What awaited the me who had never stepped a foot outside the village was an astounding view.

When you exit the forest nearby the village and walk a bit, suddenly the ground disappears. In another words, a cliff.

Since that place was the summit of the vertical cliffs, we could see the grounds that extended faraway below us.

On the right, thick and dense forests. While on the left, a vast grassland.

Beyond that stood precipitous mountains, while further around the horizon was something glimmering like an ocean.

And looking at those sceneries, there was Onii-chan, standing there alone.

Roguna

When mother called him gently, Onii-chans shoulder shook a bit before timidly turning around.

That expression, it looked it had loneliness and guilt written over it and also a feeling of relief mixed together with them.

Onii-chans eyes were a bit bit swollen and he was hugging fathers book in his chest tightly.

You made us worried, Roguna. Everyone in the village have been searching for you

Mother said that while walking onto Onii-chans direction, then hugged him while still carrying me in her hands.

Looking at the tears that started to accumulate in Onii-chan eyes as he was being embraced, I was assaulted by guilt.

Onii-chan, I am sorry.

As I apologized while holding the hem of Onii-chans shirt, Onii-chan was surprised, his eyes wide.

No, the one whos wrong, is me Sorry.

My head which was wrapped with a wet cloth was gently patted by Onii-chan.

And then, Onii-chan pushed the important book he hold onto my chest .

Onii-chan?

If you become magician-sama , you absolutely have to go to war, dont you understand?[1]

To Onii-chans sudden question, I was a little taken aback until I tried thinking about it.

If Im not mistaken, the Humans and Demons were in the middle of an all-out war.

Thus a magician capable of using magic will become a huge war resource for sure.

Especially since they even collected unworthy adult male enlistments, its unthinkable that the empire would let the magicians slip past them.

Its inevitable, if you become a magician, youll be dragged into war. I think that Onii-chan wanted to tell me.

But , even though that someone didnt become magician, wouldnt they still be hired anyway in the end.

Because Im a boy, I must join the war anyway.

Thats true, but its only when you reach 15 years old right?

Eh?

But, for magicians, even though he is still a child, he has to fight you know.

Unable to understand with what Onii-chan said, I was bewildered .

Without minding me, Onii-chan muttered something with a distant look as if he was remembering something from the past.

Tou-chan said this before going to war. He said that before we become adults, he will stop this war.

Right beside me, I heard mother gasp.

Even mother didnt know about it. Looks like this talk was only between Father and Onii-chan.

So before Tou-chan comes back, I told Tou-chan that I will protect everybody I, promised.

Before we became adults. That means hes gonna have to end this war in less than decade.

What you call a war is something that can end in several years or prolonged for several decades. Is decade long or short? Its not something that can be easily decided.

But for a father who has little kids, he would absolutely want to avoid letting his own children go to a place of certain death.

For this reason, Onii-chan shown that resolution.

Even though I have never once seen fathers face but, knowing that my fathers this marvelous, it makes me happy .

At the same time, knowing that the usually unsociable Onii-chan was always thinking like that, its warming my soul.

In short, if father and his friend who are fighting right now can end this battle in less than a decade, then the recruitment for me and Onii-chan will be canceled.

But if I didnt wait for a decade and then become a magician, theres a possibility that Ill get dragged into the war.

Onii-chan was not let gonna that happen, that was why he took fathers book from me or something like that.

Mother who had heard Onii-chans confession, tightened her hug on Onii-chan.

With papa, you made that kind of promise Thank you so much, Roguna.

Un.

But, you dont have to bear it alone because were family so from now on, lets support each other, alright?

In response to mothers voice that was full of affection, Onii-chan without saying anything quietly nodded.

And then Onii-chan wrapped his hand around my back to hug me.

If, you really become a magician Im gonna protect you, Sefi.

Thank you, Onii-chan.

Although I answered like that. Ill have to apologize, Onii-chan

Still, both Mother and Onii-chan, also father, and then all the villagers.

Everyone, Im gonna protect you all.

[-](TLC: this ones meaning was slightly off in the previous unchecked version.)