91: They say trouble starts small.

Zaid Village is the closest to the marshlands.

By location alone, it sits out in the dangerous, untamed frontier—but now, with the road properly maintained, it thrives as the only inn town on the route to Goldendown.

When I first heard Zaid was in charge, I figured it’d be leveled to the ground in a week. But it’s developed more than I expected.

It’s already big enough to be called a town, but they still call it a village.

Maybe Zaid’s not half bad?

I follow behind Kyle, thinking that.

We’re visiting the old Kyle estate—now the current Zaid residence—with Alphard and me.

Face-to-face with Zaid… this time, I better keep my head on straight.

I do regret that little scuffle at first meeting. Mostly my attitude.

I’ll keep it proper this time. Might still have to be polite while picking a fight, depending on the situation.

“Huh? Zaid-sama isn’t here?”

The butler’s the one explaining, but he’s flustered—real bad.

Not just because Kyle, some noble (well, technically just the son of a noble), showed up out of nowhere.

“Kyle…-sama. Is something wrong?”

I edge closer to Kyle, checking the situation.

He immediately nods at Alphard.

“Butler. I understand your surprise at this sudden visit, but Zaid-sama isn’t refusing to see us. He’s simply away, correct?”

Alphard asks, calm and steady. That kind of presence? Kyle couldn’t pull it off.

“Y-yes, sir. Right now, Zaid-sama has departed for an expedition to the marshlands…”

“Huh?”

Kyle’s face goes stiff.

…Huh?

Zaid on an expedition? I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?

Alphard’s face tightens.

“Servant. Explain in detail.”

“Y-yes, sir… actually…”

We ended up clutching our heads as the servant spoke.

“Never thought Zaid-sama, my elder brother, would be planning to develop the marshlands…”

Kyle’s face goes pale.

From the servant, we learned Zaid’s force numbered around three hundred. The return date’s passed. He hasn’t come back yet.

Alphard turns toward me.

“Craft. What do you think, in terms of combat capability?”

“Think? It’s out of the question. I heard from Professor Javir—those soldiers here haven’t even been given stamina potions.”

“…Hmph.”

Alphard swallows something down. Probably something like, *So Zaid-sama was that incompetent?*

Zaid sold stamina potions to a passing Akindoo, then set up an inn guild, apparently.

Hmm. Now I’m not sure if Zaid’s competent or just a mess.

I’m scratching my head when Kyle looks up.

“Craft-sama.”

Ah, Kyle. I know exactly what’s coming.

Kyle’s words are exactly what I expected.

“Zaid-sama might be in danger. I want to go help him.”

His eyes were dead serious.

After how much he’s been snubbed by Zaid, he still means this.

I should toss my own feelings about Zaid into the trash and just understand Kyle’s heart.

“Got it. Leave it to me.”

I was already planning to fight monsters in the swamps anyway.

“Just….”

“Hm?”

“…What about Maina?”

“Ah.”

Alphard made a foolish sound.

Right, I hadn’t told them about the plan to hand her over to Master Javir.

“It’s—fine. I’ll ask Master Javir.”

“Ah, that’s a brilliant idea. Master Javir should have guards lined up already.”

Kyle let out a breath, relief washing over him.

“Wait, Kyle—did you know Master Javir personally?”

“Yes. We didn’t go into much detail, though.”

The road to the manor brought a surprisingly important conversation from Kyle.

“My real mother was Ilmina, the current wife. She gave birth to me and Maina—twins—and broke her body. She died.”

Kyle’s head dropped.

It’d be easy to say “It’s not your fault.” But that wouldn’t change anything. I just stayed silent and listened to the rest.

My body’s always been weak since birth—something my lord brother knows all too well. I heard Father gathered doctors from across the realm to examine us.

Lord Orthros, the Marquis of the Frontier—second only to the crown in power. Probably higher than a duke in practice.

I’ve been learning about this since I started traveling with Kyle. I understand it a little now.

Even with all his authority, Orthros couldn’t cure the sickness. No surprise it needed an elixir.

“The doctor we trusted most was Dr. Javir.”

“That’s right. That’s right.”

The teacher gets praised. I lift my nose. Alphard frowns. Why?

“At the time, Javir served as personal physician to Mother Bella, the second wife. But Father insisted he treat us anyway.”

That’s when something strange clicks.

"Wait, huh? Why’s she stuck as Bell’s personal attendant? With skills like Javir’s, she should be attached to the Marquis by default, right?"

Even now, Zaid’s here, in this dumb situation that makes no sense.

The thing is, Lady Bella’s mother was originally from the Durbatten Empire.

"Huh? The Empire's?"

I hear the Empire occasionally clashes with this country from time to time...

No big war broke out—somehow diplomacy worked, and the geography helped.

Don’t know much about it.

Yes. Lady Bela’s mother was a daughter of the Duke’s family in the Durbatten Empire. It was a political marriage.

...

So that’s what diplomatic strategy is. No wonder war’ll die down for a while.

Honestly, with monsters prowling around, can we really afford to be fighting each other?

"The entrance was restricted to just Lady Bella and one attendant, due to rather unusual circumstances."

Yeah, that's rough. Can't tell if it's the kingdom's doing or the empire's.

"No. It's more of a physical issue."

"Physical?"

"...Sorry. This is..."

Kyle stumbles over his words.

"You can't say, huh? Don't worry about it—just go on."

"Thank you....The one who came with Lady Bella is Mr. Javir."

Makes sense, given the flow of things.

I run it through my head.

"So, Mr. Javir was Lady Bella’s personal attendant, not someone Orthros Marquis could directly order. So we had to ask him, and entrusted the treatment to Mr. Javir... that right?"

"Yes."

Ah. So they assigned Mr. Javir to look after big Zaid, and Orthros Dad had no choice but to accept it.

"What's up? Orthros Dad’s a good guy, right?"

"Of course he is!"

Now that I think about it, Kyle never once complained about Orthros.

"After that, Mr. Javir cured Maina’s illness completely."

"Right. Maina got better just before coming out here to the frontier."

"Yes. I was taking medication to ease my symptoms, so I could take on the role of frontier supervisor."

"I see."

Maina’s illness was cured. The medicine that eased Kyle’s symptoms was perfected by Mr. Javir.

Then they shipped both of them out to the frontier right after? That bastard Zaid—now that’s what you call noble class.

I’m fuming inside when we arrive at Javir’s house—the center of attention—and hear the teacher’s voice.

"——It’s impossible, I tell you!"

"Hah hah! You’re still as cautious as ever!"

"Hey... Van’s just always been a total mess, that’s all!!"

In the herb-filled alchemist’s garden, I see Javir-sensei arguing with some unfamiliar man.

A sturdy, bold-looking man with a neatly trimmed beard.

His reddish short hair was tousled, and well-defined pectorals peeked out from beneath his unbuttoned collar.

Probably late thirties.

He was booming laughter all around him.

Dressed in flashy but well-tailored clothes—neither a pirate captain nor a nobleman’s fancy dresser, but something in between.

Would’ve looked ridiculous on an ordinary man, but somehow fit this old guy perfectly.

…Not like he’s some alchemist I know, right?

I glance at his left hand, trying to check the crest, but he’s wearing ornate gloves—like nobles and rich merchants do—hiding the insignia completely.

Noble... maybe?

But come on, that’s just too damn bold, don’t you think?

First impression—yeah, I’m certain my gut isn’t wrong. The guy’s cheerfulness is practically bursting out of him.

“Some friend of the teacher, right? Not like Raidock or Kyle—different kind of good-looking.”

That’s the type who’s got women all over him!

I know that vibe!

“Craft, can I shoot him?”

“Jitarou!? Where the hell did you come from!?”

I get it, I get it—but seriously, man, *here*? Jitarou!

Feels like trouble’s brewing, somehow…

Today on Manga UP, the latest chapter of the manga is live!

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