Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

Almark had already put the sword in his sheath, but he had no intention of deceiving Gizalte's body in front of him.

"... yes. Son of a northern mercenary, to be exact. I'm not a mercenary anymore."

That's what Almark nodded.

Non-Ward servants are rushing to rescue the guards who are lying in the yard and to clean up scattered door debris.

One of his servants approached Ward and whispered, and his conversation with Almark was temporarily interrupted.

At that time, Almark noticed that Morgan was looking at himself with a pale blue face.

"Morgan... did you notice?"

"... yeah. When I was waiting in my room, I heard your conversation with an enemy mercenary. You were talking about your father."

"Yeah, they seemed to know my father. He said things like fighting and losing."

Nod honestly.

Ward tells his servants what to do and then turns to Almark.

"Mr. Ward, I didn't mean to hide it. I...."

When Almark tried to explain, Ward shook his head and took it down.

"From the very beginning, I've noticed a bit. You have a different vibe than the other students at the Magic Academy. And tonight's calm attitude....."

Ward said he was sure.

"I've never met a mercenary in the North in person before. Fighting as a business, sometimes courageous, sometimes brutal and outrageous. All I knew was the rumor that people weighed their lives with gold and hated them like snake scorpions."

Almark listens silently to Ward's words.

"Those who came to this mansion today were exactly like them. I just asked a servant that the guards killed 13 people and seriously wounded 4. One intact and two minor injuries were survivors who abandoned their roles and fled.... I won't be blamed."

... after all, the guards didn't make it.

Almark closed his eyes.

If I had more power. [M]

If only I had stood up better in anticipation of today's raid.

There should have been as much as we could have done.

People who were born in a peaceful country lost their lives without having to.

"You don't have to feel responsible for their death."

Ward's voice was calm.

"They did their job well."

Ward was right.

Without their desperate resistance, Wendy would not have had time to evacuate.

Even if Wendy was able to protect herself, many of Ward's servants and others must have died.

"That's right..."

Almark nodded.

But I still feel like I can't handle it.

A mercenary's death is a prepared death.

They don't know when they're going to die on the battlefield, and they're always ready for it, whether they're conscious or not.

It should have been the same for Gizalte and Delane, today's raiders.

But who of the guards in the Mansion who lost their lives thought they might die today?

With that in mind, there is something bitter in Almark's heart.

I'm supposed to be used to people dying.

I've killed so many people myself.

Whether or not you know how Almark feels, Ward keeps saying.

"The fear of being a mercenary seemed familiar to me. There were only eight of them, and none of them were wounded to get rid of 20 of our guards. Exactly like the power of war. Honestly, I was terrified."

And look at Almark.

"Al Mark, who has defeated almost all such beast-like people by himself. Your great power is just as terrifying to me."

Almark hardened.

It was a natural thing to be told.

I know that, but when this old butler loyal to Wendy told me about it, Almark felt like his heart was caught by an eagle.

It seems that the trust that I have been steadily building with Wendy until now will be overshadowed from the bottom.

It was a fear Almark had never felt before.

"Ah...."

I tried to say something, but it didn't work.

Wendy's smile came to his mind and disappeared.

"I believe you!

All of a sudden, Morgan screamed.

Almark looked back with surprise, and Morgan, who had a bright blue face just now, looked at Almark with a desperate expression that he had never seen before.

"It's none of my business to be a mercenary or a son. Almark trusted me. I believe in Almark, too."

Morgan's voice was rising.

"I believe you, Almark, whether you're a mercenary or not!

Morgan shouted with tears in his eyes.

"Thank you, Morgan. I...."

That said, Almark was stuck in his words again.

I didn't know what else to say.

"... Lord Almark, Lord Morgen. Don't get me wrong."

There was a calm Ward's voice.

As Almark turned around, Ward looked as calm as his voice.

"What I just said is my personal feelings. It's a lie, but it doesn't matter to me as a butler of the Bar Herbs, such as my personal feelings."

Ward was stretching his spine.

"There is no room for personal emotion in my work as a butler."

It's a cowardice as a butler that has served this house for many years.

"I am not qualified to discuss the existence of a mercenary. What matters to me is that Lord Almark saved your daughter's life."

There's nothing more important, Ward said.

"Lord Morgan said good things. Whether you're a mercenary or not, Almark, it doesn't matter. You risked your life to save your daughter. That's enough for me. That's all I can put my full trust in you."

Ward lowered his head deep toward Almark and Morgan.

"Lord Almark, Lord Morgen. Thank you very much. Your courage and dedication. That saved your daughter. On behalf of my Lord Elmond, who is far away in Garento, I would like to thank you."