Chapter 284

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍returning from Aquares, Killian had to make reports for quite a long time.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍incident had begun with Julian's disappearance.

To ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍explain how he, having gone on a subjugation campaign in the Ronan Mountain Range, had ended up in the Current Nations, it was impossible to leave out the Monster Lord's dungeon.

‘I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not speak of my battle with Neptune.’

Upon ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hearing that there was a path from the mountain range on the eastern frontier across the sea to the Current Nations, Escardo had dispatched a great many people—hunters, rangers, knights, and mages alike—to search the eastern mountain range.

‘Judging ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by Sir Escardo's reaction, it seemed he was receiving a report about the Monster Lord for the first time.’

The possibility that the king of the mountains, who had reigned hundreds of years ago, might have been reborn.

He had only been wary of the possibility that it could become a threat to Eurasia as its grand plan lay before it.

Yet Lucy Eurasia, Meyer Family's daughter and the First Queen, one of the kingdom's core families, proposed a deal, saying that she knew something about the Monster Lord.

"Do you know what you are saying, Your Majesty?"

"Of course I do."

Lucy Eurasia answered calmly.

"Until recently, I was the commander of the Extermination Squad."

He had formed connections with both Walker guilds and could access any information he wanted, whether in the east or the west.

"But you only learned of the Monster Lord's information recently."

"……"

"Moreover, if it had not been for the Third Prince's disappearance, you would still not know about it."

"……"

"You look as though you cannot understand."

Unlike Killian, Lucy Eurasia looked as though she understood.

"It has been more than three hundred years since the Meyer Family settled on the eastern frontier."

That was a long history for a single family.

"Over that time, how many hunters must have made their living in the mountain range, and how many knightly subjugations must there have been?"

Whenever the Meyer Family formed ties with other families, it recorded information about the eastern mountain range. In the modern age, those records had become data that could predict the monsters' waves.

"Eurasia should possess information on that as well."

It had been shared not only with Eurasia but with the allied families too, allowing them to respond to Monster Waves on their own.

"This is a world where information holds the same value as gold and silver. Did you really think a family would share every piece of its data?"

"That is an act of treason against the kingdom."

No matter how long its history, the Meyer Family was only one of the affiliated families that comprised Eurasia.

For a family to do something detrimental to the kingdom for its own benefit was unacceptable.

"The difference lies only in how each family handles information. The Meyer Family merely recognized information's value early and made use of it."

Some would call it foxlike behavior.

She was saying that the Meyer Family's actions were pragmatic and political.

‘Lucy Eurasia was no ordinary woman.’

In one respect, Killian felt he could understand why Simon had been able to devote himself to training.

"To make a deal, one must make a proposal. Before that, one must determine the value of the information."

"If it is about the competition for the throne……"

"I will be direct."

Lucy Eurasia did not wait for Killian to finish speaking.

"I want you to help Damian deal with the Monster Lord."

‘What is this supposed to be……?’

"Did you expect me to ask you to help with the competition for the throne? If you were going to accept such a proposal, you would already have taken the hand of either Cali Eurasia or Emma Eurasia."

"……"

"For a moment, I too was confused by how you appeared to be helping Julian Eurasia while securing your own interests."

She had wondered whether Killian, drunk on his own martial power after a sudden awakening, was belatedly coveting the throne.

She had even suspected that he might devour the foolish Third Prince and his maternal family to use them as his base of support.

"But none of it was true. Your actions always proceed from the premise of acting for Eurasia."

"I believe your evaluation of me is too generous."

That was how he answered, but everything she had said was true.

He had never coveted the throne merely because he had reincarnated as a descendant of his dear friend.

As the partner who had been with him until the end, he simply disliked Eurasia's current situation and the Empire's tyranny.

Even his stripping Julian and the Sepia Merchant Company for profit was to make the Extermination Squad's funding more flexible.

Lucy Eurasia had seen through the principle behind Killian's actions.

"Therefore, I am saying that it is enough for you to deal with Eurasia's enemies."

"And you have identified that common enemy as the Monster Lord."

"If the records about the Monster Lord are true, there are only three people in the kingdom who can face him."

She was referring to Simon Eurasia, Escardo Schtenberg, and Killian.

‘She has it completely wrong.’

If the Monster Lord revived at the same level as in the past, Escardo and Killian would be certain to lose with their current strength.

If Simon faced him before stabilizing 9-Star, he too would likely be defeated.

‘Even if all three of us attacked him together, we could not guarantee victory.’

When Killian voiced that thought, Lucy Eurasia's smile deepened.

"Then you must step forward all the more. His Majesty and the Commander of the Knights will be overwhelmed merely by the war with the Empire."

Compared to what Simon and Escardo carried, Killian was relatively free.

Now that he had even been stripped of the position of commander of the Extermination Squad, he would be freer still.

At that moment, one hypothesis crossed Killian's mind.

‘Could it be……?’

"Were all the family heads who said I should be held accountable in the King's Hall acting at Your Majesty's direction?"

"That is a difficult question."

Tap.

She set down her teacup.

"His Majesty stripped you only of your position and gave no orders. That is why you have been idling away your time like this. But can we afford to waste valuable manpower in this way?"

"Well, well."

He had thought he would rest a little and prepare for the coming clash with the Empire.

But he had received an unexpected proposal.

She was right.

‘The Queen sees Eurasia's situation correctly.’

The Empire's emperor was a monster believed to have reached 9-Star using the power of the Transcendent ‘Anomaly’ and a God.

And traces of a Monster Lord that had neared the Transcendent were being found in the mountain range.

If they moved simultaneously as they had two hundred years ago, Eurasia would be caught up and find it difficult to break free.

‘I can move faster than His Majesty and the Commander of the Knights.’

It would be more advantageous for one without a position to scour the mountain range than for one who held one.

It did not take long for him to decide.

"I will hear the information first, then decide. If it is true that the Monster Lord has revived, I will move personally."

"That is the answer I hoped for."

"Now it is time for Your Majesty to show me the card you hold."

Despite the somewhat provocative words, she smiled.

It was an expression only someone filled with confidence in her own thoughts could show.

"Among the mountain ranges on the eastern frontier, there are more than thirty confirmed to be Monster Lord dungeons."

‘More than thirty confirmed alone…….’

The greater-than-expected number made his brow furrow.

"By now, Damian will have made contact with one of them."

"That is dangerous."

Based on his experience so far, monsters difficult to face without a 7-Star knight wandered near Monster Lord dungeons.

‘Damian has not yet crossed the wall.’

Even Julian had suffered losses close to annihilation during a subjugation campaign because he lacked Superhuman-level strength.

The White Knight Order was even more elite than the Blue Knight Order.

She could not be unaware of the danger.

Yet Lucy Eurasia was matter-of-factly saying that she had sent her own son into a deadly situation.

"Damian is destined to become king and lead the country. I did not raise a prince to be weak."

"……"

"If you are so worried, you need only arrive in time."

As though she were watching Killian's feelings for Damian, a faint madness rose in Lucy Eurasia's eyes.

‘This woman is in her right mind, is she not?’

Regardless of the odd feeling Killian had about the special education Damian must have received.

"Then, since I have heard your answer, I will tell you everything I know about the Monster Lord."

Only after their conversation continued for another three hours did it come to an end.

***

Haman came to Killian, who was packing his things.

"Prince, here are the potions you requested."

He held up a heavily filled backpack.

"Twenty bottles of High-Grade Mana Recovery Potion, ten bottles of High-Grade Vitality Recovery Potion, and five bottles of Supreme-Grade Status Ailment Recovery Potion. Thirty-five bottles in total. The Head Apothecary said there was a use for the Backpack of Infinity, so I prepared a backpack engraved with a simple Expansion Formula."

"Oh, you prepared them more quickly than I expected?"

"They were made in advance for the Extermination Squad. You have not taken any out separately recently. Is everyone all right?"

Knowing of Yulian's death, he asked cautiously.

"They are fine. It was that kind of organization from the beginning."

Killian had received a letter from Pierre.

Everyone but Serena had finished recovering, and they had all dispersed to safe houses and returned to their respective duties.

‘Philip will handle himself well.’

For the time being, it would be better not to be associated with the Extermination Squad.

They would need time to collect themselves as well.

"Where are you going this time?"

"I am going to assist Brother Damian's subjugation campaign."

"You cannot stay still even for a moment."

"Anyone hearing you would think I was going to have fun."

"But you are already smiling?"

"Would you like me to make you smile too?"

"……!!"

Haman flinched and stepped back.

"You are the only Chamberlain who does not worry about his master like this."

"Has a monster capable of threatening an 8-Star knight appeared in the mountain range?"

"No."

"Right?"

‘The king of monsters capable of threatening a 9-Star knight has appeared.’

"Then is worrying about you this time not unnecessary as well, Prince?"

As Killian watched Haman say only what he wanted without a care, he suddenly recalled several years ago.

“Ugh…… Young Master…… are you all right……?”

“Young Master, are you all right?”

“Oh, Young Master! Are you all right?!”

There had been a time when he trembled in fear after being beaten by Julian and his Chamberlain, Rhodos.

There had been a time when they had to worry about one another's safety, afraid of when they might suffer another harsh experience.

Compared to then, their conversation had changed greatly.

He did not want to give Haman a new cause for worry.

"The Head Apothecary asked you to bring back some good Mana Crystals if you find any."

"I told you I was not going to have fun."

Though Killian said that, all he received was a calm send-off.

"Travel safely."

"All right."

Leaving Haman, who was seeing him off, behind, Killian took his backpack and sword and headed for the commander's office of the Blue Knight Order.

"Oh, Killian. Where are you going?"

"I am going to see Brother Damian."

"What? What about the knight order's training……?"

"Have I not already looked after the ones who have potential?"

"That is true, but…… Ahem, does this have anything to do with the First Queen visiting you yesterday?"

"Has it become a rumor already?"

"There are countless eyes and ears in the palace. All the more so, the attention focused on you now cannot be compared to that on anyone else."

Saying that he could confide in him, Julian made an awkward display of closeness. It was both ridiculous and endearing, so Killian told him the truth.

"I am going to catch the Monster Lord."