"Elliot, wake up."

The voice and the sensation of being shaken wakes Elliot up from a deep sleep.

"Hmmm... Dad?"

It's about an hour earlier than his usual wake-up time. He opens his bright green eyes, which had been green last night.

"Elliot, this is your final training."

Elliot raises his head when Ralph speaks, not in his usual gentle tone.

"I'll wait for you in the garden when you're ready."

With those words, Ralph closes the door.

The two of them face each other in the garden. Elliot brings the sword he always uses in practice, but Ralph has another sword ready.

"Use this sword, Elliot."

The sword he is handed is still new, and when he pulls it out of its sheath, he can see its sharp, untarnished blade.

"Dad, this is..."

"It's a farewell gift for me before I leave on my journey. I bought it in town just for this day. Dad chose it as the best sword."

Elliot took the sword in his hand and swung it twice. The leather wrapped around the handle was still new, and the weight was just right, perhaps to suit Elliot.

"Now, one more, my final farewell gift."

Ralph pulled his sword out of its sheath and held it up high. He then took a small breath.

"Get ready, Elliot!"

"Y-Yes!"

Elliot looked straight ahead, feeling Ralph's spirit.

Ralph's energy was building up. He contained within him an aura of anger and murderous intent that had never been directed at him before.

Elliot felt a numbness in the air.

He's going to kill me...

As Elliot prepared himself, Ralph's murderous intent grew even stronger.

Elliot noticed that his body had stiffened from the force of Ralph's spirit. He simply resists resistance, seeking freedom, and puts the same spirit in his mind and body as his father to push back.

"Let's go."

The moment Ralph yelled, the tip of the sword, with murderous intent, attacked Elliot.

Elliot reflexively put out his hand to defend himself. He blocked the upper sword blow.

The metal screamed as the two swords clashed.

It was Ralph's sword that broke. The tip of the broken sword flew about three meters and stuck into the ground.

"Well done, Elliot."

"Haa, haa..."

Even though he had only done one movement, Elliot's breathing was exhausted by fear and the strength to resist it.

"Monsters attack with the intent to kill. Hesitation is fatal. Remember to relax your body as much as possible."

"Haa, haa..." Elliot's mouth was dry, but he desperately tried to swallow. "...I understand. Thank you..."

"Now, let's have breakfast. Mornings are important. Above all else."

Ralph sighed as he saw the last of his well-worn sword and patted Elliot's head.

After the three of them had breakfast, Ralph borrowed a two-horse wagon from the village chief, Barlux, and gave the two a ride.

Whis couldn't show up this morning because he was helping out at home.

Ralph gave Elliot the knight sword and a set of sturdy armor, as well as three potions. The potions were in a bag hanging from his waist, and made a clanging sound of glass scraping in sync with Elliot's movements.

After loading the fodder onto the wagon, Ralph took the reins and called out to the two sitting in the wagon.

"Well, let's get going."

The wagon slowly started to move.

Ralph and Emily, who knew the situation, had nothing to say to Elliot.

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Elliot, who had never been outside the village except to practice magic, watched the scenery change from the forest to the plains with shining eyes. In the distance he could see the white royal castle with a blue roof.

"Is that your destination? Wow, I can't believe there's a building that tall."

Elliot was impressed by the elegant building and the townscape that spread out around it.

Emily looked at Elliot with fondness. She prayed from the bottom of her heart that he would complete his journey safely and return.

The wagon, with everyone's thoughts and feelings on board, was stopped at a checkpoint, but when Ralph's name was mentioned, they let it through without a hitch. While Elliot looked at the townscape with curious eyes, the wagon arrived straight to the door of the royal castle. Four royal guards were standing guard there. One of the guards approached Ralph. "I'm Ralph, on loan to Swali Village, and I'd like to meet with His Majesty the King. If I tell him my name and that my son has awakened, I think I'll get permission right away."

And so he showed the bronze medal that proves he is a knight under the direct command of the King.

"Understood. Please wait a moment."

The Royal Guard ran into the castle, shielding the sound of his armor rubbing against the ground.

Elliot was still looking around curiously.

"I've never been to this town before, so is it unusual?"

"Yes. There are sweet and delicious smells, and there are all kinds of things for sale, so I never get bored. I didn't know there was a town like this nearby."

"Elliot, you've been practicing swordsmanship and magic all this time, so you haven't traveled far."

"You'll travel the world and gain a lot of experience. If there is a demon king, defeat him and return to Swali Village safely."

"Yes, I understand. I'll definitely return safely."

After thinking about it overnight, Ralph decided to send him off as a hero. All they wanted was for him to return safely. Just as Ralph and Emily were speaking as if to say some final words to Elliot, the royal guard from earlier returned.

"His Majesty the King has given his permission. Please come this way."

Ralph nodded once, then went around to the back of the wagon and took Emily's hand, helping her out of the wagon. Elliot jumped off the wagon and the three of them walked through the slightly opened gates of the royal palace.

The interior of the palace, decorated in white, was splendid and gave no sense of the recession. Here too, Elliot looked very interested in the antiques in the palace.

The three were led into the audience chamber, where Ralph and Emily knelt down and bowed their heads to Kratos, who was already seated on the throne. Elliot followed suit.

"I want you three to raise your heads, please."

Kratos' calm voice echoed in the audience chamber.

The three raised their heads to look at Kratos's expression.

"Your Majesty, King Kratos, I apologize for this sudden visit. Elliot woke up last night, so I thought it would be quicker to inform you by letter, so I brought him here."

"I don't mind. By the way, Elliot, is it true that there is a Demon King?"

He spoke, confused that the king of a country knew his name.

"Yes. The Demon King exists. And so I, no... I must defeat him."

The letters from each country contained no information about the Demon King's appearance, but Kratos stroked his beard and spoke the words he had prepared.

"I understand. But you are still weak and young. I have prepared some companions for your journey, so I would like you to lead them and defeat the Demon King together."

Before Elliot could agree, Kratos stood up and rang the handbell on the desk. Then, two figures appeared from the door at the back of the audience chamber. One of them was the well-built Belhard Galey.

"Mr. Belhard!"

"Hey, young master... No, should I just call you Elliot?"

"Elliot's fine. It's been a while!"

He didn't recognize the other woman. She stood next to Belhard and bowed.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Karna Diero, from the Law Kingdom of Brannor."

Karna had some resemblance to Clare. But he was about the same age as Elliot. He was dressed in a white robe, with long light blue hair tied in a ponytail and light brown eyes. He had a small teardrop mole on his right eye. He was about half a head shorter than Elliot.

"Nice to meet you Karna. I look forward to meeting you. By the way, King Kratos, when did you prepare the two of you?"

"Well, well, well, I mean, yeah, I had prepared for something like this!"

He managed to say something as best he could.

"Your insight is truly worthy of His Majesty the King."

Elliot politely accepted it at face value.

"Um, well. Well then, Elliot, travel carefully. I've prepared some travel funds for you, although it's not much. Many people will be sad if you leave. Don't be reckless. Do you have all your equipment?"

"Yes, I have the best knight's sword and armor given to me by my father."

"I'll also give you a world map. Return safely and fulfill your mission. That's all from me."

"Thank you."

Elliot bowed his head while still on his knees.

Trasteria and the knights and shinobi who were guarding her were listening to the conversation in a room on the first floor.

"You're finally leaving. Let's go first."

Trasteria gave the knights a wink, then quickly left the castle with her luggage and radio.