Chapter 313
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 10 Years Later (14)
The tiger flag of Bakal's royal family fluttered vigorously.
At the same time, the empire's golden lion flag roared in unison with a thunderous presence.
The carriage carrying the two nations' supreme leaders raced powerfully down the road.
The road had been paved so well that it now took just three days from Bakal to the empire.
Thanks to that, we reached the empire's doorstep in no time.
“We'll stop briefly to regroup!!”
At the diplomatic escort captain's shout, the carriage came to a halt.
Tina, our son Beck, and I stepped out, savoring the fresh breeze for the first time in a while.
“Beck, weren't you tired from riding in the carriage for three straight days?”
My question made blue eyes sparkle from within his black hair.
“No, all I could think about the whole time was the empire.”
Fortunately, my son was full of energy.
Ever since recently awakening as a Sword Expert, he'd thrown himself even more into swordsmanship.
He was clearly eager to reach the capital and show off his skills to Ian and Leo.
‘He still can't beat those two yet, though.’
Still, no need to dampen his spirits prematurely.
With that thought, I watched fondly as Beck swung his wooden sword near the carriage.
“Now that I think about it, this place feels strangely familiar.”
Tina approached quietly after overhearing my murmur.
The princess gazed at the blue grasslands alongside me and explained the reason.
“Don't you remember? This is that place.”
Christina lightly tapped my cheek with her finger.
“The spot where we were ambushed by the werewolves.”
“Ah.... Was it right around here?”
As I nodded along, Beck came over with his fox-pup-like bright eyes.
“What is it?”
“Hehe.... Your dad saved me right here.”
Mom rescued by Dad.
Beck perked up instantly at the heroic saga.
“Ah, is this the place Mom always told me about?!”
“Huh? Yeah, but did I tell it that often?”
I glanced at Tina.
She whipped her flushed face away.
“Yeah, Mom said she fell head over heels for Dad back then, like a bunch of times....”
“Beck, aren't you hungry? Want a snack?”
The northern princess hastily covered her son's mouth, uncharacteristically flustered.
I chuckled and teased Tina relentlessly.
“Well, I was pretty cool back then, I guess.”
Recalling that day, I seized the initiative for once.
But suddenly, steamy memories with Lea—not Tina—flashed in my mind.
I froze for a moment, and my perceptive wife narrowed her eyes.
“What are you thinking about, honey?”
“Oh, nothing...!! Just got chills remembering how tense it was facing off against those werewolves.”
Tina crossed her arms alone, her voluptuous figure like a wild bear.
She licked her lips secretly, as if itching to torment me in the carriage.
“Anyway, it's definitely more peaceful here now. Back then, the air reeked of blood.”
“Yeah. And I hear werewolves are friendly with humans these days. They even greet each other when they meet?”
A fortunate turn.
Werewolves each possessed tremendous power, so clashes would mean heavy losses on both sides.
The alliance forged years ago with their leaders must have helped greatly.
With that in mind, I gazed contentedly at the grasslands.
While scanning the horizon, a fluffy silhouette suddenly caught my eye in the distance.
“Hm...?”
“Your Highness, a giant figure spotted at about 500 paces!”
The diplomatic captain removed his uniform cap and reported to me.
I decided to check it out myself and took the lead toward the grasslands.
“I'll take a look. Everyone wait here.”
“Yes, understood!!”
I was the empire's top fighter anyway, so no need for escorts.
The knights instead guarded Tina and Beck, silently watching my back.
“Who's there?”
I infused my voice with aura toward the distant silhouette.
Then....
“Heh, have you forgotten after all this time?”
A heavy, dignified voice echoed from afar.
“I haven't forgotten you.”
Approaching footsteps.
But instinctively, I knew.
The approaching figure wasn't human.
“The werewolf chief...?”
“I have a fine name: Dashuvik.”
A fluffy silver mane.
A figure nearly two meters tall in a suit revealed himself.
“Good heavens.... Have you mastered polymorph too?”
“I've been trading regularly with human merchants lately. They kept fainting if I met them in my true form.”
It wasn't a perfect human shape.
But in a form nearly identical, he sent me a kindly smile.
“Long time no see, Veil Mikhail.”
“Indeed.”
Now, the 110-year-old werewolf chief and I strolled side by side across the grasslands.
He glanced at my distant diplomatic party and spoke.
“On your way back from Bakal?”
“Yes, stopping by the empire with my wife and son.”
Wife and son.
At those words, Dashuvik's red eyes flickered.
“Is that so...? I thought she was that blonde woman you used to have secret rendezvous with.”
“Ahem.... I'm married to both.”
Wolves mate for life with one partner.
Dashuvik scoffed at my multiple wives.
“Well, the world wouldn't leave a talent like you alone. I understand.”
“What brings you here?”
I asked, and the werewolf stroked his fluffy chin.
“Thought I'd visit the empire's border town after ages. My daughter's been asking for perfume.”
Werewolves wear perfume...?
I blanked for a second before nodding.
“Then come with us. We'll give you a ride.”
“You sure? Border folk might be fine, but Bakal people would freak.”
Maybe because he'd once torn apart Bakal's elders.
Dashuvik asked with a somewhat apologetic look.
In these ten years, he'd softened more than expected.
“It's fine. That guy back then deserved to die.”
“Thanks for saying so, Mikhail.”
We entered the diplomatic party together.
The empire's knights and Bakal's warriors tensed at the sight of Dashuvik.
But upon my all-clear signal, they promptly showed proper respect.
“No worries. He's my friend. Treat the werewolf chief with utmost courtesy.”
“Yes, Your Highness!!”
Bakal's warriors stood and paid homage.
Suddenly receiving salutes from both nations' elite soldiers, the werewolf looked awkward before returning the gesture.
“Ride with us?”
“That okay...?”
I waved it off reassuringly.
I chuckled inwardly at the thought of showing this fluffy uncle to Beck and opened the carriage door.
That instant.
“Father, who's outside...? Ack...!!”
My just-turned-ten-year-old son froze solid at the massive being before him.
Christina did too.
Her sensual blue eyes widened like a startled polar bear.
“W-Werewolf...?”
“Long time no see, Princess. You look even more beautiful than before.”
Dashuvik, his bulk claiming one full seat.
We three ended up squeezed onto the other.
Tina clung tightly to my side, haunted by old memories.
But Beck was different.
His heart raced at the legendary giant wolf he'd never seen before.
“Such a huge wolf...!!”
Dashuvik smiled at the black-haired boy.
Beck swallowed hard, mesmerized by those red eyes.
“No fear in you means you're his son. That sly glint in your eyes is a perfect match.”
“That's right. Our third.”
“Third...? How many kids do you have...?”
“Ah.... Just hit twelve.”
Dashuvik burst into booming laughter, incredulous.
The carriage shook lightly from his roar.
“That potion I gave must've worked extra well on humans....”
“It was no joke, yeah.”
I waved dismissively—don't get me started.
That elixir got all my wives pregnant from day one.
“But that kid looks like pure passion between you two....”
The werewolf's red eyes pierced through Beck.
A divine beast over a century old saw what humans couldn't.
“Born with tremendous talent. Just like his father.”
“R-Really...?”
Beck stared blankly at the suited wolf and asked back.
“Of course. So don't trouble your parents—focus that passion on protecting them all.”
We'd only met again after ten years.
Yet he instantly saw through Beck's sense of duty, as if he knew him.
“Got it! I'll train hard and become a cool knight like Dad!”
Son.
Was it that cherished word?
“Good.... I'll bless you to make it so.”
Dashuvik placed a gentle hand on Beck's crown, his gaze serious.
He closed his eyes and chanted a werewolf blessing prayer.
“....”
Christina silently watched the wolf's blessing.
She stared blankly at Dashuvik, so changed from the one she'd ordered to rip apart elders.
As the prayer ended, she grasped his fluffy hand.
“Thank you, Dashuvik.”
“No need. I'm grateful too—you freed me from that endless vengeance.”
I watched them warmly.
As I exhaled deeply in contentment.
“The border's in sight, Your Highness—!!”
We'd arrived at Leon's border.
Below the hill stretched sturdy walls and a grand city.
“Time to head home?”
I opened the window and gazed at my homeland.
My black hair fluttered, black eyes sparkling between strands.
――――――.
Entering the empire, we took the royal road, wheels rolling even faster.
We reached the capital in record time.
“Beck, open the window.”
“Yes...!!”
The black-haired boy opened the opposite window, his sly eyes gleaming.
Before him loomed.
The lofty heavenly palace where the continent-conquering emperor resided.
“Wow......!!”
Usually, when visiting to see me, he'd meet in Norton and spend quiet time together.
But heading straight to the capital this time left him stunned.
“So this is the empire's capital. Human civilization has advanced tremendously.”
Dashuvik nodded at the capital he'd never seen.
Even to his 110-year-old eyes, the empire's progress was awe-inspiring.
“We'll see His Majesty first thing upon arrival, Beck.”
“I'm meeting Great-Grandpa for the first time...!! He's scary.”
Christina, never close with the emperor, looked worried too.
I waved it off slyly.
“It's fine. Rough exterior, soft inside.”
The carriage stopped before a heavenly palace garden.
I disembarked first and told Dashuvik.
“Rest in my annex. I'll introduce you to my family later.”
“Heh.... Came for perfume, ended up in the palace.”
The werewolf chief chuckled and looked around.
“Our capital has plenty of fine perfumes. We'll load you up before you go.”
“Sounds good, but is this okay...?”
Dashuvik glanced at the gleaming palace pillars.
Having been feared in the past, he seemed cautious.
“It's fine. Truth is..., my wives have been wanting to meet you if the chance arose.”
“Me...?”
Dashuvik blinked his wolfish bright eyes.
I tilted my head too as I replied.
“Not sure myself. But Irina said she has something to ask you.”
I hadn't known she was so interested in werewolves back then....
But her flushed plea to arrange a meeting came to mind, so I mentioned it.
“Understood.... I'll wait in the annex.”
I asked the waiting garden attendants to guide him there.
The highly trained maids flinched briefly at the unprecedented werewolf but quickly composed themselves and escorted him.
“Now, shall we go see Grandpa?”
Finally, I took Beck's hand and strolled the heavenly palace corridors.
Tina leisurely followed, watching our identical father-son duo.
――――――.
Leonhardt's office was in its usual spot.
I knocked on the massive stone door, and it opened as if expecting me.
“Your Majesty, Veil Mikhail here...!!”
I called cautiously into the revealed office.
No reply came.
“Here for my return greetings!!”
Beck and I entered the spacious office slowly.
Rough breathing echoed from the balcony.
“Huuu.... Huu....”
A shirt draped over the office chair.
Beyond it, bulky muscles came into view.
“Who's here......?”
Even after ten years, that intense Grand Aura.
Overwhelmed by the pressure more than with the werewolf, Beck shrank.
Leonhardt on the balcony, hoisting a massive dumbbell.
He turned his signature chilling gaze on me.
“Insolent thief's back......?”
Time hadn't changed how his father-in-law called me a thief.
Setting down the dumbbell shook the floor like an earthquake.
“Eek...!!”