Chapter 298

Chapter 298

"Frostbite... its been a while since I heard that nickname."

Serenade laughed bitterly.

"I was once like that. As my relationship with him grew cold, so did I."

Just thinking of that time sent chills down her spine.

Serenades fingers dug into her own arm.

"But now that His Highness treats me warmly, I no longer need to pretend to be cold."

Ice melts in spring.

As Ash began to warm, the frostbite receded. It was that simple.

"...Its been a while since I was called the Mad Dog."

A fleeting remorse passed through Lucass stern eyes.

"I had those days."

When hed bite anything on command like a rabid dog.

And even... the time he almost bit the hand that fed him.

"...Whether His Highness commands me as a mad dog, I act as one; and if commanded as a knight, I act as one."

After all, he was just a sword.

He moved according to the will of the one who wielded him. It was that simple.

"In the end,"

Serenade took a deep breath.

"It was his transformation that allowed us to change."

Lucas silently agreed.

Indeed, compared to Ashs transformation, the changes in Serenade and Lucas were trivial.

The prince, who once pushed himself to the edge, desperate to destroy himself, had transformed.

He became as warm as the spring sun.

Lucas gently inquired,

"Arent you afraid of his transformation?"

Lucas had been forewarned about Ashs change.

- "Hey, guard. From tomorrow, Ill act differently."

- "But no matter my appearance or behavior, I am still me. Undoubtedly the Ash youve always known."

- "Trust me and continue to support me as you have. I request this of you."

The day after those words, Ash changed.

Despite the warning, Lucas sometimes felt a chill down his spine.

Is this thoughtful, benevolent ruler really the same person he had sworn allegiance to?

"Whats there to be afraid of?"

Serenade spoke with conviction.

"His essence hasnt changed."

From their childhood,

That radiant boys essence remained unchanged.

"Even if his actions, speech patterns, and even beliefs change - I can tell. The Ash I loved remains unchanged."

"How can you be so sure?"

As Lucas asked, Serenade smiled mischievously, reminiscent of her playful younger self.

"Its a lovers intuition."

Immediately after, Serenade mumbled, twirling a strand of her hair.

"Well, were divorced now..."

Watching her, Lucas chuckled.

"I feel relieved... that youre here, Miss Serenade, to share these concerns."

"Hm?"

"Ill trust your intuition as well, Miss Serenade."

Lucas gave a soft smile, a sight that made Serenade widen her eyes in surprise.

He wasnt one to smile like that.

"...Youve changed a lot, Captain Lucas."

"Weve grown up. All of us."

For a moment, Serenade and Lucas locked eyes, looking at each other, who were once on the brink of friendship but eventually remained distant.

And always between them was the memory of young Ash.

"All I wish for is His Highnesss happiness, Captain Lucas."

Serenade murmured softly, to which Lucas nodded in agreement.

"I feel the same, Miss Serenade."

"Lets serve him from our respective places."

"Of course."

Hey, didnt you quit your on-site job? You keep accompanying your boyfriend on expeditions, and thats why youre leveling up!

"...I dont even join in the explorations, so why am I growing?"

Saintess Margarita mumbled hesitantly.

Margarita was leveling up without even taking part in combat. From her perspective, it must have been perplexing.

"Well... healers naturally gain experience just by healing. Youre always working at the temple, so thats why your level is rising even without being on the front lines."

In any case, the heroes grew steadily.

"Weve completed the training of two new infantry units!"

The ranks of the regular soldiers were also bolstered,

"The repairs to the primary walls of the forward base are complete, Your Highness!"

Over half of the forward base had been repaired, making it now functional as a makeshift fortress. And as preparations for the winter supplies and firewood were smoothly progressing,

[STAGE 12]

- Time until commencement: 3 days

The next defense battle loomed.

***

This seasons monsters were the Scorpion Legion.

In other words, scorpions.

They crawled close to the ground, their exoskeletons tough.

They had high resistance to ranged weapons like arrows. Their venomous tails possessed piercing power that was incredibly threatening. Their two pincers were sharp and strong.

They were robust, formidable, and tough warriors. Facing them head-on would not be easy.

"Despite their toughness, their weakness is clear."

From the forward base,

Seated in a wheelchair that belonged to Evangeline (borrowed from Lilly), and wrapped in a thick blanket atop the freshly repaired walls, I said,

"Their underbelly isnt armored. If we can somehow target that area, they can be taken down easily."

"So, there are two methods. Either flip them over and strike..."

Evangeline smirked, and I mirrored her grin.

"...or simply attack from below."

Put another way,

Laying mines would easily take care of them.

Which is why, at this moment, the southern plains of the forward base were laden with mines.

Not only that, but we also selected artifacts that activated on contact with the ground.

There are more weaknesses, of course.

The Scorpion Legion has low magic resistance. While they have high poison resistance, theyre highly susceptible to other status effects.

If we are equipped accordingly, they can easily be taken down.

But the mines alone are sufficient. Were in for some fun fireworks.

"Theyre coming!"

A scout atop the forward bases tower, overseeing the south, shouted. Then Lucas, standing at the edge of the wall, raised his hand and shouted,

"All units, prepare for battle!"

Click! Click! Click!

Heroes and soldiers swiftly armed themselves and took aim.

The command for this defense battle was handed over to Lucas from the start. I planned to just observe from the back. After all, Im a patient...

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

It didnt take long for the dust kicked up by monsters to appear from the southern horizon.

A horde of scorpions with shimmering dark exoskeletons scuttled forward, their many legs chaotically propelling them.

It was both a creepy and intimidating sight, given their sheer numbers.

It seems my guys prepared hard even without me.

The feeling was akin to watching a younger sibling, who claims they can run errands without their older sibling, clutching their money and heading to the store.

With such feelings, I intended to comfortably watch how well our troops would defend without me.

"Huh?"

Something strange caught my eye.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

From the side of the Scorpion Legion charging in from the south,

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop-!

...five knights suddenly appeared, all mounted on horses.

Leading them was a young girl with long black hair, her silver crown gleaming.

"Muahahahaha-!"

With a laugh that seemed mismatched to her slender voice, the Dragon Lady who had suddenly sprung into action shouted,

"Crossroad, I have returned-!"

Then, without hesitation, she charged directly into the flank of the Scorpion Legion.