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Still… he couldn’t simply walk away. There were no words that could ease the pain, yet Henry knelt beside Howard, hesitantly placed a trembling hand on his shoulder, and spoke in a hushed, uncertain voice.

“Sir Cloud…”

Seemingly unaware of Henry’s presence. Howard barely reacted. His lips moved as if mumbling something, without even looking at Henry.

Henry leaned in to try and hear, wondering if Howard was trying to say something. It was then that Howard’s words reached his ears.

“Lavi… Lavi is dead…”

Henry quickly pulled his hand back, clutching his chest as a sharp pain gripped him. The light of life within Lavinia had gone out.

Henry had heard rumors of Howard back in the Royal Capital. Tales of a demon-like man who once roamed battlefields, cutting down Demonic Beast, barbarians, and creatures with unrelenting fury. When he was still active, many spoke of him as a force of nature, a warrior who left nothing but ash in his wake. The Gray Iron Demon, they called him.

City dwellers—those who had never experienced battle—mocked him as nothing more than a savage from the countryside. But the Howard that Henry had met in person was warm and kind. A man who treated even a stranger like Henry as if they were old friends.

And Sonia… She was gracious and highly educated, a woman of great kindness and generosity. Yet, despite her refined demeanor, she was open-hearted and welcoming to all.

Lavinia had been a vivacious, fearless, and righteous girl—shaped by the love and guidance of her parents. Howard’s unwavering devotion to his daughter, the deep care the family had for one another, and the happiness they shared had once been evident to anyone who saw them.

Now, that very family was crumbling before Henry’s eyes. From inside the house, Sonia’s anguished cries echoed. A raw, unrestrained wail of grief, trying to deny reality.

Henry noticed Howard staring at him, his eyes hollow. Before Henry could react, Howard seized him by both shoulders.

Though now retired, Howard still did not neglect his daily training. His grip was so powerful that Henry could not even move. Howard’s gaze bore into him, and through clenched teeth, he spat out, “Lavi… Lavinia is dead! Lavi! My… our Lavinia is!!!”

Henry could do nothing but absorb Howard’s anguish. That is when Henry realized. The young children were mercilessly cast down before the altar. The brave youths who had given their lives to protect them, and their families. He had saved not one thing. He was powerless. Henry realized what a foolish, arrogant notion it had been—to believe he could save and guide others.

Howard had already pulled away from Henry. His hands, now clutching the earth beneath, tears streaming down his face. Henry could only absently watch Howard, while the bitter truth of his powerlessness settled deep into his chest, tearing through him with unbearable pain.

Ten years had passed since that day. Enough time for the flow of time to do its work, and allow them to regain their composure. But it was by no means enough to make them forget those painful memories. They still held the pain in their hearts, unable to truly heal.

Yet, this girl, with her smile, had warmed the hearts of those two people before they even realized it. That was something Henry had been unable to do for the past ten years.

He believed that if there was such a thing as a hero or savior, it was someone who could bring hope and joy to others.

And if that were true, then this child was truly a savior. Even if no one else—including even her—acknowledged it, to Henry, Susie was the second coming of the heroes.

He could not help but feel grateful for this guidance. As he prayed silently to the gods he served, he found joy in his heart. But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Susie’s nervous voice.

“Mr. Henry… Something’s wrong with the village.”

The village was just beyond the river at its border. About another kilometer away. Hearing Susie’s remark, Henry turned his attention toward what lay ahead.

“T-This ominous presence… It can’t be?!”

Henry also felt the disastrous and hair-raising presence rising from deep within the village. Moreover, he remembered this nauseating, malevolent presence.

“This… It can’t be!”
“Mr. Henry, I’m going!”

Susie placed her hat on the back of the carriage, fastened her sword belt, and stood up.

“Mr. Henry, head straight for the Temple!”
“Miss Susie… Where are you…”
“It’s fine, Mr. Henry. I’ll clear the path to the temple.”

Susie said and quietly looked ahead. Henry was left speechless at the sight and turned his attention back to the road. Then he slowly turned his gaze back to Susie and spoke calmly.

“Miss Susie… Can I ask you to save the village, and everyone there?”

Susie smiled softly in response. “Of course. Leave it to me. Mr. Henry, you just hurry to the Temple.” With that, she jumped off the carriage and disappeared down the road like a gust of wind.

Henry’s eyes widened in surprise at Susie’s speed, but his cheeks relaxed in relief. Once again, he gave deep thanks to the gods he served. Henry hurried the carriage down the road to Amukham as the sun began to set.

◆◆◆◆◆

• The School’s Connecting Corridor – 15:15

Fiorina Attlee was a girl who took good care of her underclassmen, having reached the 6th level and becoming the most senior student in the middle levels.

Her orange-brown hair, tied back with a lapis lazuli ribbon, swayed behind her as she walked down the corridor connecting the school building to the research building of the magic group, carrying a brand-new basket toward the laboratory.

Fiorina had gone back to the classroom to pick up Eva Avans’ belongings, who’d enrolled this semester.

It was already 15:00, and Fiorina knew she had to get back soon.

Normally, children in the lower grades would already be out of school by this time.

However, Eva and the other first level children, who had joined the magic group for the first time today, had been so absorbed by seeing the magic tools for the first time that they forgot it was almost time to go home and ended up getting too over-excited.

Corin had pointed out that it was already past leaving time, and Fiorina had begun to clean up the magic tools when Eva remembered that she’d left her basket in the classroom and wanted to go get it. However, Fiorina, who felt uneasy about leaving the children alone in the school—still unfamiliar with the place— left Eva to clean up the mess with the others and went out to retrieve it on her behalf.

When Fiorina found Eva’s basket and was walking back to the lab, she suddenly noticed something and looked outside the school. That was when she saw a child behind a tree planted right at the entrance of the school.

(Huh? Who is that child? I haven’t seen them before.)

As Fiorina watched, the child peeked out from behind the tree, as if peering into the school, repeatedly going back and forth, seemingly unable to decide whether they should go or come back.

(Do they have some business at the school? Are they someone’s relative?)

Fiorina had always had a caring nature. There was no way she could leave this little child, who was clearly in need of help. Without any hesitation, she left the corridor, approached the child, and called out.

“Hey, you! Do you have some business at the school? Are you looking for someone?”

The child was a pale, fair-faced, dark-haired boy. He couldn’t have been more than ten years old and was very short. The boy appeared somewhat embarrassed as Fiorina bent down to try and talk with him.

“Yes. I was told to come here, and wait inside.”
“Really? So you’re someone’s relative then. Who are you meeting with?”

The boy shook his head as if to say he didn’t know.

“Hm… What should we do… Corin and Bibi are still in the lab, they might know whose relative this boy is.”

Despite how Beatrice appeared, she was the most well-connected person in the whole school. If Fiorina could get her to meet with the boy, she might be able to tell them something. Deciding on a course of action, Fiorina reached out her hand to the boy.

“Don’t just stay there. Let’s go together. Let’s ask everyone to help look for your friend, okay?”

The boy looked up at the outstretched hand.

“Can… I… go inside?”
“Of course. How will you meet everyone if you don’t go inside? Come on in.”
“Thank you, big sis!”

The boy said this happily, then grabbed Fiorina’s hand and stepped straight into the school premises.

Fiorina’s face tensed for a moment because the boy’s hand was unexpectedly cold. However, she noticed the boy looking up at her with a smile, and she smiled back.

(Maybe he got like this due to the wind. The north wind is especially chilly today.)

After convincing herself this was the wind’s doing, Fiorina tried speaking to the boy.

“So, what’s your name? Can you tell me?”
“Of course! My name is Doug.”

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