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nNoel fell asleep. He didn’t even dream.

nWhen he opened his eyes again, it was dark around him, and his body creaked like sand.

n“. . . Hic.”

nThe rest of the tears flowed out.

nAs he heard the sound, he became sad again and wept.

nI hate you all.

nHow could they possibly come up with the idea of

nleaving Noel in the mansion?

nKnowing what he thought of the Duchy’s estate.

nEven if I said I would leave the two of them far away, they would object.

nNoel pouted his lips as he imagined the opposite situation.

nBut you’re doing too much just to make me understand. Father and Brother would be equally opposed to it.

nThe more he thought about it, the more resentful he felt.

nThey make him do things that even they can’t do!

nNoel jumped to his feet.

nFor when his crying had subsided and his anger had risen, a rather plausible thought came to his mind.

nI’m leaving!

nRather than watching his father and older brother leave him behind, it was better for Noel to go out first.

nIf he disappears, everyone will be worried about Noel, so they may only send the wizards to the Duchy’s estate.

nHe quickly looked around.

nThere was nothing else that could be used as a bag, so he spread the thin blanket wide open.

nWhat should I bring?

nFortunately, Noel had the survival knowledge he had learned from hunting competitions.

nWater and something to eat. And a map.

nWater couldn’t be put in the blanket, so he had to go out and get it somehow.

nIt may not be easy to get water at a time like this.

nAnyway, that was something to go out and think about.

nWhat to eat . . .

nHe looked around and saw a sandwich that someone had brought for Noel.

nHe placed a sandwich in the middle of the blanket.

nWhenever I’m hungry, I’ll eat a little bit.

nThe geography books on the desk were also quickly added to the luggage.

nIt would be nice to have a compass, but it seemed impossible to bring such a thing as it was in the tool room.

nWhat more could he take?

nAs he pondered, he grabbed the pajamas organized nearby and piled up his gloves and watch.

nHe was also proud because he seemed to have packed the bag quite plausibly.

nThe weight piled up on the blanket has now become heavy enough for Noel to lift.

nHe still had a lot of things he wanted to take with him, but he decided to stop here for today.

nGood, let’s go!

nHolding the ends of the blanket together moderately, he walked proudly to the door.

nBut he soon realized a problem.

nCan I even go out through the door?

nWell, he was sure.

nIf he went through the hallway and out the front door at night like this, it would be akin to telling the whole town that he was running away from home.

nNoel turned his head.

nA large window appeared behind his back, and the round moon hung in the sky seemed to beckon him.

nThis way, it seemed to say.

nShould I leave through the window?

nHe had never done such a disgraceful thing.

nBesides, his room was on the second floor.

nIt was a rather frightening height for a young boy to jump.

nWhat to do . . .

nA knock sounded right in front of him as he was thinking about it.

nIt was a very small and careful knock.

n“. . . !”

nNoel, who was confused because he thought it was a ghost, quickly hid himself in one side of the room.

nHe hid his presence in the shadows of the night and looked at the door again, and again he heard a knock.

nHe was hiding, so it didn’t seem as scary as before.

nHmph, try knocking as you please.

nWho will open the door?

nNoel thought of his father or brother, who would anxiously kick their feet from beyond the door.

nSomehow it felt good.

nAfter worrying so much, they will be very surprised to find out that Noel is gone tomorrow morning, right?

nNoel suppressed the laughter that came out of nowhere, and stood up quietly.

nIt seems that the presence in front of the door has disappeared.

nHe moved quickly and opened the window wide. The garden was quiet.

nNoel looked down quietly.

n. . . It’s really high up.

nIt looked far taller than usual.

nNo! It’s all right!

nHe shook his head eagerly.

nNoel had read many adventure novels so far, but the main characters did not die even from falling off the roof, not just the second floor.

nBesides, there are trees here.

nHe should jump from the window to the tree to land, then climb down the tree.

nOf course, it was the novel he had read that taught him how to do that.

nNot only the main character but also the nameless supporting characters can do it, so there was nothing that a Lord of the Empire couldn’t do.

nHe made up his mind and grabbed his blanket tightly.

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