The Next Day
It was late morning at the Adventurers' Guild inn. Ruijerd, with his trademark spear close at hand, sat on the floor with his back resting against the wall. Eris Greyrat lay in bed, still sound asleep; beside her, a groggy and confused Rudeus woke up upon hearing a high-pitched voice calling from the floor below.
—Good morning!
Rudeus got up, rubbing his eyes. He opened the door and peeked out. A woman dressed in Royal Guard armor was waiting for him.
—Excuse me, are you Lord Rudeus? —asked the soldier formally.
Rudeus confirmed that he was, and the woman gave a slight bow.
—I am Ginger, a royal guard in the service of the Seventh Prince. It is a pleasure.
Rudeus replied: —Pleasure to meet you. May I know the reason for your visit?
—Lady Roxy requests your presence —Ginger said simply.
Rudeus's heart skipped a beat. His drowsiness vanished instantly, replaced by joy. Without wasting a moment, he rushed to gather his things.
Eris woke up, grunting from the bed. —What are you doing?
—I'm going out for a while —Rudeus replied, fastening his tunic—. Besides, it's been a long time since I've seen my master.
—You'd better introduce her to me —demanded Eris, sitting up in bed.
—I will do so when all of this is over —Rudeus replied with a smile—. First, I have to find out what is going on.
Ruijerd, who had been listening in silence, tilted his head. —Will you be alright alone, Rudeus?
—Don't worry, Ruijerd. I don't plan on getting into trouble —said Rudeus, his voice full of confidence—. Please, while I'm gone, keep looking for information on Aisha and Lilia's whereabouts.
—Don't worry, we'll keep looking for them —Eris affirmed with certainty, her worried gaze softened by a smile.
Ruijerd nodded, returning her smile.
Eris walked over. —Take care, Rudeus —the redhead said affectionately.
Rudeus wore a strange, crooked smile characteristic of him. —Sure.
He left excitedly, following Ginger.
As he followed the soldier through increasingly luxurious streets, Rudeus wondered to himself: *Does Roxy live in a castle?*
Upon arriving at the palace gates, Ginger began to speak in a more intimate tone.
—Lord Rudeus, Lady Roxy mentioned that you are a genius who mastered voiceless magic at an early age.
—She said that? —asked Rudeus, feeling his chest swell with pride.
—Lady Roxy used to talk about you a lot. She said she didn't deserve to be your teacher —Ginger revealed.
—That's an exaggeration —Rudeus replied, feeling sincerely embarrassed and flattered in equal measure.
Suddenly, Ginger changed direction, veering off the main hallway.
—This way, please.
This confused Rudeus, but he followed her anyway. They walked down a side corridor, coming upon a door guarded by two soldiers.
—Thank you for your service —the two soldiers said to Ginger in unison.
Rudeus approached the soldiers.
—Please, could you hand over your belongings? —Ginger asked, extending her hand.
Rudeus, confused, replied: —What? Ah, yes.
He brushed the strange request aside. *Well, I should focus on Roxy. Right, I haven't seen her in seven years. I have so much to tell her...* he thought, smoothing his hair to look presentable.
—Lord Rudeus —Ginger spoke, her voice tinged with fleeting doubt.
—What is it? —asked Rudeus.
She gave up and simply said: —Never mind, it is nothing.
Then, clicking her heels together, she shouted: —It is Ginger! I have brought Lord Rudeus!
From behind the door, a voice resonated in the room: —Enter.
Rudeus grew nervous upon hearing a male voice. The image of Roxy distorted in his mind.
He entered and faced a fat boy sitting on a chair with royal adornments, decked out in fine clothing.
—Well, so you are Rudeus —said the fat boy.
Is he... is that a barrel with legs? —Rudeus thought.
Before he could think further, the fat boy snapped him out of his thoughts.
—It was you, wasn't it? The one who entered the castle yesterday —he asked with annoyance.
Rudeus was confused. —What are you talking about?... By the way, where is Roxy?
I see, so he knows nothing—Pax thought.
Then Pax gave an order. —Throw him in!
The two guards inside acted in unison: one pulled the rug's rope and the other pulled a wooden lever, opening a pit beneath Rudeus.
Rudeus fell into the darkness.
Into the pit.
—Ouch, what the hell! —said Rudeus, rubbing his head.
He looked at the ground and realized he was standing on a purple magic circle. He stood up and tried to walk out of the circle, but collided with an invisible wall. Confused, he touched the wall. He readied his hand to use magic, but the spell dissipated.
At that moment, the fat boy laughed from above.
—It's useless! That is a King-class barrier, designed to trap Roxy! You have no chance against it.
—Who are you? —asked Rudeus, now annoyed and frowning.
—I am Pax, Pax Shirone, the Seventh Prince of Shirone —he replied mockingly.
—So I was led into a trap —said Rudeus. —Alright. I don't know what I did to deserve this, but first, could you call Roxy? Please, I am her former student and...
Before he could finish, Pax interrupted him.
—Roxy is not here.
Rudeus was confused. —Then... why...?
—I will use you as bait to lure her here. Yes, you will serve better than Lilia to lure her in. —Those words made Rudeus's eyes widen in alarm—. Roxy will be my personal slave forever. I will force her to bear my heirs —Pax proclaimed, losing himself in his monologue.
Rudeus stopped him. —Can I ask you one thing?
—What is it? —asked Pax, slightly annoyed by the interruption.
—First, is Lilia here? And second, if you have Lilia, I didn't know it until you mentioned her. So, how will Roxy find out that you captured me?
—Haa... Roxy is very smart, she will find out somehow —said Pax dismissively.
—No —Rudeus replied in frustration—. Unless you spread the word that I am in this place, I am certain no one will come.
Pax, now more annoyed, retorted: —But you came!
—But I came because... —Rudeus stopped, realizing his own mistake.
—Ha, ha. You have your voiceless magic, but it seems my authority is greater. —Pax began to close the pit with a board, leaving Rudeus in the darkness—. I'm so anxious! I hope Roxy arrives soon.
—That won't be possible —Rudeus thought to himself, a look of frustration on his face.
At that moment, Pax's voice rang out annoyingly. —Have you not found those two maids yet?
Ginger replied: —The men are still searching for their whereabouts, but they say it seems as if they have vanished. —Do you want us to keep looking?
Pax shouted, his voice charged with anger: —Of course! Keep looking for them, and when you find that boy who helped them escape, I will cut off his head for taking what is mine! Ah! You are all so useless, letting yourselves be beaten by a child.
Rudeus, trapped in the dark pit, frowned. He wondered who had helped Lilia and Aisha escape and where they might be now. "o, the advice he gave me was actually true," he thought.
—But why did Hitogami tell me the rest? —He recalled the advice: —He told me to use an alias, and to send a letter to an acquaintance— but the only one I knew who was here was Roxy, but she isn't here, and now I'm the one locked up.
—I followed it almost to the letter. —A chilling thought ran down his spine, making him gasp in the gloom. "Hey, hey... Could it be that he set a trap for me?"
Ahhh— *sigh*— there's no point now. —Please, Eris and Ruijerd, save me —he said, clasping his hands in prayer.
In another place
With Arthur
At the Tavern
In the lively tavern of Thane, Arthur moved from table to table, taking orders with a cordial smile. His charm and formal air at nine years old often made him stop: he was surrounded by groups of girls who found him "very cute and sweet," causing a slight blush on his cheeks.
Lilia and Aisha, disguised in simple clothes so they wouldn't be recognized, watched from a discreet table.
Are you sure we can't help? Lilia asked, feeling guilty about the burden Arthur had taken on.
Thane, the robust tavern keeper, cleaned the counter firmly. "No, you can't. He asked me that if I let you stay, so you could wait for the response to the letter, he would take care of everything. We had a man's pact, Lilia." Thane looked at Arthur with a mixture of respect and concern.
Hearing this, Aisha looked at Arthur with admiration. "Arthur is really incredible. I'll go ask him if I can help him." She rushed toward him.
Lilia watched as Aisha insisted again and again, until Arthur finally agreed to let her help carry some glasses. A soft smile formed on Lilia's face. "Seems like I'll owe Mr. Arthur much more," she thought.
By the way, thank you very much…—Lyria, Thane's wife, approached Lilia, pulling her out of her thoughts.
What? Why are you thanking me? Lilia asked, confused.
The woman placed a hand on Lilia's shoulder. "Even if you don't know it, you and your daughter brought back the shine in that boy's eyes."
—His shine? Lilia asked.
It's just that now he's been left alone, Lyria said in a melancholic tone. the person who raised him since he was little, his grandfather, passed away the day before the day he saved you.
Lilia was deeply shocked after hearing this news. She looked at Arthur, who was smiling and joking with Aisha as if the world were perfectly fine.
At one of the tables, a royal guard was drinking in sadness and frustration. Thane approached him.
Hey, Kieran, what happened to you? You look terrible.
Kieran looked up and sighed. It's just that Prince Pax has kidnapped my family and threatened to cut off their heads if I don't find some people…
Arthur, who was passing by the table, heard everything. Guilt struck him hard. "Damn… Could it be that because of me they won't save the people who are being held captive?" he reprimanded himself. He looked at Aisha, who was beside him, with a face full of genuine sadness. "Alright, I'll take responsibility for my actions."
Approaching the table with determination, Arthur spoke to the guard. Can you tell me where your family is? I will go save them.
Aisha, hearing this, smiled and stood at his side.
Thane and Kieran looked at each other, confused by what the boy was saying.
Boy, don't say nonsense, —Kieran responded irritably. —If we can't do anything, why do you think a child like you can?
Before Arthur could say anything, Aisha stepped forward, taking off the cloth hiding her hair. "Because he's the one who saved me and my mother!"
The guard, seeing her without disguise, recognized her instantly. He stood up in surprise. "You're that girl…!"
He looked at Arthur differently and remembered the report his companions had given him: that a boy sneaked into the castle, took the woman out, and knocked out almost all of them in an instant. Inside Kieran, a feeling of hope began to grow.
He took a few steps toward Arthur and, before everyone's eyes, knelt down, pressing his face to the floor. —Please! Help my family!
Arthur grew visibly nervous from the attention. "I told you I'll help, so you don't need to kneel," he said quickly.
Kieran stood up. —Then I'll guide you.
Arthur went to get his sword and began to follow him. "I'll be right back," he told Thane, who approached with pride since he knew the boy's strength.
Aisha wanted to accompany him, but Arthur refused immediately.
Minutes later, in a gloomy dungeon, Kieran stopped at the door.
This is it, —the guard said.
Alright, I'll take care of it. Stay here, —Arthur replied, beginning to enter.
Along the way, Arthur walked deeper and found people lying on the ground, confusing him. "Looks like someone already came in."
As he turned a corner, he sensed several footsteps and suddenly felt through his fighter's instincts that someone very dangerous was approaching. He drew his sword, gripping it tightly.
Then he saw them: they were people—children, women—freed. But the one who caught his attention most was a pale-skinned, muscular man, holding a strange spear with a cloth tied to it. He recognized him: Ruijerd Superdia.
Arthur relaxed immediately and sheathed his sword. "Seems my butterfly effect in this arc wasn't big enough to divert the canon," he thought with relief.
Ruijerd, with the power of his gem, had already sensed Arthur. He was confused by the arrival of the boy there. Seeing him up close, he understood: this wasn't just any child. A fighter's aura stronger than Eris' emanated from him… As a protector of children, Ruijerd felt no hostility.
Looks like there's nothing left for me to do, —Arthur said politely. By the way, nice to meet you. My name is Arthur. —He raised his hand for a handshake.
Ruijerd understood what he meant and approached with a smile. He was happy that a child wasn't afraid of him.
—My name is Ruijerd Superdia,— he replied, shaking his hand.
A few minutes later, returning to the castle, Arthur walked back with a group of rescued families, Kieran's people. Lilia and Aisha joined them. Lilia was excited to see Rudeus, and Aisha was noticeably closer to Arthur, which he didn't understand, but didn't complain about. Ruijerd had asked the rescued people about "a woman and a girl," and Arthur had to step in and tell him the truth: he was the one who had rescued them.
The group saw people waiting at the front of the path. The guards, seeing them, recognized their families and ran to embrace them.
Then Arthur saw him for the first time: the main character of the story, Rudeus Greyrat, next to an Eris who smiled at him. Rudeus also smiled upon seeing Lilia and Aisha, but his smile faded slightly when he saw a boy next to them (Arthur), who was a head taller than Aisha.
What caught his attention the most was the attractive face of the boy, making him frown. He turned to Eris to see if she was staring at the boy, but she only looked at him, confused.
Rudeus sighed, calmer, and stepped toward the three, smiling warmly at Lilia.
And you are my sister Aisha, right?— he said gently. "Hello, I'm Ludeus Greyrat, your big brother."
Rudeus tried to pat her head, but Aisha moved behind Arthur and peeked out. —So, you're my older brother?— Aisha remembered what she had discovered about him, looking at him with a strange mix of seriousness and discomfort.
Rudeus was confused by how she looked at him. "Hey, hey, this is a big difference in treatment," he thought, feeling a twitch in his eye.
—And you are…?— he asked, looking at Arthur.
Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Arthur
Before Rudeus could ask more, Zanoba appeared out of nowhere, running and shouting: —¡Masteeer!— He grabbed him from behind, spun him, and sent him flying, while Rudeus screamed in fear.
A moment later, Rudeus fell to the ground. Realizing his mistake, Zanoba desperately asked Ginger to use a healing spell. Arthur only watched with a forced smile and a drop of sweat.
The next day, after everything was cleared up, Rudeus learned that Arthur had been the one to rescue his family and thanked him for his help.
While Ruijerd brushed a giant buffalo's fur, Aisha and Eris argued heatedly.
What are you saying? Rudeus is way more amazing, —Eris replied a bit annoyed.
—Hmp, Mr. Arthur is way more amazing,— Aisha retorted.
Arthur was helping carry some boxes to the back of the carriage.
Ludeus approached him. —You didn't have to help, you've already done so much for my family."
Arthur turned around. —Don't worry. I have a saying: 'If you start something, finish it. Don't leave it halfway.'
At that moment, Lilia called Ludeus in a low voice. —Master Rudeus!"—She motioned for him to come closer.
Arthur, already knowing what it was about, just sat on one of the boxes and looked up at the sky, thinking. "In the end, it seems the plot went in the same direction. I'm not sure if anything will change later."
And now what will I do? Will I stay at the tavern of…? He looked around: Ruijerd with the buffalo, Aisha and Eris arguing. "Suddenly, I feel alone… No, I can't get depressed. I must fulfill my grandfather's last words," Arthur thought firmly.
—Meanwhile, with Ludeus and Lilia:
Lilia was hugging a flustered Ludeus from behind. "I'm glad you're alright, Master Rudeus," she said cheerfully.
Rudeus replied with a gentle smile. "I'm glad you're alright too, Lilia.
—Has Aisha been rude to you? Lilia asked.
Rudeus remembered the conversation he had with her after their first impression. "Apparently, I've been labeled as a pervert," Rudeus thought with a forced laugh and depressed expression. But he still answered: "No, of course not. That girl is very smart; it seems you raised her well."
—At that moment, Aisha ran toward Arthur. —Mr. Arturo! Mr. Arturo!
Arthur snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. —I want to ask you something."
I already told you not to call me 'sir.' You know we're almost the same age, it makes me feel weird," Arthur sighed. "But okay, ten cents, what do you need?"
Let me go with you wherever you go, please,— Aisha said, bowing.
—Arthur blinked twice, confused. —Excuse me?
—My mom wanted me to serve my half-brother, but…—Aisha began.
"But?" Arthur asked.
I don't want to!" she almost shouted. —Save me from his perverted clutches, just like you saved me before!" she said in a tone close to begging.
—"Hey hey, you have no tact. You know your brother is listening," Arthur thought. He looked toward Rudeus, who was on the other side of the carriage, mouth open and depressed. Lilia, meanwhile, had already entered the carriage and closed the door.
Aisha came closer and continued: "Can I go with you? My mom says I'll mature a lot! I'm going to be voluptuous!"
"What kind of things has Lilia taught Aisha?" Arthur wondered.
Rudeus wondered the same, looking toward the carriage. He was about to walk toward Aisha to scold her, but stopped when he saw Arthur place his hand on her head, gently patting her.
Aisha, girls shouldn't say that kind of thing, understand?—Arthur said, smiling warmly.
—Aisha smiled brightly, letting herself be patted.
—Hey, hey, hey… This pretty boy has captured my little sister. Are these… brotherly jealousy?" Rudeus wondered, his eye twitching.
I'm sorry, Aisha, I al— Before Arthur could finish, he was interrupted.
—Hey, kid, what do you think you're doing? You're leaving your stuff behind," Thane said, walking with his wife, Lyria.
You didn't forget to say goodbye to us, right?—Lyria said, pouting.
—Huh? —Arthur was confused. Aisha just smiled, knowing what they meant.
We know you want to travel elsewhere, and what better than going accompanied. You know full well you're still a brat," Thane said with a smile.
—But…?— Arthur asked.
"Don't worry, we already asked Lilia and she said she'd be delighted to have you accompany them, and besides, they need someone to protect them during the journey.
"It's true, I'd feel calmer if someone accompanied her," Rudeus said, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
That's right,— Lilia said, coming out of the carriage. —Besides, I think Aisha won't give up easily on her decision.— She smiled, looking at Aisha, who nodded at Arthur.
Seeing everyone smiling at him, the loneliness Arthur felt began to fade, replaced by deep warmth.
Arthur stood up straight. His voice was firm, determined, and filled with gratitude.
—In that case… Thank you for everything, and I hope I won't be a bother."
Yessssssss!— Aisha shouted with uncontrollable joy, hugging him around the waist.
Alright then. In that case, Arthur, I entrust you with the safety of Lilia and Aisha," Rudeus said, feeling depressed. "And my hug? I'm supposed to be her brother," he thought, eye twitching again.
The Dead End group said goodbye to the carriage. Rudeus, Eris, and Ruijerd watched as it headed toward the Central Continent, in the opposite direction they needed to go. Arthur, sitting in front, with Aisha and Lilia waving goodbye, moved away from Shirone, wondering what fate would bring him in the future.
End of the chapter.