Chapter 101: The Day Before Leaving

“Don’t do this! Face us in a fair fight, great dragon!”

Ascal shouted with bloodshot eyes.

After enduring so much hardship, ending it this way felt unbearably futile.

Ascal pointed his sword at the dragon.

The Lightbane shimmered, radiating an otherworldly hue beyond gold.

“Please, calm down, Director-nim. Why are you acting like this when the opponent wants to surrender?”

Sushia held Ascal back as he tried to charge forward alone.

Not stopping there, Eileen grabbed his left arm, and Yulia restrained his right, finally managing to subdue him.

“This land is yours, isn’t it? Aren’t you angry, dragon? Remember the humiliation of having your land stolen by humans! Recall the hatred embedded in your heart!”

“Are you insane?”

The dragon calmly looked at the Lightbane and spoke.

—Why would I, no fool, engage in a battle I’m destined to lose? I admit defeat.

Thud.

Ascal collapsed on the spot.

Year 234 of the Imperial Calendar.

“Great Dragon Karnax surrenders to Hero Ascal after just three seconds of confrontation.”

This event would later become a legend throughout the empire.

****

And so, leaving behind Karnax, who had sworn never to harm humans using an unbreakable contract—word-binding magic—Ascal and his companions returned to the capital.

“Director-nim, you’ve looked unwell since earlier. Are you okay? Your beard seems to have grown a bit… um, and you look… dirtier, if I might say?”

Sushia’s words fell on deaf ears as Ascal stared intently at the distant capital.

Thankfully, it wasn’t burning.

‘It’s too soon to relax.’

He had seen countless futures where the empire met its doom.

Yulia as a tyrant, Bernstein as a mechanical emperor… and the most ridiculous: a gem-encrusted frog swelling up and conquering the empire.

Gulp.

Tense, Ascal entered the imperial palace.

“Are you okay, darling? You look nervous. Here, let me hold your hand.”

Serena clasped Ascal’s hand tightly.

Behind them, Yulia’s gaze bored into Serena.

“What are you doing to my man?”

“Huh? Nothing much. We’re dating now.”

“...?”

Could romantic relationships have an overlap of sorts?

As Yulia froze, unable to process what she just heard, Ascal entered the palace.

“Wait! Darling, hold on!”

***

Upon seeing the throne.

“This is His Majesty’s domain. Who dares—oh, it’s Count Ascal Erindale. Please, come in. Your weapon? If it’s heavy, you can entrust it to me.”

The guard opened the grand door.

Ascal hurried to check the throne.

And there, seated upon it, was—

“Ah, is it mealtime already? Oh, it’s you, Count Erindale! Long time no see!”

Camalon Barba.

The emperor, as always.

“Your Majesty—!”

Why was his face so reassuring?

Tears streamed down Ascal’s face.

Seeing this, Camalon leapt from the throne and embraced Ascal.

“As expected, the only true loyalist to care for me is you!”

The two shared warmth for a long moment,

until Yulia stormed in and forcibly dragged Ascal away.

***

“You’ve done well, Ascal.”

In the Room of Truth, Yulia’s demeanor changed dramatically after hearing about Ascal’s ordeals.

Her initial intent to break his legs had transformed into an unspoken vow to forgive any antics today.

Even the matter with Serena was somehow smoothed over.

“By the way, you promised to share a secret, didn’t you, Yulia?”

“…Yes, I did.”

Ascal pulled a ribbon from his pocket.

She had spent a particularly long time as Princess Yulia recently.

It was time to return to her role as Secretary Lia.

With practiced ease, Ascal tied her hair.

However—

Even after her hair was tied, Yulia straightened her back and spoke.

“Hehe. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Didn’t you miss seeing me, Ascal?”

Her tone, reminiscent of a dream,

made Ascal hesitate, his head lowering as if frightened.

“Was this the secret?”

“I didn’t want you to hate me. Didn’t I say I’d dedicate this life to serving you?”

Yulia fiddled with her fingers.

“Do you hate me?”

Ascal stepped closer and embraced her tightly.

A soft gasp escaped her lips.

“I love you, Lia.”

“I love you too, Ascal.”

Ascal lightly tugged her tied hair.

“Rules are rules.”

“…I love you, Ascal.”

And this time, it was Ascal who kissed her first.

​​****

“Darling, I told the truth to my brother! Luckily, he forgave me in exchange for relinquishing my title as a princess. So, I’m no longer a princess—oh?”

In the Drawing Room-

-Serena had just returned from consulting with the crown prince and had been pardoned in exchange for giving up her position as a princess.

However, her timing couldn’t have been worse.

“Hmm…”

Serena stared at the two people before her, waiting patiently until their kiss ended.

And when it did, she spoke up.

“Surely, our first kiss was better, wasn’t it?”

This marked the beginning of a long and bitter rivalry between the sisters.

***

A few things happened.

Ascal sat in the office of the Evaluation Department, deep in thought.

‘My days in this chair are numbered.’

Despite the crown prince’s repeated efforts to persuade him otherwise, Ascal remained firm in his decision to retire.

In the end, he would leave his position as the head of the Evaluation Department and return to his rural estate in Erindale in the western region.

“It’s just a quiet countryside—nothing like the Kingdom of Kelli—but perfect for a peaceful life.”

The smell of cow dung, fields of grass…

Occasional travels…

That’s how he planned to live.

-Take us with you.

-It’s boring without you. So boring.

-Scratch my back… You’re the best.

Why were these creatures still here?

-You almost got us killed. You owe us. I’ve lost 90% of my strength.

-I’ve lost about 70%...

A snake and a puppy roamed the office. In the fish tank, a turtle sprayed water.

-This place has good sunlight…

Under the window, basking in the sunlight, was a red lizard.

It was none other than Karnax, the great dragon.

“You—why are you still here?”

-You’re the first human stronger than me. It’s piqued my curiosity about the human world.

“What? You gave a lecture to the baby sea turtle when it joined us, but you’re not going to discipline this one?”

-A lecture? Fascinating…

The lizard shifted its gaze.

The snake averted its eyes.

-Ahem. How could I dare behave rudely to my grandaunt? That’s a misunderstanding.

Apparently, the hierarchy in the office had shifted.

Speaking of hierarchies—

The imperial succession ceremony was approaching.

The current emperor, Camalon Barba, would step down, and the crown prince, Kain Barba, would ascend the throne.

‘Once the crown prince becomes emperor, the next chancellor will also be decided.’

Ascal smiled.

‘Who will be the next chancellor? This will be interesting.’

****

A Few Days Later…

“From the start, I knew you’d make it big, my friend.”

The imperial succession ceremony.

Crowned amidst everyone’s blessings, Kain Barba officially became emperor.

And at that very event, Kain immediately named the next chancellor.

-Minister of Development and Innovation, Bernstein, please step forward.

It was Bernstein.

“Wow, you’ve really climbed the ladder. From an inventor to a minister, and now chancellor? Incredible. You’re a legend. I’m so proud to have a friend like you.”

“AAAAAAH!”

Bernstein threw his wine glass, which Ascal skillfully caught.

“I curse you, Ascal Erindale”

“Curses are fine. Visit my estate if you’re bored.”

Having wrapped things up neatly, Ascal joined the party to enjoy himself.

A carefree celebration truly was delightful.

“Would you care to dance with me, Ascal?”

“Darling, come over here. Let’s dance together.”

Lia and Serena locked eyes.

“How shameless for someone who showed up late. Wait your turn.”

“Says the one who lost the first kiss. Oh dear, it looks like you’ll lose the first dance too.”

“What did you just say?”

The tension escalated.

The two sisters began an all-out verbal battle, even dragging up events from when they were five. Meanwhile, Ascal quietly slipped away.

“Lady Senestia, may I have this dance?”

“I’m sorry… I’m looking for someone else.”​

In the party hall, Ascal spotted someone in distress—Sushia, visibly troubled.

She was still being hounded by suitors.

When Sushia caught sight of Ascal, her eyes silently pleaded for help, practically shouting, Please save me!

Coincidentally, Ascal still had something to return to her—a single shoe. With that excuse in mind, he stepped forward.

“Would you care to dance, Lady Senestia?”

“Of course!”

Sushia eagerly grabbed Ascal’s hand, and together they moved to the center of the party hall.

Just as they were about to start dancing—

“…What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“This is very troubling, darling.”

It was Lia and Serena, who had evidently reached a dramatic ceasefire and were now glaring at Ascal.

“Oh, you’re all here. I’ve just returned from finishing my prayers,” said Eileen, joining the scene belatedly.

“This… this is…” Ascal stammered, trying to come up with an excuse.

Then, inching backward, he bolted.

“He’s running away again! This is a habitual escape by now!”

“...Doesn’t this remind you of that day at the duke’s party?”

The infamous day when Ascal had fled from the party at the Duke’s estate.

“We lost him then, but this time is different.”

The four women formed an alliance.

Ten minutes later, Ascal was caught.

Even as a Swordmaster, there was no escaping the inescapable net cast by a princess, a saintess, and their allies.

After lengthy negotiations, Ascal reluctantly agreed to dance with each of them in turn.

For the rest of the night.

– – The End of The Chapter – –

 

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