Fortunately, while I was away, there were quite a few minor injuries, but almost no fatalities. None of the existing troops had deserted either.
So, I went around to show my face to the other subordinates, not just my main party. Having returned after half a year, it was time to report my survival far and wide.
Everyone was busy preparing for the defensive battle in their respective areas. When I appeared nonchalantly, everyone looked as if they had seen a ghost.
"Ash...?!"
In the northern part of the city.
Dusk Bringar, who was inspecting hundreds of her knights and duchy soldiers lined up in formation, gaped at me. I waved and approached her.
"Duchess! Have you been well?"
"Yo-you, you just show up after half a year and that's all you have to say...?!"
"Ha ha. I'll explain the details later when I gather everyone together."
It's not practical to explain where I've been and what I've been doing to everyone I meet.
I planned to gather everyone tonight, have a meal together, and then share my story all at once, along with discussing future plans.
"It really is you, Ash...?"
Dusk Bringar, as if in a trance, approached me, pinching my cheek and poking around my body. Hey, that hurts.
"So it's not some imposter or shape-shifter, it really is you..."
"Of course it's really me. Have you been well?"
"How can you be so shameless? Do you even know how worried everyone was?!"
Dusk Bringar started pinching me all over with her tiny hands. Seriously, stop it, it hurts!
After the pinching punishment (?) was over, I smiled wryly and gestured to her.
"I was worried you might have swallowed up Crossroad in my absence."
"I might have, if I had set my mind to it. But."
This dragon lady, with the blood of the evil dragon flowing in her veins, smirked wickedly.
"Stealing is more fun when the owner is around, isn't it?"
"You have a terrifying philosophy..."
"Stealing when the owner is absent is petty theft, but taking it by force makes one a conqueror. Now that you're back, I must once again keep a watchful eye on this place."
Even as we exchanged these words, I knew the truth.
That she and her army had fought harder than anyone to defend Crossroad over the past half year.
"Everyone was waiting, believing you would return."
Dusk Bringar gazed at my face quietly and smiled faintly.
"It seems you've resolved some of the turmoil inside you."
"..."
"I don't know the details, but... welcome back, Ash."
I, too, eventually smiled at her.
"Yes, I'm back, Duchess."
Despite my long absence, they welcomed me warmly.
I was just grateful for that.
***
The Penal Squad and the troops from the northern Ariane Kingdom were in the southern plains, busy strengthening the kill zone and barricades.
So I went to greet them.
"..."
"..."
In this place, filled with muscular soldiers sweating profusely and working hard on the fortifications.
Kuilan was there, shirtless, his muscular physique on display... wearing a dog collar around his neck... and with Princess Yun riding on his back, his face a picture of misery...
The ivory-colored girl seated on the back of the red-furred wolf beastman. It made for a nice picture, but what on earth were they doing?!
Kuilan and I locked eyes for a moment, frozen. I barely managed to open my trembling lips.
"Wh-what...?"
"Oh, Prince Ash? You're back!"
Princess Yun, finally noticing me, waved energetically at me while holding Kuilan's leash.
"This flirtatious prince! I knew you had wanderlust, but where have you been gallivanting off to for half a year?"
"That's a story for tonight... But what are you two doing...?"
"In exchange for our troops aiding in the defense of Crossroad, Commander Lucas agreed to 'lend' me this lovely, fluffy muscle mass."
Lucas...? I understand the troops are important, but did he trade Kuilan for them...?
"Over the past six months, our two forces have moved as one, and now we've achieved such fine muscle coordination."
I have no idea what she means by 'muscle coordination', but the Penal Squad and Ariane Kingdom’s warriors were indeed working together seamlessly.
The warriors from the Ariane Kingdom are a valuable human resource.
Certainly, trading Kuilan for their help seems like a good deal...
After some mental calculations, I came to the same conclusion as Lucas. So.
"Have a good time, Kuilan."
"What are you saying, Commander?! How can you say that seeing me like this?!"
Finally, Kuilan burst out in frustration.
"Save me! Ever since you disappeared, I've been treated like a pet dog!"
"Well, if you're happy, then it's okay..."
"I'm not happy! I'm not happy at all!"
Then, Yun lightly pulled back on Kuilan's leash.
"Oh, my puppy isn't happy being with me?"
"Gah, that's not it... not it, Princess Yun...!"
"Hmph, fine. I'll let you go for today."
Princess Yun unfastened the dog collar from Kuilan's neck and lightly jumped down to the ground.
Kuilan, glancing between me and Yun, quickly ran away.
As Kuilan ran off, Yun licked her lips with a look of disappointment.
"Ah, he's more unapproachable than I thought. Even with my advances, he doesn’t budge..."
"That's your way of courting?"
"Of course. When a woman puts a collar on a man and clings to him, it obviously means ‘let's be together,’ right?"
I just can't understand the mindset of people from the north.
Seeing Yun squint her bright yellow eyes, I quietly offered her some advice.
"Kuilan is from the beastman tribe, a race that has long been treated as slaves by humans... He might be offended by being treated as property."
"Oh."
Yun looked down at the dog collar in her hand and clicked her tongue.
"Oh dear, the bear beastmen in our country aren't slaves but equal citizens, so I'm not sensitive to such issues... And this collar is just my preference."
What a preference...
I cleared my throat.
"If you consider these aspects, you might be able to build a better relationship with Kuilan."
Whether this boisterous princess is serious about Kuilan or not, I couldn't tell.
"I did act a bit impulsively. Ah, it's hard to admit, but being royal has sometimes narrowed my perspective."
Muttering to herself, Yun threw the dog collar to the ground and turned to face me.
"Well, finding a husband is important, but there's something more pressing right now, Prince Ash."
"What could be more important?"
"In the half year you've been gone, the world's political landscape has been shaken up."
I furrowed my brows.
"What happened?"
"How could you not know, having been away for half a year?"
Yun raised her hand, pointing north.
"The civil war between Crown Prince Lark and Prince Fernandez surrounding the Imperial Capital New Terra, the so-called battle for the throne."
"...!"
"The conclusion was reached just recently."
I swallowed hard.
During the time I wandered through the dungeon beneath the lake and the other side of Oblivion's Beyond, half a year had passed, and that half year was enough to end the war between the two princes.
My voice trembled as I asked.
"The winner is...?"
Somehow, I had a guess about the outcome.
And as I suspected, Princess Yun matter-of-factly announced the result.
"Prince Fernandez."
"..."
"News has spread across the continent that Fernandez and his army secured a decisive victory a few days ago."
I clenched my teeth. Yun continued.
"Prince Lark and the Imperial Army's First Legion he led have been annihilated. Their current status, whether alive or dead, is unknown. There are only rampant rumors. Some say he was dismembered, others that he was executed..."
"..."
I recalled the face of my kind-hearted older brother. Could he really be dead?
Yun shrugged her shoulders.
"Anyway, the ruler of the Empire, no... the ruler of the world, has been decided."
"Then, Princess Yun, shouldn’t you be going to pledge allegiance to Prince Fernandez?"
As I gestured, Yun gave a bitter laugh.
"While the opportunists are rushing to swear fealty to Fernandez, my kingdom and I have decided to... wait a bit longer."
"Why?"
"Us northerners have a good intuition."
Yun’s expression hardened slightly.
"There's been an ominous rumor circulating from the Imperial Capital."
"An ominous rumor?"
"The Imperial Capital New Terra has been under lockdown for a long time now. Not even an ant can enter or leave by land, but still, stories find a way to leak out."
Does the Ariane Kingdom also have an intelligence network inside New Terra?
Yun glanced around to ensure no one was listening and then whispered to me.
"A massive, unidentified magic circle is being set up throughout the Imperial Capital."
"...A magic circle?"
"Despite winning the war, Fernandez still strictly controls the citizens inside the capital. I've even heard that people can't leave their houses now, not just the city."
"..."
"Something big is about to happen, Prince Ash. Us northerners are very sensitive to such things. I have a terrible premonition that something major and ominous is brewing..."
I thought about Fernandez's objective I learned in the depths of the dungeon.
And the face of the Emperor I met in the spirit world.
"The southern front is already overwhelmed with dealing with monsters."
Yun glanced at me.
"But still, Prince Ash, if you are one of the world's rulers... you should start preparing. A great upheaval is stirring at the heart of the world."
I listened quietly and then slowly nodded.
"Thank you for the advice, Yun. And for helping to defend Crossroad in the meantime."
"If the northerners just sit back because the crisis is in the south, it would be too late for saving face later, wouldn't it? We just had aligned interests."
Waving her hand dismissively, Yun then looked in the direction Kuilan had run off.
"Now, how should I change my courtship strategy... Sigh, romance is quite challenging..."
"..."
"Don't you have any advice, playboy?"
Yun asked me. I broke out in a cold sweat.
No, Ash is the flirt, not me, I'm a lifelong single, so I can't offer useful advice...
‘Oops.’
Right, I am ‘Ash’. I may not remember my playboy days, but...
After a moment of contemplation, I gave the best advice I could think of.
"Just be honest. Make it clear that you're interested. Whether it's through words, actions, or gestures, make it unequivocal."
"Unequivocal?"
"Sometimes being clear about your intentions can be more helpful, I thought."
"Hmm..."
Yun, who had been intently observing me, finally chuckled.
"Come to think of it, Prince Ash, your romance advice seems rather useless."
"Eh? Why?"
I was trying to be serious! Do I really come across as such a novice?!
"Well, because you have a face that's inherently persuasive. If you whispered sweet nothings with that face, nine out of ten would just fall for it, wouldn’t they?"
"..."
I awkwardly touched my face. Ironically, I've never really used this so-called handsome mask to any advantage...
Yun watched me for a moment and then waved her hand dismissively.
"Alright, enough with giving others relationship advice. Go take care of your own lover."
"Huh? My lover?"
"What's with that reaction? Don’t you have a ‘former fiancée’ who's been crying herself to sleep every night waiting for you for the past half year?"
"...!"
Her words made me realize something.
There was a place I should have gone to as soon as I returned.
A place more urgent than visiting my comrades.
I stood agape and muttered.
"Oh no."
That’s why you were a lifelong single, RetroAddict! Oh dear!
I turned on my heels and ran towards the city's interior. Behind me, I could hear Yun laughing uproariously.
"The worst kind of bad guy is the one who doesn't realize he's bad, and that's exactly you!"
No, that's not what I meant to be...!
"I hope this time you'll be clear about your intentions with her, Your Highness!"
Ignoring Yun's teasing, based on the advice I had given her, I clenched my teeth and ran.
Towards the heart of Crossroad.
To the Silver Winter Merchant Guild branch.
To where Serenade was.
--TL Notes--
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