Chapter 90: Reunion (2)

Damian could only look at Michael Ryanbloom with a shocked expression.

"How did you get here?"

Michael, as the eldest son of the Ryanbloom Dukedom, held an extremely important position.

No matter how much Damian wanted to help, he never expected Michael to come in person.

"Brother, how could I just stand by when you asked for help? I dropped everything and rushed over."

"Didn't the Duke try to stop you?"

"He said he would chase me with a sword if I left. But don't worry. He wouldn't really attack his own son, would he?"

Michael Ryanbloom smiled, but Damian suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"Next time, if something like this happens, contact me immediately!"

"......Sure, I will."

Despite his words, Damian had no intention of calling Michael again.

If something like this happened again, he would surely fall out of favor with the Duke of Ryanbloom.

"I wanted to bring other knights, but I could only manage to come alone."

That was a bit disappointing. The knights of the Ryanbloom Dukedom, known for their exceptional skills, would have been a great help.

"Well, even just you is more than enough."

But instead of the knights, Michael Ryanbloom had come.

One Michael Ryanbloom was worth ten times more than a hundred other knights.

Most importantly, Michael was no longer a Low-Class.

"Seems you've reached the Mid-Class level."

"Of course, you noticed right away."

Michael smiled.

Unlike the last time they met, Michael was now a Mid-Class, not a Low-Class.

Given Michael's talent, this wasn't surprising. He was one of the strongest in the Master-Class.

"Brother, you......"

Michael looked at Damian quietly. His eyes trembled slightly.

"......You haven't changed. You're still so high and distant."

Hearing Michael Ryanbloom's words, Damian smiled without saying anything.

During their first meeting, Michael Ryanbloom had mistakenly thought he and Damian were on the same level.

Now, having reached Mid-Class, Michael Ryanbloom immediately realized the gap between him and Damian. It was a significant improvement.

While they were talking, a servant came and said, "Sir Damian, guests have arrived."

With that, Damian, puzzled, went outside.

When he reached the castle gate, he understood why they were called guests.

Ten knights in full armor were waiting for Damian.

"Sir Damian, greetings! We have come to support you on the orders of Duke Goldfairy!"

Surprisingly, all ten were Low-Class knights. The dukedom had sent a formidable force.

"This is quite a help. I should thank the Duke."

"He also said to tell you that he's disappointed you haven't visited recently."

Hearing the knight's words, Damian laughed.

With two Mid-Class and ten Low-Class knights, they had a formidable force.

Even the two Mid-Class knights were Damian and Michael Ryanbloom.

It was more than enough, even overwhelming.

"With this, we don't have to worry about numbers."

Just as Damian was feeling very satisfied, a soldier came with an urgent look on his face.

"Sir Damian, something's happened."

"Something's happened?"

"In the capital's streets, a...... no, a strange woman is causing a commotion, saying she needs to see Sir Damian! She's so skilled that the guards can't stop her!"

"......A strange woman?"

Hearing this, Damian felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

"......Let's go see."

Damian went to the street with the soldier. The street was in chaos, with unconscious guards scattered everywhere.

"Ah! There you are! Damian! It's me! I'm here!"

In the middle of the chaos, a woman with an unpleasant look on her face was waving her hand.

Salvage.

Seeing Veronica Sanchez, Damian couldn't help but cover his face with his palm.

"......Why are you here?"

"Why am I here? You said you needed help, so I came here!"

Veronica Sanchez said, slapping her chest. Her confident expression made Damian want to hit her.

"Didn't you say I shouldn't die before you? That's why I came to protect you!"

"I don't need it. You're weaker than me."

"That's old news! Do you know how strong I've become since then? Now, what's it called? That thing!"

Veronica Sanchez's aura had indeed changed. Damian noticed this as he observed her.

"Mid-Class?"

"Right! I'm Mid-Class now! How about that? I can beat you now!"

Damian whistled. Veronica Sanchez was talented, but he never expected her to reach Mid-Class so quickly.

"Right! Since we've met, let's see how much you've improved!"

Veronica Sanchez immediately drew her sword and charged at Damian. Damian didn't bother to fight back. There was someone else to do that.

Michael Ryanbloom, standing next to Damian, drew his sword and blocked Veronica Sanchez. Their swords clashed in the air.

"Brother, who is this woman to be so disrespectful to you?"

Michael Ryanbloom asked, looking bewildered. Veronica Sanchez scowled and replied.

"Who are you to stick to Damian's side? Are you after his life too?"

"What? Where did you get such a ridiculous idea...... You must retract it immediately!"

"Damian Hassen is mine! Find someone else!"

They glared at each other, then started swinging their swords.

"I'll teach you not to be rude to Brother Damian again!"

"I'll show you that Damian Hassen is mine!"

Damian, looking tired, ordered the soldiers.

"Clear the area, take the injured to be treated, and prevent people from coming this way."

The soldiers began to move busily at Damian Hassen's command.

"You two! You can fight, but don't kill each other!"

"Got it! I'll just teach her a lesson!"

"I'll show you that you can't desire me anymore!"

They started fighting fiercely, each making different noises.

Damian looked at them with a tired expression.

"Well, do as you please."

Damian left them and returned to the castle.

* * *

"Sir Damian!"

Upon returning to the castle, he saw Oliver Apple running towards him from a distance.

Despite being out of breath, Oliver Apple didn't stop running.

"Your Highness, what's the matter?"

"I just heard! Knights have arrived!"

Oliver Apple had heard the news a bit late, as he was studying.

"Yes, that's right. We now have the military force needed for the orc extermination."

"This is all thanks to Sir Damian! Without you, we wouldn't have been able to gather a single knight!"

Oliver Apple, spreading his arms, was overjoyed.

Then, he suddenly looked frustrated.

"If this continues, we'll keep relying on Sir Damian...... I wouldn't be able to face you!"

Damian was slightly impressed. He had noticed a change in Oliver Apple's behavior, but he didn't expect such a commendable thought.

"I also...... want to do something! I want to help Sir Damian...... in this extermination!"

It was a commendable attitude, but the situation was ambiguous.

'Is there something he can do?'

His enthusiasm was commendable, but there was nothing to assign him.

It wasn't appropriate to give the crown prince a weapon and send him to fight orcs.

On the other hand, Oliver Apple was taking the initiative. It would be wrong to discourage him.

After much thought, Damian came up with an idea.

"I understand your intentions. There's something you can do."

"Tell me what it is!"

"Now that we have the troops, we need to make a concrete plan. We need to secure funds, purchase supplies, and discuss how to reach the operation area."

Frankly, Damian wasn't very knowledgeable in this area. He only knew the basics.

"I'd like you to take charge of this."

"Me......?"

Oliver Apple looked hesitant. It was a natural reaction, as he had never done such a task before.

"......Please trust me."

But Oliver Apple didn't back down, nor did he show any worry.

Damian once again felt the change in Oliver Apple.

* * *

Thus, the preparations for the extermination began.

Damian focused on understanding the individual strengths of the knights. This would help him use them effectively.

"Let's settle this today!"

"Exactly! Don't think of running away like last time!"

Michael Ryanbloom and Veronica Sanchez had been unable to settle their dispute for two days. Fighting in the training ground had become their daily routine.

And Oliver Apple......

"We should reconsider the route. According to a report from three years ago, this region is periodically invaded by wolf packs, making the main road difficult to use."

He was handling the tasks beyond Damian's expectations.

Actually, Damian had assigned the preparations to Oliver Apple because he thought it wouldn't matter much whether he did well or not.

There were many other excellent officials, so Oliver Apple didn't need to excel.

"His Highness, the Goldfairy Dukedom has offered to supply all the food for this operation."

"Given the small number of troops, carrying food would slow us down. It would be better to replenish supplies in the towns and cities we pass through."

However, Oliver Apple was leading the process, not just following the officials.

'He was always smart, but I didn't expect this much.'

In his previous life, Oliver Apple's hasty ascension to the throne had significantly weakened the Apple Kingdom.

But, conversely, it also meant he had managed the country to some extent despite the lack of preparation.

"His Highness is quite remarkable, contrary to the rumors."

Even Michael Ryanbloom had to admit this.

"By the way, when will you settle this?"

"Ah! Well, you see......!"

Damian's question made Michael Ryanbloom flustered.

"Just a little more...... a little more time......"

"I told you before. The world is vast, and there are many people who can match you."

Hearing this, Michael looked serious.

"......But I can't accept that my rival is such a strange woman."

Hearing this, Damian was speechless.

"So, I will definitely win today!"

Michael said with enthusiasm.

"Good luck."

Just as Damian said this with little interest, there was a tapping sound at the window. Turning his head, he saw a crow looking at him.

"Hmm?"

Examining the crow, Damian noticed something tied to its leg.

Opening the message tube on the crow's leg, he found a piece of paper.

Unfolding the paper, he saw a short line written on it.

- Tonight at midnight -

And below it, the word "Lush Fragrance" was written. Reading the message, Damian smiled softly.

Finally, he could participate in the night market auction.