Ch.128128. It doesn’t matter, because I’ll never lose you again.

“There’s been a monster wave at Lake Territory.”

“What…?”

Crash-!

The teacup in the Etherian Princess’s hand fell weakly to the floor, shattering into glass fragments.

Butler Welsran, who was observing the situation, gulped nervously.

“…Five hours ago, monsters poured into Lake Territory. His Majesty the Emperor has heard the news and is currently in an emergency meeting with high officials.”

“Lake Territory… isn’t that where Selden Alphonse is exiled…?”

“Yes, we’ve received word that Lord Selden Alphonse is leading his knights and doing his best to stop the monster wave.”

“Hasn’t every family that’s faced a monster wave been completely destroyed!?”

“That’s true, but… Lord Selden Alphonse is exceptionally skilled, so perhaps you could trust him this once…”

The Etherian Princess rose to her feet.

If it was true that a monster wave had struck Lake Territory, it would be reduced to ruins in an instant.

“If the monster wave happened five hours ago, why am I only hearing about it now!?”

“…I sincerely apologize. I only learned about His Majesty’s emergency meeting moments ago, and I rushed here immediately to inform you.”

“Q-quickly, request help from the families near Lake Territory!”

In response to the Etherian Princess’s words, Welsran wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and continued.

“Your Highness, when a monster wave occurs, the surrounding territories must focus on their own defenses to prevent secondary damage.”

“B-but still…”

“I understand your desire to save Lord Selden Alphonse, but other people’s lives are precious too. Naturally, His Majesty the Emperor would never allow it either.”

Even Butler Welsran, who had always taken the Etherian Princess’s side, had to firmly draw the line.

The Imperial support would only go to territories in the north, south, east, and west directions from where the monster wave originated.

This was wisdom gained from long experience with monster wave damage.

“Huh…?”

Tears welled up in the Etherian Princess’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

Welsran was bewildered watching her, but she was equally confused.

“…Why am I crying?”

Selden Alphonse.

He was someone she had once tried to kill.

But now, at the premonition that he might die, her heart felt like it had dropped with a thud.

No, to be precise, it felt like her world was crumbling.

What had made her so angry?

As the Etherian Princess’s face trembled uncontrollably, Welsran asked with concerned eyes.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Welsran, do you know why tears are flowing from my eyes right now?”

The exact reason flashed through Welsran’s mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

After all, the princess who was to inherit the continent shouldn’t make the worst choice in history because of one man.

“Your Highness, you must maintain your dignity, especially at times like this.”

“Dignity!? Selden Alphonse might be dying right now!”

“I understand that you care for Selden Alphonse, but rushing support to Lake Territory recklessly will only lead to innocent sacrifices.”

Despite Welsran’s dissuasion, the Etherian Princess’s ears were as dark and quiet as pitch-black darkness.

“Welsran, gather all my knights. I’m going to Lake Territory.”

“Y-Your Highness, if His Majesty learns of this, he will be greatly angered.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t lose him again.”

“But His Majesty—”

The Etherian Princess clenched her molars.

“Then I’ll go see His Majesty the Emperor right now.”

No one could stop the Etherian Princess’s footsteps.

However, she was heading toward the one person in the Imperial Palace who could stop her.

Screech-! Thud-!

As the Imperial conference room door opened, the meeting seemed to have ended, with Emperor Malius alone at the long table, resting his chin on his hand with a disinterested expression.

The Etherian Princess spoke immediately.

“Father, you know about the monster wave at Lake Territory, don’t you?”

“…I know. That’s what we’ve been meeting about until now.”

“I will lead my knights to Lake Territory to provide support immediately.”

“First it was Sairin, and now it’s you.”

“W-what do you mean by that…?”

Emperor Malius waved his hand in the air as if annoyed.

“Go ahead.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m giving you permission to send support to Lake Territory.”

Though she didn’t understand why, the Etherian Princess wasn’t about to miss this opportunity.

She bowed her head quickly before the Emperor could change his mind.

“Y-you definitely gave permission!!”

Butler Welsran, who had followed her, reached out forlornly toward the Etherian Princess as she left the conference room, then corrected his posture and stepped forward to address Emperor Malius.

“Y-Your Majesty, may I ask why you permitted support to Lake Territory?”

“Sairin hasn’t had her coming-of-age ceremony yet so I couldn’t permit her, but Etherian is a grown adult, isn’t she?”

Welsran tilted his head at the Emperor’s incomprehensible words.

“Even so, Lake Territory is where the monster wave occurred, so it’s dangerous—”

“It’s over.”

“…Excuse me?”

Emperor Malius, looking exhausted from the long meeting, smiled dejectedly at Welsran.

“That monster of a man, Selden Alphonse, has completely stopped the monster wave at Lake Territory.”

*

“Current count shows 37 injured and 7 dead.”

I nodded at Padericks’s report while sitting in the study chair.

“I see. Good work.”

As I sighed with a gloomy expression, Padericks clenched his fists and spoke.

“Young master, this is the first time in history that a monster wave has been stopped so perfectly. Even though seven people died, didn’t you save everyone else?”

Had I ever felt such a heavy sense of responsibility in my life?

I had clearly anticipated that my involvement might make the monster wave stronger, yet in the end, I couldn’t save everyone.

‘I suppose I should be satisfied with this…’

I looked at Padericks while trying to hide my bitter expression.

“We survived.”

“You don’t need to feel guilty. Didn’t you do your best, young master?”

“Yes, the word ‘best’ always makes for the greatest excuse.”

“That’s not true. The knights, mercenaries, and people of the territory are proud of you.”

If Lucien hadn’t miraculously transformed into a dragon to help the southern defense line at the end, there would have been even more casualties.

Of course, none of the mercenaries knew the dragon was Lucien.

They probably thought the dragon attacked the monsters because of my “hypnosis” skill.

And then.

The dragon that attacked the monsters and vanished without a trace.

Most had suspicions, but stopping the monster wave was more important to them right now.

Well, the dragon story would resurface again as time passed.

“We really almost all died, didn’t we?”

“Yes. However, everyone survived because of the defense formation you built in preparation for a monster wave.”

“Haha, you used to complain about depleting our finances, but now you’re finally praising me?”

Padericks’s eyes reddened.

“Honestly, I had doubts about your excessive construction of defenses, but now everyone, including myself, is in awe of your foresight.”

“Well, that’s good then…”

“And I will ensure that the families of the deceased receive sufficient compensation and grand funerals.”

Can compensation money and grand funerals really comfort families who have lost loved ones?

I thought I would shed tears of joy if we just stopped the monster wave…

But experiencing it firsthand felt very different from what I had expected.

“Yes, they’re heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect Lake Territory, so they deserve that much compensation.”

Knock knock-!

Just then, Sir Will Wilson entered the study after knocking.

Perhaps because of the monster wave experience, he seemed to exude the dignity of a knight more than ever.

“Knight Will Wilson! The knights and mercenaries who have recovered are waiting for you, young master.”

“Waiting for me?”

“Shouldn’t you make the official declaration that the monster wave has ended?”

I hesitated slightly, but Padericks opened the study door with a smile.

“Young master, shall we go?”

I followed Padericks and Will Wilson outside the mansion.

Soon, light streamed in along with erupting cheers.

-Long live Young Master Selden Alphonse!!

-We’re the first to stop a monster wave in one go!!

-Young master!! You were amazing today! I thought you were a mage!!

-I told you, the young master had everything planned!?

To think that what I did just to extend my own life would grow to this extent…

As I stood there awkwardly, Padericks moved slightly closer to me and smiled brightly.

“Young master, stand tall with pride.”

The knights, mercenaries, and people of the territory stopped cheering and focused entirely on me.

After taking a short deep breath, I raised my hand to the air.

-Young Master Selden, I believed in you!!

-I’m going to serve as a mercenary under the Alphonse family for the rest of my life!!

-I survived thanks to you, young master!! Thank you!!

It was truly a fervent welcome.

I waved my hand and smiled gently.