Coupin, a small city nearby Kerbal, became busy.
Kerbal had fallen due to the giant monster invasion. Luckily, the monster was defeated by the Warp Gate magic rune that was installed by the Magical Council prior to the incident.
Everyone praised the council for coming to their aid.
The investigation report showed that the monster was a Six-Horned Harijan, which meant that its dead body would be put to good use in various places.
It was sad that a city had been destroyed, but it was also fortunate that the damage did not expand to a larger part of the nation.
There were a few who knew the truth as there were very little survivors. Those survivors were either mad or were considered to be mad because of the trauma.
The six people who knew the truth and were not mad were also at Coupin.
“So… I think I’ll go home for now.”
Sian told Stiel about his plans. He made the decision yesterday.
He did not plan to quit traveling, but he thought it was a good time to go back and give the present he bought while he passed Tian for his next destination. Stiel agreed.
“So, you’re not going after them?”
“Who?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t remember. You swore that you’d kill those people that opened the gate, remember?”
Stiel cackled as she imitated how Sian roared as he got out of the gate. Sian blushed.
“Uh… yeah. Well, I was angry back then. I’m not going after them.”
It was the Exalted Magical Council who was behind the red sphere, but Sian heard that it was opened due to some unforeseen miscalculations. Even if they did intend to open it, he’d already killed the monster and the monsters inside, so he had no reason to blame the council.
Besides, he was swept in by pure misfortune, so it did not make sense to go after them.
“You’re too logical sometimes. You should follow your heart, you know. But it’s up to you.”
Stiel smiled as if she expected such an answer.
“Yeah. So are you going back to Taran?” Sian asked.
“What do you mean? I’m not going back home.”
“I see. Then where are you going?” Sian asked again, curious.
“Tian.”
“…”
“Roa-Tian.”
“…”
“Oh, since we have the same destination, we can go together.”
Sian became worried, but realized Stiel had been a nice company. She hadn’t caused any trouble so far, and so he decided to agree.
“Oh well. I don’t see any reason not to.”
“Yeah, yeah. Show me around when we get there.”
Sian then turned to the man and the three women standing next to them.
“And you guys…”
“Uh… yes. What do you need?”
“Thank you for taking care of me. I’m sorry about the necklace… but I think I did best I could to repay it.”
Sian knew they helped him when he was unconscious, so he showed his thanks.
“No, we’re grateful that you saved us. We’ll go on our ways then.”
The four of them wanted to leave as soon as possible. They probably would’ve left already if it wasn’t for Stiel who made them stay.
It wasn’t because they were afraid. A city-shattering monster and a superhuman who easily subdued such a monster. They were ashamed of their weak selves in comparison to Sian and wanted to return to reality.
“Huh? Are you not taking them with you?”
After spending time with four of them, Stiel realized it was good to have slaves. Sian noticed the four of them flinching when Stiel said that and sighed.
“We should go our separate ways. I hope you all have a good time on your journey.”
Sian bid farewell to those four and went to the Ra-Shar-Roa with Stiel.
“Aren’t you too nice? It’s hard to find ones like them, you know.”
“It’s okay. Isn’t it good to travel around with just us two sometimes?”
“Oh… yeah. Of course, haha.”
Sian had no other intentions with his words, but Stiel became happy and grinned.
After Sian rented a room for Stiel to stay, he returned home.
“Mother, I’m home.”
“Sian, welcome back. Haven’t you returned a bit early?”
Sian’s mother became surprised when she saw Sian returning so early.
“Oh, I just had some business here. Are Father and Brother here?”Sian asked.
“Oh, they are not in the capital right now.”
“Huh? Where are they?”
“Lots of things changed since you were gone. Let’s get something to eat first, shall we?”
“Yes, Mother. Oh and this…”
“Is it meat?”
“It’s really delicious. Try it.”
‘Thank you, Miss Stiel.’
Sian thanked Stiel for making Sian bring the meat and went in for a meal.
“Rian… is a babysitter?”
“No, not a babysitter. He’s an instructor at <Gron-Pilah>.”
‘That’s the same thing.’
Sian asked, “So he’s at Lagran?”
“Yeah. By the way…”
Sian thought to himself while his mother began talking about everything that happened while he was gone.
‘What is this… he’s an instructor at the academy? So I need to go to Lagran to give him this?’
“Are we getting enough applicants?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The <Gron-Pilah> plan is going well.”
King Narasha set up an academy to train warriors at Lagran as soon as he finished settling down on the new territory. The name of the academy was <Gron-Pilah>, which meant <Rising Pillar> in ancient words.
There had been no academy for warriors until now since Bander-Roa was usually a family secret that had to be kept within. It was also hard when no warriors were willing to share their secrets and techniques to stay stronger than the others.
The King decided to break that culture. It was now time to stand together and strive to become stronger. After discussing with the other two Grand Banders, they decided to start first.
They also agreed to accept applicants from other countries.
People did not believe that the academy would succeed. People who knew the King grew suspicious of the fact that King might’ve had another motive.
“Lagran is too good to leave alone. We should plant seeds and cultivate it.”
The land had abundant flow of Bander. It was a place where the best warriors were born without any training. His first goal after obtaining Lagran was to setup an academy. It was where the next generation of Tian would grow into fruition.
“The nobles are sending applicants also.”
“Yes. The time to rely on nobles to train their own warriors is over. They are too selfish if we let them do that.”
Narasha had learned a critical thing after Dragona. Nobles training their own warriors was good since they competed each other for better results, but that resulted in impossible cooperation between them. They also worked for their own families rather than working for the Kingdom, and that was also bad sometimes.
“We have completed recruiting the instructors as well.”
Narasha had been planning the academy for a long time, so everything was ready when he finished stabilizing the territory.
“Good… any news?”
“We have a petition that accepting foreign students will be too dangerous.”
“Ignore it. It’s the most important part. Fools…”
“Yes. And they are saying that it’s bad that we are sharing the Roman or the Kiraine family’s visions.”
“Ignore that too. They know that’s better for the plan.”
Narasha sighed.
“Yes, Your Majesty. And Sian has returned to the capital.”
“Hm… any problems?”
“No, Your Majesty. Reports say that he returned with a beautiful woman.”
“Haha… did he find a bride?”
Narasha became relieved yet he was also worried. He was relieved that Sian had one more thing to make him cling to human society, but he was worried if that would make Sian become too involved in Tian.
“I don’t think that’s the case, Your Majesty. He didn’t take her with him into the house.”
“I see. Investigate the woman.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Oh… and where has he been?”
“Our reports say… that he traveled to Margaran and Kerbal.”
“Margaran and Kerbal…? The Margaran and Kerbal that I was reported about?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Two cities that were destroyed in one night?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“…”
Narasha was troubled as another officer walked in.
“New report, Your Majesty!”
“What is it?”
“Sian von Roman has used the Ra-Shar-Roa and is headed to Lagran Region, Your Majesty.”
“…is Rian at <Gron-Pilah>?”
“Yes. He is there in substitute of Count Roman.”
Count Roman wasn’t someone who just staying as an instructor at an academy, so Rian was there to teach the <Lion’s Way>.
“He’s there to see his brother.”
The King started to worry. His mind was filled with the ruins of Margaran and Kerbal.
‘There won’t be any problems…’
The King tried to calm himself, but he couldn’t concentrate anymore.
