"Well... I guess that's fine, Zenis."
As I organized the story, I wiped my forehead.
"I've realized that you are a fool and a pushover but a good person, and I've also understood your relationship with Hannibal. I get it, but..."
I looked around at the other uncles, sweating coldly.
"...how do I tell this to Hannibal?"
"..."
"..."
Again, a hellish silence.
The already musty atmosphere of the men's barracks turned even darker. Everyone bowed their heads, covering their faces shrouded in shadow, trying hard not to make eye contact with each other. It was a situation with no answer.
Hannibal, the son who appeared exclaiming 'You are my father'.
From the perspective of this child, how anxiously must he have waited for his father throughout his life.
But in reality, they were not related by a single drop of blood, and it was just a lie told to save the child's life at that moment...
A noble but foolish decision made by a complete stranger.
Who would deliver the news?
Who's going to put the bell on the cat, huh?!
"...No, there's no need to tell the truth."
Zenis, with his stubbly beard, nodded.
"Wouldn't it be okay if I said I was his real father? I've lived with that intention from the start."
"Should I call this truly priest-like, or a true pushover..."
As I honestly marveled, Lucas tapped me on the shoulder. Huh? Why?
"...Um, my lord."
"Yes?"
"But over there. That..."
What's over there? Why? What's there?
As I followed where Lucas was gesturing, among the uncles listening to the story...
"..."
There was Hannibal.
He was so much smaller compared to the other mercenaries that everyone had failed to notice him. As I opened my mouth in surprise, the uncles around Hannibal also belatedly realized and scattered in shock.
"Yikes?! What?!"
"Since when has he been here?!"
Hannibal looked around cautiously before answering softly.
"...Since the story about being assigned to the Mist Kingdom?"
"You heard everything, damn it!"
"Who's the one who didn't keep him away!"
...It's me, you bastards.
I left him at the restaurant next to the barracks, but it seems he sneaked back because the story dragged on. Geez.
Anyway, the uncles, not knowing how to handle this situation, scattered in all directions, leaving Zenis and Hannibal facing each other, standing apart.
"..."
"..."
The air became unbearably awkward, spreading in all directions.
Both were clearly taken aback. Zenis did not want to reveal the truth in this manner, and Hannibal had no idea such a truth existed.
As both stood frozen, not knowing what to call each other, they just quietly stared into each other's eyes.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-!
"...?!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
Suddenly, the emergency bell rang.
Holding their breath, everyone in the barracks, including myself, looked up in confusion.
The sound that pierced through the city, sharp enough to tear ears, was unmistakably...
Boom!
"Enemy attack-!"
A guard burst open the barracks door and ran in urgently to report.
"Monsters are attacking! The forward base is being invaded, Your Highness!"
"What the hell, the next enemy sortie was days away..."
I stopped mid-sentence and flinched. I had experienced something similar before.
I hurriedly opened the system window, and as the remaining time until the stage start rapidly decreased... the dark event for this stage was displayed.
Dark Event, 'Surprise Attack'.
Shortening of the monster legion sortie time, and random replacement of the monster legion, and not detected by our dark event tracker.
Why did they slap so many effects on just one event! Really, the balance is a mess!
"Damn it, cursed monster bastards!"
I shivered with anger.
These bastards interfere with everything, even the moment of reunion with a father (?), causing a complete mess!
"Save the story for later! All troops, prepare to deploy!"
"Yes!"
"Prepare to deploy-!"
The soldiers, who until moments ago were listening intently to Zenis and Hannibal's story with bright eyes, sprang into action at the declaration of an emergency and my command to deploy, rushing back to their rooms to arm themselves at lightning speed.
"..."
"..."
Among the others scattering and moving about in chaos, Zenis and Hannibal stood still for a moment, looking at each other like two stones in the middle of a river.
But soon after, they each kicked off the ground, rushing to where they needed to be, just like all the other heroes and soldiers.
I wanted to give more attention, but there was no time for that.
In a hurry, taking the 'Uncles' hero party, including Lucas, I dashed outside with the guard who had come earlier.
'The usual dungeon scouting is meaningless... The dark event "Surprise Attack" has also changed the monster legion.'
I manipulated the system window to check the identity of this monster legion. If the clash had started at the forward base, it would be reflected in the system window too.
And then.
"...?!"
I was shocked to see the name of this stage's monster legion.
Scarecrow.
'Scarecrow legion...?!'
Damn, damn, of all things!
Scarecrows are monsters that inflict mental status abnormalities like fear and mind control. In other words, I, who can spread the effect of [Unyielding Commander], am their counter.
'But what if I'm not there?'
They would be completely helpless...!
My very existence is the perfect countermeasure against the enemies' mental status abnormalities, meaning, conversely, that I hadn't made any preparations for mental status abnormalities aside from myself.
It was much more beneficial to invest resources elsewhere.
I shivered with anger. Of all the times for this to happen!
"Who is currently out at the forward base?"
"Lord Dearmudin of the Ivory Tower is on guard duty at the forward base today!"
I felt relieved at the mention of the archmage's name.
That old coot should be able to easily handle mental status abnormalities.
"And, and..."
However, the guard stuttered and hesitated before adding more.
"Prince Mikhail Vermillion was also supposed to be on duty there..."
"What?"
"Originally, it was the Vermillion Kingdom's army's turn for guard duty at the forward base today. But since he needs to return to his country soon, he was taken off the roster, but since it's his last duty, he volunteered to stay..."
My mouth fell open.
My intuition was screaming.
This is fucked up.
I yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Everyone! Sprint to the teleport gate! To the forward base as quickly as possible-!"
Yelling, I gathered all my strength and ran, but damn it.
Tatadadadat!
The other heroes, excluding myself, were much faster. They all overtook me, shooting forward like bullets.
No, I'm needed on this battlefield! Why is my body so weak even after the third class change!
That's when it happened.
"My lord!"
Ta-da!
Lucas stopped in front of me and offered his back.
"Thank you!"
I quickly climbed on, and Lucas, using [Step of Persistence], shot forward.
Lucas overtook all the other heroes, leading the way at top speed. The teleport gate rapidly neared.
Indeed, one must use their head! If your legs are slow, just ride a personal transport!
'Please, everyone!'
I prayed as we jumped into the teleport gate.
'Hold on...!'
***
A little earlier.
Forward Base. Atop the ramparts.
"..."
Mikhail stood at the edge of the rampart, looking out at the countless trees that had been felled in front of the forward base.
The forest, cut down diligently by the carpenters and laborers from Crossroad, was vast and desolate.
While it lacked the eerie air that once surged towards them, the forest still possessed a suffocating, gloomy aura.
Mikhail inhaled deeply, his face pale, his fists trembling slightly.
It was in the heart of this forest that all his men had breathed their last.
Because of his mistake.
Mikhail had been bound head to toe by the enemy legion commander, forced to watch helplessly as his men were slaughtered one by one.
"..."
Blood dripped from Mikhail's bitten lip.
Then, footsteps approached from behind Mikhail, who slowly turned around.
"Ahem."
It was Dearmudin, the Lord of the Ivory Tower, who approached, stroking his long white beard. Mikhail nodded slightly in greeting.
"Lord of the Ivory Tower, Dearmudin."
"Prince Mikhail."
Dearmudin, standing silently beside Mikhail, gestured with his eyes.
"I won't offer empty consolation."
"..."
"Just remember, all heroes and legends are only completed after enduring their own pain and adversity."
Mikhail said nothing. Dearmudin continued.
"You are young, do not delve too deeply into this incident or blame yourself too harshly. Isn't your future still bright?"
"...That's a saying for those who have another chance."
A self-mocking smile formed on Mikhail's lips.
"I was in a position where I could not afford to fail. I only had one opportunity."
"..."
"Having failed so miserably, once I return home... I will be 'discarded.'"
Dearmudin's eyes widened in surprise.
"Who said that?"
"The ones who created me."
Mikhail slowly closed his crimson eyes.
"That if I failed even once, I would be discarded. Just like my brothers. That's how I was trained."
"..."
Dearmudin shook his head.
"Is the Vermillion Kingdom still engaged in such practices."
"'Creating the 'Perfect King' has been our country's long-standing ambition."
"..."
"And at least, it seems I'm not the right material to be that king."
As Mikhail hung his head, Dearmudin spoke slowly.
"Again, I won't offer empty consolation, but..."
"..."
"Remember, you are young enough, and life doesn't have just one fixed path."
Leaving just those words behind, Dearmudin turned and walked away into the interior of the forward base.
Watching the old mage's back, Mikhail snorted.
"Sounds like pretty empty consolation to me..."
The path laid out for him was singular.
And having stumbled on that path, there's nothing left for him.
"I am, we are, I am... a failure."
Murmuring to himself, Mikhail looked again towards the forest beyond the rampart.
And then,
"Huh?"
He spotted something that wasn't visible before, standing far off at the edge of the forest.
It was,
Creak... Creak... Creak...
Swaying its limbs noisily in the blowing wind, wearing a sack made of straw as a head, a scarecrow.
"...?"
Mikhail rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things, and then opened them again.
Then,
Creak. Creak. Creak...
Was it an illusion?
The scarecrow had moved closer.
Earlier, it had been at the far edge of the forest, but now it was in the middle of the forest...
"...What?"
And as Mikhail blinked,
Creak-creak-creak.
The scarecrow moved closer bit by bit.
Mikhail's trembling legs slowly backed away, but the scarecrow's approach was significantly faster.
When Mikhail regained consciousness, the bizarrely swaying scarecrow was standing right in front of the rampart, having grown massive in size, close enough to reach out to Mikhail on top of the wall.
"What are you?"
Mikhail asked with a trembling voice, as the mouth part of the sack over the scarecrow's head ripped open...
"What do I look like?"
It produced a voice full of dry laughter.
Creak, creak-creak...
Creak. Creak. Creak. Creak. Creak. Creak. Creak.
Suddenly, the entire forest was filled with countless numbers of scarecrows standing densely packed.
The scarecrows all reached out their hands towards Mikhail, who couldn't move.
"I am your fear."
The abnormally long arms of the scarecrow standing closest slowly embraced Mikhail.
"...Your nightmare."