Chapter 410

Words : 2213 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Despite coming out early, the area outside the fog barrier was bustling with people. While some people, like Rudger, wanted to return early, outsiders had also gathered after hearing the news. The gathered people naturally came by coachmen’s carriages, and the coachmen, knowing this was the last day, were waiting to receive customers. People were happily reuniting here and there. “Samuel!” “Mother!” Just as a familiar name was heard, a mother and son were seen having a tearful reunion. ‘So he survived until the end after all.’ Rudger watched the scene briefly before smirking and boarding the carriage he had arranged in advance. It was clear that staying here longer would only lead to troublesome situations. Just looking at the journalists scattered around was enough to tell. Arpa also sat in the seat opposite Rudger after loading the luggage. Just as Rudger was about to close the door, he saw someone running towards them from afar. “Mr. Rudgeeeeer!!” The person calling out desperately, and somewhat angrily, was none other than Roina Pavlini. Unlike her usual self, she was running hard towards Rudger without caring about the stares around her. “Oh? It’s Ms. Roina.” “Coachman, I’d appreciate it if we could depart quickly.” Rudger ignored Arpa’s words and urged the coachman. The coachman, being someone who worked according to payment, coolly nodded and grabbed the reins. -Hyah! A phantom horse made of magical power appeared in front of the carriage and quickly pulled them away from the scene. “Mr. Rudger! Stop right there!” Roina chased after them, but there was no way she could catch up when her body was weaker than an ordinary person’s unless enhanced with magical power. In the end, Roina could only watch Rudger’s carriage disappear like a dog that had failed to catch a chicken. “I’m going to complain to Theon later!” Only that empty cry barely reached the carriage. “That was a close call.” After checking behind them, Rudger relaxed his shoulders upon confirming that Roina wasn’t chasing them anymore. Seeing that she didn’t chase them using magic, it seems she wasn’t angry enough to lose her reason. As Rudger was internally relieved, his eyes met with Arpa’s, who was staring blankly at him. “...Let me tell you, I didn’t do anything particularly bad.” “What do you mean by ‘particularly’ bad?” “In a way, it was done with good intentions. Though from the other person’s perspective, it might not seem that way.” During the previous strategy meeting about protecting the ley lines, Rudger had given opinions on behalf of Roina who was absent. However, after revealing too much information, people’s gazes became too suspicious, and Rudger had taken special measures by selling out Roina’s name. Her standing was quite high even among magicians as a 6th Circle magician well-versed in theory. As soon as he said that Roina had told him everything, all the magicians nodded in understanding and didn’t press further, even the stubborn Old Tower couldn’t say anything. Of course, Roina had no idea this had happened. Right after that, they had to move to protect the ley lines, so there wasn’t even a chance for the news to reach Roina’s ears. “So the reason for departing early in the morning was...” “She would have come looking for me after hearing the news. I predicted that and set out this early in the morning.” Rudger’s judgment was correct. If he had left just 10 minutes later, Rudger would have been caught by Roina and had to listen to her whining about why he did such a thing for hours. “Ah...” Arpa felt complex emotions that seemed somewhat understandable yet incomprehensible at the same time. While understanding Rudger’s position, it also seemed a bit too much to dump all the troublesome matters on Ms. Roina. But thinking about it, Rudger had even passed his own achievements to Roina. In a way, he had given both carrot and stick. Of course, from Roina’s perspective, she didn’t need those achievements either, and would rather feel it as another stick, so she probably felt doubly wronged. Arpa shook his head, still not understanding the complexity of human relationships. * * * Upon arriving at the train station, Rudger and Arpa immediately got on the fastest available train. This city would become quite noisy in the future due to what happened in the Kasar Basin. Having already finished their business, there was no need to stay longer, so leaving quickly was much better. If they delayed even a little, rumors about a Theon’s teacher who rode on a familiar would spread everywhere. Fortunately, there were seats available in the first-class train car. Since all expenses were being supported by the Kadatushan duchy anyway, Rudger boldly bought two tickets and sat in the first-class seats. And there, he encountered an unexpected person. “Well, how was your adventure, teacher?” Heiback Kadatushan. As if he had been waiting, he greeted Rudger and Arpa in the first-class car. “Did you know I would come here?” “I thought that the teacher I know would choose the earliest train to return. The most expensive seats were just a bonus.” “It’s not the most expensive seats. It’s free.” Heiback chuckled as if finding that amusing. “So, is it alright for you to be here? You’re still the head of the family, won’t people gossip if you’re wandering around without attendants?” “It’s fine. I’ve handed over most of the authority to the nominal heir anyway, so I’m just the head in name only now.” Actually, even though he said he handed it over nominally, if people were asked who the head of the Kadatushan family was, they would still answer Heiback. “And I have an excuse. With the recent incident in the Kasar Basin, imperial magicians were in danger, so I reported that I would check on the situation.” “But you’re returning right away.” “The incident is over, isn’t it? There’s no reason to stay when it’s finished, and if I want to enter the Kasar Basin directly, I’ll have to wait until next year, so I just need to know what happened and naturally, hearing that explanation from you during the journey would be perfect.” Heiback said with a playful smile. Even after seeing him several times, it was a mischievous smile that didn’t match his age. Rudger sat down on an empty sofa. Well, he had been thinking he would need to talk to Heiback about this incident eventually anyway. Rather, it was convenient that he came to find him on his own and offered to listen, saving Rudger the trouble of having to make a separate appointment. “So, what exactly happened there? I’m quite curious, despite how I look.” “It’s quite a long story.” * * * “Thank you for your hard work.” Upon arriving at Leathervelk Station, Rudger exchanged farewells with Duke Heiback. “Thanks to you, I have enough to report to the higher-ups.” “Aren’t you the highest authority in this field, Duke?” “Hey now. Formalities are important, you know?” Actually, Heiback probably didn’t care about reports or anything. He must have been satisfied enough that this incident was resolved without major damage. He could hear anything else he was curious about from Sempas anyway. Yet the reason he contacted Rudger and had this conversation had a different meaning. It wasn’t wariness, rather it was closer to showing off their connection as a way of expressing gratitude to Rudger for resolving things well. From Rudger’s perspective too, it wasn’t a bad thing to have the solid support of one of the empire’s three ducal families. Moreover, it was an equal trading relationship where both sides gave and received, not one where support was used as leverage to put on a leash. “I’ll be heading back to Theon now. I need to report to the President as well. We can discuss compensation later when you have time.” “Huh? Compensation?” Heiback asked back as if he had heard something unexpected. “Surely there should be compensation for this incident.” “Ah, no. Wasn’t the information I provided beforehand sufficient compensation?” “Says the person who installed several safety measures behind my back just in case.” When Rudger indirectly mentioned Sempas, Heiback pressed his lips shut. At the point where his prepared measures were discovered, Heiback had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths. It meant he hadn’t fully trusted this side after all. “Don’t worry too much. I’ll only extort a reasonable amount.” “That’s reassur...Wait, did you just say ‘extort’?” “The train will be departing soon. I’ll be going now.” Rudger finished his greeting. Arpa, carrying the luggage, also waved cheerfully. “Goodbye, grandfather!” “Ah, y-yes. Take care.” Come to think of it, he hadn’t asked about that child’s identity either. Even with his information network, nothing had been revealed about where Arpa came from and what he had done, needless to say about Rudger who was traveling with such a child. They only left him alone because he wasn’t an enemy of the empire. Someday, there might be things he needed to know in advance for unforeseen circumstances but in the current situation, even that seemed difficult. “Well, well. He got me good.” Heiback plopped down in the first-class seat. The station scenery reflected in the window gradually flowed sideways. Finally, the train puffed out white steam vigorously and ran on the rails. After watching the departing train, Rudger said to Arpa. “Unpack the luggage when we get to the lodgings. Good work.” “No, Leader is the one who worked hard. I barely did anything.” “If Sempas heard that, he would strongly disagree.” After all, he owed his life to Arpa. Arpa giggled and then stared intently at Rudger. “Why are you looking at me like that?” “Just because.” “Just because?” “It’s interesting to have gone on such a long trip outside with just Leader, and besides, the things we experienced over the past few days aren’t something you see often.” ‘Well, that’s true.’ Rudger nodded involuntarily. He had brought Arpa along just in case, but the incident grew bigger than he had imagined. Though they finished it safely, thinking back now, there were more than a few hair-raising moments. “We experienced many things and met many people. There were also unwanted farewells. And we saw many fascinating things.” For Arpa, it was a new experience. Despite having a cold mechanical body, or perhaps because of it, it was an experience that gave his soul a warm fulfillment. It didn’t matter whether it was something that made him laugh with joy or cry with sadness. “I want to keep having experiences like this in the future.” Arpa’s words seemed unexpected, as Rudger’s eyes widened briefly before returning to his usual expressionless face. “Don’t worry. There will be plenty of opportunities.” “You think so?” “Yes. More importantly, we’ve been delayed a bit. I’ll head to Theon now. You should go rest too.” As an automaton, Arpa had no concept of rest. He neither sleep nor eat but despite that, Arpa slept, ate, and acted like a person, that’s why Rudger’s words telling him to rest were appreciated, because it wasn’t just a habitual phrase, but sincere words spoken out of genuine concern for his fatigue. “Yes!” Arpa left the station with lighter steps and Rudger also boarded a carriage heading to Theon. After quite some time passed, when Theon’s magnificent main gate appeared in the distance, only then did the tension finally release. ‘I thought I had rested enough, but I’m still tired.’ Too much had happened for simple rest to relieve the fatigue. ‘But even this kind of pain is an emotion I can experience because I’m alive.’ Even this moment’s tired body proves that he is alive. That’s why Rudger is grateful for the present. While being grateful, it also provides an opportunity to resolve to prepare more diligently for future events. Rudger walked through the main building’s courtyard. Along the way, some students recognized him and greeted him. When he returned their greetings appropriately, they giggled with delight for some reason. What a good time they’re having. While he had gone through hell just days ago, during that time the students must have been wrestling with assignments and upcoming exams but that didn’t make him view the students with annoyance. Just a thought of ‘so that happened.’ Finally, Rudger arrived in front of the President’s office. -Knock knock. “This is Rudger Chelici. I just returned from the Night of Mystery.” “Come in.” The answer came as if she had been waiting. Rudger went inside. The President had prepared tea as if expecting Rudger’s arrival and the steam rising from it showed impeccable timing. ‘Why are both the Duke and the President so desperately eager to keep tabs on my movements?’ Rudger sat across from the President while internally making a small complaint. “I heard the news. They say this Night of Mystery turned into quite a mess.”

Chapter 410

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