"What are dw-aves?"
I sighed and leaned against the wall, trying to hide my frustration. "Man, I thought this was going to be a typical fantasy world."
"Right, they're short humanoid people, really good at metal welding and manipulation." I gestured with my hands, mimicking the actions of a craftsman.
"Ohh! The Slimonos!"
"Yes! Whatever those are—wait, what are they good at?" I leaned forward, my curiosity piqued.
"Ohhh, their bodies are this viscous substance that can easily break down metals and meld them into different shapes!" Joshua's eyes sparkled with excitement.
YES! That's it!
To kickstart an era of industrial revolution, we need the right engine, specifically a steam engine.
I began pacing back and forth, my mind racing. I'm not much of a metalworking expert these days, but if we can get them to handle the core mechanism parts, we can bring them here!
"Uhm, the humans and Slimonos have been at odds because the previous king, my grandfather, waged wars with them." My face darkened, as my jaw dropped slightly
Ah, we ain't getting anything easy these days.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed deeply, my shoulders sagging.
"Of course, you can go there as envoys to seek peace, but there might be an ulterior motive that could work against us."
"Haha, I haven't been involved in peace talks for ages. Usually, it's just fighting." I shrugged, with a slight chuckle.
"Can tell. Your Ubuian fighting skills seem to outweigh your thinking skills. It's like you act before you think." I shook my head, a rueful smile tugging at my lips.
"Dang, your self-awareness must be impressive, considering you're describing yourself." I
"Ahem, you mean, 'Dang Prince Joshua, your self-awareness must be impressive.'" He adjusted his stance, his grin widening for a second before getting back to business.
"Look, if you need to conduct peace talks, just go. Their kingdom is actually in some caves near the iron mines. That's why my grandfather attacked them. Unfortunately, he died in battle." Joshua's expression grew more serious as he crossed his arms. "The Slimonos work like a hive; they're all children of the same being, their King Solomon. But don't worry, he understands our language!"
"Thanks for the reassurance." I rolled my eyes and pushed open Merilla's door. The room was softly illuminated by the flickering light of a single candle, casting gentle shadows across the walls. Merilla was engaged in a vigorous set of push-ups, her movements fluid and determined. Beads of perspiration gathered on her brow, trailing down her face as she maintained her rigorous pace.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady despite the strain. She glanced up briefly, her expression a mix of irritation and concentration, before returning her focus to the floor.
"I'm going to Slimonos." I seated myself on the edge of the bed.
"Get off! The sheets are clean!" Her eyes flashing briefly with annoyance as she glanced over her shoulder. Despite her words, her arms continued their steady motion.
"Well, so am I." I raised my hands in mock innocence, a slight grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"Don't make me throw you out." She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her voice carrying a note of irritation as she persisted in her push-ups.
"...My bad." I sighed and pushed myself off the bed, leaning against the nearby wall. I crossed my arms as I continued.
"Yeah, we need support, but not in terms of army power. We need manufacturing support, and the Slimonos can provide that." I looked at Merilla, who had stopped her push-ups and was now wiping sweat from her brow as she stretched her muscles on the polished lacquered floor.
"...Then I'm going with you." She stood up, catching her breath.
"I need you and Fritz to protect Prince Joshua for the coronation event." I met her gaze.
"Matthijs." She stepped back and wiped her sweat with the hem of her sleeve. "I am going with you, and no, you're not sneaking out at night or anything."
"Merilla." I paced over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I need someone I can trust to protect Joshua."
She glanced at him as Joshua waved a greeting at her. "See? You've got a prince who couldn't strategize himself out of a paper bag."
"Hey!"
"Look, the Clergy isn't cooperating with us. Chances are, they're going to do something. And I need you guys to help me with that… If you're concerned about me, send a group of Ubuians with us."
"God… fine, whatever. You win."
"Thanks, Merilla." I nodded to her, then turned to Joshua. "Now, where the hell is Sliminos Nation?"
. . .
"Look, girl, you know the deal." The man's voice was low and impatient as he leaned against the cracked tile wall. His eyes darted to the girl huddled on the filthy toilet floor, her body trembling under the weight of her despair.
She had collapsed, her knees giving way, fingers twitching uncontrollably. Her hair clung to her face, damp and matted, her once-bright eyes now vacant and clouded by addiction. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, struggling to speak as a hoarse groan escaped her lips. Her gaze fixated on the small packet in his hand, pleading for relief.
The man's eyes flicked to Fritz, who stood nearby, shifting uneasily. Without a word, the man turned back to the girl, his expression steely. "I need $200 more. Your $100 isn't enough."
The girl's head shot up, her eyes wide with panic. "Please… I'll get it… I swear…"
The man's gaze narrowed as he studied her. He gestured toward Fritz with a slight shrug. "Fritz here has a soft spot for you. I'll cut it to $100 more. You in or out?"
Her eyes shifted to Fritz, but the harsh light from outside blurred him into an indistinct shape. "Fine! Fine! Tomorrow, I'll have it by tomorrow. Just… please…"
With a flick of his wrist, the man tossed the packet toward her. The crinkle of the paper echoed in the grimy room as he pocketed the crumpled bills she handed over, a grim smile tugging at his lips. He turned to see Fritz slipping out, the door swaying slightly in his wake.
"Fritz!" The man called, stepping outside into the fresh air—a stark contrast to the stifling room. He caught up to Fritz, shoving a wad of cash into his hand. "Take it. Half and half, like always."
Fritz hesitated, staring at the money with a look of disgust. The man's grip tightened on his shoulder. "Don't get too caught up. These drug addicts are dumb anyway."
The memory replayed in Fritz's mind as he sat beside Jean. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, almost pulling it out.
"Fritz… thanks for everything," Jean muttered, his cracked lips barely forming words. His right arm sleeve hung loosely, while his left arm was tightly bandaged. His legs were similarly wrapped and propped up. "I don't think you need to worry about me anymore. The King was my only reason to stay… now that he's gone, I'll follow him."
Fritz remained silent, knowing he had no right to speak. The silence between them grew as he filled another cup with water and gently sponged Jean's lips. He watched as Jean's eyes finally closed, slipping back into sleep.
"Live for another day, man. You deserve it more than I ever will."
Sub-Quest: Protect the King's Advisor
Objective: Ensure the safety of the King's Advisor, Jean. Your past lives have been marred by many deaths; this is your chance to atone by safeguarding this life.
Reward:
Soul-Cleansing Fragment
Penalty:
Shadow Corruption +2%
. . .
As Merilla watched her brother finally fall asleep, she quietly rose from her bed and slipped out of the room, ensuring the door closed silently behind her. She moved with deliberate care through the corridors, her footsteps barely making a sound as she made her way to Joshua's chamber.
"Ah, Merilla. You're finally here," Joshua said, his eyes briefly lifting from his work. Baron Ravenscroft stood by, discussing financial matters. "Pay him no mind. Make sure to give me the trade loss figures by tomorrow afternoon. Dismissed."
"Yes, Your Highness," the baron said with a bow before exiting, his gaze not lingering on Merilla. She raised an eyebrow at the slight.
Joshua noticed her reaction and smirked slightly. "Surprised someone didn't care for once?"
Merilla sighed and dropped into the seat opposite him, placing a crumpled piece of paper on the table. "Here's the list."
She stared at Joshua, her brows furrowed as she waited for him to look up.
"Joshua," she began, her voice steady, "I heard from Fritz that you don't want to take a single life in your campaign. Do you really think that's possible?"
Joshua's fingers drummed lightly on the table as he studied the paper. He met her eyes with a steady gaze, his expression serious. "No, I don't genuinely believe we can avoid all casualties. But I think there are ways to minimize the loss of life. I know it won't be easy, but… since when has uniting the twelve nations ever been simple?"
Merilla's hand paused mid-tap on the table, her eyes widening slightly. "Then why?"
"Violence. Wars. I can't say I've seen them all, but I was there when the Second Human Kingdom, namely Arclandia collapsed. It was chaos. But there was one scene that stuck with me," he began, his voice softening as he recalled the memory.
His hand idly traced the edge of the paper he had been scribbling on. "I was hiding behind debris, somewhere lost in the battlefield."
He reached for the cup of water beside him, taking a slow sip before leaning back into the oversized chair. "They were arguing while fighting. Listing each other's atrocities, one after the other. They just kept going, you know? The list of horrors never ended…"
He exhaled deeply, meeting Merilla's eyes with an unwavering gaze. "And that list will never end unless we stop it. I don't care what you Ubuians did to us. If your tribes attack us again, what will I do? I'll negotiate peace terms. If they keep killing, then we keep running. Humanity isn't a place—it's a people. We can adapt, we can outsmart, and we can overcome. I'll run to the ends of the world until someone is willing to form a peace alliance. If no one does, then I'll keep running."
He paused for a moment, his expression growing more tense. "But of course, sometimes war is unavoidable. When that time comes, I want to minimize the lives we take. That's why I need competent subordinates like you, Matthijs, and maybe Fritz—I don't know, I haven't talked to him much."
Merilla couldn't help but laugh softly. "Haha, you're insane."
The prince grinned, a lightness returning to his tone. "That's what Matthijs said as well." He chuckled, finally picking his quill back up and resuming his writing, the scratch of the quill filling the silence.
Merilla's gaze drifted towards the window, where the familiar landscape of the kingdom lay shrouded in darkness. She knew every shadow, every corner of this view—but tonight, something was different. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed a figure, barely visible, perched upon the ledge. The silhouette of a human, motionless, with a spear in hand, loomed ominously against the night sky.
A chill ran down her spine.