Departure

The next day, the people are nosy again because the fort opened for the second time.

Eugene changes his clothes into a knight uniform and walks out of the room, receiving countless gazes, and being surrounded by the servants' whispers. They all knew that it was supposed to be the eldest young master who should take part in the war but before the sun rise, the Marquis immediately gathered his troops, ready to leave in a hurry.

Though they are glad that the eldest master would have not joined the battle.

However, Seeing Eugene made them throw a pitiful look at the second master who is the one that is enlisted for volunteers. Just what is the difference between volunteers and sacrifice? War is a dangerous place and either you go back injured or dead.

They are thinking that the second master is being put to death.

"Father."

Marquis Shradinza glance at his son and nodded. Euric was given a sleeping medicine, though he is aware that his son will get angry once he wakes up, still, he is this kind of selfish man. His eldest son is the only one suitable to inherit his position, he can't endanger his eldest because that is when opposition will exist. If his son is the one to join the war and got heavily injured, Eugene will be pushed to be his successor by their relatives.

He can't let that happen.

His second son is not suitable to take over his position.

Mounting his horse, Eugene waited for his father's order. The servants are already lining up, his little sister, and Eullian are still sleeping and his brother Euric was given medicine.

Only his mother stood there looking at them, dazed.

His father wave his hand and stood in front of his mother, bowing and saying, "For the glory of the Shradinza Household."

The soldiers raise their swords and shouted.

"FOR THE GLORY OF THE SHRADINZA HOUSEHOLD!"

Marchioness Celisha couldn't hold back her tears and hugged her husband, expressing her worries. After that, she pulls out an embroidered handkerchief and places it on her husband's hand wishing for his and his army's safe return.

Eugene averted his gaze.

He's not expecting his mother to give him something. Now that her beloved son stays with her, her only worries would be her husband.

"Eugene."

Eugene flinch and lowered his head: "What is it, Mother?"

Marchioness Celisha wipes her tears, "Mother, Mother is thankful to you. So, Mother hopes for your safe return too. After the war ends, Mother will make it up to you."

Euegen's eyes turn cold, "I don't need it."

"Y-You---"

Marquis Shradinza held his wife and shook his head.

"We'll be leaving. I told Simon and Raphael to stand by in case Euric wake-up and go mad. Calm him down and explain, don't make him blame himself."

Marchioness Celisha sighed and nodded.

The army of the Shradinza family march away, the rest of the Del Viltaria was led by Casimin, and the half of the battalion of Karsten was brought by Kaizer. Eugene is sitting on the horse with a cold expression looks so majestic. The people who are people couldn't help but take a second look and whispers around. Some also found out that it was not the eldest who participate but the second son which confuse them.

The royal army led by the second prince will depart tomorrow.

Count Rozans who heard the news that his son's friend join the war got nervous and called his wife, telling her not to let their son hear about Eugene's departure. Their eldest son also join the war and he departed with the army of the grand duke's son. No one knows how long will this war last so they are hoping for the soldiers' safety.

——When the army step outside the empire, Euric woke up with a headache. When he saw the bright son outside from the window, he opened and closed his eyes before getting up slowly, wondering how he sleep too much today.

After doing his morning routine he steps out of his room.

"Ah?! Master?!"

Euric looks at the servants who are panicking.

"The eldest master is awake! Go inform the Madam!"

Euric frown, thinking that his mother is sick again so she is finding him. Walking, when he come near the window in the hallways to look at the practice spot of the soldiers, his pupils dilated.

"You!" Euric turned around and grab the servant near him and asked with a trembling voice: "Where are the soldiers?!" Why is no one doing morning practice? Why can't he see a single soldier of their family around, also why is the mansion so quiet?

"E-Eldest Master---"

"Answer me!"

Before the maid could open her mouth, Simon and Raphael already arrived: "Eldest Master, please calm down, you are hurting the maid."

"Simon where are the soldiers?!"

Simon and Raphael look at each other.

Euric already doubt things but seeing the two in silence made him irritable and angry so he shouted: "Are you not answering me?! Tell me! Did Father depart already without telling me?! Who? Who did he take?! Did he take Eugene instead of me?!"

"Master, calm---"

"Answer me! I should have realized when my father refuses to tell me what day will the army depart! Tell me Simon, did my father plan this? Did you know?! Why Eugene?! I'm the eldest! I'm the future heir of the household! I should be the one joining the war for the glory of the Shradinza household! It's my duty! My responsibility as the heir! So why did my father take my little brother away?! Answer me, Simon!"

Simon closes his eyes.

"Eldest Master, The Marchioness refuses to let you take part in the war so the second master recommends himself in your stead."

Euric paused and his eyes turn red.

"And he agreed?! Why would he agree?! That's my little brother! Why did he not ask my opinion if I wanted my little brother to take my place as a volunteer?!"

Raphael clicks his tongue.

"Isn't it the Marchioness? Only the marchioness can influence the marquis's decision."

Simon's pupils dilated and he look at Raphael with a warning.

Raphael just shrugged.

"What? Of all of the people in the mansion, only the Marchioness openly beat young Master Eugene. It's no wonder that she will make a decision to save his precious son from danger in exchange for sacrificing the son she hated."

"Raphael!"

Raphael let out a loud tsk and look away.

Euric who listens to what Raphael is saying clenches his fist and pushed Simon away, ready to confront his mother. He hated it, why would his young brother need to experience war? Why would his little brother need to be the sacrifice? Why? Why his parents treated his younger brother like he is just a tool for the family to use?

Just when did the family he loved, become the family he hated?

——On the third day of departure, the second Prince Maxmilian led his troops. The last opening of the fort and no one knows when will the fort open again to receive the soldiers who take part in battles. They hope for the empire's victory and glory, hope for the safe return of their relatives.

The empire returned to its original state and everyone continue their lives.

The former Meza Eustos are given recognization in exchange for the canceled selection to promote them as Neva Eusto. The coming-of-age they thought would be postponed is still held on the same date under the revised decree of the emperor.

It's been three days since Eugene left the empire with his father.

They still have yet to reach the border of the Nacos, it will take one week for horses but those magicians, the wizard army of the Del Viltaria, arrived in just a second and become the only communication that connected them to what's currently happening in the border of Nacos.

"Eugene, eat this."

"Yes. Thank you, Father."

Eugene receives the food that his father has given to him and ate silently on the corner.

It's not that he is isolated but he just chooses to not associate that much. Just like his father who is silent and is sitting beside him, the two seem to have a tacit understanding of the I-Don't-Want-To-Talk feeling so the soldiers also avoided them.

On the west side, Kaizer is communicating with his father through voice transmissions.

"Duke Del Viltaria is already laying out a spell, when you arrived let's talk about the defense and attack plan. Remember to stay alert to avoid being ambushed by spies."

"Yes, Father."

"Right, did your grandpa visit you?"

"Well, he tells me to leave you alone and not participate in war."

The grand duke snort: "Don't listen to that old man, Dad has been bringing you into the warzone since five years old, what is he doing now snatching you? He just wanted to bring you back to the Catharis dukedom to annoy me."

"But Dad, Grandpa said that I will soon be sent over there once my brother awakens."

The grand duke grunted, "If you go there, I'll live there too. I'll annoy the old man."

Kaizer feels helpless by his father's childishness.

"If you go with me wouldn't brother be alone?"

"Forget about him, that bastard won't treat me as his father. Don't get me wrong son, Daddy loves both of you but your elder brother is just...he is too hardhead and refuses me."

"Because you seal him, Dad."

"Don't talk about it, it makes me look so bad. Is that old man tarnishing my reputation so you would think badly of your father? I tell you, your grandpa is also a two face bastard, he had no other cute grandson so he is trying hard to snatch you home!"

"Dad!"

"Listen to Dad, your grandpa like snatching cute babies. He even takes a bride for your cousins and uncles, he's that bad so don't learn from him!"

"Then Dad, If I want a bride too I can just ask grandfather?"

"Don't think about it! Dad will do it!"

"Dad...you're so bad too."

The grand duke was caught off guard and faked a cough: "Little one, are you teasing Dad?"

"Whatever."

The grand duke feels wrong, what to do when your son is in his rebellious period? Asking for help online. Urgent!

——After resting a bit, the Shradinza soldiers resume their journey.

Eugene mounts his horse and looks ahead with a serious expression. A while ago, after eating his father talk to him about the situation in Nacos. When his father mentions that a strange person suddenly appear in Biscotti, fall from the sky, and created this strange transportation to be us in war, Eugene already had an idea what is it.

But they have nothing to fear.

A modern military vehicle or military weapon that is brought or made into this world has no threats in this world.

Why? Because magic exists here.

Even if you create a nuke in the hope of destroying a kingdom or empire. It's no use because every territory has a high-level barrier that is protecting its own place from strong explosives. Probably, the reason why the emperor and others feel threatened is that they thought this modern military vehicle is capable of counterattacking magic which is a big no.

Now, he wanted to know which stupid person made that kind of thing in this kind of world.

All he can say is...

It's destroying Artha's history and the balance of this world.

Nothing that is not belonging in this world, shouldn't exist, and this person just made a big mistake, so no matter what, he must find that otherworldly existence to prevent him from disturbing the flow of this world.

Or else...

The possibility of Artha disappearing once becoming out of the heavens' control is huge.

A literal end of the world.

Thinking of that, Eugene's eyes darken and his aura turn gloomy.

His existence already put imbalance in the world, if another being brought changes then the heavens will bestow a punishment, and innocent people will suffer. He's not that heartless to overlook other people's life especially since he is now a god and control everyone's fate. So whether that otherworldly person or the gods and goddesses, as long as they don't have his permission, no one is allowed to suffer from the unfairness of the heavens.

Not under his watch, can the heavens punish the deceased.

Only he has the right to judge.

Because he is the one holding the people's life record, only he knows what they have done good and evil. Only he...can bestow punishment.

They have no right to defy him.

Even the creator.