The House of Marquise Weybril belonged to the capital nobility.

Not some clumsy influential family that had once happened to be included in the capital, but true "capital aristocrats."

"So I think it would be better to tell the Weybril house about our situation and arrange in advance that we can ask them for help if we ever find ourselves in danger. What do you think?"

Tie agreed with Nordix’s opinion.

Because that truly would be safer for her.

And most importantly—Ruler Marianne would likely not refuse Tie’s request.

Because even before speaking with Nordix, it was Marianne who had come to Tie first.

"Is there anything Agavert needs right now? If there is something, I would like to help."

"L, Lady r-r-r... ruler...?"

"Yes. You saved my sons. Something no one else dared to do. So if there is anything at all I can do to help—please tell me."

At the time, Tie said nothing came to mind and sent Marianne back.

But after speaking with Nordix, she understood.

What exactly she needed to ask Marianne for.

And that very night, Tie resolutely went alone to Marianne’s office.

"L, Lady r-r-r... ruler! Actually, Tie is not a super-strong King of the Dead!"

Marianne looked bewildered.

"Actually, Tie is a child... and I am looking for Father."

But after listening to everything to the end, she was first greatly surprised, and then immediately serious.

"To my ears, this entire situation sounds quite dangerous. How many people know about this?"

"Mm... Uncle Basto, Bale oppa, Grandpa Nordix, Raul oppa, Enzo oppa... and Lady Ruler... probably?"

Marianne was only able to calm down after hearing that Tie had placed a conditional memory erasure spell on everyone.

After that, she firmly took Tie’s hand and said,

"All right. I will support the squad leader as much as I can. However, it would be better to do so from behind the scenes, so as not to attract attention."

"Really...?"

"From the moment Raul and Enzo chose the squad leader, we were already as if in the same boat. From this day forward, I will consider the squad leader my child—as I do them."

Hearing that, Tie suddenly remembered the people from the Gold Apartments.

More precisely—the grandmother from unit 107 and the auntie from 203.

They had also always said that Tie was almost like their own child, almost like family.

Something trembled in Tie’s chest, and her eyes filled with tears.

Marianne held Tie tightly and gently patted her back.

"Squad leader... no, Tie, you are doing well. And things will continue to go well, so do not worry."

"Hic... hic..."

"It must have been hard for you, right?"

"Yesss... Tie walked all the way to Pearlcity, and my tummy was hungry, and my legs hurt... and when we were catching sea Magical Beasts, Tie was a little scared too..."

"Oh my. Then the first thing we must do is find a sturdy carriage."

Saying that, Marianne even asked Tie about her father.

When she heard the name Kim Yeonsu, she tilted her head slightly.

But in the end, at Marianne’s request, Tie activated the Cleansing of Oblivion.

"I knew Raul and Enzo would one day take up the sword again. They resemble their father more than they resemble me."

Before Tie left the office, Marianne held her hand firmly and said,

"That is why I had long prepared myself for the day I ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) would have to send them back onto the battlefield... but even so, I was anxious."

"..."

"So I am glad they chose Tie and Agavert."

There was sincerity visible in Marianne’s eyes.

"You took on what no one else wished to handle. I am relieved that the place my children have entered seems safe and warm."

At that moment, Tie felt something in her heart she had never experienced before.

It was responsibility.

"Tie will definitely take good care of Raul oppa and Enzo oppa."

"Really?"

"Yes! Tie will try hard so oppas do not get hurt!"

That day.

After returning to her bedroom, Tie lay for a long time staring at the ceiling.

"So this is what it means to be squad leader..."

She had taken the role accidentally, simply to hide her true identity.

But now, as squad leader, Tie felt a strange and special feeling.

"...I want to become stronger."

She already possessed great power.

But she still did not know how to use it properly.

"If only Tie had a teacher who also knows how to use magic."

Then she could learn to control that power and use it better.

Tie got up and looked out the window bathed in moonlight.

"If only there were no Magic Stones in this world at all..."

Then Basto’s wife and daughter, and Ruler Marianne’s husband would not have died to Magical Beasts.

"And Father too..."

Suddenly, a memory from a past dream surfaced in her mind.

Father holding baby Tie tightly in his arms while standing amid swarming Magical Beasts.

Father’s eyes filled with worry and concern.

'Maybe Father really fought Magical Beasts and then ended up in the Republic of Korea?'

If that was the case, then all of Father’s suffering in the Republic of Korea, and the fact that he suddenly died...

And even that now he does not recognize Tie—

All of it was because of the Magic Stones.

Tie clenched her fists tightly.

'If Tie becomes stronger...'

She would be able to protect future Father from such danger.

And protect Raul and Enzo.

And Basto, Nordix, and Bale.

Tie opened her bag and tightly gripped the stone in which Kkamani was sleeping.

After that she tried to fall asleep, but lay awake the entire night with her eyes open.

Because her thoughts kept chaining one after another and would not let her rest.

And so Tie and Agavert carefully loaded their belongings into the sturdy carriage Marianne had given them.

"You said you are heading to the Popullos weapons district?"

At Marianne’s question, Raul and Enzo nodded.

Agavert’s next destination was the Popullos weapons district.

They planned to stop there to repair Basto’s warhammer, whose durability had already decreased.

"Since we will be there, I want to order a new sword."

Hearing Raul’s words, Marianne smiled faintly.

She fell silent for a moment, then entered the management building.

Soon she returned, holding something in her hands.

The moment Raul saw the object, his eyes widened.

"...Mother?"

"It is your father’s sword."

Basto and Bale, who were loading the belongings, turned toward them.

Tie, sitting on the carriage, also looked at Marianne and the twins.

"It has grown quite dull. Probably after his last battle."

"..."

"Now repair it and carry it with you."

Raul stood frozen, astonishment written across his face.

Enzo, standing beside him, lightly nudged him and said casually,

"What are you doing? Take it quickly. Mother’s arm will get tired."

Only then did Raul come to his senses and take the sword.

But almost immediately, he looked at Marianne as if unable to accept it.

"Mother. But still, this..."

"You are left-handed, just like your father. There is no reason you cannot use this sword."

"..."

"And your father would hardly have wanted the sword meant to carry on his will to simply gather dust in a display case."

Raul finally fell silent.

After a while, he nodded quietly, and from afar Bale waved his hand, signaling it was time.

"Time to go!"

Enzo hugged Marianne tightly one last time and turned away.

Raul, holding the sword, followed after him, his eyes reddened.

"Lady Ruler! We will return!"

When everyone had finally boarded the carriage, Tie waved happily.

Marianne smiled back at her.

The horses began to move.

Marianne held back her tears and watched the carriage recede into the distance.

She was sad.

But unlike before, she no longer felt fear or anxiety.

She took a deep breath, then turned and entered the management building.

And as soon as she sat at her desk, she immediately began writing a letter.

[I need to confirm something.

I am searching for a holy knight who is currently or was once renowned or accomplished great feats.

He is said to have black hair and eyes in which green and brown are mixed, and his personality is very serious and quiet.

His name is somewhat unusual, so I believe it will be easier to find him.

Please find out whether anyone in the capital knows of a holy knight named Kim Yeonsu.]

After finishing the letter, Marianne wrote in the recipient line:

"Walker Weybril."

Her mother.

The current head of the House of Weybril.

And one of the five greatest magnates of the Empire.

The current Marquise Weybril.