“The tribesmen, at last.”

Terion wore a face filled with emotion.

Among the knights led by Casius, there were a few from the tribes.

Of course, they didn’t know the true identity of Casius.

Those among the tribesmen who were tired of slave life had run away and taken up swords.

They didn’t know Casius, but Casius knew them.

And those who barely survived and escaped were hiding deep in the forest.

It was something Casius had learned during his time as a slave gladiator.

The one who told him this story was a woman who had been captured late as a slave gladiator.

“You have survived. Isn’t it human to be as tenacious as weeds? The survivors ran through mountains and fields and dug deep into the forest. There, they hold their breath and live like beasts. Then people like me appear. At this point, we wonder if they have forgotten us, those who think such a thing.”

The woman had been performing the duties of a slave gladiator and then disappeared.

Where she went, even Casius didn’t know.

But Casius had engraved her words in his heart.

He had worked hard and gathered his power to return for them, after all.

“You have achieved your desire, Your Grace.”

Casius nodded heavily.

“But it seems the Duchess really knows everything. Even the story about the tribesmen. Did you dig into the past?”

“It might be, or it might not be. But, either way, it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes. What’s to fear when the Duchess, who understands everything in the world, is on our side? I like whatever the Duchess does.”

Terion spoke with a face full of faith.

Even if Casius wanted to criticize Terion, he couldn’t say anything and kept his mouth shut.

“I will send someone right away.”

“Can’t I go myself?”

Casius ran his fingers through his hair.

He knew.

Regardless of his feelings, he now had a responsibility.

It wasn’t just one or two people looking at him.

There were hundreds of knights who had come a long way with Casius, and there was Lenisha.

And now there were also the people of Hiloshine.

He still felt the warmth when little black snakes made his body a playground and climbed on him.

The children accepted Casius with innocent faces.

Casius felt peace among them.

There were more than one or two people with the same power as Casius.

He often felt like he had lost himself and become a monster, unable to sleep at night.

But looking at them, he understood.

There was no need to lose oneself over such a matter.

It was a lesson learned from the smiling faces of the children.

They looked happy without any worries.

Among those with the same power, their power just became something ordinary.

He was no longer alone.

Terion answered firmly.

“It’s not good. You’ve just become the lord of Hiloshine. It’s not good to show that to the people… and there’s Lady Lenisha. Are you going to leave your wife alone? It’s a journey that will take at least a month. If something goes wrong, you are the only one who can protect her. And it would be good to approach this matter cautiously.”

“You’re right. They won’t even realize the luck that has come to them.”

“They may have dreamed of coming out of there someday, but they wouldn’t have believed it would happen.”

Terion and Casius smiled bitterly.

The time when dark clouds hung over the tribesmen was too long.

It was a time when they had accepted their current misfortune as a daily life.

“There must be a contact book used only by the tribesmen. I will try to track it down.”

Casius nodded heavily.

“Secretly gather the knights from the tribes.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

It was when Casius finished the serious talk with Terion.

Knock, knock.

Casius’s face hardened at the sound knocking on his makeshift office.

Someone might have overheard the conversation.
I thought about bringing the tribes, but it was for Casius to decide how to announce that fact.

“Who is it?”

The outside voices became slightly noisy at the lowpitched voice.

“It’s Isabella.”

Casius let down his guard at the small voice.

Terion also opened the door with a relieved face.

And Terion had to face small heads crowded in front of the door.

It wasn’t just Isabella.

The children who had ridden Casius yesterday were gathered together.

“Miss Isabella?”

“Ah. The kids played with my uncle yesterday and had fun! They said they wanted to play together, so I brought them.”

Isabella smiled brightly.

Isabella was a little different from typical noble children.

Whether it was because she had been through a neardeath experience or because she had spent a long time with knights.

She didn’t have discrimination or formality based on her social status.

Casius leaned out his head at the sound of Isabella’s voice.

“Are you looking for me?”

“Uncle!”

Isabella hugged Casius.

Casius was surprised at the more familiar appearance.

However, before expressing such emotions, he covered Isabella’s back with his hand.

“The kids played with uncle yesterday and had fun, so I brought them. They want to play with uncle again! They were looking for where uncle was, and Isabella said she knew.”

Isabella’s big eyes sparkled.