After the funeral.
People from various nations began preparing to rebury the kings in front of their graves.
King Kellison of the Dwarves, Queen Skuld of the Elves, King Poseidon of the Merfolk, Kureha, who was the elder brother of Beast King Kuilan…
And many other human kings.
Lastly, there was Duchess Dusk Bringar, the ruler of the Duchy of Bringar.
"…"
I watched from a distance as the caskets of the kings were carefully removed with proper respect.
Countless kings lost their lives during the three years of war.
While most soldiers would remain buried here at the Crossroad cemetery, the kings, along with a few soldiers whose families requested it, were to be taken back to their homelands.
"There's a catacomb where all the previous Dwarf Kings are buried."
As I approached Kellison's grave, Kellibey, who had been gently caressing his son's casket, spoke in a steady voice.
The golden crown on his head glistened. Kellibey had come to this place as the new Dwarf King.
"This one has earned the right to rest there too."
I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there in silence. Kellibey, however, smiled faintly.
"And… I'm thinking of gathering the scattered dwarves together, not as a large nation but in a small, tight-knit group."
"You're not going to rebuild the kingdom?"
As part of their reward for participating in the war, the dwarves had seen the abolition of the non-human slavery system, and all non-human races had been granted freedom. This was an agreement that all nations participating in the World Guardian Front had approved and declared.
I had naturally assumed that Kellibey would now focus on rebuilding the dwarven kingdom.
"As you know, after our defeat in the race wars, we dwarves were still respected as craftsmen. We spread across various nations, and most of us are doing well. Many have grown attached to their new homes and don't want to leave."
Kellibey shrugged.
"Sure, many would return if called, but most have already built their own lives. There's no need to force everyone back together. Besides, we dwarves are naturally individualistic."
"Aha…"
"So, instead of a kingdom, I'm thinking of forming something like a guild. Everyone lives their lives independently, but we come together to help each other when needed, and work on big projects together."
I watched my blacksmith draw out his vision for the new era, and then smiled.
"I'll support you, Kellibey. …I'm going to miss you."
"Why're you making it sound like a final goodbye? There's still the 'disbanding ceremony' tomorrow, you know!"
With the disappearance of magic, the entire world was now engulfed in various forms of chaos.
To manage this confusion, the kings of the World Guardian Front had to return to their lands urgently…
And so, the disbanding ceremony was scheduled to take place right after the funeral and memorial service.
"And even if we part ways now, we'll still see each other often. Isn't that right?"
Kellibey laughed and patted me on the back. I smiled back and threw my arm around his shoulder.
"That's right. I'll come visit until you get sick of seeing me and tell me to stop."
"Hah! Let's see who gets sick of whom first!"
Kellibey and I stood side by side for a while, watching as Kellison's casket was loaded onto the carriage.
When I approached Skuld's grave, Verdandi was already there, carefully placing various flowers on the casket that had been removed.
I gently called out to her.
"Verdandi."
"Oh, Ash!"
Verdandi finished arranging the flowers and turned to face me with a sheepish smile.
"How about we drop the formalities and speak casually? You're a queen now."
"Oh, right… Sure… I mean, sure…"
Verdandi looked a bit embarrassed. She was wearing a crown of white branches on her head.
Following the wishes of her elder sister Urd and her younger sister Skuld, Verdandi, the last surviving member of the Elf royal family, had ascended to the throne as the new Fairy Queen.
With the abolition of slavery and their release from vassalage, there was no reason for her to use formal speech with me anymore.
"So… I'll speak casually, Ash."
She fidgeted awkwardly, clearly unused to the idea.
Her nervousness, considering her age, amused me, and I had to stifle my laughter. It was strange to see someone much older than me act this way.
"…In the dungeon beneath the Black Lake, I never did find the Holy Grail I was searching for."
Together, we looked southward.
In the dungeon beneath what was once the Lake Kingdom, Verdandi had spent a hundred years searching for the Grail. It was supposed to be the means of saving the Fairy Kingdom.
But in the end, the Grail she found turned out to be a World Tree sapling.
And even that sapling, planted back in her homeland, had lost its magic, becoming nothing more than an ordinary tree.
The "miraculous magic" she had sought for a century had never existed in the first place.
"But Ash. I met you, we saved the world, and… the Fairy Kingdom has been redeemed."
We exchanged smiles.
Though the Grail lost its power and identity, through our exploration for it, we fought side by side, and as a result, the Elves regained the lands that originally belonged to the Fairy Kingdom.
It had been a long and winding path, but Verdandi had ultimately succeeded in saving her kingdom.
"And so, I believe that the last hundred years of my life had meaning."
Verdandi smiled warmly.
"Maybe the Holy Grail I was searching for… was you, Ash."
"Don't flatter me too much. It's embarrassing."
I waved my hand dismissively and looked at Skuld's flower-covered casket.
"What will you do now?"
"I'll return home and start rebuilding the kingdom."
Verdandi sighed deeply.
"…But many have grown accustomed to life on the continent over the past century. And there are still many of our kin who were sold as slaves across the world."
"You have a lot of work ahead of you."
"Well, I'll take it one step at a time."
Verdandi extended her hand to me.
"Though Urd and Skuld are gone…"
It was a gesture for a handshake.
"…I have a strong new ally to rely on."
I gladly took her hand.
"Promise me you won't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. I'll do everything I can."
"And that goes for me too, Ash. The Elves will never forget your kindness."
We couldn't let go of each other's hands for a while, both quietly gazing into the face of a comrade we had fought alongside for so long.
King Poseidon's casket was empty.
He had fallen during Operation "Titan Fall," a battle against the colossal monsters. His body was never recovered. Only his crown was retrieved.
"Rompellers."
In the absence of heirs, Poseidon's twin nephews, Rompeller and Rompeller, took on the role of chief mourners.
I approached the twins in their mourning attire and bowed to them.
"You've done well."
"Well, we didn't really do much."
The two Rompellers looked at their uncle's empty casket.
"It was our uncle who did the hard work."
"We didn't accomplish much on this front… But we must carry on our uncle's honor."
With the Merfolk King's position vacant, the two Rompellers would have to take on his responsibilities.
The oppression that the Merfolk had endured was now gone, but someone had to manage and represent their interests, and these two had stepped up.
Though Poseidon had handled most of the arrangements, leaving the twins to merely sign off on them…
"Even so, it's true that you two, and the Merfolk, fought hard."
I comforted the two, who seemed somewhat dejected.
"So, what's next? Are you done with piracy?"
"Haha! It would be a bad look for a hero who saved the world to still be a pirate."
"We'll sail around the continent's seas, spreading the news to our people. Most have already left for the deep sea or other continents… But some still remain."
Most of the Merfolk had already left this continent.
Those who stayed either formed small coastal villages or lived among humans, working on ships.
The Rompellers said they would work to ensure that the remaining Merfolk could live in peace, free from persecution.
"Perhaps a world where racial distinctions no longer matter is on the horizon."
"A world where everyone just works, eats, and lives together."
Nodding in agreement with the Rompellers, I added,
"Maybe we'll be the ones to create that world together."
They seemed to like that response, and the former Pirate Kings smiled back at me.
"If you ever need a navy, give us a call!"
"Ash, we'd trust you as our leader!"
For some reason, I had a feeling I'd be contacting them in the near future. There was much to do at sea.
After bowing one last time to King Poseidon's casket, I moved on.
Kureha's casket was being loaded onto a carriage.
Kuilan and the rest of the Penal Squad were handling the casket and paying their respects.
I waited for a moment before approaching them.
"Kuilan. Penal Squad."
"Oh, Boss."
"Hey there, Big Boss-!"
The five greeted me cheerfully, and I chuckled.
"But don't you think it's time to drop the 'Penal Squad' name? Your punishment ended a while ago."
"We've just gotten so used to it, hahaha!"
Kuilan laughed and looked at his subordinates.
"But yeah… I've been given the title of Beast King, and I'll be going home. These guys should get new titles too."
The excited members of the Penal Squad jumped up and down.
"What will it be, Boss?!"
"The King's Royal Guard?!"
"The Five Wolf Generals?!"
"Or maybe the Crimson Maple Fist Squad?!"
Kuilan pondered for a moment before muttering quietly,
"Kuilan and… His Disciples?"
"…"
The Penal Squad members gave Kuilan a cold stare, clearly unimpressed. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
Kuilan had reclaimed his homeland.
Given his contributions to the World Guardian Front, it was a small price to pay. But Kuilan had insisted on paying for the land with the money he had saved, refusing to accept it as a reward.
In the end, the money was taken, but it was used to provide supplies for rebuilding the devastated village. There was much to be done.
"I'm thinking of creating a community where not just the Crimson Maple Tribe… But all the Beast Tribes, and even refugees, can live freely."
Kuilan gently stroked his brother Kureha's casket.
"I have to live up to the miracle my brother gave me."
With a deep, mature gaze that was a far cry from the Kuilan I first met, he smiled warmly.
"I have to carry on his legacy."
"I'll support you, Kuilan."
After discussing the plans for the new village, I cautiously brought up another topic.
"How's Yun doing?"
"…Still the same."
Kuilan scratched his head with a troubled expression.
"She's always been a heavy sleeper, you know."
"…"
"With magic gone from this world, the curse-like wounds that plagued her have vanished… But the initial injury was so severe that she still hasn't woken up."
Kuilan sighed deeply.
"And if she decides to return to the Ariane Kingdom, that's a whole other challenge. The journey is long, cold, and harsh. I'm worried her weakened body won't be able to handle it. And with no magic or artifacts left to assist in long-distance travel…"
"…"
"In my heart, I want to marry her and take care of her myself, but the laws of Ariane Kingdom are tricky. Legally, for a marriage or any serious matter like that, the person involved must be conscious and able to express their consent."
It was a complicated situation for the Ariane Kingdom.
Transporting Yun, who remained unconscious, back to the Ariane Kingdom by land was too dangerous, yet leaving her in Crossroad indefinitely was also not an option.
Kuilan had offered to marry Yun and care for her, but the laws of Ariane Kingdom required a conscious consent for such a significant decision.
Everyone knew that the two were deeply in love. And now that Kuilan had become the Beast King, he was more than qualified.
But it was legally impossible to marry someone in a coma, especially a princess.
Kuilan let out another long sigh in frustration.
"So, I'm not sure what to do."
"Ahem, that's actually why I wanted to talk to you, Kuilan."
I lowered my voice and leaned in to whisper in Kuilan's ear.
"Yun's father, Miller Ariane, has a 'proposal' he wants me to run by you…"
Kuilan's eyes widened in curiosity.
With a sly, slightly mischievous grin, I asked,
"So, former Bandit King, are you interested in hearing it?"