Chapter 30: Before It Begins, It Ends Already
“Father, did you summon me?”
Winding through the vast courtyard of the Duke’s mansion, Muen finally arrived at the front gate, where he met Duke Ronan Campbell, and…
“Hmm? Mother is here too.”
“Little Muen, how are you feeling?”
Muen’s adoptive mother, Noyas Campbell, was also at the gate. As soon as she saw Muen, she embraced him with a pained expression.
“I hope the previous treatment spells didn’t have any side effects. Sigh, I told you not to get too close to that princess. She’s a bad omen. Look, she’s caused our little Muen to suffer like this.”
“Well… Mother, there’s no need to worry. My body is fine now.”
Enduring his mother’s tight embrace, Muen chuckled and said, “But if you don’t let go soon, Mother, you’ll suffocate me.”
“Hmph, what’s wrong with hugging my good son?” Noyas retorted as she held onto him.
Noyas pouted like a girl and reluctantly released Muen.
“You, you just spoil Muen too much.”
Ronan Campbell also approached and pretended to be serious. “As a man, you should endure a bit more hardship to grow, right?”
“Hardship, hardship! Do you know that your son almost lost his life because of your so-called hardship?”
At the thought of that incident, Noyas couldn’t help but feel a little frightened. She suddenly reddened her eyes and held Muen’s hand, saying, “Muen, promise me, stay away from that woman in the future, okay?”
“…I will.”
Muen’s lips twitched.
Of course, he also wanted to keep his distance from Selicia for the time being, especially since he didn’t know how to face her now.
But wasn’t that engagement arranged by you two elders? With the engagement in place, where can I hide?
“Hmph, blame it on your useless father.”
As if seeing through Muen’s thoughts, Noyas couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Ronan beside her.
“Can’t even break off an engagement.”
“Ahahaha, after all, Selicia is the beloved princess by His Majesty. If I were to mention this matter to His Majesty, I might even end up being served poisoned wine,” Ronan scratched his head, chuckling.
“Hehe.”
Muen chuckled along, then changed the subject, saying, “Speaking of which, Father, did you summon me for something?”
Muen looked behind the two and noticed a magnificent carriage parked there. What’s more, the carriage wasn’t pulled by the usual ordinary horses but by a majestic griffin.
“You’re going out? And you’re even bringing the griffin, are you going on a long journey?”
“Yes, that’s precisely what I wanted to tell you.”
Ronan sighed and said, “Your mother and I are going on a journey, and we might not be able to come back for a while.”
“For a while? How long is ‘a while’?”
Hearing his father’s words, Muen’s head buzzed suddenly.
I’ve just formulated a series of plans based on your instructions, Father.
What am I supposed to do if you leave?
“Well… I’m not sure either because there are just too many influencing factors, but for the short term, it’s unlikely we’ll be back.”
Seemingly aware that his sudden departure was a bit unfair to Muen, Ronan chuckled apologetically, “After all, it happened suddenly, I couldn’t help it.”
“Suddenly? Does that mean…”
“The Abyss on the western front, those damn demons are stirring again.”
“The Abyss…”
Muen was dumbfounded.
The so-called Abyss refers to a special space occupied by the archenemies of humanity in this world, the demon race. It’s filled with chaos, death, and unspeakable horrors.
Even with the sealing of the Demon God, the demons within the Abyss continue to use it as their stronghold, launching relentless attacks on the human continent, intending to counterattack and release the sealed Demon God.
The Leopold Empire is the largest country bordering the Abyss among the human kingdoms. This is not only due to the empire’s strength and vast territory but also because it bears the brunt of the pressure from the demon race.
So, whenever there’s a significant activity in the Abyss, the Empire must be on high alert. If the front lines were to collapse, countless citizens of the Empire could be engulfed in disaster.
Conversely, when the Abyss stirs in a way that even the vast Empire must prepare rigorously, it’s unlikely to be resolved in the short term.
“Yeah, I remember now.”
A flash of insight crossed Muen’s mind.
“The original book seemed to mention this part, the invasion of the demon race. However, it was just a feint attack, aimed at deceiving the human world and laying the groundwork for some plan of the demons three years later.”
“And three years later, that point marks the beginning of the protagonist’s journey to save the world.”
“Wait, three years?”
Muen’s face paled.
So, Father has to stay at the front lines for at least three years?
What about my plans?
What about my teacher?
What about my safety?
I was planning to stay hidden at home forever, then emerge to shock the world.
But with Father going to the front lines…
Slam! Cut off before I could even implement it? Is it all over before it even began?
“But, but… Does it have to be Father?” Muen trembled. “Can’t someone else go?”
“I know you’re worried about me,” Ronan said, comforting Muen by patting his shoulder. “But this time, it has to be me.”
“Why?”
“Because of this.”
Ronan showed Muen the badge on his chest. It was the Campbell family crest: a sword poised to strike down a dragon.
As the Imperial Sword of the Campbell family, it had represented the sharpest blade of the Empire since its inception.
So when war broke out, Ronan Campbell had to stand at the forefront.
“I see…” Muen realized that arguing further was futile.
“What about Mother?” Muen then turned his puzzled gaze toward his mother, who was clearly going with his father.
“Mother, you’re going to the front lines too?”
“Of course not,” Noyas shook her head. “Your father is just giving me a ride along the way.”
“Along the way? Where are you going?”
“Back to our estate, the Campbell domain.”
“Huh? Why? Mother, why are you going alone…”
“Because…”
Noyas suddenly looked a bit shy.
“There’s something we haven’t had a chance to tell you yet.”
“What is it?”
“Well, actually…”
Noyas gently touched her abdomen, her expression filled with happiness.
“You’re going to have a little brother.”
“Or maybe a little sister.”
Ronan, beside her, grasped Noyas’s hand, his expression equally tender.
“How do you feel? Happy?”
“Huh?”
Muen didn’t know if he was happy or not at the moment; all he knew was that he was definitely shocked.
(⊙o⊙) What?
A little brother or sister?
You two aren’t joking, are you? Isn’t the Campbell family line supposed to be single-gender inheritance?
“Sigh, I never thought that the curse of single-gender inheritance in the Campbell family would be broken in my generation.”
Even the usually resolute and valiant Duke Campbell couldn’t help but shed tears of tenderness at the corners of his eyes.
“It’s truly a blessing from heaven. I believe our ancestors will be very happy when they know about this.”
“So,” Noyas continued:
“For the sake of better nurturing the child, I’ll temporarily return to the countryside of the Campbell domain. After all, Muen will start school soon, and staying at the Duke’s mansion, I’ll be all alone. It’s better to return to the countryside where I can avoid those annoying noblewomen and enjoy some peace and quiet.”
For the sake of better nurturing the child, I’ll temporarily return to the countryside of the Campbell domain. After all, Muen will start school soon, and staying at the Duke’s mansion, I’ll be all alone. It’s better to return to the countryside where I can avoid those annoying noblewomen and enjoy some peace and quiet.”
congrats big brother Muen !