Time passed. Several months had gone by since the rumor spread that Kail Meyer had become a Master.
The second semester ended, and winter vacation arrived. Kail climbed aboard the carriage heading to the Duke Grace territory and gazed out the window.
‘It’s snowing.’
Even in the relatively warm vicinity of the Academy, located in the central part of the continent, if it was snowing here, he couldn’t even imagine how cold the North must be, where it snowed even in summer.
If it weren’t for the Grace territory, which could be considered his in-law’s place, he probably wouldn’t have even thought about visiting.
“It’s cold.”
Haa— Yuri exhaled her breath and muttered as she began drawing a magic circle on the carriage’s glass window.
Reacting to her magic power, the magic circle started heating up the inside of the carriage. Kail chuckled softly as he watched Yuri, now feeling the sudden warmth envelop the carriage.
“There’s no need for this.”
“…Should I stop?”
“No, I just meant there are other ways… we can get warm enough without doing this.”
As Kail spoke, he moved to sit beside Yuri. Realizing what Kail meant, Yuri blushed slightly but tried to maintain a poker face.
But that didn’t last long. After Kail’s lips cautiously covered hers, her attempts to keep a straight face ended.
Watching her expression melt like frost under the sun, Kail burst into a wide grin.
The carriage began to move. Yuri used magic to obscure the windows so no one outside could see in.
The interior of the carriage, now completely sealed off from the outside, started to gently rock as they set off.
* * *
Several months had passed since he had been begged to become a Master, yet no new Masters had emerged at the Academy.
That was the nature of being a Master. Even talented individuals with unwavering determination and effort couldn’t reach such heights.
A mere change in mindset wasn’t enough to achieve it.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
“…Yeah.”
Kail stepped out of the heated carriage and looked at the northern ducal castle with a sense of nostalgia.
Though only a few months had passed, for Kail, who experienced each day as if it were several times longer than normal, it felt like returning home after years.
Perhaps because this time he hadn’t come unannounced or to kidnap Yuri, the soldiers of Duke Northern warmly welcomed both Kail and Yuri.
“Welcome! My lady!”
““Welcome!””
Amidst the grand welcome, Kail entered the ducal castle and froze upon seeing the Duchess descending slowly from the entrance.
Despite her age, her enormous assets—no, chest—seemed to walk down on their own.
Remembering how she had previously opposed him even setting foot in the castle—Kail looked at his mother-in-law with a slightly trembling heart.
Duchess Adeline Grace cautiously unfolded her fan as she greeted Kail and Yuri.
“—Kail Meyer?”
“Yes, yes. It’s been a while, Duchess.”
“Come closer.”
With a trembling heart, more so than when he had come to kidnap Yuri, Kail approached the Duchess, half-expecting a slap across the face as he slowly raised his head.
But instead of a sharp slap, what greeted him was a soft bosom. A large, soft bosom reminiscent of Yuri’s growth phase.
Caught in a daze, inhaling what seemed to be the sweet scent of motherly milk, Kail belatedly tried to escape from the Duchess’s embrace.
“Our son-in-law, I was quite rude last time. I’m sorry. You didn’t take it to heart, did you?”
“Uh, no?”
“Have fun today. Though there’s not much to see in the North.”
Ohohoho, watching the noble laughter of the Duchess, Kail wondered if this was really the same woman who had glared at him with axe-like eyes during his previous visit.
Hadn’t she fiercely opposed him coming here last time?
Recalling what Yuri had told him, he glanced at her, only to find her glaring at him with an unsatisfied pout.
“Mother, I’ll go greet Father.”
“Oh my, yes. Go ahead, Yuri.”
“Excuse us.”
Without further explanation, Yuri grabbed Kail and left the scene. She led him silently up the stairs of the ducal castle until they were out of sight, then stopped in an empty hallway and turned to face Kail.
“So, did you enjoy that?”
“—Huh?”
“Can’t keep your mind off women, huh? Now you’re even eyeing married women’s chests?”
Struggling to understand Yuri’s words, Kail soon realized what she meant.
She was jealous that he had buried his face in her mother’s chest. Acting as though it were true, she added:
“My chest is fresher. I’m younger, and mine will grow bigger.”
“…I wasn’t looking.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true.”
“If you admit it was a lie, I’ll let you do the same thing.”
“Your mom’s got it going on.”
Needless to say, the promise wasn’t kept. Yuri slapped Kail’s cheek and stormed off toward the Duke’s office.
Kail clutched his stinging cheek and followed her.
“Welcome ba— young man, who hit you?”
“It’s nothing.”
The Duke, meeting him after so long, eyed Kail’s reddened cheek with suspicion.
But Kail couldn’t say anything. Absolutely nothing.
* * *
“Are you and Yuri getting along well?”
“Yes, we are, Your Grace.”
The Duke, or rather, his father-in-law, received Kail’s polite response. Considering Kail’s past behavior, this was an unbelievable change.
It showed how much Kail had matured. After months of continuous meditation and Aura training, he had achieved a level of mental growth that would put most meditation experts to shame. In that sense, it was only natural.
However, that was from Kail’s perspective. The Duke, remembering the disrespectful Kail who used to speak casually and act arrogantly, looked at him incredulously.
“…Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine.”
“I can’t believe it. That reckless brat…”
The Duke fell into reminiscence, recalling Kail’s behavior as an Expert and their first meeting at the Meyer territory. Watching the Duke, Kail began to smile.
He could easily guess what the Duke was thinking. He was surely recalling the old Kail. Now, it was something Kail could chuckle about—how things had changed.
Seeing how relaxed Kail had become, the Duke realized something significant had shifted within him and began to wonder what could have caused such a transformation.
“No matter how fast young people grow… you’ve truly become dazzling.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“I mean it. —Now, even if the two of you get married, I can happily give my blessing.”
“So, does that mean you opposed it before?”
“Yes, I did.”
Hahahaha, exchanging jokes and casual talk, Kail suddenly heard a loud rumble—Kuuung!—and turned to look out the window.
Unfazed, the Duke continued sipping his tea. Kail asked,
“What was that?”
“An attack. Don’t worry too much. It happens all the time.”
“All the time? That was quite a big tremor.”
“Still, it’s just barbarians thrashing about.”
Then Kail remembered why the Great Wall had been built. To fend off the barbarian tribes living beyond the frozen North—a warrior race that constantly produced Masters and fighters of similar strength.
He had thought things had settled down after killing their great warrior, Chantalka, a few months ago, but it seemed they couldn’t hold back and were testing the waters again.
“Anyway, without a Master, they can’t break through the Great Wall, right?”
“Even with one, it’s tough. Chantalka was stronger than me, but even he couldn’t cross this wall.”
Unlike an Aura Master, who could produce similar combat power anywhere with just a weapon and their body, a Sorcerer’s strength depended on preparation and location—they could unleash greater power or fail to perform at their usual level.
And the Great Wall, where these Sorcerers nested, had become like the Duke’s limbs. In such a defensive fortress, even an Aura Master would struggle to exert their full strength.
Thus, even if a new Master emerged among the barbarians, they wouldn’t be able to overcome the Duke and breach the wall.
“Well, unless two or three Masters suddenly appear.”
“Oh, about that…”
“What’s wrong?”
Hearing the Duke’s words, Kail looked at him with a slightly serious expression. Whenever someone said something like that, it usually came true.
Kuuung!
Another tremor shook the castle, but the Duke calmly continued drinking his tea.
A sense of foreboding lingered over the situation.
Kail stood up.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just going to check the wall for a moment.”
“What for? I said you don’t need to bother.”
“Just in case.”
Exiting the office and heading to the top of the Great Wall, Kail spotted spears flying in from afar. Someone at an unseen distance was continuously throwing spears, just as he once had.
Feeling the Aura imbued in those spears, Kail smirked and summoned his own Aura.
“Damn that Duke.”
Why did he have to go and trigger a flag like that?
As Kail muttered, a spear flew in from afar, breaking through the barrier of the Great Wall and embedding itself in the castle walls.
Kwaaaang!
After the massive vibration and noise, soldiers began ringing bells frantically.
With the tolling of the bells, the soldiers swiftly switched to battle readiness.
War was about to begin.
