Julius had made no attempt to keep this outing secret. A giant of his stature moving in secret would only cause enormous problems afterward.

Less than thirty minutes after he arrived in the Kingdom of Valian, the imperial court contacted Gladiheim. Stripped of its lengthy formalities, the message amounted to a question: the head of the house had entered Valian, so what on earth was going on?

Handling matters like these fell to Gerard, who oversaw the administration. The instant he replied that he would look into it, he summoned Arian. Why would the head of the house, who had stayed inside the Sword Tower for thirteen years, visit Valian with his young grandson? No matter how he considered it, there was only one explanation.

"The head of the house and your son have entered the Kingdom of Valian."

"What? Why?"

"They must have gone to fetch that damned husband of yours. Arian, did you really know nothing about this?"

It took less than a few dozen minutes for every pureblood in the Sword Tower to learn the true reason behind the outing.

And now they were witnessing just how powerful Arian's spirit arts were—and just how much punishment Aslan could take after twelve years in seclusion.

"You damned bastard!"

Arian was far too furious to care who was watching. She hurled vicious curses without hesitation as she attacked Aslan, who lay facedown on the ground.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Every beat of the wings of Zephyros, her contracted wind spirit, brought a massive hammer of wind crashing down on Aslan's back.

"What gives you the right to show your face in front of me?! Huh?!"

"A-Arian."

Aslan circulated his mana to stay alive. Without it, her savage attacks would have crushed his body.

"I... I was wrong..."

"Don't say my name!"

Arian roared. Responding to her fury, Zephyros gave a mighty flap of its wings, and an even larger hammer of wind smashed into Aslan.

"Gah!"

Blood spurted from his mouth. Startled, Arian shot Zephyros a look. She had been angry enough to decide to beat him senseless, but even so, that last blow had struck her as excessive.

[...]

Zephyros could not have felt more wronged. It had responded to Arian's anger and attacked just as hard as she wanted. Yet once it did, she glared at it as though it had gone too far.

"J-just die!"

She could not bring herself to apologize. But she did not want to back down either, so she lashed out with even harsher words.

"Just die, you son of a bitch!"

"Ah... Arian..."

"I told you not to say my name!"

Instead of attacking through Zephyros, Arian strode over and began kicking Aslan herself.

"I can't stand the sight of you! Y-you couldn't stand seeing me either, could you? That's why you shut yourself away for twelve years!"

"O-of course not!"

"Of course not, my foot! You left me one measly letter and shut yourself away for twelve years! If you had really loved me..."

"Arian!"

Aslan, who had been taking her kicks, sprang to his feet and pulled her into a fierce embrace before anyone could stop him.

"I... It was all my fault."

His apology came in a voice choked with emotion. Heavy tears spilled from his eyes, dripping down and soaking his shoulder.

"Whatever I say... it will only sound like an excuse. B-but, Arian. I... I didn't enter seclusion because I didn't love you. I..."

"Y..."

Arian's shoulders trembled.

"You... You stink...!"

His hair was right beneath her nose. No, it was not just his hair. An indescribably awful stench emanated from his entire body. This was far beyond anything love could help her endure.

Revolted, Arian tried to push him away, but Aslan, overcome with emotion, would not release his wife. Instead, he tightened his embrace and cried out,

"I will never let you go until you forgive me!"

"I-I forgive you! I'll forgive you, so let go!"

Only after shouting that was Arian able to escape. She hurriedly gulped clean air from Zephyros's breeze, panting for breath.

"T-twelve years... You're coming to see your wife for the first time in twelve years, and you didn't even bathe...?!"

"Well... That was..."

"And what's with that appearance? Why is your hair white? Why are you so painfully thin?"

"I couldn't eat properly while training—"

"Are you proud of that? Huh? Is that something to brag about?!"

Tears began streaming from Arian's eyes as she fumed and shouted. Aslan approached hesitantly to embrace her again, but the moment he reached out, she recoiled in disgust.

"You smell absolutely horrible! If you want to hold me, go take a bath first!"

Arian's blows and verbal abuse had stopped. Kyle, who had been watching through the carriage window without making a sound, decided the time was right and cautiously poked his head outside.

"Mom, have you calmed down a little—"

"Kyle! Get over here!"

Still sniffling, Arian put on an angry expression again and barked her son's name. In eleven years, he had heard nothing but loving words from her, never a single scolding, so her shout came as a tremendous shock.

Kyle stole a look behind him. Inside the carriage, Julius simply sat with his arms folded, as though none of this concerned him. In the end, Kyle approached his mother timidly.

The instant he reached her, her knuckles came down on the crown of his head.

"You! Without even telling your mother!"

"Well... You see..."

Anything he said would only be an excuse. Kyle decided to own up without fuss.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, honestly..."

With her son admitting his fault so promptly, she could hardly keep scolding him. In truth, it was not something he deserved to be scolded for. He had brought his father home out of concern for her. If anyone deserved blame, it was the parents who had driven their eleven-year-old son to take such action. Arian heaved a sigh and hugged Kyle.

"I'm sorry. I should have thought more about you..."

Aslan shuffled over, knelt before them, and bowed his head low.

"Go inside. You're embarrassing yourselves in front of everyone."

Julius stepped out of the carriage. At the head of the house's words, the relatives gathered outside began returning to the Sword Tower one by one.

"Father."

Arian glared at him with wide, reddened eyes.

"You glare at me instead of thanking me? What have you done to deserve that attitude?"

"Wh-what did I..."

"You let your son grow up without a father for eleven years to protect your pride. Do you think that was right?"

Strictly speaking, Julius had never considered fetching Aslan until Kyle asked him to. But with things having turned out this way, that was no longer something he needed to concern himself with.

"I'm... sorry..."

Unable to argue, Arian hung her head. Julius clicked his tongue.

"Your son is more mature than you are."

"..."

"Go home and talk things over among yourselves. Your son has something important he wishes to discuss."

With that, Julius returned to the Sword Tower. At the words "something important," Arian tilted her head and looked at Kyle.

"What... important thing?"

"I'll tell you inside."

Kyle had fetched Aslan because he did not want to leave Arian alone while he was in the Floor of Asceticism, not because he was curious to see his father's face.

Now that Aslan was here, it was time to persuade Arian.

* * *

All three family members gathered in Rose Manor's sitting room. Aslan had returned from his bath and no longer stank, but his hair and beard remained so unkempt that he looked like some beggar sitting among them.

"The Floor of Asceticism...?"

Arian murmured, her jaw hanging open. Denied permission to sit on the sofa, Aslan knelt on the floor and stared at Kyle in astonishment.

"The Sword... Tower's goblin? What exactly is a goblin?"

"Ask Mom to explain that later."

Aslan's permission was not what mattered here. Kyle looked straight at Arian.

"Grandfather has already given me permission. Now I only need yours."

"And here I was wondering why you suddenly went to fetch your father..."

Arian shook her head, murmuring in a daze.

"The Floor of Asceticism... The Sword Tower's goblin... A fragment of the Dragon King...? Good heavens..."

"Um... Is that a no?"

Kyle asked cautiously. What if Arian said no? Then there would be nothing for it. He had even brought Aslan back so she would not be lonely. He had done everything he could.

'I'll just have to sneak off...'

He hoped it would not come to that. After doing this much for her, he wanted to leave openly with her blessing, free of worries or lingering regrets.

"..."

Arian looked at Kyle with mixed feelings. Her son had never caused her a moment's trouble. Far from it—he was a son she could be proud of anywhere. Not only was he intelligent and gifted, but he was so devoted to his mother that he had fetched a father whose face he had never seen, all for her sake.

If a son like that sincerely wanted to do something, how could she refuse him as his mother? What troubled her, however, was Aslan, kneeling on the floor.

To be honest, she did not mind Kyle entering the Floor of Asceticism. It was what he wanted, and it would benefit him. What troubled her was that father and son would be separated again without a chance to make memories together, after Aslan had finally returned.

"Kyle. Don't you... want to play with your father?"

"Huh? No. I don't want to."

Kyle answered with a dubious look. Arian's mouth fell half-open, while Aslan's shoulders drew in farther and his back slumped. Only then did Kyle understand the meaning behind that unexpected question.

"With swords... I'd like to play with swords. We played a little earlier, and I thought that would be fun."

"That was playing...?"

Aslan lifted his head slightly and muttered. The killing intent his son had shown upon barging into the cultivation room had been nothing anyone could call play.

"Then... don't you want to play with him some more?"

Arian asked cautiously. Kyle folded his arms and considered it for a moment. More precisely, he pretended to consider it. He feared an immediate answer would make their expressions altogether too grave.

"I'm not good enough yet to play swords with Father properly. But once I come back from the Floor of Asceticism, I'll be better at it."

"..."

"Mom, would you rather I didn't go?"

"That's not it."

Arian composed her expression, not wanting to give her son needless worries.

"If it's what you want, I won't stop you. I've heard the Floor of Asceticism is... dangerous, but you still want to go, don't you?"

"Yes."

After answering, Kyle added,

"Don't worry too much. If I really can't manage it, I'll give up and come out, like Aunt Erika."

Those were only words. He had no intention of giving up on a challenge he had not even attempted yet.

"When will you go?"

"As soon as tomorrow, if you'll let me."

"Then we'd better have plenty of your favorite foods today. I've heard... it's difficult to eat what you want in there."

Kyle had not asked Erika for details about the Floor of Asceticism. He was curious, but he thought knowing in advance would spoil some of the fun.

Arian, however, knew a fair amount about it. Though she had never attempted it herself, she had heard stories from her older siblings many times.

"If you need it, we can go ask your uncles and aunts for advice right now. What do you think?"

"There's no need. Since I've decided to go, I think it'll be more fun going in knowing nothing."

Kyle smiled brightly, as though he were going on a picnic. Arian gave a little laugh at his expression and stood.

"I'll ask Seril to prepare the food. And Aslan, you... First... let's get your hair cut. Your beard too. I think seeing your face at the table would ruin my appetite."

"Ah... Very well."

"And one more thing. I haven't completely forgiven you. So from now on, you'll sleep in the garden."

Arian fixed him with a stern glare.

"Use a sleeping bag or something. Eat outside too. I'll call you in sometimes, if I feel like eating with you."

"..."

"That's how you'll live until I'm no longer angry. If you want that to happen sooner, you'll have to make an effort. If you can't think of anything, pick some flowers every day and sing beneath my bedroom window. Understood?"

"Y-yes."

Aslan was grateful simply not to be thrown out of the Sword Tower.

'What if I have a younger sibling by the time I get out?'

The thought crossed Kyle's mind as he watched his parents.

Arian might appear to be putting up walls and pushing Aslan away for now, but he doubted it would last long.

'A younger sibling... Huh...'

Part of him rather hoped he would get one.

* * *

The next day, Kyle ate breakfast with Aslan, now neatly shorn and clean-shaven, and Arian, whose eyes were slightly red.

"You told him to eat in the garden. Changed your mind already?"

"Just for today. We're seeing our son off. We should at least have breakfast together, shouldn't we?"

"It's not as if I'm going to war. I'll still be inside the Sword Tower."

He had meant to reassure her, but something in those words triggered her tears instead.

"Should I just stay?"

"G-go! You don't need to worry about me."

"Saying it like that makes me worry more."

"So you're not going?"

"Of course I'm going."

"Now I see it. You do take after your father in some ways. Especially when it comes to breaking people's hearts."

Aslan, who had barely touched the food, hunched his shoulders.

"Don't you have anything to say to me, Father?"

"A..."

Aslan hesitated before speaking.

"Take a watch."

He did more than offer verbal advice. Taking a pocket watch from inside his clothes, he cautiously handed it to Kyle.

"I... used this when I traveled the world. It keeps good time, and it tracks the date too."

"You had something like this, and you still stayed shut away for twelve years?"

"I-I forgot to bring it..."

His voice dwindled to a murmur. Kyle heaved a sigh and tucked the pocket watch inside his clothes.

"Mom says she hasn't forgiven you, but I have. Your swordsmanship was pretty impressive."

"..."

"Well, I didn't have any particular feelings about you to begin with. Maybe that's why forgiving you was easy."

Aslan's eyes wavered. He was normally a confident man, but with so much to feel guilty about, he could not possibly act like himself in front of Arian and Kyle.

"We can build a bond as father and son later. For now, work on repairing your relationship with Mom while I'm away."

"Kyle..."

Arian's eyes filled with emotion at his mature words.

"I thought about it before bed last night. If I get a younger sibling, I'd like a little sister."

"Wh... what?"

"I think I could spoil a little sister even if she acted bratty, but if a little brother did it, I'd probably break his legs."

"Wh-what on earth are you saying?!"

"Anyway, that's how I feel."

Kyle grinned and set his utensils on his empty plate.

After breakfast, Kyle left Rose Manor. The Fragment had said Kyle could meet it simply by attempting to resonate anywhere inside the Sword Tower, but he did not do so right away.

He felt he ought to say goodbye to Julius first. Arian and Aslan accompanied him down to the first floor in the tower's elevator.

Several people were waiting for him in the first-floor hall: Erika, Bruno, and Lucia. The awkwardness hanging between them eased a little only when the elevator doors opened.

"Kyle!"

Erika approached with a bright smile. Since becoming an apprentice knight, her various missions had kept them from seeing one another as often as before. Fortunately, she was currently resting at the Sword Tower.

"I hear you're going into the Floor of Asceticism. Want some advice from your aunt?"

"You didn't even last a month, did you?"

"I lasted a whole month!"

Erika bristled.

"And! At my age! On my first attempt, a month was good! You... You won't even last fifteen days!"

"Cursing me instead of cheering me on?"

"I... I came to cheer you on. I was going to, but you had to be annoying."

"Just tell me to do my best."

"D-do your best."

Having said exactly what Kyle told her to, Erika screwed up her face and scratched her head. As always, he had her wrapped around his finger.

"..."

Bruno stared at Kyle in silence. Kyle read the complicated emotions flickering in his eyes: worry, admiration, jealousy, irritation... All very like him. Grinning, Kyle patted his shoulder.

"Hey, Piggy. Keep working hard while I'm gone. Don't slack off and get disowned by Uncle."

"That won't happen," Bruno snapped.

"Are you really... confident about this? The Floor of Asceticism..."

"Is dangerous, and no one's ever entered at my age? I know. That makes me look forward to it even more."

Kyle patted Bruno's shoulder a few more times and looked up at him.

"I don't know how many years it'll be before I come out. But if you haven't improved much by then, it won't be Uncle cutting ties with you. It'll be me."

"Who do you think you are?"

"Your cousin and your friend, obviously. Maybe I should say I'll stop being your friend?"

"Ha."

Bruno snorted and brushed Kyle's hand off his shoulder.

"I'll handle myself. You worry about you."

"Don't want to stop being friends, huh?"

"Fuck off."

"Sure, sure."

Chuckling, Kyle walked past him.

Lucia stood holding a wooden sword, her expression as calm as ever.

"Is that a present?"

"Yes."

She respectfully offered it with both hands.

"It's nothing special. I just... wanted to give you something."

"Thanks."

Kyle smiled broadly as he accepted it. As Lucia had said, it was no special sword—just a sturdy wooden practice sword commonly used in Gladiheim. But the fact that it was a gift made it special enough.

"I can't promise to use it forever. It might break soon after I get in there."

"Then I'll give you another present next time."

"Give me something other than a wooden sword then."

"Is there anything in particular you would like?"

"Your sword."

Lucia blinked several times, her eyes wide.

"By my sword, you mean...?"

"Remember what I told you yesterday?"

"I remember... you telling me to try loving the sword."

"Try loving it and letting yourself change, even if it's gradual."

Kyle swung the wooden sword a few times, then hung it at his waist.

"I want to see your swordsmanship once you've changed like that."

"..."

"No matter how long it takes."

"I... understand."

After a moment's hesitation, Lucia nodded.

The doors to the Hall of Sword Pinnacles were already open. The moment Kyle strode inside, Fenris began humming as though it had been waiting for him, pestering him to resonate with it.

Once again, Kyle ignored its demands. He emerged from the creeping mist and approached Julius on his throne. Nelia stood beside him.

"I already gave you permission yesterday. There was no need to come here."

"And yet you were waiting here, Grandfather."

"Coincidence."

"Then should I just leave without saying goodbye?"

"You must say goodbye. I am the head of House Alastor, and you are a member of this house."

Julius rose with an indifferent expression.

"You say you don't want advice. Tools that might help you inside would detract from the purity of your training. So a farewell is all I have to offer."

"That's enough."

Julius approached and looked down at Kyle in silence for a moment. Then both his hands closed firmly around Kyle's shoulders.

"Come back alive."

"Yes."

"Attempt only trials you believe you can overcome. You're still young."

"Yes."

"The elixirs I've invested in you over the past six years alone cost as much as a sizable city's annual budget. Do not forget that."

"I never knew you were so materialistic, Grandfather."

"Anyone would become materialistic after investing that much. I invested because I believed in you. You must prove yourself worth more than what I put into you."

"I'll come back safe and sound and live a very long life."

"That will do."

Julius smiled and released his shoulders.

"Off you go, then."

Nelia, who had approached alongside Julius, chuckled softly at his words.

"You seem so frank, my lord, yet you never quite are. If only you would say exactly what you feel."

"You're prattling nonsense."

"My dear boy. You're clever, so I'm sure you can hear the sincerity in his words. But let me speak plainly on his behalf. Please take care of yourself."

Her hand stroked Kyle's head.

"I will."

Kyle nodded firmly and looked back. Those who had come to see him off stood at the entrance to the Hall of Sword Pinnacles: Arian, Aslan, Erika, Bruno, and Lucia.

It felt strange. He was not heading to war, yet they were all so worried about him. Even in his previous life, he had been close to his mercenary comrades and followers, and he thought they had loved him in their own way. But no one had ever worried this much when he went into battle.

'Is it because this body is eleven years old?'

Whatever the reason, both the situation and the feelings it stirred were unfamiliar and peculiar. Kyle hesitated a moment before speaking.

"I'll be back."

Now that he thought about it, he had rarely spoken those words with such deep feeling in his entire life.

Including his previous one.

Kyle closed his eyes and focused on resonating with the Sword Tower.