It was a delightful journey.
After spending one night in Reben, Caron and his group headed straight for the border of the Zion Kingdom.
In the past, they would have traveled under false identities for the sake of their missions, but there was no longer any need for such things. There was simply nothing to hide anymore.
When Caron appeared at the checkpoint, the Zion border guards turned pale with fear and immediately waved them through. Thanks to that, the group enjoyed a remarkably smooth and peaceful trip.
The luxurious carriage that Revelio had arranged for them rolled tirelessly through Zion's vast grain fields. What had once been barren land, scarred by years of war, now blossomed with new life and color.
Of course, the trip wasn't entirely without incident. At one point, a few bandits who still hadn't learned their place tried to ambush them.
"Kerra," Caron called.
"What do you want me to do with these bastards, Commander?" Kerra asked, already cracking his knuckles.
"Drag them off and—shhk. You know what to do," Caron said casually.
"I'll be quick," Kerra said with a grin.
"Daddy, where is he taking those men?" Aqua asked, tugging on Caron's sleeve.
"You don't need to know that yet," Caron replied. "But do you remember what I told you about the things that happen to bad people?"
"They get punished," Aqua answered.
"Right. They're going to get their punishment," Caron said.
"Oh, I see," Aqua replied.
And so, the foolish bandits who had dared to rob the strongest man on the continent ended up buried deep beneath the soil.
After passing through Zion, the group finally entered the Holy Kingdom.
The moment they crossed the border, they were met by a host of heavily armored paladins.
"Welcome, Warrior! From here, we shall personally escort you!" one of them announced proudly.
"Please, don't make such a fuss," Caron said, rubbing his temples. "We're just here to look around quietly."
"But His Holiness the Pope has prepared an elaborate—"
"Go back and tell His Holiness," Caron interrupted, enunciating each word. "That I want to stay. Very. Quiet. And. Calm. Got it?"
"Y-Yes, sir!" the paladin stuttered.
Despite his best efforts, it seemed impossible to avoid attention. Still, Caron kept his patience and managed to push through the nuisance. He had wanted a free, peaceful trip—and that was what he intended to have.
Their first stop in the Holy Kingdom was the fortress of Ragheim—the very place where Caron had made his first stand as a Warrior.
It was the fortress Caron had once brought down through incitement, yet the current Ragheim was utterly transformed—completely different from what it used to be.
"Come, come! Autobiographies of the Warrior, filled with his divine words!"
"Get your Warrior's favorite jerky here, at a special price!"
"The cloak worn by the Warrior..."
"The food that the Warrior once chewed and spat out..."
It was chaos, a marketplace more than a fortress. Instead of soldiers, the grounds were crowded with civilians and merchants hawking trinkets.
"The Pope declared this place a holy site," Seria explained softly.
"A holy site?" Caron repeated, raising a brow.
"Yes," Seria said. "He said it's where the Warrior saved the Holy Kingdom. Those people are all pilgrims."
Caron looked around, unimpressed. He thought, All this for that? I didn't even do that much for the Holy Kingdom.
Receiving worship for something he didn't ask for was always uncomfortable.
Sensing his unease, Seria said kindly, "No matter what anyone says, you were a Warrior chosen by the Light. You're the Warrior who defeated the enemies of the Holy Kingdom. You should accept that with pride."
"Then what about those merchants?" Caron asked, pointing at the crowd. "They look like they're using my name to sell junk."
"I heard Lord Fayle gave them permission," Seria said. "Half of them belong to the Ducal Family of Leston's merchant guild, anyway."
Like father, like son. Fayle sold his own son's name behind his back. At this point, Caron accepted it.
"Daddy, I want that ice cream!" Aqua said, pointing excitedly toward a nearby stand.
The sign above it read...
"Strawberry Ice Cream Made from the Warrior's Own Recipe! Contains Holy Strawberries Blessed by Sacred Water!"
"Daddy, did you make ice cream?" Aqua asked.
"...It seems I did," Caron answered, smiling faintly.
He walked over to the vendor and held out some coins, and asked, "I'd like some ice creams, please."
The mustached vendor began his pitch automatically, "There's not only strawberry flavor, but also pineapple and apple—" Then his eyes went wide. "H-Huh!?! W-Warrior! I-it's you! The humble servant of Light greets the First Apostle and the great Warrior who fulfilled the sacred mission...!"
"Shhh. Quiet," Caron hissed, raising a hand.
Apparently, his fame had grown far more than he'd realized.
The vendor trembled, tears forming in his eyes as he bowed deeply and said, "It's an honor beyond words!"
"Right... So, how much is it?" Caron asked.
"How could I possibly accept money from you, my Warrior? Please, just choose the flavor you want!" the vendor replied.
"But I should still pay—" Caron began, but was cut off.
"Accepting money from the Warrior would be blasphemy against the Holy Kingdom itself!" the vendor insisted fervently.
And so, Caron had no choice but to accept the ice cream for free. Drawing attention was the last thing he wanted.
The group stood there, each holding an ice cream cone, exchanging amused looks.
"Is the Commander really that popular?" Ugo grumbled.
"We fought alongside him, didn't we? Why don't we get that kind of attention?" Kerra complained.
"Both of you, stop whining," Beatrice said sharply, putting them back in line as always. Then she turned to Caron with a smirk. "That merchant's right. No one in the Holy Kingdom would dare take money from you."
"Maybe I shouldn't have brought any, then," Caron said with a sigh.
"Then just give it to people who need it!" Aqua suggested brightly. "You're such a dummy sometimes, Daddy."
Caron chuckled, then said, "You're a genius, Aqua. Alright, we'll do that."
He smiled warmly, watching his daughter beam with pride. Perhaps it was because she was a dragon, but she seemed to grow wiser by the day.
"Aqua, whatever you do, don't take after your father," Beatrice teased, patting the girl's head.
"Okay!" Aqua said, giggling.
They spent the rest of the day strolling leisurely around the fortress, taking in the sights.
And when they finally reached the Holy Capital, things weren't much different—except for the small detail that somehow, Caron drank half the Pope's sacred wine cellar dry.
Other than that, the journey was... surprisingly peaceful.
***
Seria said her farewells, adding that she would come to Azureocean Castle in half a year.
Beatrice, too, parted ways for a while, saying she had to train the paladins under her command. They agreed to meet again in the Eastern Great Forest.
After spending two weeks in the Holy Kingdom, Caron and his companions began their journey southward, entering the vast Southern Great Forest. On the way, they shared drinks with a band of orcs and even crossed paths with heretics, whom Caron personally corrected with his hammer of justice.
Their destination was none other than Galad, the city of the elves.
As always, the elves had changed with remarkable speed. The city's appearance had transformed dramatically since Caron's last visit.
"I didn't think they could build something that tall with trees," Caron remarked, gazing up.
"They make the trees grow larger first, then build homes out of them," the regent explained with a gentle smile. "Humans helped a great deal. When it comes to architecture, even elves can't match human ingenuity."
The regent smiled brightly and nodded.
They were at the Temple of the World Tree, located at the very heart of Galad.
Ugo and Kerra had taken Aqua out for a stroll in the city, leaving Caron and the regent alone in the temple's reception chamber.
"Aqua really loves this place," Caron said.
"Galad is a beautiful city," the regent replied warmly. "And this is where she used to live."
Caron chuckled and said, "Seeing her so happy makes me think we should just live here for a while."
"...No," the regent said suddenly.
"Hm? What was that?" Caron asked.
"Nothing. I didn't say anything," the regent answered hastily. For a brief second, the color drained from her face.
Caron simply lifted the teacup the regent had poured for him and took a sip. Warmth spread gently through his body.
"So, how has your journey been so far?" the regent asked with a mild tone.
"It's been nice," Caron said, scratching his cheek. "Nice, but... I don't know. Maybe a little boring."
"Well, you've spent your entire life on the battlefield," the regent said. "That's only natural. You lived through three lifetimes of war, did you not?"
"That's true," Caron admitted.
"With an ordinary mind, you would've turned into a bloodthirsty madman long ago. Yet you endured that darkness through duty, and through responsibility. You are a man worthy of deep respect," the regent said.
As always, her voice carried an effortless calm. Her eyes were deep and steady—the kind that could lead a thousand elves—and the words carried a natural grace.
Caron smiled faintly as he set down his teacup, then replied, "Respect, huh? You're gilding my face too much. Regent, if you keep talking like that, I really will want to live here."
"That... might become a matter of controversy," the regent said delicately.
"Controversy? What kind?" Caron asked.
"Well, it's just that... Oh, Mother is coming," the regent said.
Right on cue, the World Tree appeared. She looked just as Caron remembered her from the Imperial Capital—elegant and radiant, wrapped in a pale green dress that shimmered like dew. She walked forward softly and waved at him.
"So we meet here again," she said.
"What do you think?" Caron asked.
"Think of what?" the World Tree asked.
"Of me living here," Caron answered.
At that, the World Tree's face momentarily stiffened, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "If that is what you desire, then so be it."
"Then maybe I'll stay for... two years or so..." Caron trailed off.
"But there are still many who need you elsewhere," the World Tree added, her tone turning solemn. "I can see another journey ahead of you. Those with great power bear great responsibility. If you stayed here, who would protect the continent?"
"Is that... a prophecy?" Caron asked.
"Yes," the World Tree answered.
"You sound a little biased there," Caron said with a smirk.
The World Tree cleared her throat lightly and sat down. She gestured toward the regent, and asked, "Would you give us a moment alone? There are matters I must discuss privately."
"Of course, Mother," the regent said, bowing respectfully before leaving the chamber.
As soon as the door closed, Caron gave the World Tree a wary look, then asked, "Why are you doing this? This is making me uncomfortable."
"There's something I wish only you to know," the World Tree said softly. "That is why we're alone."
"All right, I'll listen for now," Caron said.
The World Tree made a small gesture toward Caron's empty cup, and tea poured itself anew, fragrant steam rising between them.
"The laws of this world are simple," she said. "When the moon grows full, it must wane. When it wanes, it must rise again. That is the cycle. You have destroyed great evils—even the primordial evil that has existed since the dawn of time. But that does not mean evil itself has vanished forever."
Her eyes gleamed with serene brilliance as she continued, "One day, evil will rise again. In some form, in some place—it will awaken once more."
At her warning, Caron let out a faint chuckle. Then, in a confident voice, he said, "But that's not my responsibility."
"Hm?" the World Tree responded.
"I've lived three damn lifetimes fighting like a dog. I think it's someone else's turn. I've done more than enough," Caron explained.
The World Tree laughed quietly and nodded, then said, "So that is your decision."
"When do you think that 'evil' will return, then?" Caron asked.
"After countless ages have passed," the World Tree answered.
"Then I won't be around by then. So it's not my problem," Caron said firmly.
The World Tree realized she couldn't persuade him otherwise.
"I mean to offer you the chance to become a transcendent being," she said. "To exist even after endless time has passed."
Caron thought for a moment, then shook his head and replied, "No thanks. I'll just live out this life properly. After being reborn twice, it's lost its novelty, you know? Find someone else."
"Hmm. Someone else, you say? Do you have any recommendations?" the World Tree asked.
"Handle your own work," Caron said with a grin. "You know that, right?"
"You never change, do you?" the World Tree remarked with a chuckle. She took a delicate sip of her tea before continuing in a soft voice, "I have already found another candidate."
"Well, that's good to hear," Caron said.
"I knew you would refuse. I understand your thoughts, Caron Leston. May your remaining days be filled with peace and happiness," the World Tree said.
"That's exactly my plan," Caron said with a smile. He had no intention of carrying any more burdens. Without hesitation, he rejected the World Tree's offer.
"Oh, and if you could spare a few branches for me on the way out," Caron added casually. "If it's too hard, I'll pluck them myself."
"...What do you plan to do with my branches?" the World Tree asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Plant them around so Aqua can run and play. She's still growing, and I think she'll need a bit of your mana until she's done. Oh! And I'll take some of your dew too, if that's fine. You're looking pretty healthy these days, so there must be plenty of it around," Caron replied.
Only Caron—that utterly incorrigible human—would have the nerve to rob the World Tree who was practically a god.
"Yes, do as you wish," the World Tree said.
"Really?" Caron asked.
"You've earned it. You've paid the price in full. I leave the world in your capable hands, Caron Leston," the World Tree said.
"You're making me nervous, talking like that," Caron said. "But I'll take it anyway. Thank you."
The World Tree only smiled—an unfathomable, gentle smile—as she looked at the insolent, endearing human before her.