Morning came quickly.
The caravan left the town of Eldoria Kingdom shortly after sunrise, continuing their journey toward the capital.
The road stretched long and quiet ahead of them.
Everyone was still slightly unsettled by Mirelda's sudden disappearance the night before, but the mood slowly improved as the morning went on.
Daren rode beside the wagon, yawning.
"I still think she abandoned me."
Tomas snorted.
"She realized what kind of grandson you'd be."
"Rude."
Mikel stretched lazily.
"At least she didn't take the food."
Jorin rode quietly beside Lady Elara Valenwood, occasionally speaking with her in soft conversation.
Con walked near the front of the group as usual.
Listening.
Feeling the rhythm of the road beneath his boots.
A few hours later—
He heard something.
Wheels.
Several of them.
Coming from ahead.
Another caravan.
He tilted his head slightly.
"Carriages."
His friends immediately looked ahead.
Sure enough—
Another group of wagons and carriages appeared on the road, traveling in the opposite direction at first before slowing as they approached.
The two groups eventually stopped near each other.
A large, rather luxurious carriage stood at the center of the other caravan.
After a moment—
The door opened.
A man stepped down.
And the moment Daren saw him—
He froze.
"…oh."
Tomas blinked.
"…wow."
Mikel squinted.
"…that's…"
The man was—
Extraordinarily ugly.
Not simply unattractive.
Not just unfortunate.
No.
His face looked like someone had taken all the worst parts of several people and stitched them together poorly.
His nose bent sideways.
His chin jutted out awkwardly.
His eyes were slightly uneven.
Even his smile looked… structurally incorrect.
It was the kind of face that made people instinctively stare.
Yet the man himself seemed perfectly cheerful.
He approached their group with a warm smile.
"Good morning, travelers!"
Before anyone could respond—
Daren blurted out loudly,
"Sir, you are unbelievably ugly."
The entire road fell silent.
Tomas slapped a hand over his face.
"Daren!"
Mikel nearly choked.
Jorin coughed quietly.
Even Elara looked stunned.
But the man—
Only paused briefly.
His smile faltered slightly.
"…ah."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Yes."
"I hear that quite often."
His voice remained polite, though a faint hint of hurt slipped through.
Daren immediately panicked.
"I mean—!"
Tomas shoved him aside.
"Please forgive him!"
"Our friend was clearly raised by wolves."
The man chuckled softly.
"No offense taken."
He looked quite used to it.
Then his gaze shifted.
Toward Con.
He stared for a moment.
His strange face softened slightly.
"…hmm."
"How curious."
Con tilted his head politely.
"Yes?"
The man studied him carefully.
"Forgive me for asking," he said slowly, "but… have we met before?"
Con shook his head gently.
"I don't believe so."
The man rubbed his chin.
"Strange."
"You resemble someone I once knew."
Daren leaned toward Tomas and whispered loudly,
"Please tell me that person wasn't also ugly."
Tomas elbowed him hard.
The man chuckled again, seemingly amused by the group's chaotic energy.
Then he spoke again.
"Tell me, young man…"
He looked directly at Con.
"Do you happen to know a man named Harun?"
Con blinked.
His expression softened.
"Yes."
"That is my grandfather."
The man's eyes widened slightly.
"Your grandfather?"
"Yes."
The man suddenly clapped his hands together happily.
"Well I'll be!"
"What a coincidence!"
"My name is Ednis Frogbert."
He bowed slightly.
"I was an old friend of your parents."
Con froze slightly.
"…my parents?"
Mr. Frogbert nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!"
"We knew each other years ago before that terrible explosion took them."
The boys all glanced at Con sympathetically.
Even though they had heard the story before.
Harun's son and daughter-in-law had supposedly died in a massive accident many years ago.
Mr. Frogbert smiled warmly.
"You've grown into quite the young man."
"You even resemble your father a little."
Con bowed politely.
"…thank you."
Mikel leaned over to Tomas and whispered quietly.
"Con's parents had questionable taste in friends."
Tomas snorted.
"Extremely questionable."
Daren nodded.
"I still can't get over his face."
Mr. Frogbert pretended not to hear them.
But his smile stiffened slightly.
Still—
He remained incredibly friendly.
"Well!"
"What luck meeting the grandson of my old friends on the road!"
"Our caravan is heading the same way."
"Perhaps we can travel together?"
The suggestion seemed harmless enough.
The road ahead was long after all.
The two caravans soon began moving again.
Now side by side.
As they continued the journey—
Mr. Frogbert occasionally glanced toward Con.
His crooked smile remained polite.
But something about his gaze carried a strange curiosity.
Almost like he was observing something rare.
Something valuable.
Of course—
Con had never had parents.
Harun's story had always been a lie.
But Mr. Frogbert spoke so confidently.
So naturally.
That no one questioned it.