Chapter 123

My heart was racing.

A long-awaited, heartfelt proposal from my most cherished one.

A passionate flame, like it would never fade, was burning in his eyes.

“I…”

Since the moment I made that decision in front of the writer, I had somewhat prepared myself for this.

Or perhaps, since the moment I knew the true identity of this ring.

Just as I was about to nod at Etias while looking at him…

“Don’t answer now.”

Etias’ lips moved.

He whispered to me as I looked at him with fluttering eyes.

“I’ll propose properly, more romantically.”

“Ah…”

“You can look forward to it.”

His words hinted at something grand, and I nodded absentmindedly as I gazed at him.

‘Even if I say he doesn’t need to go that far, it wouldn’t matter, would it?’

Because Etias, half-turned towards me, was someone who longed to do anything for me.

Then, his lips overlapped with mine again, binding me in his kiss.

Like a release of restraint, he kissed me even more passionately.

Each time he pulled away for a moment, he whispered softly, “I love you,” and I felt a chill down my spine.

His hands, which had wrapped around my waist, slowly moved up and supported the back of my neck.

After a long time, when he finally pulled back from the kiss, there was a deeper desire flickering in his eyes.

He seemed to calm the heat consuming him and, after a deep breath, pulled me tightly into his strong embrace.

“If you knew what I was thinking right now, you might run away.”

His voice, soft yet intense, sent a thrilling sensation down my body.

He was a man full of vitality, and I could feel it in every inch of me.

No longer hiding his strong possessiveness, he growled.

“But your ankle is already in my grasp.”

His words made my fingertips tremble.

He pulled me even tighter, but not painfully.

“You can’t go anywhere.”

The preparation for war with Gran Orden had begun.

In the meeting room, around a round table discussing matters of the war, Etias, dressed in a dignified military uniform, sat at the head of the table. Camel, Karon, and I took our seats on the Empire’s side.

Opposite us sat the military leaders of the allied nations and the ministers holding important roles.

The Duke of Montella, Lancelot Obier, was also wearing the signature dark green military uniform of Montella.

“I, the Minister of Defense of Barzenka, will now speak on the current situation.”

Both the Kingdom of Yucubis and Montella immediately sent reinforcements. Barzenka had allowed the Empire’s entry at the border with Gran Orden and promised logistical support.

“Currently, two kingdoms, including Idhelm, will join Gran Orden in their invasion, and our vassal kingdom, Chen, will stand by us in this war.”

The cooperation with Barzenka, who was aligned with Gran Orden, was a huge help in our war preparations.

Since we would be facing the Western Five alliances, which had been reduced to three nations, this was also a positive development.

“What is the status of the Rift mages? I understand Gran Orden’s main forces are made up of them,” Karon inquired.

The Minister of Defense of Barzenka answered, “Gran Orden’s Rift mages are breeding numerous mindless monsters. They’re using sorcery to alter normal soldiers. These monsters are significantly stronger, three to four times more powerful than ordinary troops, so they’re quite threatening.”

Camel murmured with a serious expression, “We need to find their weakness urgently.”

I then spoke up, “We are analyzing their bodies, which liquefy upon death, with Elma Pharmaceutical and the Scavengers. We’ll share our findings immediately once we have a solution.”

The research was actively progressing, starting with the remains of the bodies that Cain had gathered in Quayden.

“The analysis capabilities of Elma Pharmaceutical, led by the Duke Katrin Elemore, are exceptional, so we can expect good results,” added Lancelot, who had benefited from Elma Pharmaceutical’s assistance.

He had returned to human form after being freed from Beast Peak and, just like the first time he took Elma’s medicine, he was able to control his Beast Peak symptoms.

The representatives from the allied nations nodded in trust, their gaze soft as they looked at me.

Etias, who had been looking at me with a reassuring smile, spoke up.

“Yucubis, please take charge of the two kingdoms aligned with Gran Orden. And Barzenka, send troops to the vassal kingdom of Chen.”

His remark, seemingly casual, caused a stir in the room.

The core of the war was Gran Orden, yet he was asking the powerful forces of the allied nations to deploy troops to the surrounding countries.

“Gran Orden, now at odds with Barzenka, will most likely want to absorb the vassal kingdom of Chen first.”

“…?”

Everyone looked confused, listening intently to Etias.

“Chen is called the slave market of the continent.”

At that, the representative from Barzenka flinched, a sharp gasp escaping.

“The Barzenka army must prevent Gran Orden from invading Chen.”

Unlike here, where slavery is officially abolished, in the Western alliances, slave trading is common, and all slaves pass through Chen.

If Gran Orden occupies it and gains countless slaves, there’s a high chance they’ll turn them into battle monsters.

The reason Yucubis, with its strong military, was tasked with striking the two kingdoms of Gran Orden was to prevent them from increasing their monstrous forces.

Etias’ judgment had pinpointed a crucial, unexpected core.

“I will immediately send an urgent report to His Majesty the Emperor. Tell him to send troops to Chen.”

The Barzenka representative spoke with a tense face.

Etias nodded and stood up.

“I, Etias von Clyde, will personally seize the heart of Gran Orden.”

With that, all eyes were on Etias, filled with tension.

“The Imperial army will march into their capital, and those who sought to wield dark power and bring danger to the continent will pay the price.”

His piercing blue eyes were sharp, his intellect cutting through several moves ahead, and the aura radiating from him was so intense it made others feel the pressure.

The young emperor, declaring an advance into enemy territory, commanded awe from everyone present.

“…”

But as I looked at him, my heart ached.

An inner scream echoed in my head.

‘What if he gets hurt?!’

The Empire, the war—my biggest concern was Etias’ safety and well-being, so I couldn’t help but worry.

‘It’s dangerous, Etias.’

Soon, his gaze quietly turned towards me.

He lowered the tip of his furrowed brows slightly and, with a faint smile, seemed to look right through me.

Filled with unwavering confidence in himself, it was as if he was saying,

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it through again.”

After the meeting, I organized a few documents and immediately headed to Elma Pharmaceutical.

No matter how strong Etias’ shadow power was, even though he had once conquered the Imperial Palace and succeeded in the revolution, leading the army himself was a task full of immense danger.

What I could do now was only find a way to weaken the monster army created by Gran Orden’s Rift mages.

“Duke, ma’am.”

The man who had once been a pharmaceutical merchant, and now sat as the president of Elma, greeted me politely.

Inside the sterile experimental space, I could see researchers in white coats working on experiments.

“I’d like to hurry this up as much as possible.”

“We are already moving as fast as we can. There’s someone pushing us to hurry,” he responded, cutting me off. I flinched when I saw the man emerging from the back research room.

It was none other than Heros.

“Heros?”

I hadn’t heard that he had been coming in and out of here since returning as the guild leader of the Scavengers.

“What are you doing here…?”

“Didn’t I say I’d protect you?” he replied.

“…Heros.”

“This time, from the monsters of the Rift.”

At his words, I stiffened, then cleared my throat awkwardly.

‘As expected, he figured it out.’

He stepped so close to me that it felt like he might be too near, and he gave me a knowing smile.

“You’re planning to go with the emperor to the battlefield, aren’t you?”

…He was right.