Chapter 35: Return

This business trip was, in hindsight, rather short.

Since leaving the Kingdom of Lumin, more than two weeks had passed, but in terms of distance, it was as if I had traversed more than two months’ worth of travel in a single stride.

That’s why, the moment I returned to the Kingdom of Lumin hand-in-hand with Thrall, I never expected to see the Floating Palace frozen in the sky above.

“Why is that thing here?”

The Heavenly Palace, which was supposed to be perched atop Vismark Snow Mountain, was now floating over the Kingdom of Lumin.

Thrall wore a pale expression as he asked again.

“Is this what you meant by going home?”

“Absolutely not.”

I frowned, firmly correcting Thrall’s misunderstanding.

What I had requested in the first place was open diplomatic relations, not to have the Heavenly Palace stuck in the sky over the kingdom.

“Hmph. Well, they’ll handle it themselves.”

Matters like broad diplomatic issues and tasks that need dealing with are for the King to manage, so I decided not to worry.

As I entered the capital, I made my way to the lodgings where the Special Task Force was staying.

“You’ve arrived?”

Just then, Murfin, who seemed to have just finished training, greeted me.

I looked around and asked,

“Where’s Beatrice?”

“She’s busy working on the task Captain Owen gave her before going on the trip.”

Before leaving for the Elf Kingdom, I’d assigned a few tasks to the Special Task Force.

At the time, their abilities alone didn’t seem sufficient for carrying out noble inspections within the Kingdom of Lumin once all the members were assembled.

“By the way, Captain. Do you know what that thing up there is?”

“Heavenly Palace.”

“Is that your doing, Captain?”

“……It’d be a stretch to deny it completely.”

After all, it was me who first requested diplomacy with the Kingdom of Lumin.

But I never imagined they’d actually move the Heavenly Palace, which wasn’t supposed to budge for the next three hundred years.

At most, I expected them to send a few young dragons as diplomats.

“What on earth did you do while you were away? The Elf King suddenly showed up without warning, and at the same time the Heavenly Palace appeared……”

“……The Elf King?”

Did he actually mean to personally deliver the tribute, not just send it?

My deliberation was brief, and my decision was swift.

‘Not my problem after all.’

Just then, Thrall poked his head out from behind me and looked at Murfin.

“What is it? Who’s that kid?”

“Our youngest.”

“……Excuse me?”

Murfin’s face twisted in disbelief.

“Youngest… Captain, don’t tell me you’re saying that child is part of our Special Task Force?”

“I am, though?”

Murfin narrowed his eyes at my answer, staring intently at Thrall.

Perhaps the gaze was intimidating, because Thrall shrank back behind me.

“Captain.”

“What?”

“Please be honest. Who is this kid, really?”

“I told you, the youngest.”

“……Really?”

“Don’t be so wary. You’re scaring the child.”

“……Alright, for now.”

It seemed Murfin had sensed something from Thrall, as he sighed and looked away.

“Haa, this Task Force is starting to feel a bit unhinged. Are we really okay?”

“Enough with unnecessary worries. Assign Thrall to one of the vacant rooms among the Special Task Force quarters. Now that all our members are assembled, it’s time to get to work in earnest.”

Murfin’s expression hardened instantly at my words.

“You want me to guide this one?”

“Is there a problem?”

Murfin looked like he wanted to say something, then just sighed.

“Haa. Fine, whatever.”

“Hmm?”

Why was he acting like this?

As I wondered, Murfin regained his composure and spoke.

“By the way, Elena asked me to deliver a message when you returned, Captain.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Chimera laboratory incident that happened in the palace before. Seems she’s found a place similar to the research building discovered then.”

“Where is it?”

“In the Houston Family’s territory.”

Jerni Houston, Marchioness.

One of the three knights said to be closest to becoming a Sword Master among the knights of the Kingdom of Lumin, and a member of the Order of Honor Knights who pledged loyalty to King Deaurus.

“That’s an unexpected location.”

Jerni Houston was so fiercely loyal to King Deaurus that it was said to border on fanaticism.

She even broke into the King’s workplace repeatedly, stalked him openly, and ended up under house arrest for it.

The least knightly knight, the most honorable knight, and at the same time, the least fitting candidate for the title of Sword Master.

It’s hard enough to acquire even one of those descriptions, yet Jerni Houston managed to get them all.

“Understood for now. I’ll adjust the inspection schedule, so tell her to keep monitoring. And let her know I praised her work.”

“Will do.”

Elena is truly a capable one.

Even though I didn’t specifically order her, the moment she learned the purpose of the Special Task Force, she took proactive steps—just as I’d hoped.

‘I should give her something in return.’

Managing subordinates isn’t just about preventing them from doing things they weren’t told to do.

It’s also about rewarding those who proactively accomplish what their superiors want.

If Ryuk said so, it must be true.

I can’t just raise her salary as I please, so perhaps I should prepare a gift for her later.

Leaving Thrall to Murfin, I headed toward the Training Hall where Beatrice was likely practicing, before visiting the King.

“Huff, huff.”

Wearing not her usual flowing garments, but the comfortable attire provided by the Order, Beatrice was moving at the center of the Training Hall, her motions sharper and more disciplined than before.

She was so focused that I decided to wait. Soon, sensing my presence, she stopped and walked up to me.

“You were on a trip, yet you’re back surprisingly soon?”

“Time is gold, after all.”

“Hm.”

Beatrice stretched out her arms and asked,

“How do I look?”

“That’s out of the blue. What am I supposed to be evaluating, exactly?”

“The task you gave me. I’ve been working on it, but I don’t feel like I’m improving. Is it just that I can’t do it, or maybe I am getting better but can’t tell? I’m not sure.”

She was asking me to check if she’d been carrying out the assignment properly.

“Better to experience it firsthand than talk about it.”

I drew the Holy Sword and stabbed it into my own abdomen.

“……Huh?”

Beatrice froze at my sudden action, but I paid it no mind.

I lowered my stance and placed both hands on the ground.

“……What on earth are you doing?”

“I told you.”

I twisted my lips and answered,

“Experience it for yourself.”

Boom!

I kicked off the ground and charged at Beatrice.

Then, I swung my hand roughly at her.

“Ugh?!”

Caught off guard, Beatrice swung her sword, deflecting my attack.

Clang!

“What?!”

When sword and flesh met, there was a sound that shouldn’t have been heard.

Beatrice quickly retreated, shouting,

“What was that just now?”

“Imitation.”

It was a method of consciously using the Holy Sword’s regenerative abilities.

By stabbing the Holy Sword deep, its healing power would outpace the rate of injury, preventing other physical shocks from embedding themselves in my body.

Visually, it looked terrible, and in practice, it wasn’t an efficient technique, so you’d almost never see it in real combat.

However……

“To mimic the movements of monsters, this method is perfect.”

None of the Special Task Force members have truly fought the Demon Army.

In fact, it’s more accurate to say they aren’t used to the movements of monsters or Demons.

“Beatrice, what was the assignment I gave you?”

“Eliminate as many blind spots as possible.”

“That wasn’t all. What else did I demand?”

“……To eliminate even the blind spots where human hands can’t reach.”

I smiled at Beatrice, pleased that she remembered properly.

“Show me the results of your training.”

“Hoo.”

Beatrice’s gaze grew serious.

I charged at her again, but turned aside just before reaching her.

“Ugh?!”

The Holy Sword stuck in my body swept sharply toward Beatrice.

Clang!

She blocked with her sword, but couldn’t completely withstand the shock from my body weight and speed, and was pushed back.

‘Beatrice’s weakness is that she’s specialized in assassination.’

But when facing the Demon Army, the nature of assassination loses its meaning.

On the battlefield, there are many situations where you have to fight openly, with everything exposed.

What’s more, everything Beatrice learned was based on fighting humans.

To survive the upcoming battles with the Demon Army, she must learn to fight monsters, not people.

Fortunately, Beatrice was already aware of this in her training.

Every movement born of her disciplined actions targeted blind spots that would be difficult for a human body to reach or defend.

I pushed Beatrice back, then braced myself with one hand on the ground, twisting to kick at her face.

Knowing now that my body was as hard as iron, Beatrice didn’t try to block but simply ducked to dodge.

But I’d already anticipated that dodge.

My foot, stopping right above her head, dropped straight down, aiming for her crown.

“Ugh!”

Beatrice rolled away, dodging, and I pushed up into a handstand from the spot my foot hit the ground.

“Hoo.”

Beatrice took her stance again, watching me warily.

She was poised to pounce at the slightest opening.

Thud!

I stomped my foot into the ground.

Then, just as Beatrice lunged, I swung forward with all my might.

Boom!

With one kick, the Training Hall’s floor cracked like a spiderweb, fragments shooting toward Beatrice like shrapnel.

Each of the randomly flying stones, if hit, would strike at fatal spots.

Beatrice swung her sword, defending the vital areas.

There were five pieces of shrapnel she needed to block.

Of those, three were heading for lethal spots.

Beatrice’s sword danced elegantly, knocking away the stones.

Thunk, thunk!

“Ugh!”

It seemed she decided to let the less critical ones—her shoulder and thigh—get hit.

In return, Beatrice’s sword came slashing for my face.

“Too straightforward.”

Dodging Beatrice’s sword, I hooked her foot to trip her and pressed my finger against her forehead.

“If you try to go for vital points so openly in front of a fully-ready monster, you’ll get taken down like this.”

“……Tsk. I surrender.”

Beatrice gritted her teeth, raising both hands.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

I pulled the Holy Sword from my abdomen and helped Beatrice to her feet.

“Spit and it’ll heal.”

She answered with a scowl, clearly annoyed by my outrageous combat method.

“We’ll keep doing this training in bits until you pass.”

“……Really?”

Suddenly, Beatrice’s expression brightened considerably.

The change was so quick, I had to reconsider.

“Judging by your face, do you actually like this training?”

“Hm? What was my face like?”

……She didn’t even realize.

You were frowning, but your face lit up when I said we’d keep at it.

“I did that?”

At Beatrice’s puzzled question, I subtly changed the topic.

“What did you think when I said we’d keep training until you pass?”

“I was relieved because it means I can keep doing it until I win.”

“……I see.”

As I nodded in understanding, Beatrice grew serious and asked,

“What is it? Hey, do you know what I’m feeling right now?”

I shrugged and answered the woman who could feel emotions but couldn’t express them.

“That’s called the competitive spirit.”

“Competitive spirit.”

Beatrice’s eyes sparkled.

It was the look she had when she learned something new.

The emotionless assassin was steadily awakening to her emotions.

“Ah, so you were here.”

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the Training Hall.

I turned to see an old acquaintance approaching with the clank of armor.

It was Bern, the middle-aged Order Commander, fully armored like a true knight, who came up to me and said,

“Owen, Captain. His Majesty the King has summoned you. Please proceed to the palace at once.”