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“You’ll see when we get there.”

Hindrasta’s face turned pale at my words.

“Where are we going?!”

“I told you, you’ll see. It’s nothing weird, so don’t worry.”

“You’re going to sell me to the Imperial Palace, aren’t you…”

“Do you think you’d fetch even a single gold coin? Just stay quiet.”

“How foolish of me…”

Hindrasta started shedding tears again, those big, sobbing ones. She sure cries a lot.

We continued driving along the road that skirted the outskirts of the city until we reached a vast expanse of farmland extending to the horizon.

This was the famous Calvasar Plain.

Starting near the capital Calvasar, it was a massive plain that could encompass an entire kingdom.

From this farmland, we could feed the entire Empire’s population, making it one of the key factors in the Empire’s rapid conquest of the continent.

There were numerous deep craters scattered across the farmland, remnants of fierce battles from the Four-Year War.

Back then, the Demon King’s Army had launched a large-scale mobile assault on this plain to capture the Empire’s capital, but they ultimately failed.

The terrain offered no cover, and they couldn’t withstand the barrage from the mages gathered from across the continent.

The Demon King’s Army, already weakened by the skirmishes with Linus and me, suffered a major defeat in the Great Battle of Calvasar and transitioned to a defensive stance, leading to their downfall with the formation of the Demon Kinging Slaying Special Unit.

But why would Linus live in a place like this, surrounded by nothing but fields and orchards?

I pulled out the letter from my pocket and double-checked the address. It was definitely somewhere around here.

Though it wasn’t a city center, the open view meant I should be able to spot it soon.

It’s quite pleasant here.

The sky is clear, a refreshing spring breeze is blowing, there’s nothing obstructing the view, and the farmers look lively.

“Why are you taking me to such a deserted place…? Did the Imperial Palace order you to get rid of me secretly? Huh? Is that it? Is that what this is about?”

Hindrasta continued to ramble nervously.

If this place had been far from the capital, I might have settled here instead of Brunswell ten years ago.

But then Olysia would have thrown a fit.

Brunswell, at least, was a port city with some semblance of urban life. Here, there’s absolutely nothing.

As we drove further, even Hindrasta’s mutterings ceased.

“Is that it?”

I pointed ahead, and Hindrasta lifted her head.

In the distance stood what looked like a castle or a palace, or rather, a grand mansion.

From afar, the mansion resembled a painting.

It was built of finely cut stone, its warm ivory walls gleaming in the sunlight.

The central building featured a classical design with large arched windows, elegant pillars, and a red-tiled roof with multiple chimneys, creating a balanced silhouette.

In front of the mansion stretched a well-maintained garden, its intricate landscaping and colorful flowers visible even from afar.

A stone-paved path led straight to the mansion’s front door.

Flanking the main building were several annexes, all built in a style harmonizing with the central structure, giving the entire estate a symmetrical, balanced appearance.

The vast backdrop of the Calvasar Plain made the mansion’s size and beauty even more striking.

“Y-you, you…!”

Seeing this, Hindrasta started sweating and babbling again.

“You’re giving me to a noble, aren’t you? You’re trading a pretty, cute girl for something, right? Or maybe this is for some pervert who likes polymorphed dragons… Eeek!”

I flicked her forehead, and she stopped mid-sentence, clutching her head.

As we approached the mansion, someone on horseback rode out to meet us.

“Mr. Dian, I presume? We’ve been expecting you. Please follow me.”

So, this was Linus’s house after all.

Linus, that bastard… he’s living quite well, isn’t he?

We followed the servant to the mansion’s entrance.

The entrance itself was grand and intricately crafted.

The large iron gate was adorned with detailed patterns and decorations, and an emblem was engraved above it.

It depicted two strongly clenched forearms crossing each other, intuitive design.

“From here, please walk. We’ll take care of the carriage and your luggage.”

As we dismounted, the gates smoothly opened, revealing a breathtaking scene that left Hindrasta gasping.

The view before us was of a stunning garden.

The well-manicured lawn spread out in a verdant expanse, with stone-paved paths branching in multiple directions.

The paths were lined with flowers in various colors, their fragrance carried on the breeze tickling our noses.

In the center of the garden was a large fountain.

Clear water shot high into the air, sparkling in the sunlight and creating a refreshing sound as it cascaded down, resonating throughout the garden.

Benches were placed around the fountain, offering spots for rest.

Trees were planted throughout the garden, each with wide branches providing ample shade.

Interspersed among the trees were various statues, each crafted with intricate detail, capturing the eye of anyone who beheld them.

In one corner of the garden was a small pond, with water lilies and lotus flowers blooming around its edges.

Peering into the pond, we could see fish swimming, while dragonflies flitted above, enhancing the pond’s serene atmosphere.

Hindrasta, mesmerized by the sight, murmured,

“Who on earth lives here…?”

“Dian!”

At that moment, someone called out my name from a distance.

A woman leaning on a cane stood at the mansion’s entrance, looking at me.

Dull brown hair, a freckled face, and a prosthetic left foot visible under her skirt.

It was my old comrade, Celine.

“Dian! It’s you, right, Dian?!”

“Celine!”

“Oh my God, Dian! It’s really you!”

Celine hobbled precariously across the garden, leaning heavily on her cane as she approached me.

“Stay there. I’ll come to you.”

To prevent Celine from overexerting herself, I ran to her, and she grabbed my hand with one of hers.

“Dian! I’ve missed you so much! How is it that you haven’t changed a bit?”

“It’s because I’ve been lazing around for ten years. But are you okay to be out like this?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve fully recovered. Oh, Dian, I’m so happy to see you again. But…”

Celine looked over at Hindrasta, who was standing there silently.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, she’s a special student from our academy. I brought her along for the weekend because I didn’t want to leave her alone. Her name is Sophie.”

“Welcome, Sophie.”

“Hello.”

Overwhelmed by the grandeur of the mansion, Hindrasta greeted her in a somewhat subdued manner.

“Pink hair and pink eyes, what a rare and beautiful combination. Come on in, both of you. Don’t just stand there; let’s go inside.”

Celine led the way towards the mansion, leaning on her cane with determination.

“Who is she…?”

Hindrasta asked in a low voice as we walked side by side.

“She’s my friend.”

“Why does she only have one leg?”

Hindrasta’s gaze drifted to Celine’s prosthetic leg peeking out from under her skirt.

In the battle at the Demon King’s Castle, Celine had lost her left leg below the knee.

Even with my knowledge of the future, I couldn’t prevent it.

The original story didn’t detail such specific events.

At least we managed to save her life with quick emergency treatment, which was a small mercy.

“But she said it was like you two parted ways ten years ago… That’s right when the war ended, isn’t it…?”

“Yeah.”

“If she’s your friend from the war…”

Hindrasta started to say something more but fell silent and stopped walking.

“Dian, you’re here.”

Linus stood smiling at the mansion’s entrance, holding a baby wrapped in a blanket.

“Thank you for coming all this way. Please, come in.”

“I had no idea you were living in such a nice place.”

“It’s all thanks to the Imperial Palace’s substantial support.”

“But why live in the middle of a field instead of the city?”

“This whole area is my territory.”

“What…?”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.

The Calvasar Plain, the most fertile land on the continent, right next to the capital, was Linus’s territory?

“Weren’t you originally promised land somewhere else?”

“That’s correct. But a few years ago, the Second Princess decided to reward my efforts by reorganizing part of her fief and granting it to me.”

“The Second Princess? She’s really generous.”

Yes, this made sense.

The idea that the hero who killed the Demon King would be exiled or betrayed was absurd.

“And who is this? She doesn’t look like the maid from last time.”

“Ugh…”

At that odd sound, I turned to see Hindrasta stiffening up and trembling as if having a seizure.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

Celine asked, but Hindrasta couldn’t even respond, looking ready to collapse at any moment.

A soft trickling sound followed.

“Oh dear!”

Looking down, I saw that Hindrasta had wet herself.

Seeing this, Linus’s expression turned to one of understanding and a gentle smile spread across his face.

“It’s been a while, Hindrasta.”

[Note: See pined comment for Celine + Chapter 48 illustration]