With Jalana Maitis, a barrier-using magician, and Lucas Eberun, the errand boy brought along under the guise of an assistant, Rest and the others once again headed for the center of the Sabnock Plains.
"Your Highness Andrew will be joining us as well?"
"Yeah, today's a special occasion."
On top of that, several knights serving as Andrew's escorts had tagged along.
Leading the escort detail was Yusgos Bethras, Andrew's close aide and also the student council secretary.
A member of the Knight Department, Yusgos was clad in armor and had brought along several knights in matching gear.
"The sight of a large-scale barrier being set up isn't something you get to see every day. I really wanted to observe it... Was I a bother?"
"No, not at all."
Andrew was the person in overall charge of the frontier development.
On top of that, the center of the plains was slated to become Andrew's domain.
There was no reason to refuse his request to accompany them to what would become his own domain.
Andrew would be riding in an open-topped carriage with Maitis seated beside him.
Normally, you couldn't bring horses into the demon realm, a nest of monsters... but since most of the subjugation had already been completed, there was nothing to worry about.
"Haa... haa... haa... Why does a magician like me have to do this..."
Meanwhile.
Even before they had entered the demon realm, one person was already completely exhausted.
The errand boy who had been loaded down with heavy baggage... Lucas Eberun.
"Rest, is it okay to just leave him be?"
Yuri, a member of the party, asked with a puzzled look.
"He looks awfully tired, doesn't he? If you need someone to carry the baggage, I can do it..."
"No, it's fine. Yuri, just focus on keeping watch around us."
Rest shrugged at Yuri, who was worried without knowing the full story.
"Andrew and Maitis are with us today. We can't afford anything to happen, so stay more alert than usual."
"Got it. If Rest says so, then that's what we'll do."
Yuri nodded obediently and let out a focused "Mph!" as she scanned their surroundings.
"Ah... so that's the one everyone's talking about..."
Isis, another member of the party, also turned her gaze toward Lucas.
However, the look on Isis's face was one of contempt.
Whatever rumors she'd heard... she wore a face that radiated utter disdain for Lucas.
"Hmph..."
Lubeth, too, must have picked up on something.
She let a sardonic smirk cross her lips and cast a brief glance at Lucas.
Argil and Rail, reading the atmosphere around them, deliberately made no mention of the baggage boy.
"Heh... heh..."
"I see... so it turns out I'm surprisingly awful."
The group was advancing across the plains with more members than usual, but... seeing the man at the very rear huffing and dragging himself along, Rest discovered something new about himself.
(I thought it didn't matter what happened to this man, that as long as I never had to deal with him again, that would be enough... but why?)
Seeing him like this, drenched in sweat and barely pulling himself forward... it made his chest feel oddly light.
(Could it be... that I hated him all along without even realizing it? That somewhere in the back of my mind, I was hoping for revenge?)
"What do you think? Satisfying, isn't it?"
It wasn't as though she had read Rest's inner thoughts, yet Maitis leaned over from across the carriage seat and addressed him.
"You don't have to be hungry for revenge for it to be pleasant watching a nasty man get what he deserves. Stop putting on airs and acting all philosophical, kid, like you've already moved past your grudge."
"Guide..."
"Revenge that throws everything away and drags innocent people into it — that's backward-looking, and you shouldn't go down that road. But wanting to give someone a little payback like this? That's actually forward-thinking, if you ask this old woman."
Maitis turned around, looked at Lucas, and laughed with undisguised relish.
"That man has lost his standing at court because of how he treated you. The next head of House Rosemary, a count His Majesty holds in high regard — and he mistreated the boy. Nobody wants to get involved with a sinking ship like that. He's been stuck doing nothing but dirty, thankless work, and everyone around him looks at him with contempt."
"............"
Rest hadn't expected Lucas to be in such a situation.
He had guessed the man would be despondent after losing his heir... but it sounded like things were far worse than that.
"He apparently wants to adopt a child with the talent to become a court magician, in order to keep the honorary viscount family going... but looking at the state of him, that's not going to happen. Everyone already knows what a terrible father he is. Who would hand over a precious child with magical talent to someone like that?"
"I... I see..."
"You should just laugh in his face and tell him he had it coming. Or better yet, go report it at your mother's grave."
Maitis cackled like a witch — then suddenly put on a straight face and looked off into the distance.
"Is something wrong, Guide?"
"No... it's just that there seemed to be a rather rude person hanging about. Honestly, what a persistent little brat."
"............?"
Rest tilted his head in puzzlement, but Maitis offered no further explanation.
"Heh... heh..."
He turned his gaze once more toward his sweat-drenched father and rested his hand on his chin with a thoughtful "Hm..."
Maybe that's one way to look at it... When I get back to the royal capital, maybe I should report to Mother.
Perhaps Mother would smile down at me from beyond the grave.
Rest thought to himself and let out a small chuckle.
———————— I'm also posting another novel.
If you're interested, please give it a read!
[Title] I Became King by Fighting Exactly as My Little Sister Told Me To. The Princess I Forced into Marriage Is Super Pissed Off at Me, So What Should I Do?