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“Hmph. What an unpleasant bunch.”

After the meeting with the diplomatic delegation concluded, Howard and the heads of the Three Houses made their way to the council chamber. The moment Silense dropped into a chair, he voiced his thoughts.

“Don’t say that, Silense. He’s merely a man who’s honest about his own ambition.”
“That’s one way to put it, Boss. I’d call him a selfish opportunist who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means for his own gain.”

At Alphonse’s exasperated remark, Howard simply shrugged.

“Well, you do understand the art of probing each other’s intentions, don’t you? Much like the two of you.”

As he said this, Howard narrowed his eyes in amusement while looking at Silense and Alphonse. The two averted their gazes, pretending not to understand.

“Watching you play the roles of instigator and peacemaker so cleanly was rather entertaining.”
“And then you went and turned the whole thing on its head. Honestly, Boss… you really are cruel.”

Alphonse sighed again, sounding fed up.

“I’d already heard about that man’s character from Anne-Marie.”
“The Bayros family’s intelligence network, I presume? Then those two women who stepped out of the carriage yesterday were also…?”
“Mm. I put them through quite a bit.”

Howard nodded at August’s question, confirming that the women who had ridden with Fourier’s group were indeed connected to Amukham.

“All he ever concerns himself with is how highly he’ll be evaluated.”
“So he really is exactly what he looks like, a petty little man,” Silense remarked.
“Still, in the end, he’s nothing more than a good-natured fool who’s obedient to whatever bait is dangled in front of him. Better to leave him owing us a favor than to sow needless resentment.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to go personally, Boss! Any one of us would suffice!”
“Sending me out instead of one or two A-ranks will raise his evaluation far more. There’s no greater bait for him than me. And besides, August… I’ve told you before. The Three Houses cannot leave the village for long.”

“They don’t understand!” August snapped. “They have no idea what it means to challenge the ultra-deep layers of Iroshio! One moment of carelessness is all it takes for disaster! That’s something even the children of this village know, and they don’t understand it at all!”
“And that’s precisely why we must guide them.”
“Which is why one of us should…”
“August! Amukham exists because of you three. I will not allow any ‘what ifs.’ You are no simple decorations like me.”
“There is no one who can replace you.”
“Calm yourself, August.”

From the side, Silense lightly struck August’s chest with his clenched left hand to restrain him. August inhaled sharply, then steadied his breathing.

“And besides,” Howard continued quietly, “we have that child now… There’s someone we can entrust things to. Doesn’t that allow us to face this without regret?”
“Boss…”
“For a man born in Amukham, is it not only natural to challenge the abyss?”

Since ancient times, the people of Amukham had survived by carving paths through the ever-encroaching Great Iroshio Forest. For them, stepping deeper into the forest’s abyss was the highest honor. At the same time, it meant walking a path from which few ever returned alive.

‘Live in the forest, return to the forest.’ August recalled the old saying.

It was a phrase from a harsher age, when children risked their lives in the woods, when even the elderly entrusted their final days to the forest.

Those times were gone. And yet, Howard looked as though he were searching for a place to die deep within the forest.

August, Silense, and Alphonse lifted their gazes to the portrait behind Howard, the first lord of Amukham, Jioroa Amukham.

Their eyes were drawn to the words engraved into the stately frame:
“Those who would open the path through Iroshio set foot upon its soil with unwavering resolve.”

August swallowed. Alphonse and Silense froze.

“And besides… This is my last chance to step into Iroshio’s depths.”
“Boss… you…”
“There is something there… something that must be reclaimed.”

Howard spoke quietly before the three of them.

“There… Roland is waiting.”

In Howard’s eyes burned a flame that refused to die, the smoldering fire of a man who would see things through to the end. A yearning that had never faded. An unquenchable torrent of will. An ambition that would not be extinguished.

◆◆◆◆◆

That evening’s dinner was held in the great hall of Amukham House, for just Papa Howard, Mama Sonia, and me.

Right now, the village was in an unprecedented state of chaos and unrest. With the knight order’s arrival, even the town office was in turmoil.

Because of that, Amukham House was hosting not only Village Chief August, but also members of the Three Houses, all staying in to work.

As such, meals were usually taken together. Especially dinner, since it doubled as an information exchange. Often, Molly of the Beers family or Jane, Bibi’s mother from the Croque family, would join us.

Last night, the entire Croque family had come, so Bibi and her younger brother Ed ate with us too. Eating together like that… somehow made things feel a little fun.

But tonight, Papa Howard had asked to eat with just the three of us.

As we ate, I told them about everything that had happened that day.

The knight order’s equipment had been so shocking that I couldn’t keep it to myself. The two of them listened the whole time, smiling gently.

Afterward, while we had tea, Papa Howard said there was something he wanted to talk about.

Miss Elrose and Anne-Marie prepared the tea.

Under Miss Elrose’s watchful eye, Anne-Marie let the tea leaves dance in the pot and poured carefully.

The three of us enjoyed the rising aroma and sat in silence for a while. Papa Howard, I felt a gentle yet heavy current of determination coming from him, like a resolve already set deep within him.

Mama Sonia, as if sensing it too, carried a quiet, deep, and tender calm, like she was preparing herself to receive whatever was coming.

“…I’ve decided to go to Iroshio myself,” Papa said softly.

Mama Sonia’s hand froze just before the teacup reached her lips.

“Howard…”
“This will likely… be my last chance.”
“……”
“We depart on the 29th. Three days from now.”

Mama Sonia placed her teacup down as if she wanted to say something, her hand reaching out, then hesitating, before quietly folding both hands on her lap.

“Tomorrow, I’ll return home to prepare. Susie, will you help me?”
“Ah… y-yes.”

Seeing her speak with her eyes lowered, as though her heart were laid bare, made a sharp pain stab deep in my chest.

“U-um! Papa Howard…!”
“Susie… I’m counting on you to look after the village. You promised, didn’t you?”

“Ah… y-yes.”
“Take care of the village… and Sonia. That’s a promise.”

Papa Howard looked straight into my eyes, his resolve sunk deep into his core, yet his gaze was gentle, warm, and pleading.

“P-Papa Howard… Mama Sonia…”

I placed my hand over Mama Sonia’s, sitting beside her, and gently squeezed her fingers as she stared quietly at her teacup. Her hand, a little cold, squeezed mine back, tight and firm.