The two brothers entered the inn room. Yuric, having hastily unpacked his luggage, sat down at the table beside his older brother Luke.
“Yesterday I visited our hometown. I also heard roughly what’s been going on from Yeri.”
“How’s Yeri doing? And has the little one grown well?”
“Yes, they’re both doing fine. I heard Yeri married Dike not long ago.”
At this, Luke smiled with relief.
“That’s good. Dike is truly a fine man.”
“That’s right.”
Soon after, the innkeeper’s daughter arrived carrying two plates of food. As she set them down, she glanced briefly at Yuric before saying “Enjoy your meal” and leaving the room.
“How have you been all this time?”
“Well, I’ve been getting by doing various things.”
While Luke momentarily turned his gaze to the plate of food, Yuric looked at his brother’s face and body with a concerned expression.
Just from the state of his brother’s appearance, it was clear how much hardship he had endured while living on his own. The younger brother felt a lump in his throat.
“Yuric, how about you? How are you doing? Did you learn magic well?”
“…Yes, I learned well. I’m a mage now. I’ve become independent.”
“Really? That’s impressive! Truly, I knew you could do it. Haha!”
Luke sincerely rejoiced as if it were his own achievement that his younger brother had returned as a mage.
“I’ve also drawn many pictures. Though I haven’t traveled around the whole world yet, I’ve drawn a lot of where I lived, including my master and my fellow students.”
Yuric quickly rushed to the sack and pulled out numerous pieces of paper filled with drawings. Handing them to Luke, the latter carefully examined each one with a warm gaze.
What a wonderful place, surrounded by such wonderful people, you’ve grown up so well—Luke’s eyes welled up. Trying not to cry, tears nonetheless streamed down like chicken droppings.
How desperately must this kind-hearted younger brother have wanted to show these to his brother?
“Thank you, Yuric. Truly… wasn’t learning magic very difficult for you?”
“No, it was really enjoyable. Magic was as interesting as drawing.”
“In that case, I’m truly relieved. I worried whether I had sent you somewhere too harsh. I’ve heard there are some eccentric mages.”
“The place where I studied was nothing like that. Everyone treated me with so much love and care—it was more than I deserved.”
Then Yuric pulled something else out of the sack and handed it to Luke.
It was the sculpture Luke had secretly placed in Yuric’s bag long ago. Polished smooth from years of handling, it depicted the three siblings sitting side by side—a wooden carving.
“Now, I think it’s better if you keep this.”
That happy childhood.
Luke took it and fondly stroked it for a long time with a gentle smile.
“…I’d forgotten about it. Thank you, Yuric.”
“It’s me who should thank you, Brother. If you hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have become who I am today. It’s because of you that I became this way.”
Yuric embraced Luke’s shoulder.
“Let’s go together. From now on, I’ll take care of you.”
“Yuric…”
Luke patted Yuric’s back gently, just as he used to when they were children. In that warmth and kindness, Yuric felt as though he were being held by their parents.
“It’s alright. I’ll stay here.”
“What do you mean? Why…? Are you staying here because of your leg? If that’s the reason, it’s really no problem. We can just move slowly. It’s nothing. And I’ve even brought medicine to help with the pain.”
At the younger brother’s concern and kindness, the elder brother shook his head slowly with a warm smile.
“No… it’s not because of that.”
“Then why?”
Luke’s gaze drifted toward the distance.
“There are children here who need my care. If I leave, they will suffer greatly. Some might even die.”
At that moment, Yuric couldn’t find any words to say.
Your heart is truly grateful, Yuric. But I must stay here.
For a long time, the younger brother hung his head low. However, he eventually lifted it again with a smile.
Yuric knows his brother’s character too well. There’s no way Brother would leave those children behind.
“Well… I understand. If that’s what you wish.”
Luke firmly gripped Yuric’s shoulder, as if passing on his hopes and determination.
“In that case, please travel around the world and draw more pictures for me. That alone would be enough for me. Meet good people, learn more magic, and grow into a greater person. That’s all I need. That’s more than enough for me.”
“…Alright, I will. I promise. Let’s continue eating. The food’s getting cold.”
But the food was already mostly cold. Still, they ate it with relish.
After finishing their meal, Yuric handed over a leather pouch he had intended to give to Luke.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
Inside was a pile of coins—not just silver but nearly half of them gold.
!
Seeing the amount, Luke was struck with shock. The sum was far too large. He was well aware that too much money could invite misfortune.
“I can’t accept this, Yuric. This isn’t money I deserve.”
“This is your share. Please take it.”
“No, Yuric. Sorry, but I don’t have the strength to protect this kind of money. Look at my condition.”
“Well then, Brother, what should I do? I want to help you. If I do, I feel like I could leave with less regret.”
Luke deeply bowed his head in thought and, after some time, spoke.
“In that case… could you help me find work?”
“Of course. What kind of work?”
“If possible, I’d like to open a shop. I want to earn my own living while helping the kids.”
It was a good idea. Yuric also believed it would be better to lay a foundation for him to live independently rather than simply handing over such a large sum. As Brother said, too much money could easily bring trouble.
“That’s an excellent plan. Let’s do it. I’ll help.”
Luke said that a stable big enough for two or three horses would suffice. He planned to use the knowledge he’d gained from taking care of horses at the inn to make a living.
“There are quite a few caravans traveling between the central and southern regions. The inn’s stables alone aren’t enough to accommodate all the livestock.”
Having observed and listened closely during the years he managed the inn’s horses, Luke quickly identified what the market needed.
“I understand. I’ll look into it.”
Thus, starting the next day, Yuric scoured the entire city. The rent in the central area was prohibitively expensive even with the money he had, but moving toward the outskirts revealed several vacant spaces.
Of course, it seemed others had also considered opening stables dedicated to horse care in the outskirts, but upon speaking with the owners, they explained that the earnings didn’t justify the hard work, and most ended up closing their businesses quickly.
– You need an inn nearby to combine food services and human traffic to make decent profits; otherwise, it barely covers basic survival.
However, Luke appeared satisfied with just that level of income.
“I don’t expect to make a fortune anyway. Yuric, I have no capital or connections. Any other business would likely end up the same. As long as I can eat without starving and sleep peacefully, that’s enough for me.”
Understanding Luke’s perspective, Yuric eventually acquired a stable that someone else had been planning to close. It was spacious enough to house eight horses and even included a small bedroom adjacent, making it convenient for living and working.
Luke seemed deeply moved to finally have a place of his own.
“Thank you, Yuric. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m the one who should be thanking you, Brother.”
The two brothers embraced warmly in front of their first shop.
Contrary to their expectations, however, the shop unexpectedly thrived.
– Uncle, that place is great!
– They take the best care of the horses there!
The children Luke had helped guided caravans to his new stable. If there wasn’t enough space, they directed them to neighboring shops.
The kindness Luke extended returned to him.
– Kids, let’s eat!
And Luke, in turn, shared the rewards he received with everyone.
Yuric watched his brother laugh and interact with the children, smiling contentedly.
He drew that scene. As beautifully as possible.
*
With Luke now seemingly well-established, Yuric began preparing to leave.
“You’ll be leaving soon, huh.”
“Yeah, it’s time for me to go.”
“I liked your magic, as did the kids… I’ll miss you a lot.”
Of course, Yuric was also saddened to part ways with Luke, but it was time to go.
“I’ll return with more stories and drawings, Brother.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
With much to think about, Yuric bid farewell to Luke and quietly walked along the plaza road alone.
The sunset painted the cobblestone streets red, bustling with pedestrians heading somewhere.
Where should I go now?
He thought. Not as Yuric the younger brother, but as Mage Yuric.
Approaching the statue of the hero erected in the center of the square, the mage stood still.
As he gazed up at the statue, someone approached him quietly.
There were two men. Their attire was ordinary, but their eyes and stature were unmistakably different.
“Are you Mage Yuric?”
Since he had already demonstrated his magic in various places, it wasn’t exactly a secret that he was a mage.
“…Who are you?”
The mage’s face grew serious.
“We are from the Iron Cross Knights.”
Iron Cross Knights.
Yuric remembered that they were the knights of the Baron’s Estate.
“What brings the knights here…?”
“There is someone who wishes to meet you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Will you come with us?”
“Before that, may I know who this person is?”
The man pointed toward the Baron’s Estate located in the center of the city.
“The most noble person in this city.”
‘The most noble person in Grozia…’
The owner of the city of Grozia and the Baron’s Estate.
Baron Rebek.
He had summoned Mage Yuric.
