After discussing the upcoming plans with the Penal Squad, I issued them individual instructions for setting out. I intended for us to depart for the Lake Kingdom that very night.
Watching members of the Penal Squad scatter to prepare, I sought out the rest of my party members.
Damien, although not severely injured, had temporarily lost his vision due to overexerting his Far-Sight ability. Consequently, he was unable to attend the funeral and was recuperating.
Lucas was still in a daze from the side effects of a previous transformation, so he was restrained and confined in the underground dungeon.
Lastly, there was Junior.
"…"
Junior stood still atop a hill. She was watching—
Wooosh—
A flying ship that had suddenly arrived over Crossroad.
It was the Alcatraz, a special airship of the Imperial Family. The airship was dispatched to retrieve the magical troops stationed here and return to the Imperial Capital.
The huge body of the airship was slowly landing in front of Crossroad's southern gate.
Soon, Reina and the magic troops would board that ship and leave for the Imperial Capital.
"…"
Junior emotionlessly watched the landing ship. As I approached her, she murmured softly.
"…I once faintly believed that people could understand one another."
I halted my steps. Junior continued.
"But it wasn't true. Between some people, there's a chasm that can never be bridged."
"…"
"It's so deep that no effort can leap over it, and no indifference can ignore it... such a profound hatred."
"Junior."
"I wanted to bridge that chasm and grow closer to that person. I wished to forgive her and find peace within myself."
A bitter smile formed on Junior's lips.
"But I realized. Seeing that person and Camus fight to the death, it became clear."
"…"
"There are things in this world that can never be forgiven. Chasms that will never be filled. Such a deep chasm exists between me and Lady Reina."
Junior shook her head slowly.
"Getting close was impossible from the very beginning."
"...You might be right, Junior."
Perhaps from the very start, it was impossible to bridge the gap between them.
I gave Junior a gentle smile.
"But there's no need to grow close."
"Huh?"
"Even with a deep chasm between them, people can still communicate."
It's okay if they aren't friends or even allies. It doesn't matter even if they're enemies.
People can communicate with each other.
As long as they both will it. As much as they want.
To the hesitating Junior, I nodded reassuringly.
"I don't think Reina is right. I don't believe the things she did in the past can be forgiven."
"…"
"But I know that if you let her go like this, you'll regret it."
I gave Junior a gentle push on her back.
"Go. Go and have one last conversation with her."
"…"
"You don't have to forgive. We don't have to understand each other. Even from a distance, we can shout out and share our stories."
Junior, who had been silent for a long time, cautiously asked, "If we do that, will anything change?"
"It's okay if it doesn't," I said with confidence. "But the regrets will diminish."
Reina had killed Camus.
She bombed Junior's village, inflicted indelible wounds on her, and never sought forgiveness.
Such animosity was of a kind that could never be washed away or erased.
Yet, they both tried for each other.
Reina attempted to mend their relationship while treating Junior's injuries, and Junior was gradually accepting her.
There was a makeshift bridge, albeit shaky, built between the deep chasm that separated them.
I had watched this process from the sidelines.
Thus, I couldn't stand to see them part without even a simple goodbye.
Perhaps this rift might never heal.
Even so, I hoped they would part by truly facing each other, rather than avoiding each other's gazes.
...No matter what fate held for them in the future.
I hoped they would understand each other, if only a bit more.
For Junior's sake.
And for Reina's as well.
"...I'm going to see her. I should at least say my goodbyes to Captain Reina in person."
Junior, after a moment of hesitation, made up his mind and bowed deeply to me.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Junior dashed toward the Crossroad barracks where Reina had disappeared.
I quietly watched him go, then turned my gaze to the southern wall.
Vvrrroooom-!
A flying ship had fully landed. Officers and soldiers from the magic brigade hurriedly loaded their equipment aboard.
***
By the time Junior reached the southern gate,
Vroooom-!
The flying ship was roaring, fully prepped for takeoff.
Through the open hatch, she saw Reina boarding the ship at the last moment.
"Captain Reina!"
An out-of-breath Junior shouted desperately. Startled, Reina turned around.
"Junior?"
"... "
A brief, awkward silence settled between them.
With a small chuckle, Reina shrugged her shoulders. "Did you come to accept my previous offer?"
Her enticing proposition to join her on a journey to the Imperial Capital. To walk the path of magic together at the cutting-edge Ivory Tower.
However, Junior quietly shook her head. She had already declined. Reina gave a bitter smile.
"Then why are you here? What business do you have?"
"..."
"You hate me now? Did you come to curse me? That's not a bad way to say goodbye."
Facing the sarcastically spoken words of Reina,
"You..."
Junior began, struggling to find the right words.
"...I've decided not to forgive you."
Reina's lips tightened. Junior continued.
"However,"
"...?"
"I'm grateful for everything you've done for me."
Slowly, Junior raised her hand to her chest.
"Healing my body. Teaching me magic. Standing back-to-back, crossing the line of life."
"..."
"Butting into my affairs, dragging me to the restaurant, and talking about my mother... the journey with you over these past few months."
Junior spoke candidly.
"It was enjoyable."
"..."
"If I had a magic mentor, I wished it could've been someone like you."
Having never properly had a mentor and having learned everything through self-study, Junior deeply cherished every lesson from Reina.
Every moment they spent together... was both enlightening and joyful.
"If someday, we meet again."
With a trembling voice, Junior continued.
"I might still not forgive you, but..."
Hesitating briefly, Junior then met Reina's gaze directly.
"That time, please tell me your story."
Reina blinked, taken aback by the unexpected request.
"...My story?"
"About the life you've led. Why you had to live that way. How you felt at that time."
Most of their conversations had been about Jupiter.
It was a common ground and shared interest between them.
How Jupiter behaved when with Junior, the kind of person Jupiter was when with Reina. They exchanged such stories.
Therefore, they hadn't talked much about each other.
"Please, tell me about yourself."
"..."
"I'll also share my story, about how I've lived."
A mage who trampled foreign lands for her own country,
And another mage who grew despite being trampled upon.
Two people standing on opposite sides.
From across an insurmountable chasm, on the edge of an already collapsed bridge.
Yet Junior called out.
Let's talk.
Let's understand.
Despite our differences, even if I can't forgive you,
I still want to hear your story.
"...Okay."
After a long silence.
With a barely audible quivering voice, Reina finally replied.
"Let's do just that."
Reina closed her eyes momentarily, and when she opened them again, a relieved smile adorned her lips.
"Promise."
"..."
"I'll be looking forward to the day we meet again. Jupiter Junior."
Vroom-!
The hatch slowly closed. Reina waved with a bright smile.
"Gather many wonderful stories until then! Understand?"
Boom!
As the hatch sealed,
Whoosh-!
A blue flame created by magic power burst out from the airship's exhaust.
The airship carrying the mage troops disappeared into the sky in no time.
Junior silently watched the receding airship cutting through the clouds, hoping to understand that unforgivable mage when they met next.
***
Crossroad. The lord's mansion.
After the funeral ceremonies, as I returned to the mansion, three members of the Shadow Squad awaited me.
I had summoned them. There were tasks to assign and I needed updates on their missions.
"Godhand. Bodybag. Burnout."
Gazing at the three elves who safely returned, I nodded in acknowledgment.
"You've worked hard on the long-term dispatch mission. I'm glad you returned safely."
"I apologize for the delay, Your Highness."
The three elves bowed their heads simultaneously. I patted them on the shoulders.
"Thank you for coming back alive. And to immediately contribute to the defense after your return... You truly went through a lot."
Under my gaze, the three elves looked pleased, yet there was an apparent hesitation as they exchanged glances among themselves.
With no particular thought in mind, I greeted Godhand with a broad grin.
"So, about the Dragon Lady... Did you meet the Duchess of Bringar?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The task I had entrusted to this Shadow Squad.
It was to deliver my letter to the Dragon Lady, the ruler of the Bringar Duchy.
The content of the letter was simple: if the Duchess of Bringar escapes to this monster frontline, I would offer her refuge and support for a new beginning.
Having been pushed to the brink of destruction in the war against the Everblack Empire, the Duchess of Bringar would naturally flee to the monster frontline.
In the game, this scenario was a matter of choice, to accept or reject.
Twisting the situation, I had preemptively extended the invitation for her to come to the monster frontline.
I had long decided to keep the Duchess of Bringar under my command.
That's why I had made the first move, to seize the initiative.
And now, the Shadow Squad, who were the messengers of that letter, had returned.
This likely meant that the Duchess of Bringar had decided to accept my offer.
"...Here, a reply from the Duchess of Bringar."
Seemingly reluctant, Godhand handed me a letter.
Without hesitation, I tore open the wax-sealed envelope and quickly scanned its contents.
The smile that had formed on my lips slowly hardened.
I looked at Godhand in disbelief, still holding the letter. "What is this?"
"...Well, you see."
Godhand, clearly reluctant to explain, finally elucidated the content of the letter in response to my query.
"It's a declaration of war."
"...?"
"The Duchess of Bringar has issued a declaration of war on our southern frontline."
The content of the letter wasn't mistaken.
Godhand, having met with the Duchess of Bringar in person, relayed the Dragon Lady's intentions to me crystal clear.
"...She intends to march here personally."
What the fu...
No, WHAT THE DRAGON-?!