The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary - 74 - Sister Visits.

As early as the morning was, after finishing my breakfast at Evelyn’s home, I made my way to the village to see how things had gone with their celebration.

To my surprise, the entire village street was far more chaotic than I could have imagined. The stench of booze still hung in the air, and several of the boys lay sprawled outside the tavern, half-dressed and dead asleep.

Despite the cold, their drunken faces seemed completely unbothered.

“Haa… what a mess.”

Out of everyone there, I spotted Mario walking along the road, carrying a pail of water over his head.

“Mario?” I called.

He turned, startled. “C-Captain?”

“Looks like you boys went wild with the celebration. What happened last night?” I asked.

“Well… it’s fair to say the others went a little overboard with the drinking and games. But not all of us stayed at the tavern. Some went straight home to rest. I was one of them,” he explained.

“Really? You didn’t drink with them?”

“No, sorry. I’m not really the social kind. I just wanted a good night’s rest after the week we had.”

“I see. And the others—what about Astin and Garon? Were they here as well?”

“I’m not sure. But I do remember when the booze started getting passed around, Astin dove into the bar and started chugging. As for Garon… I don’t know. I went home once things started to get rough.”

“Hmm, I see. Anyway, since you’re here, I need you to post a message on the board. It’s directed to the boys.”

“Of course, Captain. What message should I write?”

“It’s for the final event,” I said.

He frowned. “What do you mean by that, Captain?”

“It’s the moment where you’ll decide whether to stay under my care… or go out into the world and experience all it has to offer. My offer doesn’t change—but I hope the experiences you’ve had this past week have helped you realize what you want to do with your lives. In other words… it’s your graduation ceremony.”

“I-I see… very well, Captain. I’ll put out the sign. When will the ceremony start?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll be waiting early in the morning at the training grounds. Make sure everyone is there.”

“Okay, Captain.”

“Oh, and… tell them not to wear their fanciest clothes. Things might get rough tomorrow.”

“…Eh?”

Before he could question me further, I left the village street and returned home.

After the long week, I finally had time to resume work on Oxy’s armor set. Looking at the days ahead, I had just two weeks left to finish both of his armor sets and his weapon.

Still… it was doable.

If I could finish on time, I could leave a lasting impression on Oxy. Making him into a close friend would surely be a great benefit in this life.

From morning until noon, I buried myself in the forge, hammering away at Oxy’s armor. The familiar rhythm of steel against steel steadied my thoughts. After the long week, the forge’s heat was almost comforting—it was just me, the flames, and the promise of progress.

But by afternoon, the sound of horns shattered the quiet.

Theresa’s pale face at my door had already warned me, but when I stepped outside, the sight still struck me. A hundred armored soldiers marched in perfect formation, the royal family’s flag swaying high above them. At their head rode Escanor, his presence as commanding as ever, and beside him, Eliana, calm and sharp-eyed. Behind them followed a carriage flanked by guards.

The village elder and council members were already at the gates, bowing in greeting.

Escanor dismounted, his hair catching the sun. “On behalf of the royal family, I ask permission for my men to rest here for the night. At dawn, we’ll depart once more.”

The elder nodded eagerly. “Of course. Our village is yours to use, Lord Escanor. Please, rest as long as you need. Have your men go to the village square, We’ll provide you with anything that you might need for your journey tomorrow.”

And just as they did propose those words, Evelyn came about on her carriage. And I arrived just seconds later on foot.

Seeing us together, Escanor and his wife Eliana greeted us with a smile.

“Evelyn, Thill…it’s good to see you two. I suppose my message was well received a few days ago?” asked Eliana.

“Of course sister, please join us at my domain, I’m sure you had a long tiring journey. So please, rest at my home and I’m sure the maids can prepare a warm bath for you and for Brother-in-law.” said Evelyn with a smile.

Soon after, Evelyn invited Escanor and Eliana to her home. Naturally, I accompanied her, with Desmond trailing close behind. The house grew quieter as servants set down wine and bread, and then Escanor spoke first.

“Haa, it has been quite a week for us.” he said.

”That’s true. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if I said that this entire week was one of my hardest weeks yet.”

“What happened at your mission? I heard a bit of rumors on how the count was using dark magic, is that true?” asked Evelyn.

“It is. Human traficking, human sacrifice, a drug ring…any inhuman action you could think of, I’m sure that filth of a count has done it himself.” said Eliana angrily.

“The Count resisted capture. He rallied what forces he had left, but in the end, he was subdued. He’s being held under constant watch even now, bound and under guard.”

“So the count is with you today?” asked Evelyn.

“He’s inside the carriage, wrapped in holy chains and drugged to sleep so that he won’t try anything stupid.” said Eliana.

“With the holy chain holding him down, there’s not a chance he can escape. So do not worry. Everything is under control.” said Escanor. His voice was calm but carried the weight of command, a reassurance not only for us but, I suspected, for himself as well.

The room grew quieter at his words. The crackle of the hearth fire filled the silence, its light dancing across the wooden beams overhead. Evelyn, who had been wringing her hands with worry, finally released a small breath of relief.

Then Escanor shifted, his gaze wandering toward the window. Sunlight filtered in, painting streaks of gold across the wooden floorboards. His eyes narrowed slightly, studying the streets outside. Children darted between houses, laughter ringing out. A few men hauled lumber across the square, and several women stood chatting near the well. It was a far livelier sight than it had been months ago.

“Your village looks livelier than the last time I was here,” Escanor remarked, turning back to me. “Is it because of this project I’ve heard about… training these boys into guards? How did it go?”

I leaned back slightly, folding my arms. “It wasn’t so bad. Just a whole month of training.”

But of course, it wasn’t that simple. So I explained everything to them in detail—the physical drills, the marches, the way I forced them to endure sleepless nights, and the final week’s test where they had to fight monsters with no help from me. By the time I finished recounting the process, both Escanor and Eliana looked more than a little overwhelmed.

“Y-you did a lot for these boys… but don’t you think you’re pushing too hard?” Eliana finally asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Not really,” I replied with a shrug. “Compared to how regular soldiers are trained, I just followed the same methods. The only difference is that I compressed the lessons into a single month instead of spreading them out.”

“No, it’s completely different,” Escanor cut in, his brows knitting together. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’re driving them past their limits. If you keep this up, you might break them. How is it possible they didn’t lose their minds under that kind of pressure?”

I met his gaze calmly. “I had my ways. And the motivation was already there.”

Eliana tilted her head, curiosity softening her sternness. “What do you mean?”

“The village was attacked by bandits,” I said, my voice lowering. The memory of that night resurfaced “Luckily, I made it back in time to save them.”

Escanor’s eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade. “And you used that fear of the bandits to drive them into action?”

“Yeah,” I admitted without hesitation. “It may sound manipulative, but it had to be done. This is my home. I need to make sure the people here can defend themselves against the dangers of the world. At the very least, they should be able to handle small monsters and bandits.”

There was a long pause. The fire popped loudly in the silence.

“…I see,” Escanor finally said. “From what I’ve seen, you’ve trained them well enough. I noticed the colossus outside… did they really take it on by themselves?”

“Yep,” I said with a faint smile. “And more. They’ve slain ogres, wolves, harpies, and even wiped out a goblin camp. What they accomplished was no small feat.”

Eliana blinked, her lips parting in disbelief. “Wait—they fought those creatures without you leading them?”

“I guided them, yes,” I answered, folding my arms across my chest. “But I didn’t hold their hands. They had to stand on their own. That was the entire point of the training.”

Escanor let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “You turned farmers into fighters in just a month. That’s… dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Evelyn echoed, tilting her head in confusion.

“Because desperation breeds strength,” Escanor replied gravely. His voice carried the weight of a man who had seen too much war. “But it also breeds recklessness. If they survive long enough, they’ll either become heroes… or corpses.”

His words hung heavy in the air. Evelyn frowned, lowering her eyes. Eliana’s lips tightened, and even the fire seemed to dim for a moment.

I didn’t flinch. My voice was steady. “Then I’ll make sure they don’t die. They’ve already proven they can endure the cruelty of the world. Now, all that’s left is to harden their resolve. As long as they stay within my plans, they’ll survive.”

Eliana studied me for a long moment. Her eyes searched mine, as though trying to decide whether my determination was inspiring… or frightening.

Escanor leaned back at last, arms crossing over his chest. “What are your plans moving forward? You’ve made a company… but what comes after that?”

“I have my sights set on buying a mountain.”

Both of them blinked in unison. Escanor raised a brow, while Eliana leaned forward in her chair. “Care to elaborate?”

I allowed myself a small smile. “When I look at this village, I see more than just farmland. This place has the potential to thrive and grow into something far greater.”

“A city?” Eliana asked, her voice uncertain.

“Possibly. The soil is rich and the land is fertile, but that alone shouldn’t limit our options…the location itself is ideal for more than just farming. If we expand the population and build the economy, this village could rival a city.”

Escanor muttered under his breath, almost to himself. “A village… turning into a city…”

“Yes,” I continued firmly. “But for that to happen, I first need to raise the village’s reputation. And to do that, I must strengthen its security.”

“What do you mean by that?” Escanor asked cautiously.

“I intend to build a wall around the village.”

That caught them both off guard.

“A wall?” Eliana’s eyes widened. “Is that why you’re interested in buying a mountain? To use its stone for the walls?”

“Yes. That’s the general idea.”

Escanor shook his head slowly. “I don’t like it. You’re moving too fast. If this village builds walls, it’ll draw attention—and not the good kind.”

“Exactly,” Eliana added, her tone softer but no less concerned. “Why build a wall? From what I can see, the village isn’t in any real danger. Monsters rarely come this way, and the bandits are already dealt with thanks to your guards. So why put up a wall?”

I exhaled slowly, letting the firelight cast long shadows across the floor. “Because I’m preparing for the worst-case scenario.”

Eliana exchanged a glance with Escanor, then asked carefully, “And what kind of scenario would that be?”

“…War.” I said plainly.

The room went still.

“!!?” Escanor’s eyes widened.

“War?” Eliana repeated, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yes. Walls are the most secure way to protect a village from war.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Evelyn’s breath caught, and even she, who had been quietly listening until now, looked at me with shock.

“…I see,” Escanor finally said, leaning back with a grim expression. From his tone, it was clear he understood.

From then on, they didn’t press further about my plans. The air was thick, but the weight of the topic seemed to discourage them from pushing the matter. Instead, Evelyn nervously shifted the conversation.

“S-say… what do you plan to do with the Count? Now that he’s captured. Will he be executed?” Evelyn asked.

“Hmm, I don’t know. That’s for the king to decide.”

“R-really? After everything he’s done—human slavery, drugs, and worst of all… dark arts! Isn’t that enough to sentence him to death?”

“As far as we know, our orders were clear: capture the Count alive under suspicion of dark arts.”

“They? You mean it wasn’t the king who gave the order?” I asked.

“No… it’s rare for knights of our rank to meet the king directly. The one who gave the order was his most trusted child.” Escanor said.

“Child?” I was stunned. Something felt… wrong.

The king never loved his children. Everyone knew it. He used them as pawns—pieces for political marriages, tools to strengthen alliances. Even his firstborn was little more than a bargaining chip. A “trusted child” didn’t exist.

“Y-yes. I’m sure you’ve heard of her. In recent months her name’s spread across the kingdom for her accomplishments. At first, she created a healing potion so potent it overturned the kingdom’s economy. She even commanded her own army and crushed an infiltration of assassins. She also predicted and stopped many black mages from terrorizing the kingdom. Her achievements are nothing if not amazing.” said Escanor.

“…”

“It’s Princess Velorria Goldenson.” said Eliana.

And from then on, my face went pale. My skin prickled, every hair standing on end at the sound of her name.

‘What?!’ I asked myself.

Truly… what has she been doing to this kingdom?

The very mention of her name brought a heaviness to my chest.

“Princess Velorria is no ordinary noble. Stories whispered in taverns and marketplaces painted her as a woman of unshakable will, clever beyond her years, and unafraid of breaking tradition. Some hailed her as the kingdom’s shining hope; others feared she would plunge the realm into turmoil. I’m surprised you’ve never heard of her.” said Escanor.

But I do know her…

Her name was a reminder of power that moved too swiftly, like an unpredictable storm.

“Oh, and speaking about the royal family…” Evelyn suddenly remembered something.

Her eyes widened as though a thought had clawed its way out of the back of her mind. She excused herself in a hurry, pushing back her chair and leaving me alone with her family.

The clinking of cutlery and the soft chatter of the others filled the room, yet my thoughts drowned everything out. Worry spiraled in my head, relentless and suffocating. My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the tablecloth beneath my palms.

“Are you okay, Thill? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

Eliana’s concerned gaze rested on me, her brow furrowed.

“…Ah—I’m fine,” I lied quickly. My throat was parched, so I reached for a glass of water. “I just need this. Been thirsty for a while.”

The coolness of the water calmed me only slightly, though it did little to still the storm inside.

Moments later, Evelyn returned. She was walking briskly, and in her hand, pinched delicately between her fingers, was an envelope of cream-colored parchment sealed with crimson wax. The seal glimmered faintly beneath the light—a royal crest pressed into the wax, unmistakable.

“What is that?” Eliana asked, her tone carrying the curiosity of someone already guessing the answer.

“It’s a letter,” Evelyn replied, her voice tight with disbelief. “And you wouldn’t believe me, but it’s an invitation—from the royal family themselves.”

Her words silenced the room. Everyone froze.

“A-An invitation from the Royal family!?”

“Yes. Asking us to attend the kingdom’s festival this coming spring.” Evelyn’s eyes flicked to me, a mixture of wonder and unease reflected in them.

She carefully unfolded the parchment. The writing was elegant, yet precise, every stroke deliberate, carrying the weight of authority. She cleared her throat and began to read aloud:

[To Evelyn Amber and her household,

By decree of Her Royal Highness, Princess Velorria Goldenson, you are hereby invited to attend the Grand Spring Festival of the Kingdom of Goldensun, to be held on the fifteenth day of Spring’s Dawn, within the walls of the capital.

The festival this year marks not only the season’s renewal but also a new vision for the kingdom—one of unity, progress, and prosperity. Her Highness believes your family has a role to play in shaping this vision. Thus, your presence is requested not merely as guests, but as contributors to the spirit of change that Her Highness wishes to cultivate.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the royal stewards who will escort you to your quarters. Attendance at the Grand Banquet on the first night, as well as participation in the closing ceremony, is expected.

As a measure of courtesy and safety, you are permitted to bring with you one personal guard of your choosing. No other escorts shall be granted entry beyond this allowance.

This invitation is not extended lightly. May your family’s presence serve as a symbol of the bridge between tradition and the future the kingdom seeks.

By my hand and seal,

Velorria Goldenson]

The room was utterly still when Evelyn finished reading. Even the fire in the hearth seemed to crackle more softly, as though the flames themselves feared interrupting the weight of the moment.

Eliana was the first to break the silence. “Why… why would Princess Velorria invite us of all people?”

Her voice carried equal parts awe and suspicion.

Evelyn folded the letter carefully, her hands almost reverent. “I don’t know. But I have heard whispers that the Princess has been inviting not only nobles of power but also families and individuals she deems… important for the future. Maybe she’s reaching out to people with political powers…and our family isn’t technically away from politics.”

The words only deepened the knot twisting in my stomach. Important for the future.

Was that her true aim—or was there something else behind it?

The others exchanged uncertain glances. Some of them looked thrilled, others uneasy. But me?

My mind was already elsewhere, racing with questions I dared not voice aloud.

Why was the letter sent to her? Why now? And what did Princess Velorria Goldenson truly want ?

The unease that had plagued me earlier only grew heavier.

For the world was changing—and Velorria Goldenson was the hand turning its gears.