Jorin did not let go of Constantine immediately.
For several long seconds he simply held him there, arms tight around his shoulders like he was confirming the man in front of him wasn't about to disappear again.
Finally he stepped back.
He looked Constantine up and down.
The blindfold.
The calm expression.
The quiet posture.
"You really are the same idiot," Jorin muttered, though his voice carried relief.
Behind him the children were still staring curiously.
Constantine could hear their tiny movements clearly—shifting feet, quiet whispers, the rustle of clothes.
Jorin sighed and rubbed his face.
"…I guess we should talk."
He turned to the children.
"Go wait near the brook for a bit."
"But papa—"
"Now."
The tone was gentle but firm.
The children obeyed reluctantly, though Constantine could still hear them whispering excitedly as they moved toward the water.
Once they were far enough away, Jorin exhaled slowly.
"…a lot happened after you disappeared."
Constantine stood quietly.
"Tell me."
Jorin nodded.
"The attack that day… it got worse after you vanished."
His voice lowered.
"You already know about the monster."
Constantine remained silent.
Jorin continued.
"Elara saved us."
He glanced toward the distance, where the children were.
"She forced me and Tomas to retreat before that… thing could reach the rest of the survivors."
He clenched his jaw slightly.
"We didn't even know what it really was at the time."
Just a demon.
That was what everyone believed.
"But Tomas…"
Jorin sighed again.
"…Daren and Mikel's deaths broke something inside him."
Constantine did not react outwardly.
But the system quietly recorded the information.
"Tomas couldn't accept it."
"He kept saying we left too early."
"That maybe if we fought harder…"
Jorin shook his head.
"Eventually he left."
"He said he was going to become stronger."
"A wandering knight."
"To search for you."
"And to make sure something like that never happened again."
Jorin gave a faint, bitter smile.
"We haven't heard from him since."
The wind moved quietly through the trees.
Constantine processed the information calmly.
Then he asked,
"And you?"
Jorin snorted softly.
"Me?"
"I stayed alive."
He leaned against the cottage fence casually.
"I went back to the academy."
"I graduated top of my class."
He shrugged slightly.
"After that I started taking every battlefield assignment I could get."
Constantine tilted his head.
"For what purpose?"
Jorin looked toward the children again.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Elara."
Constantine waited.
Jorin explained.
"You already know she's a noble lady."
"Which means she can't marry just anyone."
"A knight without a title isn't good enough."
He crossed his arms.
"So I gathered war contributions."
"Campaign after campaign."
"Battle after battle."
"Until the crown couldn't ignore it anymore."
Constantine understood immediately.
"You obtained nobility."
Jorin nodded.
"A title of Count."
He laughed quietly.
"Took years… but it worked."
"Once I had the title…"
He shrugged again.
"I married her."
Constantine processed the timeline quickly.
"You are now twenty-six."
"Correct."
Jorin gestured toward the brook.
"And those little troublemakers out there are the result."
Constantine turned his head slightly toward the children.
Jorin called out.
"You can come back!"
The small footsteps approached quickly.
Three children stopped in front of Constantine.
Jorin placed a hand on the shoulder of the tallest boy.
"This is Adrian."
The boy stood a little straighter.
Proud.
The second boy stepped forward eagerly.
"And this impatient one is Leon."
Leon grinned.
The smallest figure stood slightly behind them.
Jorin smiled softly.
"And the youngest… Lina."
Lina peeked shyly from behind her brothers.
For a moment the children simply stared at Constantine.
Then Adrian's eyes widened.
"Wait…"
He pointed slightly.
"The blindfold."
Leon gasped.
"Oh!"
"You're that guy!"
Constantine tilted his head slightly.
"That guy?"
Leon nodded excitedly.
"Mom and dad tell stories about you!"
Adrian crossed his arms proudly.
"The blind mercenary knight!"
Lina nodded quickly.
"And their friend!"
Jorin groaned quietly.
"…I knew those stories would catch up to me eventually."
The children continued speaking.
"Dad said you were super strong!"
"And that you always did crazy things!"
"And that you disappeared fighting monsters!"
Constantine listened quietly.
Their excitement carried something he could not feel anymore.
But the data was clear.
The stories had kept his memory alive.
Jorin watched the scene silently for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"Con."
Constantine turned toward him.
"You don't have to stay here alone."
Jorin's tone was sincere.
"My estate isn't far from here."
"You could live with us."
"Plenty of space."
"Plenty of food."
"And the kids already idolize you."
Leon nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! Stay!"
Lina tugged lightly at Constantine's sleeve.
"Please?"
Constantine remained silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"I cannot."
Jorin frowned slightly.
"Why not?"
"I travel."
Constantine answered simply.
"I work as a merchant."
"That requires long journeys."
"Sometimes months."
Jorin studied him quietly.
He understood what Constantine was really saying.
That man had never been the type to stay in one place.
Finally Jorin sighed.
"…fine."
Then he smiled faintly.
"But you're not disappearing again without visiting."
Constantine nodded.
"That is acceptable."
"I will visit when my travels bring me near."
Leon pumped his fist.
"Yes!"
Lina smiled shyly.
Jorin stretched his arms slightly.
"Well then."
He looked toward the cottage.
"We already came all the way here."
"So we're staying the night."
Constantine nodded once.