Enter the Story, V

The next day, Lahn stood before a set of doors. Just beyond was the patriarch's office. Just earlier, while he was at the training ground, a maid came along and informed him that he was being summoned.

With a deep breath, he knocked on the door.

"Come in," said a deep voice from within.

Lahn entered.

There sat the head of House Reginar behind a massive desk. He was penning something down on a piece of parchment before setting it aside.

"You called for me, my lord?" Lahn said.

"Indeed. You are aware that the hero, Radeus, visited the estate yesterday, yes?"

"I am."

"He told me something rather interesting, and I wanted to get your thoughts on it."

A hint of wariness caught in Lahn's eyes, but he played it off. There were many things that Radeus could've told Valen, and none of them were ideal, to say the least.

"Lahn."

"Yes, my lord?"

"You've been here for the better part of the last three months. How do you feel about your current position, serving as my son's escort knight?"

"I'm content. To me, there is no greater honor than being the one to ensure the young lord's safety."

"Indeed, such a role is important. If that is truly how you feel, perhaps I must reconsider my decision."

"...Forgive me for asking, my lord, but what decision are you referring to?"

Valen stood, turned around, and walked over to the window with his hands behind his back.

"House Reginar stands as a noble family of the empire, but in terms of strength, it would be foolish of me to think we can compare to most houses. Our army is quite small, and I do not mean to undermine our brave knights when I say that if a territorial war were to break out, our contribution would mean very little. That is why I wished to appoint a talented knight such as yourself to be one of our captains."

Despite such an enticing offer, Lahn was reluctant. He could only think about that damned hero, Radeus. What could he have told Valen for him to give something so important to some mere background character? A commoner, no less.

"Still uninterested?" Valen asked.

"That is so."

"Mm. I see. That is all for now, Lahn. You are dismissed."

"Actually, my lord... As I have your attention, I would like to make a request. It has been on my mind as of late."

Valen lifted his gaze slightly, watching Lahn with those ever-cold and unreadable eyes.

"Go on."

Lahn drew a breath.

"I am requesting a leave of absence. Indefinitely."

A long silence followed. It stretched between them like a blade. The patriarch's expression didn't change, but something else did. Those emotionless eyes, always steady, seemed just a fraction more open.

Just then, a system message appeared.

[WARNING: You are deviating too far from the main scenario!]

Lahn flinched. This was new. Nothing he had done so far had yielded this kind of response from the system.

Could it be that leaving here will change the story?

"For someone who just claimed that there is no greater honor than protecting my son, this... is rather unexpected. Explain yourself."

With Valen staring him down, Lahn didn't have time to ponder the meaning of the system message.

"I'm on a personal mission, my lord," he replied as calmly as possible.

"...A personal mission?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, I cannot disclose the details, but it is something very important to me. As you know, the village where I am from was burned down when demons attacked, and my parents... They died to protect me. My mission has to do with them. That is all I can say."

Valen eased his harsh gaze. If there was one thing he understood as the head of a noble house, it was the importance of family.

"I know you must be hesitant, my lord. So, too, am I," Lahn continued. "I am forever grateful to House Reginar, for you returned to me something I lost back then... A place to call home. But no matter how much I try to pretend otherwise, I do not belong here. Or anywhere. Not yet. Not until my mission is complete."

Lahn drew a deep breath.

"Truthfully, even if I knew beforehand that you wanted to make me a captain... I still would've refused. Why? Because I'm selfish. What matters to me the most is not you, not this house, not even the young master. It is my mission. That is why... I can't stay here. I've already taken so much from you, and I have yet to repay anything. All I am... is a burden. I know it is selfish of me, but please... Allow me to bid farewell to House Reginar."

As he bowed, the system message appeared below him.

[Significant story deviation detected.]

[Analyzing...]

[New route generated.]

As if on cue, the doors burst open.

Startled, Lahn turned around to meet the wide emerald gaze of a little girl, her head just barely reaching the doorknob.

Her long, vanilla-blonde hair fell straight past her shoulders. Perfectly even bangs grazed her brows. She wore a plain nightdress, the same one she always slept in.

Those tiny fists clenched at her sides as she stared at Lahn, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Lahn..." she mumbled just barely above a whisper. "You're... leaving...?"

Now, it all made sense. The system message gave him a warning. If he leaves the county, he will deviate from the main scenario. It then created a new route to remedy his decision, presenting him with the one person he could never oppose.

"T-Tiel..." Lahn said with a harsh swallow.

She stood frozen at the doorway, that look on her face shattering the last of his resolve.

Tiel Reginar, the second child of House Reginar, rarely shows emotions. She is quiet and reserved, much like her father. Although rare, when she does allow her feelings to surface, they carry enough weight to shake Lahn to his core.

"Why do you want to leave, Lahn?" she whimpered. "Is it... because of something I did? Whatever it is, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry."

"What?"

He shot to his feet and quickly knelt in front of her.

"No. No, no, Tiel. It's nothing like that. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Then... why?"

Lahn bit his lips.

Tiel is perhaps the last person he wanted to find out about this. She is too young to understand his reason, and even if he tries to explain, she'll keep asking questions until she finally blurts out exactly what is on her mind. And sure enough...

"Don't go, Lahn," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "If you leave... Who will play with me when Big Brother Tian is busy?"

"That's..."

Before he could say anything else, Tiel threw her arms around his neck.

"You're my best friend, Lahn. And if you leave... I'll never forgive you."

Behind him, Valen chuckled.

"Doesn't this contradict what you just told me, Lahn?" he asked.

"My lord?"

"You claim you have received much from us while giving little in return, yet here stands the proof to the contrary. You call yourself a burden, yet none of us has ever entertained such a ridiculous notion."

His eyes shifted to Tiel.

"My daughter. Lahn here thinks he doesn't belong here. What say you?"

"...I want him to belong here."

"And have you ever thought of him as a burden?"

"Huh? N-no! Of course not! Lahn... is precious to me."

"Then that settles it."

He turned back to Lahn, his expression calm yet firm.

"The doubts weighing on your heart are but misconceptions of your own making — ones you tell yourself for our sake, despite them being unfounded. That is proof of your benevolent character, but do not let it drive you to rash decisions you will come to regret. To go one step further, I will not grant you your request."

"What? But, my lord—"

"Instead," Valen interrupted him with a raised hand, "I will permit you to leave the county whenever you want. I do not know what your mission is, but I want you to understand that you have a place here. Do what you must, go wherever you please, but return home. After all, my children are clearly fond of you. It would be a shame to bid farewell so suddenly."

Hearing all of this made Lahn's chest tighten. Before his reincarnation, he had a home to return to, but he was always alone. Here, there were people to return to. The Reginar family. Since his arrival, they have treated him like one of their own.

It was then that Lahn decided... He didn't want to leave just yet.

"I understand," he said.

[Achievement unlocked: Home Is Where The Heart Is.]

[Reward: Memory fragment.]

"W-wha—?"

His vision faded as the muffled voices of Tiel and Valen echoed in his ears.