Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Is This Heaven?
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"Captains, gather up the Sky Knights."
"Yes, sir!"
*It's already evening.*
The pursuit hadn't been easy.
There were just so many enemies, and the Temir tribe Sky Knights had descended to the ground midway for rest after their hasty flight.
On top of that, to keep the chase from slipping away, we'd wasted time fending off waves of imperial Sky Knights charging in groups of a dozen or so, ready to die.
And then dusk had fallen.
The survivors were fleeing over the Cobiran Mountains by now.
It was the moment when further pursuit became pointless.
*Ugh, I nearly pissed myself.*
The grueling battle that had started around lunchtime.
Dying was one thing, but bursting from a full bladder was more terrifying.
*What a shame. Two hundred got away.*
Out of five hundred, we'd only managed(?) to take down three hundred.
If we'd pushed a little harder, it would've been perfect. Now that the fight was over, I felt a twinge of regret.
*Lalala~? Time to collect the spoils.*
The territory had taken heavy damage, but the haul we could gather was beyond imagination.
Wyverns, Air Plates, and Blast Spears to pick up on the way back.
Plus the massive stockpile of imperial army supplies piled up in the territory.
Just selling the supplies would cover the territory's budget for the next ten years, no doubt.
"Everyone, capture any fallen wyverns alive or recover the corpses. You all did well... my knights."
I passed on words of thanks through the communication devices.
"You did well too, my lord."
"I'll never forget this battle for the rest of my life."
The squadron leaders' voices, finally relaxing at the praise, came out hoarse and choked.
Maintaining that razor-sharp tension for hours was impossible without exceptional mental fortitude.
*Uwaaaaaah...*
This was the moment I wanted to rip off my helmet and scream at the top of my lungs.
Instead, I let out a silent roar from my chest.
Even I thought it was a dreamlike victory.
*Llady Neran, thank you. I'll repay this favor with interest.*
Without the blessing of the goddess of mercy, Neran, victory would've been a pipe dream.
"Bebeto, let's go home!"
*Krrooooar!*
Bebeto, boasting steel-like stamina.
He should've been exhausted, but he proudly spread his wings and caught the wind.
Toward our home, the Foreign Sky Knight Squadron of Denfos.
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"Waaaaah!"
"Long live Neruman!"
"Long live the lord!!!!!!!"
We arrived in Denfos around dawn, the moon high in the sky, after collecting the empire's "gifts."
The soldiers and knights who hadn't slept, waiting for us Sky Knights.
As soon as Bebeto let out his mighty roar and we appeared, they cheered from the walls, celebrating the victory.
*Everyone did well.*
How could this be my victory alone?
It was a hard-fought human triumph forged by my knights, my soldiers, my people.
Outside Denfos's walls sat the captured imperial soldiers, under guard and slumped in defeat.
We had won, but seeing the losers' bitter faces...
Along with the thrill of victory came a pang of pity.
They were surely someone's sons, fathers, brothers, husbands.
It was impossible not to feel compassion for those dragged into this by the whims of their superiors.
But a price had to be paid.
For the groans of my land and the suffering of my people, they would pay in full.
That was karma, as decreed by the heavens—what else could it be?
*Flap, flap, flutter.*
Bebeto spread his wings and slowly landed in the Sky Knight Squadron grounds.
Major knights on wyverns followed behind me.
The open space in the squadron grounds wasn't enough to handle captured or dead wyverns, so the rest of the Sky Knights moved to the temporary grounds outside the city.
"My lord!"
"Kayer..."
"Big bro!"
*Clatter clatter.*
As Bebeto stopped flapping and fully landed, people came running, calling my name.
*Everyone's safe?*
I hadn't gotten a full report, but plenty of Sky Knights and soldiers must have died or been wounded.
But as a mere human, seeing those close to me safe brought relief amid the pain.
"A great victory, my lord!"
Derbal rushed up first, announcing it with tears glistening in his eyes—he was truly overjoyed.
"Kayer, thank goodness you're safe."
Isis, Neruman's guest, smiled brightly, as delighted as if it were her own win.
"Bro, you know I super respect you, right? I'm gonna be an awesome Sky Knight like you!"
Little Prince Razsion, harboring an excellent idea I'd wholeheartedly endorse.
"You did well..."
Armis greeted me with warm eyes, like a wife welcoming her husband home from work.
"You all did well."
On a day like this, long speeches would kill the vibe.
I took in my loved ones one by one, pouring my heart into it.
*Gasp!*
Then, amid the crowd around me, one person suddenly caught my eye.
No, one woman.
"Hohoho, as expected of the great guardian warrior protecting the Temir tribe."
*R-Rokoroya...*
That's right.
Rokoroya, the barely developed mid-teen girl.
She stood out among the women, boldly winking at me.
And naturally, all eyes turned to me.
Who was this cheeky little brat talking down to their lord, their governor, their respected leader, with that arrogant smirk—like she'd eaten shit for brains?
*Sniff...*
I was flustered for a moment.
"Haha, I'll never forget today's help, Great Shaman of the Temir tribe, Lady Rokoroya."
I laughed heartily and revealed her identity.
From their expressions, she hadn't told them about our relationship yet.
*Beam.*
Rokoroya grinned widely at my words.
"Sir Derbal, any escaped enemy soldiers?"
I quickly changed the subject.
"The twenty thousand cavalry and infantry who tried to flee surrendered after finding the collapsed bridge. And those who resisted fiercely... we killed them all."
I'd even sacrificed memories with Armis for a victory like this.
These were rightful spoils.
"Hahaha, excellent work."
I could hardly believe the victory myself.
If the two hundred thousand troops had fought to the death, I wouldn't be laughing here now.
But their leaders had abandoned them—the prince and Sky Knights had fled—and my new weapons and magic mines had mauled them.
With the bridge gone, they must've given up in despair.
And we'd won.
*Thumbs up!*
The kindergarten fad "daebong" popped into my head.
"Though it's late, if we don't raise a toast to victory tonight, the goddess of victory might revoke Neruman's kiss of blessing! Sir Derbal!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Open the beer warehouse to everyone except the guards—all citizens and guests!"
"Yes, sir!"
The moon was dipping toward dawn, but sleep was the last thing on my mind.
That was probably everyone's feeling in Neruman.
We'd throw a dawn festival.
*Uahaha! Come at me again, you bastards. I'll clean you out proper!*
I was thrilled.
Tomorrow morning, I'd truly grasp the value of the empire's gifts, but just the wyverns we'd captured were more than enough to make it worth it.
And as a bonus, the name of Neruman's lord, Kayer, would echo across the continent.
Not quite on my master Idal the Great Mage's level, but I'd be one whose name alone opened doors.
The guy who one-shotted the Raviter Empire...
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"Th-the emperor is furious?"
"Your Highness, this is grave. Fresh intel says the Bazran Emperor has ordered war preparations against our kingdom."
"Huh..."
A quiet, hollow sigh escaped from King Bekadrian of Kranz Kingdom—early fifties, moderate build, gentle features.
A decade-old grudge with Bazran's Poltviran.
The bastard had done unspeakable things to his twin princesses, whom he loved like the apple of his eye, but fear of the empire kept it hushed.
Even at the recent coronation, he'd opened the royal treasury to show maximum goodwill, just in case.
Kranz Kingdom was a weakling compared to Bazran.
Blessed by the Perkon River flowing from the Ritor Mountains across the empire, it sustained itself.
But that was only by tiptoeing around the empire.
"Father! Rather than sit here and take it, declare war first! Poltviran—that mad dog who personally beheaded a marquis in the palace—he's insane. We can't bend our pride to him anymore. Even if we do, he won't spare our kingdom!"
Crown Prince Bjorns vented his rage in the council chamber full of key nobles.
He advocated preemptive war against the empire.
"Your Highness, declare war? We know the empire's Sky Knights outnumber our estimates by far. Ours total just 450. They have seven hundred thousand elite troops—over four times our strength. Declaring war is asking us all to die!"
"Sir Calderon! Then what do you suggest against this mad emperor? You think sending more treasure will make him leave us alone?"
"Sir Yaramis! That's too far. I love the kingdom as much as you. But there's reason behind the emperor's rage, isn't there? And casually calling him mad—if it reaches his ears, how do you answer for such folly?"
"Whose subject are you, anyway? Spewing blasphemy before the crown prince!"
The two earls traded barbs before the king.
Normally, they'd never dare before the king, but Bazran's emperor's war prep had them showing disloyalty.
His word alone shook the kingdom that much.
"Enough..."
King Bekadrian's quiet command.
A decision was needed.
Pacify the emperor, or stake it all on a desperate gamble?
"First, send Sir Calderon as envoy to meet the emperor. The crown will support him fully—see to it."
"Father..."
"Y-Your Highness..."
The king's pained expression.
The crown prince and loyal knights swallowed tears at the sight.
Silently vowing never to forget this grudge.
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*Gasp!*
I'd drunk beer with the knights late into the dawn, playing one-shot games.
Thanks to the dwarves, the Sky Knight Squadron had a massive beer warehouse.
We threw it all open, reveling in victory and chugging like mad.
Only at sunrise did I crawl into my bedroom.
Even with my iron constitution, nonstop tension plus booze overwhelmed my body.
But as I woke, I felt a strange sensation beside me.
*Squish.*
Trying to check the object next to me, my hand felt that squishy texture.
*Mommy!*
Hangover and sleepiness vanished instantly.
Even an idiot like me knew what that(?) under my hand meant at my age.
*Gulp... n-not just one.*
I had to open my eyes, but the squishy things on both sides froze me stiff.
I racked my brain.
I'd gotten smashed with the knights and clearly entered my room alone, yet two women slept beside me, breathing softly.
Their Air Plates were off, but their inner clothes suggested their purity(?) was intact.
*The guard knights in the captain's quarters didn't stop them?*
I was Neruman's most important figure.
Derbal had stationed knights and soldiers around the captain's building for that reason.
Yet these women had slipped past to reach my room.
No matter how I thought, I couldn't figure it out.
"Mmm..."
*Gasp!*
Suddenly, the woman on my right—smooth arms wrapping around my neck as she slept.
"Ahm..."
Then the left one placed her hand firmly on my stomach.
*Just kill me...*
A young man's blood boiling hot.
Two mystery women snuggled against my body.
Torture couldn't compare.
*Hm?*
I cracked my eyes open.
If I was done for(?), at least know who, so I could take responsibility later.
My eyes caught long hair of starkly different colors.
*Who?*
Contrasting gold and silver locks.
Like noble daughters, they gleamed like freshly steamed rice.
*Oh boy, two of 'em.*
First, the one boldly sprawled on my right.
And my head hurt seeing the most suspicious suspect there.
*This kid's gone all out.*
Rokoroya, Temir tribe guardian and biggest ally in this war's victory.
Her Air Plate was tossed somewhere unseen; she wore thin fabric clothes, brazenly playing wife.
*Swoosh.*
Rokoroya aside, the silver-haired one didn't ring a bell.
I slowly turned my head.
"Gah!"
A sharp cry burst from my mouth.
There lay a woman.
Air Plate neatly removed at her feet, white blouse on, sleeping.
*Ah, Irene...*
That's right.
Incredibly, on my left slept Countess Irene, smiling contentedly.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped me.
On my right, immature Rokoroya; starkly different, Irene's mature allure.
A perfect body that drew gasps just to look at, even if you didn't know her.
Curves in all the right places, squeezed just so—unlike her usual icy demeanor, she smiled like a kitten, claiming the spot beside me.
*Sleeping beauty herself.*
She was a bit older, but too precious to give to anyone else—Countess Irene.
Even that mad dog Poltviran would've drooled.
*But how? Why are these two in my room—my bed?*
Mature Irene and fresh-faced Rokoroya.
Head raised, I pondered why they'd raided my room.
*Rokoroya's always reckless, fine—but Irene?*
Suspicion deepened, but the two who could answer slept on.
*Screw it. Kicking away free rice cake makes you the fool.*
My first time sharing a bed with women.
Worlds apart from passing out after kissing Rokoroya.
Warm from insulation magic, the plush bed with beauties on both sides.
Qin Shi Huang had nothing on this.
*Heh heh heh...*
Might as well enjoy; I generously offered my arms as pillows.
*Back warm, world's beauties flanking me in sleep—is this heaven, I ask.*
I closed my eyes, chanting like an ancestor.
No choice now.
I wanted to swim in this heaven with them a bit longer.
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*Rustle rustle.*
Irene woke to the faint sounds.
As she lifted her head, Kayer's thick arm slipped in as a pillow, sending her heart racing beyond control.
*Swoosh.*
Kayer casually lifted her head for the arm pillow.
*I'm crazy... I must be crazy.*
Curse that guy's booze.
Her first massive battle ever.
As a knight before a woman, Irene had gotten drunk on Kayer's great victory.
In her excitement, she'd caroused with Neruman Sky Knights, downing beer.
*What now.*
The situation was absurd and embarrassing the more she thought.
As a knight, she occasionally drank, but never binged.
Drunk as she was, she knew where to sleep and staggered to her room.
But just as she reached her door, she spotted a woman, fairly tipsy, entering Kayer's room.
Rokoroya, the Temir tribe great shaman—she'd clashed with her as Bazran knights.
The woman lurched into Kayer's room.
Half-asleep, Irene watched.
A sudden heat surged in her chest; she followed Rokoroya into Kayer's room.
At first, just to quietly drag out that wench.
But once inside, Irene's mind flipped.
Rokoroya had already passed out, snuggled in Kayer's arms.
Kayer slept with a goofy grin, hugging the scrawny girl.
Drunk Irene didn't think much.
Just confidence that her body outdid that wench's in Kayer's eyes.
Swept by the thought, she shed her Air Plate like her nightly habit and burrowed into Kayer's arms.
She'd already admitted she liked him, making it possible.
Borrowing the booze's courage, Irene nestled like Rokoroya.
"Snore..."
Kayer, providing the arm pillow, had fallen asleep.
She cracked her eyes, gazing at his profile.
*Yeah, this might be my chance.*
Irene wasn't naive; she could guess.
The saintly priestess Armis of Neruman, her own princess Isis, and this sleeping Rokoroya—all liked Kayer like her.
*Rustle.*
Unconsciously, Irene buried her face deeper in his arms.
No more agonizing.
She couldn't have this once-in-a-lifetime hero to herself.
Better one woman at his side than a lifetime of unrequited love.
*Ah...*
The intense masculine scent she'd never known.
Thus, Irene became Kayer's woman.
A slave to his thick aroma, unforgettable even in death....