Originally, I wanted to call that bastard but after seeing contact with the name 'Beloved Mother', I immediately called it.

–Tuu–

// Ian!! //

I was surprised at how fast my mother picked up my calls. A beautiful woman with wavy blonde hair and a pair of round blue eyes appeared on the screen.

The corners of my mouth tugged the moment I saw her face. A warmth sparked in my heart. Now that I thought about it, nine days have passed since the last time I met her.

"Yes, mom. I'm here."

Suddenly, she covered her face with her hands and sobs escaped her mouth.

Deep down, I wanted to hug her to ease her worry and sadness, but I couldn't.

"Mom, please don't hide your face, I wanted to see you; I miss you."

Soon, the sniffing sound died down and she lowered her hands.

// Ah, you're right. My son wants to see me, how foolish of me. //

She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears away. After my mother calmed down, she smiled gently at me and I smiled back at her; cathartic washed over me.

"Mom–"

// Ian, you don't know how worried I was when the news Sir Ulrich sent arrived at the Capital! //

"Mom–"

// Even hearing the Camp was almost burnt to the ground made my heart ache. Later, I found out that you are unconscious, I can't think straight! //

"Mom–"

// It's my fault! I shouldn't have let you go– //

As I realized that it was futile to talk to her, I chose to shut my mouth.

For some reason, my ears started ringing. Now I understand how Gideon felt when he received a call from my mother.

Nevertheless, I just smiled and patiently waited for her to finish her rumbling.

'She's just worried, that's all.'

After a long and deep talk, my conversation with my mother came to an end.

// Goodbye. //

"Goodbye.

I looked at my contacts but my expression turned grim when I saw 'Dearly Brother', and a secondhand embarrassment kicked in.

I never bothered to check my contacts list since he gave me his Tele-code, and now regret it.

'Just–why are people so into cringey names?'

I quickly added 'Not So' in front of 'Dearly Brother', and called him.

–Tuut –Tuut –Tuut

I tapped my finger on the desk impatiently.

–Tuk –Tuk –Tuk

After a long wait, finally, the person on the other side picked up my call and I hurriedly cut in.

"Where are you?"

There was a brief silence before he opened his mouth.

// You're awake? Uh, I'm in the mountains, why? //

"The usual spot?"

// Yes. //

"Alright, I have something important to tell you. Don't you dare run away!"

// Ian, what the hell is w– //

I hastily hung up and put my stationery back into my Magical Sphere. After washing my face, wiping my body with a wet towel, and changing clothes, I immediately stormed out of the tents.

Of course, I didn't forget to wear a hood, just in case I ran into Gideon or Fedel on the way. I darted my eyes left and right to make sure that I didn't bump into them, and walked casually to avoid suspicion.

To my surprise, half of the giant tent had been reconstructed, there were no corpses from the last battle. It seemed they worked really hard at doing the cleaning job. The sight reminded me of the first time I came here.

However, I halted my steps.

"–yea, I heard that too. At first, Prince Alexander wanted to end it himself, but unfortunately, something happened."

I followed the voice and found two knights chatting.

"Still, it was all thanks to Prince Alexander, so we had advance notice and prepared beforehand, otherwise we would all be razed to the ground."

"I concur. It's not every day we witness the chivalry of our future Sun."

'So Alexander did try to stop them but he failed and the enemy started attacking the camp.'

I couldn't help but massage my temples.

'If you make a strategy, at least make another in case the first plan fails.'

"Prince Damian also played a great role in saving the refugees. Because without a doubt we would be burned to a crisp."

My forehead creases.

"That's right. Aah.. looks like our future will definitely be bright."

"Sure is."

Ignoring their last conversation, I continued on my way, I exited the camp then hiked the mountains. Once my eyes caught a black-haired boy lying on the grass and I quickened my feet.

He opened his eyes and eyed me when my shadow fell upon him.

"Let me guess. You sneaked out."

"Shut up."

I took my hood off and lay on the lawn next to him. I stretched my arms and feet whilst shouting.

"Aah, what a hassle!"

I turned sideways and our eyes met. Alexander looked at me as if I was some strange creature.

"What?"

I snapped at him.

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue and switched his vision to the sky above.

"So what 'important' thing did you want to talk about?"

I sat down and started to rack my brains over where to start.

"The thing I want to talk about is–"

–Growl

I was stunned and shut my mouth. Alexander twirled his head and raised one of his eyebrows after hearing my rumbling stomach.

"What? That you're hungry?"

"N-no! I–"

–Growl

"But your stomach says otherwise."

I threw my face to the side and I could feel my cheeks burning.

'Ah, dammit. I should have waited for Fedel!'

–Thud!

I was startled when something fell on my lap. My eyes moved to see what it was and a familiar pouch came into view.

historical

I returned my gaze to Alexander and our sight locked once more.

"You should be grateful cookies have a long lifespan."

"...thank you."

I took out a cookie and shamelessly ate it. Deep inside I was weeping due to the unbearable embarrassment.

–Crunch –Crunch –Crunch

And for some reason, the sound of me grinding the cookie felt so damn loud today! I wanted to cry! I was so ashamed to the point that I wanted to dig my own grave!

I peeked at Alexander as he didn't say anything. He was lying with his eyes closed; his expression was so peaceful.

"Ahem. Ahem."

I cleared my throat after finishing the cookies and opened a light dialogue to shift the atmosphere.

"So... how are the refugees?"

"They're fine. No casualties thanks to you."

He answered without bothering to open his eyes and not even moving an inch of his body. However, I shook my head.

"No, it's thanks to you. I heard you tried to stop them."

His eyelids lifted and revealed a pair of astonishing golden jewels.

"Yes, but I failed and they still managed to launch an attack on the camp."

Previously, I thought he did nothing to prevent the enemy from attacking this place, but I was wrong.

I was too quick to judge without knowing the whole truth, which was stupidity.

"But, in the end, we defeated those bastards together, right?"

The corners of Alexander's lips tugged and changed into a beautiful arch. Tsk, now I regret saying something nice that made him smile.

But whatever, I got the answer I needed. Alexander knew about the raid. Now, let's move on to another question. But before I could open my mouth, he turned to me and asked.

"I'm curious. How did you summon the rain? Also, I didn't see your magic circle anywhere."

"Ah, that."

Hmmm.. how should I explain it to him?

"I made my Magic Circle in the sky and created clouds."

He frowned and looked at me in disbelief.

"Sky?? Clouds??"

"I mean–fog! I create a fog! As the conflagration caused thick smoke, those dust particles seeding my fog–it's like.. uhh, giving the vapors something to stick to, and they ultimately got bigger, larger, and that's how I summoned the rain."

"..."

Alexander's face was full of question marks and eventually shrugged.

"...whatever."

"..."

Somehow my hand felt itchy and I wanted to punch him in the face!

Here I was racking my brain on how to enlighten him with the most simple explanation; instead of saying carbon monoxide and nucleation, yet, he said, 'whatever'?

This goddamn bastard needed to be choked to death!

"By the way. Who is behind this attack?"

"It's the Yovanny Kingdom."

"Is there tangible proof that it truly is them?"

"Here."

Alexander took out something from the Magical Sphere and handed me something. I received it and the Yovannian national coat of arms was seen.

"Did the corpses have this emblem? Like.. all of them?"

"Yes. Everyone has it."

"Hmmm, no matter how much I think about it, it's weird. Don't you think so?"

Alexander just stared at me with a face devoid of any expression. There was a brief pause before he sat and answered.

"Yes, I do."

I couldn't help but chuckle inside. To think he was sitting his ass down, then this conversation had piqued his interest.

'Let's dig even more.'