A few days later, during the day.

"Tie, an invitation came from the imperial palace."

At Basto’s words, Tie lifted her head.

The child set Pupu down on the floor and asked,

"An invitation? What kind of invitaaaation?"

"It seems the palace is planning a grand event for those who will depart for the Central Continent in a month."

Tie snapped her mouth shut.

A grand event. The image of a lavish celebration immediately spread through her mind.

‘Come to think of it, Tie has never been to a big party!’

The people of the Tallocium Empire loved throwing parties for any occasion.

And the higher the host’s status and wealth, the more frequently they were held.

According to Selina, parties had puddings drenched in honey, cakes as big as a person, and bread and cookies that never ran out no matter how much you ate...

"Ugh, look at all that drool."

At that moment, someone wiped a finger across Tie’s lips.

"You’re already drooling just thinking about food, huh?"

When she turned, she saw Bale holding her in his arms, grumbling.

Tie blinked in surprise.

‘Bale... did he stop being mad already...?’

After the incident at the restaurant, where things had flared up, Bale had somehow started avoiding her.

At first, it made her very sad.

She had even quietly told Papa about it one night before bed.

‘Papa. Bale gets mad a lot lately.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know. But... whenever Tie talks about Grandpa Nordix, he gets mad. Even if I just say “gra...” he gets mad.’

‘......’

‘Bale... maybe he didn’t actually like Grandpa Nordix? So he isn’t sad that Grandpa is gone? Really?’

‘I don’t think that’s it.’

‘Really?’

The story Papa told her then was both sad and unexpected.

‘Bale loved Grandpa Nordix very much. He just doesn’t know how to show that sadness and regret.’

‘......Why not? You can just say you’re sad. Or cry, like Tie does.’

‘There are people who can’t do that. Actually, Papa isn’t very good at it either.’

‘Papa too?’

‘Yeah. Do you remember Papa’s armor? The one he wears when he fights magical creatures. When a person is in a lot of pain or very scared, they put armor on their heart too. So it won’t get hurt.’

‘......’

‘And then they start acting the opposite way. They love someone a lot—but pretend they hate them. They’re sad—but act strong. They’re afraid someone will see their weakness.’

‘Tie knows.’

‘......’

‘Like how Papa was cold to Grandpa and the uncles?’

Papa’s gaze had turned warm, but faintly sad.

‘Yeah. But you already took Papa’s armor off.’

‘When?!’

‘A long time ago. When you were born.’

They were a little strange words.

Tie had learned for the first time that Papa once wore such “armor,” and that she had taken it off.

‘But if it’s off, then that’s good.’

Tie quietly looked at Bale’s profile.

As always, he was frowning.

He asked Basto about the “grand event.”

"What’s it called? Ceremony of Glorifying Holy Titles? That already sounds overblown. What’s the point?"

"It says here: ‘an event held to honorably send off those who have received holy titles.’"

"Honorably send off? Yeah, right. Since when did driving people like pigs to the slaughter count as honor?"

"...Ahem."

Basto coughed.

Bale immediately stopped and closed his mouth.

He glanced at Tie—fortunately, she looked like she hadn’t understood anything.

He worried that the words “slaughter” and “pigs” might have scared her.

"Anyway."

Letting out a breath of relief, Bale narrowed his eyes again.

"If the invitation came to the base, that means all mercenaries are invited too?"

"Everyone included in the expedition is invited. And also—"

"Also?"

"It says invitees may bring family or close ones. Anyone who wishes to share the moment of departure."

Bale’s eyes widened, and Basto asked,

"Do you have someone to invite?"

Bale flinched and awkwardly looked away.

"No... it’s just..."

"You said you have younger siblings back in your hometown."

Tie’s eyes lit up.

She remembered how Bale would sometimes talk about them.

‘Tch, those brats. You can tell at a glance they’ll grow up causing trouble.’

‘You can tell just by looking?’

‘You don’t even need to look. All kids that age are trouble. Leave one alone and they’ll break something. Mine were the same.’

Or—

‘Why are you acting exactly like my younger siblings?’

‘You have younger siblings?’

‘Yeah. Loud and disobedient. Just like you.’

‘Hey!’

Most of their conversations were like that.

‘But Bale really loves his siblings.’

Tie could see it.

Whenever they walked through Flint Cove or passed by children, Bale’s gaze would linger on them.

"Bale! Let’s invite your siblings!"

she said brightly.

Bale hesitated and looked away.

"...My siblings?"

"Yeah! You have money and a house now! And there’ll be lots of tasty food at the ceremony!"

"..."

"They like tasty food too, right? Just like Tie? And if you go to the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Central Continent, you won’t see them for a long time! You should meet now."

Bale ran a hand through his hair, like his head hurt.

"Yeah, but..."

"Tie’s right, Bale."

Basto cut in.

He looked at Tie, then continued,

"Didn’t you hear what the vice squad leader said? There will be more to deal with on the Central Continent than it seems."

Bale’s gaze grew heavy.

In truth, he already knew.

This expedition wouldn’t be simple.

Suddenly, he remembered how Tesetan had gathered him, Basto, and the others a few days ago.

"Once the march begins, it will be hard to leave."

After a long pause, Tesetan had said it plainly.

"I’m not going to force anyone to stay. But later, you might not have a choice—so decide now."

Everyone in Agavert was under the Cleansing of Oblivion.

Meaning anyone could safely leave the squad at any time.

Simply by erasing everything important and dangerous from their memories.

"On the Central Continent, trouble is almost guaranteed."

Tesetan’s words were obvious.

To prevent Tie from disappearing, they had to investigate the World Tree.

But a closed religious organization would never allow them to approach it.

The World Tree lay within the Roxe Forest, and even now the Order strictly controlled its outskirts.

"A siege would be one thing. But we’ll have to deal with kidnappings, infiltrations, interrogations. And that’s not all."

"..."

"We’ll have to stop any attempt by those bastards to get close to the child with ill intent."

The outcome was clear.

‘We’ll become enemies of the Order.’

And not in the Tallocium Empire—but on the Central Continent itself.

That was the same as putting their lives on the line.

"I-I think I’ll stop here, then."

"You can call me a coward... but I have a family..."

Some of the younger members decided to leave on the spot.

Tesetan didn’t judge them.

He simply wished them luck.

"Those uncles must have been sick. They couldn’t even tell Tie... they must’ve been really sad..."

After that, Tesetan took it upon himself to come up with plausible explanations for Tie.

So the child believed everyone left for personal reasons.

Bale had also had the chance to leave.

But—

"Looks like you have people you’re responsible for."

That evening, Basto had asked carefully.

And for some reason, Bale hadn’t been able to answer right away.

"As you know, I have nothing to lose. The only thing I want to protect now is Tie."

"..."

"But it might be different for you. If you want to leave, then leave. Tie will be sad at first, but she’ll get over it. Now she has her father."

That conversation reminded Bale of his original goal.

‘...Right. I came here to make money.’

The main reason he had joined the squad.

Bale lowered his gaze to his suddenly heavy pocket.

With the hand that wasn’t holding Tie, he instinctively clenched a handful of gold coins.

‘...Back then, I didn’t even have a single coin. I starved.’

And now, in the chest in his room, there were dozens—no, hundreds—just like these.

His expression hardened.