Soon, all of the Baron's duties in that place were over, and it was time for Elijah to return to the Baron's province.
She sneaked away from the baron and the servants who were busy preparing for the return, and went to the river bank to meet the boy.
“I have to go back now.”
When Elia met the boy, she said goodbye to him.
As she spoke, her face distorted greatly as she held back the increasing tears.
Again, she thought it fortunate that the boy had not seen her miserable appearance, and before they parted, she gave him a present.
It was a large doll, its eyes set with shiny black obsidian, a distinctive product of its homeland.
This doll was her favorite doll that she had held since her childhood, and she had brought it with her even when she came here with the Baron, and it was something precious to her.
The boy, who received the doll, asked where it was going.
She remembered the Baron's will, but she wanted to tell the boy her name and where she lived.
She hoped that his eyesight would recover and he would become a valiant soldier and come to visit her in Baron County.
“My name is...”
Then, the sounds of footsteps and collective murmurs were heard.
At a quick glance, they seemed to be knights from the noble family that ruled this place.
At that moment, the boy hurriedly fled.
That was their last meeting.
•
“Why do these memories come back so clearly today?”
Maybe because the black obsidian she had just seen in Lennox's room made her remember it more clearly.
Because she remembered the doll she gave the boy.
After she parted ways with the boy and returned to the Baron's estate, she no longer slept cuddling the doll.
The Baron and his wife bought her new dolls, but she just left them to decorate her room.
Every time she saw the dolls' sparkling black obsidian eyes, the boy's unfocused gray eyes constantly came to her mind.
She hoped that one day the boy would regain sparkling eyes like those of a doll made of black obsidian, and become a soldier.
Therefore, she hoped that he would protect her and the empire.
What would that child do now?
Illya sighed lightly.
This is all in the past.
Let's go to sleep.
She lay on the bed and closed her eyes.
•
In the darkness, Axion's blue eyes sparkled.
He was lying quietly on the bed, looking at the Baby doll in his arms.
Erhan's words pained his heart.
“Whether I become the best here or not, I don’t care.”
But he cared.
To fulfill his promise to “that girl,” he defied his father’s opposition and deliberately enlisted in the Grand Duke’s unit here, instead of the Imperial Army.
Because the Demon Resistance Force was currently far more influential and powerful than the Imperial Army.
But because of Erhan, it seemed as if all the efforts he had made so far had gone in vain.
He felt this frustration for the first time since his father placed a curse on him.
When he was a child, his father placed a curse on him that left him temporarily blind for training purposes.
Literally, everything went dark in front of him.
He had endured many training exercises before, but he could no longer endure.
Overwhelmed by fear and anger, he ran away from home and tried to end his life.
Then he met her and was saved.
But this time, who can save him?
He closed his eyes and touched his lips with his hand desperately.
He remembered the moment her lips touched his, more than ten years ago.
He strives to remember that feeling clearly.
Remembering that moment, Axion steadied his troubled heart.
If the other party doesn't even consider me a competitor, I will work to death to change that perception.
Anyway, working yourself to death is something I'm already familiar with.
After meeting her, he chose life over death, and has lived ever since, working hard until death as the price for it.
He closed his eyes and hugged Baby tightly.
The doll's bright black eyes shook slightly.
•
The next morning.
"Elle, are you okay?
You look a little tired."
"I'm fine.
I didn't sleep well last night."
Illya answered, yawning.
Because of Axion, old memories were recalled, making her feel disturbed and uncomfortable, so she couldn't sleep well.
'I should get some fatigue-relieving stimulants from Yusar at least before training.'
While she was thinking about this, Lennox said in a worried voice.
“More importantly, after I heard Yusar’s words yesterday, I specifically asked the military doctor to call home… but they didn’t answer the phone…”
Oh my God, it looks like Claude's family is too busy to answer the phone right now.
“But, I got a letter from my parents this morning.
I haven’t opened it yet… but I feel bad, it might be a rejection letter.”
He held out the sealed letter envelope to her.
Well, anyway, Linux will know everything soon.
“Open it though.
Even if it's a rejection, I'm fine...”
At the moment when Lennox was about to open the letter envelope, the restaurant boys cheered in unison.
"There!
Lennox has arrived!"
“Where, where?”
“He's there!”
Lennox stopped opening the envelope, and hid behind her, whispering.
“El, why are they acting like this all of a sudden?”
The boys here, who had been treating him like he didn't exist and ignoring him until now, were suddenly focusing all their attention on this aspect.
It seems that they have already seen the newspaper that Yusar left behind.
Just then, some boys approached Lennox.
“Lennox, sit here.
This is your place.”
“We brought your food here.
And Erhan’s food too.”
They gave them the best seat in the front of the restaurant.
The plates of food placed on the table were full of items, and even the cutlery was arranged meticulously without any error.
Illya looked at these noble young men and expressed her dissatisfaction.
'I expected so, but these boys, they have completely mastered the art of siding with the winning side.'
These noble boys, although in most matters clueless and arrogant, were extremely adept at sensing hierarchy and alignment.
“If anything is bothering you, just tell me.”
The noble boys looked at Lennox and spoke as if they were loyal servants.
They were about to spoon-feed him with their hands if he asked.
What a feeling of pressure, I can't even eat.
Family support is definitely really strong.
Then Lennox whispered with a puzzled face.
“I'm fine, everyone go...”
Immediately, the boys disappeared in an orderly manner and without hesitation.
I wish they had a quarter of this acumen in their military career!
“Waaaaaw!”
Suddenly, Lennox let out a loud shout, and all the boys turned to them.
The hand holding the letter after he tore the envelope was trembling.
Lennox did not care about the looks of those around him, and shouted to Elijah in an excited voice.
"Elle!
This is amazing news!
My parents said they can bring you all the items you asked for!
Claude's business has expanded tremendously!"
Sorry, but everyone here, except you, knew that a while ago!
•
After the special training on monsters, the troop's training had become normal.
Of course, this was ordinary compared to special training; But objectively, it was still like hell.
Illya participated in training sparingly, unlike when she used to run the training ground or train monsters.
This was because she did not want to be the target of Axion's wrath unnecessarily.
In addition, something has emerged that requires greater attention from training.
Specifically, their own business!
Thanks to Yusar's good promotion, the business was a resounding success in every sense of the word.
The magic soap and special snacks they had been craving were sold out immediately upon arrival, and everyone began using their products.
Except for Axion alone.
Axion looked at the special products they had brought with disdain, and even gave them, those who were in charge of this work, displeased looks.
Regardless, Elia and her companions continued the business.
Of all this, the most popular was Yusar's idea of an agency purchasing service.
“Please, bring me the coconut biscuits that are only sold in the capital's bakery!
I'll pay you any amount!”
“Bring me a fountain pen tip handcrafted from magical iron!
I will do anything if you bring it to me!”
“Bring me a pocket watch made by an authorized craftsman of the Imperial Court!
I will give you my life if you only bring it to me...”
As expected from such noble boys, all the requests were for luxuries, and as Yusar said, the price was what they set.
Of course, items that are prohibited from being brought into the unit were excluded.
A week after starting the business.
After she finished her hard training today, while Ilya was reviewing the weekly sales with Yusar in her room before bed, she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the account statement.
Her mouth opened in astonishment.
“…Is this amount real?”