The news that Leo had defeated the Death Knight began spreading beyond Rutoa Fortress and throughout the entire south.
Ril Village, where Jakus lived, was no exception.
‘Young Master! Hahaha! I knew I could believe in you!’
The moment Jakus heard the news, he turned toward Rutoa Fortress, where Leo was staying, and bowed deeply at the waist.
Meanwhile, the news also reached Valantes Castle, the main castle.
All the people of the domain cried out Leo’s name and revered him, while the retainers also rejoiced at his exploits and awaited his return.
Of course, Leo’s mother, Aria, had already heard the news through Adite.
“Lady Aria, Young Master Leo defeated the ‘Death Knight’ and saved the Head of House!”
Perhaps that was why the attendant’s elated expression as they delivered the news failed to stir much of a reaction in her.
She had already rejoiced as much as she possibly could.
Still, she needed to act pleased.
“Is that so? Hoho! As expected of my son. You make your mother proud.”
“You kept saying that Young Master Leo had changed, and now he truly seems to have become a precious treasure of House Valantes.”
As Aria listened to the attendant, an inexplicable bitterness filled her mouth.
‘He is also the last heir of House Rayner.’
She had even handed him the Token of House Rayner, so in both name and substance, Leo was the heir of House Rayner.
“……Ah! How has Jamie been lately?”
When Aria broke free of her thoughts and asked, the attendant bowed their head respectfully and answered.
“He is still confined to his quarters…… According to the other attendants, he has been staying away from alcohol and keeping his sword and books close.”
“Is that so? Anything else?”
The attendant looked troubled at Aria’s question.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“Well…….”
“Go on. Tell me.”
“Young Master Jamie is determined to retaliate against Young Master Leo.”
At the attendant’s words, Aria silently nodded.
She had already expected as much.
Given Jamie’s personality, there was no chance he would remain still after suffering such a crushing defeat.
“Was there any word on when my husband would return?”
“I heard he has nearly recovered and will leave sometime tomorrow.”
‘I need to speak to him first.’
Magenta was the only person who could stop Jamie and Leo from fighting.
The problem was that the one person capable of doing so did not particularly care whether they fought or not.
Therefore, when he returned this time, Aria intended to make certain that the matter was addressed properly.
Her son Leo was changing and growing.
As his mother, she could not simply remain still.
“All right. Let me know when definite word arrives.”
“Yes, Madam. Then I will take my leave.”
The attendant slowly backed out of the room with their head bowed, and Aria immediately summoned Adite.
-Did you call me?
“Have you heard anything about Rutoa Fortress?”
-I met Minatos in the Spirit Realm yesterday. They said that Young Master Leo would speak with his father today.
“Is that so? What about?”
-Young Master Leo apparently intends to make a proposal to his father. As for what it is…….
Aria’s eyes widened at what Adite said next.
***
At noon, three days after defeating the Death Knight, Magenta rose from his bed.
Then he immediately sought out Leo.
“How did you defeat it?”
Sitting on the bed, Magenta casually posed the question to Leo, who stood beside him.
“I remembered something I had read in a book before.”
“A book?”
“Yes. I recalled what the book said while training in the ‘Living Forest’.”
“What was it?”
“That the Death Knight is weak to fire and can be killed only by severing its neck.”
Magenta met Leo’s unwavering gaze, let out a small snort, and nodded.
“So spending all your time reading books was not entirely foolish or pointless.”
He spoke indifferently, then slowly turned his head toward the window.
“How did you think to come here?”
“I came running without a second thought because I believed I had to tell you what I remembered. I had heard from Sir Vector that you were coming here.”
Leo answered as though he had been waiting for the question.
“Vector and you alike…… Both of you did something unnecessary.”
At Magenta’s words, Leo slowly spoke.
“Yes…… I risked my life and rescued you from danger…… but hearing you say that does make me wonder whether I truly did something pointless.”
Magenta furrowed his brow and looked at Leo.
Meeting his father’s gaze, Leo raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Hah…… You brat…….”
Magenta let out a deflated sigh, and Leo’s smile deepened at the sight.
“Father, there is something I wish to tell you.”
At Leo’s words, Magenta nodded.
“Speak.”
“Rather than return to Valantes Castle, I would like to remain here a little longer.”
“……Why?”
At the dry question, Leo’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“I will soon take up my post here, so I would like to learn about the fortress in advance, introduce myself to the soldiers, and also…… help prepare for the winter war.”
Of course, those were the reasons he could reveal on the surface.
His true reasons were that he needed a space and people of his own, and that he still had several other matters to handle.
‘The most important task is cutting down the sprout of our house’s destruction.’
After a long silence filled the room following Leo’s final words, Magenta tossed out a brief remark.
“You are trying to do another pointless thing…… Do as you please.”
‘Another pointless thing?’
Leo had brushed off the earlier comment as a joke, but this time it upset him.
Of all things, he was offering to stay at the fortress and help prepare for war…….
“Why is it pointless?”
In truth, Leo felt more affection for the people of the fortress than for those of Valantes Castle.
That was why his tone grew sharper.
“I need to rest now. I told you to do as you please, so leave.”
Magenta turned over and lay down on the bed.
Leo silently watched him, took a deep, heaving breath, and slowly rose from his seat.
“When do you intend to return to the domain?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I understand. Rest well.”
After bowing, Leo turned and walked toward the door.
The moment he grasped the doorknob.
“Leo.”
Magenta called to him.
“Yes.”
“When I said pointless, I meant dangerous.”
“Then next time, please say that so that I do not misunderstand.”
The words held a warm meaning despite their curt tone.
***
“Good day, Young Master.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Master.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
After leaving his father’s room and heading toward his next destination, Leo walked while receiving greetings from many people.
The rumors had already spread far and wide, and the eyes of those greeting him were filled with admiration.
As Leo continued walking and acknowledging their greetings, Minatos spoke to him.
-Leo.
‘Yes?’
-Your mother was very happy and proud of you.
‘Is that so?’
-Yes. Hehe.
Minatos and Adite were serving admirably as a line of communication between Leo and his mother.
-By the way…… Leo. You seem to have become much stronger.
‘Who?’
-You, Leo.
‘Why do you say that?’
-The energy I sense from you feels a little different than before.
‘Is that so?’
Leo smiled.
Minatos’s observation was accurate.
Leo had achieved greater growth after fighting the Death Knight than he had through sparring with his father.
That was a testament to how powerful the Death Knight had been.
‘What feels different?’
-Hmm…… Before, whenever I was here, I had a strong sense that something was unstable. But not now. Now it feels incredibly stable.
‘That’s a sharp observation.’
With the amount of mana he now possessed, Leo could make two round trips between Rutoa and Ril Village and still have mana left over.
It was also enough to summon Minatos for more than two weeks.
He had reached roughly the level of Baron Vector, who was considered slightly weaker than Magenta.
His growth through the increase in his mana was important, but there was one other thing that had made Leo stronger: reclaiming ‘Zenix’.
His Mana Cultivation Method was already at 4-Star, and once his stamina and strength were perfected, he would be able to wield swordsmanship at a level similar to that of his previous life.
Therefore, after reclaiming Zenix, Leo ordered Minatos to destroy both the Swordsmanship Secret Manual and the Mana Cultivation Method.
That meant Leo’s swordsmanship and Mana Cultivation Method were now the only ones of their kind on the continent.
-But where are we going now?
At Minatos’s question, Leo smiled and pointed ahead.
-You’re going to see that rude bastard again.
‘Yes. That’s right.’
After returning to the fortress, Leo had introduced Igrit to Minatos.
And the two of them had…….
-What’s that kid no bigger than a bean?
-I am Minatos, Heir to the Spirit King! How dare a mere monster call me a kid?!
-What’s a Spirit King supposed to be? Does it taste good?
-W-What?! What an insolent bastard!
-You must be my new partner. Let’s get along. It looks like you’re bound to this bastard too.
-Shut up! I’m different from you, bastard! I am…….
They had become bitter rivals.
Since they were helpers who would become a great source of strength that Leo had never obtained in his previous life, he had hoped the two might become at least somewhat friendly.
‘It’ll take some time.’
NEEEEIGH-
As he approached the stables in the inner keep, Igrit sensed Leo’s presence and let out a mighty cry.
-Oh! You’re here, Leo! Too many of yesterday’s carrots were rotten!
-Insolent bastard! You’re speaking casually again the moment you see me!
-Oh! Kid. You came too?
-Kid?! You moronic bastard who knows nothing but carrots!
-Moron? Yes, you’re a kid.
‘Are you starting the moment you meet?’
Leo let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
Then he looked at Igrit and spoke.
‘It can’t be helped. The fortress is in the middle of preparing for the winter war, so it isn’t easy to obtain fresh carrots.’
-You could get them, but you’re just not trying, are you?
‘Was it that obvious?’
-Bah. What a terrible master.
In truth, most of the carrots given to Igrit were rotten or otherwise difficult to eat.
Leo wanted to give it fresh ones, but once the winter war began, even tenant farmers picked up spears and swords instead of pickaxes.
Naturally, production would fall, and under such circumstances, they could not spare fresh carrots for a horse.
-By the way, what brings you here with that kid in tow?
-Don’t call me a kid! You carrot moron!
‘Stop fighting!’
At Leo’s rebuke, the two cleared their throats and looked away.
Leo let out another deep sigh as he watched them, then slowly spoke.
‘I came to talk about what we need to do from now on…… but if you keep acting like this, I can’t work with either of you. Hurry up and make peace.’
After pondering Leo’s words for a long while, the two met each other’s gaze.
Then Igrit flicked its tongue and spoke first.
-I’m sorry, kid.
-It’s all right, carrot moron.
After they exchanged apologies that were hardly apologies, Leo slowly spoke.
‘Now. From this point forward, we…….’
When he trailed off, the two immediately focused on him.
Leo’s first goal was to join hands with the barbarians before the winter war arrived.
It would already be difficult enough to fend off the monsters’ attacks. If the barbarians attempted raids as well, the situation would become quite troublesome.
More importantly, he needed the power they possessed.
Joining hands with them would also play a major role in cutting down the sprout of his house’s destruction.
-Then should we go find them and smash all their heads?
At Minatos’s question, Leo shook his head.
‘The people of the Tantra Tribe aren’t monsters. We can resolve this through dialogue.’
-But we can’t even speak, so how are we supposed to help you?
At Igrit’s words, Leo gave a quiet chuckle.
‘Who told you to talk? You just need to lend me your power.’
Rutoa was the southernmost fortress in the kingdom.
As such, it stood deep in the mountains and, unlike Valantes Castle, was surrounded by countless monsters.
Leo had grown quite strong, but encountering an Orc settlement numbering in the thousands would still put him in considerable difficulty.
Even without such a situation, he needed the help of Minatos and Igrit.
-Fine. I get it, so get me out of this stifling stall. The bastard next to me eats and shits all day, and the stench is horrendous. More than anything, I’m dying to run.
Ignoring Igrit, Minatos asked with an innocent smile.
-Now then, where’s our trio’s first destination?
‘First, we need to go where the Tantra Tribe lives. But there’s something we need to do before that. Igrit, your ability is especially important.’
PFFFFF.
At Leo’s words, Igrit scraped the ground with a hoof, looking eager.
-Good! Tell me anything. I, Igrit, will take care of it all! Where should I take you? Just say the word! I can run faster than anyone.
At Igrit’s words, Leo smiled and spoke.
‘There’s no need for that. You just need to stay here and eat carrots.’
-Hehehe.
At Minatos’s laughter, Igrit burst out angrily.
-You said it was important! Is eating carrots really that important? Ah…… Well, of course it is important!
Leo shook his head and looked at Igrit.
‘It’s certainly important. Igrit, listen carefully to the merchants who come to leave their horses at the stable. If you find a merchant talking about slaves, tell me. It would be even better if the Tantra Tribe comes up as well.’
The moment Leo finished speaking, Igrit flicked a carrot from the trough into its mouth with its tongue, chewed noisily, and spoke with an obnoxious expression.
-The Tantra Tribe? I heard about them earlier.