After deciding to collaborate with Valtean, it became natural to meet more frequently.
“I’ve looked into the Eastern Principality in my own way, but the chances are slim.”
“What about the Shaman Union? If someone wants to hide, a forest would be best, and that place has a lot of forests, doesn’t it?”
“My wife’s hometown is the Shaman Union. It’s been a long time since I searched there before setting up my hair salon.”
This was said by the former Special Task Force Commander.
Given his confidence, it seemed clear that there was no place left unsearched in both the Eastern Principality and the Shaman Union.
“I don’t have much information. After piecing together small fragments, I barely got one clue.”
Valtean took out a gem from his pocket.
“The only clue worth mentioning is the Summer Sun, and the method is to chase him. I’m using this method.”
The gem emitted a cold chill.
I had a vague idea about the nature of this energy.
“Is it the Blizzard of Winter?”
“That’s right. Specifically, it’s an ordinary gem containing a tiny bit of that energy.”
The essence held by the Demon King of Winter.
That’s the Blizzard of Winter.
“The prince gave it to me. He said if it reacts to the Summer Sun, then use it to find her.”
“…”
“There’s no way this alone could be enough.”
“Exactly.”
With the world’s population so vast, it was impossible to check each person one by one with this.
“Have you tried requesting the intelligence agency?”
“They said they requested the Dark Web. It’s been a month with no news.”
The Dark Web is an underground organization favored by the Second Prince.
They could bring any information within a week, so I used them often during my time in the Special Forces.
Valtean said/
“Astra, I think the last royal heir is in the Much-Sector.”
This conclusion was based on all the materials he had investigated so far.
“No matter how I look at it, the chances are low that they’re in the Shaman Union or the Eastern Principality. I’ve searched all the areas the Summer Sun could have passed through. The grassland area is too far from the Principality. If he had traveled that far, there would be many traces, but there were almost none.”
Thus, the possible areas where the royal heir could be narrowed down to the Empire and the north.
“The north is out of the question. After the Demon King’s death, the north was sealed off, and it doesn’t match the timeline of the Principality’s destruction.”
So, Valtean had been investigating around the Empire in recent months.
Recently, he found traces.
“A few days ago, the gem started reacting, as if synchronizing with something.”
Valtean was certain.
The last royal descendant was not far away.
*****
Meanwhile, Epherna was with Valtean’s wife.
“Do you want some juice?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Tea, then?”
“If it’s tea…”
Epherna nodded awkwardly.
Valtean’s wife, Merien.
Epherna felt awkward around her.
Apart from cutting her hair well, it was uncomfortable to be in the same space with someone other than Ern.
This was likely due to spending ten years confined in a limited space.
“Let the men talk among themselves, and we can have our own conversation, just us women.”
In contrast, Merien was delighted just to see Epherna’s face.
She was about to marry Valtean.
She often imagined what it would be like to have a child like Epherna, as she was planning to have children soon.
“How old are you, little lady?”
“I’m fifteen.”
“…What?”
Merien’s eyebrows raised widely.
Epherna calmly continued, expecting such a reaction.
“There are reasons for it.”
She explained why her growth was slow.
Of course, she couldn’t tell everything, so she omitted the important parts.
After Epherna finished speaking, Merien showed a look of sympathy.
“Oh my… You must have gone through a lot.”
“I’m okay.”
Epherna decided to forget the past.
She hated and wanted to kill the people who confined her, but she didn’t want her current life to be overshadowed by it.
She wished they would never appear in front of her again.
“Since you said you’re fifteen, I won’t see you as just a child.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have any worries that you’re keeping to yourself? Mister Ern is a man, so there might be things he can’t help with.”
“…That’s true.”
Like her underwear or her period.
There were some things that were difficult for her to take care of because Ern was a man.
“Shall we go out together then? I’ll help you get what you need.”
Epherna nodded.
It was truly fortunate that she met her today.
*****
They went to a lingerie shop, bought clothes, and got the necessary supplies.
Merien paid for everything.
“You’re going to grow, so I bought various sizes. Try them on and let me know if they fit.”
“Yes.”
Now, they were at a café.
Since it was a hot summer day, Merien ordered a cool juice and suddenly asked Epherna.
“Epherna, do you like living with Mister Ern? Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“No. He’s the one who saved me.”
It was something Epherna couldn’t say in front of Ern.
But now, she was with Merien, who seemed kind and trustworthy.
“…I see. That’s a relief.”
Merien smiled softly.
The reason she asked such a question was because of her husband, Valtean.
Valtean’s former job was something even hard to describe.
It wasn’t that she felt uncomfortable, but Valtean himself found it so as well.
Ern’s job, being Valtean’s colleague, wasn’t ordinary either.
Merien was worried that Ern might feel uncomfortable with Epherna for the same reason Valtean did.
When someone feels uncomfortable, those around them tend to worry as well.
But since Epherna said she was okay, she decided not to ask further.
“…But, there is something that makes me a bit uncomfortable.”
“What is it?”
“Well… how should I say this….”
Epherna showed signs of hesitation.
She seemed unsure if this was the right thing to say.
“Sometimes, when I’m with Mister, my heart starts pounding for no reason.”
“Oh my.”
Merien’s eyes widened.
“Can you tell me more about it?”
“I’m not sure if I can explain it well. Sometimes, my heart feels like it’s burning with molten lava. Silly thoughts fill my head, and then…”
Epherna continued to explain in detail.
She described her recent symptoms and reactions, how her feelings had changed from when she first met Ern to now, almost like reading a report to Merien.
“Is it because I’m growing too fast? I read in a book that hormones are rapidly secreted during growth, causing intense emotions. Could it be because of that?”
Merien shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I think Epherna knows best.”
“…Me?”
“I just want to tell you not to deny your feelings. Because I had the same experience.”
“…Can’t you just tell me?”
Merien shook her head.
“I think it’s more meaningful for you to find the answer yourself. The worries you’re experiencing might be a rare and precious part of life that may only happens once.”
Merien’s face lit up with a gentle smile.
Just as Merien said, it took a bit of time before Epherna resolved her worries.
*****
Just because we were former Special Force Commanders didn’t mean we had any special skills for finding people.
We’d show the Blizzard of Winter to passersby and move on if it didn’t seem right, then show it to someone else.
It looked clumsy, but we had no other method, so we took our time doing it.
“Edrick.”
“What is it, man?”
“We’re retired soldiers, right?”
“…”
Damn. It makes me want to cry.
This isn’t what I retired for.
The worst part was that I couldn’t even complain.
In such situations, you’d usually blame those at the top, but the Emperor and the prince were desperately trying to do something despite their terminal conditions.
So, it wasn’t right to criticize them.
The clean water at the top makes the lower water suffer.
“Let’s call it a day.”
“Agreed. The sun is setting.”
I returned to Merien’s hair salon with Valtean.
Jingle.
The bell rang as we opened the door, and we found the Little One and Merien chatting.
The Little One turned to me and said.
“Are you back, Mister?”
“Let’s go home.”
“Okay.”
We had twenty minutes left until our time was up.
Since home was only ten minutes away, we could get there comfortably.
We left the salon.
As we walked under the evening sun, I noticed the Little One was carrying a bag.
“What’s in the bag you’re holding?”
“It’s what we bought today.”
I checked inside the bag and saw clothes and various items.
Mostly things a woman would need.
I felt relieved.
As a man, I found it a bit awkward to take care of those things.
“Who paid for it?”
“The lady paid.”
“We should thank her later.”
“She seems to like tea.”
“Tea? What kind does she like?”
“I don’t know the name. But it was very refreshing.”
“If it’s refreshing, it might be leaf tea. She must brew it directly from tea leaves.”
Considering she’s a Forest Shaman, that makes sense.
Shamans, being naturally inclined toward nature, often long for the scents of their homeland when living elsewhere.
If I could guess the scent of the environment where Forest Shamans live, it wouldn’t be hard to find the right tea leaves.
We arrived home.
The first thing I did was store the Blizzard of Winter.
The Little One might get hurt if she touched it, so I planned to put it in a magic protected case.
“Mister, is this a gem?”
Just like this.
For some reason, the Little One likes pretty and shiny things.
“Don’t touch it carelessly. It’s dangerous.”
The Little One reached to touch it but pulled her hand back at my words. At least she listens well.
“It’s pretty. Can’t I touch it?”
“No.”
Even though the gem looks fine, it’s quite cold.
I can handle it lightly, but the Little One could get frostbite.
I found the case.
Just as I was about to put the gem in the case.
Then, we heard it.
Wooong–!!
“Mister, it’s suddenly buzzing?”
*****
“Cough…!!”
Scarlet liquid soaked the bed.
The golden eyes that illuminated the dark room lost their light.
Second Prince Elius exhaled.
“Hoo…”
The coldness surrounding his heart tried to freeze his heart and veins.
Although he was resisting easily now, Elius pushed aside thoughts about how long he could last.
“…It doesn’t matter.”
He was on his way back from meeting Duke Tesran.
This time, he had secured a proper leverage, so there would be no reckless opposition.
Satisfied with that.
Wooong–!!
Elius’s golden eyes gleamed of their own accord, scrambling his mind.
Countless images and videos invaded his brain.
The pain, as if his head was being hammered, made his mind go hazy, but Elius smirked.
“Isn’t this a bit too urgent, Lord Astra?”
It would have been fine to reveal things a bit more slowly.
Elius sneered.
