Chapter 151: The Insurance Item
The dusk settled deeper behind them both.
All the campfires had been lit. Orange-red light spilled up from the valley between the hills, painting the ridgeline around them in a low, smoldering gold.
Somewhere in the distance, a soldier was shouting about something — probably a mix-up over the evening meal distribution. It died down quickly.
Lucian looked at the drive in Sebas's eyes — the look of a man who had found his direction — and hesitated for a long moment.
Finally, he reached into his coat and drew something out.
It was a round metal disc, slightly smaller than a palm. The surface had been polished smooth and caught the fading light with a dull copper gleam.
A magic gemstone no larger than a grain of rice was set into its center, giving off the faintest trace of blue light.
"Sebas." Lucian's tone had returned to its usual warmth, but there was a gravity in his expression that hadn't been there before. "This is a dual-signal magic tool developed by the Aindra domain."
He held the metal disc out on his open palm, offering it to Sebas.
"The function is simple." Lucian reached into his coat again and produced a second disc, nearly identical to the first. "Destroy either one, and the other will grow warm. The magic gemstone will turn red."
As he spoke, he tucked one of the discs back into his coat, then extended the other toward Sebas.
"When that happens — whatever trouble you're in — I'll bring the Aindra cavalry and come to you."
Sebas looked at the small metal disc resting in Lucian's palm. Something in his gaze softened.
"Lord Lucian." Sebas was genuinely grateful for the consideration — but he shook his head. "I don't believe this will be necessary."
He reached out and gently pushed Lucian's hand back.
"Even if the beastman nation's frontline forces turn back to engage me, my abilities are sufficient to manage them. And furthermore—"
"Sebas."
Lucian cut him off.
Lucian raised his head. His gaze met Sebas's directly. The dusk cast uneven shadow and light across his face, and the resolve in those pale green eyes gave Sebas a moment's pause.
"I know how strong you are." Lucian's voice was steady. "Stronger than anyone I've ever seen. You probably think carrying this around is just unnecessary baggage."
He paused. His throat moved slightly.
"But, Sebas."
Lucian stepped forward half a pace, closing the distance between them. He held the metal disc out again — and this time, pressed it directly into Sebas's hand.
"If something happened to you, I'd carry that regret for the rest of my life."
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Sebas looked down at the small disc now lying in his palm. The copper surface still held the warmth of Lucian's hand. The magic gemstone pulsed its faint blue light, flickering in and out between his fingerprints.
This young man standing before him could have stayed in his domain. Could have been the nobleman he was born to be — drinking tea, reviewing the accounts, waiting to inherit his title.
He hadn't.
For the sake of peace, he had chosen the harder road. A road that was thankless and difficult, and one that had put blood on his own hands.
And now he was standing here, worrying that this "old steward from the Empire" might come to harm.
Sebas's fingers closed slowly around the disc, until the metal was pressed in his palm.
"Lord Lucian. I'll take it." Sebas decided not to refuse the gesture any further — even if the device's only real function was giving Lucian peace of mind. "Thank you."
Lucian blinked. Then he laughed.
In the failing light, the laugh looked unexpectedly bright. Like someone who had finally let out a breath they'd been holding.
"Good." His tone lifted. "And don't go quietly throwing it away on me, Sebas. This thing took real work to make. The cost wasn't low either. If you toss it, I'll be heartbroken."
Sebas looked at the abrupt turn toward frugal indignation, and the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
"I won't."
"Good." Lucian gave a nod and turned back toward the camp. He had taken two steps when he looked back over his shoulder. "Sebas, have you eaten yet? The cook put a stew on tonight — mutton, more or less. About the same as what they serve in the Dragon Kingdom. Decent enough."
Sebas fell into step behind him.
"Then I'll take you up on that."
After dinner, Lucian didn't return to his tent.
He sat on a stone at the edge of the camp, lit by the nearest campfire, a half-cup of tea in his hand that had long since gone cold. His gaze rested on the hills beyond the camp, swallowed by the dark.
Sebas had already retired to his tent.
According to the new plan, he would set out alone at first light tomorrow, heading toward the beastman nation's front lines.
Lucian and his cavalry would follow behind, keeping half a day's distance.
Mop up the surrendering beastmen. Process the prisoners. Clear a few more villages on the way — though Lucian had promised Sebas he wouldn't use the old method with the captives anymore.
He turned the route over in his head, confirming nothing had been missed, and let out a quiet breath.
He looked down at the cup in his hand. The tea had gone completely cold. A fine layer of condensation had gathered on the inside of the cup wall.
Sebas only needed to fight at the front. Lucian had to think about everything behind it. That was considerably more work.
"Ah, well."
He let out a quiet sigh — not quite aimed at the cold tea, and not quite aimed at anything else either.
"Just have to push through it myself."
The words came out soft, taken by the night wind and scattered into the crackle of the campfire before they could reach anyone.
The next morning, before first light.
When Sebas stepped out of his tent, Lucian was already standing at the camp entrance waiting.
"Sebas." Lucian's voice came across the dark. "You're up early."
"Lord Lucian is no different." Sebas walked closer, and only then could see that Lucian's shoulders and the ends of his hair were covered in a fine layer of dew. He had clearly been standing there for some time.
Lucian didn't acknowledge that. He simply reached into his coat and held out a cloth-wrapped bundle.
"Rations. For the road."
Sebas took it. It had a solid weight to it.
"And this." Lucian unhooked a water skin from his belt and held it out. "Water. The water sources in beastman territory aren't necessarily clean."
Sebas took each item and attached them to his belt.
Lucian stood quietly for a moment after that.
"Sebas."
"I'm here."
"If you run into something you genuinely can't handle..." Lucian paused, as though choosing his words carefully. "Buy time. We'll come to you."
Sebas stilled slightly.
He looked at Lucian's eyes — unusually clear in the pre-dawn dark — and was quiet for a moment. Then he gave a small nod.
"Understood."
"Good." Lucian stepped back a pace. "Go on."
Sebas turned and walked out through the camp entrance.
Lucian stood where he was, watching Sebas's silhouette until it faded into the darkness.
Only when Germann's rough, carrying voice sounded from somewhere behind him did he pull his gaze back. He turned and walked into the camp.
The stage is set. What comes next...
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