Side Story 37. [After Story] Lake Kingdom
Empire Year 672
Twenty years after the final battle against the monsters.
At the southernmost end of the continent.
Lake Kingdom.
Not long after my birthday, I set out for the south of the continent.
Because in the Lake Kingdom… Ariel’s coronation ceremony was being held!
Was she not a queen until now? You might ask. And yes, she wasn’t.
Her official title had been Regent Queen, since her father was still alive.
But seriously, who stays a regent for twenty years? Everyone had the same question. Even Ariel’s father had been eager to abdicate.
She could have taken the throne much earlier. But Ariel herself had hesitated.
She believed that the royal family was responsible for plunging the country into hell over the past 500 years.
She had been considering whether the entire royal family should step down after stabilizing the country.
However, over the last twenty years, Ariel worked tirelessly to bring the nation back on track. In doing so, she became the very model of an ideal ruler.
There was no way the people would simply let her step down just because she said, “Now that the country is fine, I will leave.”
The citizens of the Lake Kingdom clung to her, and even her father pleaded with her. In the end, Ariel accepted the succession.
Now, twenty years after the war ended and the curse was lifted, she was finally taking the crown. A joyous occasion indeed!
Ariel had personally visited my coronation to celebrate with me, so now it was my turn to do the same for her.
At the same time, I was taking the opportunity to tour the southern territories, something I hadn’t done since becoming emperor.
‘The previous Everblack emperors barely bothered with tours at all.’
Everblack is the center of the world. Why should the ruler of the center move? You come to me.
…That had been the standard mindset of the Everblack emperors before me. And honestly, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
But I was breaking that tradition, traveling across the world to bridge the gap.
At the same time, I was demonstrating the changes in Everblack’s formerly rigid, authoritarian rule.
And when the emperor of Everblack personally visits to hold diplomatic meetings, even matters that would normally be declined on paper tend to be resolved in my favor.
Lucas had been against it at first, but after seeing the positive outcomes of this diplomatic tour, he stopped complaining.
‘I remember Lucas worrying about the empire’s internal affairs while I was away.’
But seriously, with the elite bureaucrats handpicked from across the empire, what could possibly go wrong?
Funny enough, I had more responsibilities when governing a place like Crossroad or a small country like the Bringar Duchy.
Managing those territories meant dealing with an awkwardly sized domain and a limited number of vassals, so I had to personally handle a lot of matters.
But now, as the ruler of the largest nation in the world, everything was systematically managed by my officials. (A huge thanks to my father for organizing that before he left.)
Now, all I had to do was provide overall direction and give final approvals.
Of course, that didn’t mean I wasn’t busy. But compared to running a small city or a minor state, my workload actually felt more manageable.
That was why I could afford to take on long diplomatic tours like this.
“Your Majesty. The Lake Kingdom is in sight.”
Lucas’s voice came from outside the carriage window.
When I opened the window, I saw the knights escorting my carriage and Lucas leading the troops, his cloak billowing behind him.
Since this was the emperor’s journey, the procession was quite large.
Numerous carriages, supply wagons, and soldiers surrounded my own vehicle, forming a dense formation.
‘Everyone’s working hard. A train would make this so much easier…’
Kellibey and the dwarven craftsmen had been working on something lately. Maybe there would be good news soon.
Looking south in the direction Lucas had indicated, I saw a familiar plain stretching out before me.
The place where the advance base had once stood before the Black Lake.
The very battlefield where countless monsters had been slain. And where countless comrades had fallen.
“…”
The advance base had long been dismantled, and the now-pristine fields were filled with rows of crops.
Only a few crumbling stone walls remained, silent reminders of the war that once raged there.
As I gazed at them, my eyes drifted further south. And then, I saw it.
The Black Lake.
At least, that was what it had once been called.
A pit of darkness that spewed forth monsters.
Now, the black waters had completely evaporated, leaving behind a vast basin.
And within that basin, a grand city-state had risen.
“Wow, it’s changed a lot…”
Standing at the edge of the basin, looking down at the city, I couldn’t help but be amazed.
I remembered the early days of the war, when I first climbed the city walls after exploring the dungeon beneath the lake.
Back then, I had been overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the city, shrouded in darkness.
The feeling was… something like standing before the corpse of a massive whale.
Majestic and beautiful, yet eerie and lifeless. It triggered a primal fear.
But now, under the red glow of the setting sun, the Lake Kingdom exuded an entirely different kind of grandeur.
A steady stream of people moved in and out of the city, passing through its four grand gates and the smaller gates in between. Many carried bundles of goods, hauled carts, or shouldered heavy equipment.
Inside the city, it was no different. Like veins coursing through a body, the large and small roads stretched across the city-state, bustling with people and carriages that kept the city alive.
Though it had sunk into the dry lakebed, it was a nation that pulsed with energy and life.
This was the Lake Kingdom under Ariel’s rule.
“…Truly, the world has changed beyond recognition.”
Lucas, who had been observing the cityscape alongside me, murmured under his breath.
“It’s nothing like before.”
If the Lake Kingdom of the past had been a ghost town—swallowed by darkness and shadows, silent, desolate, and empty—then the current city had lost its magical glow and now carried the scent of earth and sand in the basin below.
It might have looked rougher, older, less refined.
But it felt so much more alive.
And it was a beautiful sight to behold.
The road leading from the basin to the main gate of the Lake Kingdom was a sturdy, gradual slope.
As our procession descended slowly along that path, we saw a welcoming party waiting at the gate.
“Welcome! Thank you for making the long journey!”
The officials who greeted us were dressed in practical yet elegant uniforms, representatives of the royal court of the Lake Kingdom.
“Originally, the Regent Queen wished to greet you personally, but an urgent matter arose… She said she will come as soon as she is finished. The Regent Queen also asked us to convey her apologies and hope that you understand.”
I waved my hand with a smile.
“Oh, there’s no need to worry. I don’t consider it rude in the slightest. But an urgent matter, you say? Did something serious happen?”
“A small fire broke out on the outskirts of the city. The flames have been extinguished, but there were concerns about casualties, so the Regent Queen went there herself.”
Ah. There it is. Exactly what I was talking about earlier—leaders of smaller nations have to personally deal with everything themselves.
Ariel was a ruler who took her responsibilities seriously. If there was something she could handle directly, she would rush to do it herself.
At this rate, she was going to wear herself down. I should prepare some medicinal tonics for her.
“Please, allow me to escort you to the palace.”
The Lake Kingdom officials led the way, and our group followed behind them.
From the grand gates of the city, through its bustling center, we made our way toward the royal palace.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp as I took in the sight before me.
“Lucas, do you remember this place?”
“Of course, my lord. It brings back… a lot of memories.”
There was a deep nostalgia in Lucas’s voice as well.
For three years, we had wandered through the dungeon-fied version of this city, treating it like our second home.
Even though twenty years had passed, I still recognized every street and alley.
It was both comforting and eerie—a strange, unsettling mix of emotions.
The cloying darkness, the gleaming eyes of lurking monsters, the rustling whispers of malice, the flickering light of my comrades’ torches.
All of that had been replaced by the bright sun, the hopeful gazes of the people, the lively shouts and calls that filled the air, and hands carrying tools, produce, and fruits.
A different kind of familiarity swelled within me—one that was warm and reassuring.
“Ah, wait! Lucas, can we take a detour?”
After getting permission from the officials, I veered off the main road leading to the palace and took a side path.
It didn’t take long before we arrived.
The Base Camp.
Back when we were exploring the dungeon of the Lake Kingdom, this had been our home base—the only place within that endless darkness where we could rest without fear.
“…Wow.”
The small clearing that had once served as our Base Camp had transformed into a lively market square.
The old buildings surrounding it, the narrow alleys leading off into the city—they all remained just as I remembered them.
But now, instead of emptiness and danger, the space was packed with stalls and stores, filled to the brim with merchants and customers.
A sight I could have never imagined.
“Wait a second. I won’t go in—I just want to look from here.”
After stepping down from the carriage, I stood at the entrance of the market, taking in the scene.
I remembered how a massive campfire used to burn at the center, how dwarven blacksmiths pounded their anvils, how an old witch stirred her giant cauldron.
I remembered the silent adventurers checking their gear, preparing to dive back into the depths.
For a brief moment, those visions flickered like ghosts before my eyes.
Then they faded, replaced by the lively voices of merchants and customers haggling over prices.
“…?”
As I quietly observed my surroundings, I met someone’s gaze.
At the entrance of the market, a fruit vendor was staring at me.
A man who looked to be in his thirties.
Something about his face seemed familiar.
I tilted my head, trying to place him.
Then, as if sensing my confusion, the man gave a faint smile and greeted me.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Uh… Wait. Who were you again?”
“It’s alright if you don’t remember. We only met briefly.”
But I wasn’t one to give up so easily. Pressing my fingers to my temple, I racked my brain, refusing to let the memory slip away.
Seeing my frustration, the man chuckled behind his hand and spoke.
“Do you remember Mudfloor Village? The one beneath the bridge leading to the palace?”
“Of course I do! I owed that place a huge debt… Oh?”
There were only three people in Mudfloor Village that I had a real connection with.
The Sword Demon, the Spear Demon, and—
“…No way. That little kid?”
When Salome and I drifted into the depths of the Lake Kingdom… When we ended up in Mudfloor Village…
He was the little kid who had shared Raven’s fruit with me!
And now, that same child had grown into an adult…!
“You actually recognized me. Quite a bit of time has passed.”
“Wow, you… you really grew up.”
Back then, he had been cursed with eternal life—his body could no longer grow. A frail, emaciated child, barely clinging to life.
But now, he stood taller than me, a fully grown man.
“I ate well, I slept well… Turns out, that’s all it takes to be healthy.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Since then, I got married, had kids. And now, well, I’m doing alright.”
I couldn’t find the words to respond, overwhelmed by the strange mix of nostalgia and emotions welling up inside me.
Then, hesitantly, he asked.
“And you?”
“Huh?”
“Are you eating well, sleeping well… living well?”
For a moment, I saw it again—
A scrawny child, his tangled hair a mess, clad in tattered, threadbare clothes.
But then, the image faded, replaced by the grown man smiling gently at me.
Slowly, a smile of my own crept across my lips.
“I’m trying to.”
“…”
“I’ll keep trying. To eat well, to sleep well… and to live well.”
He nodded, then reached for a few fruits from his stall, carefully placing them into a paper bag with practiced hands.
He held it out to me.
“Will you accept this?”
Lucas and the knights instinctively moved to intervene, but I gestured for them to stand down and stepped forward.
“It’s been a long time, and I couldn’t even add proper interest to it… But I always thought that if I ever met you again, I’d want to offer you some fruit in return.”
With an awkward smile, he extended the bag toward me.
“The fruit you shared with me back then… it was delicious. That memory helped me get through those painful days. It gave me the strength to keep going.”
Carefully, I took the bag from his hands.
He bowed deeply.
“Thank you. For saving the world.”
“…”
I breathed in the sweet scent of the fruit inside the bag.
And then, I smiled.
“Thank you too.”
“Because with this memory… even if difficult days come again, I think I’ll be able to keep going a little longer.”
The man stepped back, and I, too, turned and walked away.
As my carriage slowly pulled away from what had once been our Base Camp, the former child smiled brightly and waved.
Then, he turned back to his stall, greeting a new customer and carefully wrapping up their fruit.
“…”
Leaning back against the carriage seat, I brought the paper bag closer and took in the scent once more.
The warmth of a good memory filled my chest.