—————————————————————–

Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

An ignorant fool might think it was only three.

But for three true demons to descend just to punish the remnants of the Royal Knights was an exceptional event.

However, it was inevitable.

The Royal Knights were the only monsters on this land that had ever given them a hard time.

They had to burn this land to the ground, leaving no stone unturned, to ensure they would never rise again.

With that in mind, even in their urgent situation, three true demons had descended upon this land.

However, Beast, the giant true demon, was a little late in recognizing the situation.

The time for the decisive battle had come.

He roared, signaling the start of the fight.

The problem was what happened afterward.

When he came to his senses, Beast found his head buried in the ground.

"What just happened...?!"

Naturally, there was a hierarchy even among true demons and while Beast wasn't at the top like Blood Demon, he wasn't at the bottom, barely holding onto the title of true demon.

Yet, here he was, a true demon, with his head stuck in the ground, unable to do anything.

Only one being came to mind who could do such a thing.

Black hair flared skyward like flames.

The moment Yuren saw Beast, she unleashed the power of her Dragon Heart.

A dragon's form was divided into three stages.

One was the polymorph stage, where they could transform into any form they desired.

The other was returning to their true dragon form.

Polymorph offered great flexibility but lacked power.

Conversely, the dragon form boasted overwhelming strength.

However, skilled dragons could advance to a third stage, which involved compressing and releasing their dragon power.

In other words, it was like wielding the overwhelming power of a dragon form with the flexibility of a polymorph form.

However, Yuren couldn't maintain this form for long due to her damaged heart.

"Going all out from the start. You seem to be in a hurry."

"There's no time to waste on words."

"I agree."

"?!"

Still with his head buried in the ground, Beast grabbed Yuren's ankle with his hands and shoved her forward with all his might.

Caught off guard by the sudden force, Yuren lost her balance and was pushed back a considerable distance.

'Compared to the past, my current strength is only about 40%, but still... he pushed me back with brute force.'

Due to Comprachico's scheme, Yuren's Dragon Heart, the source of her dragon power, had been severely damaged.

It was a wicked scheme that should have killed her instantly, but...

Thanks to the commander's help, she had barely managed to survive and that was why she could fight here again.

Soon, the magic power flowing from her Dragon Heart enveloped her body like armor.

'She's lost her former ferocity, but she has recovered more strength than when she was captured. I see, there was a reason to rush the attack.'

Beast had seen it with his own eyes.

Her fighting on par with their leader in the past.

Especially the power she unleashed when she opened up the full power of her Dragon Heart at the end was no joke.

Thanks to her final struggle, risking her life, the already heavily damaged true demons had suffered even greater losses.

Some had even died and been extinguished in the process.

The current Yuren was cute compared to her past self.

When she was captured, she was so weak that she could barely move.

Considering that...

'If I don't kill her now, it'll be dangerous.'

It wasn't just a matter of regaining her strength.

In the past, she had only wielded her overwhelming power recklessly.

But now, she was controlling her power precisely.

What if that overwhelming power was combined with refined technique?

Despite being a true demon, Beast felt a chill run down his spine.

Fortunately, if they only considered raw power, he was currently stronger than Yuren.

Kaboom!!!

Their fists, swung like lightning, collided.

The impact shook the ground, and cracks appeared in the sturdy walls.

She was the one who lost the battle of strength.

Her balance broke, and her stance crumbled.

Now was his chance.

Beast immediately closed the distance, aiming for her heart once more.

In the past, he couldn't even scratch her, his attacks bouncing off her power, but...

Now that her heart was weakened, he should be able to kill her with a single blow.

That was his judgment.

Until he saw the smile on Yuren's lips.

"What...?!"

Alarm bells rang in his head, warning him of danger.

So, he hurriedly tried to pull back his fist.

If a hammer of blazing flames hadn't crushed his arm, he would have succeeded.

"You fell for the trap! Bayard!!"

"I know! Don't rush me, you bastard!"

"... Ugh!!!"

"Do you remember me? You damn beast?!"

A giant bear charged forward like a cannonball, using its massive size.

Beast, having taken a blow from the fiery hammer, was unable to avoid it.

Brown fur, the form of a giant bear... he definitely remembered her.

"The vanguard of the Royal Knights. You had decent strength, but other than that, you were just a small fry."

"Ha! You remember! You piece of trash!"

"Do you want to relive that day again?"

"No, I want to chew your head off!"

True to his name, Beast possessed one of the top three strengths among the true demons.

But aside from his strength, he also possessed technique.

On the other hand, Bayard was weaker in strength.

Naturally, it was only natural that Bayard was overwhelmingly defeated by Beast in their first encounter.

That was why Bayard, filled with fear, had even run away.

Crack! Boom!

But now... Bayard was relentlessly pushing Beast back like a raging storm.

Bayard's strength was surpassing Beast's.

Beast frowned.

What was this?

"How dare you, a mere smelly beast...!!!"

"You've lost your composure. Are you angry?! Huh?!"

"Such pathetic provocation...!!!"

Looking at the enraged Beast, Bayard thought of a certain being who had embraced her in the past.

She had run away in fear, not daring to look back.

Back then, she could only think of herself.

So when the commander, along with Ruby, came to find her, she had hoped to be executed for desertion.

Because death would bring her peace and because it would free her from this heavy guilt.

But the commander didn't draw his sword.

Instead, he laid his sword down in front of her and he opened his arms and embraced her.

The warmth she felt in that embrace led her here.

Courage can overcome fear, and she had continuously trained with Yuren ever since.

Those experiences and time had become a raging fire, seeking to turn the enemy before her into ashes.

'He's definitely stronger than me...!!!'

It seemed like her potential had exploded.

Bayard's strength surpassed Beast's.

However, Beast was also a veteran warrior with vast experience.

His experience and technique were still beyond her reach.

Once again, Bayard began to be pushed back.

As if to mock Yuren's assessment that beastmen had strength surpassing even dragons... She was being pushed back by an opponent with only one arm!

But Bayard swallowed her humiliation.

She could swallow as much as she needed.

"Ugh?!"

"Bullseye!"

"Good job, kid!"

"Who are you calling a kid?!"

'It pierced through my hide and actually hurt me?!'

Something unbelievable happened again.

Only a handful of the Royal Knights had been able to damage Beast's hide, which was tougher than steel and yet, a mere brat like this had managed to hurt him?

Beast coldly assessed the situation.

It wasn't the weapon that was hurting him, but the flames surrounding it.

They were ignoring his hide and inflicting damage deep inside.

But when he tried to target the brat, Bayard stood firm in front of him like a wall.

This was no good.

If he stayed like this, he would be worn down and eventually killed.

This wasn't the time to save his strength for later.

He had to use all his power and kill them.

Beast quickly made his decision and roared with all his might, as if to expel his lungs.

At the same time, his power was unleashed.

The beastly aura pushed back everything around him with brute force.

"You've finally shown an opening."

A giant body covered in black fur as tough as steel.

He was the very embodiment of a beast.

However, Yuren used the opportunity to charge forward, but it was Beast's trap.

Through the previous fight, Beast had realized that he couldn't escape alive from this situation.

So, he would give flesh to take bone.

If he could eliminate Yuren by sacrificing himself...

Even if he couldn't kill her, inflicting a fatal wound would be enough.

Even Yuren couldn't kill him in one blow with her current strength.

So, he would aim for that gap and strike.

It was a plan that couldn't fail.

At least it would have worked against the Yuren of the past.

Through her previous defeat, and through her fight against the commander, Yuren had realized that recklessly wielding overwhelming power wasn't enough.

She concentrated all the strength in her body into her fist, and the moment her fist reached Beast's upper body, the sound of flesh bursting echoed.

Yuren raised her head.

She saw Beast, his upper body completely blown away, only his lower half remaining.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[=Chapter 93=]

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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Did I just say the penalty for time deceleration was weak?

I take it back.

I wasn't lying, it really felt like I was going to die.

A pain like my head was being struck by an ax had been persisting.

But if I released time deceleration, that crazy red storm would engulf us for sure.

So, I gritted my teeth and endured.

Then, the headache intensified.

The pain, which felt like an ax striking my head, now transformed into the feeling of an electric saw grinding it.

I couldn't even speak properly.

Eventually, I screamed.

The red storm that seemed to devour everything began to slowly subside.

Thankfully, it ended before I completely lost my mind.

I collapsed to the ground.

My legs wouldn't move, as if my muscles had been severed.

The headache still lingered.

I wanted to just lie down on the ground, but I couldn't even do that.

"...Damn it."

I couldn't feel anything.

My vision blurred, as if I was about to faint.

How long did it last?

I don't know.

But in the meantime, someone approached me.

"Are you alright, Teacher?"

"Helia, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me."

Hearing Helia's voice, I was finally able to relax.

Perhaps because my body had lost its strength, I started to lose balance and crumble.

Helia caught me.

"Teacher, your arm...!!!"

"This is nothing."

"...I see, as expected of Teacher."

"But where are the others...?"

As I felt puzzled by Helia's heavy reply, a jingling sound caught my attention.

Thanks to that, I was able to see it.

The pendant in her hand.

"As expected, I think this is what we need to do with Teacher."

I remembered that item.

It was the one Comprachico had used for mind control.

But why was it here?

I was sure Helia wasn't around at that time...

"All of this is for Teacher."

The pendant in Helia's hand began to glow.

It was dangerous, I had to look away... but I was more curious.

Why?

But without finding a proper answer...

My consciousness slowly faded into the light.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The commander's bombshell announcement had been enough to shake everyone.

It seemed like he was leaving them, especially with most of them already relying on him.

It meant that the commander was leaving them.

Of course, Hans hadn't thought that far.

He planned to stay and help the Royal Knights at least until peace was restored.

But they weren't in a situation where they could afford to realize that.

So, after much deliberation, Helia revealed it in front of everyone.

The silver pendant sat proudly on the table.

Yuren's expression hardened instantly as she looked at it.

But Helia calmly said,

"It's Comprachico's artifact. It's probably the item that allowed that demon to control minds."

"But didn't you report that it was destroyed back then?"

"I was the one who reported that."

"You deceived the commander. You deceived us all."

Cluna's gaze, filled with hostility, turned towards Helia and the other members felt the same way.

But Helia remained calm.

She opened her mouth and said,

"That's not what's important right now, is it?"

"Not important? You could have used this power to brainwash us! And you're saying it's not important?!"

"Yuren, I understand what you're trying to say. But if you analyze this, you won't be saying that."

"..."

"No, you might already know."

Helia's words hit the mark.

Yuren was the only one here who had been properly affected by Comprachico's mind control.

To her, the power contained in the pendant now was very weak.

[Unless you break the target's mind or exploit a moment of weakness, you can't control them!]

"Damn it, useless thoughts..."

"At first, I wanted to make teacher my own. But there were too many risks involved."

"What kind of risks, specifically?"

"For example, demonic magic power could be mixed in, negatively affecting Teacher."

Cluna nodded at Helia's words.

Indeed, this was an item used by a demon.

There was no guarantee that it would be safe for a human to use.

And at the same time, everyone, including Cluna, realized what Helia was saying.

Surprisingly, the first to object was Clara.

She slammed her hands on the table.

"Are you kidding me?! You're saying we should brainwash the commander?!"

"Is there another way?"

"Even so, we can't do that!!"

She was right.

It was wrong for anyone to control another's mind without their consent.

But surprisingly, few agreed with her.

Not even Cluna.

Most remained neutral.

They needed to cooperate after all.

Helia didn't push her opinion too hard either.

Instead, the analysis of the pendant was left to Cluna.

While wondering if this was really okay, Cluna thoroughly analyzed the pendant during that time and completely eradicated all remaining traces of demonic influence.

And finally, today had come.

The sudden attack by the true demons was certainly disconcerting, but that was still manageable.

However, the biggest problem was the commander.

Everyone who had returned after dealing with the true demons had witnessed it.

The commander with one arm missing.

The first thing they felt was self-reproach.

They were trying to become stronger.

For the commander.

'Can a person go that far for others?'

'Like his body wasn't his own... how could he...'

'He must have a story from his past.'

Cluna thought.

Those who acted like that had usually lost something precious in the past.

That was why, unable to forgive themselves, they threw themselves into danger.

Even if it meant death.

Reaching that conclusion, Cluna had to clutch her aching chest.

Why was she feeling this way all of a sudden?

No, didn't she already know?

That figure, throwing himself into the inferno for others... it was exactly like the first hero she had fallen for!

'I thought this wasn't right.'

'Yes, the commander would never abandon us.'

'But... seeing him like that, I feel like I'm going to collapse.'

Clara believed in the commander.

Because she believed in his strength, in his righteousness... she had vehemently opposed it back then.

But seeing the commander now, Clara suddenly felt fear.

As if the commander might disappear one day.

That fear consumed her mind.

The commander disappearing?

No, that couldn't happen.

He had to be by her side always, her commander!

'I had given up on everything.'

'Revenge, the glory of the Royal Knights...'

'I want to dedicate everything to the commander who brought it all back.'

The girl who had lost her family found a new family here and her heart pounded uncontrollably, as if she was sick.

But it definitely wasn't a bad feeling.

At first, she was too embarrassed to admit it, but now she did.

She wanted to love him.

Even if it meant burning her whole being.

The near-disaster of losing something precious had awakened that feeling.

"Cluna, do you have it?"

"Yes, I have it here."

"Anyone opposed?"

There was no one who opposed it.

Just look at the commander's current state.

Didn't it seem like he could disappear at any moment?

She didn't want him to disappear.

She wouldn't allow him to leave.

"Well, I'll take the punishment. I'll take it all on myself."

Listening to Yuren's words, Helia walked forward.

She held the pendant she had received from Cluna in her hand and as the commander's body collapsed, Helia caught him.

At first, she wanted to monopolize him.

She didn't want to share her teacher with anyone.

But as time passed, she had made precious friends.

They were like family to her.

Of course, her teacher was still the most precious to her.

But she didn't want to lose them.

Then, what should she do?

There was only one way.

It'll be okay if we're all together.

Everyone, without exception.

Without anyone being hurt or abandoned.

Wouldn't Teacher have done the same?

The pendant in Helia's hand shone brightly.

Perhaps his mind had weakened, as Hans instantly fell into a trance upon seeing it.

Looking at her hypnotized teacher, Helia said,

"There's only one thing we want from you, Teacher."

"Punishment..."

"Y-Yuren, w-we can do that later, can't we?"

Bayard stepped in and silenced the unnecessary comment from behind.

Feeling relieved, Helia spoke with sincerity.

With her... no, with their sincerity...

"We want you to be our commander forever."

And to embrace us warmly.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[=Chapter 94=]

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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The all-out attack, on which they had staked everything, had failed spectacularly.

This fact was a shock to the demons.

They couldn't even finish off the Royal Knights, who were mere remnants, let alone the Royal Knights in their prime?

Of course, the demons' situation wasn't that great either.

No, one could argue that it was actually quite bad.

But even considering that, it was still a shocking result.

They had sent two true demons who had quickly recovered and were close to full strength, along with a clone of Blood Demon, who, though weaker than his main body, was still one of the top three strongest...

And yet, they couldn't defeat the remnants of the Royal Knights.

One of the three had even perished.

Feeling a sense of crisis, the demons immediately gathered again.

Befitting their name, the demons had refurbished the imperial palace, once the heart of the empire, and were using it as their base.

Its restoration with gold and marble surpassed even its former glory.

All of the surviving true demons gathered.

Only 25 true demons remained.

The girl with white hair braided in pigtails looked around and spoke,

"Is this all that's left?"

"There were about 100 of us when we first arrived here."

"So many stories have been left behind, and they're all dead~."

Blood Demon spoke of his comrades' deaths in a sentimental tone, but his words lacked any actual sorrow.

'I still don't like this guy.'

The white-haired girl thought.

They were standing at a crossroads of survival.

Why did they sacrifice so much to annihilate the Royal Knights in the first place?

It was for a smoother invasion of the continent.

The Royal Knights were their most troublesome and obstructive enemy.

Conversely, they didn't believe that any other being could challenge them besides the Royal Knights.

So they had lured the Royal Knights into a trap and, at the cost of more than half of their brethren's lives, had succeeded in erasing the name "Royal Knights."

Or so they had thought...

"What kind of human is this Hans character?"

The white-haired girl's question resonated with everyone.

They had truly believed that it was the end for the Royal Knights.

They had captured the commander and slaughtered all of the elite knights.

No, if it hadn't been for Comprachico and the Blood Demon who created him... They could have definitely killed Commander Yuren as well.

But perhaps because they were drunk on victory and had become arrogant...

They had approved the plan to keep Commander Yuren alive as a plaything and as a result, she had become their worst enemy once again.

It was a grave mistake.

But they couldn't blame Blood Demon for it either.

Because everyone there had ultimately agreed to his proposal.

Damn it all.

"Not only that dragon, but the other small fries are also formidable."

"Speaking of which, you lost an arm?"

"It happened."

Rebecca was a skilled warrior, acknowledged even among the demons.

But even she had been injured, not by fighting against a commander-level figure, but by fighting their underlings.

It was fortunate that the Guardian of the Forest, who had led the fight, had minimized the damage.

If they had been willing to sacrifice a life or two, Rebecca wouldn't have been able to return here in one piece.

The same went for Beast.

It was just unfortunate that his opponent happened to be Yuren.

So he had given up on escaping and aimed for mutual destruction, but it seemed that it hadn't worked on her.

"We must gather all the true demons and launch an all-out attack right now!"

"You want revenge? In this situation? Are you crazy?"

"Do you want us all to die together?"

Several hardliners proposed gathering all their remaining forces and attacking the Royal Knights immediately.

But naturally, the majority of the demons opposed it.

There were three main reasons.

First, they didn't know the exact strength of the new commander, Hans.

Second, there wasn't a single demon who could currently exert their full power.

And finally, third, there was no way to undo the barrier.

Previously, they had used Balak's death to bypass the barrier with the trick of weakening their presence, but even that had only lasted for an hour, with all their might combined.

Now, they couldn't even attempt it.

As soon as the news of the Royal Knights' victory spread, various races had joined forces and launched a large-scale monster hunt.

The white-haired girl sighed deeply and answered,

"We have no choice but to focus on recovering our strength for now."

How ironic.

They had the overwhelming advantage just a year ago, but the situation had reversed in a single year, but they hadn't lost the war yet.

They could still do this.

They could make up for it from now on.

First, they had to investigate the new commander, Hans.

Where the hell did that monster come from?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"This concludes my report."

They were seated around the neatly arranged Table of Equality, listening to Cluna's report.

To summarize, the news of the Royal Knights' victory over the true demons had spread, and thanks to that, other races were beginning to move.

The fact that the dwarves, the human kingdom, and the 12 Tribes had taken the lead and established a multi-racial alliance was the most pleasing news.

The tide of war was gradually turning in their favor.

Before the alliance was formed, only three races had been actively participating, but their victory over the true demons had restored their trust, and thanks to that, other races that had been watching from afar, keeping their mouths shut, were beginning to move.

As a result, the previously cut-off support was flowing back in, greatly improving their financial situation.

"Any plans to recruit new members for the Royal Knights?"

"Not yet."

"That's a firm answer."

"But if that's what you desire, Commander..."

"We don't need to recruit new members yet."

Six to seven years.

That was the remaining time until the start of the original story.

There was no need to recruit new members for the Royal Knights before then.

The current members were already more than enough.

Despite my shortcomings, I had become the commander of the Royal Knights.

Of course, I had no intention of doing a half-assed job.

If I was going to do it, I'd do it properly and my limit was commanding six people.

I couldn't even imagine commanding more than that.

As I sat at my desk, deep in thought, I suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.

Wait, was what I was doing right?

"I feel like something's wrong..."

"Commander, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. No problem."

"Ruby said the dwarven prosthetic arm will arrive soon. I think you should rest until then."

I nodded at Yuren's concerned words.

It seemed I had become unnecessarily sensitive.

It was understandable, considering all that had happened.

We had even defeated true demons...

Of course, the price we paid was not small but thanks to that, the Royal Knights were able to rise again.

Thinking about that, losing one arm was a cheap price to pay.

I frowned.

"This is damn inconvenient."

"I'll help you, Teacher."

"You don't have to help me."

"No, it's something I should do for you, Teacher."

"Commander! Is there anything you want me to do for you?!"

Suddenly, Helia and Clara started competing to wait on me.

Feeling pressured by their fiery glares, I was relieved when Yuren stepped in and said,

"Stop it, what are you doing in front of the commander?"

"Helia's trying to monopolize the good spot!"

"Shouldn't I be the one taking care of my teacher?"

"Well, if you're going to argue that way, I'm the commander's capable subordinate!"

"Capable, you say? Puahaha!"

Clara's declaration naturally drew Ruby in as well.

The reason was simple, to take care of me.

As a result, I was the only one with a headache.

I spoke,

"I can handle this myself. There's no need to mobilize manpower."

"No, Commander. Please reconsider."

"Reconsider?"

"You are absolutely indispensable. It's fine to lose an arm or a leg, but you can't lose your head."

Cluna, who had returned behind me, slowly placed her hand on my shoulder as she spoke with a serious expression for the first time.

I couldn't say anything.

"I know you're strong, Commander. But you've lost too much. So we have to protect you."

"That's right, Teacher. Please give us the chance to protect you."

"We owe you our lives!"

"M-me too! I want to take care of you, Commander!"

"Alright! Then let's settle this with a sparring match!"

Yuren grinned and shouted.

I thought it was a dirty trick, but surprisingly, no one objected.

Cluna smiled and said to me,

"Then, Commander, shall we go watch?"

"Sure."

"Oh, by the way, I'm joining too."

Seeing Cluna's smile, I felt a slight chill.

I felt like I was forgetting something important, but no matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn't figure out what it was...

...Well, judging from the fact that I forgot...

It probably wasn't that important.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[=Chapter 95=]

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

It was decided that I would rest until the prosthetic arm I ordered from the Dwarf Kingdom arrived.

My opinion wasn't considered, but it was understandable.

After all, I was the injured one.

It was surprisingly common on the battlefield for the wounded to insist they were fine and then die from overexertion and I had absolutely no intention of dying from overexertion.

Maybe if I were just a regular member...

But as the commander responsible for the Royal Knights, I had no intention of dying a pointless death.

The others also strongly recommended that I rest, and I accepted.

A strange sense of unease lingered in my mind, but I attributed it to the absence of my arm.

I originally had two, and now I only had one.

So, wouldn't it be natural to feel a strange sense of discomfort?

For now, that was the only explanation I could come up with, but putting that aside... wasn't this a bit too much?

I stared blankly at the object placed before me.

It was a chair.

A chair commonly seen in this game, but it had wheels attached to the bottom and a handle at the back.

"Isn't this a wheelchair?"

"A wheelchair? In the Dwarf Kingdom, they call it a medical chair for patients."

"I-I see. So that's how they explain it."

I cleared my throat and adjusted my tone.

I was so dumbfounded that my original way of speaking slipped out.

I had to maintain a dignified appearance, at least in front of the members.

But even so, sitting in this... No, my legs were fine.

I was only missing an arm, but for some reason, I couldn't escape her grasp.

Cluna didn't say anything.

She just stood behind the medical chair.

She looked at me and smiled sweetly.

That alone was enough to create immense pressure.

In the end, the only choice I had was to sit in the chair.

As I sat down, Cluna positioned herself behind it and began pushing.

For some reason, I felt a wave of disillusionment.

"Cluna, do I really have to do this?"

"Is there a problem?"

"I'm fine. I can walk on my own two legs."

"I've seen many people like you."

"..."

"And most of them didn't end well."

Her voice, carrying the weight of time far exceeding the weight of being a commander, forced me to sit quietly.

Let's think positively.

It's quite comfortable, right?

"Do you have some business here, Ruby?"

"Oh, you caught me."

"Ruby?"

"Yes, she's been following us."

"Why would you do that?"

Cluna spoke as she turned around.

Ruby, who had been hiding behind her, slowly walked out.

I was surprised.

I hadn't noticed her at all.

Where was she hiding?

While I was speechless in shock, Cluna interrogated Ruby fiercely.

So fiercely that I was twice as surprised.

I looked at Cluna and said,

"Cluna, that's too much."

"I apologize."

"I understand."

"Yes, Ruby. Why were you looking for me?"

"It's nothing~!!"

Ruby left those words behind and disappeared into the distance.

Completely clueless, I could only tilt my head.

Meanwhile, Cluna followed her retreating figure with a strange look in her eyes.

"Cluna? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I apologize for my rudeness, Commander."

"It wasn't rude."

"Thank you, Commander."

The place I arrived at with Cluna was the Table of Equality.

The round table, created with the intention of uniting all races for a common cause on the day the Royal Knights were founded...

It was now being used as a conference room and Yuren was gently stroking the round table.

Just as I was about to turn back, thinking that I might be interrupting her...

"Commander, is that you? And Cluna as well."

"I'm just taking a walk to clear my head."

"I see, walks are important. Especially considering your injury, Commander."

"...Yuren, what were you doing here?"

It was true that my injury was serious, but it was embarrassing to be the center of attention like this.

Especially since I had traded my arm as a price.

I didn't lose it in battle.

"I was just reminiscing about the past."

"About the time the Royal Knights were founded?"

"Yes, back then, everyone joined forces for a common cause."

"..."

The demon invasion had begun in earnest, but they didn't respond immediately.

Because they didn't get along.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

They had simply watched from afar as their enemies were attacked by the demons.

However, they soon realized their mistake.

The demons pushed them back with overwhelming force.

The human empire and numerous kingdoms fell.

Some races were even destroyed or absorbed by the demons.

At least until the Royal Knights were founded, they were continuously pushed back.

"Back then, everyone joined forces to survive. I'm proud to have become the commander of the Royal Knights."

"I'm sure you are."

"But if you ask me whether I acted correctly... I wouldn't be able to give you a definite answer."

"Because they were annihilated?"

"Yes, and because I couldn't unite everyone."

The Royal Knights in their prime had wielded enough power to defend their territory against the true demons and Blood Demons.

However, they had failed to prevent the discord between the races.

Of course, it was cruel to place all the blame on Yuren, the commander, but she wasn't completely free of responsibility either.

After all, the Royal Knights had been annihilated.

"I think about it every time. Did I do the right thing?"

And as an aftereffect, the division between the races deepened, and in the future, except for a small amount of territory, everything fell into the hands of the demons.

The rest depended on the player's capabilities...

But if the player lacked the ability, or if there was no player at all, the continent would eventually be overtaken by demons and become a second demon realm.

The demons' objective was to turn this place into a demon realm.

At least that was the setting revealed in the game.

However, I had realized something through my recent battle with Blood Demon.

Even I, a veteran player, didn't know everything about the setting of this world.

For example, Blood Demon.

For some reason, he didn't appear in the original game.

The third-ranking true demon was a different demon.

Then, there were two possibilities.

Either Blood Demon had died before that...

Or he had been purged by his fellow demons.

I berated myself for my complacency.

Just because I knew everything about the game didn't mean I knew everything about this world.

I had to focus more on gathering information from now on.

For myself and for the members of the Royal Knights.

However, the demons wouldn't be making any direct moves for a while.

The war with the Royal Knights, followed by the defeat of the three true demons... the demons had also been severely weakened by the continuous fighting.

"Nothing in this world is perfect, unless you're a god."

"Is that so."

"Yes, that's why we live our lives by piecing together our own missing pieces."

"...As expected, the role of commander suits you best."

"You flatter me."

Yuren chuckled and looked at me.

I felt a slight sense of discomfort from her appearance.

She seemed to have been thinking something else.

Strangely, I couldn't remember.

"Hmm, you said you were taking a walk? Can I join you?"

"I think I'm good on my own."

"If the commander refuses, I'll have no choice but to turn back."

"It's just a walk. One more person won't hurt."

"Yes, so you can come out now."

Someone soon emerged from where Yuren was looking.

It was Ruby.

Ruby again?

Come to think of it, Cluna had asked Ruby who she was following...

"Were you following me?"

"N-no! I was escorting you!"

"If you're going to escort me, just stay by my side. That's the best."

"I-if you insist... I guess I have no choice."

For a moment, Cluna glared at Ruby with a sharp look, but Ruby didn't seem to care and immediately clung to my side.

Yuren tried to pull Ruby away, but she wouldn't budge.

"Let go. You're making the commander uncomfortable."

"No! I'm never letting go!"

"Why are you so anxious?"

"Because I only have one left now."

"O-oh... okay."

For a brief moment, it felt like Ruby's eyes had flashed red.

But now they were back to their original color.

Was it my imagination?

No, it was too intense to dismiss as an illusion...

"What?! Why is everyone gathered here without us?!"

"Teacher, is your wound alright?"

"D-don't overexert yourself! I-I-I'll help you!"

"It's getting lively."

"Okay, that's enough. You're bothering the commander."

For some reason, they all seemed to know where I was and started gathering here.

Meanwhile, Cluna began to stop them.

Anyway... it was a relief to see everyone healthy.

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[=Chapter 96=]

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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Losing an arm was a serious injury.

Putting aside the phantom pains, I suffered more side effects than I expected such as high fever, pus, and more.

Cluna was constantly by my side, treating me.

If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have been able to endure it.

That was how serious it was.

Though it had gotten better, Cluna still stayed close, just in case.

That was fine, but the problem was, whenever I wanted to move, I had to use a wheelchair.

It was better than suffering from the side effects, but still...

And then, something unexpected happened.

The moment I stepped out of the infirmary, the other members, who I thought were busy with their own duties, started gathering around me, one by one.

Before I knew it, all six of them were surrounding me.

Wait, what about patrol duty?

"Patrol duty? Aren't we all on duty right now?"

"We're on patrol duty?"

"Yes, we're guarding the most important person of all."

"...."

Even nonsense can render you speechless if spoken confidently enough.

I looked at Yuren, wondering if they were joking, but her gaze was more serious than I expected.

"Our commander is currently weakened. Therefore, we must protect him personally. We can't afford to lose him."

"Are you saying you don't trust me?"

"Let's just say it's better to be safe than sorry. Cluna, I don't doubt your abilities, but... this is too important to overlook, don't you think?"

Perhaps unable to refute Yuren's words, Cluna took a step back.

I had a feeling Yuren was about to say something else, but this was too much, even for me.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded.

Yuren and Bayard stood in front, Helia and Ruby flanked me, and Cluna and Clara stood guard behind me.

I suddenly felt like royalty.

Of course, being surrounded by beautiful women was delightful in its own way, but the pressure on my shoulders was immense.

"Everyone, that's enough. Return to your posts."

"I-I'm sorry, Commander, but I can't follow that order."

"We'll... we'll accept any punishment later!"

"Sorry, Commander. But this is something we have to do."

"...."

They followed my other orders without question, but not this one.

Their logic was that if I died, the Royal Knights would crumble.

Therefore, they had to protect me at all costs.

It was disconcerting to be held in such high regard.

Of course, I had accomplished a lot, but it wasn't like there was no one else who could take my place.

There were plenty of capable individuals.

Yuren was a natural leader, and even Cluna could manage the commander's duties.

I actually believed they might even do a better job than me...

I was just glad they weren't interested in the commander position.

At least I wouldn't be kicked out without a fight.

We had all lost something precious.

Some of us lost family, some friends, and some comrades.

We understood that sense of loss all too well.

Trying to escape that feeling, we unconsciously sought refuge.

But for them, that refuge had already crumbled once.

Defeated in battle, the bonds they had forged were shattered in an instant.

What thoughts must have crossed their minds at that moment?

Some wished for death.

Others sought solace in self-destructive battles, inflicting physical pain to numb the emotional agony.

But then, a man appeared and helped them through it.

Using his credibility and trust, he united them.

And thanks to him, they were able to escape their pain and find peace.

Yes, to them, the commander was a part of paradise, a sanctuary.

They believed they would be together forever.

The commander was strong, so at least until that day came...

[After this year, I'm stepping down as commander.]

Hans himself hadn't said he would leave the Royal Knights, only that he would step down as commander.

But that wasn't how they heard it.

To them, Hans without the title of commander was unimaginable.

In other words, stepping down as commander meant...

Hans leaving the Royal Knights.

Naturally, everyone present was against it.

Their opposition eventually led to Hans withdrawing his decision, but the fact that he had even considered it was a problem in itself.

They immediately gathered to discuss the situation.

That's when Helia suggested using mind control.

Of course, everyone initially opposed the idea.

It was unthinkable to manipulate someone's mind, especially their commander.

But as time passed, they started to feel anxious.

What if the commander really left?

What if it was their fault?

What would they do then?

Anxiety gnawed at their hearts like parasites.

If only they were in a better state of mind, they might have been able to think positively and distract themselves.

But they were in no position to be optimistic.

Monsters and demons could appear at any moment.

They had already lost so much in the ongoing war.

[We must protect what's precious to us, no matter the cost.]

[It's too late to regret after we've lost it.]

[...Yes, it's the commander's fault for leaving us.]

Their twisted feelings of attachment grew into an obsession and when they saw the commander's current state, it exploded.

They hadn't doubted his victory.

But Helia had seen it.

She had seen the commander with her own eyes.

One of his arms was gone.

Seeing him like a dying ember, about to fade away, Helia's body had moved on instinct.

Please stay with us forever, Teacher.

Ironically, no one tried to stop her.

They all felt the same and now, the commander was staying with them.

But was it really the right thing to do?

Was it right to manipulate their teacher like this?

Helia deliberately ignored that question.

As long as they could be together, that was all that mattered and so, Helia stood by her teacher's side.

Or rather, she tried to.

If it hadn't been for a certain someone.

Helia stared at her, bewildered.

Her seductive arms were wrapped around her teacher's chest from behind.

"Are you alright, Commander?"

"Hmm? What's this all of a sudden?"

"Please excuse me. I'm just tending to your wounds."

"Oh, right. Then it's fine."

"That's a relief."

Her back pressed against his, whispering into his ear, but her eyes were clearly focused on Helia.

It was a provocation.

"Huh?"

Helia felt a surge of something primal at Cluna's unexpected move.

It didn't matter who was stronger.

She would never forgive anyone who tried to steal her place by Teacher's side.

But there was one problem.

Cluna was a master of magic, known as the Guardian of the Forest.

Her healing magic was especially potent, capable of even reattaching severed limbs.

Helia knew that Teacher's wounds were healing quickly thanks to Cluna's care.

Helia had chosen to be with everyone.

She knew that, and so she endured the gut-wrenching pain, but she wouldn't let it slide next time.

'I won't let anyone else have this place, Teacher.'

The mere presence of other women by her teacher's side filled her with rage, but she had matured.

She wouldn't let her emotions control her to the point of jeopardizing Teacher's reputation.

However, that didn't mean she would tolerate anyone encroaching on her territory.

There would be consequences for those who dared.

"Wait, Cluna? I can handle this."

"Clara? What kind of language is that?"

"My, my, Clara. You should watch your tone in public."

"...??"

What was this ridiculous charade?

Helia watched them, dumbfounded.

Weren't they family, the only ones left for each other? Then why were they suddenly at odds?

But Helia didn't know.

She didn't know that the commander's injury had awakened something in the others.

They had almost lost him in battle.

Their subtle obsession was growing stronger.

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