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Yuren's age was history itself to mortals, but by dragon standards, she was still quite young. Even she knew that there were exceptions among dragons.

To most dragons, other races were nothing more than pets.

Vampires, who weren't on good terms with dragons, were perhaps comparable to pests.

The exceptions were those who harbored excessive affection for these 'pets.'

Even elves, who lived long lives in harmony with nature, eventually met their end.

Among the races of the continent, only dragons could be called immortal. So, they didn't, and couldn't, give their hearts to other races.

But even so, there were dragons who truly loved other races. If it was a long-lived race like elves or dwarves, it might be bearable, but a dragon who loved a human was different.

Humans, even compared to other long-lived races, died quickly. There was such an exception among Yuren's friends.

['Why do you love a human? You're only hurting yourself.']

['You're right. Humans... are such fragile beings.']

['Give up now. You'll feel better.']

['But... that's why I love them.']

At the time, she couldn't understand her friend, who missed her lover who had passed away. But now, she understood it even more.

Yuren thought things through, one by one.

'First, why did I suddenly hide?'

Dragons were always confident, sometimes to the point of being insensitive.

In fact, Yuren had even barged in on unit members while they were intimate.

It wasn't intentional.

She had urgent business and ended up intruding. At the time, she was honestly confused by the flustered reactions of the unit members, but...

Now, she couldn't act so carelessly. Something was weighing down on her chest, preventing her from acting.

Was it just her imagination that her lower body felt like it was being scorched by fire?

'...I'm... angry.'

Yuren hurriedly left.

It wasn't just embarrassment. Irritation was rising from deep within her heart. Dragons were known as the benevolent race, and for the most part, it was true.

However, there was one thing that enraged them, having something they owned taken away.

Dragons' possessiveness was deep and boundless.

It was simply that they didn't often feel possessive because they believed they could always reclaim what was theirs. But if someone provoked a dragon's possessiveness, they risked being completely erased.

It was the same just now.

For a brief moment, Yuren considered barging into the room and ripping Cluna's throat out. The throat of her colleague, her comrade...!!

'What was I thinking?'

She felt a sense of self-loathing and disgust. But what was even more nauseating was the fact that a part of her agreed with those thoughts.

Yuren left before she did something she would regret.

...But what if...

...what if she killed Cluna?

...would the Commander punish her?

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"Ugh..."

Hans woke up with a groan, the meaning of which he didn't understand. It felt like he had been lying in bed for a long time.

He slowly sat up.

After a short nap, he felt quite refreshed.

It wasn't an exaggeration. It was as if he had downed a glass of tart fruit juice on a tiring day. The taste of pure health.

Hans felt a sense of wonder, but he quickly found the answer.

He saw Cluna, who was nursing him.

Hans smiled wryly.

He had told her not to overwork herself, but he never imagined he would collapse in front of her.

"Cluna, did you carry me here?"

"Yes, I did."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I would collapse."

"It's alright. I'm here for you."

"...??"

Hans was momentarily confused.

Her reaction was different than usual. He wondered if she was angry, but she didn't seem to be. Rather, she seemed embarrassed.

What? What happened while I was asleep?

He was slightly suspicious, but he couldn't pry. After all, she had been nursing him.

Cluna smiled slightly and handed him a bowl. It contained porridge made with flour.

Hans took a spoonful and tasted it.

It had a surprisingly refreshing, fruity taste.

"What did you put in this?"

"I added a special elf honey."

"Elf honey? It's better than I thought."

Judging by the slightly sweet taste, it seemed to be made with fruit and honey. Or perhaps it was actual honey collected from flowers.

Hans finished the porridge.

"Thank you. I feel energized."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Alright, let's finish the rest of the work."

"Ah, if it's about that, I've already finished everything."

"Finished? All of it?"

"Everyone helped."

After Hans collapsed, the other unit members visited him and learned why he had collapsed.

Surprisingly, they were all capable of handling the work.

Yuren, the former Commander, went without saying. Cluna and Ruby had received higher education in their youth, and Bayard was also well-educated.

And Helia became an unexpected dark horse.

Despite her young age, she absorbed knowledge like a sponge and ended up handling the most work.

"Thank you, Helia."

"It's for you, Teacher. I'm always ready to help."

"R-right. You saved me."

"By the way..."

"Hmm?"

"It's nothing."

Helia smiled and shook her head. It didn't seem like it was the Commander's doing.

Then the source of this pulsating scent...

Her crimson eyes moved away from the Commander. After confirming that he wasn't looking, her gaze turned cold and sharp, focusing on Cluna.

Cluna, despite the cold glare, simply smiled leisurely.

That annoyed Helia.

That damn woman... did she get there first?

But she couldn't unleash her emotions here.

The Commander, already exhausted from overworking, was in a weakened state. Besides, it was that woman who had been attending to him.

'I'm frustrated, but... I have nothing to say.'

Of course, Helia hadn't been slacking off either. To be helpful to her teacher, she trained with everyone during the day, and at night, she learned to read and handle administrative work.

She wanted to tear that woman apart, but she didn't want her teacher to hate her.

Of course, Helia didn't care about the other unit members.

But what she couldn't stand was the scent of another woman on her teacher. It felt as if he was drifting away, which annoyed her even more.

'I never thought I'd feel superior because of something like this.'

Cluna thought, chuckling inwardly as she stared at Helia with a chilling gaze.

She was slightly surprised by her own change. But it wasn't a bad feeling. Rather, it was positive.

Come to think of it, it was the same back then. She hadn't realized her first love, denying it and pushing it away, and in the end, she lost him to another woman.

The pain...

She remembered that throbbing. She didn't want to make the same mistake again.

Of course, she knew it was a terrible thing to do to a child, but she could make up for it by showering her with motherly love.

"Commander, there's a letter from the Human Kingdom."

"Is it a reply? What does it say?"

"They want to meet and discuss it in person."

"At least it's not a rejection."

While Helia and Cluna were engaged in a silent battle of glares, Hans received a formal report from Yuren. It wasn't a complete acceptance, but there was plenty of room for negotiation.

The expedition, starting after the Royal Knights had been somewhat rebuilt... this had to succeed. And Hans was confident. Because he had the knowledge from the original story.

Of course, if he had only played the game, it would be unreliable, full of holes. But Hans was a hardcore fan who had read the lore book and even attended events hosted by the game company.

He also kept up with the daily updates and community discussions about the lore and story interpretations, and that was why he planned this expedition.

Hans spoke.

"Then shall we depart immediately?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, this much is nothing."

"..."

Yuren almost blurted out what had happened with Cluna.

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[=Chapter 119=]

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A business trip to the Human Kingdom was decided.

While it would have been ideal to take all the unit members, that was, of course, impossible.

There was the possibility, however slim, that the fortress could be attacked while they were away.

While the demon appearances had significantly decreased after the True Demons were repelled, monsters, conversely, had become more rampant. It seemed they were filling the void left by the demons.

After much deliberation, Hans chose two members to accompany him, Bayard and Helia.

The trip to the Human Kingdom wasn't likely to be dangerous, but individuals suited to the occasion were necessary.

However, practicality couldn't be sacrificed for mere appearances.

Hans ensured sufficient forces remained to defend the fortress in his absence. This was why he had Cluna and Yuren stay behind.

Naturally, Cluna and Yuren strongly protested.

Their logic was that the Commander's safety took absolute precedence.

To counter this, Hans had chosen Bayard.

"Bayard's skill is more than enough to protect me."

"Thank you, Commander."

'Tch, it can't be helped.'

'She's not wrong.'

While Yuren and Cluna wouldn't compromise on the Commander's safety, this time, they were speechless.

Everyone acknowledged Bayard's prowess.

However, the choice of Helia was met with surprise. While Helia wasn't incompetent, she was still relatively inexperienced.

But Hans remained firm, and ultimately, Bayard and Helia were chosen to accompany him to the Human Kingdom.

The other unit members, though disappointed, didn't openly object to the Commander's decision.

After all, they ultimately had to abide by his choices, even if it meant risking their lives.

"Teacher, why did you choose me?"

Once the surroundings quieted, Helia cautiously asked.

Her love for Hans was immeasurable, but lately, she had been losing confidence.

Her skill was exceptional for her age, and she had recently improved significantly, even surprising Yuren with her rapid progress.

However, Helia herself wasn't satisfied. She felt like she was only holding her teacher back.

The thought of leaving had even crossed her mind. She had reached the point of such extreme insecurity.

That's why she was taken aback when Hans suddenly chose her.

"Because you haven't seemed very happy lately."

"What?"

"You've been looking troubled recently."

"..."

"That's not a bad thing. It's actually good. But sometimes, you need a change of pace."

Helia silently closed her mouth, holding back tears.

'It's not that I don't want to be helpful... I don't want to be a burden.'

She had committed such acts out of anxiety.

Already emotionally fragile from losing loved ones in the war, her sense of self had shattered.

Yet, her teacher had noticed her.

Helia trembled with emotion.

Of course, this was Helia's perspective. In truth, Hans was worried about her potential for losing control.

She was manageable now, but...

'In the original story, Helia was closer to a villain than a heroine. She was even the protagonist of a bad ending where she betrayed and killed the main character. She's unpredictable.'

'I need to take good care of her so she doesn't lose control like she did in the original story.'

While Helia had already lost control once, the hypnotized Hans hadn't realized it yet.

In any case, Hans departed for the Human Kingdom immediately.

"Wyverns are incredibly convenient."

"Indeed, Teacher."

"Orcs have their uses after all."

Unlike Helia, who readily agreed, Bayard expressed open hostility.

Hans didn't reprimand her.

'Beastmen and orcs are enemies.'

Recognizing the sensitive nature of the topic, Hans quickly changed the subject.

Soon, they took to the skies on the wyverns, and the mountain scenery unfolded below.

'The view is quite nice.'

"This... this is nice."

"Take it all in. This is the land we will protect."

"I will engrave it in my heart."

Bayard's unexpectedly serious reply startled Hans slightly, but he simply accepted it, thinking it was a good sentiment.

However, Bayard interpreted his words differently.

'The Commander is already looking beyond just driving out the demons.'

'His next goal must be the true enemies threatening the continent... enemies like the orcs. They are nothing more than monsters clinging to this land for the sake of fighting.'

'If we fall, there is no one left.'

Bayard steeled her resolve. After about half a day of flying, they finally arrived at the Human Kingdom. They had arrived much faster than expected.

'Flying is certainly convenient.'

"It's good that we didn't waste your precious time, Teacher."

"Y-Yes."

Her unexpectedly heavy words caught him off guard, but Hans simply smiled.

'Thanks to sending a message ahead, we avoided being shot down.'

The wyvern landed gently in the palace courtyard. Soldiers watched them warily but took no further action.

Hans dismounted.

"I am Hans, Commander of the Royal Knights. Where is the King?"

"I am Melissa, Captain of the Royal Guard. Please be mindful of your address."

"Hmm, I see. Then..."

"How dare you speak so insolently?!"

'I should be respectful. He's the king of a nation that has helped us greatly.'

That was his intention, until Bayard interjected.

Bayard, who had been standing behind him, strode forward and confronted Melissa. In that instant, everyone fell silent.

'Like a wild beast...,' they thought.

A primal fear silenced them.

Melissa and the Royal Guard, and even Hans, were speechless.

Hans, being further away, was less affected, but even he was momentarily stunned.

The Royal Guard, facing her ferocious aura head-on, were even more intimidated.

Hans, startled by the sudden outburst, spoke.

"Bayard, what is the meaning of this?"

"They threatened us first."

"Threatened?"

"Did they not demand you submit to them, Commander?"

"Ah."

'She's a beastman, so her values are closer to an animal's. And to her, I'm the leader to whom she has pledged loyalty. They challenged my authority... a group of weak prey, no less. Of course she reacted.'

'Oh, my head.'

He felt a headache coming on, but dealing with the current situation took priority.

'These are the Royal Guards, protectors of the royal family. Naturally, most of them are skilled.'

'It wouldn't be good to cause unnecessary conflict.'

He didn't want them fighting amongst themselves and weakening their overall strength.

'But dismissing Bayard would diminish the authority of the Royal Knights.'

He had to tread carefully.

"Bayard, we must be forgiving of others' mistakes."

"Commander, but..."

"For the greater good, we must endure this much."

"If that is your will, Commander."

Bayard quietly retreated.

The Royal Guard could finally move again.

Hans, observing the scene, clicked his tongue.

'The killing intent that paralyzed them...'

"There was a bit of a commotion. Are you alright, Captain Melissa?"

"I-I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it."

Melissa inwardly clicked her tongue.

'The ferocious killing intent that felt like being crushed by giant steel bars... yet he dispelled it with a single word. Truly, the Commander of the Royal Knights.'

However, she couldn't overlook the previous outburst.

'I made a reasonable request as a member of the Royal Guard, only to be met with intimidation.'

'No matter how prestigious the Royal Knights are, this is unacceptable.'

After some thought, Melissa decided to report everything to His Majesty.

'Before things escalate further.'

'Besides, after meeting him in person, I can't understand what the Commander is thinking.'

'He's from the Human Kingdom and was chosen by our King and recommended as Commander of the Royal Knights. But his actions just now didn't seem like those of a loyal subject.'

'Just who are you? What is your purpose?'

Melissa's wariness only deepened.

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[=Chapter 120=]

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Melissa Arendriks.

Though of common birth, she had risen to the rank of Royal Guard Captain through sheer ability.

Handpicked by the King himself, her skill was unquestionable, but her values posed a significant problem.

She was fiercely loyal to the King, who had taken her in when she was on the brink of starvation.

The problem was that her loyalty was excessive, bordering on fanatical.

Demanding loyalty to the Human King from other races, not just humans, naturally didn't endear her to them.

The King, aware of this, usually kept Melissa away when meeting with other races.

Unfortunately, this time, he hadn't managed to prevent her involvement.

"Your Majesty, I have brought the guests."

"Captain Melissa? You greeted them personally?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

So, it wasn't surprising that the King was taken aback when Melissa entered his office with the Royal Knights.

He clicked his tongue.

"Captain Melissa, I hope there weren't any...misunderstandings."

"I would never be disrespectful to Your Majesty's guests."

"I'm glad to hear that, but..."

"There was absolutely no incident."

"Thank you for your service, Captain Melissa. You are dismissed."

Melissa's eyes narrowed at Hans's casual tone, but the King, quickly noticing, dismissed her before things escalated.

She saluted and left.

"A truly loyal knight."

"It seems she was a bit...overzealous. I apologize on her behalf."

"No, it's fine. It wasn't anything to apologize for."

From a human perspective, it was a strange sight.

Regardless of Hans's ability and achievements, it was the King who had appointed him Commander of the Royal Knights.

Yet, the King seemed almost subservient to Hans.

But it was all a matter of appearances. The King remembered how Hans had initially refused the position. If Hans hadn't accepted, the King's plans would have crumbled.

He had no choice but to treat Hans with the utmost respect.

What about his pride as King?

He had abandoned it the day his predecessor died helplessly, having accomplished nothing.

'I will not be an incompetent king like my predecessor. My name will be etched in history.'

His desire bordered on ambition. But it wasn't driven by a desire to sacrifice others for his own gain.

He genuinely strived to govern wisely and revive his kingdom.

Indeed, under his rule, the Human Kingdom had held its ground on the front lines for thirty years. Even the canned food distributed to the people was something he had developed.

Moreover, Hans's success in reviving the Royal Knights had significantly elevated the King's standing.

He had secured treaties with the Beastmen and Dwarves, and even races they had rarely interacted with were now seeking them out.

All of this stemmed from the King's foresight in recognizing Hans's value and entrusting him with the task.

"So, you intend to launch another expedition?"

"Yes."

"Are you confident of success?"

"Absolutely."

"Tell me more."

No matter how much he trusted Hans's abilities, it didn't mean blind faith. He would listen, and if it was plausible, he would act.

That was the King's way.

The King listened attentively.

Leaving aside the basic information and strategy, maintaining the status quo was currently the most advantageous course of action.

The kingdom had secured numerous treaties and was on the cusp of unprecedented prosperity since the demon invasion.

Was there any reason to take such a risk? The answer was obviously no.

If the King's goal had ended with the kingdom's revival, this conversation wouldn't have even begun.

However, his aim was to etch his name in history.

'This is an opportunity to gain an advantage over the other races.'

Since the demon invasion, the people of the continent had only lost territory.

Instances of reclaiming land were few and far between, practically non-existent in the last hundred years.

If the Human Kingdom, in cooperation with the Royal Knights, were to succeed in an expedition?

The prestige aside, the achievement alone would give them leverage in negotiations with other races.

However, launching an expedition carried significant risks. Even excluding the manpower involved, the resources required were immense.

The first expedition had been funded by the Multi-Racial Alliance, mitigating the damage.

But if this expedition failed, the consequences for the kingdom would be catastrophic.

'The people will be apprehensive. That's only natural, given the failure of the first expedition.'

During the first expedition, the people had unwavering faith in the Royal Knights. But after their defeat, the atmosphere had shifted.

Despite his best efforts to control information, news of the Royal Knights' devastating loss had spread. Despair and fear had gripped the people, driving them to extremes.

From those who turned to absurd religions to cope with their fear, to those who fought over dwindling resources, it had been a living hell.

But the King had managed to quell the unrest. It was thanks to Hans's appointment as Commander of the Royal Knights.

While the position held little real power at the time...

Even a fallen giant cast a long shadow.

The fact that a human had become the Commander of the Royal Knights, once hailed as the continent's only hope, had been enough to temporarily assuage the people's anxieties.

But now, another expedition? The people would undoubtedly be uneasy.

If it failed, they would truly feel like they had nothing left to lose.

"I assume we needn't discuss the resources and manpower required for the expedition."

"Indeed."

"Is there any benefit that outweighs such a risk?"

"Of course. For example... a royal treasure?"

"...I'm surprised. You know about the royal treasures."

Royal treasures.

Powerful artifacts created by the first King of the Human Kingdom to protect his people.

Humans, once the dominant force on the continent, had fallen from grace due to the demon invasion.

Having held the largest territory, their fall was almost inevitable. The land they had lost was, for the most part, where humans had resided.

The first King had welcomed all the refugees. He had even sacrificed his life to create the royal treasures and repel the demon invasion.

But that was the extent of their glory.

'As the demons intensified their attacks, the Human Kingdom lost much of its territory, and even the royal treasures were lost. In the end, only about thirty percent of our territory remained.'

"A tragic piece of history."

"But you're saying you know the location of one of these treasures?"

"Indeed. One of them is relatively close."

Recovering a royal treasure was a significant advantage for the Human Kingdom.

Even if its power was only half of what legends claimed, it would give them the strength to surpass other races.

"Tell me more."

For the first time, the King spoke with genuine interest.

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The negotiations concluded successfully.

It was high risk, high reward, but the potential gains of reclaiming a royal treasure and expanding their territory outweighed the risks.

Moreover, they had Hans, the Commander who had proven his abilities time and again.

After careful consideration, the King accepted the proposal.

With the Human Kingdom's support, the Royal Knights would embark on another expedition.

Their first target was two territories right on the kingdom's border.

The key to this operation was Ares' Bridge.

Calling it a bridge was generous, it was practically a fortress. Spanning the river and connecting the territories, it was the only path forward.

Securing Ares' Bridge was crucial for further expansion. It would serve as a forward operating base for the kingdom.

'Not bad.'

Hans, leaving the King's office, breathed a sigh of relief.

Adapting his knowledge of the original story to the current situation had been challenging, but he had managed.

With the expeditionary force secured, he felt one step closer to his goal.

Just then, a commotion caught his attention. It seemed something was happening at the training grounds.

Hans looked around.

Helia and Bayard were nowhere to be seen.

A wide grin spread across his face.

'Just as I thought. They wouldn't be the Royal Knights if they stayed quiet.'

'You two again?'

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