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The news of the Royal Knights' victory sent shockwaves through the Alliance.

It was only natural.

They had deemed the Royal Knights expendable and cut off all support.

Now, they were paying the price.

The Royal Knights were currently protecting only three nations: the Dwarf Kingdom, the Human Kingdom, and the 12 Tribes.

This was because these three were the only ones who had provided support.

It hadn't been a problem before.

Monsters, though a nuisance, could be dealt with by mobilizing national resources.

Even lower-ranking demons could be subdued with some effort.

However, the real problem lay with the Blood Demons and True Demons that followed.

Unlike the lowly demons, Blood Demons and True Demons possessed formidable power.

Countless races and nations had been destroyed or absorbed, unable to withstand even a single Blood Demon.

Yet, the Royal Knights had just repelled a True Demon.

Naturally, the Royal Knights' reputation soared.

If Blood Demons and True Demons invaded, the other races wouldn't be protected without the Royal Knights.

A shift even occurred among the races themselves.

The Dwarf Kingdom and the 12 Tribes initiated peace talks and signed an agreement.

A fact everyone seemed to have forgotten...

Dwarves and beastmen had a notoriously bad relationship, even engaging in territorial disputes.

But with the Royal Knights' mediation, they had reached a peace agreement and signed multiple treaties.

"The beastmen and dwarves have joined forces?"

"Damn it... this puts us in a difficult position."

"We need to negotiate with the dwarves right now..."

The dwarves and beastmen's alliance wasn't just an isolated incident.

It was a disaster for those who had exploited their rivalry for their own gain.

With the Human Kingdom joining the alliance, a new power bloc, led by the three nations and the Royal Knights, had emerged within the Alliance.

The first to react was the Human Kingdom.

Using his position as the Royal Knights' patron, the king persuaded other races and secured advantages for himself.

The demons, having suffered significant losses, were unlikely to make any immediate moves, but the Alliance, unaware of this, feared imminent action.

The king exploited this fear.

Thanks to his shrewd maneuvering, the Human Kingdom reaped benefits that far exceeded its investment in the Royal Knights.

Like it or not, change was coming.

Two races, once sworn enemies, had reconciled.

Other races, sensing the shift, started to adapt.

The intricate web of relationships, built over centuries, began to transform.

And it was undeniable that the Royal Knights and their new commander were at the center of it all.

The commander, who had rebuilt the Royal Knights in just one year and proven their strength...

"Perhaps the king knew what he was doing when he recommended him as commander."

"Investigate the Royal Knights' commander immediately!"

"We need to bring him to our side, by any means necessary!"

Now, the other races were scrambling to improve their relations with the Royal Knights and gather information on the commander.

It was only natural.

The king, who had foreseen this, wouldn't have missed such an opportunity but the real challenge lay in the next steps.

Not everyone would accept the commander.

Some would surely oppose him.

For example, the elves were openly refusing to support the Royal Knights and even calling for the commander's resignation.

It was a reckless move, but not entirely hopeless.

The elves would likely become the center of a new coalition, uniting races that harbored resentment towards the Royal Knights or harbored their own ambitions.

'This is the perfect opportunity to gain an advantage. And I need to think about my next move.'

Thanks to the commander he had appointed, the king had gained more than he could have imagined but he had no intention of monopolizing it.

The important thing was the position of the Alliance.

And now, a new alliance, centered around the Human Kingdom, was about to be formed.

He wasn't foolish enough to miss out on a grand opportunity for a few coins.

The winds of change were blowing, slowly but surely.

Within Lionheart Fortress, there was an office specifically designated for the commander.

It was located right behind the reception room, purely for efficiency.

And now, Yuren, acting commander, sat at the commander's desk, handling the workload.

For the first three days, everyone stayed by the commander's side, but eventually, he convinced them he needed to work.

So, they reluctantly left.

The problem was, Yuren was the only one who could handle the commander's duties.

Other members could leave once their work was done, but...

Yuren had too much to do.

She let out an uncharacteristic sigh as she thought to herself.

She had been able to manage it all without difficulty in the past...

But lately, time seemed to crawl whenever she worked.

She knew the reason.

It was because she wasn't with the commander.

Because he wasn't by her side.

"...This is ridiculous. What am I thinking...?"

Her thoughts had long crossed the line of ridiculous, but at least she was self-aware.

It was just that she couldn't stand the sight of herself.

In truth, Yuren hadn't expected this to happen.

She was a dragon.

To dragons, all other races were equal.

To be blunt, she found them all rather cute.

There were some eccentric dragons who fell in love with other races, but even their feelings were far from genuine.

After all, no one could match a dragon's eternal lifespan.

Elves came close, but even they eventually perished, while dragons lived on.

So, how could they possibly feel love for other races?

It was ironic that dragons were called the "Benevolent Race." But perhaps, simply by choosing not to rule over others with their power, they deserved that title.

But lately, even Yuren's emotions had begun to crack.

She felt a surge of unpleasantness, even irritation, whenever she saw the women flocking around the commander.

"I didn't used to feel this way..."

"What are you thinking about?"

"C-Commander!? How did you...?!"

Yuren jumped up in surprise at the commander's voice from beside her.

He stood there, holding a tray with two steaming cups of tea.

He placed the tray on the desk and handed her a cup.

Yuren carefully took the cup and said,

"Didn't they say you needed absolute rest?"

"I am injured, but not that badly."

"I-Is that so? I don't know much about humans."

"Right, you're a dragon."

Yuren nodded.

Though her heart had ruptured and she almost died, the fact that she didn't die instantly from a broken heart proved the dragon's resilience.

Moreover, the Dragon Heart, the source of her power, was slowly healing.

Perhaps in a few years, she would naturally regain the strength of her prime.

But no one questioned it.

After all, she was a dragon.

The strongest race on earth, known as the Benevolent Race.

That was what dragons were.

Compared to them, humans were infinitely fragile.

Even a small wound could be fatal if left untreated.

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't understand each other.

But even so, Yuren wanted to know more about this human, this commander.

After much deliberation, Yuren finally voiced the question that had been on her mind.

"Y-You can go back now. It's fine."

It wasn't what she truly felt.

She wanted him to stay a little longer but she desperately hid her true feelings.

She was ashamed, but there was something she wanted to hear directly from him.

"Hmm? Seems like you're doing better than I thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I was just worried."

"Worried... worried."

This human, so much weaker than her, was worried about her.

Some dragons might feel offended, but Yuren didn't.

Instead, she felt a warmth emanating from those words.

A feeling as if he were embracing her.

Was it the warmth of the teacup in her hand?

Yuren couldn't tell.

"There you are."

"Cluna?!"

"..."

"You need to rest. Come, let's go back."

Their happiness was short-lived.

Cluna appeared, glaring at the commander.

If Yuren had been her usual self, she would have let the commander go.

That was how dragons were.

They could afford to be endlessly generous.

They would eventually regain what they lost as time passed but for some reason, Yuren found herself saying,

"Didn't the commander say he didn't want to go?"

She didn't want to give him to anyone else this time.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Chapter 98

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The atmosphere suddenly turned frosty.

Yuren stared at Cluna with a hardened expression.

In a word, she was pissed.

Cluna returned the stare with an equally icy gaze.

The biggest problem was that I was stuck between them like a sandwich.

I couldn't move, crushed by the overwhelming presence of the two strongest beings in the room.

Cluna didn't budge as Yuren rose from her seat and walked towards her.

The distance between them closed to less than 5 centimeters.

A dragon versus the strongest elf.

Were they seriously about to fight?

This is epic! But please, fight when I'm not around!

No, this wasn't the time for that.

I quickly intervened.

"I don't know what this is about, but both of you, calm down."

"As you wish."

"Very well."

"...?"

Just as the tension reached a breaking point, they both stepped back, obeying my command.

I was left speechless, my jaw hanging open.

Of course, I was glad they weren't fighting.

Yuren and Cluna were arguably the strongest members of the Royal Knights.

If they fought...

The immediate damage would be one thing, but the aftermath would be devastating.

In other words, it was no easy feat to stop them from fighting.

But they had backed down so easily.

Naturally, I was taken aback.

Honestly, I wondered if they were just messing with me.

But I quickly dismissed that thought.

"I'll let you off the hook this time for the commander's sake. Be careful next time."

"I should be the one saying that."

"Stop fighting already!!"

I couldn't hold it in any longer and yelled at the top of my lungs.

After the commotion, Cluna led me back to the infirmary.

I was exhausted.

I had originally snuck out of boredom, but now, going back and falling asleep seemed like a good choice.

As we walked, a question popped into my mind.

"Why were you about to fight Yuren?"

"Wasn't she trying to neglect your injuries?"

"I snuck out and went to see her myself."

"No, Yuren is the one at fault."

"...."

Her voice carried a weight that left me speechless.

Were they always this hostile towards each other?

No, they used to be close friends.

"Weren't you two friends?"

"We were, once."

"So you're not friends anymore?"

"No, that's no longer the case."

"Well, that's not good."

It was always best for comrades to get along.

Especially for the Royal Knights, who fought for countless causes.

To avoid being crushed by those burdens, they needed to share them with each other.

Even putting that aside, hadn't we all joined forces and achieved victory during the True Demon invasion?

There had to be some camaraderie among them.

"Do you think this is a bad thing, Commander?"

"It is. It's best for everyone to get along."

"I understand."

"Hmm?"

"I'll talk to Yuren tomorrow."

"W-Well, that would be ideal, but..."

What was this? Why was she suddenly so submissive?

Just a moment ago, she was ready to fight to the death and now, she was backing down so easily.

It was strange how readily she obeyed me...

As I tilted my head in confusion, we finally reached the infirmary.

Thanks to Cluna's constant care, the room was spotless.

"Let's start with a basic checkup."

"When is the prosthetic arm from the Dwarf Kingdom arriving?"

"Tomorrow or the day after, I presume."

"Guess I'll be stuck here until then."

I sighed.

I had been cooped up in the infirmary for the past three days and was getting restless.

But after witnessing what had just happened, I thought it might be better to stay put.

Besides, this was a chance to escape from the mountain of paperwork that came with being commander.

With that in mind, I let Cluna do her thing.

She expertly examined my body.

Losing a limb had more consequences than I imagined.

Putting aside phantom pains and the inconvenience of having only one arm...

There was pus from the wound, blood clotting, and countless other things to worry about.

Of course, my arm hadn't actually been severed, but it was essentially the same...

"I'm done."

"I see. Good work."

"You're the one who worked hard, Commander."

"Time for bed."

It was late.

The sun had already set, and Cluna's fairies were lighting the torches in the hallway.

The darkness and the flickering torches created a picturesque scene, unique to the medieval setting.

"...."

"...."

"...Why are you still here?"

"For your safety, Commander."

"Go back."

Cluna, who had been sitting in a chair beside me, nodded and left for her room.

It was always like this.

She would stay by my side until I told her to leave.

But why bother in the first place?

Then again, it would be wrong to reprimand her for following my orders.

I lay in bed, lost in thought.

Another day had passed.

I wished the prosthetic arm would arrive soon.

I had rested enough and wanted to do something.

[Hello?]

"...."

The reason I didn't scream wasn't because of my dignity as commander.

I had seen it, if only for a brief moment, passing through my body like a ghost from the ceiling.

My vision had briefly turned white before returning to normal.

I had been so startled that I had passed out momentarily.

I quickly sat up.

What was that?

"You crazy bastard. How dare you appear here?"

[Don't be so harsh. We're practically one entity now.]

"Don't make me laugh. You took my eye and my arm."

[I gave you power in exchange, didn't I?]

"That's why I haven't kicked you out yet."

The entity that had suddenly appeared from the ceiling was Time.

It used to only appear briefly in urgent situations but now, it seemed to have grown stronger, feeding on me.

It appeared quite frequently.

Naturally, I felt repelled.

It possessed the abilities of the Time Stop Breeding Uncle, which was one thing, but I never knew when or where it might devour me.

I clicked my tongue.

"Go back. You make me lose my appetite."

[Hmm? So you're fine with seeing the others?]

"They're a hundred times better than you."

[Don't be so trusting. You might get betrayed.]

"They are my proud members. That won't happen."

I firmly replied to Time's words.

What a ridiculous attempt to sow discord.

My members and I had gone through life and death together.

They were my comrades.

If they were to betray me, it meant I had done something wrong.

I trusted them that much.

Time burst into laughter.

[Hahaha! Fine, if you say so! I won't say another word!]

"Then get lost."

[I'm looking forward to it.]

"What?"

[I wonder if you'll forgive them. Or not?]

Time left with those ambiguous words.

I tilted my head in confusion.

Objectively, her words were nonsense.

I couldn't understand them.

Why would I need to forgive them when they had done nothing wrong?

But a strange sense of unease lingered.

It wasn't something I could ignore.

Time's words kept replaying in my mind.

I didn't think a being of such power would say something so random.

There had to be a hidden meaning.

But no matter how hard I tried to figure it out, it only gave me a headache.

I eventually gave up and fell asleep.

I'll worry about it tomorrow.

I was sleepy.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

It was funny.

They were trying to take what's mine with something so trivial.

I could break it at any moment if I wanted to, but at the same time, I was curious.

Would he forgive them? Or would he abandon them?

I couldn't wait to see his reaction when I took away that petty power.

But if I lifted it now, he might just brush it off.

He was that kind of person.

A soft-hearted human who overlooked most things.

So, I'll wait for now.

Humans inevitably make mistakes as time passes.

And when it becomes unforgivable, that's when I'll take away that power.

What kind of expression will you make then? Hatred? Betrayal? Anger?

I didn't know, but...

The anticipation of seeing those emotions keeps me patient and then, you'll realize.

That I'm the only one you have left.

Until then, I can afford to smile and let it slide.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Chapter 99

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The prosthetic arm from the Dwarf Kingdom finally arrived.

This time, they had put extra care into crafting it, with Cluna personally assisting in its creation.

The combined efforts of the strongest elf and the dwarves.

It had to be a masterpiece.

Cluna wore a slightly regretful expression, but she didn't say anything.

And finally, the time had come to attach the prosthetic to my arm with Cluna's help.

I looked around.

As expected, the other members, having heard the news, had gathered before me.

Honestly, I had anticipated this.

After experiencing similar situations repeatedly, I had started to understand their patterns.

At least they hadn't abandoned their patrol duties completely.

Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

If I remembered correctly, she was supposed to be on guard duty at the entrance at this hour.

I nodded.

Good, they were still fulfilling their duties.

"Don't you all have work to do?"

"The commander's prosthetic is more important."

"Teacher is more important."

"Yes, yes, of course."

Their responses varied.

Should I be happy or sad about this?

Let's think positively, it was good that they cared about me.

At least it was proof that I had earned some respect in this group.

I looked at Cluna.

It was time to stop chatting and get the prosthetic arm attached.

And that's when I saw her.

Cluna, hugging my prosthetic arm with a dreamy expression.

What was she doing?

I was a little flustered.

"Cluna?"

"I-I apologize, Commander."

"No, it's fine."

"I'll attach it right away."

Seeing her blushing, I instinctively felt threatened.

Cluna then started attaching the prosthetic to my arm.

Magical nerve restoration.

The basic principle of this magic was root regeneration.

Like regenerating roots, it would create artificial nerve bundles connecting the Dwarf prosthetic to my arm, allowing me to move it directly.

Of course, it would consume mana continuously, but I could always replenish it.

Fortunately, the Dwarf prosthetic was very efficient and didn't consume too much mana.

"Replacing a severed arm with a prosthetic is not an easy task."

"Is that so? Don't people usually use prosthetics when they lose an arm?"

"No, it's more common to visit a priest and get it reattached."

"I-I see. That makes sense."

"Even if an arm is completely lost, finding someone skilled enough to attach a prosthetic is rare."

She was right.

Without a skilled mage like Cluna, I wouldn't have been able to get a magic prosthetic with artificial nerve bundles.

And simply attaching a regular Dwarf prosthetic wouldn't be as effective.

It would be fine for daily life, but during combat, it would be a hindrance.

In that sense, I was quite lucky.

"Thank you, Cluna."

"Don't mention it. Anything for the commander."

"...I appreciate that."

And finally, Cluna began the procedure.

Green nerve bundles, wriggling like worms, extended from the prosthetic she held.

I clicked my tongue.

I knew it couldn't be helped, but the sight made me lose my appetite.

Especially since that thing was going to be attached to me...

But complaining wouldn't solve anything, so I closed my eyes and braced myself.

As Cluna chanted, I felt something cold clinging to my shoulder.

It felt as if an octopus, freshly emerged from the water, had latched onto my shoulder.

In a word, it was extremely unpleasant.

"It's done."

"Damn... this feels weird."

"The foreign body sensation is unavoidable. You'll get used to it."

"Right, I guess so."

I sighed at Cluna's diagnosis.

Still, it was good to have my arm back.

I carefully moved it.

It was surprisingly smooth.

"It's not even that noisy."

"It's a special prosthetic. I personally supervised its creation to minimize discomfort during daily life and combat."

"Thank you, Cluna. You've been a great help."

"No, Commander. We are the ones who are indebted to you. Please, don't say such things."

"Then let's just say we're mutually dependent on each other."

The Dwarf prosthetic was more impressive than I imagined.

Aside from the foreign body sensation in my shoulder, it felt like I was moving my real arm, and there were no weird noises.

If it had made sounds like a mechanical arm in a movie every time I moved it, I would have been stressed out of my mind.

I let out a sigh of relief.

"So that's the Dwarf prosthetic!"

"I-It's amazing! It's better than I expected!"

"As expected, everything suits you, Teacher."

"Enough with the flattery."

Perhaps because I was the commander, everyone showered me with compliments.

Was this what it felt like to be the CEO of a small company?

I knew they weren't being completely sincere...

But it wasn't unpleasant.

However, I had no intention of basking in their flattery.

There was work to be done.

I slowly moved my arm.

"I need to test it out."

"Yes! Sparring is the best way to test its performance!"

"I-I'll be your opponent!"

"No! I'll do it!"

"It's my duty to serve you, Teacher."

"Huh?"

The atmosphere suddenly heated up.

They wanted to spar with me to test the prosthetic arm's performance.

The problem was, they were fighting over who got to be my opponent.

I tilted my head in confusion.

I had said I needed to test it, but I hadn't mentioned anything about sparring.

I was planning to test it by quietly handling Royal Knights business.

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"I need to test it out."

As soon as the commander spoke, they instinctively exchanged glances.

This was the first time he would fight with a prosthetic arm.

It meant they could claim his "first."

Of course, the wording was a bit strange, but that wasn't important to them right now.

Be the first.

Don't let anyone else have it.

That was their only thought.

Surprisingly, the first to make a move was Bayard.

Usually, she was known for her slow wit, but when it came to this, she was surprisingly sharp.

Clara clicked her tongue.

"No! I'll do it!"

"It's my duty to serve you, Teacher."

Naturally, Helia wouldn't just stand by and watch.

She had made many concessions, but she would never give up the commander's "first."

"I should be the one to spar with the commander, considering his skills."

Meanwhile, Yuren nonchalantly said something that made the commander flinch.

He was expressionless, but beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.

While everyone was voicing their opinions, Clara quickly assessed the situation.

What were her strengths? What could she appeal to the commander with?

She spoke up.

"First of all, Bayard and Yuren are out."

"Why are you saying that?"

"Y-Yeah! I-I have the right to spar with him too!"

"Are you seriously asking that?"

Clara decided to eliminate her competition first, starting with plausible reasons to make them back down.

Her first targets were Yuren and Bayard.

"You two only rely on brute strength. You might hurt the commander."

"Hmm."

"W-Well..."

Yuren and Bayard looked dejected at her seemingly reasonable argument.

The Dwarf prosthetic wasn't easily breakable, but considering their strength, it wasn't impossible.

Moreover, this was the commander's first fight with a prosthetic.

It wouldn't make sense for him to spar with those muscleheads.

That was her logic.

They rarely backed down from anything, but when it came to the commander, they couldn't help but hesitate.

Clara exploited that weakness to get them to withdraw.

"Then what about me?"

"Helia, you're not a bad choice, but do you think the commander would actually fight you?"

"...What?"

Helia's eyes flashed red.

The vein throbbing in her neck betrayed her anger, but Clara didn't flinch.

She smiled and said,

"If his own student is the opponent, he'll definitely go easy on you. Like watching children play!"

"You little...!!!"

"Are you seriously getting angry? With the commander right here?"

Helia's rage instantly subsided.

Instead, her forced smile twitched.

She knew the commander would stop her, and she was right.

Clara smiled and looked at the commander.

Ruby was on duty, and her mother wouldn't participate if she had any conscience.

By process of elimination, the only one left was her, Clara.

"Commander! Let's spar!"

"W-Well, if you insist..."

"Yes!!!"

Clara grinned and ran towards the commander.

Then, she naturally linked arms with him.

She felt piercing glares from behind, but she didn't care.

The pathetic jealousy of losers.

She had no time for such distractions on her date with the commander.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Chapter 100

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The sparring match was decided rather suddenly, but it wasn't entirely a bad thing.

I also wanted to check the prosthetic's performance.

Testing it in a real battle was an option, but...

It could lead to serious injuries, even death.

Plus, as Cluna said, Yuren and Bayard were too strong and could potentially destroy the prosthetic.

Sparring with Helia didn't seem like a good idea either and Ruby was on guard duty.

So, the most suitable opponent was, without a doubt, Clara.

The sparring match took place in the fortress courtyard.

I slowly moved my fingers.

Was it because of the combination of Dwarf technology and Cluna's magic?

It moved smoothly.

Cluna had mentioned that it could actually weaken someone with superhuman strength.

But I was on the weaker side, so it wouldn't be a problem.

On the contrary, there was a chance it could make me stronger.

A punch from a steel fist would hurt more than a regular punch.

"Ready?"

"Yes, Commander. I'm ready."

"Alright, let's go."

We started the sparring match with simple wooden weapons.

The first to surrender or draw blood would lose.

I held my wooden sword and looked at Clara.

She said,

"It's already been a year, Commander."

"Since we rebuilt the Royal Knights?"

"Yes. Honestly, I didn't believe in you back then."

"That's understandable."

"You're still a sneaky bastard."

Despite my consideration in choosing my words, she called me sneaky.

I didn't know what she meant, but for now, testing the prosthetic's performance was my priority.

"Let's begin!!!"

With Yuren's energetic shout, the sparring match began.

I immediately charged forward but at that moment, I saw it.

Clara, retreating.

She wasn't running away.

Her hands, which had been holding a wooden sword, were now equipped with a wooden bow and arrows.

They were practice arrows with blunt tips, but...

A direct hit could still knock me out, so I had no choice but to use Time Stop.

The world turned gray in an instant.

Only I could move.

Clara's arrow was already right before my eyes, aimed at my neck and forehead.

If I got hit and fainted, I would lose all my authority as commander.

I quickly assessed the situation and dodged the arrow by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, I charged towards Clara.

Then, Time Stop ended.

"As expected, Commander... You're so fast!"

"It's like you teleported."

"I didn't expect you to get hit by that!"

Clara said it as if she had expected it, but honestly, if it hadn't been for Time Stop, I would have been hit.

Her surprise attack was that good.

A knight who wielded both sword and bow?

Cluna had even said that Clara's archery skills surpassed her own.

She had a bright future ahead of her.

I swung my steel fist at Clara.

But she twisted her body and dodged my attack and then, she drew her bowstring, not from a distance, but at close range? She was going to use a bow in close combat? Ｒàɴò฿ƐŜ

She had guts.

I pulled back my steel fist and held it up like a shield.

Fortunately, my steel fist easily deflected Clara's arrow.

It was only natural, considering it was a practice arrow.

"It's hard. But can it withstand this?"

"Uh..."

Clara kicked my prosthetic arm, creating distance, and nocked another arrow.

A blue light emanated from the arrow as she touched it.

Instinct or not, it looked dangerous.

I tried to stop her, but it seemed like she took it as a challenge.

She shouted,

"As you wish, Commander! I'll use my full power!!"

"...."

That's strange.

I never asked her to use her full power.

How did she come to that conclusion?

I was baffled, but I had to react.

I had no choice.

If I got hit by that head-on, I might actually die.

I hoped Yuren or Cluna would stop her, but they didn't.

Don't tell me they think I'm strong enough to handle it?

I desperately hoped that wasn't the case and stopped time.

The world turned gray again, everything frozen in place.

Now, what to do about this?

I crossed my arms and thought.

The best option was to make her surrender.

To do that, I had to show her overwhelming power.

Of course, that would only strengthen the misconception that I was strong, but it was better than losing my authority as commander after getting hit by an arrow.

I felt a brief sense of unease and hesitated, but I quickly snapped out of it.

First, I grabbed the arrow flying towards me and took it outside the fortress.

Should I bury it?

I considered it, but if it exploded, the other members might notice.

The best option was to break the arrow in half.

I grabbed the arrow and snapped it in two.

Then, I placed the pieces far apart, just in case they exploded.

After that, I released Time Stop.

I couldn't emphasize this enough.

Presentation was key.

How things appeared to others mattered.

As long as I disguised it well, I could get away with anything.

Time Stop ended.

Clara looked around frantically for her arrow.

I purposely opened my fist, which had been clenched the whole time.

Something fell to the ground with a thud.

It was the broken arrow pieces.

I had been holding them in my fist as a precaution and now dropped them in front of everyone.

Clara was flustered.

"M-My full power... neutralized so easily..."

"Want to try again?"

"...No, I lost."

She smiled weakly and shook her head.

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

For now, I didn't have to worry about my authority as commander.

Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of unease.

Why was I so concerned about my authority?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[I want to be acknowledged.]

That was the fundamental desire that drove Clara.

Growing up under Cluna's protection, she had naturally followed in her mother's footsteps.

But Cluna, wanting Clara to be safe, had urged her to stay out of trouble.

That frustrated Clara.

She knew her family was gone.

That was why Clara wanted to be Cluna's strength, to protect her mother.

That desire grew into a need for acknowledgment and that need intensified after meeting the commander.

Her desire to be acknowledged by her mother had transformed into something else.

She didn't even know what it was.

[I want to be stronger.]

[But I'm still too weak.]

[Can I become stronger here?]

Her sole desire burned brightly.

Even her peers, whom she considered equals, were surpassing her.

She felt like she was always standing still, alone.

Anxiety gnawed at her.

So, she trained relentlessly, pushing herself to her limits.

Her efforts even surprised Cluna.

She had acquired her own unique weapon.

[This is...?]

[Mom, how is it? The new power I gained...!!]

[...This will be unstoppable.]

Clara's talent lay in archery.

She possessed an overwhelming talent that surpassed even Cluna's.

That was Clara's strength, and that talent, combined with her burning desire, had created a monster.

It wasn't simply about enhancing arrows with mana.

It was the power of her ancestors, capable of piercing through anything.

A power bordering on the legendary artifacts of the elves.

A power only accessible to elves who had undergone rigorous training and received the World Tree's blessing.

Clara had achieved it with talent alone.

Though unstable now...

With a little more effort, alongside Ruby, she had the potential to become one of the Royal Knights' strongest assets.

Yuren shuddered at the growth of her juniors.

Her hands trembled.

Strong.

Potential.

Undeniably so.

But why? Why was she feeling this jealousy?

It was a good thing for her comrades to grow stronger.

Why was she so uneasy?

Yuren forced herself to swallow those emotions.

Cluna was also awestruck by that power, but she was even more surprised by the commander's response.

She knew he was strong, but to subdue the power of an artifact, even if unstable...

What was the commander's true identity?

Could he really be... the First Hero's...?

Cluna quickly shook her head.

That was impossible.

Yes, it had to be.

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Chapter 101

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In the end, the prosthetic arm proved its worth.

It was sturdy, moved with precision, and wasn't too heavy.

Of course, that was relative.

It wasn't exactly light.

If I relaxed my muscles, my body would tilt to the side due to the prosthetic's weight.

There were other inconveniences, but I had no choice but to accept them.

Cluna handled the rest of the detailed examination.

She was the one who had implemented the magic nerve bundles, and she had even contributed to the technical aspects.

Good at magic and technology.

What couldn't she do?

But it wasn't unbelievable.

She had dwarf comrades, and she had lived a long life.

"Thank you, Cluna. I can manage now, thanks to you."

"It was nothing, Commander."

"No, I have to express my gratitude."

"Then I'll accept your feelings."

I silently looked at my arm.

The black metal prosthetic, moving at my will, made me realize once again.

This was a game.

I had no idea how I ended up possessing the Time Stop Cultivator, but I needed to rebuild the Royal Knights and unite the Alliance.

I looked around.

Only Cluna and I were in the office.

As a precaution, I had asked Cluna to create a barrier.

In other words, we were completely alone.

"Alright, what do you think about this?"

A few days ago, right after testing the prosthetic's performance, I received a letter.

Not just any letter, but a secret letter sealed with both magic and technology.

The content was simple.

They requested to borrow the Table of Equality for a secret meeting of the Alliance.

A meeting of the multi-racial Alliance...

In the game setting, meetings were frequently held at the Table of Equality but after the Royal Knights' collapse, none had been held until the protagonist rebuilt them.

In other words, the Alliance was looking for an opportunity to join forces once again and that wasn't a bad thing.

If the Alliance was revived they could properly oppose the demons.

Of course, that was assuming everything went well.

Cluna, however, expressed a negative opinion.

"If the Alliance is so easily swayed by a single knight order, it's better off not existing."

"You're not wrong."

Perhaps because of her vast experience, Cluna believed it was better not to waste their energy on something so unreliable.

She had a point.

It could actually weaken them.

If the Alliance was re-established, some would inevitably try to hinder our activities.

Of course, we could silence them with overwhelming achievements, but...

As the saying goes, the most dangerous enemies are those within.

If those we considered allies betrayed us at a crucial moment, we could crumble instantly.

"But we need the Alliance."

"If you say so, Commander."

"I apologize."

But I had no choice but to rebuild the Alliance because of the demons.

This game, oddly enough, required uniting all the races.

If they failed to do so, most endings led to either a bad end or a normal end.

I wondered why they made a simple erotic game so complicated.

At first, I had enjoyed it.

It had many choices for an erotic game, and the gameplay was quite good.

But after conquering all the heroines and uniting all the races through tears and hardship to achieve the good ending...

I never dreamed I would get the Time Stop Breeding Uncle ending.

Those bastards wasted all my time.

The emptiness and anger I felt were beyond imagination.

But putting aside my personal feelings, I had to face reality.

If it hadn't been for the Time Stop Breeding Uncle... to achieve the good ending, all races had to unite.

Each race had unique characteristics that were essential in the final battle.

In other words, like it or not, rebuilding the Alliance was crucial for a good ending.

And the first step was rebuilding the Royal Knights.

After the Royal Knights' collapse, the Alliance became useless, and then the demons invaded, leading to their destruction.

"Thinking positively, this means the Royal Knights' influence has grown stronger."

"Yes, but... there will be resistance."

"That's true."

Some might say, "How could they not cooperate when a common enemy is at their doorstep?"

Unfortunately, that's exactly what they wouldn't do.

Even in modern history, there were those who betrayed others, saying, "If I can't have it, I'll destroy it."

Even if it meant their own demise.

The 12 Tribes and the Dwarf Kingdom were a prime example.

They were infamous for their rivalry, engaging in territorial disputes even with demons present.

It would be even worse for races we hadn't interacted with and the elves, due to the World Tree issue, were openly hostile towards the Royal Knights.

"It's a good thing we have the upper hand."

"Yes, we have the achievements to back us up."

"That's right."

The rescue of the Dwarf Kingdom, the subjugation of the 12 Tribes' traitors, and the repulsion of the True Demon attack.

The forces we had repelled were enough to destroy a nation.

So, we had the leverage and those who had been observing from afar had lost theirs.

They never dreamed the Royal Knights would still be standing.

I couldn't blame them.

Even I never imagined we would be able to rebuild so quickly.

Plus, thanks to the support of the three races, our situation had improved significantly.

We could negotiate on equal footing.

I nodded.

We would hold the Alliance meeting at Lionheart Fortress.

To take control.

"But why keep it a secret from everyone?"

"Just in case."

"Just in case?"

"Yes, I know you want to trust everyone, but there will be those who prioritize their own race's future."

I nodded.

One of the reasons people joined the Royal Knights was for the benefit of their own race.

Bayard was a prime example.

I understood.

"But I think we should tell everyone."

"They might betray us."

"I believe they won't. And if we keep accumulating secrets... we'll eventually lose trust in each other."

It might sound idealistic, but I believed a commander should trust their members and that was how I had led them until now.

Thanks to that, we were able to successfully rebuild the Royal Knights.

So, I would stick to my methods.

Cluna, who had been looking at me, smiled faintly and bowed her head.

"I apologize, Commander. I overstepped my bounds..."

"No, it's fine. It was just advice based on your experience."

"Yes, Commander."

"Did something similar happen in the past?"

Cluna had a lot of experience.

That was why she sometimes acted in ways I didn't understand.

Like now.

While it was good to be cautious, excessive caution could be detrimental.

Perhaps her actions stemmed from her past experiences.

Cluna didn't say anything.

I quickly added,

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I won't force you."

"No, it's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, it just brought back some old memories..."

"Old memories... You must have gone through a lot."

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing.

Thanks to Cluna's experiences, we had overcome many difficult situations.

But I didn't want to lose the trust of my comrades.

Perhaps she understood my intentions.

Cluna immediately deactivated the barrier.

I then instructed her to summon all the members to the Table of Equality.

"If the commander has summoned us, we must go."

"I missed the last one!"

"You were on duty then."

One by one, the members gathered at the round table.

They all seemed to have been training in the courtyard.

After confirming everyone was present, I spoke.

"I called you all here today for an important matter."

"What is this important matter?"

"Actually, there's going to be an Alliance meeting."

At those words, everyone fell silent.

I thought to myself,

Should I have kept it a secret...?

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Chapter 102

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The Multi-Racial Alliance meeting.

It was a meeting that had begun with the intention of setting aside racial conflicts and pursuing a common goal, but it had disappeared into history along with the collapse of the Royal Knights.

However, thanks to the miraculously rebuilt Royal Knights, the Multi-Racial Alliance meeting was revived.

Currently, humans, dwarves, and beastmen maintained a strong alliance.

On the other hand, the elves, joining hands with the orcs and vampires, had formed an Anti-Royal Knights alliance.

The elves I could understand, but why the orcs and vampires?

I wondered if Cluna, being an elf herself, might know something, but her expression instantly contorted when I asked.

Did she hate them that much?

"Do elves have a bad relationship with orcs and vampires?"

"To be precise, orcs and vampires aren't fond of other races either."

"I-Is that so?"

"Yes, especially humans with vampires, and dwarves and elves with orcs."

To sum up their tendencies, vampires were hedonists, and orcs were warmongers who loved battle and blood.

I clicked my tongue.

"I'm surprised they didn't betray us."

"The reason is even more ridiculous."

"What is it?"

"The vampires stayed because they like the taste of human blood, and the orcs stayed because they want to fight stronger opponents."

"Huh."

In the game's lore, vampires and orcs were only mentioned by name, their details left unknown.

They were said to be the first races to fall to the demons.

Of course, they appeared in the game, but mostly as slaves to the demons, mindless puppets.

But despite that, they were incredibly strong.

They served to impress upon the player the fact that even powerful beings could fall to such a fate.

In fact, vampires and orcs were often mid-boss level enemies.

"I never thought I'd see sane orcs and vampires."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."

"I understand. You must have a lot of experience..."

Thanks to Cluna's understanding, I was able to smoothly brush it off.

I knew the strength of orcs and vampires better than anyone here.

There was a saying,

"If a troll is the bane of early game players, then vampires and orcs are the bane of mid game players."

They were notorious for tormenting players in the mid-game.

However, that also meant we could utilize the full strength of the orcs and vampires.

At least for now.

They wouldn't become slaves to the demons if we kept this up.

"But it's surprising that they're anti-Royal Knights."

"Those are the kind of creatures they are."

"I can understand the orcs, but not the vampires."

Orcs were known for challenging those stronger than them, so it was understandable that they would be competitive towards the newly emerged Royal Knights. ŖåƝО𝔟Èȿ

But I couldn't figure out the vampires' motives.

"I don't know much about vampires."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I can roughly guess the orcs' intentions, but..."

"To put it simply, they're crazy."

"What?"

"Vampires are crazy."

I was taken aback by Cluna's firm response.

It wasn't just a simple opinion.

She had never let personal feelings interfere with her work.

So, for her to be disgusted by them, vampires must be truly insane.

Well, I guess there weren't many sane individuals in an erotic game, but I wouldn't know until I met them.

"The delegations are starting to arrive."

I looked out the window from my office, observing the courtyard.

The first to arrive was the Human Kingdom's carriage.

It was quite shabby for a king's carriage.

Was their situation that bad...?

I quickly stood up.

It wouldn't be appropriate for me, the commander, to sit here leisurely.

Even though I was the leader of the Royal Knights, they were all individuals of high standing.

Sending ordinary members to greet a king would be disrespectful.

I tried to leave, but Cluna gently stopped me by placing her hand on my shoulder.

What was this?

"Commander, please calm down."

"I can't. I have to go out there right now."

"I understand your concern."

"Right?"

"But it's unnecessary. This is the authority you deserve."

I listened to Cluna's explanation and understood.

We had risked our lives and defeated countless demons.

We even repelled True Demons.

So, rather than going out there to be polite, it was better to subtly display our dominance.

That was Cluna's opinion, and I agreed.

Regardless of anything else, our hard-earned achievements couldn't be ignored.

I sat back down.

Soon, the leaders of other races arrived one by one.

There were some familiar faces.

Ambassador Viral represented the Dwarf Kingdom, as their king was too young.

And of course, Yuyeong represented the 12 Tribes.

But that was the extent of the familiar faces.

The elf representative was a male elf named Elder Makenis, who had been newly elected.

According to Cluna, he was an extreme hardliner among the elves.

For him to be elected as a representative meant they harbored deep resentment towards us.

"I hope he doesn't cause any trouble..."

"He's already causing trouble."

"Oh, for fuck's sake."

It seemed like Makenis disliked everything.

He nitpicked at everything and was quickly subdued by Yuren.

Not with physical force, but... she used Dragon Fear to silence him.

I sighed.

It was my fault for destroying the World Tree.

Of course, I didn't regret it.

The lives of my precious members were at stake back then.

If I had to do it again, I would gladly destroy the World Tree and the elves must have known that.

That the World Tree was contaminated and that destroying it was the only option at the time.

Of course, they could have purified it eventually, but at what cost?

"This is a difficult problem."

"Humans, dwarves, beastmen, elves... so far, it's been like this."

"They're all quite unique."

"The real show hasn't even begun."

"What?"

BOOM!!

Before she could finish, the ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

I quickly turned my head.

There, clinging to the wall like a bird to its nest, was a colossal creature.

Its wings were vast enough to cover the sky, and its gaze seemed to burn everything it touched.

The strongest being on the continent.

I mumbled in a daze,

"A dragon...!!"

The arrival of the strongest race caused a stir among everyone present.

I frowned.

I wasn't sure about the other races, but... we had to be wary of the dragons.

If we crossed them, we wouldn't survive.

Yuren's power alone was a testament to why we shouldn't provoke them.

But I hadn't gone out to greet the others.

It felt wrong to suddenly go out just because a dragon had arrived.

As I stood there, unsure of what to do...

"Yuren!!!"

"??"

The dignified dragon instantly transformed into a goofy middle-aged man.

He was trying to hug Yuren.

What was this?

"I believe that's Yuren's father."

"Yuren's father?"

"Yes, his name is Yugen. The current Dragon Lord."

"..."

I had heard of him.

The Dragon Lord, a being who wouldn't move unless the world was in peril.

According to the game's lore, there were only three opportunities to encounter him.

One of them was an event where he appeared right before a game over, preventing it.

He would then either perish from using too much power or fall into a deep slumber.

The Dragon Lord possessed enough power to single-handedly prevent most game over events, even a True Demon invasion.

But such a being had personally come here?

"I'm so glad you're safe!! My daughter!!!"

"I hear wailing from afar. How noisy."

"Who's that?"

"That's a vampire."

A girl with long golden hair and crimson eyes appeared.

Was it Gothic Lolita...?

Most of those around her also had blonde hair and red eyes.

I thought to myself,

'Yeah, this definitely is an erotic game.'

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