Chapter 141
"Honestly, I'm surprised."
"What is it?"
"That you just left Al to fend for himself."
In the carriage, Leo gave a wry smile. Elna, who had come along at his request to act as his bodyguard, looked puzzled when she saw him.
"What?"
"You're in the same boat, aren't you? Was it really all right to leave your brother alone?"
"I'm fine. I wouldn't have been any use even if I'd stayed. Our opponent is an imperial noble. That's not someone you can draw a sword against."
"Then I'm in the same boat. Even if I acted in my own way, I doubt I'd solve anything. I thought it would be better to leave it to my brother."
"You really think highly of Al, don't you? Aren't you worried Al might end up in a bad way?"
"Many nobles are involved in the struggle for the throne. But those complaining to my brother are mainly people who were told by those around them to stay out of the struggle. They aren't my brother's enemies."
"Well, I agree with that assessment. Even if a motley group of second- and third-rate nobles banded together, there'd be a limit to what they could do. I can say this with certainty: the nobles are the ones who'll come off badly. Al has no mercy the moment his own people are involved. Remember when Guy was beaten up by a baron's son and his lackeys?"
Elna murmured this while looking out the carriage window.
Leo nodded deeply and gave a wistful smile.
"We went barging in with our swords, didn't we?"
"We did. We were going to beat them to a pulp, but... the estate was already full of knights and soldiers. Embezzlement of public funds, slave trading, and theft of the castle's treasures. All sorts of crimes came to light at once, and the baron and his son were both brought before His Majesty the Emperor to be judged. That was probably Al's doing, wasn't it?"
"I think so. With Sebas around, he could probably do just about anything."
"Sebas was probably the one who made the moves, but he wouldn't move unless Al ordered him to. I'm sure Al was the one who orchestrated that whole chain of events."
They were still very young then.
Yet Al already possessed a power unlike the simple strength available to Elna and Leo.
There was no way Al would be outdone by the nobles.
They were both certain he'd find a way to make them pay that Elna and Leo could never have devised.
"But I was surprised... You suddenly said you wanted Vin as your strategist. He's been missing for three years, you know. Do you have any clues?"
"No."
"Sigh... So you dragged me along on a journey with no clues..."
"Don't put it that way. I don't have any proof, but knowing Vin, I think he's in his hometown."
"No way. He hated his home village for being so rural, didn't he?"
"That's why I think he'd be there. He doesn't exactly have the best personality."
Leo said this with obvious amusement.
Elna sighed even more deeply at the sight of him. Still, given the personality of the person they were seeking, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
"Well, I'll leave Vin to you, Leo. You two are childhood friends, after all."
"Rather than a childhood friend, he's more like an older brother of a different sort from my actual brother."
As he said this, Leo let his thoughts turn to the man called Vin.
■■■
The village was on the outskirts of the central part of the Empire.
It lay off the main roads, and in this village so far removed from anything lively, Leo and Elna looked completely out of place.
"Is he really here?"
"Who knows?"
Even as he said this, Leo headed straight for Vin's family home.
After confirming that the old house was Vin's family home, Leo went straight to the door.
"Excuse me. Is anyone home?"
"Wait, Leo..."
"Who is it?"
Elna tried to stop Leo from entering so casually, but before she could, an answer came from inside.
It was the hoarse voice of an old man.
Inside, a small old man sat in an easy chair. He had long white hair and a long beard. His face couldn't be made out clearly, but that meant he was probably one of Vin's relatives.
"My apologies. I am Leonart Lake Adler. I've come in search of Vinfrid."
"So you are His Highness the Prince... Unfortunately, my grandson has not returned..."
"Vin's grandfather..."
At the sight of the lonely old man, Elna felt terribly sorry for him.
Vinfrid was three years older than Leo and Al.
His talent had been recognized by the Crown Prince, and despite being a commoner, he had studied at the castle for years. If Elna, who spent more time playing outside, could be called Al's childhood friend, then Vin, who studied alongside them indoors, could be called Leo's.
Six years ago, when he was fifteen, Vin set out to travel through foreign countries to broaden his knowledge. He dreamed of one day becoming chancellor under the Crown Prince.
But that dream was lost. When the Crown Prince died three years ago, Vin could no longer find a reason to live. He severed ties with everyone and vanished.
Leo had searched many times, but every effort was fruitless. He couldn't even find a clue. Naturally, many knights had come here too. Yet they hadn't found him either.
"I see... Do you have any idea where he went?"
"I'm sorry... We've already searched many times..."
"Leo, don't press him..."
Elna tried to stop him, but Leo shook his head and smiled at her.
The smile seemed terribly inappropriate under the circumstances, but Leo would not smile without a reason.
As Elna watched in confusion, Leo slowly approached the old man. Then—
"You're as short as ever, Vin."
"Wha—!?"
"Leo!?"
Leo drew the sword at his waist and swung it at the old man.
The old man leaped from the easy chair on reflex and dodged Leo's sword. But in exchange, Leo came away with his long white hair.
No—to be precise, what Leo had taken was a long white-haired wig.
"Hey... It's been a while, Vin."
"...How did you know?"
Vin did not try to hide any longer after losing the wig. He removed the fake beard and the magic tool that had altered his voice, revealing himself before Leo.
He had dark-gold hair and eyes of the same hue. He was short enough to look like a child at first glance, but his eyes were far too fierce for that.
His sharp, intimidating eyes were more than enough to ward off strangers, and together with his handsome features, they gave him the impression of a dagger's sharp point.
The man's name was Vinfrid Trales. The Crown Prince had recognized his talent and doted on him like a younger brother, hoping Vinfrid would one day become a trusted vassal. He was Leo's childhood friend.
"I had two reasons. First, after all the searching, I figured you had to be somewhere in plain sight. We just hadn't noticed you. Second, this house was far too clean. That's just like you, since you like things clean, but no old man could keep it this spotless. You don't seem wealthy enough to have hired someone, either, and I couldn't imagine you had."
"You drew your sword on an old man based on that? You've developed quite a nasty habit while we were apart."
"I would have stopped if you couldn't react properly. Besides, I was sure. You were just the sort of person who'd disguise himself as his grandfather."
"Tch..."
After clicking his tongue, Vin tossed the fake beard onto the table and dropped into the easy chair.
His attitude and way of speaking were rude to the prince, but they had always been that way. After all, Leo had been the one to tell Vin, who initially spoke formally, that he didn't need to be so formal.
Since then, Vin had neither spoken respectfully nor shown Leo the usual deference. The former Crown Prince had also asked him to treat Leo like a real younger brother.
"What brings you here?"
"Can't you guess?"
"Hmph. You want me to be your strategist? Forget it. I'm not as good a strategist as you think."
"If you're incompetent, then most people in the world must be incompetent."
"I'll admit I'm not incompetent, but I'm not exceptional either. Among strategists, I'm no better than an ordinary man. If you wanted someone better than me, they'd spring up everywhere. That's that. Go home."
With that, Vin glared sharply at Leo.
But Leo showed no sign of concern and held out his hand to Vin.
"It's precisely because you're the sort of person who can say that that I need you. Excellence comes second. I need a strategist like you."
"You're really forcing your own convenience on me, aren't you? I have no need to serve as your strategist."
With that, Vin brushed Leo's hand aside. Elna frowned and stepped forward.
"As unpleasant as ever, aren't you, Vin?"
"You haven't changed either, Elna."
"People don't change that much. Just like your height."
Elna said this with all the sarcasm she could muster, taking a jab at Vin's height. His inability to grow any taller was a crippling complex for Vin, and he grew angry whenever anyone brought it up.
However.
"That's true. Your chest doesn't seem to have grown, either. We're both rather unfortunate, aren't we?"
"What!?"
"If you're going to attack someone else's physical features, you should expect them to attack yours in return, right? Flat-chested."
"You—!"
"Elna. You can't beat Vin in a battle of words."
With that, Leo gently stopped Elna.
Then Leo withdrew, still smiling.
"You caught me off guard today, so I'll head home for now. I'll come again tomorrow, and we'll talk then."
"It won't make a difference how many times you come. I won't become your strategist."
"I'll keep coming until you change your mind."
With that, Leo left, taking Elna with him.
Left behind, Vin watched Leo walk away and clicked his tongue softly.
"Tch... You're really going to rely on persuasion? Still a naive softie, I see."
The fact that Leo could not resort to dragging him away or forcing him to comply could be called his weakness.
It was also a virtue, but the weakness still outweighed it. After all, Leo was engaged in a struggle for the throne.
Having unconsciously analyzed the situation this way, Vin looked embarrassed and began irritably cleaning the room.