đźź Chapter 82:
🟧 Takeru's POV:
A week had passed since the battle with the Numbers gang, and the royal court began trying to make up for the losses it had suffered during the fight.
Large camps were set up around the capital specifically for the king and the palace members to stay temporarily, as well as to treat the injured, whether civilians or members of the palace and the army.
All the victims of the battle were buried, and Ryo's burial was special: his grave was placed in the center of the city, ensuring that his memory would remain strong among everyone.
The kingdom also added a new element to its emblem, incorporating a dragon's wings alongside the shield, two swords, and the crown. Haizen and I were allowed to stay in the camp until conditions improved.
In addition, other camps were set up to imprison the remaining members of the gang, with Number Four being the most prominent among them. As for Number Five, he was allowed to remain free, but on one condition: to serve the country as part of the army.
The kingdom received visits from kings of other nations, most notably the neighboring kingdom of Valdera, who came to support them in their time of crisis and promised financial aid, as Azmirin's economy had been heavily impacted after the destruction of the Vitalis Crystal reserve.
The dragons stayed alongside the kingdom throughout the week. At the end of it, it was time for them to leave, and all members of the royal palace were present to bid them farewell, led by King Orik:
"Targoth, thank you for standing with us during this crisis. You have rendered great service to our country."
Targoth smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Orik, you raised my nephew. I will never forget this kindness. Ryo will remain the bond that connects us."
Among those present, Targoth turned to Elithius. Elithius's expression was more resolute than before; he no longer seemed like the spoiled prince he appeared to be, though inwardly he might be less than he seemed. Targoth spoke to him with an encouraging tone:
"I see you're trying to change yourself. Ryo told me a lot about you. I hope you become a prince he can be proud of."
Tears nearly fell from Elithius's eyes at Targoth's words, but he managed to stop them, giving a light smile:
"Of course, I will make him proud of me."
Targoth laughed at Elithius's words and reminded him that this was a promise:
"Very well, keep your promise. I'll see you next time—stay strong."
He departed with the rest of the dragons while everyone bid him farewell. Watching all of this from a distance, I noticed Elnar calling me:
"Takeru, you're here. I'd like to discuss something."
I didn't know what topic he meant. Hoping it wasn't a problem, I stopped to listen:
"Prince Elnar, is there something you need?"
"No, I didn't come to ask for anything, but to give you something... I heard about your agreement with Ryo regarding a reward from us for helping."
I couldn't believe it. This was the last thing I wanted to hear. My goal in all this had been money, but now I felt I'd be a fool if I accepted a reward from them:
"Sorry, Your Highness, but I refuse any reward."
"Why? Are you pitying our financial situation?"
"No, it's not that... simply, the one I made the agreement with has passed away, so consider the agreement canceled."
Elnar looked at me with surprise before starting to laugh at my words, making me feel slightly embarrassed. I asked him the reason for his laughter:
"What's so funny?"
"Ahh… nothing, I just didn't expect to hear the same answer from you that Haizen gave."
"Did you ask Haizen about this before me?"
"Yes… and he refused as well, saying if you agreed, he would beat you."
I couldn't believe it. That bald swordsman was extremely annoying. Speaking of him, I wondered where he was.
Elnar quickly understood what I was thinking and told me:
"I see you're wondering where Haizen is. He went to see Ryo."
I realized he meant Ryo's grave. I thanked Elnar for the information and left the camps, heading there. On my way, I heard Mirai calling me:
"Oh… Takeru, where are you going?"
She had been helping the medical staff with her healing technique. I told her I was going to see Haizen:
"I'm going to see Haizen."
"Your swordsman companion, then? I saw him this morning wandering through the city."
Mirai was a foreign student and not from this kingdom. I had learned about her when I noticed that the elite exam papers were intact despite everything that happened last week.
Foreign names were few, and hers was among them. It was decided that all those who failed the exam would retake it after corrections were finished, while the successful ones would receive their certificates.
I asked Mirai if she had done well in the exam:
"Did you do well on this exam?"
"Eh… um, I think so? Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just asking."
The system's heavy words slapped me as usual:
[You are an intrusive person, do you know that?]
"Oh come on, it's not like you don't know why I asked."
Mirai looked at me, puzzled, wondering who I was talking to:
"You're talking to yourself… strange."
"No, I'm not. I'm just… uh, never mind."
Before we knew it, we had arrived at Haizen, with Number Five standing beside him. I called out:
"So, you're here, Haizen."
"It's you two."
"You visit Ryo's grave often. I didn't expect this from you."
"Since we'll be leaving the capital soon, I thought, why not visit him one last time."
"You're right, indeed."
I turned to Number Five, who was quietly looking at the grave. I hadn't expected him to visit Ryo:
"I can't believe you came to visit Ryo… Brenty."
"You know, I still remember your words when you told me that if I helped this country, everyone would see me as a hero. But it seems this dragon has stolen the spotlight from me."
"Huh… are you jealous or what?"
"It's not that. I just think it doesn't matter what others think of us. As long as you focus on your path, you'll make a difference, and this dragon understood that. That's why he's truly a hero."
"Well… I didn't expect my words to affect you like this. I feel like an old man giving an inspiring speech."
"By the way, this is the first time you've called me by my name."
"Really? Oh right, all this time I called you Five."
We stayed there for about half an hour before moving. As we were leaving, we saw Elithius coming to visit Ryo as well. He hadn't expected us to be here:
"Oh… you're here!"
"You're not the only one visiting him, Elithius."
"What audacity! You still call me without my prince title."
"Wow, you don't change easily."
"Shut up. One doesn't change overnight."
"Yes, yes, fine, let's not waste your time."
Before leaving, Elithius grabbed my shirt. For the first time since I met this prince, he expressed words of gratitude that left me stunned:
"Takeru, Haizen, Mirai, and even you, Brenty, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing by our kingdom. I'm glad I met people like you."
Everyone smiled at Elithius's grateful words. I held his shoulder and said:
"This kingdom now has wings. Let it soar high with them."
Elithius laughed at my words. It wasn't a laugh of mockery or sarcasm; it was clearly a laugh of happiness from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps it was the spark of a truly born prince.