Chapter 703

Among the gathered heroes and soldiers, and the kings. We all cried and laughed, celebrating victory... and survival.

At the same time, we mourned the death of our comrades and the damage sustained at the front.

Under the sunlight that dawned once more, we wanted to stay drunk on the joy of victory, but the damage to be restored was too great.

The city was destroyed, the walls had collapsed, and people had died. I gathered those who could move immediately and ordered the cleanup.

"We will do it. No, please let us do it!"

Relatively less injured regular soldiers stepped forward eagerly.

Especially the soldiers of the Ariane Kingdom were the most active at the forefront.

They were sad in front of the destroyed city, but they couldn't help but be happy at the thought that their country far in the north had been saved.

The survivors were a mix of those who were mourning and those who were rejoicing.

Because this battle was both a glorious defeat and a devastating victory. It was not strange for each to feel differently.

Seeing the faces of people in different shades... I thought it was fortunate.

It's fortunate to be able to be sad and happy.

The world continues like this.

"First, let's clean up the city..."

After the most urgent restoration orders were given, I spoke while watching the people busily moving in the morning sunlight.

"When the evacuated people return and reinforcements come from each country... We must also retrieve the bodies of the 30,000 warriors who died fighting the Black Dragon in the south."

Most of the casualties from this battle were concentrated there. We must retrieve them.

"Of course, we will, Crown Prince."

Valen, the head of the city-state alliance, who was receiving and conveying my orders along with the other kings, nodded.

Valen, who was said to have been swept away by the first breath attack, had his cherished mustache completely burned off.

His entire body, wrapped in bandages from burns, was standing beside me now.

"Are you alright, Lord Valen?"

I asked carefully, and Valen, habitually trying to touch his mustache, realized it was burnt off, awkwardly lowered his hand, and answered.

"Who here is truly alright?"

"..."

"But just because we're not alright doesn't mean life stops, does it? We have work to do."

He had already been broken in spirit during the King of Flies wave.

In this battle, he had sustained such injuries. He was a man who could leave at any time without it being strange.

But instead of fleeing, he was trying to finish the work he could do to the end.

"Even running away requires courage."

When I carefully asked the reason, Valen answered like this.

"I was born a coward, afraid of being cursed behind my back. So I intend to finish all the work I can show off and then run away."

He spoke frankly and laughed awkwardly. I laughed with him.

It is because of people like him that the world still holds together.

"... Many died and were injured this time too. No, more died and were injured than ever before."

As I murmured, looking at the south wall that had been restored only to be devastated again, Valen spoke in a stern voice.

"Victory is victory, even if we are covered in wounds, Crown Prince. Your Highness has achieved a truly mythical feat."

"..."

"So... leave the remaining cleanup to us and go rest for a while."

He patted my back and sent me inside the city.

"There are many people you need to comfort, Your Highness."

I gratefully accepted his consideration. All the crucial orders had already been given.

Standing outside the city wall, I slowly walked inside. My destination was the temple.

'Everyone must need care right now.'

The heroes who were injured, but more so, the heroes who had once embraced darkness needed to be restored.

To put it in game terms, it's like their dark attribute tendency had maxed out. It was useful in this battle given the circumstances, but the side effects were severe.

As I walked, pondering how to neutralize this darkness...

"..."

I saw Kellibey from afar.

The old dwarf blacksmith was quietly looking up at the [Sturdy Superstition] attached to the front of La Mancha, which had made an emergency landing.

Instead of a face full of regret or sorrow... his face was calm and peaceful.

"..."

Without speaking to him, I headed into the city.

Inside the south gate of Crossroad, Verdandi was there.

She was carefully watering the sprout that had grown from the stump left where her younger sister Skuld had died.

Surprisingly, the sprout, which had been harshly left without sunlight, in the snowstorm, was still alive... and it sparkled with a tender green as it received the water Verdandi was giving it.

"..."

I didn't speak to Verdandi either.

I walked through the half-ruined city, but filled with people.

There was Dearmudin, joining the surviving wizards, hugging and crying together, and there was Kuilan, meeting with the beastmen, forming a circle and shouting something loudly with their shoulders linked.

At the entrance of the temple, Torkel was arguing with a young acolyte over a broom, insisting he should sweep, while the acolyte pleaded for him to rest...

I did not try to comfort them. I did not force them to stand up or pull them out of the darkness.

It seemed they already knew where they needed to look.

"..."

On a bench outside the temple, Lucas, who had received emergency treatment, was sitting with a contemplative look.

I quietly approached and sat next to him.

"Lord..."

Lucas seemed to have many things he wanted to say, but he soon closed his mouth.

We sat silently on the bench for a while, basking in the sunlight.

I had many things to say to Lucas too. There were things to scold, and things to praise. Stories about the real Ash, and about the fake me. So many things.

But those stories could be shared openly later. For now, just simply.

"You've worked hard."

I said.

I reached out and patted Lucas on the shoulder. Then I smiled broadly.

"You did well."

Then Lucas began to tremble...

"Uwaaaah."

"Huh?"

He started to cry...

"Uwaaaah."

As he let out a sorrowful bear-like cry, I couldn't help but laugh. Though it's a bit inappropriate for a superior to laugh while their subordinate is crying.

Beside Lucas, who was crying with all sorts of emotions, I patted his shoulder for a while.

Just because you've stepped into a dark swamp doesn't mean life is over.

It's not just the darkness, is it? During the long journey of life, stepping in all sorts of filth will be a common occurrence.

There is no need to be frustrated or give up for that reason.

Brush off your muddy shoes, and then... just keep walking on the next path.

So I decided to wait for people to pull themselves out of the swamp. Believing that they all could see their destinations clearly.

"Senior!"

"Crown Prince!"

"Your Highness!"

At that moment, the rest of the main party members, having finished their emergency treatment inside the temple—Evangeline, Damien, and Junior—came rushing out.

There was so much to say to everyone, but first, we shared a hug each.

"Everyone, let's sunbathe together!"

Lucas, pointing to the bench, said.

Everyone looked confused but followed my order to sit on the bench. And soon, their faces relaxed.

"Wow, the sunlight..."

"Is it always this warm and bright?"

"Should we just rest like this for a while, doing nothing..."

The children, gathered around Lucas, sat quietly basking in the sunlight, comforting Lucas in silence. Lucas, sniffing, stifled his tears.

Seeing the main party members like that, I chuckled and entered the temple.

I went around the temple meeting the injured soldiers. However, those with severe injuries could not be met.

Chain was one of them, and so was King Poseidon, who had returned by himself through the teleport gate. There were many things to discuss with these two.

And above all, my father. Emperor Traha "Peacemaker" Everblack.

The emperor, who had personally piloted the airship La Mancha, had sustained greater injuries than any heroes. He had been transported to the temple without a moment to celebrate the victory, and was still in surgery.

"..."

Looking at the tightly closed door inside the temple, I suddenly realized.

After this battle... so much would change.

After finishing my round inside the temple and stepping outside, I saw that the main party members, exhausted from the fierce battle, were dozing off in the sunlight.

Even Lucas, who had been sniffing, seemed to have exhausted his strength from crying, as he was now snoring softly, having fallen into a nap.

Watching the children huddled together, sleeping soundly with their heads resting on each other's shoulders... I covered my mouth and laughed.

Torkel quietly brought a blanket, and I covered the children's laps with it.

"I'll wake them when enough time has passed."

"Thank you, Torkel."

I gently patted Torkel's shoulder.

"You worked hard."

Torkel gave a faint laugh without saying anything and bowed to me.

As I left the temple and stepped onto the main street, a carriage came to a stop in front of me.

"Your Highness!"

It was a carriage from the Silver Winter Merchant Guild, driven by Elize, with Serenade seated inside.

"Considering you have many places to visit today, we quickly prepared a carriage."

Serenade asked with a bright smile as she opened the door.

"Where shall we take you?"

Taking a deep breath, I turned my gaze northward.

"To the north gate."

Placing my hand over my chest, feeling the warmth within... I spoke firmly.

"To the military camp of the Bringar Duchy."

***

The military camp of the Bringar Duchy was quiet.

The unharmed soldiers were all involved in the city's restoration, and the injured soldiers were in the temple.

And as if they had expected me... the Dragonblood Knightss were waiting for me with calm expressions.

"Welcome, Crown Prince."

The previous formidable vigor of these knights, who had lost their Dragonblood, was no longer felt.

Instead, a serene, resilient will, like a dry tree standing against a snowstorm, emanated from their eyes.

The Dragonblood Knightss, reduced from four to three and noticeably aged, saluted me and got straight to the point.

"How is Her Excellency?"

"..."

Instead of answering, I extended my hand and ignited a red flame in my palm.

The faces of the Dragonblood Knightss, who understood the meaning of this flame, crumbled. The childlike sorrow spread across their stoic faces.

"Ah...!"

As they collapsed to the ground, I declared calmly.

"Former Duchess Dusk Bringar has entrusted me with her flame."

"..."

"And... she has entered eternal rest. I have preserved her body with magic."

Trying to keep my voice steady, I spoke to the three Dragonblood Knightss who were now wailing on the ground.

"As soon as manpower returns to this city, I will retrieve the bodies of all the fallen as quickly as possible. The Duchess's body will also be retrieved then and given a state funeral according to the traditions of the Bringar Duchy."

The Dragonblood Knightss, sobbing uncontrollably, asked in tearful voices.

"Then, now, Your Highness..."

"Yes."

I nodded.

"I am now the rightful successor of the Bringar Duchy... Dawn Bringar."

The three Dragonblood Knightss, wiping their tear-streaked faces and standing up to compose themselves,

"Loyalty!"

They shouted in unison, kneeling on one knee before me.

"We greet the new Duke of Bringar!"

"We greet the Duke!"

"We greet the Duke!"

What did it mean to these knights that I, the Crown Prince of the Everblack Empire, had become the Duke of the Bringar Duchy?

What would it mean to the citizens of Bringar? To the people of the Empire, and to the people of the world?

I still did not know, but the Dragonblood Knightss swore their allegiance to me without hesitation.

"Please carry on the great will of the former Duchess...!"

"...I will. Certainly, I will."

I smiled warmly and spoke with conviction.

"I am her son, after all."

At those words, a wave of relief crossed the faces of the Dragonblood Knightss, and they bowed deeply to me.

Yes. This world is full of uncertainties, but some things are certain.

The fact that the flame of Dusk Bringar, her will, flows within me.

- Love, Ash.

Recalling her last words, I closed my eyes tightly.

I will do so, Duchess.

Just as you did... just like that.