Chapter 350: The Last Order and a New Path

Before sending us far away under the command of the 11th Corps Commander, he spoke one last time.

“[You must survive.]”

These words, whispered to us who instinctively knew we would never meet again. That gentle curse became a dagger, piercing the hearts of the Lofty Knights and tightening the noose around our necks.

Even knowing the shock it would cause us, the captain callously left those words behind without hesitation. It was cruel, and while we couldn’t say we didn’t understand, we ultimately had to accept it… but how were we supposed to mend our shattered hearts?

‘Captain.’

From the start, we were those who had nothing left to lose, and we stayed to follow Deon Hart. We were a group of people who fought to die, clinging to our last shred of attachment.

‘Deon Hart.’

He was our last attachment.

The Eight Years’ War had ended, but we had no home to return to, losing all will to live. Then, a young man, barely an adult, caught our eyes. On the battlefield, he was strict and ruthless, yet he spared no means to save not only himself but also his subordinates. But outside of combat, he was clumsy, revealing his age, making us want to reach out to him—that childish figure was etched into our minds.

‘……Kid.’

That’s why we stayed, willingly following him even to the Demon Realm.

Having followed only you, looking solely to you, how could you just leave us with this curse and part ways forever? What are we supposed to do now?

“If you’re worried we’re doing this for money, you don’t have to pay us. We simply want to raise that child.”

We couldn’t die.

The captain wished for us to live and commanded us to. So, we must survive. And so, we put our heads together and thought.

“[When was the moment we lived most fiercely?]”

“[……When we fought with our lives on the line.]”

“[Then it’s decided what we should do to live on.]”

Mercenaries.

A profession where we could live most fiercely and die most easily.

For those who wished to die but had to strive to live, what profession could be more fitting? The Lofty Knights became the Lofty Mercenary Group.

However, there’s a limit to living by slapping the cheeks of comrades who were losing heart.

They were too old, mature adults who could do anything on their own. In a situation where they couldn’t gain the will to live from each other, just comforting each other to live out their remaining time wasn’t enough.

Honestly, looking at the faces of old, grizzled men, what will to live could possibly arise? Rather, wouldn’t you only think that maybe it’s okay if one of us is gone? It would be a relief if we didn’t end up in a group suicide.

People can’t live by the whip alone.

We needed joy in life.

“I won’t even try to overlap that child with my lost son. From the start, they are too different.”

Kleter gestured with his chin towards the child, now dangling in Milan’s arms.

That child doesn’t have white hair and red eyes. His skin isn’t pale to the point of being white, his eyes aren’t sharp, and he wasn’t an adult.

“I’ve just said what came to mind… if there’s anything else bothering you, feel free to speak up. I’ll listen.”

…….

Because he had always resided in the Imperial Palace and met only limited people, he was somewhat dull and naive about the harsh realities of the world. But that didn’t mean he lacked the eye to see people.

Rather, because palace people routinely wore masks like it was everyday life, their ability to see through people and discern lies was definitely honed. The old person, with the insight gained through experience and age, realized that the other party’s words were true.

He silently turned to look at the mercenaries who were soothing the crying child from some time ago.

“Shh, shh! You’ll get sick from crying too much! Be good, okay? Stop crying now!”

“If you cry too much, we’ll be in trouble, okay? So stop crying! Peek-a-boo!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Argh! My ears!”

“It’s because of your ugly face that he’s crying more! Get your mug out of here! Quick!”

A clumsy and ridiculous attitude, yet one that conveyed their best efforts.

Most children hate being treated like babies the most, and trying to soothe them by treating them like babies would only make them angrier and cry more… but they probably didn’t know that.

Watching them fluster, he slowly smiled.

“What is your name?”

“……Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Kleter, the vice-captain of the Lofty Mercenary Group. That guy holding the kid over there is Milan, the captain.”

He paused slightly at the name ‘Lofty’.

“……Is that so.”

The old person nodded.

He decided. In the current situation, it would be difficult to find a more suitable guardian than them anyway, and there weren’t really any other options.

With heavy steps, slowed by his weakening energy, he approached the child with difficulty. Lowering his posture, he met the gaze of the child, whom the man named Milan discreetly lowered, and spoke with boundless tenderness.

“Child, from now on, these people will take care of you.”

…….

“I told you before, right? Grandpa is sick and has to go on a long journey alone. You’ll be too bored and lonely to be alone during that time, so these people will be with you.”

“No….”

“Child…….”

“Noooo!!”

The child’s intuition was sharper than expected, making him realize he would never see Grandpa again, even though he didn’t properly understand death. The child desperately clung to Grandpa.

A voice mixed with sobs poured out.

“Why can’t I go with you? I want to go too… take me with you…….”

“Kid….”

“Don’t abandon me…!!”

Sniffle.

Perhaps it was just heightened sensitivity from old age, but the pathetic comrades who were watching the situation from the side dabbed at their tears.

They should be comforting the kid and reassuring him, what are they doing? Don’t they know that if the guardians cry, the child will become anxious? Kleter, glaring at them with a pathetic gaze, approached the child and slowly reached out his hand.

“……You’ve grown a lot.”

Contrary to his intention to smile brightly, a faint smile appeared.

Still, it seemed enough to draw the child’s attention. The child, who had been trying to nervously avoid his touch, widened his eyes and looked up at him.

“Do… you know me?”

“Of course. We met you even before your grandpa, you know?”

“……Really?”

“Yeah.”

His fingertips, slowly approaching, wiped away the tears that had soaked his cheeks. In response to the unexpectedly gentle and tender action, while the child blinked his eyes, the Lofty mercenaries jumped in as if sensing their chance.

“Don’t you remember us? Like, does anything feel familiar?”

“Umm…….”

“It’s a shame you don’t remember, but it can’t be helped. You can just call us uncles!”

“Un…cles?”

“Yeah, uncles! Will uncles lift you up high?”

Their chaotic antics seemed to work this time, as the child was soon being lifted high and laughing gleefully.

The adults seemed more excited than the child, their voices, raised with excitement, echoed loudly, cutting through the clear, ringing laughter. It was as if they had completely forgotten about the people in the mercenaries guild who were still watching with bated breath.

“Do you remember how loud his cries were? Our kid is going to make a big name for himself!”

“He’ll be smarter than anyone!”

“Won’t he be good at fighting too?”

“We can teach him that! We’ll make him able to beat anyone!”

“Shall we make him a mercenary king while we’re at it?”

“Ah, right. Come to think of it, I have a cube and a puzzle that I’ve kept. Will they help with brain development?”

It’s good that they’re lively and getting along well, but…….

Looking somewhat uneasy, the old person, who had been glancing at them while handing money to Kleter and conveying important information including the child’s name, made a subtle expression as he listened to the words being added one by one.

However.

‘……That’s enough. Saying anything more here would just be unnecessary interference.’

More importantly, could it really be true that they knew the child?

Now that he wasn’t the guardian, he turned his attention to other matters instead of commenting on their worrisome childcare policy that was evident in their nonsense.

“I’d like to ask about the part where you said you met the child before me, if that’s possible?”

“……Ah, that.”

Kleter scratched his head.

“It’s a lie. Just to reassure the kid.”

“……I see.”

Certainly, there was no falsehood in the attitude he showed when he said those words, but if he said so, then it must be so.

The old person nodded obediently without pressing further. As if about to leave, words to conclude the conversation followed.

“This child has never had a single minor illness so far. His skin is also unusually tough for a child, so he doesn’t get hurt easily, and even if he does, he recovers quickly. It’s to the point where I wonder if it’s a blessing bestowed by his parents who left due to unavoidable circumstances, so at least in this regard, he won’t cause any trouble. The child’s nature itself is also kind. So….”

…….

“Please, take good care of the child.”

……Kind nature, he says.

Kleter smirked as he openly watched them like he was monitoring them the entire time he was receiving money and information in preparation for when his comrades caused trouble.

“I should apologize in advance.”

“……Huh?”

“Sorry, but we’re going to raise that kid to be a very ill-mannered child. He probably won’t grow up to be the ideal good child that people commonly imagine.”

Seeing the earthquake in the old person’s pupils, my conscience pricked a little, but I had no intention of correcting my words.

From the moment we decided to raise the child, we never intended to raise him as a kind and well-behaved kid. Rather, it was the opposite.

This was something everyone had agreed on.

“That kid will grow up to prioritize his own life above all else in any situation.”

To become very brazen, so that rather than resenting himself, he would shift the blame to others. To survive even if it meant stepping on the corpses of others.

Everyone vowed to raise him that way.

“Ah…….”

The old person’s eyes widened.

Kleter silently turned his head. Just then, the voices of his comrades were heard from one side.

“Just kidding about what I said earlier, he just needs to grow up normally.”

“In this damn era, it would be great if he became strong enough to survive anywhere he’s thrown… but if he doesn’t want that, being ordinary is fine too. Because we’ll protect him.”

“Even when he becomes an adult, our attitude won’t change, so don’t worry. From big things like fighting to small things like organizing clothes, if there’s anything you can’t do, we’ll do it for you…….”

I just hope he grows up happily.

I hope he’s so happy that he doesn’t even need to pay attention to bad things like drugs.

The heartfelt words, whispered as if to someone unknown, echoed with a lump in my throat. Kleter quietly closed his eyes at the painful words that everyone who heard them felt.

…….

I think I know how they lost their ‘son’. In a situation where he couldn’t help but notice something, the old person turned his body away, feigning ignorance.

Just as he was about to leave without a word of farewell, he paused as if something came to mind and turned back to look at Kleter. After hesitating, a question was posed.

“I used to work in the Imperial Palace. That’s why I know the name ‘Lofty’, but….”

…….

“It’s dangerous, but is there a reason why you’re still using it?”

“……Because we had no choice.”

A bitter smile returned.

“Because that’s the only trace left of us.”

We know better than anyone how dangerous it is. We can’t not know, with gazes that seem to monitor us always following.

But ‘Lofty’ belongs to Deon Hart. Because it’s one of the few strings that connects him and us.

“Don’t worry. We’ll protect the kid even if we have to die. Nothing dangerous will happen.”

‘Lofty’ couldn’t abandon this name.

As if realizing something from his words and attitude, the old person’s eyes widened.

“……Could it be.”

That ‘son’ they lost…….

“Anyway, let’s stop here and go. If this goes on, the kid will notice and cling to us again.”

…….

The old person, silenced by the clear dismissal, quietly glanced back at the child once and then obediently left. Kleter, watching his back, approached the guys who were making a fuss in front of the kid.

“Why is it so noisy?”

“He can even walk now! Isn’t that amazing?”

“……It’s certainly amazing.”

It feels like just yesterday he was learning to walk.

“More importantly, now that we have a kid, what should we do? We can’t just take on dangerous missions recklessly.”

“Hmm… I guess we should mainly take on simple missions…?”

“Enough.”

He picked up the child.

“We’ve received money, so we don’t have to worry about living expenses for a while. Let’s just focus on childcare.”

“We’ll have some leisure for a while.”

“Ah, then how about we go there?”

“There?”