Even as the world faces potential destruction, people still weigh their gains and losses.
Because the world is on the brink of destruction, organizations are shaken and show signs of disintegration.
It's the duty of a group leader to embrace such people and reforge their unity.
It's not an easy task, but this world is fascinating in that it always retains a sense of romance.
The mood among the kings changed with just one letter from a princess who had fallen into a coma while fighting on the front lines.
Some faces showed emotion, others embarrassment, but they nodded to each other.
I smiled lightly as I looked around at the assembly.
This world, where a sincere reading of a letter is taken seriously, is why I love it here.
"..."
King Ariane was a perceptive man.
Realizing that anything he could add would be inconsequential compared to the words of his daughter, who had fallen in battle, he restrained himself.
"...I will stay at the front a few days longer to assess the situation. But let it be known, the North, including my daughter, has made significant sacrifices..."
While King Ariane continued, I turned my gaze to Kuilan.
"Yun has left us in her debt."
She had single-handedly stabilized a wavering front. It wasn't intended for her will to serve this purpose... but it indeed eased a great burden.
"Yun was a woman of loyalty."
Kuilan, nodding solemnly beside me, received a nudge in the ribs from my elbow.
"You heard, Kuilan. She even declared her love? Are you finally ready to accept Yun's feelings?"
"Honestly, I still don't know."
How can he still be unsure after all this? Does he really need a slap to figure it out?
Despite his words, this werewolf, who is incredibly cautious in love, answered seriously.
"But now that Yun has treated me with such loyalty, I think I must respond with appropriate loyalty."
"Loyalty, huh..."
A strange word to use between a man and a woman in a romantic context, but perhaps that's their relationship. Maybe that's romantic too.
Anyway, thanks to her, the unity among the wavering kings was restored, and I felt that the situation had been well resolved.
"Ah, everyone is gathered."
My father—Emperor Traha 'Peacemaker' Everblack—strode into the room.
"Well done. I've already announced it throughout the empire, so informing you all here completes the global announcement."
Standing beside me, the emperor looked at me and grinned, then placed his large hand on my shoulder and declared.
"I intend to appoint my son Ash as the Crown Prince of the Everblack Empire, effective today!"
His tone was as casual as if he were deciding on beef for dinner, but the content was anything but trivial.
The startled kings quickly straightened up.
Of course, I was composed. After all, this was something I had requested from the emperor.
'I don't need to sit on the prince's throne to know that the next imperial power is practically mine.'
I am the last remaining child of the Emperor. No one doubts that I will be the next emperor.
But guessing and confirming are two different things.
The appointment as Crown Prince was essentially a declaration to the world that I would be the next emperor of the Everblack Empire.
And the reason for rushing this matter was singular.
'I must become the representative of humanity.'
I glanced down at the glass on the table.
A distinct golden hue flickered in my reflection in the glass.
Divinization—
Finally, the sign that I was starting to gain divinity as 'the representative of humanity' appeared.
The sensation of moving away from being human was chilling, but there was no time to dwell on it. I needed to use every variable available to me now.
I suddenly remembered what the Emperor had said before.
- If the world truly heads towards destruction, you, as the leader of this front, will naturally get a chance to gain divinity.
It was with the hope that you make the right decision when that time comes.
- Gaining divinity allows one to see the ugly truths of this world. And you can never go back to how things were.
- But if the world really does head towards destruction, you will surely grasp that power. You'd be grasping at straws, after all.
It turned out just as he had said.
In a situation where one must clutch at straws, I spread the announcement of my appointment as Crown Prince to accelerate my own divinization and to embed the perception globally that I represent humanity.
Under the Emperor's orders, news spread through the temple communication magic scattered throughout the empire.
By now, all the citizens of the empire would have accepted that I am the next Emperor.
"Would it have been easier if you had requested this sooner?"
The Emperor looked at me with a teasing smile, as if asking why I had only now stepped into divinization. I grimaced back.
"The position of Emperor, as well as the guardian deity of the race, is a lonely and burdensome one."
Grasping my shoulder firmly, the Emperor whispered in my ear.
"This is the ordeal you have chosen for yourself. Try to accept it graciously."
"..."
Then releasing my shoulder, the Emperor walked towards the front of the kings and boisterously called out.
"Come now, why is everyone so somber? This is an event to boost the morale of the warriors before they head into the final battle! Let's send them off with smiles and joy!"
***
The deployment ceremony took place in front of the freshly restored southern gate.
Although it was dark due to the absence of the sun, the southern walls illuminated by torchlight looked sufficiently grand.
Today's event also commemorated the completion of the southern wall's restoration.
The program proceeded.
Kings from various nations bestowed their blessings and advice on the warriors setting out on the expedition.
Nearby, children from Crossroad had crafted wreaths which they hung around the necks of the departing heroes. The citizens applauded thunderously each time.
"..."
The faces of the heroes flickered in the torchlight, resolute, the kings' expressions determined, the citizens' worried, and the children oblivious and laughing.
As the overall commander of the World Guardian Front, it was my turn to speak. I chose to read Yun's letter again instead of delivering a traditional speech.
The crowd seemed moved, but I suddenly worried.
'What if Yun wakes up later and is embarrassed about all this?'
Well, who knows. She asked me to read it, so the aftermath is not my concern.
By noon, the event concluded, and people began to disperse in groups.
I gathered the heroes who would depart tomorrow. All wearing floral necklaces, they formed a neat line in front of me.
"Everyone gather in the backyard of the lord's mansion by 7 a.m. tomorrow."
I calmly reiterated the instructions I had previously announced.
"Make sure to bring your arms, and for today... rest easy. Don't overdrink or overexert yourselves. I hope you spend this time preciously and meaningfully."
I nodded faintly with a vague smile.
"Dismissed. See you tomorrow."
Snap!
The heroes saluted me in unison and quickly dispersed into various groups.
Each went their way, with friends, colleagues, family, or alone... to spend the eve of the battle at their chosen places.
Watching this scene, I suddenly glanced toward the open southern gate.
At the boundary where the faint light barely touched the darkness—a woman with flowing cerulean hair stood. I walked towards her.
It was Serenade.
Dressed in her usual suit, with a coat draped over her shoulders, she stood against the cold wind blowing from behind.
Her long blue hair and the hem of her coat fluttered in the breeze.
Serenade was looking south through the open gate.
Towards the enemy territory—the Black Lake, from where we would depart tomorrow.
"Serenade."
"..."
I called her name as I approached, but Serenade remained silent.
In the shadow cast by the light, with her eyes downcast, her expression was hard to discern.
A bit worried, I leaned towards her.
"Serenade, are you okay? Are you hurt—"
In the next moment.
Serenade's pale, long hand reached out swiftly, grabbed my collar, and pulled my face down—
She pressed her lips against mine.
The kiss happened so suddenly that I was stiff with shock.
And while my body remained rigid, Serenade's lips were endlessly soft.
...No, they weren't. They felt soft, but they were not.
Her lips were dry and cracked from exhaustion. She had tried to hide it with cosmetics, but the underlying fatigue and pain did not vanish.
That made it... all the more poignant.
Before I could gather my wits, the kiss ended, and our lips slowly parted.
Serenade slowly released my collar. I stumbled backward.
My face flushed belatedly. With a similarly reddened face, Serenade whispered, lowering her head.
"I wish I could stop you from going."
"..."
"Into that darkness... into a hell where monsters lurk, I want to grab the hem of your coat and beg you. Don't go. Just stay by my side."
"..."
"What does it matter if the world ends? Why should it be you, among all the people in the world, who has to risk your life? Let others save the world, let's run away. Far away... that's what I really want to say."
Slowly lifting her head, Serenade's silver eyes shimmered with moisture.
"It's selfish, isn't it? But this is how I truly feel. If the world is ending, I want to run away with you to the other side of the world until the destruction catches up with us..."
"...Serenade."
"But that's not your path."
Serenade forced a smile, but tears soon overflowed and streamed down her cheeks.
"Because you're someone who would still try to save others, the world, even when you're hurting. That's the kind of person you are... and why I love you."
"..."
"I'll wait for you, here. Until the moment you return victorious... So..."
Unable to hold back any longer, Serenade began to sob, her shoulders shaking. I stepped closer.
I slowly pulled her into an embrace and gently kissed her forehead.
As my lips touched her, Serenade clenched her eyes shut and shivered. It was so endearing that I unwittingly let out a chuckle.
"I'll be back. So, trust me."
"..."
Then Serenade, looking up at me with a somewhat blank silver gaze, suddenly said,
"Not on the forehead."
I blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"On the lips, properly... please kiss me on the lips."
"..."
Serenade's face was flushed as if it might burst. I probably looked similar...
I stuttered, not knowing what to do, and Serenade closed her eyes tightly as if giving up.
Hey! You're supposed to lead me, how can you leave it all to me! I'm a complete, complete beginner...!
'Ah, what the heck.'
I wrapped my arms around her waist, leaned down slowly... and once again pressed my lips against Serenade's.
In the pitch-black winter night, we kissed for a long time.
The world around us was cold and dark, but the warmth where we touched was comforting.
Even if everything else was swallowed by darkness, this warmth alone... made me confident we wouldn't lose our way.
Yes, I will never forget.
This small, trembling warmth filling my embrace...
***
The next morning.
With soldiers and citizens lined up on either side of the teleport gate giving a grand send-off, the expedition to subdue the Black Dragon departed.
Heading into battle without any idea of what would happen next.