‘He’s only been kept away by the Chairman and the other Specials—if we can secure ties now, who knows!’ Their intentions were obvious.”
With that innocent, guileless face, Elwin laid his trap. He pushed them to make reckless choices—tempted by their own greed until they ruined themselves.
Until the forces threatening Pan were purged from diale.
“As for Gregory Jaeger… I never really expected to catch him anyway.”
Though the newspapers frad Gregory as the main instigator behind the incident, in truth he had been more of a bystander—albeit one supported by an unknown benefactor.
The true mastermind behind it all was the assassin guild Depicio.
—Oh? So Depicio pulled sothing like this, huh.
Gregory Jaeger had, for his own reasons, been fully aware of their plans—and even knew that Zeraphe Gnaude was being used and thrown away as a pawn.
And still, he played dumb and allowed the sche to progress.
“Must be frustrating for him, huh? After all that effort to beco head of the Elder Council, now he’s on the run for sothing he didn’t even do.”
Of course, that didn’t an the man wasn’t a villain. In so ways, he was even harder to deal with than the assassin guild.
“Would’ve been nice to catch him, though.”
Too bad things didn’t go that smoothly.
“…Or maybe it would’ve been too boring?”
Gregory Jaeger had strong ties to Familia, Elwin’s sworn enemy.
Anything tied to Familia belonged solely to Elwin.
To hunt Gregory Jaeger… was one of Elwin’s long-cherished goals.
“Well, I know where he’s headed… and when he’ll show up.”
He’d deal with him when the ti ca.
That mont was still far off—but that was fine.
“Waiting can be enjoyable.”
A wait with an inevitable conclusion wasn’t so long for soone like Elwin, who had endured it for over ten years. He smiled in anticipation of that day.
“…Pan. I hope this helps you. Without those internal pests always in your way, I hope you can finally push forward with the reforms you’ve dread of.”
Though Pan often called Elwin rude things—brat, impudent rascal, reckless child—Elwin knew well those words ca from affection.
“A bit awkward in his own way.”
Recalling the grumbling dwarf like a malfunctioning puppet, a smile tugged at Elwin’s lips.
Most dwarves had rough personalities and couldn’t stand sentintal expressions.
Compared to them, Pan had at least tried to improve his ways.
“You really went through a lot raising a twisted brat like .”
Though it was Elwin’s master who had taken him in after Noel died…
It was Pan who raised him, putting heart and soul into making him into the person he was today.
—You can’t just skip als and sleep like that, kid. Hah… co here. I’ll make you sothing simple.
—Elwiiiin! Was it you who tangled my beard—!!
—I know you won’t listen to anyway… but don’t push yourself too hard. If you’re struggling, co to . I’ll help you. Anyti.
Elwin believed this was his way of repaying that kindness—by protecting the standing of the World Hunter Association, which should’ve crumbled after the loss of so many talents.
“Of course, he doesn’t have a clue… but so what?”
There are truths better left unspoken in this world.
“…Ten years already.”
Elwin gazed out over the breathtaking view of diale, the place that had beco as dear to him as a hotown.
He would miss it. There would co a day when he reminisced about this very mont.
“Let’s go.”
But he wouldn’t look back. He had decided to walk forward—until he erased every last one of his mortal enemies from this world.
“Ti to get ready.”
Morning dawned.
It was truly ti to leave.
He had let go of all lingering regrets—there would be no more hesitation.
anwhile, at the Imperial Palace…
A grand and elegant reception room.
“……”
Sitting within was a man with deep navy-blue hair—Calix Tutatio Zahardt.
In front of him sat steaming scones and cakes, along with a pot of vivid red tea.
“Hm.”
He simply stared, not touching the food—not out of dislike, but awkwardness.
“…It’s been a while.”
The people of Arad had a culture of drinking afternoon tea.
But it had been nearly ten years since Calix left Arad. It had been just as long since he last enjoyed tea like this.
“So it’s all Arad-style, huh.”
Looking at the snacks with a mixed expression, he slowly reached for the teacup.
“Mmm. Arad-grown tea really is sothing else. As expected of soone who serves that person—your skills and taste are excellent.”
Even with relaxed gestures, Calix exuded a certain noble aura.
Though dressed simply, the dignity of his noble blood could not be hidden.
“Thank you for the kind words. If it pleases the guest, my master will be most satisfied as well.”
A composed voice followed a gentle knock, and the door opened.
A man in classic black butler attire, with short navy-blue hair—Nahrhan Ferdic—stepped in.
“You’re here.”
Calix greeted him calmly, recalling what had happened that morning.
He had been preparing to leave diale.
“Impressive. To have recovered this much in just two weeks.”
Thanks to the tireless efforts of diale’s dical staff, his severe injuries had healed at a miraculous pace.
“Where should I go next, I wonder. I’ve already seen most of the Eastern and Northern Continents—maybe the South or West next.”
Originally, Calix had taken the Hunter Exam only at the suggestion of Sarakia, a Azure Hunter.
He hadn’t dread of becoming a Hunter all his life, nor did he have a deep conviction or a burning desire for revenge. No grand purpose.
“…Though it’s not like I have no goal.”
What Calix sought had little to do with the Hunter Exam itself.
Having the Hunter license would simply make things easier.
Since he was here, he figured he might as well take the exam.
But then—
“I didn’t expect to et Zares Helthurio here.”
An old friend. A long-standing rival.
And the man Calix Zahardt needed to atone to.
He had t Zares Helthurio again.
“It’s best if I leave as soon as possible.”
Zares viewed him as a mortal enemy, burning with vengeance.
He had tried to suppress it, but it exploded in the labyrinth.
Had Elwin not intervened during the incident…
“…Maybe…”
One of them could have died. Maybe both. Or at the very least, it wouldn’t have ended so cleanly.
“That’s why it’s better I walk away.”
As fellow Hunters, there was always a chance it would happen again.
Since Calix wasn’t desperate to beco a Hunter, it was only natural that he be the one to step aside.
Just as he made that decision and pondered his next destination, soone approached him.
“Pleased to et you. I am Nahrhan Ferdic.”
A man with an enigmatic air and navy-blue hair.
“I serve the great Imperial Special-Class Hunter—Elwin Krieger.”
“…You serve him?”
“Indeed. My master wishes to invite you to the palace. Might you spare a mont of your ti?”
Curious, Calix accepted the offer.
He had been quietly and discreetly escorted to the Imperial Palace—by the very man now before him.
“My apologies, but the master is currently away.”
“That’s fine. I’d expect soone like him to be busy. It’s only right the idle one waits.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Nahrhan gave a graceful bow and closed the door smoothly.
Then he approached Calix.
“Sir Calix, if I may present this.”
Click.
He lifted the cover of the tray he held.
Instead of freshly baked food, the round tray held sothing unexpected.
“…A letter?”
A single envelope, sealed with golden wax.
“What’s this?”
“A ssage from my master.”
Nahrhan smiled like a portrait co to life.
“My master wished to speak with you in person, but due to ti constraints, he entrusted to deliver this in his place.”
He pushed the tray closer, a polite gesture to encourage Calix to read it.
Calix reluctantly broke the seal and began to read.
“…What!”
And froze.
“What is this…!”
Only a single sentence was written.
But it was a sentence Calix Tutatio Zahardt could never ignore.
[Do you want to find the lost heir of the Arad royal family?]
That was the true reason he had abandoned the Zahardt family—and the lifelong mission he had pursued.
As Calix stared, visibly shaken, Nahrhan continued with that sa serene smile.
“If you wish to know more… then join us. What will you do?”
“……”
The answer was already decided.
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