Gabriel and Rudger's first meeting was the worst.
Gabriel wanted to show something as a senior, while Rudger was negative and hostile to everything in the world.
It was natural for them to clash from the moment they met.
-This impudent youngster!
Gabriel had wanted to teach Rudger a lesson.
As a senior, and as a user of time magic, he would make him pay the price for looking down on others.
Rudger felt Gabriel's intentions as well.
Rudger immediately prepared for battle without saying much. He looked like a sharp sword that had been honed for a long time.
Just as the two were about to clash in earnest.
-Are you two fighting?A pure and young girl who had appeared out of nowhere innocently asked.
-Don't fight. Get along well.
Upon seeing Rene's innocent eyes, Gabriel immediately changed his attitude completely.
-Haha. Rene, fighting? It's not like that.
-You're not fighting, right?
-Of course not! Definitely not! Hey, boy! Were we fighting? No, right?
-...Hmph.
Rudger left the place with a snort as if he had lost interest.
-That, that arrogant little brat, really.
Gabriel's forehead tensed with anger, but he decided to let it go. He thought he would only be at a disadvantage if he got into a squabble with someone like that.
-Rene. Shall we ignore that guy and go fishing at the nearby stream? I'll catch fish that you like... Rene? Where are you going!
Rene chased after Rudger, who was heading far into the forest, with quick steps.
Then, before Rudger could react, she grabbed his wrist and clung to him.
-Let's play together!
-...What?
-Let's play!
Rene stuck to Rudger like a child throwing a tantrum and wouldn't let go.
Rudger looked at Rene and wondered whether he should shake her off or not.
After all, she was just an innocent child.
Moreover, seeing Rene now reminded him of a friend he had left behind in the Bretus Holy Nation.
Catherine.
When he first saw her, she was about the same age as Rene is now.
And it had been nearly 10 years since he parted ways with her.
-...Fine, whatever.
-Really?!
-What shall we do?
-Come to the stream with me! Catch fish for me!
Rene giggled as she took Rudger's hand and led him.
Rudger followed Rene with a look of extreme annoyance on his face.
Someone approached Gabriel, who was watching the scene with admiration, and asked:
-Isn't our daughter cute?
-...Is your conversation over?
-Yes.
Gabriel recalled the blonde girl she had been talking with.
He didn't know what they had talked about, but it didn't seem like an ordinary conversation.
-It seems like we'll be staying here for about a month. Is that okay?
-Why are you asking me? I'm not the owner of this place. If the owner is fine with it, then that's all that matters.
-Ahaha. I suppose so.
She stood beside Gabriel, laughing.
Her eyes were fixed on Rene's back as she ran off energetically in the distance.
-Please take care of our daughter.
-What's that supposed to mean suddenly? As if you're going somewhere.
-I'm just saying. I can't take care of that child forever.
Gabriel wanted to ask why she said such a thing, and what was about to happen.
But the moment he saw her expression, he thought it didn't matter.
-...Don't worry. I'll take care of Rene, no matter what.
-Yes. That's reassuring.
Gabriel contemplated whether to say something more impressive right then.
Like how he would dedicate all his time to protect her.
But it felt embarrassing and awkward, so he didn't say it out loud.
Gabriel moved to find Rene to keep his promise to her.
When he arrived at the stream in the forest, Gabriel witnessed an unexpected scene.
-Got it?
-Wow! Big brother, you're amazing!
The youngster, who looked like he had never done any hard work, had rolled up his pants and was catching fish in the stream with bare legs.
Moreover, seeing him catch fish more skillfully than expected, Gabriel was momentarily stunned.
Gabriel felt a strange sensation from the sight of Rene's delighted face and the faint smile Rudger had while watching her.
-Hey, you guys! What are you doing having fun without me!
-Ah! Uncle Gabriel!
-Call me big brother, I said.
-Uncle is uncle!
-Fine! Hey, you youngster! Let's see who can catch more fish!
-Are you stupid? Why would I do such a thing...
Rudger was about to refuse with a frown, but when he saw Rene looking at him with sparkling eyes, he clicked his tongue.
-...Well, it's not difficult.
So with Rene cheering from behind, the two men competed to see who could catch more fish.
The result was, of course, Rudger's victory.
Even without using magic, Rudger skillfully caught fish.
-You're really terribly clumsy.
-Sh-shut up.
On the other hand, Gabriel, who had been making empty-handed gestures, sat on a nearby rock, exhausted and breathing heavily.
-Next time, I definitely won't lose!
-I don't know if there will be a next time, but do as you please.
That day, everyone was able to have a satisfying meal with the fish they caught.
What was most memorable was everyone's laughter as Rene ate the fish with her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel.
Rudger quickly adapted to life here.
He played with Rene, practiced simple magic with Grandel, and sometimes took a break in the beautiful natural scenery.
Gabriel often made bets with Rudger, but he tasted defeat every time.
Not being able to put that arrogant youngster in his place was quite frustrating, but when he saw Rene laughing gleefully, such thoughts disappeared without a trace.
In particular, Rudger's first impression improved quite a bit as time went by.
His arrogance was still annoying, but Gabriel came to know that he wasn't completely ill-mannered.
If that wasn't the case, he wouldn't have continued to play with the clingy Rene like that.
Rudger also quickly became close with Rene's mother.
-Hey, boy. Are you playing well with our daughter?
-Yes, well.
-Why are you so uncomfortable? Just call me sister comfortably.
-Did your conversation with Master end well?
-Ah, you mean Ms. Grandel? Hmm, what should I do? We still have a bit more to talk about.
Rene's mother scratched her cheek and gave an awkward smile.
Rudger didn't understand why she was responding like that.
Originally, Rudger hadn't heard what Grandel and Rene's mother were discussing.
-What? Are you curious? Then shall this sister kindly tell you?
-No, thank you. I'm not particularly curious. It's Master's business, she'll handle it properly anyway.
-Ahaha. You trust Ms. Grandel, don't you?
At the spot-on remark, Rudger shrugged his shoulders lightly.
-Even if I knew, it wouldn't change anything anyway. I'm already busy just playing with Rene.
-I'm grateful for that part. That's right. Sometimes it's better to just enjoy the present reality without knowing anything.
Her voice sounded so sad as she spoke those last words that Rudger unconsciously turned to look at her.
Contrary to his expectation that she would look depressed, she was mischievously grinning at Rudger.
No sooner had he thought 'I've been tricked' than she put her arm around Rudger's neck.
-What? Were you worried about this sister? Kid, you act tough, but you're soft inside.
-That's not it. And please remove this arm.
-You, you. You have a cute side. Just know that it's too early for you to worry about this sister.
-What about that man Gabriel?
When Gabriel's name came up, the smile on her lips momentarily dimmed but it was just for a fleeting moment, so Rudger didn't notice.
-Well, he's still early too.
-Isn't that a bit harsh for a time magician?
-You've heard about that too? You two must have become quite close while I wasn't looking.
-He's dying to get me. Well, I won't pry into whatever is going on between you and my master. However...
-However?
-Just make sure you don't do anything that would make Rene worry. She only has you as family.
Family.
At those words, she opened her eyes wide, then soon nodded with a warm smile.
-Of course!
The happy days passed quickly.
Rudger went out with Rene every day without fail.
More precisely, Rene would cling to Rudger and drag him somewhere.
-Big brother! Let's go play in the forest over there today!
-We went there last time.
-Last time was last time! Today is today!
Perhaps because Rene was an only child and had no father, she especially followed Rudger like her real brother.
Maybe she was trying to relieve the loneliness of not having siblings by playing with Rudger.
Rudger played with Rene, even though he complained that it was bothersome.
With his master often absent, time was something Rudger had plenty of.
However, today was a bit special.
Rene, who had gone ahead into the forest, immediately returned to Rudger to report what she had seen.
-Big brother! There are kidnappers over there!
-What?
Rudger followed Rene, thinking what kidnappers would be doing in such a forest, and what he saw were indeed kidnappers.
They had captured a boy who appeared to be about Rene's age.
Wearing antique clothes, he looked like a young nobleman, and it was clearly a child abduction for ransom that anyone could see.
-W-what should we do?
-Wait.
Rudger took the opportunity when the kidnappers were distracted by their hostage to surprise them with a prepared spell.
The kidnappers couldn't react to Rudger's fast and stealthy magic.
Since there weren't many of them, it wasn't too difficult to handle them.
Rudger immediately removed the hood covering the kidnapped boy's head.
The boy momentarily frowned at the sudden light hurting his eyes, then soon looked up at Rudger with eyes full of arrogance and opened his mouth.
-Hey, you commoner. Quickly untie these ropes too.
-...
Rudger and Freuden Ulburg's first meeting was quite intense.
Freuden urged Rudger with his eyes as if asking what he was waiting for, despite being in a position of having received help.
Instead of saying thank you for helping, such a shameless attitude?
As he had sensed from the clothes he was wearing, nobles really seemed to have stiff necks.
-Hey. Can't you hear? If you don't untie me quickly, I'll tell on you when I return to my family.
The additional remark properly disturbed Rudger's mood.
Rudger hit the top of the kid's head with his fist to soften his stiff neck.
-Ouch! You, you hit me?! You dare to me?
-Hmm. Too weak?
-What?
Thwack!
After giving him a second knock on the head, Freuden finally became quiet.
Rudger looked down at the unconscious Freuden, then sighed and slung him over his shoulder.
This guy may be arrogant, but that aside, he couldn't leave a kidnapped child at the crime scene.
With that thought, just as he was about to leave the place, Rene shouted from afar.
-Big brother! Behind you!
-...!
Rudger lowered his upper body with Freuden still on his shoulder.
Immediately after, a sharp blade passed by, cutting off a few strands of his black hair.
-What? There was one more? I was trying to end this in one go, but it's become unnecessarily troublesome.
The newly appeared man was different from the other kidnappers who had fallen to Rudger's magic.
For one thing, his confident attitude aside, the clothes he was wearing weren't leather armor for ease of movement, but armor that seemed more regulation.
-A knight? Why here?
-Ho? The young lad has good eyes. You subdued the men I sent ahead for cleanup, and you seem to have received quite good training.
The knight placed the sword he had swung on his shoulder and grinned.
He wasn't the sturdy body one would typically associate with a knight. His belly protruded prominently, and he seemed quite fleshy.
It was a look one would only see in a knight who hadn't trained properly.
-A retired knight?
From the moment a knight was involved in kidnapping a noble, it was clear he was a suspicious character.
-Someone like you doesn't need to know. Since you've come this far, I need to eliminate witnesses.
The fat knight said that as he pointed his sword at Rudger.
What was faintly rising from the tip of the sword was aura, which knights were said to be able to use.
As soon as Rudger saw this, he immediately deployed a defensive magic formula.
-Crash!
Even though it was hastily deployed, the defensive magic was perfect in its process but it was shattered with one slash of the knight's sword.
Looking at the man whose skills were real despite his appearance, Rudger frowned.
-What is this, youngster? You're a magician? Could the family have sent someone already? That shouldn't be possible.
The fat knight opened his eyes wide as if surprised that Rudger had blocked his attack.
He had thought he was just a youngster, but the speed at which he deployed magic was surprisingly sharp.
Moreover, his expression remained unchanged even though his defense had been nullified.
He was not an ordinary youngster.
-Well, it doesn't matter. I have to kill you anyway. The girl behind is the same.
At the mention of killing Rene too, Rudger narrowed his eyes.
But rather than fueling his fighting spirit against such a knight, Rudger instead released his tension as if satisfied.
It was the knight himself who was confused by this reaction.
-What? Have you lost your will to fight?
-It's not that I've lost my will to fight, but rather I don't feel the need.
The answer came from behind.
The knight turned around with a start.
The knight's expression turned to disbelief when he saw the person who had spoken.
-...What?
At the sight of a blonde girl in a red dress, the knight frowned and blurted out:
-This little brat with milk still wet behind the ears.
At those words, Rudger felt a chill run down his spine.