“Father, are you looking for me?”

After walking across the expansive courtyard of the Duke’s mansion, Moen finally arrived at the front gate of the residence, where he saw Duke Ron Campbell and…

“Huh? Mother, you’re here too?”

“Little Moen, how are you feeling?”

Moen’s doting mother, Noyce Campbell, was also standing at the front door. The moment she saw him, she rushed forward with a look of concern and enveloped him in a hug.

“The healing spell didn’t have any side effects, did it? Sigh, I told you to stay away from that princess. She’s got bad luck written all over her face. Look at what she’s done to our little Moen!”

“Er… no need to worry, Mother. My I'm feeling better now,” Moen replied, smiling wryly while enduring his mother’s suffocating embrace.

“But if you keep holding me like this, I might actually pass out.”

“Hmph, what's wrong with me hugging my precious son?”

Noyce pouted like a young girl and reluctantly let go of him.

“You’re just too indulgent with Moen,” Ron Campbell chimed in, stepping over with a deliberately stern look.

“As a man, he should go through some hardships. Otherwise, how will he grow?”

“Hardships, huh? Do you even realize your so-called hardships nearly take your son's life?!”

The thought of that incident still made Noyce uneasy. Her eyes reddened as she hugged Moen tightly once more.

“Little Moen, promise me you'll stay far away from that woman in the future, alright?”

“… I will.”

Moen twitched the corner of his mouth.

He did want to avoid Celicia for a while, especially since he still didn’t know how to face her. But wasn’t it you two who arranged that engagement in the first place? With the engagement in place, where exactly can I escape to?

“Hmph, it’s all because your useless father here,” Noyce muttered, rolling her eyes at Ron as if she could read Moen’s thoughts.

“He can’t even annul an engagement.”

“Ahaha, well, Celicia is His Majesty’s beloved princess. If I mention this to His Majesty, I might just get poisoned by the wine they offer,” Ron said awkwardly, scratching his head with a forced laugh.

“Heh.”

Moen chuckled awkwardly twice along with him, then shifted the topic.

“By the way, Father, why did you call me here? Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

Looking beyond his parents, Moen noticed a lavish carriage parked nearby. It's not the ordinary horses pulling it—they were majestic griffins.

“Are you heading out? And bringing griffins too? Is it a long journey?”

“That’s right. It’s actually the matter I wanted to discuss with you,” Ron said with a sigh.

“Your mother and I need to make a trip. We might not be coming back anytime soon.”

“Not coming back for now…? For how long?”

Moen’s head buzzed at his father’s words.

I just crafted an elaborate series of plans with you as the linchpin of it all, Father. If you leave, what am I supposed to do?

“Well… I’m not sure. There are too many variables, but it’s safe to say we won’t return in the short term.”

Aware that this sudden departure might be unfair to Moen, Ron flashed him an apologetic grin.

“It all happened quite unexpectedly, you see. My hands are tied.”

“‘Quite unexpectedly’? What’s the meaning of that…?”

“The Abyss on the western front—those damned demons are stirring up trouble again.”

“The Abyss…”

Moen froze.

The so-called Abyss referred to a peculiar dimension filled with chaos, death, and unspeakable horrors. It was dominated by demons, the archenemies of humanity.

Even with the Demon God sealed away, the demons of the Abyss continued using it as a stronghold to relentlessly attack the human continent, seeking to overturn their defeat and unseal the Demon God.

Leopard Empire was the largest human nation bordering the Abyss, not only because of the Empire’s vast territory and strength but also due to its unfortunate geography. This meant the Empire bore the brunt of the Abyss’s pressure.

So whenever the Abyss stirred, the Empire had to respond with utmost vigilance. Failing to do so could lead to catastrophic consequences for countless imperial citizens.

However, the flip side of this vigilance was clear: if the Abyss posed a challenge grave enough to mobilize the mighty Empire, then resolving the chaos wouldn't be a quick matter for sure.

“That’s right, now I remember.”

A flash of realization struck Moen’s mind.

“The original novel mentioned this segment—demonic invasions from the Abyss. But wasn’t this supposed to be a diversion? The goal was simply to confuse humanity and pave the way for a larger plan three years later.”

“And three years from now is when the protagonist transitions into the ‘Hero of Salvation’ arc.”

“Wait, three years?!”

Moen’s face turned pale.

Does this mean Father will be at the frontlines for at least three years?

Then what about my plans? My future mentors? My security? My cushy dream of staying hidden until I can shock the world?

With Father stationed at the front…

Poof—gone.

Before they could even be put into motion, the plans would officially go up in smoke.

“D-d-d-does it absolutely have to be you, Father?” Moen stammered. “Can’t they send someone else?”

“I know you’re worried about me.” Mistaking Moen’s protests as concern for his safety, Ron smiled warmly and patted his shoulder.

“But this time, I have to go.”

“Why?”

“Because of this.”

Ron gestured to the emblem on his chest—a family crest.

It bore the image of a sword slaying a dragon.

The Campbell family, known as the ‘Sword of the Empire,’ had always symbolized the sharpest blade of defense since the Empire’s founding.

When war called, Ron Campbell was duty-bound to stand at the forefront.

“I see…”

Moen realized there was no use arguing any further.

“What about Mother?”

His gaze shifted to his mother, who clearly intended to leave as well.

“Is Mother going to the frontlines too?”

“Of course not.” Noyce shook her head.

“Your father is simply giving me a ride on his way.”

“A ride? Where are you going?”

“Back to our family’s fiefdom, Campbell Territory.”

“Huh? Why? Why are you heading back alone to the fief?”

“Because…”

Noyce’s expression softened, a hint of shyness crossing her face.

“There’s something we haven’t told you yet, little Moen.”

“What is it?”

“Actually…”

Noyce placed a hand on her belly, her eyes radiating maternal bliss.

“You’re going to have a little brother.”

“Or maybe a little sister,” Ron interjected as he reached over to hold Noyce’s hand, his face wearing an equally tender smile.

“How does that sound? Are you happy?”

“Huh?”

Happy? Moen couldn’t tell. What he definitely felt was shock.

(⊙o⊙) What?

A brother? Or a sister?

You’re not joking, right?

Isn’t the Campbell family famously known for having only a single heir for generations?

“Ah, to think I would be the one to finally break the Campbell family’s single-lineage curse in my lifetime,” Ron exclaimed with a rare display of soft emotion as tears welled up in his eyes.

“Truly a blessing from the heavens. The ancestors would be overjoyed to hear this news.”

“Exactly.”

Noyce continued,

“So, to ensure a smooth pregnancy, I’ll be returning to Campbell Territory’s countryside for some time. After all, once little Moen starts school, I’ll be left alone here in the Duke’s mansion. It’s better to avoid those bothersome aristocratic ladies altogether and enjoy some peace and quiet.”