The festival ended two days later. To be precise, some were still drunkenly celebrating all night, while others were quietly rebuilding the fallen walls. The people from the North had now begun the post-war reconstruction. The everyday life had not changed, but it was a little different from before. Despair was no longer the dominant color on their faces. It was merely the survivors taking a step forward to live the next day.
World events don’t end like novels. There’s no neat conclusion like, “The Demon King was slain, and they lived happily ever after.”
Can a life where someone claims to have been happy all the way through even be called a human life? I couldn’t help but feel skeptical. Rie waved her empty sleeve in farewell.
“Commander, did you enjoy the festival? We couldn’t find you anywhere. Don’t tell me you spent it with your lover?”
“…”
“…Wait. Could it be true?”
Rie asked, incredulously. Her playful expression gave way to genuine shock.
“You were with her the whole time? Had the time of your life? No way—Commander? That can’t be… But hold on, why aren’t you denying it?”
It felt awkward to insist that nothing had happened, yet saying there had been any real progress didn’t feel right either. I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere and asked Rie a question instead.
She narrowed her eyes at me coldly.
“Well, whatever. But Commander, don’t think you can just dodge the topic that easily.”
“What? It’s not like nothing happened, but…”
“So, who is it? The Commander? The Duke’s daughter? Wow, when you look at it like this, there are quite a few options. Could this have been your plan all along? Are you trying to take more than one spouse as revenge on your fiancée?”
“Not at all. It was a pure coincidence.”
“I really don’t believe that. Judging by your reaction, it can’t be both. So was it the Commander?”
I nodded slightly.
“I thought the Commander was an emotionless human weapon. You never once complained about the hardships of the past five years, and I’ve never seen you cry. But seeing your face turn red like this…”
Rie made a disgusted expression.
“Something is definitely up.”
“…Really?”
“Hey, that is half a joke. But if it goes well, that would be a good thing.”
Rie had a subtle expression. For a moment, a whirlwind of feelings that was hard for even me to discern surged within her, and then it washed away. Finally, she smiled brightly and continued.
“Both of you have struggled, so isn’t that a good thing?”
There was a period of quiet between Rie and me. After a longer silence, Rie broke the ice.
“Commander, are you going to retire? Now that the first demon beast has been subdued and the appearance of monsters and demon beasts has become scarce, are you thinking of retirement?”
I was contemplating whether it would be better to retire and move freely or to stir things up in the Central while maintaining my status. Now that the situation in the North had settled, it was time to move to a new stage. The end was about to begin in the South, East, and Central.
To hinder the Southern Kingdom Alliance and the Eastern cult, this status could be necessary, but on the contrary, if bound to one side by the Emperor, I might not be prepared for the next crisis. Either way, I would surely choose what was comfortable for me.
“I don’t know yet. There are still things to do.”
“What do you mean by things to do?”
“I plan to return to the Central.”
I remembered those who had died in the North. I knew the Empire they had tried to protect with their lives. I had to go to the Central to ensure their meaning was not lost. Rie looked at me in bewilderment.
“…Could it be that the fiancée talk was real?”
“No. I don’t even know who it is.”
Rie burst into laughter.
“Of course that was a joke. After all, you’ve never mentioned a fiancée or even family in the five years.”
***
Before returning to the Central, I began teaching the Wave Device to those remaining on the front lines. However, I did not just teach anyone. The conditions for learning the Wave Device were to vow to teach it to others and to refrain from using Energy as much as possible. When rumors spread that they could learn my technique that defeated the first demon beast, people started to gather. Knights and soldiers, and even some children were included.
“Really? Are you going to teach us, mister?”
“Of course it’s true, you fool! But, mister, you won’t teach that fool, right?”
“Wow! The mustached mister is so big!”
Of course, I decided not to teach the children. They could learn from others when they grew up. I began passing on the Wave Device with the surviving Special Forces members. It took quite a while for Rie and others to teach the Wave Device. Still, since there was some system in place, it was faster than before.
Moreover, when I taught, it was three times faster than when others did. Once I entered the 4th stage – the state of Wave-less, it became incredibly easy to inject the Wave. In a way, it wasn’t even necessary to inject the Wave. From the 4th stage onward, I could blend with the Wave myself, so I could pass it on just by placing my hands.
“Wow…! I can see it!”
“I thought it was hard to acquire…”
As I eagerly passed on the Wave, familiar faces began to appear from the front line.
“Ian. Can I learn too…?”
Freya Nordelheim came to me to learn the Wave. I heard that Freya had no talent for Energy, so she primarily learned military strategy. I welcomed Freya with a smile.
“Of course you can. Please sit here, my Lady.”
“Then excuse me.”
Following her was Irene Krause. Although I had rarely seen her since the festival, I hadn’t seen her lately. The moment Irene walked in, a strange atmosphere began to flow between us.
“Ian, can I learn too?”
“I was actually going to suggest that to you first. Please sit here.”
“I’m always indebted to you.”
“Actually, I would welcome it. What’s there to worry about?”
Irene promptly sat right in front of me. Though I hadn’t noticed until now, for some reason, it felt like her fragrance had intensified. Did she put on perfume? As I had the same thought, I shook off my distractions.
“Then I will begin. Is it okay if I place my hand on your back? Ah, it’s not with any strange intent.”
“Anytime, you’re welcome.”
Hmm, for me…? When I looked at Irene with a skeptical expression, she turned her head away with a flushed face.
“…”
“…”
Silently, I placed my hand on Irene’s back. Given her natural talent for physical activity, her learning speed was quite fast. Within less than a day, she was able to reach the 1st stage.
“Is this the Wave you were talking about? I can see red and blue.”
“If you swing your sword following that color, its power will amplify.”
“Oh… So this was the world you saw.”
***
As I diligently passed on the Wave, a letter was sent to me. An elegant envelope adorned with golden patterns. It was evident that this was no ordinary correspondence.
“What is this?”
“It is a letter sent by a noble person.”
Could it mean the Emperor? I opened the letter and began to read its contents.
“To the Honorable War Hero, Sir Ian”
“In the blood-stained Northern battlefield, your valor in raising the Empire’s flag high again shall never be forgotten by the Imperial family.”
“Your bravery and leadership that became a light in the darkness opened the path of hope and survival for all the Empire’s citizens, and this should be celebrated as a great victory for humanity, beyond military merit.”
“Thus, the Imperial family wishes to share the joy of this recent victory with the entire nation and would like to invite you as follows.”
“Here, the Imperial family wishes to add proper glory to your achievements and express gratitude for your past efforts, so please take care of your health and honor us with your presence.”
A letter from the Imperial family. To summarize briefly, it was about holding a victory banquet. Since a noble person sent it, it seemed that the Emperor was personally inviting me. I was about to ask something more, but the messenger vanished as if melting into shadows.
It was a spell brought over from the East. The Empire had been making several attempts to enhance its power, including techniques of Energy and Aura. The spell I had just seen was part of such attempts. For efficiency reasons, it was not yet practically deployed. Next, I sought out Irene.
“About the letter? Of course, I received one too. If you’re okay with it… would you like to go together?”
“Isn’t it the same that we both have to start at a similar time?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Before Irene finished speaking, I closed my eyes for a bit. After thinking carefully for a moment, I opened my mouth cautiously.
“I meant we should ride the same carriage.”
At that moment,
“Oh, Ian!”
Freya walked over, raising her hand.
“I was just about to make the same suggestion! The timing is impeccable.”
Irene’s expression wavered just a little. I flinched my shoulders.
