Chapter 144

Noel fell asleep. He didn’t even dream.

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

“. . . Hic.”

The rest of the tears flowed out.

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

I hate you all.

How could they possibly come up with the idea of

leaving Noel in the mansion?

Knowing what he thought of the Duchy’s estate.

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

Noel pouted his lips as he imagined the opposite situation.

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

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

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

Noel jumped to his feet.

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

I’m leaving!

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

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

He quickly looked around.

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

What should I bring?

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

Water and something to eat. And a map.

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

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

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

What to eat . . .

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

He placed a sandwich in the middle of the blanket.

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

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

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

What more could he take?

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

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

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

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

Good, let’s go!

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

But he soon realized a problem.

Can I even go out through the door?

Well, he was sure.

If 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.

Noel turned his head.

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

This way, it seemed to say.

Should I leave through the window?

He had never done such a disgraceful thing.

Besides, his room was on the second floor.

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

What to do . . .

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

It was a very small and careful knock.

“. . . !”

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

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

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

Hmph, try knocking as you please.

Who will open the door?

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

Somehow it felt good.

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

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

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

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

Noel looked down quietly.

. . . It’s really high up.

It looked far taller than usual.

No! It’s all right!

He shook his head eagerly.

Noel 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.

Besides, there are trees here.

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

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

Not 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.

He made up his mind and grabbed his blanket tightly.