"Huff—huff—"
"Get up, dear nephew."
Count Granat chuckled as he bent down and pulled Mut, who had collapsed to the ground in fright, to his feet.
"If I really did break your legs, your mother would likely be upset with for years, given her temper."
"So, Mut, just behave and stay in the city for a few days. Let your uncle fulfill his duty as a host, and then I'll send you ho safe and sound."
He said this with a smile, but then suddenly leaned in close—his cheerful expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a grim and almost chilling look.
"Don't let find out you're trying to sneak away."
"Or I will break your legs for real."
"Eh?!"
Mut's previously relaxed expression froze again. Looking at Count Granat sliding his saber back into its sheath, he had a feeling…
Uncle probably wasn't joking just now.
Mut looked toward his idol, Hero Himl, pleadingly, silently begging for help.
Seeing his junior's desperate eyes, Himl hesitated, but in the end stepped forward and started negotiating with Count Granat.
After all, he had agreed to accompany this youth on his journey to explore the hidden sanctuary.
And with Himl around, he was confident he could protect Mut.
After so back-and-forth, Count Granat looked at his nephew with a rather surprised expression and sighed at his good fortune.
"Very well, my dear nephew, continue your journey."
"If even Hero Himl is vouching for you, I have no reason to stop you."
"I'll write to your parents to ease their concerns."
After speaking, Count Granat still seed slightly worried. He had the guards escort Hero Himl into the city, while pulling Mut aside to whisper sothing into his ear.
"Mut, traveling with the one who defeated the Demon King is a rare fortune. Listen to his instructions."
"And if there's anything you can learn from him, even a single technique, ask and listen. If you can pick up even a little, your father's worries will be greatly eased."
"Understood?"
"Understood, Uncle," Mut replied with a serious nod.
"Good." Count Granat nodded, then rubbed his nephew's head a couple of tis.
Taking advantage of Mut being off guard, the Count flicked the sore lump he had left on Mut's head earlier.
"Ow—ow—ow!"
Mut grabbed his head and stepped back, grimacing in pain.
Count Granat laughed heartily at his nephew's reaction.
"Co, let's go. Ti to eat."
"I just finished inspecting the city's defenses, so let's share a al. You can tell all about how you snuck away from ho."
"To think, you're all grown up now, running away from ho."
"Reminds of when I first t your father—we were about your age…"
...
——————————
Inside the City – The Count's Estate
Thanks to the Hero's insistence, the noon banquet wasn't a grand affair, just a small family gathering.
Even so, because of Hero Himl's fa, the table was full of the Count's family mbers—everyone wanted a glimpse of the man who had slain the Demon King.
Even the servers walking among the tables couldn't help slowing their pace to sneak a few more glances at Himl.
"He really does look like the statue in the city... just older, and with much thinner hair…"
Many of the servers thought to themselves.
During the al, Mut shared the ridiculous story of how he escaped from the heavily fortified Fortress City Vorig, crawling through tunnels and sneaking like a stray dog—an utter ss.
His storytelling drew laughter from everyone present. The Count's family tried to maintain their noble composure, though it was a struggle.
The poor maids attending the banquet had it worst.
While the Count's relatives could laugh freely, they couldn't—being re servants, they had to bite their lips and hold back laughter.
Though nobles in the Northern Nations, constantly facing threats from monsters, tended to be more practical and less bound by formalities—even if they did laugh, the worst would be a mild scolding and a docked salary.
Still, they didn't want to leave a bad impression on the household.
Once Mut finished his tale, so of the Count's family began asking Himl questions. By then, the lunch banquet had drawn to a close.
Count Granat stood and raised a toast with his relatives, offering it to Hero Himl on behalf of the city—thus officially ending the al.
Afterwards, the family mbers left the dining hall, except for the Count's eldest son, who had been signaled to stay behind, along with Hero Himl and Mut, son of Uncle Orden.
Inside the Council Chamber
By the ti the Count and his group arrived, several others were already present.
Acting chairman Miles of the Darlemonus rchant Guild, as well as various commanders of Kühl Region's defensive forces, had been summoned and were already waiting.
Count Granat had them sit and gestured for Hero Himl to begin.
When they first t outside the city, the Count had heard Himl ntion that Aura the Guillotine had fled, abandoning her puppet army.
But neither the city gates nor the banquet were appropriate places to discuss such matters.
And so, he had gathered the city's key figures here in this council chamber to hear the Hero's full report.
Upon receiving the signal, Himl nodded slightly and began describing the battle he had faced in Schwer Mountains last winter against one of the Seven Sages of Destruction—Aura.
Thanks to his overwhelming physical prowess, Aura's puppet army had posed little threat to Himl.
Before Aura could even finish casting Obedience Magic through her Scales of Submission, Himl's blade had already reached her.
Severely wounded, Aura fled, ordering her puppet army to hold Himl back at all costs.
To avoid being tracked by magical traces, she had even severed her connection to the army, breaking all magical control over the corpses of the human warriors.
Unable to pursue her, Himl had no choice but to stop, looking back at the many fallen warriors.
Since it was the middle of winter, even Himl wasn't confident he could transport all the bodies down the snowy Schwer Mountains.
Instead, he relocated them to a large cave, sealed the entrance with stone, and marked the location—so that if Aura ever returned, she couldn't reclaim them.
Now, passing through Granat Countdom again in the sumr, he had returned to notify the Count.
It was ti... to bring those fallen warriors ho.
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