“Anyway, I have exploits of my own that I have accomplished so far… Father wouldn’t decide the successor based on just this assignment.”
Ryan, who had been fiddling with his chin, compared his own exploits to Riley’s. Ryan looked at Lloyd and asked,
“Lloyd, what are you thinking so hard about?”
“… Pardon?”
Having heard the voice, Lloyd woke up from his useless thoughts. With somehow vacant look on his face, Lloyd answered.
“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s just…”
“You don’t need to worry so much. Father’s assignment is the kind that I’m already well versed in.”
Based on the vacant look on Lloyd’s face, Ryan thought his younger brother must be concerned about the competition. Ryan smiled and told Lloyd that he didn’t need to worry.
“Ha, haha! That’s right, right?”
In fact, the assignment that Stein gave to the sons was the kind that Ryan had been actively working on a lot before Riley received the medal of honor.
“Still, I can’t let my guard down. There must be a reason why father said he will conduct the competition ‘fairly.’”
Ryan supported his head with his hand and thought about the old butler who was looking after Riley.
“Ian will be a big obstacle.”
Ian was the former Mercenary Hero.
Now, he was Riley’s butler.
Ian was certainly going to be a big advantage to Riley in this assignment.
That was because Ian was definitely more experienced in this kind of work than Ryan.
“I… see.”
Ryan was organizing his plan in his head. Having heard Lloyd’s downed voice, Ryan looked at Lloyd and asked,
“Lloyd, is there something else you are worried about?”
“…”
“Lloyd?”
“Ah, yes?”
“You are not acting like your usual self. You are slow in responses. Tell me. What are you worried about?”
Lloyd was avoiding eye contact and had been fiddling with his fingers. Having heard his brother’s concerned voice, Lloyd carefully said,
“That is… It’s about our mother.”
Lloyd looked vacant somehow. He said while looking like that. Lloyd continued.
“Big Brother. If you win the successorship, then really… will you be bringing our mother back?”
“…?”
Having heard the question, Ryan vacantly blinked.
“Why are you asking about something so obvious? Seasons may have changed, but I still remember her face clearly… Do you think I would abandon our mother?”
“…”
“Haha. You were worried about that. I have forgotten that you are a devoted son to our mother.”
Ryan smiled refreshingly, patted Lloyd on the head, and said he didn’t need to worry.
“Big Brother, really…”
“That’s right! Trust me.”
Ryan patted Lloyd’s head to say Lloyd can trust him. Feeling his patting, Lloyd slowly lowered his gaze and fell to thoughts with a blank look on his face.
* * *
It was middle of autumn.
Riley headed out from the mansion. Just like how Nara was, he lie down on the top of the carriage and looked up the autumn sky.
“We are currently headed to a small village with less than 100 people living there. Just think of it as a village half the size of Iffa Village.”
“Hm.”
“The village is called Alieve. It’s surrounded by big forests… I heard there had been suspicious orc activities nearby. We are going there to stop those orcs.”
“Um.”
“Young Master, are you listening?”
Ian, who was driving the carriage, broke cold sweat and asked. Riley, as if he was listening, said in stretched out voice,
“Yes, I was listening.”
“What is the name of the village?”
“…”
Riley paused for a moment. Riley responded with a voice to act as much as possible to look like he was not fazed by it.