221: That kind of feeling, wanting to protect your family—can’t be stopped, right?

The one who stood up screaming was none other than Maina.

"I’m going too!"

Huh!? What are you saying!?

Leifan scrambled to his feet, flailing his hands.

"Maina!?"

"Milady Maina!?"

While Me and Leifan panicked, Van alone quietly looked at Maina.

"Maina. Even if you’re dying, the kingdom won’t spare precious elixirs or medicine. Still want to go?"

"Mm."

She nodded firmly. Zaid narrowed his eyes at that.

"Are you certain, Your Majesty? Given her status, we can’t offer her more than basic support for the expedition."

Wait, so that means she gets the same support as us?

She’s the marquis’s daughter!

Van nodded, ignoring my confusion.

"Fine. If you two want to go as siblings, stopping you’d be pointless. Besides, with Maina around, Craft won’t pull any stunts. She’s the perfect supervisor."

"Hmph. I see."

Zaid nods. Wait, so I’m that untrustworthy?

"Besides, if Maina’s going, Persia can come as guard. Alphard’s needed here for the elixir defense, so he can’t leave."

True. Having Persia with us would be a real help. But—

"I’m not taking her."

I mutter it, and Maina turns to me with a look of utter despair.

"I’m going!"

"Where we’re going’s uncertain. The destination, the length—there’s no way I’m taking you!"

"Brother... please... help me!"

She stands firm. The way she’s set, no backing down. Seeing this girl—once so shy before school—suddenly so certain of her own will... I almost nod along without thinking.

Maina’s growth is welcome—but that’s that, this is this!

“No no! Think about it normally—this is impossible! I don’t get why Van’s even allowing it!”

Van sighs, tapping the table with one finger.

“You just guard her, that’s all.”

“Sure, if we’re going together, I’ll guard her! But that’s not the point!”

Van raises one brow, studying him with a puzzled look.

“Why not?”

“Why not? Because it’s dangerous, that’s why.”

“Dangerous, yes. But the benefits outweigh the risks.”

“Huh?”

Van genuinely looks confused, arms crossed. Then Zaid snaps his fingers, as if struck by an idea.

“Oh. I see. Craft’s misunderstanding Maina’s position.”

Van tilts his head, more puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

Maina’s position has changed drastically since she first began the frontier’s development—Craft doesn’t understand that.

“Ah. So that’s it. Explain it plainly. Keep it simple.”

“Hai.”

After a quick bow, Zaid turned toward me, saying, “Craft.”

“Put simply, Maina-sama’s value as a noble has all but vanished.”

“Value?!”

I started to rise in anger, but Zaid waved me down with a lazy gesture.

“Yeah, I said it harshly. But accept it. That’s what nobility is.”

“Actually, I’ve heard you’re not a noble unless you hold a title.”

“In our country, yes. But setting formality aside, you can see that Maina’s essentially a noble in practice.”

He looked at Maina. She wasn’t angry. Didn’t seem sad either. Just… accepting it, like it was normal. So I swallowed my rage and sat back down.

"...And?"

There’s a lot going on… but yeah. Just remember this—Kyle’s become lord, so Maina’s value as a noble is gone.

...

Van raises one eyebrow at my sullen expression.

You look pissy.

Yeah, I can't just stay calm if someone says Maina ain't worth a damn.

Van jabbed his thumb toward Maina.

The man himself seems happy enough.

“Huh?”

Maina seems happy, but... why?

Then, from behind, Persia murmured, “You’re mad because you took Maina’s place. How can you not get it?” And finally, it clicked.

Zaid continued.

And though their worth as nobles has nearly vanished, their value as family... the care one holds for family remains unchanged. No, it’s stronger now than ever.

Zaid gave Maina a gentle smile, but she ducked behind my back. Honestly, kinda pitiful.

Zaid’s face fell in an instant, then he cleared his throat softly and straightened up.

“Still… it’s all the same. Even if noble blood means nothing now, Maina’s still precious to us as family.”

“Yeah… wait a second! If that’s true, then why the hell send her into danger?!”

Not just Zaid—Van’s eyes widened too.

“Why… don’t you get it? Maina’s going for her brother. Can’t stop her.”

The words “for her brother” made me stutter. Couldn’t argue.

“S-she… that is…”

Zaid stood, leaned close, and whispered in my ear.

(And that’s why we need whatever they call the Saint’s Tears? Seems to be Maina’s tears. Don’t know what the resurrection elixir even is, but maybe it can only be crafted on-site?)

“Ugh…”

Probably only Zaid knew about it from Master Jabil. That’s right—Yggdrasil-Soma requires a Saint’s Tear, and so far, no other material or substitute has been found besides Maina’s tears.

We’ve already prepared the teleportation gate. Should be able to set it up on-site and fetch Maina from there.

But the gate can’t just be moved once it’s placed. And the destination? It’s some empty, windowless room—solidified with alchemical hardstone, like a fortress vault. I asked Master Jabil about it on the way back from Kyle’s room to the meeting hall.

If we can find a safe spot right away, that’d be ideal. But since it connects straight to the capital, we’ll have to pick the location real careful.

We’ve had that problem before—when we killed the dragon, some of the dragon materials spoiled fast. Had to rush the alchemy, no time to waste.

Thinking about it, having Maina along feels like a relief.

Van smirks at our exchange.

"Settled then."

I try to weakly protest.

"But—"

Then Van leans in and whispers right into my ear.

(They won’t let us leave the country, but you’ve probably got a few elixirs hidden away, right? Use them well this time.)

(No… I only have one.)

(You’re kidding. You mass-produced them during the dragon hunt. You were practically flooding the economy.)

(Yeah. So I gave them all to the Marquis.)

(All of them? Seriously all? You don’t usually keep a few for yourself? Wait—did you keep one? No, you did keep one, didn’t you?)

(No. That one was just a backup I made later, when I happened to get the materials. I gave everything else to the Marquis at first. This one’s my secret. Well… I didn’t end up using it when it mattered.)

(Stop wallowing. You lot can laugh. As long as there’s one thing, worst-case scenarios can be avoided.)

(That’s….)

Van slapped my back hard.

"Maina’s coming with us! Persia! Protect Craft and Maina!"

"Yes! I’ll give my life for them!"

It was decided, no room for argument.

Can’t say no to Maina’s happy face like this.

"...Got it. I’ll protect Maina and Master Javir, no matter what!"

I clenched my fist, determined. Then, out of nowhere, Maina kicked me repeatedly in the legs.

Leifan and Master Javir stared up at the sky, utterly stunned.

What?! Why?!

Persia gave me a cold stare, muttering under her breath.

"Why did you bring up Master Javir’s name there…?"

Huh?

But Maina’s not the only one—Master Javir’s going too, that’s already decided… I muttered that, and suddenly got the cold shoulder from every single woman in earshot.

No idea why.

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