Kneeling before Ilschevar with my head bowed, I wait for his answer to my request. Although I could have just asked him without doing this, I don't want to do that because I don't want to suddenly disappear, which will make others feel suspicious.
The reason why I pulled this stunt is that I want to let the Warriors know that I am just going on a journey on my own, which is unrelated to any mission whatsoever. Ilschevar will agree to this imdiately—I am sure of it—so it's basically a public stunt.
"That will be hard, unfortunately, Layland," cos the answer that makes look up in surprise. "I would have easily let you go if you were a Third Wing Warrior and below, but with how much power you have currently…"
I am stumped. I thought he was joking at first, but Ilschevar is serious; that hesitant and apologetic look on his face is too genuine to be fake.
Valeria also seems surprised by the answer too. Like , she is looking at Ilschevar strangely as if wondering if he ate sothing in the morning.
"There will be another war in less than two months. As one of the powerhouses of our military, I can't just let you go easily, Layland. You know how it goes: one that kills a thousand is better than a thousand that kills one."
"Then, I just have to find myself within that ti, don't I?" I ask seriously. "I will return before D-Day. In case I am late, I will imdiately head to the battlefield. It should be okay, shouldn't it, my Liege? As a Warrior with no responsibility, my presence is only needed to kill, isn't it?"
Ilschevar looks at silently and that makes frown.
'What is this guy planning? Is he afraid that I am going to lose my way? Doesn't he know that I will just go around the sa way if I don't kill those bastards as soon as possible?'
The silence is preserved. The Warriors are probably anticipating the outco of this exchange between us as Ilschevar and I are looking at each other.
He smiles after so ti; at this mont, I know I have been played. That is the smile of soone who finds things going the way he wanted—I know it well.
"That promise is heavy, Layland. You said you wanted to have so fun with the Hero, didn't you? In other words, you are hinting that you will finish all of them in less than two months. A very heavy promise indeed," Ilschevar remarks, provoking at the sa ti.
"This is a gamble, my Liege. There are two outcos of this journey of mine: first, I managed to take down all of the Heroes; second, one of the Heroes managed to kill . I am confident in the first one, so I know I will return."
"Comndable—your confidence in yourself is comndable." Ilschevar claps his hands appreciatively and mockingly at the sa ti. "Now, tell why you are so obsessed with killing the Hero."
"I hate soap operas," I answer, making Ilschevar blink his eyes in confusion. "The history is an endless loop of a trashy soap opera. Our predecessors always let the Hero grow to their full potential and suffered defeat for it."
"What you are saying is?"
"There were always many chances for our predecessors to end the Hero, but they didn't. I am tired of seeing the bad side losing due to their stupidity, so I am going to change history. The Hero hasn't grown to their full potential yet—it is the perfect ti to end them."
Ilschevar loses his small smile as his face turns solemn. I face his gaze unwaveringly, giving him my burning eyes even though he, maybe, can't see it.
"Do you know how many sides are protecting the Hero? Our progenitors didn't kill them early because they were arrogant; they knew killing the Hero early was simply not worth the trouble it would bring them later. Despite so, are you—"
"I have made my choice."
"Very well, I have seen your determination. It will be stupid of to keep discouraging you," Ilschevar sighs. "45 days. In 45 days, you have to kill all of the Heroes and return to the Kingdom to aid us in the upcoming war. How about it?"
"I will do my best." I bow my head slightly.
"Stand, my Warrior." Doing what he asks to, I stand face to face with Ilschevar. "I believe in your competence too, but I still feel the need to say this, Layland. If you return safely, I will award you with sothing that is up to your satisfaction."
Although his words imply that he is not really confident in , I still nod my head in appreciation as he pats my shoulder.
"I am expecting the best of you, Layland Kleinhaus! You may return to the rank and wait for the others to get their rewards before you pack your things up." Ilschevar winks. "You won't mind, will you?"
Nodding my head lightly, I return to the rank afterwards. Eliseus greets with a nod of appreciation as soon as I join the rank, anwhile, Vibiane looks at in worry as if asking if I know what I am doing.
Telling her that I will talk about it later, I pay attention to Ilschevar, who is calling the other Warriors that also achieved sothing unusual in Lysimork.
…
As soon as we are dismissed, Vibiane and Eliseus imdiately talk to . The forr doesn't think it is really a good idea for to attempt what I am about to do, whereas the latter expects to excel.
After the two of them listen to my explanation about my decision, they imdiately leave to my own devices. They promised to see off, so they want to tell them if it is already ti for to depart.
I am honestly ready to leave anyti now, but I still want to spend so ti in the castle. I have spent most of my ti in this world in the castle, so it feels sohow wrong for to imdiately leave a mont after arriving.
"Want to do so lewd stuff?"
I hear soone's voice as I walk through the hall of the castle. Turning my head to the owner of the voice, I find Millonia with Winerva standing behind her.
"Hello, slaves. What a coincidence eting both of you here."
"This prick… he talks just as irritating as usual, doesn't he?"
Millonia and I smirk at each other; she can't see my smirk though. I walk toward her and fist bump her as I ask what she and Winerva are doing.
"We have just finished cleaning, so we want to spend so girl's ti."
"You both take your work as maids seriously, don't you?" I remark.
"Those bloodstains you savages leave behind in the Arena don't clean themselves after all," Millonia replies as she rolls her eyes. "Anyway, are you interested in my offer?"
I know where the two are going: the lake in the garden. With the overwhelming stench of blood sticking to them, they must be wanting to clean themselves so they can get rid of it.
"How about it, Valeria? Are you in?" I ask, surprising both Millonia and Winerva.
Appearing out of thin air, Valeria answers, "I am in."
"W-Well, let's go together then."
Just like that, we go to the lake together. We imdiately undress as soon as we get there … Well, except for Winerva. Her mind doesn't seem to be able to comprehend what her eyes witness.
Valeria and I do nothing about it. We are aware that what we are doing is not sothing that everyone does.
Millonia, on the other hand, does everything she has in mind to make Winerva join us. When coercing Winerva with words doesn't work, she imdiately resorts to force, which is done by stripping Winerva naked.
"Kyaa! I hate you; you perverted woman!"
Winerva, however, turns out to be an unexpectedly pure woman. Instead of imdiately jumping into the river to hide the body parts that she doesn't want to show to just anybody, she runs toward the Path of Glory, which is nearby.
Reflexively, I take out my Lasso of Judgnt and pull her in with it. She screams in fear and confusion in the process but imdiately shuts up the mont she lands beside .
"This idiot—do you want to mock our previous Demon Kings by running there naked," I say with a frown. "Ah, that is my penis, so you can stop grabbing it. It won't get hard as long as I don't desire it."
"Kyaa! All of you are perverts!" Winerva shouts as she takes a distance away from all of us.
We give her a weird look before shrugging. Soon after, Valeria sits before , anwhile, Millonia stands on her knees behind ; her hands are on my hair.
"Do you want to grow your hair as long as Lord Ilschevar's?" she asks.
"No, let's cut it."
Knowing the reason why I didn't cut my hair, Millonia and Valeria look at in surprise. 'Are you sure?' is what their eyes are saying.
"I kept it because it reminded of my late mother—no, it reminded of the fact that I had a family." I shake my head faintly. "It no longer reminds of her and I already found a new family. I have… moved on."
Silence fills the air for a few seconds. In the next mont, Much to my surprise, Millonia and Valeria hug .
It feels uncanny to be hugged by the two most insensitive creatures I know, but it is still heart-warming. At least, I am now sure that I already have people that I can call family.
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