Five days later.
At the Alchemist's workshop.
Creak.
Clank.
Click.
Godhand's mechanical hand, now bound to him, smoothly activated, making a silky sound.
It had the look of a finely crafted gauntlet, but with Godhand's metallurgy skills, it moved just like a real hand.
We all looked on in admiration as the prosthetic hand twisted and turned, creating shapes of rock, paper, and scissors with a satisfying click-clack sound.
"Wow..."
"That's amazing."
"It looks totally legit? Just like a real hand."
Clack-!
As his spinning hand came to a halt, Godhand showed a faint smile.
"Good. This prosthetic is much lighter and easier to use than the one I had before."
"That's a given. It's made of the most expensive magical metal available in this workshop."
Lilly, who helped create the prosthetic, boasted with pride.
"It's light but sturdy, and its magic responsiveness is faster. You can control it easier with less magic power and concentration."
"Thank you very much, Lilly."
Godhand deftly tucked the prosthetic into her pouch with a very hand-like movement, then took out her wallet.
"The cost of the prosthetic..."
"Keep it. It's a life debt."
Lilly spoke coolly and when Godhand stared at her, she scowled.
"Should I take money for that? I already feel uncomfortable because I owe you."
"But, Lilly..."
"Ah, what 'but'! Just go on, leave! I'm already busy with so many orders from His Majesty, and it took me days to make that."
In a huff, Lilly wheeled herself back into the workshop.
'She is indeed quite cute...'
Watching the two, I smiled wryly as Godhand approached me.
He rolled down his sleeves and put on gloves, making both of his arms appear perfectly normal.
"I have recovered, Your Majesty, and there will be no issues with my return."
"That's good to hear."
Even so, he had lost everything below his elbow. I wanted to give him more time to rest, but...
My schedule was brutal. We had to move as quickly as possible.
"Summon all the Shadow Squad members to the lord's mansion by 9 PM. We're setting out tonight. It'll be a nocturnal operation, so let the squad members rest during the day."
"I will obey your orders."
After bowing, Godhand glanced at the alchemist's workshop one more time before turning toward the temple.
I entered the workshop. Lilly was standing still in front of an artifact under repair.
"Lilly."
"Oh, yes! Your Majesty. What can I do for you? This artifact you ordered to be repaired should be done by tonight-"
"I won't be taking you to..."
"EEEEK?!"
"...the upcoming operation, so you can relax."
Just the mention of it made her freak out. Before the last defense battle, she used to brag about standing on the frontline every day. Was all of that just bluster?
"From now on, unless there's a special case, you don't have to go to the frontline. But this friend has joined the main party, so."
I gestured behind me to Junior.
I had already introduced Junior and Lilly to each other a few days ago.
Going forward, every time we recruited a new mage, they would be introduced first to Lilly, the senior mage.
"My dear junior..."
Lilly held Junior's hand tightly and whispered to her.
"If His Majesty ever scolds you, come talk to me. We'll protest together. We mages have to stick together. Right?"
"Hehe, sure. We'll cheer each other on."
It was as if they were about to form a mages union. They could have fun amongst themselves.
"Then, I'll see you next time. Do a good job repairing the artifacts."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Leave it to me. And..."
Lilly, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded her head resolutely.
"Whenever you need me at the frontlines, call for me. I'm prepared."
"..."
As I left the workshop, I thought to myself.
'Be prepared when needed, huh...'
In three weeks, the Blood Clan's legion would attack.
I wanted to assign Lilly only to manage the artifacts on site, but when the time came, she might have to fight alongside the monsters.
'Lilly, your non-retirement is only temporary.'
There would come a day when Lilly would only be engaged in clerical work.
That would be the day when the frontlines here were stabilized. I sincerely hoped that day would come sooner rather than later.
"Let's go."
I signaled to Lucas and Junior, who had followed me.
"We need to prepare for the journey."
I also issued a summoning order to the rest of the party members to gather at the mansion.
Finally... It was time to carry out the base camp recovery operation.
***
When we arrived at the mansion.
"Huh?"
There was an unexpected person standing at the entrance to the mansion.
I called out his name, taken aback.
"Jupiter?"
"..."
Jupiter was leaning against the column at the entrance to the mansion, wearing an old imperial army coat over the patient's clothes from the temple, with a pale complexion.
"You haven't fully recovered yet. You need more rest. What are you doing here?"
"Your Majesty."
Jupiter glanced at Junior standing behind me and lowered her voice.
"I heard you're setting out today."
"That's true, but..."
"Please take me with you."
"What?"
"Wasn't it them who put me in this state? Please give me a chance to take my revenge."
Jupiter's hand tightly clutched my robe. Jupiter, who was close to me, whispered.
"As for Junior."
"?"
"My granddaughter... please don't take her."
Jupiter's voice had a desperate tone I hadn't heard before.
"She shouldn't have to experience war."
I stared at Jupiter in surprise. Jupiter pleaded earnestly.
"Please, Your Majesty...!"
Jupiter implored.
That's when it happened.
"You can't even stand properly, grandma."
Junior, who had approached, gently detached Jupiter from me.
"What are you thinking, setting off to explore a dungeon in your condition."
"Junior...!"
Jupiter clung to her granddaughter.
"Please, it's not too late. Let's stop now. Huh?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about throwing yourself into the depths of this war."
A dull light flickered in Jupiter's single eye.
"I've been trying to stop you, to prevent you from stepping into this. You know that."
"..."
Junior let out a small sigh.
"Look at what it's done to grandma. She's so worn out. Stop worrying so much, okay? I'll take over grandma's duties now."
"No!"
Jupiter shook her head vigorously.
"That can't happen. It just can't. It would mean that all this time I've been living so shabbily... it was for nothing."
Junior gently held her grandmother Jupiter's shoulder.
"Grandma, I've already signed a mercenary contract with His Majesty. Today is the day of the operation."
"...!"
"If you keep acting like this, grandma, it's going to be awkward for both His Majesty and me. Why don't you go back to the temple and rest for now, and we can talk about it later?"
Jupiter, grinding her teeth, suddenly turned her head to look at me.
"Your Majesty."
"Hmm?"
"If I'm fit and stronger than my granddaughter, wouldn't it make sense for you to take me to the dungeon instead?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"What are you trying to say, Jupiter."
"I'm... requesting a duel."
"Huh?"
What's she talking about?
"So, uh... with Junior? You?"
"Yes."
Jupiter was asking me to arrange a duel between her and her granddaughter.
"If I'm stronger, there would be no need to bring my granddaughter to the dungeon or battlefield, right? Isn't that so?"
"Well... that's..."
"The mercenary world only respects strength! Strength is all that matters."
Jupiter cast a threatening glance at her granddaughter.
"If you're weaker than me, there's no need for you to take the risk."
"..."
Junior sighed heavily once more.
"Do we really need to go this far, grandma?"
"Yes, we do. I can't back down now."
"Fine then, I'll fight you."
Junior pulled out her staff, her eyes sparkling with a thin smile.
"Guess it's finally time to show what I've learned over your shoulder, huh?"
A savage smile crossed Jupiter's lips.
"Don't get cocky, kid. Your talent might be exceptional... but is it comparable to what I've learned over my lifetime?"
Rumble, rumble...
Thunder started to echo from the sky.
"Your Majesty, step back."
Lucas hastily grabbed me and pulled me back.
Wait a minute, shouldn't I be stopping this instead of avoiding it?
But before I could even attempt to intervene, the duel had already taken place.
"Huh-!"
Lightning sparked from Jupiter's single eye.
Simultaneously, electrical discharge burst from the tip of Jupiter's outstretched hand, and then...
"You've aged quite a bit, grandma."
I heard Junior's murmur.
Flash-!
Junior, seemingly randomly, traced the movement of her blackened staff, and a massive bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky.
The bolt from the heavens swallowed the electric discharge from Jupiter's hand in an instant and then struck the ground, engulfing the surroundings in a fiery black blaze.
Boom!
"My garden!"
I inadvertently jumped up at the sight of the stone wall and garden grass getting scorched by the lightning.
These wizard folks! They should take their lightning play elsewhere!
"Argh...ugh!"
Jupiter groaned and slumped down in her spot. Blood trickled down from the old lightning mage's nose.
The game had been decided.
"Junior..."
Kneeling on the ground, Jupiter growled with a voice laden with blood.
"Is this... not enough?"
"..."
"Can't we end this... with my revenge?"
Junior, who had been silent, replied coldly.
"Of course not, grandma."
"..."
"Go back to the temple and take a rest. I'll be back soon."
Junior fluttered the edge of her robe and disappeared into the mansion first.
Unable to intervene in the dispute between grandmother and granddaughter, I hurried over to Jupiter's side.
"Are you okay, Jupiter?"
"Your Majesty."
Despite wobbling, Jupiter somehow managed to get up.
The old wizard's shoulders trembled like a willow tree, but she rejected my help and stood on her own.
"Please... take good care of my granddaughter."
"..."
"She's talented but still lacks experience. Please don't ask too much of her."
Then, staggering, she left the garden and headed towards the city, leaving the mansion behind.
"Jupiter..."
She was in poor health and yet she tried so hard to stop her granddaughter's departure.
What could have happened between the two of them?
I couldn't know, and I didn't have the time to listen. The departure had to proceed as planned.
I took one last look at Jupiter's retreating back and entered the mansion.
All members of my party were already gathered in the mansion's reception room.