Chapter 494: Dangers on the Horizon ( 494 )

“Little brother,” Cedric called casually.

Javier turned slightly, raising an eyebrow.

“Before you get too excited…” Cedric adjusted his armor strap, smirking. “Father said you should stop by the Armand border town first.”

He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.

“Another mission is waiting for you.”

“Huh?” Javier blinked in surprise.

Cedric shrugged lazily.

“Don’t ask. Just do it. Father’s orders.”

Javier grimaced.

“Ugh… fine.” He turned toward Buddy.

“Buddy!!”

Cuquawk!! Buddy flapped his wings excitedly, stomping the ground.

Javier swung onto Buddy’s back smoothly, settling into his saddle with ease. He cast a glance back at Mimi and Delya, who were still nibbling on their breakfast.

“Mimi, Delya. Follow Cedric. Help clear away the miasma with them.”

Mimi’s ears twitched.

Delya pouted, crossing her arms stubbornly.

“No way!! We’re following you!!” they said in unison.

“No… no…” Javier shook his head firmly. “You both shouldn’t come. This is a high-risk, dangerous mission. Not something for you to follow.”

But Mimi crossed her arms with a stubborn pout.

Delya smiled sweetly.

“No way! We insist on going with you!” Mimi shouted.

Suddenly, she leapt onto Javier—who was already mounted—clinging to his waist like a cat.

“Nyaa!!” she meowed softly.

“Oi—!! Get off!!” Javier shouted, struggling to stay balanced.

Before he could shake her off, Delya gracefully jumped up and latched onto his side, teasingly.

“I’m not letting you go alone, danna-sama~”

Buddy staggered back a step, flapping his wings nervously from the extra weight.

Cedric leaned against a tree, arms crossed, laughing heartily.

Javier shot him a glare.

Meanwhile, Mimi and Delya only tightened their grip, refusing to loosen.

“Ugh… fine…” Javier sighed in defeat, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

He muttered under his breath.

“Don’t regret this later…”

As Buddy shuffled and adjusted to balance the three of them, Javier grumbled.

“What about your mounts?!” he snapped at Mimi and Delya.

Delya just smiled breezily and waved her hand.

“Hmm? I can just unsummon mine.”

With a flick of her wrist, her Dark War Wolf shimmered with faint light and vanished—returned to her summoning realm.

Mimi patted her mount gently.

“Go back to father, nya~,” she said sweetly.

Her tiger beast let out a soft growl, then obediently turned around and trotted back into the forest, disappearing.

Javier stared at both of them, deadpan.

“You two really planned this, didn’t you?” he muttered.

Delya grinned, hugging him tighter.

Mimi purred happily.

“Brother Cedric,” Javier called out.

“Hmm?” Cedric turned, still adjusting his gauntlet straps.

“Be careful,” Javier said seriously. “The dark monsters here… the miasma… it’s different.”

Cedric chuckled lightly and waved it off.

“Yeah, I know. Don’t worry too much.” He glanced back at his squad—heavily armored paladins, robed mages, and a handful of Armand priests—ready and waiting.

“I’ve got Marcellus’s mage unit, those priests, and a good team. We’re more than prepared.”

Javier’s eyes swept over the group, recognizing a few familiar faces—especially the high priest of Armand, the one who blessed the estate back home.

Relief washed over him.

“Brother.”

“Hmm?” Cedric looked over.

“Make sure you wear the bracelet I gave you.” Javier’s voice lowered.

Cedric grinned and tapped his wrist, revealing the faint glow of the enchanted bracelet.

“I know. Marcellus is wearing his too.”

Javier nodded slowly, trusting they’d be okay.

Just as he was about to turn, Cedric grinned mischievously.

“Oh—by the way, before you go—”

“Hmm?” Javier paused.

Cedric chuckled.

“Your maid is getting married soon.”

Javier froze, eyes wide.

“Liana!?” His heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

Cedric burst into laughter.

“No, stupid! Lithia!”

Javier let out a huge sigh, slumping halfway in his saddle.

“Oh… well, she’s not technically my personal maid.”

Cedric nodded, still smirking.

“Yeah, but she did take care of you when you were a baby.”

Javier shrugged.

“Well… for a few months. As long as it’s not Liana or Gloria, I don’t care.”

“Alright, everyone!” Javier called out loudly, his voice clear across the clearing.

All the soldiers and priests who had followed Cedric straightened instantly.

Javier pointed firmly at Cedric.

“This is my command! Protect my brother.”

Without hesitation, the entire group responded in unison:

“Yes! Young Master!”

Cedric’s face twisted slightly, a mixture of annoyed amusement.

He marched toward Javier, half-glowering.

“Oi, little brother!” Cedric huffed, “They’re my men!”

Javier shrugged casually, a mischievous grin curling on his face.

Buddy flapped his wings behind him, almost as if laughing along.

Cedric let out a dramatic sigh.

“Fine. Fine.” he grumbled, but the warmth behind his words was unmistakable—familiar brothers, after countless pranks and battles.

His smile suddenly faded, replaced by rare seriousness.

He stepped closer, voice steady and level.

“Javier De Armand.”

Javier straightened slightly, feeling the weight behind Cedric’s tone.

“Be careful on your mission.” Cedric said quietly.

He crossed his arms, fixing him with a direct look.

“I might not know what exactly you’re going to do…

The letter was sealed—it’s just for you. We couldn’t open it even if we wanted to.”

He paused, voice lowering.

“But knowing you—and where you’re headed—it’s going to be the most dangerous one yet.”

He looked him straight in the eyes.

“Don’t die.”

Javier gave a small, crooked smile.

“I won’t.”

He pulled gently on Buddy’s reins.

“But… I can’t promise I’ll come back alive either.”

Cedric chuckled dryly, shaking his head.

“Yeah, yeah… stubborn as always.”

He lifted a hand, as if to give a final gesture of encouragement.

“And little brother?”

Javier looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

“Yes?”

Cedric gave a small, firm smile.

“Good luck.”

Javier smirked, lowering his head slightly in a silent nod.

“You too, Brother Cedric.”

With that, he gently tapped Buddy’s side and prepared to leave.

“Alright, Buddy! Everyone! I’m going!” Javier called out with a grin.

Buddy crouched low, muscles tensing.

“Dash!!!” Javier commanded.

Cuquawked!! Buddy let out a loud, excited cry—and then launched forward at full speed.

The sudden burst of speed kicked up dust and leaves behind him.

The Pekko units from Cedric’s team squawked loudly in excitement, some hopping and flapping their wings wildly.

Cuquawked!! Cuquawked!!

The whole clearing buzzed with energy for a moment as Buddy dashed through the forest trail like a bolt of orange and gold, carrying Javier, Mimi, and Delya toward the distant Armand border.

( End Of Chapter )

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