Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Desert Kingdom (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Haha! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you as well."
A muscular man extended his hand from across the table.
"Thank you for coming all this way."
"When a neighboring kingdom is in danger, it's the duty of the Empire—its fatherland—to rush to its aid."
"Fatherland... How gracious."
The muscular man, King Kara, laughed heartily.
There wasn't a trace of discomfort on his face.
The intent behind that statement was as good as declaring the Empire as his liege.
Yet King Kara showed no reaction whatsoever. Was he unable to grasp even that simple meaning, or was he letting it slide knowingly?
'If I had to guess, it's the latter.'
He didn't seem that obtuse.
His appearance might suggest a brutish muscular warrior, but his eyes definitely held the gaze of a leader.
'The situation must be dire enough for him to let it pass.'
It seemed even worse than anticipated...
"And the lovely ladies behind you..."
"Hehe. Pleased to meet you. I'm Lucia Argentus, princess of the Argentus Empire and fiancée to Duke Banus."
"I'm Irene Arkabella. Fiancée to Duke Banus."
"...Lua."
King Kara gave a puzzled look at Lua, who had introduced herself last.
It was only natural. She felt somewhat detached from the others.
Unlike the rest, she wore a white hood, and her introduction was curt.
'Not nobility, then...'
A commoner?
Yet she exuded a unique elegance unfit for one. It was almost like...
'A priestess.'
She was serene.
Very serene.
Behind her stretched an endless deep sea, it seemed.
But King Kara quickly shook off his curiosity. The identity of this woman who called herself Lua wasn't important right now.
What mattered was the safety of Kara Kingdom. Normally, he would host a grand banquet for Empire guests, but there was no time for that.
Even at this moment, soldiers at the border with the Eternal Desert were surely dying.
He got straight to the point.
"Our kingdom currently faces a grave threat. The desert temperatures are rising, and monsters that should dwell within the Eternal Desert are pouring out endlessly. Tourist traffic has halted, the economy is in recession, and food supplies are growing scarce."
Hoo...
King Kara let out a small sigh.
'...Didn't expect him to be so frank.'
Don't rulers usually hide their predicaments?
For political gain and national face.
But King Kara had no such reservations.
Just a firm resolve to protect his kingdom and people, even if it exposed their weaknesses.
'Truly a nation of warriors...'
No wonder martial artists admired it. No petty emotional or political squabbles—just pride and pragmatism.
And with the king at the top being like this, what must those below be like?
The proverb about clear upper waters making clear lower ones wasn't wrong.
...Assuming this world had that proverb.
"Thus, the Empire's aid, including yourselves, is like rain in a drought to us—a shining hope toward a brilliant tomorrow."
Massive food supplies headed to Kara Kingdom, Empire elite knights to hunt monsters falling from the Eternal Desert.
And...
Yujin's party, set to enter the Eternal Desert itself to eliminate the root cause.
Of course, as this concerned Kara Kingdom, Royal Guard Captain Lucas would enter the desert too.
The Empire had no reason to risk their strategic asset alone.
"Thank you."
King Kara immediately bowed his head to Yujin with gratitude and reverence.
"Kara Kingdom will never forget the Empire's grace. Nor will we sit idle enjoying it."
I swear it here and now.
"From this day, Kara Kingdom is the Empire's ally and will swing our swords alongside it against its foes."
...
..
Yujin's party gathered in the rooms assigned within the palace.
"Hehe. This might turn into quite the arduous trip."
"Arduous trip... Could be."
Lucia quietly sipped her tea.
Slurp—
"Ahh, I never imagined my first trip with Yujin would be like this."
Irene whined in a voice that didn't feel sincere at all as she leaned into his embrace.
Yujin felt a pang at Irene's whining.
It wasn't as if she was truly hurt, but their first trip together turning out like this was certainly regrettable.
No matter that everyone here could protect themselves even in hell, no one wanted to head into danger.
Especially since they were engaged.
This made their honeymoon—or engagement trip(?), whatever—the blood-soaked Eternal Desert.
They came because they hated sending Yujin alone and wanted to help, but the disappointment was inevitable.
"...Hm."
He let out a low hum.
What to do...
...
'Ah.'
"How about we all go to the sea together after this is over?"
"The sea?"
"Hmm... The sea... Sounds nice."
Irene and Lucia brightened at the mention of the sea. An exclamation mark popped up above Lua's head as she listened in.
"...Sounds good, Saint."
Surprisingly, Lua had never been to the sea.
How could someone over 200 years old never have? She'd always been confined to the Papal Palace.
She'd only encountered it through photos and books.
The endless waves, scattering blue light, the horizon where sea met sky.
All known only through words and tales.
'The sea... Must be wonderful...'
Maybe she'd smell that unique seaside scent too.
She'd heard fellow priestesses talk about trips with loved ones.
'Salty and briny, with an indescribable aroma, they said.'
She couldn't quite imagine it.
But one thing was certain: the sea would be breathtakingly beautiful.
'I wonder if beach sand feels different.'
This desert sand was incredibly soft. The ticklish sensation slipping between fingers lingered in memory.
What about beach sand?
'I think it's... a bit coarser...'
Who knew.
But she wanted to walk that beach sand beside Yujin.
Chatting idly, feeling the sea breeze, strolling the sunset shore. The sound of gentle waves in her ears.
'......Ah.'
Just imagining it brought happiness.
Especially with Yujin by her side.
The man who freed her, taught her love, and—embarrassingly—matched her unknown tastes perfectly.
Of course, she wasn't his only one... But so what.
'He's the only one for me.'
That Yujin was her sole focus mattered.
At least, it let her remain in his heart as his devoted, one true woman.
"Then after this, we all go to the sea. Eat delicious food, swim, walk the beaches."
"Sounds great. Empire south coast? Or further to another country?"
"Hmm. The Empire south has emerald waters, but Aquarine Kingdom below is so clear you can see the seabed... Where do you prefer, dear?"
Hm...
Emerald sea versus crystal clear...
"I think the clear one sounds good."
"Hehe, really?"
"I think the clear sea sounds good too, like the Saint."
"Oh, you too, Lua?"
Lucia smiled brightly and linked arms with Lua.
"Then next trip to Espelin Kingdom. How's that?"
"Good idea."
"Great."
"Espelin Kingdom... I can't wait."
"Come to think of it, Lua, you said you've never traveled... Right?"
"Yes."
And so, a unanimous decision for a real vacation to Espelin Kingdom.
...After resolving this matter first, of course. Without a single injury.
The next day.
To resolve the crisis, we crossed the border with Royal Guard Captain Lucas, who was accompanying us.
The red borderline separating Kara Kingdom from the Eternal Desert.
The scenery changed starkly across that single line.
As if someone had artificially created the environment—the boundary was so sharp it felt unreal.
Kara side was a normal desert, but the Eternal Desert looked more like hell.
Slightly reddish sand, drastically rising heat. And intermittent flames scorching the sands.
'Good thing Lucia and Irene are here.'
As mages, they ensured we felt no heat.
Makes you think mages are what the world needs. Eco-friendly ACs consuming abundant mana.
They were always lovely, but even more so now, thought Yujin.