In the North, surrounded by snow-covered mountains that remain blanketed in snow all year round, lies the fortress city of Ester, nestled in the valley, the only passage connecting the Demon Realm and the Empire. Smoke began to rise from a distant peak.
“Monsters are approaching.”
The man in fur clothing standing on the city wall squinted.
Signal fires.
It was a sign that monsters were nearing.
If they had just crossed that peak, it wouldn’t take them more than two weeks to reach Ester.
The man in fur, the Duke of the North, stroked his bushy beard and sighed deeply.
“Ugh… Where is Merilda now?”
“The youngest princess is taking a nap after lunch.”
“Please tell me you succeeded in persuading her. She’s not still insisting on staying here, is she?”
“Yes. As expected, she’s determined not to leave Ester without guards of her own age…”
“Arrrgh!!!”
At the young butler’s dejected reply, the Duke of the North let out a tremendous roar.
It was a roar mixed with frustration and anger.
The thunderous roar echoed through the mountain range before it gradually subsided.
The Duke, seemingly having vented his anger, exhaled sharply.
“I’m going to go insane. I don’t understand why she’s being like this! Last year, and the year before, when I told her it was time to evacuate, she left willingly! Why is it different this year!”
“It might be influenced by the Academy she started attending this year…”
“Ah! What are they teaching at that Academy! Get rid of the Academy! Bring back the private tutor! Someone at the Academy must have put strange ideas into Merilda’s head…!”
It was truly a frustrating situation.
Ester was the only passage connecting the Demon Realm and the Empire, and it was the frontline bastion to prevent the Empire from being overrun by monsters.
Every year, the natural mana surge from the Demon Realm causes a large number of monsters to appear.
Especially in the summer, the number of monsters is beyond imagination.
This large-scale rampage, known as the Monster Wave, floods in like a tidal wave.
During such times, a deadly battle begins in Ester.
Regardless of status, everyone takes up arms and heads to the front lines.
It wasn’t just to protect this insignificant fortress city.
It was for the safety of their families back in the Empire.
Ester had withstood for centuries, but it had not been without crises.
Hence, it was not something to be taken lightly.
It was customary for the Duke of the North’s heirs to evacuate to a safe place and prepare for the worst when the Monster Wave approached.
“Persuade Merilda to evacuate to the inner part today! Otherwise, I’ll throw you to the monster horde!”
“Throw me! How can I break the princess’s will? You know it’s impossible!”
“You brat!”
The Duke’s youngest daughter, Merilda, was insisting on staying in Ester.
The reason was even more absurd.
She was dissatisfied with the lack of guards of her own age.
Her consistent stance was that she wouldn’t leave Ester unless guards of her own age were present.
“She’s only thirteen! Where in the world can you find a guard that young? Even if such a person existed, they wouldn’t have the skills to guard royalty!”
“This is truly maddening…”
“She’s my precious youngest daughter! If she stays in Ester, I won’t be able to focus on the battle because of worry!”
The Duke of the North almost cried out in despair.
He had married three wives and had nine children.
But all were sons, sons, and more sons.
In the barren wasteland of the North, there were nine sons, one after another.
Perhaps the Duke’s longing for a daughter reached the heavens.
The youngest daughter, obtained with great difficulty in his old age, was, miraculously, a daughter.
Growing up surrounded by love from parents and older brothers who were more than 20 years older, Merilda had become the vital energy of Ester.
Merilda had become, so to speak, Ester’s beacon of hope. She brought a bright smile to the Duke of the North, who had spent his life frowning in anger.
She was like a treasure to Ester, bringing positive energy to the entire city.
Therefore, it was unthinkable that Merilda’s safety would be in jeopardy.
The top priority for Ester was not just to stop the Monster Wave but to persuade Merilda to evacuate.
“Your Grace, perhaps it’s time to consider ‘that method’…”
“Y-You don’t mean…!”
The butler glanced around and whispered quietly.
The Duke’s eyes widened, reacting with shock and unease.
“Princess Merilda sleeps so soundly once she falls asleep. So, if we secretly put her in a carriage and send her to the capital…”
“No, that’s not an option! That would lead to…!”
Gulp.
The Duke squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed.
That would lead to a catastrophe…
“My daughter will definitely get mad at me…”
“Ah.”
“If she’s really angry, she won’t even speak to me for a whole month. How can I endure that…”
“That’s something no one can handle…”
In an instant, the mood on the city wall grew solemn.
Silence fell between the butler and the Duke of the North.
Although he had asked his niece in the palace to find suitable guards, he did not really expect her to.
There’s no solution!
Does he have no choice but to muster the courage to force Merilda to evacuate?
Tears welled up in the Duke of the North’s eyes, freezing in place.
It was time to make a truly difficult decision.
“I approve in my name. My daughter… Merilda… Ugh! Use all your strength to forcefully evacuate her to the capital!”
“Yes. I will follow your orders, Your Grace.”
As the two men exchanged resolute glances with tears in their eyes, the door burst open, and a soldier rushed in urgently.
“Good news, Your Grace!”
“What is it!”
“Her Majesty has secured a guard for Princess Merilda! They are on their way here now!”
“What…!?”
The Duke of the North furrowed his brow.
What was this supposed to mean?
A guard of her own age?
That couldn’t be possible. What trick had his niece pulled…?
“Did you hear the name of the escorting mercenary group?”
“It’s not a mercenary group, but a security company founded by a noble.”
“A security company?”
“Yes. The name is Vermont Security…”
“…!”
Vermont Security.
The Duke of the North’s eyes widened at the name. The sound of grinding teeth echoed clearly in the snowstorm.
“Vermont. My rival is coming. Heh heh heh. Vanessa, you cunning one…”
Though initially he had no expectations, he now eagerly awaited the arrival of these so-called guards.
In many ways.
The Duke, repeatedly chewing over the name Vermont, began to laugh as if he had lost his mind.
***
“I have a major announcement to make.”
“A major announcement…!”
During meal time.
As I broached the subject with a serious tone, Charlotte dropped her food bowl and stared at me.
With trembling lips, Charlotte asked.
“So, what’s this major announcement?”
“I’m saying there’s something important to discuss, Charlotte…”
“Ah!”
“According to Julia, there’s a request from Her Majesty through Vermont Security, and it would be perfect for you guys to handle it.”
“A request!? Does that mean we get to use the Super Super Strong Sword again?”
“That means we could earn money, right? Is that it?”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ is becoming impatient as it seems like our dark knight and necromancer have no intention of eating.]
Suddenly, both Charlotte and Julia stood up from their meals, unable to hide their excitement.
Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up during meal time.
“Yes. Each of you will receive 50 million Lark.”
“Wow…!”
Charlotte and Julia’s faces lit up immediately.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bittersweetness.
Originally, I planned to send them back once they matured mentally and financially.
But imagining the day we would part made me nostalgic for our memories together.
‘I can’t protect them forever.’
Of course, it wouldn’t be right to keep them under Vermont’s protection forever either.
Yuri is a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.
I need to let Charlotte and Julia go before Yuri causes any trouble.
This mission was the first step.
Yuri, with his rigid protagonist style, might have strange misunderstandings about me.
So, this mission is a preemptive strike to clear up those misunderstandings.
“One staff member from Vermont Security will accompany you on this mission. By the way, they are around your age and attend the Imperial Magic Academy.”
“Wow. They’re our age but already in the Academy? …Really?”
“Impressive!”
Come, Yuri.
Come and have a touching reunion.
The stage is all set.
“Such a nuisance…”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ is scolding you harshly for what you’ve done, saying the kids will hear it!]
Damn it.
I’ve arranged for him to meet the friends he missed so much.
Shouldn’t this be the time for orphans to embrace each other and cry?
But why is this happening?
“Nice to meet you. I’m Julia.”
“Something sounds off about your voice…”
“I’m Charlotte! But what’s with the mask?”
“…Don’t touch it.”
Why is he wearing a mask and changing his voice? My blood pressure soared, and I felt an urgent impulse to rip off that mask right away.
