Chapter 18

Worm had just started to get used to life in the city of Ankshio when he received an official summons from the Meierd Principality to enter the castle as the guardian of the Haiselk Imperial Army. Although he had frequently visited the castle for treatment, his route had been limited to the back and forth between the cathedral and the barracks. He had no chance to casually stroll through the main hall, and his knowledge of its structure was virtually non-existent.

Following the guide who had come to the cathedral, he proceeded down a tightly sealed corridor. He checked the thickness of the studded doors, the height and angle of the arrow slits, and the presence or absence of hidden guards. These were perspectives from an attacker's point of view, and even though he had no intention of probing, his eyes naturally moved. This bad habit, often called a professional disease, had affected Worm even subconsciously.

There were a few characteristics unique to the region, but compared to the mechanisms he had encountered in sieges and fortifications, they were within the realm of understanding. There was nothing particularly new. The coldness of the stone architecture continued monotonously.

A change came as he turned a corner. Sunlight streamed into the gloomy corridor through a series of windows. The hallway glowed in spots, as if inviting him. The more he approached the entrance, the more he felt enveloped by the light. Squinting against the brightness, he ducked under the arched opening, and his field of vision suddenly opened up. There was a garden set in the courtyard.

In a word, it was vivid. How many people could resist being captivated by the space overflowing with a variety of colors? The well-maintained trees and blooming plants greeted visitors visually and olfactorily. Although he had no pretensions of being a cultured person, the garden before his eyes was undeniably beautiful, even to a layman, and he could not help but praise it wholeheartedly.

"Amazing."

The fortresses and castles he had seen as a soldier in the northern countries were all built through the refinement of fortification techniques in bloody battles. Comfort and appearance were abandoned. Planting flowers was considered less beneficial than planting potatoes; that was the Haiselk way of thinking. It was rational, but it left no room for culture to flourish. The richness that the Haiselk Empire had lost or never possessed, due to the harsh realities of being surrounded on all sides, was evident.

Being able to enjoy non-essential luxuries and items, which were irrational and inefficient for survival, was a sign of a prosperous country. How much territory had been taken, how many thousands of troops had been defeated—these were indeed splendid achievements. But how much richer had the country and its people become? The current state of the empire provided the answer.

"Truly remarkable."

Even Worm, who had received a kind of vaccination from his past life, was shaken. The surprise attack by the Meierd Principality was impressive.

"I'm surprised. Most Haiselk people who have passed through the garden have either frowned or ignored it. You, Guardian, are truly enjoying it."

"Haiselk has its share of wildflowers."

"Wildflowers, huh? I see. To be honest, I am deeply surprised that Haiselk people see value in flowers and plants."

Sarcasm? Treating them like barbarians. An indignant Worm narrowed his eyes and glared at the man. The demon mask seemed to agree, vibrating intensely. What was this? After so much time in combat, his thoughts were being influenced by the demon mask.

"Please don't look at me like that. I feel like I'm trembling."

Perhaps half-joking, half-serious. The effect and side effect of the treatment. It was troublesome that the magic eye, which he had unconsciously suppressed due to pain, could now easily appear.

"Please don't misunderstand. I am delighted that I can deepen my connections with Haiselk people not only through combat but also through appreciation and trade."

The man before him was genuinely surprised and pleased, not mocking. It was easy to dismiss it as nonsense, but considering the actions of the empire, it was not a laughing matter. After all, the collective exchange of iron weapons and physical contact through bodily language were the empire's specialties, almost its first language.

"It's easy to say we lack the means, but Haiselk has neglected areas outside of military affairs. However, if we can learn the cultural aspects from Meierd, perhaps the two countries can prosper together for a hundred or two hundred years—just a whimsical thought from a guardian, though."

At first, he thought the man was just a soldier, but his sharp perspective and solid education suggested otherwise. He was likely a knight or attendant with a probing role. Satisfied with the response, the man nodded and the tour resumed. Worm glanced at the garden one last time before following the guide. In contrast to the garden, the inner castle was under the strictest security.

"Please, go inside. They are waiting for you."

The soldier stopped in front of a room and addressed Worm. The silver-inlaid door opened, and he stepped inside. Opulent but not overbearing art pieces caught his eye. The ceiling was so high that even a giant could not reach it. At the center of the room, a long table with carvings divided the space. On the other side of this boundary sat a young girl and an old man.

"I am Worm, the guardian of the Haiselk Imperial Army. It is an honor to meet you, Duke Meierd."

He announced his name as if meeting for the first time, despite having encountered her three times. Rita Meierd, the current duchess of the principality. Her current gaze, steady and unwavering, bore no resemblance to her former frail self.

He shifted his gaze to the elderly knight, Latwich, who stood beside her. Two years had passed since their confrontation in the bastions, but his eyes had only grown sharper and more seasoned.

"I am also pleased to 'reunite' with you."

She had driven home the point that this was not a casual meeting. There was a dignity and gravity that only those destined to lead possessed. The innocence of their first meeting and the vulnerability of the second were gone. The sorrow of a fallen nation had transformed the girl into a duchess. What did this person want from the Haiselk guardian? He braced himself for what was to come.

"The content of what I am about to say is not as the Duke of Meierd, but as Rita Meierd personally."

A kind of prelude. The tense atmosphere relaxed slightly.

"At the first Eidenberg, if I hadn't been 'spared,' I wouldn't be here. I doubt I could have escaped from you, the 'Will-o'-the-wisp' user, in the fallen capital. Even if it was a momentary lapse, I still remember the meals I ate during my escape."

She might have been of noble lineage. There was a suspicion. But Worm had turned a blind eye, swayed by personal feelings. If he had known she was the daughter of the late duke, would he have let her go?

"The second time was in the bastion of the Sarevo fortress. Faced with your killing intent and blue flames, I was genuinely startled. The intensity made me wonder if it was the same person. Since then, I've tried to understand the multifaceted nature of people and countries... or rather, I'm still learning."

He had shown mercy to the girl and tried to kill her. Was he contradictory and insane? No, not at all. People, including Worm, carry many conflicts and contradictions. Conscience, malice, reason, instinct—the list goes on.

Among them, Worm had clung to the morality he had cultivated in his past life, even as it wore thin in this one. He tried to keep the pendulum from swinging too far to maintain mental balance and preserve his humanity. He had drowned in alcohol and inhaled purple smoke to blur reality. A form of escapism, he was aware of it.

"Few people can live with beliefs and without contradictions. I envy and am dazzled by them."

He had tried to keep his expression neutral, but how much had he managed to suppress? If he had a mirror, he would have seen the bitterness clearly. He scoffed at himself.

"From here on, I will speak as the Duke of Meierd."

The girl paused, returning to her role as duchess.

"Friendships between people can be damaged by trivial events, and friendships between nations can easily be lost. I was a powerless person with no strength or experience during the alliance of four countries. I may not have changed much, but I have a firm resolve now. I will not tolerate anyone who harbors ill will toward the Meierd Principality. There may have been misunderstandings and irreconcilable differences between our two countries. I cannot erase everything, but that is why we must continue this alliance for a long time. Personally and as a soldier, I have high hopes for you, Guardian Worm."

Worm, who had received Rita Meierd's thoughts both as a public figure and a private individual, discarded formalities and spoke from the heart.

"Whether I want to or not, I am a person who can only destroy and kill."

The old knight's eyes narrowed, but the duchess waved him off. Setting aside personal preferences and morals, Worm's battlefield skills were useful and proven.

"However, I can say I am good at that. If there is anything that hinders the peace and prosperity of Haiselk and Meierd, I will fight with all my might. Even if I lose my eyes and organs... I sincerely wish for the two countries to walk together for a long time."

People are powerless, so they wish and resist. Worm was one of them.

◆

"I heard you had a rendezvous with the duchess."

In a corner of the training ground connected to the barracks, Worm was stopped.

The voice was full of energy, making it easy to imagine the vitality of the speaker.

"The rendezvous I know is with the old knight. Do you have such a custom in your family?"

The towering figure, one of the key figures in the temporary city wall defense, Deborah, laughed. Despite being middle-aged, her body was like a walking rock.

"Heh, there were no chaperones, but my dates with my husband always had monsters around."

A wild couple, dating in a monster-infested area. Reliable on the battlefield.

"I'm relieved. Is it okay to skip training? They're getting lonely."

A glance revealed a pile of Meierd's new recruits. After building stamina with running, the poor young men had been toyed with by Deborah. They turned pale at Worm's threat to report them.

"There are many cute ones, but few with backbone."

Middle-aged people tend to like the young. The way they were rolled around was clear. Some of the more perceptive new recruits were already playing in the dirt, pretending to be asleep with dirt on their clothes. Whether the training officer was deliberately overlooking them was unclear, but Worm decided not to mention it.

"There's no challenge. How about it, Worm?"

Worm, who had been distracted, doubted his ears. The direction of the outstretched finger was the training ground. The idea of a date in public was ridiculous, and the demon mask was annoyingly excited.

"It wouldn't be right to my husband."

"Hey, it's fine with me."

"Sure, Worm-kun, you're welcome. Escort my wife."

Yogim, the training officer's assistant with a face that suggested a lack of luck, agreed. Advocating polyandry, he was quite radical. His son, Moiz, started the tour with a smile.

"It's an invitation from a senior. You can't refuse, can you?"

"Sure, you're a good man."

Deborah bared her teeth in a fierce grin. Resigned, Worm removed his equipment.

"Guardian, let me help."

From somewhere, Flueg's subordinates appeared, efficiently removing his gauntlets and knee guards and hanging them on chairs. Worm, who had to discuss his subordinates' training methods with a Haiselk squadron leader, inwardly groaned. The new recruits were also excited like a harvest festival. He should have reported them.

"What are the rules? Hand-to-hand combat?"

Stripped to his shirt and half-boots, Worm stretched and asked the training ground's master.

"Just touching the ground isn't interesting."

"So, what?"

"「Until one gives up.」"

"Right."

They agreed. It was a fun Haiselk-style physical language exchange. Not one to be on the receiving end, Worm made a suggestion.

"Since it's a match, it's no fun without a bet."

Worm, who had shifted to a mild abstinence from alcohol, knew that refusing would lead to a bad end with the line "Can't you drink my alcohol?"

"Sure, let's bet on alcohol."

The bet was settled. They slowly took their stances. There was no need to worry about the signal for the clash. A father and son with chest guards and wrapped hammers were visible. They seemed to be enjoying life, despite being under Deborah's command. Otherwise, they wouldn't have survived in Dandueg.

The training ground was filled with the cheers of the soldiers, the rhythmic stomping, and clapping. An awkward gong was struck. Whether it was a passionate tango or a breathy flamenco, the stage was set. Those who danced too late would fall to the ground.