Chapter 11: Meeting

Evening, the heat of the departure ceremony still lingering.

The Hero’s party members and the main commanders of the subjugation army gathered in one place.

It was the first strategy meeting for the arduous journey ahead.

The meeting began under the auspices of Anastasia, the Commander-in-Chief of the subjugation army and the Crown Princess of the Empire.

Outwardly, she tried to maintain a calm and dignified appearance, but inwardly, complex emotions were raging.

‘Logan……’

Reunited after five years.

She wanted to sit down with him alone, ask about how he’d been, and chat comfortably like before.

‘How on earth could she do this…!?’

That woman, Irene, had received so much of Logan’s love and devotion for so long.

How could she possibly look at another man?

Anastasia simply couldn’t understand it.

And why was Logan enduring and getting hurt by her side?

‘Logan..!’

It wasn’t too late; she wanted to tell him to stop and lean on her now.

But she couldn’t do that right now.

Numerous eyes were watching her.

As the Crown Princess, as the Commander-in-Chief of the subjugation army, she had to strictly separate public and private matters.

She struggled to suppress her personal feelings and tried to present the agenda for the meeting.

“Well, then… as for what we should do moving forward…”

But just then.

“Hahaha! Irene, your name is as beautiful as your face, huh? We’re party members now, so let’s talk comfortably!”

“Ah… ah… Yes, yes… Lian-nim…”

“Hey, calling me Lian-nim is too stiff! We’re comrades who will share life and death now! Irene, you just call me Lian comfortably too!”

“Ugh… Mm… Lian…”

In the solemn atmosphere signaling the start of the meeting, Hero Lian and Irene were chatting and giggling as if they were in their own world.

Lian’s hearty laughter and Irene’s shy voice echoed awkwardly in the meeting room.

At this, Anastasia’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

She wasn’t the only one.

Elara Silvanus, the Knight Commander representing the Elven Kingdom of Silvania, clicked her tongue, openly displaying her displeasure.

“Tsk. Short-lived races indeed lack discretion. Where do they think this is, seeking a mate at any given moment.”

“Ahem. This time, even I must agree with the pointy-ear.”

Baldur Ironfist, the representative of the Dwarven Kingdom of Ironhammer and its Great Elder, also chimed in with his gruff voice.

Elves and Dwarves were longtime rivals, but at this moment, they seemed to share the same thought.

“Are we not in a solemn meeting right now? Can you not grasp the situation, Hero?”

At the remarks from the two demi-human representatives, Irene’s face flushed, and she lowered her head.

However, Lian, on the contrary, became indignant.

“Aren’t you speaking too harshly? We’re comrades gathered to defeat the Demon Lord together, yet you’re being too impolite on our first meeting!”

“Well, well… Look at this fellow. Does he truly not know who is being impolite, young man?”

Baldur stroked his beard, looking dumbfounded.

Elara also added coolly.

“I share the same thought as the dwarf. When we’re short on time even to discuss future strategies, aren’t you, who are giggling and disrupting the meeting, the ones who lack manners?”

“What do you mean by that! We were just trying to build camaraderie as comrades!”

Bang!

Lian, agitated, slammed his hand on the table and shouted.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Anastasia raised her hand to stop him.

“Enough.”

Lian, perhaps mistaking that Anastasia was taking his side, quickly relaxed his expression and said triumphantly.

“Indeed, Your Highness the Crown Princess understands! Now, please say a word! Although the strategy meeting is important, camaraderie with colleagues is also…”

“I said, that’s enough, Hero.”

At Anastasia’s cold and firm voice, Lian’s face hardened with bewilderment.

“Pfft.”

“Puhah!”

Seeing his expression, Elara and Baldur burst out laughing without even trying to hide it.

“How rude…!”

Just as Lian, his pride wounded, was about to retort further, Saintess Sera gently intervened.

“Hero, Her Highness the Crown Princess is right. Please, take a seat first.”

“But Sera! These people are being too rude…”

“Huhu… Yes, I know how you feel, Hero. So, please calm down for now…”

Sera gently pulled Lian’s arm towards her ample bosom and whispered.

“Ahaha!! Alright, I understand, Sera.”

Lian, as if he had never been angry, grinned foolishly and obediently sat down.

“Tsk..”

At that sight, Baldur and Elara clicked their tongues, and Irene’s complexion visibly darkened.

‘How dare she, my Lian…!’

Sera didn’t miss Irene’s change in expression and sneered inwardly.

‘Oh my, I’m sorry, but this one was mine from the very beginning, dear.’

Irene hadn’t read Sera’s thoughts, but she had some inkling of her intentions, so she bit her lip in frustration and glared at Sera.

The invisible war of nerves between the two women made the air in the meeting room even colder.

“…..”

Logan watched this whole situation quietly, maintaining an expressionless face.

No one knew that his insides were burning.

‘Logan…’

No, only one person.

Only Anastasia, vaguely sensing the pain behind his hardened expression, was sending him a look of pity.

“…Then, let’s proceed with the meeting.”

Although there were no more overt arguments in the subsequent meeting, the first meeting of the Hero’s party and the subjugation army was creaky from the start, foretelling an uneasy future.

---

After the meeting somehow concluded, Irene, as if she had been waiting, approached Lian and spoke with a bright smile.

“Lian! If you have time, would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Oh! That’s a great idea, Irene!”

Lian laughed heartily and readily accepted.

At his cheerful reply, Irene’s face lit up.

She had been momentarily anxious because of Sera’s friendly attitude towards Lian during the meeting, but Logan’s words were indeed correct.

Lian clearly had feelings for her too.

The smile he showed when their eyes first met on the platform and the kind words he had said, praising her appearance and name, came to mind.

Irene’s heart pounded with excitement.

But then, another interloper appeared.

“Oh my, are you two going for a meal? If it’s alright, may I join you, Irene?”

Sera asked with her characteristic gentle smile.

“Yes..? Uh… well…”

Irene’s expression stiffened for a moment; she couldn’t bring herself to say she wanted to have dinner alone with Lian and hesitated.

She was afraid of looking selfish and mean.

But then Lian immediately.

“Great! Let’s have Sera join us too! The more, the merrier! Right, Irene?”

He allowed Sera to accompany them without even asking for her opinion.

Irene was annoyed inwardly, but she forced a smile outwardly and reluctantly nodded.

“Ugh, yes…”

“Great! Let’s go!”

Thus, with Lian at the center, Irene and Sera set off together.

Logan could only stand there alone, watching their retreating backs with a bitter expression.

“…..”

For the past eight years, he had spared no effort for Irene, but never before had his heart ached and pained him as much as it did at this moment.

‘I… what on earth… No… Stay calm… I have to stay calm……’

Just managing his expression, trying to act nonchalant while suppressing the surging emotions, felt as if it drained all his energy.

Then, someone quietly approached his side.

“…Logan.”

Then, Anastasia called him in a voice that was familiar yet somehow tinged with affection.

“Ah… Your Highness the Crown Princess. It’s been a long time.”

Logan immediately bowed deeply, showing utmost respect.

At his stiff attitude, Anastasia’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

It seemed he thankfully hadn’t forgotten her, but he was clearly trying to keep his distance.

‘Surely… it wasn’t like this five years ago…’

Anastasia hid her disappointment and spoke gently.

“Logan… As you said, it’s truly been a long time since we met. There’s no need for such grand formalities, is there?”

Anastasia said, her voice laced with disappointment.

Could it be that he was still upset about her leaving without a proper goodbye five years ago?

However, that didn’t seem to be the reason.

“…I am merely showing the proper respect due to Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

In this aspect, should one call him truly old-fashioned, or inflexible?

Anastasia wanted to playfully ask him to call her ‘Anya’ comfortably like before, but now was not the time.

Their positions had changed, and more importantly, she didn’t want to put any unnecessary burden on him.

“Alright… If Logan is comfortable with that, then that’s fine… However…”

“….?”

But she didn’t want to leave him alone like this.

She wanted to comfort him, even a little, as he was hurt because of that damn woman.

Therefore, Anastasia gathered her courage and proposed.

“Perhaps… if you’re alright with it, would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Yes…?”

At the unexpected proposal, Logan looked at her for a moment, seemingly flustered.

Seeing his eyes waver slightly, Anastasia cautiously added.

“…Of course, it would be best for you to be with your Hero party members… but as you can see, the three of them have already left.”

“Ah…”

At Anastasia’s words, Logan stared blankly in the direction Irene’s group had disappeared.

Logan’s expression was momentarily tinged with desolation.

Irene had left without even asking him about dinner.

A wave of disappointment and misery washed over him.

“Logan…”

Just as Anastasia, her heart aching at his appearance, was about to offer some words of comfort.

“Ah! Logan!!!”

Irene, who had gone ahead, suddenly stopped and turned around, calling out to Logan.

“!!!”

At that single call, Logan’s hardened expression melted away in an instant, as if by magic.

Anastasia felt a twisting sensation in her stomach at the sight.

‘What? Why is Logan with the Crown Princess?’

And Irene, upon discovering Logan with Anastasia, stiffened her face and quickly approached, snatching Logan’s arm.

“Logan! What are you doing here instead of following?”

“Huh..?”

As if the Crown Princess’s presence right in front of her meant nothing, Irene openly showed her displeasure and tried to drag Logan away.

“Wa-wait a moment, Irene..!”

Logan hesitated, thinking it was impolite to leave like this without properly bidding farewell to Anastasia.

Irene raised her voice even louder.

“Don’t tell me, Logan… were you scheming to do something with the Crown Princess behind my back!? Do you want to make a good impression on a high-status woman and get ahead in life!?”

“…What?”

Logan was speechless at Irene’s absurd words.

“What on earth are you talking about..!”

Anastasia’s face also turned cold at the insulting remarks.

How dare she behave so rudely in front of the Crown Princess.

Thus, she was about to reprimand her severely.

‘I’m sorry. Please, just bear with it this once… Please forgive her… I beg you.’

At Logan’s desperate gaze, she could only barely suppress her anger.

“….”

Meanwhile, Irene, seeing Logan’s gaze turn towards Anastasia, perhaps thought he was ignoring her, and grew even angrier, pulling his arm harder.

“Hurry up! Lian and Sera are waiting!”

Thus, Logan was almost dragged away by Irene.

‘Logan… What on earth is so special about that woman…!’

Watching the retreating backs of the two, Anastasia’s heart swirled with a mixture of pity, sadness, and deep anger towards Irene.

Just then, Renate, who had finished tidying up the meeting room, noticed Anastasia’s state and quietly approached her.

“…Let us return now, Your Highness.”

“…Yes.”

Answering in a weak voice, Anastasia finally turned and headed towards her quarters.

Renate followed behind her, briefly glancing with a troubled expression in the direction Logan and Irene had disappeared.

‘……’

Renate, too, was not at ease.

Why was that upright boy, who had shown such great kindness to her master and herself, choosing to walk such a foolish and painful path?

And her own master as well.

How much more heartache would she suffer in the future because of that boy…

It was simply pitiful.

---

Despite showing unsettling signs of discord from the very beginning in many ways, the Hero’s party and the subjugation army nevertheless began their march towards the Demon Lord’s forces.

The individual abilities of the Hero’s party members were undoubtedly outstanding, and Anastasia’s command of the subjugation army was also excellent.

The elite subjugation army, formed as a coalition, faithfully carried out their roles in their respective positions and defeated the Demon Lord’s forces.

On the surface, the Demon Lord’s subjugation seemed to be progressing relatively smoothly.

Yes, only ‘on the surface’.

The reality was completely different.

It was far from being described as smooth or easy.

Major and minor problems arose, and at the center of them was always Hero Lian.

His excessive idealism and stubbornness, lacking a sense of reality, repeatedly tripped them up.

“A surprise attack? No! As a Hero blessed by the Goddess, I can never use such a cowardly tactic!”

“Why do we need strategy? I am the Hero! We just need to confront the Demon Lord’s army head-on, fair and square, and defeat them!”

Anastasia, Logan, and even the Elven and Dwarven representatives argued for the necessity of efficient strategies and tactics, but Lian was adamant.

If the Hero were to withdraw, not only the morale of the subjugation army but also its military strength would suffer enormous losses.

Everyone was frustrated by his not-so-subtle threats, but they couldn’t rashly oppose him.

“The Hero is right. We must follow the will of the master of the holy sword, who received the Goddess’s revelation.”

To make matters worse, Sera sided with Lian, and even Irene, wanting to win Lian’s heart, blindly agreed with him.

“I-I also agree with Lian and Sera!”

Furthermore, Irene even approached Logan and pressured him to devise a new plan according to Lian’s wishes.

“Logan, Lian is right. We’re a righteous Hero party. We need to fight in a more fair and square way. Can’t you think a little more about a different strategy?”

“Irene! Are you in your right mind!? You can’t possibly not know that Logan’s plan is the best!?”

Anastasia shouted in anger, but Logan quietly raised his hand to stop her.

“…It’s alright, Your Highness. I will review the plan once more.”

In the end, Logan had no choice but to create a new, inefficient plan focused on frontal assaults to accommodate Lian’s stubbornness.

Logan tried his best, but the new plan inevitably led to unnecessary casualties, and many soldiers lost their lives or were injured.

Nevertheless, Lian merely insisted that his judgment was correct.

“It was an unavoidable, noble sacrifice for the greater good.”

Judging that things couldn’t go on like this, Logan sought out Sera, the only one who could exert influence over Lian, and asked for her persuasion.

However, Sera refused and instead presented Logan with incomprehensible conditions.

“……If you become my partner, I’ll think about it.”

Naturally, Logan refused the offer.

However, Irene, upon learning this fact, came to Logan and questioned him.

“Logan! How could you meet Sera so carelessly without telling me! What on earth are you scheming?!”

“Irene, it’s not like that…”

Logan tried to explain what he had discussed with Sera, but Irene refused to listen at all.

“Enough! Don’t make excuses! Lian and I are trying our best to subjugate the Demon Lord right now! Is this the time for you to be meeting women? I’m really disappointed!”

Irene unilaterally got angry at Logan.

She even stormed off, her eyes welling up with tears.

Logan couldn’t bring himself to stop her and stood there frozen, dumbfounded.

Anastasia, who had been watching everything from behind him, approached and said quietly.

“Logan… are you alright? …Don’t be hurt by such words. They’re not even worth listening to.”

But Logan just shook his head weakly.

“…No, Your Highness. It is my own inadequacy. And… please, do not treat Irene harshly. She… has done nothing wrong.”

Anastasia felt her heart break at the sight of Logan shielding Irene even at the moment she blamed and left him.

She tried to offer more words of comfort, but Logan merely apologized and excused himself.

Afterward, the journey to subjugate the Demon Lord continued, but the rift within the Hero’s party only deepened.

As time went on, Logan became an openly ostracized target within the party.

Lian blatantly ignored his suggestions, and Sera acted as if he didn’t exist, subtly excluding him from conversations.

The most unbearable thing was Irene’s cold change.

She no longer tried to meet Logan’s eyes, and even in minor disagreements, she sided with Lian and sharply criticized Logan.

Logan wanted to talk to her again, somehow.

Like before, even for a very short while, he wanted to face each other and clear up the misunderstandings.

However, Irene thoroughly ignored him.

He desperately wanted to talk to Irene, but even if he loitered in front of her tent late into the night, all that greeted him was the cold silence of an empty tent.

Thus, time continued to flow, and finally.

The end of a long journey.

The very day Demon Lord Belzegor was defeated had arrived.