After quickly deciding to go north, they started packing busily with Zeronin’s help.

Various winter items like thick scarves, sweaters, and gloves gradually filled up the luggage.

“Ars, I get that you’re thorough… but do we really need to go this far?”

Sid, wearing a light coat with warming magic, crossed his arms.

“Second son of the Cromwell family. I thought you were smart, but I guess you still don’t know.”

Sid’s face reddened at Lifne’s light scolding.

“You might not know if you’ve lived in the mild capital all your life. How harsh the northern winters can be.”

Nigel Ars shrugged and continued.

“If the cold could be solved with just warming magic, we wouldn’t need to prepare like this.”

Whoosh.

A navy blue scarf hit Sid’s face with perfect accuracy.

“Hurry up and put it on. Unless you want to freeze to death.”

Sid frowned but obediently wrapped the scarf around his neck.

“…The same goes for you.”

Nigel said, avoiding eye contact with Noah.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s much among Nigel’s things that would fit me…”

Noah gently placed the gloves Nigel had thrown onto his hand. The gloves that more than covered Nigel’s hands barely covered Noah’s knuckles.

Nigel scratched his head and spoke.

“Zeron, lend them some clothes.”

As Zeronin nodded readily, Nigel immediately went to Zeronin’s dressing room.

Then, from the neatly organized closet sorted by color, he pulled out coats and fur hats without hesitation and handed them to Sid and Noah.

“…Ars, isn’t this impolite?”

Sid, who looked more like he’d been swallowed by the coat rather than wearing it, looked back and forth between Nigel and Zeronin.

“It’s fine. It’s practically the same as if I bought it with my own money.”

Nigel said nonchalantly. At the same time, Zeronin leaned against the door and smirked without saying a word.

The two’s meaningful reactions were about to ignite Sid’s curiosity.

“I’m joking.”

At Nigel’s words, Sid muttered, “I thought so,” and relaxed his expression.

Nigel noticed that Noah’s hand, which had been buried in clothes like Sid’s, was empty.

Nigel rummaged through the closet drawers to find suitable gloves.

“Found it…!”

Nigel picked up a pair of long black leather gloves, then put them back deep in the drawer.

“Why, you can just take them.”

At that moment, Zeronin approached Nigel and pressed the leather gloves into his hand.

“But…”

“It’s okay, they’re your friend, aren’t they?”

At the smile full of trust, Nigel felt like he wanted to cry for some reason.

Swish.

Nigel handed the gloves to Noah, still avoiding eye contact.

“…Well then, now that we’ve prepared all the clothes, shall we go?”

−Don’t worry. I can’t go with you to the north because of work, but I’ll let you know anytime if I hear any related news.

“Will you be okay, Lifne? You were worried earlier about the information being traced.”

−That was a lie I made up because I wanted to see your face.

“…Huh?”

−…Well then, goodbye.

With a shy voice, Lifne ended the communication first.

As Nigel blinked in bewilderment, Sid lightly tapped Nigel’s arm.

“Ars, we’re almost at the train station.”

“Ah, right.”

Only three days until the priest appointment ceremony. Even if they went to the north as fast as possible, they would arrive at noon tomorrow, so it was uncertain whether they could even meet Kayle at the temple, let alone persuade him.

There was no time to spare now.

But.

“…What do you mean there are no trains running to the north?”

Sid’s face contorted as if he was about to cry.

“Yes, we would normally like to operate as usual… but the heavy snow in the north can’t be taken lightly.”

“What about that train visible in the distance?”

Sid pointed to the faint train smoke visible in the distance.

“Ah, that train is also headed north.”

“Then…!”

“But it’s a private freight train, so passenger seats are not being sold.”

Frustrated, Sid slammed his hand on the ticket counter.

“The earliest train to the north at this point is tomorrow at 7 AM, but…”

The employee’s voice gradually became smaller as he faced Sid’s cold gaze.

“Even if it’s a freight train, there must be a manager, so there should be a few passenger seats, right?”

“You’re right, sir, but since it’s privately owned, we have no way to approach it…”

Sid forced a smile and turned to his companions.

“I’m sorry… I called you out on your precious day off, but it seems we’ll have to wrap up the Kayle matter here.”

Usually, he might have said it was for the best and gone straight to Zeronin’s house.

But seeing the usually boastful guy with a bitter smile that looked like tears might fall at any moment, that face annoyingly bothered him.

“…Let’s get closer to the train for now. I can’t leave like this, it’s too disappointing. We should at least try to sneak onto the train.”

The deeply dejected head, almost touching the ground, murmured thanks.

Fortunately, the station staff didn’t stop them from just looking at the train.

The problem was that there were no visible gaps for the three of them to hide and board secretly, as burly guards were lined up around the train, indicating how precious the cargo must be.

“…Noah, do you think it’s possible?”

Noah slowly shook his head at Nigel’s whisper.

“Even if it’s impossible for all three of us, couldn’t we secretly get Sid on board alone?”

Nigel muttered quietly, glancing at Sid.

“Their movements indicate they’ve been professionally trained for a long time. With this many… it would be difficult even for me and Nigel.”

Nigel let out a deep sigh at Noah’s answer.

‘Is there really no way? Really…?’

Think calmly. No matter how desperate the situation, there’s always an answer.

That’s when it happened.

Tap.

Tap tap.

Someone tickled Nigel’s back.

“Just a moment, I need to think alone…”

As he turned around, Nigel’s eyes widened.

A familiar face bowed to Nigel with a formal greeting.

“It’s been a while, Sir Nigel.”

The woman smiling gently was none other than the employee of the Evans Trading Company who had escorted Nigel to Obelius.

Nigel suddenly remembered the answer and the trick. The despicable reality that this world runs on school ties, regional connections, and blood relations.

Nigel took out his communication stone and entered the code. Soon, the communication stone glowed a soft light brown.

−…Oh, if it’s the one with magic stones embedded in the wheels, that’s our train. We put magic stones in it so it would roll well whether it rains or snows.

Allen’s cheerful voice came through the communication stone.

“Then…”

−Well, if my best friend wants to go to his hometown, he should go. Get on!

At the bright permission, the cheers of the two boys who couldn’t hold back anymore came through the communication stone.

−…Huh? Didn’t I just hear Noah and Sid’s voices? You’re not trying to go to Nigel’s hometown without me, are you?

“As if. You’ll be the first to come to Tillin, Allen.”

Nigel replied, glaring at the two.

−Haha! Of course! Well, contact me when you arrive. Your seat is still in the first car.

When had the word “car” sounded so sweet?

After ending the communication, Nigel entered the first car for the first time in a long while, guided by the female employee.

Leaving behind the two nobles with their mouths agape despite having both money and honor, Nigel sat down on the sofa that gently enveloped his body.

Even after a long time, it still showed that money had been poured into it.

Cielin, the most developed city in the north.

True to its name meaning “close to the sky,” most of the land consisted of high mountains.

Among them, the North’s First Temple was located on the mountain with the most beautiful scenery.

“It’s not allowed.”

And Sid, who had lived his entire life without knowing the word “rejection,” had been facing nothing but rejections for the past few days.

“But…!”

Sid pitifully clung to the tightly closed white iron gate.

The priest’s calm voice was sharper than the cold northern air that cut his cheeks like the tip of a sharp sword.

“While I fully understand the devotion of a follower who deeply admires the goddess, we strictly prohibit outsiders to ensure the pious training of the priest candidates until the appointment ceremony. Please understand with your generous heart.”

Even when asking different questions to different people, those wearing long white robes would only recite the same words.

“…Why is Beselion allowed if I’m not?”

Sid’s patience, which he had been holding back, finally ran out.

“The heir of Beselion has received the goddess’s blessing.”

It was something everyone in the Arenium Empire knew.

The story of how Beselion’s ancestors in the scriptures became skilled with the sword through the goddess’s blessing, and used that power to save the goddess.

“Then, would it be possible for companions to accompany?”

“As this is a sacred ceremony, entry is not allowed for anyone who hasn’t been verified. Let me explain once more, only direct family members of the priest candidates and those blessed by the goddess can go up.”

At the word “direct,” Sid clenched his fist.

According to Lifne’s communication, Kayle was on the list of priest candidates. However, only his name was on the list, not his family name.

Kayle himself had abandoned his family name. Just like Zeronin had abandoned the surname Galloway.

At this rate, they would have to return to the capital without even seeing Kayle’s face once.

That’s when it happened.

“…Juniors?”

A familiar form of address, a voice impossible to forget. Nigel quickly looked around.

Beyond the tall and elegant white wall blocking Nigel, clear blue hair swayed in tune with the cold winter wind.

“It really is you, juniors?”

Jayden Galloway, Zeronin’s half-brother, was smiling brightly in front of the bars.