-Gulp.
Rudger unconsciously swallowed.
For Rudger, who usually maintained his composure, to instinctively show such a reaction, the words of that human trafficking knight were truly shocking.
Looking at it objectively, it was understandable.
Grandel's appearance was at best that of a girl in her early teens.
Moreover, she was doll-like pretty and dressed accordingly.
Even if you met her in the middle of this forest, it was common sense that curiosity would precede caution.
But sometimes there were cases where such common-sense reactions didn't apply.
This was exactly such a case.
-Hehe.A hollow laugh escaped through Grandel's lips.
The moment he heard that sound, Rudger felt the hair all over his body stand on end.
Ah, that guy is done for.
The moment Rudger saw Grandel's crescent-shaped red eyes, he could only pray for that fat knight's soul.
-My disciple. Take that child and retreat from here. What I'm about to show is still too early for you to see.
-...I understand.
Rudger, carrying Freuden, quickly left the place and also took care of Rene.
-Oh, brother?
-We need to get out of here quickly.
-Why?
-I'll tell you the reason later.
Despite her young age, Rene didn't throw a tantrum or be stubborn and followed Rudger well.
Just as Rudger was about to leave the boundary of the forest.
-Boom!
Some kind of massive wave rose from the center of the forest, and a red pillar shot up.
Rudger's expression instantly became aghast at the sight of that eerie, blood-like thing.
Rene tried to turn around wondering what was happening, but Rudger covered her eyes with his other hand.
-I can't see.
-It's nothing. Don't look.
After the blood-colored pillar disappeared, the forest was immersed in an eerily profound silence.
Rudger quietly gazed into the forest for a moment.
Despite it still being daylight, the inside of this coniferous forest was strangely dark as light didn't penetrate well.
Red eyes emerged from that darkness.
Seeing Grandel slowly walking out, Rudger asked.
-Is it all over?
-I've taken care of all the other guys nearby as well.
This was about the kidnapping of a noble, and not just any noble but the heir to one of the three great ducal families of the Empire, the Ulburg family.
Naturally, there wouldn't be just that one man with knight-level power.
The roots would have been spread densely throughout this forest, but Grandel said she had taken care of all of them in that fleeting moment.
If asked whether that was possible, Rudger would answer that it was.
It might be impossible for others, but it was possible for Grandel.
And when Grandel said she had taken care of everyone, it also meant that she didn't even leave corpses behind.
They would have turned into just droplets of blood, entering Grandel's mouth.
-It's been a while since I drank such unpalatable blood, I don't feel good at all.
Grandel lightly flicked her index finger toward Rudger.
Knowing full well what that meant, Rudger sighed and put the unconscious Freuden on the ground.
-Rene. Take care of this little one for a moment.
-Okay!
-And cover your eyes. Got it?
-Yes!
-Count to 60 in your head and then you can look.
Rene obediently followed Rudger's words.
The only thing Rene couldn't keep was not saying the number 60 out loud.
-58. 59. 60. I've finished counting!
After counting to 60, Rene turned to look at Rudger.
What she saw there was Rudger tidying up the shirt on his shoulder, and Grandel with a somewhat satisfied smile.
-Brother. Your face is pale.
-I think I need to eat some meat today.
Rudger shook his head and picked up Freuden, who was lying on the ground.
-Who is this little one?
Grandel, curious about Freuden’s appearance, followed beside Rudger and asked.
-I don't know. It seems like a kidnapped noble's child, judging by the clothes worn and the impertinent attitude shown to me, it seems to be from quite a wealthy family.
-Hmm. A kidnapped noble's child in a place like this. How interesting. Well, it doesn't matter. We'll take care of it.
-It's not us, but we need to speak to Rene's mother about this.
-Isn't that the same thing?
It was an arrogant statement, but since Grandel had always been like this, Rudger just went along with it.
-By the way, Master has been wandering around a lot lately, seeing you back, is your work finished?
-Not yet.
-Not yet, is it? For you, that's taking quite long.
-What? Are you trying to embarrass your master? Sadly, your master, this vampire, is not so omnipotent. There are things I can't do, things I can't handle.
-Like cleaning or tidying up the house?
-Those are things I don't need to do. Don't I have a diligent child who does it for me?
-You don't consider my position at all.
It was about three hours later when Freuden regained consciousness.
-How dare you touch me!
As soon as Freuden opened his eyes, he threw a fit, remembering Rudger who had hit him.
Rudger looked at Freuden and clenched his fist again.
This tiny little one still hasn't come to his senses. So I need to help him come to his senses.
Perhaps sensing Rudger's gaze, Freuden shut his mouth tightly.
-At least you're quick to read the situation.
Rudger released the tension from his clenched fist.
Freuden glared at Rudger with a sulky face, then opened his pouting lips.
-Contact my family. I am the eldest son of the Ulburg family, Freuden Ulburg. If you safely escort me to my family, you will receive a great reward.
Though not as brazen as before, it was still a manner of speech that was difficult to shed its arrogance.
But judging by his mention of the Ulburg family, he was more than qualified to be so.
The problem was that not a single person in this place would acknowledge that family name.
-What an interesting name!
Rene said that and smiled brightly.
Freuden was stunned by such an unexpected reaction.
-In-interesting? The Ulburg family with our deep history and tradition?
-Yes! It's interesting!
-You've never heard of it?
-Hmm? It's my first time hearing it.
For Rene, who had been living quietly with her mother, news from the outside world was completely unheard of.
But even that fact was shocking to Freuden, who couldn't close his gaping mouth.
-Anyway, do you want to eat this?
Saying that, Rene held out a plate to Freuden.
It was leftover food from the dinner they had just finished.
Since Freuden had missed mealtime because he was unconscious, Rene had personally brought it for him.
-Why should I eat such food!
Freuden was about to say that he wouldn't even touch food that wasn't made by a famous chef, but stopped.
-Grumble.
Come to think of it, since being kidnapped, he hadn't eaten anything except water.
Even when the kidnappers tried to feed him, it was just mashed potatoes with salt but Freuden had adamantly refused because they had touched it with their dirty hands.
Compared to that lump that couldn't even be called a dish, the meat on the plate Rene held out looked quite tempting.
In the past, he wouldn't have given it a second glance, but now he was in no position to be picky due to his empty stomach.
-...Well, accepting such things is also a noble's duty.
-Oh my.
Rene's mother smiled delightedly looking at Freuden.
It was because she found it cute that despite appearing to be around Rene's age, there was a strangely adult-like quality about him.
-Hmm? What is this taste? Who made this dish? I should bring them to our family as a chef right away!
After eating a piece of meat, Freuden praised it enthusiastically with shining eyes.
Rene laughed seeing that.
-That's great! Brother! He says the meat is delicious!
-What?
Freuden looked at Rudger with an expression that said 'surely not'.
Rudger glanced at Freuden briefly, then curled up one corner of his mouth in a smirk.
It was a moment that revealed exactly who had made this meat.
-Grrr.
Freuden clenched his fist in frustration, yet couldn't stop eating the dish on the plate.
No matter how stubborn and arrogant a noble he was, it was difficult to resist meat dishes at such a young age when starving.
-This humiliation, I will repay it someday.
-Oh, okay. If that's the case, you'll need to practice cooking hard.
In this moment, Freuden made a resolve to make dishes delicious enough to put down that arrogant person's pride.
But since there was no suitable way at the moment, Freuden swallowed his anger and turned his attention elsewhere.
-You there. What's your name?
-Hmm? Me? I'm Rene. Hehe. And you?
-Hey! You! How old are you?
-Me? 7 years old!
-I'm 8 years old! I'm your big brother so speak politely.
-Wow! I got another big brother!
Rene jumped up and down in her seat, for some reason incredibly happy.
Freuden looked at Rene with a peculiar gaze.
Born into the Ulburg family, Freuden didn't see people as people.
Or more accurately, it was closer to being unable to see them that way.
The intentions of people approaching the future head of the Ulburg family were too obvious.
Either they were dark-hearted individuals hoping to gain a position someday by impressing him or those who envied and were jealous of his position, trying somehow to pull him down.
Freuden, being astute, had always been good at sensing such people's inner thoughts from a young age.
That's why Freuden always acted arrogantly.
The smiling masks of others would easily crack in the face of a young noble's immature behavior.
Freuden adhered to this attitude deliberately because he wanted to unmask the other person but Rene was different.
Everything from the family Freuden grew up in to the environment he had faced until now was nothing but shades of gray, a monochrome world where black and white things were mixed, so insipid.
In that world, Freuden encountered for the first time a colorful child like a vibrant flower petal.
Freuden felt entranced by Rene's appearance, showing pure genuineness without any sinister intentions.
-Let's play together!
Perhaps that was why.
Even though Rene took his hand in the middle of the night saying let's go sightseeing, he couldn't refuse and followed.
He didn't even notice Rudger getting up with a resigned look and following them.
Rene headed to a nearby forest with a small pond in the middle of the night with Freuden and Rudger.
Freuden saw beautiful lights twinkling there.
-Look! Pretty, isn't it? Hehe.
Flying fireflies beautifully illuminated the forest.
The light of the fireflies reflected on the pond, mixing with the starlight from the sky.
Rene's smiling face amidst the moonlight pouring through, appeared so sacred and beautiful in Freuden’s eyes.
-Thump.
A clueless child.
No, a boy who had to act that way because he was too smart.
That's how he came to know the emotion called love for the first time.
The wolf ran.
Treading the ground, riding the wind, much faster than a train.
'Ah.'
Freuden opened his closed eyes.
It had been a while since he had dreamed of the old days.
'To remember something from nearly 10 years ago so vividly.'
Waking from sleep, Freuden raised his head and realized that he was riding on the back of a wolf.
'Ah, that's right.'
Freuden was currently on the wolf's back, continuously moving.
The wolf leader was a being that was more than just remarkable.
Even though he had fallen into a deep sleep on its back, he felt no discomfort.
It was normal to feel nauseous or have difficulty staying conscious due to the wind pressure at such speed.
Even if he loosened his grip on the fur and spread his arms wide, he felt no vibration in his body.
It felt like becoming one with the wind itself.
-Tadat!
Despite the giant wolf running so fast, no one gave them a second glance.
Passing women, farmers harvesting wheat, drivers operating vehicles.
They just slightly closed their eyes and savored the passing breeze.
'This is the leader that has protected our family for a long time.'
The sacred wolf said to live only in the forest adjacent to the Ulburg family.
That wolf was carrying him on its back, heading toward the destination.
'But where exactly are we going?'
It was questionable whether this wolf knew exactly the location of what he was looking for, but judging by its unceasing steps, there must be something.
After running as if crossing the entire continent, the wolf leader stopped after they could see the horizon beyond that cliff.
"The sea?"
This was a coastal cliff.
The sound of waves coming from the front meant they had reached one end of the continent.
The wolf raised its head, sniffed, and then gazed beyond the sea.
"Don't tell me, Rene is beyond there?"
The wolf nodded as if to say yes.
Freuden’s expression hardened.
If she were somewhere on the continent, he would surely have been able to meet her.
But across the sea?
"Thank you for guiding me this far. You can go back now."
But he couldn't give up.
Freuden was thinking of finding a ship in a nearby village or city.
He tried to get off while thanking the leader, but the leader snorted and rejected Freuden’s proposal.
"What's wrong?"
As Freuden was puzzled, the leader began to surround its body with magical power.
Then, with Freuden on its back, it leaped off the cliff.
With a momentary thrilling sensation of floating, the cliff and the crashing waves quickly approached.
"Wait...!"
Just as Freuden was startled, the wolf lightly stepped on top of the waves with its four legs and ran quickly across the sea.
Looking closely, the leader's legs were not stepping on water, but on the wind between.
"...Amazing."
Who would have thought it could run across the sea?
But thanks to that, they were able to save time.
"Alright. It's shameless, but I'm counting on you."
The wolf let out a roar at those words and dashed across the sea.
Following the path where the wolf passed, a storm followed, creating massive water pillars one after another on the sea.