Chapter 412: Past Self


    By my authority as the Warden of the North, I, Arnold Lakes Adler,mands Marshal Lizelotte, lead thebined army of the Allied Eastern Nobles and the Northern Border Defense Force and defeat the Dominion.


    As youmand.


    Receiving my order, Lize-aneue leads the knights to join the Northern Border Defense Force.


    The Dominion Army is not aware of Abrahams failure yet.


    If they know then they will surely try tounch the first strike but it is us who has that opportunity


    I have already sent out a messenger.


    General Harnisch who is currently inmand of the Northern Border Defense Force is surely preparing for the invasion in secret right now.


    As soon as Lize-aneue arrived, the invasion will start.


    Although we still can not conclude the arrangement with their uncorrupted aristocrats, we have sessfully secured Princess Marianne. There is no doubt that the enemy will be in chaos when we arrive. Once Lize-aneue breaks through their border, those aristocrats will surely sneak out to contact us themselves.


    The Dominion is not worth worrying about anymore. It is only a matter of time until they fall.


    More importantly.


    How is she holding up?


    [Elna]Not good..


    That bad huh?


    Her wounds are pretty deep but that is not the problem. Its the effect of that magic sword. It seems that its power is interfering with the healing magic.


    Mias wounds are graver than I expected.


    She was pierced in her left shoulder and right foot. Moreover, there were arrows stuck all over her body.


    The healing magic my subordinate used can only amplify the natural healing power. Thats how the magic closes the wounds. But the power of that magic sword is interfering with it so we cantpletely close her wounds.


    So it has the effect of preventing the wounds it inflicts from closing huh


    Whatever the principle behind it was, the result is clear.


    What a troublesome magic sword.


    That magic sword was already put under a strict watch. We cant have a magic sword that can control its user runs freely. We also need to find out how Abraham got his hand on such a thing too.


    There are many things to do but right now I dont have enough time.


    Please do your best to help her.


    I will. But we are not healing experts here. I dont know how much we can do.


    Can you stabilize her until we reach the Imperial Capital?


    Impossible. I cantpletely stop the bleeding. I managed to stop it for now but


    So she was injected with something that interfered with that or it was a magic power with the same effect.


    Either way, we need powerful healing magic to heal her.


    I think I should be able to ovee it if I use mine at full power but if I use it now, surely, my identity will be exposed.


    It would be bad if I dont find a chance to use it soon though.


    At worst, I will have to expose myself as Silver and use it.


    When I thought so far.


    Prince Arnold.


    My name was called with a muffled voice.


    Looking back, I was met with a man donning a blue mask.


    Elna intuitively unsheathed her sword at the man who suddenly appeared behind us.


    Who are you?


    Vater, I am a thief operating in the Dominion.


    A thief? You are?


    Certainly, Mia was exceptionally strong as a thief.


    However, this Vater easily surpasses her.


    Theres no way that Elna would not notice that.


    If you doubt my identity then you can check it out with the princess.


    Elna, lower your sword. Hes on our side.


    I cant see how he is on our side. I have distrust toward people wearing masks after all.


    Even so, he is on our side. Can we talk privately? Vater.


    Id like that.


    While being looked upon by Elnas dissatisfied gaze, I invited Vater to the tent I prepared.


    Well, We are already doing our best to treat Mia. Is that what you came here to ask? Vater, no..Jack.


    So youve already heard everything from Silver huh?


    It was me who asked Silver to sabotage the Dominion in the first ce. He refused me but I was quite surprised that we gained the cooperation of another SS-rank adventurer instead. But whats even more surprising was the fact that Mia is a daughter of an SS-rank adventurer. Still, thanks to that connection, we managed to get your cooperation. Im grateful.


    I didnt do it for the Empire.


    Taking off his mask, Jack sat down on the chair.


    I know.


    It was all for Mia.


    As promised, we haveunched a counter-invasion. The corrupted aristocrats will be punished. Now there is no reason for Mia to continue being a Chivalrous Thief.


    if she survives that is.


    You were listening huhIm sorry that I couldnt get to her in time. It was all my fault.


    I was the one who advised the princess to move up the schedule.I thought that it would be fine as long as I take care of the pursuits from the capital.


    So thats why you did not show up until now huh. What is the state of their capital garrison right now?


    Mostly destroyed.


    Thats good news. For the Empire that is.


    Saying so, I stood up.


    The talk is over.


    Jack probably doesnt want to talk long either.


    Prince Arnold.


    I will deal with the Imperial Knights. You can go see her. Butthe treatment we can do here is limited. We will do our best but dont expect too much.


    Thank you.


    Jack briefly answered and held his head as he cast his eyes down.


    If Jack hadnt suppressed the pursuits from the capital then Mia would have been chased all the way from there and the noble that helped her wouldnt be safe either.


    The overall damage was minimized.


    However, if Jack was with Mia, it wouldnt turn out like this


    Of course, I dont know whether Mia will ept such a n or not.


    However, He probably cant help but regret that.


    Even more so when he possesses enough power to protect her.


    I understand that feeling of helplessness well.


    If we cant save our loved ones with our power, then what meaning does it have?


    I needed Leo to recover from that.


    I left the tent while ovepping Jack with my past self.


    Night.


    I was in front of the tent where Mia was being treated.


    The Imperial Knights continued their treatment without any rest.


    Even if they can not close the wounds, they can slow down the bleeding by regrly applying healing magic.


    But thats all they can do.


    How is she doing?


    Unfortunatelywe already tried everything..


    I seecan you leave us alone for a while?


    Leaving her untreated too long would be unwise, Your Highness.


    Dont worry.


    I dismissed the Imperial Knights from the tent.


    At the same time, Jack appeared in his mask.


    Without saying anything, I entered the tent.


    Mia was sleeping on the bed inside.


    A bandage is wrapped around her wound. The effect of the healing magic is probably still working.


    Jack shakenly approached Mia and kneeled in front of her.


    He tremblingly reached out his hand and touched Mias forehead.


    do you think I failed as a parent?


    I dont know. Each child feels differently about such a thing after all.


    theres no way that I was a good parent to her. When this child was born, I abandoned my responsibility as a father. I left her with my wife and devoted myself to being an adventurer. A strong adventurer that everyone can rely on. It was enjoying to be that person. Thats when my wife gave up on me


    ButI only have gratitude toward my wife and her father, my mastershe wouldnt have grown up so strong if I raised her myselfshe grew up to be a child who can protect others


    It seems that he doesnt deny it.


    Mias way of life.


    So he ns to only me himself huh.


    He is not some superviin. Everything cant possibly be all his fault.


    However, Jack, who suffers from that feeling of helplessness can not afford to think that way.


    The one who bears the most me is his powerless self.


    His back looks terribly small right now.


    ..I wonder why I dont have the power to heal someone


    I used to wonder the same thing myself.


    I see.how did you recover from it?


    Jack took off his mask and looked at me.


    Tears are running down his cheeks.


    A man like Jack wouldnt cry in front of people.


    Thats how important this is to him.


    She is the daughter that he finally found. This much is only natural huh.


    I take a vial of water out of my pocket and gently put it to Mias mouth.


    What is that.?


    Just simple water. It doesnt have any effect. To us that is.


    What are you nning..?


    I bitterly smiled at Jacks question.


    It cant be helped.


    He is ovepping too much with my past self right now.


    Besides, sooner orter, Jack will connect the dots himself. I interfered too much this time.


    Then it would be better for him to take a part in my y.


    Vater, who is actually an SS-rank adventurer, gave her an incredibly expensive healing potion. The potion was very potent, and Mias condition greatly improved. Thats the scenario anyway.


    What are you saying?


    You asked how I recovered from that feeling right? I told myself that my power was not in vain. That I can save someone else who feels that same feeling of helplessness. That my magichas its purpose.


    Saying so, I first set up a concealment barrier and covered Mia in a healing barrier.


    Barrier-type healing magic consumes a lot of magic power but this time it did not consume much. This should be within the permissible range.


    I continue maintaining the healing barrier for a while.


    Mias wounds healed little by little. This is because my magic is erasing the lingering effect of the magic sword.


    Then I broke my barrier. I would be surprised if she ispletely healed with this.


    Dont tell me.she is healed?


    Not fully. But the Imperial Knights should be able to treat her with their healing magic after this.


    .


    Jack grabbed Mias hand with both of his and silently cried.


    Turning my back on Jack, I tried to leave the tent.


    However, Jack stopped me.


    Wait


    What? Ahh, yes, I will reveal your identity. To the Imperial Knights that is. I think that it would be better for you to disappear before they start asking questions you know?


    Got itI will do that..You have my thanks..Silver.


    Whatever are you talking about?


    ..Thank you..Prince Arnold.


    You are wee.


    Saying so, I left the tent.


    Then, Sebas appeared behind me.


    Are you going to give me a sermon now?


    Sermon? never..As an SS-rank adventurer, Jack-dono is someone very far away from the session war. Besides, Mia-dono is also his only weakness. Doing your best for her would greatly put him in your debt. Even if he knows who you are, Im sure that his lips are sealed. It was a good move, sir.


    Lets leave it at that then.


    Certainly, sir.


    I answered Sebas with a bitter smile while Sebas also did the same.


    The result turned out good.


    However, I would have done the same even if it turned out badly.


    If I continue to calcte my profit here, Mias condition will only worsen.


    That would probably put me on Jacks bad side as well.


    After all, that was for the best.


    For my personal feelings as well.


    Jack suffered from the same helplessness I once felt.


    I couldnt abandon him.


    Now then, lets go talk to Elna.


    Saying so, I started walking while slightly stretching my muscles.


    The next day, Elna, who understood the circumstances, tried to search for Jack but his figure was nowhere to be seen.


    It would be a big problem if an SS-rank adventurer cooperated with the Empire.


    Thats why I forbid everyone from talking about this and have the Imperial Knights take the credit for her recovery.


    That is one case solved.


    Thinking so, I took my time returning to the mansion in the Zweig Territory. However, what was waiting for me there was a letter from Father.


    Take princess Marianne and return to the capital huh..


    This doesnt seem to be avoidable, sir.


    One problems gone and another immediately took its ce huh..


    After I tiredly sighed at the letter, I threw it on the desk.


    How will Father treat Marianne?


    I have to n various moves depending on his answer.


    But whatever he is nning to do with her, I have to let them meet once.


    Im returning to the Imperial Capital.


    As you wish, sir.


    Saying so, I decided to return to the capital.