Instead of opening the door, the invaders used magic to blast through it.

  I thought they would charge in right after, but they did not.

  Instead, they shot Sleep Cloud into the room. It was a very powerful cloud that made you fall asleep.

  Eric and Goran wouldn’t be affected by it, but Shia and Serulis were another matter.

  And so I had to protect them from the cloud.

  “There’s nothing scary about Sleep Cloud if you can control the current of air.”


  “I see. I will keep that in mind.”


  As a royal Wind Dragon, Kathe was born with ridiculously high mental resistance.

  And so Royal Cloud wouldn’t even help her sleep better at night.

  So there was no need to have countermeasures, which meant she didn’t even know of the spell. That’s why I told her how to deal with it.

  After some time, wind magic was used on the other side, and the Sleep Cloud was dispersed.

  And then four figures charged into the room. They were wielding short swords. Clearly, they had been equipped with the knowledge that they would be fighting indoors.

  They saw that we were standing there, without having fallen asleep, and the invaders froze.

  And then they pointed their swords at us.

  “.……Don’t move!”


  I took a step forward and then spread out my arms to show that I didn’t mean them any harm.

  “Drop your weapons!”


  This was directed at Shia and the others who had swords drawn.

  However, as they were on their guard, they could not put down their swords.

  “I’m going to say it one more time! Drop your weapons!”


  “Well, wait a minute. We’re not thralls, and we certainly haven’t had Charm casted on us.”


  “.……What?”


  “You didn’t see any vampires, did you? That’s because we defeated all of them.”


  “That can’t be right…… Surely……”


  “Let me talk to your commander. I’ll explain everything.”


  She must have heard my voice. A woman stepped forward from the back. She was likely the leader.

  “Your Excellency. It’s dangerous!”


  “It’s fine.”


  The commander said to the frantic warrior, and then came to the front.

  “Oh, is it really you……Ru……Locke? And Goran and Serulis are here?”


  She was someone who I knew very well. It was Goran’s wife and Serulis’s mother.

  Goran’s wife was called Marguerite Morton Schmitt.

  Also known as Marquess Schmitt.

  “It’s been a long time. Ten years?”


  “Yes, it has, Locke.”


  Goran and Serulis must have written to her and explained about my return and that I had changed my name.

  As we talked, Marguerite walked straight to where Goran was.

  “Oh, uh, it’s been……”


  Goran said with a bashful voice.

  However, Marguerite ignored him and looked at the apprentice that Goran was carrying.

  “Good. She seems fine.”


  “Aye. It seems that Charm was cast on them, but we defeated the boss here.”


  “.……Yes. Thank you, Goran. All of you.”


  Marguerite smiled warmly. She was relieved to see that the apprentice was safe.

  “Locke. You really haven’t changed at all.”


  “You haven’t changed either, Marguerite. You’re as beautiful as ever.”


  “Do you think so?”


  She said with a grin.

  “Huh? Mother?”


  “What are you doing in a place like this?”


  Both Serulis and Goran were very surprised.

  “That’s what I want to ask you. What are you all doing in the Ringain Kingdom?”


  Marguerite was an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. So her being in Ringain was not particularly strange.

  But leading soldiers and invading a vampire base was an entirely different thing.

  “Marguerite, it’s a really long story……”


  “I don’t mind. Locke, tell me.”


  And then Marguerite gave orders to her subordinates.

  “Go and gather the magic stones from the Vampires. Is that fine, Locke?”


  “Aye, of course. But if you find any magic tools, I’d appreciate it if you let me inspect them.”


  “Certainly. You are the ones who defeated them, so you have that right. However……”


  “I know. You want data regarding the number and types, right?”


  “Yes, that’s right. It’s good that you understand such things.”


  And with that, Marguerite’s men scattered through the mansion.

  “Now the others are gone. Please tell me everything in detail.”


  “Let’s start with introductions. This is Eric, but he’s disguised with magic.”


  “Please excuse me. I did not realize, Your Majesty.”


  “Of course, you didn’t. It’s Locke’s magic. And you don’t need to speak so formally.”


  “Very well.”


  Marguerite understood the situation quite well even before I explained.

  As a Marquess, she did not speak to many people with such reverence.

  And so if someone saw her doing it now, it might expose Eric’s identity.

  “And this here is Kathe the Wind Dragon Leader. And this warrior is Shia, who is the chief of the beastkin wolves, and here is my pet, Grulf.”


  “Ah, the Wind Dragons. Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty.”


  “Think nothing of it!”


  Kathe wagged her tail happily.

  Grulf also looked happy, and he wagged his tail and brushed up against Marguerite.

  He didn’t jump on her, as I had told him that he shouldn’t jump on anyone but me or Kathe. He was a good boy.

  Marguerite petted Grulf gently on the head as she talked to Shia as well.

  “Now, I will explain it to you in brief.”


  I turned to Marguerite and told her how we had come to be there.