A Place to Return To
“Commander Valdo, you remembered!? I’ve never told anyone about that until now…! W-well, except this little furball.”
“What, you thought I forgot?”
“N-no! But I’ve grown taller and my face has changed… I figured you wouldn’t remember some kid from a village you saved ten years ago…”
Valdo let out a faint, wry breath and looked straight at Korn with his gray eyes.
“I remember it clearly. Especially a scrawny little brat who looked at a mercenary like me with shining eyes.”
He said that, then curled his lips into a grin.
“If you want to leave the Black Iron Claws, go ahead. But before that, pay up on the promise you made ten years ago. What you’ve done so far hasn’t even covered the interest.”
“B-but…! I haven’t repaid you at all…! Just the other day, I dragged you down and even got you badly injured…!”
Korn’s voice trembled as he lowered his head. His shoulders shook slightly.
“Someone like me… being of any use to you, Commander… I just…”
He clenched his chest tightly, voice strained as he spoke.
At the sight, Valdo clicked his tongue in irritation.
“What the hell are you going on about? When did I ever say you had to be useful to me?”
“Huh?”
“Meow?”
Both of us froze, mouths hanging open at those unexpected words.
Looking at us like that, Valdo shrugged as if exasperated, then let out a long breath before continuing.
“When have I ever told you to ‘be useful’? Ten years ago, I didn’t save you two kids because I wanted you to be useful to me someday.”
Then his gray eyes sharpened as they locked onto Korn.
“… Korn. Do you remember what you said back then?”
“U-umm…”
Korn’s eyes wandered, struggling to answer.
Valdo spoke again, his voice gentler this time.
“Back then, you said this. ‘When I grow up, I’ll join the Black Iron Claws, and just like you saved my little sister… next time, I’ll be the one saving someone.’”
“… Ah…”
In that moment, Korn’s green eyes trembled.
Valdo continued.
“Whether you’re useful to me or not, that’s a stupid concern. What you wanted back then wasn’t something that small.”
It was as if the memories Korn had buried deep inside came flooding back all at once, he lost his words, his lips trembling faintly.
Seeing that, Valdo smirked.
“Finally remembered? What you wanted was to protect someone who needed help, that was your real vow, wasn’t it?”
“I… I…”
Valdo’s gray eyes, fixed on Korn, were completely serious.
Not just as the Commander of a mercenary group, but as one man facing another.
“You haven’t even taken a single step toward the vow you made as a kid. Isn’t it a little early to give up?”
Korn lifted his head now, meeting that gaze head-on.
Tears streamed down his cheeks, one after another.
“But, Commander Valdo… I keep messing up all the time. Instead of saving anyone, I’m always the one getting saved…”
He wiped at his tears again and again with his sleeve, but they just kept coming.
Sniffling, he forced the words out through a trembling voice.
“Even someone like me… is it really okay for me to stay in the Black Iron Claws…?”
Valdo nodded quietly.
That single motion carried a firm, unwavering resolve directed at Korn.
“Yeah. Of course it is. Start by holding your head high and doing what you can. That’s more than enough.”
Then, suddenly, the corner of his mouth lifted into a grin.
“And besides…”
Valdo placed his large hand on my head as I rested in his arms.
His rough fingers gently stroked along my fur, and I let out a small sound without thinking.
“… If I hadn’t gotten hurt protecting you, I wouldn’t have met this little guy either. So in a way, your screw-up actually paid off. Right, Al?”
“Nya~!”
I chimed in with a short meow, matching his joking tone.
Korn’s face crumpled, breaking into a tearful smile.
“Haha… what is that supposed to mean…”
Even as he said that, fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.
But the shadow that had lingered in his eyes before was gone.
I could feel it clearly, something deep inside Korn had finally come undone.
Valdo gave Korn’s shoulder a firm pat, then spoke in his usual tone.
“Alright, let’s head back. It’s about time for breakfast anyway.”
“… Yes!”
That short reply held no more hesitation.
Korn lifted his head, tear tracks still on his face.
In Valdo’s arms, I shifted slightly and let out a meow, as if in agreement.
And just like that… the two of them, and one little furball, stepped forward along the white snow-covered path, heading back to the base of the Black Iron Claws.
The crunch of snow echoed in the quiet winter morning.
Sunrise filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows across the snow.
When I looked up, I saw white smoke rising from the building’s chimney.
I twitched my nose, and caught the warm, toasty scent of baking wheat.
… The smell of the place we belong.
What do you think about this chapter?
