Chapter 187

Chapter 187

Imperial Capitals South Gate.

Standing beside a carriage laden with goods, I looked back at the enormous city.

"Time to say bye-bye to this city."

After inhabiting this body, my world had been confined to Crossroad.

Monsters, dungeons, and villages were all there was. But coming here changed that perception.

This world is vast.

So vast that I couldnt fathom it.

And the monster frontlines, thats where this whole world was protected.

Shall I return to the days of strategizing?

A brief outing had been enjoyable, but indeed, I shouldnt forget my true calling.

Thinking of the subordinates waiting for me in the southernmost part of the continent, I climbed onto the carriage.

Ten soldiers assigned as my escorts, two knights, and Elize also mounted their horses and carriages.

"Alright, lets depar"

I was about to say depart, but then it happened.

Clatter! Clatter!

From inside the Imperial Capitals gate, I saw a woman frantically galloping on a horse. I was slightly startled at first, then soon smiled.

It was Serenade.

"Huff! Huff...!"

Serenade, who had stopped beside the carriage, bent over, panting. Sweat beads were forming at the tip of her delicate chin. How hurriedly she must have come.

I opened the carriage door, stepped out, and looked at Serenade, bowing slightly.

"Serenade. Have you come to say goodbye?"

"Huff, huff... Your Highness."

Catching her breath, Serenade muttered,

"Im your business partner, arent I?"

It was an unexpected remark, but I quickly acknowledged it.

"And a dance partner too."

"I was your fiance."

"We were comrades who fought together at this party."

With an invigorated expression, Serenade smiled.

"I wont give up on you, Your Highness."

Her smile was lovely, so I just looked into her face without speaking.

"I was always on edge, fearing being abandoned by Your Highness. But, yes. Ive already been abandoned, so theres nothing to worry about anymore. Whatever I do from now on, Ill only grow closer to you."

Serenade took a step closer to me. Her upward silver gaze didnt waver.

"Even if you push me away again and again, I will keep approaching you, Your Highness. And I will become so amazing that youll have no choice but to look at me."

"..."

"If Your Highness were to go to the end of this world, I would follow you to the end of the world. Ill follow you forever, harboring this black-hearted devotion in my chest."

Her audacious shout was endearing, and I grinned broadly.

Having shouted so proudly, Serenades face turned bright red as her words came to an end, and she bowed her head.

"I... just wanted to tell you that..."

Covering my mouth, chuckling, I took Serenades hand and lightly kissed her hand.

Startled, Serenades shoulders jumped, and I gave her a smile.

"Ill wait. At the end of the world."

"..."

"See you again, Serenade."

After squeezing her slender hand once more, I turned and climbed onto the carriage.

...Holy moly.

How did such cheesy actions and words automatically spring forth? Was it a habit ingrained in this body of Ash?

The carriage had set off. Serenade stood modestly at the southern gate of the Imperial Capital, continuously waving her hand.

I waved back through the window.

We were destined to meet again. There was much to be done with Silver Winters Merchant Guild in the future.

The road quickly grew distant. When Serenade was out of sight, Elize, who had been driving the horse right next to my carriage, muttered,

"But werent you two breaking up?"

"Its just a fresh start."

"Seems like something a playboy would say when dumping someone..."

"Thats not true. This Prince is sincere."

Elize let out a soft sigh.

"I just wish for Miss Serenade to be happy."

"Me too."

Truly. I wished for her happiness.

And so, I set out to protect the world once again.

The magic attributes that Junior could handle were three lightning, wind, and water.

Among them, she fired water magic, which opposed fire.

Intense streams of water repeatedly struck the giant salamander, and it couldnt endure long, letting out a heavy scream as it fell.

That made three giant salamanders they had brought down.

"Haah, haah! Kuhluh, kuhluh!"

But.

Attacking a distant target with long-range magic was, of course, strenuous on the body. Junior coughed violently.

"..."

Reina Windwell looked at her with displeasure.

The last, third means was Reina herself. However, Reina was in charge of defense during this battle, blocking the enemys fireballs.

It wasnt just the giant salamanders spewing fire.

Regular salamanders also approached, continuously spraying fire. Although the regular soldiers were eliminating them as soon as they appeared, the attacks didnt stop.

If they deployed Reina in the attack, the walls would become a sea of flames.

In the end, the only viable means of attack were two. Damien was running out of bullets for his magic gun, and Juniors condition was at rock bottom.

"...Theres no choice."

Grinding his teeth, Lucas pressed his helmet onto his head.

"Ill go out and take care of the remaining five giant salamanders myself. Evangeline!"

"Ive been waiting, sir!"

Evangeline grinned, gripping her spear and shield. She was wearing her sturdy golem armor.

"You mean to go out there, just the two of you, Deputy Commander? Are you in your right mind?"

Reina asked, astonished.

The area outside the castle walls was a sea of flames. Not only that, but more than a hundred regular salamanders remained.

Would two knights really dash out into such a place? Were they in their right minds?

"Do you have any better alternatives, Lady Reina?"

Lucas, coldly staring at Reina with his frosty eyes, unsheathed the large sword he had recently received from Ash - the Karma Eater.

"So our means of attack have diminished, but do you plan to continue being bombarded like this?"

"..."

"If the shells dont reach us, we must counterattack with our bodies. Is there any other way?"

Reina clicked her tongue, considering it typical of a muscle-brained knight.

But Lucass words had some merit.

They couldnt just sit there forever, merely fending off fireballs.

But to think that only the two of them would go out...

Watching the two knights descending to the first floor and mounting their horses, Reina shook her head disapprovingly.

Whether it was a step of confidence or a youngsters recklessness would soon be revealed.

Lucas and Evangeline, each mounted on their horses, exchanged glances while waiting for the castle gate to open. Evangeline playfully grinned.

"It would be nice to have a few more stalwart melee warrior comrades."

"Indeed. Just three more would be perfect."

With five, they could form a party.

If they could form a melee party consisting of strong warriors, their utility would greatly increase in the future.

Suddenly, the memories of the fallen warriors from the past vampire defense battle flashed before their eyes.

If only a few more had survived then...

"..."

With his eyes tightly shut, Lucas expelled his distracting thoughts and shouted up to the castle walls.

"Damien! I entrust you with our cover!"

"Leave it to me!"

"Lilly! Place all the artifacts you can on us!"

"Activating them now!"

"Saintess Margarita! I request shield magic!"

"May the blessings of light...!"

"And, Junior!"

He sharply pointed at Junior, who was wiping the blood from her mouth.

"Rest!"

"..."

Juniors expression soured. Seeing this, Reina couldnt help but chuckle softly.

Kugugung-

The castle gate opened, and

"Charge! Lets go!"

"Yahoo-! Its a salamander hunt-!"

Lucas and Evangeline raced out of the castle gate like arrows.

In response, hundreds of monsters simultaneously spat flames at the two knights.