Glutenburg.
The capital of the Southern Duchy, a city that had served for centuries as the heart of Duke Glutstein's dominion.
Unlike Brandenburg, whose rapid prosperity had been driven by the influence of the Guild and numerous independent organizations, Glutenburg stood firmly as the foremost economic center in the entire duchy.
Its superiority was not founded upon the existence of a Teleportation Gate, but rather upon the fact that it had been the principal seat of the Ducal House for generation after generation.
Moreover, the ancient metropolis possessed an almost perfect balance between economic prosperity and military strength. Both had grown side by side, supporting one another while steadily becoming stronger with each passing era.
It was this foundation that allowed Glutenburg to surpass Brandenburg by a considerable margin. While Brandenburg relied almost entirely upon commerce and trade, its military power still depended heavily upon Count Flammenberg's private army.
***
Dragons.
I was genuinely astonished to learn that my elder sister had kept such an enormous secret hidden for so long.
I had always been by her side through countless situations, yet I had never discovered the slightest clue that hinted at such a truth.
Even so, there was something that surprised me far more.
Father had once fought a dragon.
Not once had he ever told me about that tremendous battle.
To be honest, I had long realized that Father carried countless mysteries within his life.
The story of Aunt Erna was merely a single fragment among the many secrets he had been willing to reveal to us.
Although I had often traveled with Father to many different regions, he had never once taken me to the dragons' territory.
Perhaps Father had his own reasons, reasons he could not yet share.
For that reason, I chose to respect every decision he made.
As for when Charlotte had encountered that red dragon, I could always ask her privately another day.
For now, Aunt Adela was seated beside me.
She appeared far more relaxed than before.
Perhaps she had finally finished the towering stack of parchments that had occupied both her time and attention.
I turned my gaze toward the carriage window.
Night had fallen over Glutenburg, yet the city's pulse had not slowed in the slightest.
Rows of magical crystal lamps cast their warm radiance along every major avenue, illuminating the countless townsfolk who still strolled peacefully through the evening.
The architecture lining the streets was not all that different from what could be found in Brandenburg.
Most of the buildings were magnificent residences constructed from alchemical cement and massive stone blocks, rising gracefully above the streets.
Even so, this city was far larger than Brandenburg.
The colossal walls encircling its entire perimeter resembled the curved spine of a slumbering dragon.
Their thick layers of reinforced concrete, combined with enormous stone blocks, formed the city's first line of defense against every threat that might approach from beyond the plains.
Beyond them, the residence of the Southern Duke stood proudly within the most prestigious district of Glutenburg.
The Duke's presence was the primary reason why this city surpassed Brandenburg in nearly every respect.
At last, Aunt Adela's voice broke the silence that had settled over the carriage.
"We'll be departing again at first light tomorrow morning. So once we arrive at the villa, the two of you are to retire immediately and get some proper rest."
Charlotte and I answered almost simultaneously.
"Yes, Aunt."
My gaze returned to the view beyond the window.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the carriage, Dorothea began voicing a small complaint to her mother.
"Mother! I still want to play a little longer. I don't want to go straight to bed."
"No, Dottie. You won't be playing tonight. Once we arrive at the villa, you're to get a good night's rest. Charlotte will be staying with you in your room as well."
Dorothea's eyes sparkled at once.
"Really? Sister is going to stay with me? Mother, you can't take your word back, all right?"
Adela smiled faintly before turning toward Charlotte.
"What do you think, Charlotte?"
"You can leave that to me, Aunt."
The bond between Charlotte and Dorothea had already grown to resemble that of true sisters.
If Karina were standing beside Charlotte along with Dorothea, anyone seeing them for the first time would most likely assume that Dorothea was Charlotte's younger sister rather than Karina.
Charlotte and Karina's personalities were complete opposites. On top of that, both of them possessed strong pride and neither was willing to yield to the other.
A short while later, Dorothea asked a question without the slightest hint of hesitation.
"Couldn't the three of us sleep together tonight? Mother, Sister Charlotte, and me."
Her innocent suggestion made me feel slightly left out for a brief moment.
The feeling, however, disappeared as quickly as it had come.
At my age, it would hardly be appropriate for me to share a bed with Aunt Adela and Charlotte.
It simply was not something I should do.
"Sleep together?"
"Yes, Mother. What do you think, Sister?"
"That depends entirely on Aunt's decision."
Aunt Adela let out a quiet sigh.
As far as I knew, Aunt Adela and Dorothea rarely spent the night sleeping together.
Even Grandmother had complained to Aunt Adela about it on several occasions.
Her responsibilities in managing the family's affairs left her with very little free time to devote to her young daughter.
"Very well, my dear. Just for tonight, the three of us shall sleep together."
"Yay! I love you so much, Mother!"
"And Mother loves you very much as well."
After that, my cousin laughed so cheerfully that the atmosphere inside the carriage instantly grew much warmer.
Without realizing it, Aunt Adela's agreement reminded me of Charlotte.
Whenever she wanted something from Father or Mother, she almost always revealed her more spoiled side.
She would put on the sweetest expression imaginable to win their approval.
And the moment they granted her wish, a broad smile and satisfied laughter would immediately brighten her face.
The carriage wheels continued rolling along the stone-paved road.
Not long afterward, the horse-drawn carriage passed through the gates of a spacious villa before coming to a stop in the courtyard.
The grand residence was the private villa of the Handler family in Glutenburg.
The villa was not occupied very often by members of the Handler family, so only a small number of servants were stationed there.
Even so, several carefully selected guards remained on duty, together with a chief steward responsible for ensuring the villa's security and keeping the estate in perfect condition whenever the family required it.
Aunt Adela exchanged a few words with the villa's steward before the servants began unloading the luggage from the carriage.
Meanwhile, the companies of mercenaries escorting our journey would remain outside the villa until Aunt Adela returned from the Imperial Capital.
They still bore the important responsibility of escorting her safely back to Brandenburg after all her affairs in the heart of the Empire had been concluded.
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, one of the mercenaries immediately approached me.
"Master Ian."
I recognized the man's face immediately.
He was one of the men whose life I had saved when the merchant caravan under his protection had fallen victim to a brutal bandit attack.
At the time, I had arrived a little too late.
As a result, he had been the only survivor left standing amid the slaughter.
It had truly been a tragic incident.
Even so, surviving was far better than losing one's life in the depths of the forest.
As time passed, the emotional scars that had once burdened him gradually faded away.
Seeing the look in his eyes now, I felt genuinely grateful that the trauma no longer held him captive as it once had.
"What is it?"
"Master, if you would permit it, I would very much like to spar with you tonight. I wish to measure how much my strength has improved."
His eyes were filled with pure determination and unwavering resolve.
I could sense not the slightest trace of ill intent.
All I saw was the earnest desire of a warrior who wished to discover the true fruits of the training he had devoted himself to for so long.
A faint smile crossed my lips as I accepted the man's request without the slightest hesitation.
"Very well. Let's do it."
"Thank you very much, Master Ian."
A brief spar before retiring for the night was hardly any trouble.
I gestured for the man to wait a moment.
Before heading to the training ground, I first made my way toward Aunt Adela, who was still standing with Dorothea and Charlotte.
The three of them had yet to enter the manor.
Aunt Adela was still occupied giving several important instructions to the villa's chief steward, while two guards in neatly pressed uniforms were busy carrying our luggage into the residence.
As soon as I approached, Charlotte immediately turned her attention toward me.
It seemed she had noticed my conversation with the mercenary earlier, and her curiosity had been piqued.
"What did that man want from you?"
"He asked me to have a brief spar with him."
Charlotte frowned.
"Now? It's already late, Ian. You should go inside and get some rest."
"It won't take long, Sister. Think of it as a parting match. Besides, we'll be departing for the Imperial Capital first thing tomorrow morning."
"Hmm..."
"I've already given him my word."
Charlotte finally gave a small nod.
"Very well. But remember, don't stay out training too late."
"I understand, Sister."
Standing beside Charlotte, Aunt Adela, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, added her own reminder.
"Ian, don't overdo it. Keep the spar brief and don't exhaust yourself."
"Of course, Aunt."
Our brief conversation came to an end.
The three of them soon entered the manor through the front entrance, while I remained where I stood, watching their backs for a few moments.
Afterward, I turned around and walked with the mercenary toward the training ground in one corner of the villa's courtyard.
•
•
•
The spar concluded before long.
Barely half an hour had passed.
Throughout the entire match, I never even needed to use Ninjutsu or any of my other abilities.
Ordinary combat techniques alone were enough for me to match every one of his attacks and dismantle his offense completely.
Objectively speaking, his strength still fell well short of Lucas's.
According to the official Auror classification, he had only reached the First Tier.
In other words, he still stood one full realm away from becoming an Expert.
Before ending our meeting that night, the two of us sat side by side along the edge of the training ground.
The atmosphere, once filled with the intensity of battle, gradually gave way to a warm and relaxed conversation.
"You are truly far too strong, Master. Throughout our spar, you didn't seem to struggle in the slightest while countering every one of my sword strikes."
Whether it was admiration or sincere praise, I could not tell.
But from the look in his eyes, I knew every word he spoke came straight from the heart.
I gave his shoulder a gentle pat.
"From now on, train even harder. I'm certain that one day you'll break through your own limits and reach the Extraordinary Realm."
Instead, the man slowly shook his head, wearing a bitter smile.
"That is far too generous a compliment for someone like me, Master. I've already entered my thirties. Reaching a higher realm at my age is an entirely different challenge."
I could not agree with such a pessimistic way of thinking.
It was true that an Auror's growth gradually slowed with age.
However, that decline in potential generally did not become truly apparent until after the age of forty, not in the early years of one's thirties.
"No. You still have plenty of time ahead of you. Your greatest obstacle isn't your age, but your courage."
The man stared at me without blinking.
"Your swordsmanship is already excellent. Your fundamentals are solid, and your swings are steady. Yet whenever an opportunity presents itself to pressure your opponent, you instinctively hold yourself back."
"..."
"As a result, every strike loses its edge because it is clouded by hesitation. You lack the resolve to commit to the decisive offensive that could determine the outcome of a battle."
The man remained silent for a long moment before finally asking, his expression filled with surprise.
"Is that truly the case, Master?"
"Yes, without question. Your combat experience is far from lacking. You have endured countless trials that have steadily forged your abilities into what they are today."
"..."
"What you lack is confidence in the sword you hold. Remember this well. Courage and self-confidence often carry as much weight as all the experience you have accumulated over the years."
The man let out a long breath.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he bowed deeply in respect.
"Master, I shall remember your words and hold fast to your valuable advice."
"In that case, you should get some rest. But before you go, I have one small favor to ask."
"What is it, Master? Please, speak freely."
"Please help keep this villa secure while we're away tomorrow. After all, neither you nor your fellow mercenaries have any other duties in this city, do you?"
The man nodded firmly.
"Ah, you're absolutely right, Master. Leave the security of this villa to me."
In truth, even without their assistance, the villa remained under the vigilant protection of the Handler family's own guards.
Even so, danger often arrived without the slightest warning.
Having another layer of security was hardly a bad decision.
"Until we meet again, Ronald. When I return from the Imperial Capital, I'll personally see how much you've improved."
"Hahaha! Very well, Master! I'll be looking forward to your return!"
After parting ways with Ronald, I immediately stepped inside the grand manor.
The atmosphere within the villa was far quieter than the front courtyard, which was still bustling with guards and mercenaries.
Near the foot of the main staircase, Charlotte had just descended from the second floor.
The moment she saw me, my elder sister walked over with a faint smile, as though she already knew how the spar had ended.
"Judging by the fact that you haven't broken a sweat, I'd say that spar was rather one-sided."
"That isn't what matters, Sister. The true purpose of training doesn't lie in how much effort you expend or how much strength you display."
Charlotte let out a quiet snort.
"Hah! You've become quite bold, haven't you? Lecturing your own elder sister with long-winded philosophical nonsense."
I came to a stop.
For several moments, my gaze never left Charlotte's face.
The instant she noticed me staring at her, a faint blush slowly spread across her cheeks.
The rosy hue gradually deepened.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Hey, I've warned you countless times, Ian. You are absolutely forbidden from developing feelings for your own elder sister!"
The panic written across her face was unmistakable.
"Would that really be so wrong?"
"You...!"
I chuckled softly at her reaction.
Without waiting any longer, I walked past her and headed toward the staircase.
After climbing several steps, I deliberately stopped.
Turning back, I greeted her with a faint smile.
"Besides, you really are beautiful. There's nothing wrong with a man admiring a beautiful woman, is there?"
"What?! How dare you say something like that!"
Charlotte's face was now completely crimson.
Even the tips of her ears had turned bright red.
"Why should I be afraid?"
"Ian! I'm your elder sister!"
"There's no problem, as long as Father and Mother never find out."
"You! You...! Don't say things like that!"
I resumed walking, paying no attention whatsoever to her protests.
I climbed the stairs at an unhurried pace.
From below, Charlotte's voice continued to follow me.
"Ian, don't go just yet!"
Her calls gradually faded as the distance between us continued to grow.
I rarely teased Charlotte.
Not because I didn't enjoy provoking her.
It was simply because my sister possessed an overwhelmingly dominant personality whenever we argued.
Whenever she found herself cornered and unable to win with words alone, she occasionally resorted to using her fists instead.
Even so, I had never truly minded that bad habit of hers.
After all, Charlotte was still my elder sister.
I had long since grown accustomed to every part of her personality.
To me, she always looked the same.
When she was in a good mood, she was delightful.
And when she was annoyed or pouting, she was just as adorable.
I slowly made my way down the second-floor corridor toward the room that would be mine during our stay at the villa.
This was not my first visit to the Handler family's private residence in Glutenburg.
Because of that, I knew the layout of the manor well, including the room that had been prepared for me.
As for the questions I still intended to ask Charlotte, there would be plenty of time.
How had she met the dragon?
When had it happened?
And why had she kept it all a secret from me?
Every one of those questions could wait.
Just not tonight.
I gently pushed open the wooden door.
Stepping inside, I entered the neatly prepared chamber.
I walked over to the large bed before quietly surveying the room for a few moments.
Clean.
Orderly.
Impeccably maintained.
Those were the first impressions that came to mind.
The room itself was even slightly larger than my own.
Even so, size had never mattered much to me.
A room's true purpose was simply to provide a place to rest.
Without wasting another moment, I lay down upon the soft bed.
The plush mattress immediately embraced my body in comforting warmth.
The weariness from our long journey gradually began to fade away.
Before long, the drowsiness I had been suppressing finally overtook me.
Whether it was because of the exhausting journey or simply because the bed was too comfortable, my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment.
As my consciousness slowly drifted away, the image of Charlotte's pouting face crossed my mind once more.
Most likely, she would still be wearing that sulky expression throughout tomorrow's journey simply because I had deliberately ignored her earlier.
Even so, cheering Charlotte up had never been particularly difficult.
I already knew almost everything she liked.
Tomorrow would do.
For tonight, it was no longer something worth thinking about.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Then I surrendered to the growing drowsiness, allowing my consciousness to fade away until peaceful sleep finally claimed me.