Seeing the children finally together like real siblings, Bali Saihe didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I knew Brother Luo Yi couldn’t bear to leave me!”
Asuna was a head shorter than Luo Yi. She clung to the red-haired boy’s arm and wouldn’t let go, like a piece of sticky candy.
Asuna’s face couldn’t hide her brilliant smile.
Luo Yi remained silent.
He would indeed treat Asuna well—because she was his master’s granddaughter.
But deep down, could he truly protect her?
‘The girl on my mind is someone else. The girl from House Linde, the one who once fought alongside me and killed the Manticore.’
“If only you’d worry me a little less in the future,” Luo Yi said, pinching his little sister Asuna’s cheek.
“Just cause less trouble…”
“I will, I will,” Asuna retorted, puffing out her cheeks.
“I used to be a devout novice sister and priest, you know!”
Huh?
Luo Yi didn’t understand.
But the blonde, blue-eyed girl simply reached out her hand, and he understood.
A faint warmth covered Luo Yi’s face.
“This is…”
Luo Yi looked confused—then quickly understood.
This girl Asuna felt sorry for the scar on his face.
So she cast a healing spell, using divine magic to soothe Luo Yi’s wound…
Don’t forget, Ke Lun, the leader of the Shadow Thieves’ Guild, had used the art of a Dark Master, attempting a surprise attack on Luo Yi under the cover of shadows.
Though Luo Yi eventually defeated Ke Lun under Bali Saihe’s instruction, a knife scar remained on his face.
It wasn’t pretty, but Luo Yi didn’t care much—a scar is a warrior’s badge of honor!
But Asuna cared.
She believed that no one in the world cherished Brother Luo Yi more than she did.
“No need, no need, Asuna…”
Luo Yi said, grabbing her little hand.
It was cool, soft, smooth, and dainty.
The only flaw with that little hand was that it was a bit dirty—after all, Asuna wasn’t Lady Xue La.
Luo Yi blushed.
In his heart, there should only be one person.
Xue La Linde, that kind girl.
But Asuna…
“I’m your big brother, so saving you was only right,” Luo Yi argued, but his voice was weak.
Clearly, he lacked conviction.
Asuna gave a light snort.
“You just have someone else in your heart. Even if you don’t say it, I understand…”
What?!!!
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“I’m just guessing,” Asuna said, sticking out her tongue.
“A girl’s intuition is always right.”
Damn it, this golden-haired little fox remembered everything about him clearly—at first, Luo Yi had only casually mentioned saving Lady Xue La of House Linde from being eaten by a Manticore.
But Asuna had managed to read between the lines.
This girl…
“Alright, stop bothering Luo Yi. We owe him…”
Bali Saihe spoke up, stopping his granddaughter’s mischief.
“Your body is weak, and you don’t have many chances to use divine magic. Plus, you’ve suffered a lot following me all these years—skinny and frail…”
The old man turned to Luo Yi.
“So what exactly did you feed Asuna back then that could save her life…”
Luo Yi told him the truth.
It was Lady Xue La Linde’s homemade Manticore sausage… supposedly from some legendary recipe of Emius.
Luo Yi didn’t understand.
Bali Saihe understood a bit.
“So that means… Xue La Linde is no ordinary person either…”
Bali Saihe recalled those recipes.
“When I was young, I served as a Brave for a time and knew about these things. But later I chose to become the kingdom’s general, and a unified army needs reliable supplies, not flashy effects.”
The old man freely admitted the effect of the Manticore sausage. The recipes left by ancient sages could indeed turn the tide in critical moments.
But a large army couldn’t rely on such intangible things; they needed a more dependable supply transport system…
So in the years that followed, Bali Saihe stopped dabbling in such uninteresting matters.
Luo Yi then asked about Asuna.
She could use divine magic! That was a delicate ability only nuns and priests could master. Why…
Bali Saihe shrugged.
“Because Asuna is no ordinary girl—we’ll talk about that later. For now, you just need to know that the Moon Goddess Lu’anna has granted Asuna some very powerful abilities, though she hasn’t fully used them yet… During this time, I want you to protect Asuna.”
“Don’t worry.”
Luo Yi’s voice carried a tone of absolute certainty.
“I will always see Asuna as my little sister.”
He didn’t see the displeasure on Asuna’s face.
“Our next plan is to leave Grinno City, this place of trouble, and head to Maisonlogi… I didn’t want to do this, but the Shadow Thieves’ situation exceeded my expectations. Asuna needs a period of rest.”
Bali Saihe explained his subsequent thoughts.
“Besides, winter is almost here. We’d better find a suitable wintering base, and churches or monasteries are the best choice.”
What Bali Saihe didn’t say was that he should have done this from the start. But out of pride, he had chosen to beg on the streets, measuring every inch of the Kingdom of Norsenia on foot.
It was just a pity for Asuna; she should never have had to live like this.
“Along the way, I’ll begin teaching you about Ether,” the old man said slowly.
“While the theory of Ether is primarily the focus of mages, the best warriors should also understand how the basic principles of mana relate to Etheric elements…”
Bali Saihe snapped his fingers, and a few flames immediately flickered on his fingertips.
“A Brave is a representative of both wisdom and courage, a master of sword and magic. Anyone who doesn’t understand that doesn’t deserve to be called an excellent Brave and dishonors the name of all past Braves.”
Luo Yi’s eyes lit up.
This was what a legendary Brave should do.
“Master, you really are the strongest of all the Braves through the ages.”
Bali Saihe shook his head.
“No, you are—or rather, I will train you to be the strongest.”
The old man stepped closer to Luo Yi and patted his head.
“Remember—never make the same mistakes I did.”
“Before, I never told you why my eyes are hollow, or why Asuna and I had to beg. I think it’s time to answer those questions.”
Luo Yi nodded, but first stated his stance.
“No matter what difficulties you faced, Master, I will stand by you. The Shadow Thieves tried to kidnap Asuna… I think there’s something deeper going on, but I’m willing to see it through.”
“Because—”
The red-haired boy’s gray eyes looked like those of a wolf, but at this moment they were kinder than anyone else’s.
“I never believed that a dedicated general who served his country would end up like this in his old age…”
“Master, once I become a Brave, I will take good care of you and Asuna…”
Bali Saihe’s withered lips trembled, then returned to normal.
He told his story—and the sorrow in his heart—
Completely, utterly.
On the Patagonia Continent, there were Four Kingdoms. To resist the Demon Race’s invasions over the past hundred years, they had formed an alliance, jointly trying to hold back the monsters emerging from the Southern Ice Sea.
Naturally, the Northern Kingdom of Norsenia, with the largest territory, became the alliance’s biggest financier, providing the most supplies and troops.
The Western Kingdom of Vistania, on the continent’s west coast with many fjord ports, utilized its people’s skills as sailors to contribute the most convenient fleet.
The Eastern Kingdom of Istania, with its dry, hot climate, used its vast grasslands and abundance of fine horses to supply cavalry and assault troops no less formidable than Norsenia’s.
The Southern Kingdom of Sothnia, the coldest and most desolate, stood on the front lines. Its infantry were steadfast, its knights devout, and fighting on home ground, its fame spread far.
The Four Kingdoms’ allied forces should have driven the Demon Race completely back into the distant, cold sea. The General and Shield of the Kingdom, Bali Saihe, should have worked closely forever with the Crown Prince, the Sword of the Kingdom, to finally resolve the crisis posed by the Demon Race.
But in that decisive battle, they failed utterly.
The old man didn’t want to recall too many details. The army was slaughtered by the Demon Race, and even he barely escaped with his life—Luo Yi’s father and grandfather had risked their lives to save him and his soldiers…
But the greatest crisis was that the heir to Norsenia, the Sword of the Kingdom, the Crown Prince…
Had gone missing.
And so a backlash began in the court. Bali Saihe fell from a brilliant general’s life to a beggar on the streets…
How could there not be resentment in his heart?
To train Luo Yi into a righteous Brave, so everyone would know that Bali Saihe was not some senile old man.
For that, he would teach Luo Yi many things.
He must never let Luo Yi repeat Bali Saihe’s mistakes—becoming a hero at the end of his road, a terrible Brave.
Such a thing must never happen again.
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