Ch.185Chapter 185: Return (1).

# Chapter 185: Return (1)

The next morning before dawn, Valt’s group gathered to return home in the bluish darkness before sunrise.

Though they had recovered some strength from the night’s rest, the fatigue of the fierce battle still lingered in their bodies.

“Tch, so we’re leaving right away after all. I’d feel better if I could smack those fleeing orcs on the back of their heads one more time.”

Luktan grumbled with a voice full of regret.

In his hands was Tunkaio, which appeared to have been meticulously polished overnight.

It was understandable why Luktan cherished it so much, given its significant role in the battle against the Death Knight.

“Brother, war is not hunting. Commander Zerdin’s judgment is correct. Now is the time to preserve our strength and prepare for what comes next.”

At Valt’s calm words, Luktan bristled momentarily but then closed his mouth after noticing an unusual gravity in his younger brother’s eyes. Somehow, it felt like looking at their father, Kwan.

“…Fine, fine. My little brother is right about everything, huh!”

He laughed heartily as if brushing it off, but inwardly, he was acknowledging that Valt was not merely a possessor of monstrous strength but sometimes had deeper thoughts and broader perspectives than himself.

‘What a monster… Isn’t he the right choice to be the next Kwan?’

Being the youngest.

Despite his position being politically distant from becoming Kwan, looking at all of Valt’s accomplishments, Luktan thought that Valt should rightfully be the next Kwan.

‘Well… he’ll figure it out himself.’

True to his free-spirited nature, Luktan stopped thinking about it.

He would be content just living happily with Grace in the Central Continent.

Surprisingly, King Zerdin himself had come to see them off.

Despite having mountains of work to handle overnight, he had come out early in the morning to wait for them.

“We’ll talk more later. I have mountains of work to deal with, and I barely managed to find time to see you off.”

Zerdin spoke with a faint smile despite his visible fatigue.

It was a surprisingly human side of him, quite different from his usual cold and intimidating demeanor.

Hearing this, Lisa whispered to Liris and Arias from behind.

“That was a joke, right? He just made a joke? Wow, I’m witnessing the Iron-Blooded Lord King Zerdin making jokes. Is this the Valt effect?”

The Iron-Blooded Lord Zerdin.

He clearly felt great affection for those gathered here, especially the Gerungtu brothers.

Zerdin approached Valt and spoke in a low voice.

“I heard you declined an escort. Given your abilities, that’s a reasonable decision. But take these letters.”

He handed Valt a thick roll of parchment.

“One is a pass that will allow you through all gates of the Eastern Alliance, and the other is my personal letter to Kwan. I’ve detailed your contributions in this war and my desire to build friendly relations between the East and Gerungtu in the future.”

“…I accept with gratitude.”

Valt respectfully received the letters and placed them in his spatial pouch.

It was an exceptional offer from Zerdin.

This was more than mere gratitude; it was a political gesture considering future relations.

Especially the unlimited pass for the Eastern Alliance was equivalent to accepting Valt into the Eastern Alliance.

It meant that Valt could now enter the East whenever he wished without needing anyone’s permission.

“And… the Eastern Alliance is also aware that the problem with those called the ‘Dark Assembly’ is not to be taken lightly. We plan to cooperate closely with the Empire to discuss this matter. If you need any information or support, contact us anytime. Although our priority now is stabilizing the East, this issue is not just the East’s problem.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Commander.”

Finally, Zerdin looked over Valt, Luktan, and their companions one by one.

Though complex emotions still lingered in his eyes, there was a different kind of weight to them than before.

“Let me say once more, thank you, Princes of Gerungtu.”

At this sincere gratitude, Valt thought that if Zerdin weren’t in the position of king, he might be a similar kind of person to himself.

“I wish you success as well, Commander.”

With that brief farewell, Valt’s group paid their respects to Zerdin and mounted their prepared horses.

They also had to part ways with Luktan and Grace here.

Unlike Valt, who had participated as a member of the Academy, Luktan and Grace had joined as part of the Eastern Alliance forces and still had post-war duties to attend to.

Luktan looked up at Valt on his horse and extended his fist.

“I wish you success, little brother who surpasses his elder.”

Valt bumped his fist against Luktan’s and said:

“I wish you success as well, Brother. And I trust you’ll spread the power I taught you back home.”

“Of course, whose orders would I ignore? Heh heh.”

At those words, people around them began to whisper.

‘Damn, they’re already so strong, and now they’re going to spread Aura?’

‘Does Gerungtu have a culture of steaming their conscience for dinner?’

Then Luktan seemed to remember something and said to Valt:

“Oh, right. But I’m not going to the South for a while. I’ll be living with my honey in our newlywed home…”

THWACK–!

Luktan’s words were cut short by Grace.

After swiftly kicking Luktan away, she stood there with a bright red face, fuming.

“Have you lost your mind, Luktan? Saying such things so carelessly?”

Grace, who valued propriety by Central Continent standards, still found it difficult to accept Luktan’s free-spirited nature.

Kicked by his master, Luktan cried out from where he lay face-down on the ground.

“Ugh… if speaking of love is a crime, then I’ll gladly accept that punishment!”

“Do you really need to see blood before you stop wagging that free tongue of yours?!”

Lisa giggled watching them.

“Those two actually suit each other pretty well.”

Valt shook his head and said to Zerdin:

“Well then… we’ll be going, Commander.”

“Yes, take care of yourself.”

Leaving regrets behind, Valt began crossing the Grasen Plains with his companions.

As they left the camp and started crossing the eastern plains, they could see the flags of the Eastern Alliance fluttering behind them, accompanied by the cheers of tens of thousands of soldiers.

“UOOOOOOOH!! Valt of Gerungtu, hero of the Eastern War!”

It was a place where victory and glory remained, along with countless deaths and sorrows.

But at this moment, everyone was united in shouting one hero’s name.

“Valt! Gerungtu!”

Lisa was the first to react to this sight.

“Wow… This adjutant is moved. Becoming Valt’s adjutant was truly the best decision of my life.”

Though Lisa spoke playfully, what had spread widely among the Eastern people overnight was the incredible heroic tale of a Southern prince with no prior connection to them sacrificing himself to save the East.

Seeing this, Valt made a dry comment:

“How embarrassing.”

As they rode their horses amid the cheers of the Eastern Alliance army, silence fell among the group for a while.

Though there was much left unsaid from the night before, each seemed to be contemplating the aftermath of battle and the journey ahead.

Lisa was the first to break the silence.

“Wow… did we really defeat a Death Knight? My whole body is covered in goosebumps—that’s normal, right?”

Unusually, Valt responded to her:

“Yes, you can be proud. We are heroes of the East.”

“R-right? Using my family’s seal was the right thing to do, wasn’t it?”

Looking back, Lisa seemed worried whether it had been appropriate to use the Valentain family seal so freely. Despite her fearless nature, she was still afraid of her family.

“You did well. The Count will surely be proud.”

“Hehe, hearing that from you gives me strength, Valt. Ah! I can’t wait to see Lati and our friends.”

Liris silently observed Valt’s energy while staying by his side.

As a soul contractor, she vaguely sensed that he was carrying far more burdens and worries than he showed on the surface.

‘I hope he’s not pushing himself too hard…’

A soul contractor can perceive quite a lot of what the other person wants to hide.

That’s why Liris was truly worried about Valt.

This steadfast man did not care for himself.

He only worried about those around him.

‘If only I were stronger…’

Although Liris had grown to Arch Mage level, that was only when she drank Valt’s blood.

Such temporary power-ups couldn’t make her a true Arch Mage.

That’s why Valt had positioned her in the rear.

While it was true that the mage units were providing support from the rear, not being able to guard his side and back was a great wound to Liris.

And what angered her more was the certainty that if she had fought the Death Knight, she would have been a hindrance to Valt.

‘I need… to become stronger… I can’t be a burden to my husband—oops… no, to Lord Valt.’

Like many soul contractors, Liris already thought of Valt as her partner.

Of course, this was only Liris’s own thinking, which is why she was bothered by Arias, who had expressed her feelings accurately.

Arias quietly rode her horse beside Valt, occasionally glancing at his profile.

His gentle touch from last night and the word “us” kept echoing in her ears.

A faint blush rose to her cheeks once again.

‘Is he really not going to answer? Did he not hear me? Or is he ignoring me?’

All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind, but Arias had decided to acknowledge her feelings.

‘I like Valt.’

After acknowledging it, she felt at peace. Whether things would work out with Valt was a matter for later.

For Arias, who was experiencing love for the first time, this was already significant progress.

‘Slowly, slowly seep in. Like water.’

A fitting interpretation for Arias, who possessed a water spirit.

Unaware of his companions’ feelings, Valt silently pressed forward.

His mind was too preoccupied to attend to such sentiments.

The tasks awaiting him upon returning to the Academy.

Gathering information about the Dark Assembly, reporting to the Emperor and the Chancellor, contacting his Northern friends, and… reflecting on his own power.

The irrationality of the “Do Not Harm” restriction.

Without “Do Not Harm,” there would be nothing to worry about.

But even Valt felt that it was clearly a dangerous power.

It was amazing that his muscles alone could subdue a Death Knight.

However, he needed a method to deal with enemies that weren’t undead.

Valt felt an even greater thirst for power.

Rumble–

As if understanding Valt’s feelings, “Gawel” also revealed its heavy presence at his waist.

The power of the ancient orc great warrior, and perhaps unknown powers that might have been influenced by the Death Knight.

How to utilize this artifact was another new challenge given to him.

Thus, each lost in their own thoughts, they left behind the wounded plains of the East and set forth toward their destination, Grovint Academy.