Chapter 1: The Forgotten Events of the Anime

Oink, oink, oink.

“A horde invasion in the middle of our endlessly tense back-and-forth with Dustour. When I first heard the news, I doubted my own ears and feared for the outcome, but who would have thought that a new Dragon Slayer would hail from House Denning? With this, Cirquista can’t rub the fact that they managed to tame a dragon in our faces anymore!”

“I happened to overhear that the commoners think House Denning was way more reliable than the guardians of the royal family...but indeed, we cannot argue against that view in this incident. The capital is in an uproar. I have heard many good rumors from my son, but I really shouldn’t have expected anything less from the famous Prodigy of Wind!”

Wait. This guy’s son is that boy with natural curly hair, right? If I remember right, that guy was the person who slandered me the most back at Kirsch Mage Institute. I felt a bout of irritation come over me. But...I must keep calm. Resist. Right now, I must exercise self-control. Pointing that out in this place would be rude. After all, I was currently...

“Here, please enjoy the meal. This ball was organized for your sake, after all!”

Though the hall was decorated with glamorous and gorgeous ornaments, there was a certain finesse and elegance to it, along with the specific type of dignity that came with having a long history. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling and its glimmering light shone down on paired-off men and women dancing on the floor. There were many nobles sipping drinks from their glasses gracefully as well. Yes, indeed, I was at a ball.

This was the fortress city, the capital of Daryth, which was sometimes compared to a giant stronghold. I was in the royal castle located in the central area of the city.

“Ah, here you are, Lord Denning! Could I bother you for a retelling of how you slew the dragon?”

Another noble laughed. “How many times are you planning on making the Dragon Slayer repeat himself?”

I heaved a sigh inwardly. Another bunch of people have come my way. There was some gorgeous food around, but I had no time to eat at all. Jeez, how many of you are there? Is there no end to the talking? It seemed that powerful people of the aristocracy were very much devoted to making friendly conversation.

I know the truth, though. All of these self-important people have belittled me thoroughly behind my back before.

“Still, Dragon Slayer, I heard that the duke has already returned to the front lines, but...is that true?”

“My father is the linchpin in our operations against Dustour. After he spent one night decimating all the monsters that ran away, he immediately returned to the battlefield,” I said steadily.

“I see. Well, the people of the empire change their tactics depending on his presence, so that makes sense.”

After my father exchanged a few words with me at Kirsch, he literally immediately left. Like, seriously. Since his original goal of exploring the dungeon was impossible, I guess he probably decided that there was no meaning in staying there any longer.

When he left the school, though, he said to me that he was waiting for me on the other side, but... Who in their right mind would head to the front lines? And I have no intention of quitting Kirsch at all, you know? Even at school there were rumors that I’d leave, but that place is the oasis that heals my heart, okay? I can’t leave it that easily.

Speaking of Kirsch, it’s in the middle of reconstruction and the long holidays. Most of the students would probably just return to their family lands, but I was sent an invitation to the capital by the queen herself so she could show her appreciation. I had already been busy every day dealing with my noble professors and the soldiers in Kirsch, but I only became busier when I came here.

“For an ancient dragon to appear in a human habitat, though... That is quite a rare occurrence. Where in the world did it wander in from...? Not only that, but I hear that it was identical to the Guardian Dragon of Huzak. Is something unsavory happening in that land, perhaps?”

“Oh, what are you saying? That thing originally started off as dirt in a dungeon. There is no logic or reason in their actions,” a nobleman replied with disdain. “Oh, this is delightful.”

With a glass of water in one hand, I tuned out the people around me. If I don’t, my mind will be fatigued and I’ll end up getting thinner from stress, you know!

Ugh, and that guy! How dare he take the meat I was aiming for! Damn it, there isn’t much left! I sighed inwardly once again. These people just stuff their faces without a care in the world. They don’t know how I feel!

A long and loud growl echoed out.

“What was that sound...?”

“It was the sound of my stomach. What about it?” I said with a tone daring them to comment on it.

Hey, what’s there to laugh at about me trying to lose weight? Don’t bother me anymore. Leave me alone. If anything, just let me go back to my room!

“You over there! Bring some food for the Dragon Slayer!” a man ordered.

“I am fine. I am on a diet, so please do not worry about me,” I declined.

A maid came up to me with a plate. “Apologies for the wait, Lord Denning. Here is your two-hundred-gram pork loin. This dish is low in calories.”

That was fast! The maids in Kirsch can’t even compare to the people here in terms of speed! At school, the maids seemed to put everything into their work, but the maids here are fast and graceful. But I’m on a diet... Jeez, is this a torture session or something? All the foods on display are my favorites, darn it! No, I must resist! I’m on a diet, after all!

...Okay, should I just eat it now? Do I go for the finish? Do I snort and munch like crazy? All right, feast time! I’ll dig in! It’s a reward for me! Aaah!!!!!!!!!!

“Oh my!!! So here you were! Please, tell me your stories!” a young noblewoman gushed and approached me.

“Ah! My daughter, this gentleman over here is the famous Slowe Denning himself. He’s the Dragon Slayer we have heard all about!” a nobleman said.

Just when I thought the onslaught of nobles was over, a few slightly older ladies dressed in glamorous clothing approached me, asking me to recount my tale. One by one, they encircled me, and my diet was rescued by a hair’s breadth.

“Yes, I do know of you. You are the Prodigy of Wind, are you not?”

However...well, in exchange, I felt a pair of eyes drilling holes into my back. I glanced over at the spot where she probably was as I felt cold sweat trickling down my skin.

The girl in question was glaring at me, looking like she had swallowed a lemon. My retainer Charlotte was the only commoner attending this banquet, and very few people came up to her for a chat.

The nobles were busy making connections with each other. That left Charlotte to enjoy the taste of the exquisite cuisine in her mouth while glaring at me.

“Oh my, how brave, crossing the forest path all by yourself. I heard that even the famous Order itself had trouble with it! Were you not scared?”

“Um, well...I was just really focused on getting through,” I said.

After that night, when I confessed to Charlotte that I knew her past...

Since that very moment, our relationship only took a turn for the worse.

“Everyone, please look at his arm! Even though it looks all wobbly, there’s definitely a mass of muscle...” the lady trailed off.

Please give me a chance to explain myself. I had intended to patch things up after that.

“Well, not really...but there’s something cute about it!” the lady continued.

But I had been immediately surrounded by a sea of people like how I was now, and Royal Knights came as reinforcements from Yoram. After taking down the dragon, I had been so busy that I didn’t even have time to sleep, and...I ended up leaving Charlotte hanging in the air like that...

A few days later, we passed by each other and she whispered to me, “You came out with such a major truth but you won’t make time for me. Why? Are you blind to how I would feel? Even if I don’t look like it, I am a princess, you know...”

I had felt a shiver go through my whole body when she said that. After that, even if I tried to talk to her, she had started ignoring me, and, well... In the carriage on our way to the capital, Charlotte had looked so anxious and like she was deep in thought. I couldn’t talk to her if she was in that kind of mood. Right now, I wasn’t sure what Charlotte was thinking.

“You are so adorable, but you’re a Dragon Slayer! You really can’t judge a book by its cover, can you?” Another lady nodded.

“Shall we talk over there? Just the two of us.”

“Oh my, are you trying to get a head start?!” another gasped with disbelief.

I did have an idea of what she was thinking, though. My actions surely reminded her of her past, so she was probably thinking about her home country. Specifically, she was probably thinking about White Castle where she was born and raised, and what it must be like now. Or, maybe, she was thinking about the state of her country and her memories there.

Yet, I was currently leaving her to the side as I was fawned over by countless ladies, even though she had many worries on her mind. That’s a big red flag to anyone with morals.

“Yikes,” I muttered at what I saw.

Charlotte stabbed her roast beef with no emotion whatsoever on her face, lifted her fork, and chewed on the meat. Lather, rinse, and repeat. Whenever Charlotte was stressed, she had a habit of binge eating silently. I only recently discovered this fact.

Oh no! Now she’s gloomily stuffing sweet desserts into her mouth. Charlotte, no! Don’t! You’ll become obese! Damn it! When you’re overeating, it’s surprisingly hard to gauge that yourself! Trust me, I know! So—

“Charlotte! If you eat more than that, you’ll grow fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I was desperate and it seemed like the only thing I could do, since I couldn’t move from the circle of ladies around me.

Due to my outburst, people started staring at Charlotte. She froze, dessert in her hand. Then, chuckles began to sound out from all over...

“Who is this ‘Charlotte’? Oh, that girl, I see.”

“My, my! That girl is the Dragon Slayer’s retainer, if my memories serve me right. I see that she doesn’t seem to be used to the dazzling world of nobles.”

Charlotte realized what was happening and her cheeks flushed crimson. But please, don’t be mad at me, I pleaded in my mind. I can’t move from here.

However, Charlotte did not respond to that plea of mine. She ate the rest of the dessert in her hands in one big bite and ran away from the hall at lightning speed. Just before she made her escape, our eyes locked. In other words, she gave me a big glare.

Oh...it looks like I’ve crossed the worst possible line in her mind.

Daryth City was a fortress city that was on a completely different scale from Yoram.

Stars glittered like scattered jewels in the sky above, and their faint light lit up the vast castle town below. I was standing on a balcony overlooking the capital, which was still well lit even at night. The chilly wind brushed over my whole body.

Meanwhile, Princess Carina was staring at the night city and spacing out. I hadn’t expected her to be at the banquet, but she had appeared out of nowhere. I kept my silence, watching over her.

The princess’s appearance had not been part of the plan and it caused quite a stir in the hall. Their reactions weren’t surprising, considering that the princess was a moody person who didn’t often show up at such occasions. However, it seemed that the princess of Daryth had no interest in the ball at all, and she had led me by the hand out onto the balcony. To be frank, she really saved me there.

“Princess Carina, just how much longer do I have to continue with such things...?” I felt a moment of weakness spill out of my mouth.

I hadn’t thought that it would be so suffocating to be surrounded by calculating nobles. If there had been at least one person I knew, like someone associated with House Denning or one of my former friends around, then I would have had a lot less weight on my shoulders.

I thought back about some of my friends from the past: the serious Claude, the free-spirited Silva, the hot-blooded Marco, and the wayfaring Roswell. There were many people who had put me on a pedestal because I was pretty much guaranteed to be the next duke, but those four were the only friends I could trust from the bottom of my heart. I had been able to reunite with one of the four, Silva, but...right now, that guy was currently confined to the Academy for research purposes and data about the Mystical Sword of Wind.

“You don’t look so happy, Slowe,” the princess noted. “Did you not have fun at the ball?”

“This kind of thing really just does not sit well with me. I’ve really seen that fact for myself now. If I had the choice, I would return to Kirsch immediately.”

“That’s not possible. You changed the element of the Mystical Sword, a national treasure, and then you managed to pull off slaying a dragon, which nobody could have predicted. You must remain in the castle until my mother returns.”

“Would Sir Delfrey cut me down because I tampered with the Mystical Sword?”

“Despite the rumors, the current Guardian Knight is actually quite an understanding person. And there’s no way he would cut you down now. Slowe, you’re a hero. Remember the masses of people who crowded around the castle in the daytime just to get a glimpse of you? That was pretty crazy, wasn’t it?” Princess Carina said.

“Indeed. I honestly did not expect this treatment when I came here. Rumors sure spread fast,” I said.

“Well, we’re talking about a Dragon Slayer here. That kind of thing is straight out of a fairy tale.”

Many commoners had heard rumors that the Dragon Slayer would visit the city, and today the capital had been in pure chaos.

Princess Carina hesitated before she continued. “Well, I don’t think you have to put so much thought into it. The Great Spirit of Light and the Guardian Knight might be a little upset about it, but nobody can mess with the hero who protected Kirsch. Plus, my mother probably likes you, Slowe.”

“Huh? L-Likes?” I stammered.

“You’ll see when you meet with her,” she said. “Wait, what? But you’re that... You were House Denning’s famous Prodigy of Wind. Haven’t you spoken with her in the past?”

“Only a little. I have also changed a lot since back then...”

In the end, I suppose there was no point in trying to predict how things would go from here. The person with the most political influence in this country was currently visiting various countries in the south, so she wasn’t in the castle right now. Apparently, it would still be nearly half a month before she made her return, so I probably didn’t have any choice other than to wait patiently for the final verdict.

And about that... What’s going to happen to my life from now on? I probably have no place in House Denning anymore. Even if my father takes my side, House Denning is too big to sway from just that.

In contrast to the skies with stars shining brilliantly in the night, I couldn’t see my future at all. What...will happen to me?

“Oh, right. I wanted to ask you something,” she trailed off.

If I wanted a luxurious life, I guess becoming Princess Carina’s Guardian Knight would be a valid option? But it’s pretty unsettling times out there, so... Oh. I just remembered. Back then, during all the chaos, I hugged this person... I mean, this lady. I was really focused on dealing with the dragon back then, but still, was that out of line? Ugh, no, stop thinking about that! Don’t remember stuff like how her body felt against you back then or anything!

With the gentle glow of the moon casting down on her, the princess stared at the bustling capital below us.

I tried to hide my internal struggle by keeping a blank face on the surface. After a short while, Princess Carina looked at me, puzzled. “Hey, why are you making such a weird face all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s nothing.” I changed the topic. “So, what did you want to ask?”

“Did something happen between you and your retainer? That interesting earthworm girl, I mean.”

I froze for a second. “Huh? Nothing happened. Wait, earthworm...? What in the world is your impression of her?”

“I heard that you two hadn’t had a proper conversation until you came to the capital, even though you were so close back in Kirsch. Is she perhaps jealous since you suddenly became a hero hailed by all? As for that description, well, that’s because the earthworm was very memorable.”

“I do not think it would be anything like jealousy...”

“Oh, really?” She raised an eyebrow. “I hear that Kirsch is currently on holiday, but is she going to return to her homeland too? I had the impression that retainers are always with their masters, though.”

“Charlotte will not return to her homeland. Sorry, but I cannot tell you the details...”

Ever since I had revealed the truth, things had been awkward between Charlotte and me. My lie had been for her sake. However, we still hadn’t managed to have a proper conversation since I was heaps busier than back in Kirsch. It was unexpected on my part because I thought I would have time to talk to her before the queen returned. Who would have thought that even Princess Carina would notice this rift between us, though?

“Seems pretty complicated,” she commented. “But, well, surely time will solve all your problems.”

“Princess Carina, where did you learn such mature-sounding words?”

“...Are you making fun of me?!”

Though Princess Carina said that time would solve my problems...the biggest problem I had right now would be tricky to solve that way. No matter how you put it, I had deceived Charlotte for a long time.

The biggest reason this problem got so out of hand was probably the fact that I left her hanging without patching things up properly immediately after I revealed my secret. It would have gone way better if I had actually had, well, a more proper conversation with her back then, but... I sighed inwardly.

Oh, what should I do? If I remember correctly, when Alicia was upset in the anime, Shuya gave her presents. But I don’t know what Charlotte would want in her current state... If I were still in Kirsch, I could have asked someone like Tina for advice and seen if she could fish out information discreetly from Charlotte, but, well, I’m not.

“Dragon Slayer!” A lady came up to me, giggling. “Would you like to have tea with us today?”

“My deepest apologies, but I am fully booked today,” I replied.

“Ah, you are quite the busy one. I see, Dragon Slayer.”

I only had myself to rely on to patch up my relationship with Charlotte. That was exactly why I thought this was my only chance when I saw her walking in my direction, a book hugged close to her chest. I had a session booked with the Royal Knights coming up very soon where they would ask me about the Mystical Sword element change. However, there was no way I could let this opening go.

“Charlotte,” I called out to her hesitantly.

I felt eyes on me. It seemed like Charlotte had noticed me and our eyes met. I hurriedly ran her way. She stood next to a big window, light flowing in from it. The warm air felt like a sign of the upcoming summer.

I hadn’t seen Charlotte’s face up close for a while like this. And just like I thought, she was angry.

“Master Slowe,” she began slowly. “I believe you owe me an apology.”

That was the first thing she said to me. Something I owe her an apology for... Yeah, she’s definitely talking about that.

“I know I’m in the wrong. But there is one thing I want to make clear. I did it for your—”

“Not that.” She cut me off. “No, I mean, that’s part of it, but more importantly... Think about how many years we were together.”

I was silent.

“For a long time. A long, looong time! I had aaalllways been with you, even after you gained a small loose screw or two, and yet!!!” she exclaimed. “I’m sad! At first, I was surprised that you knew my secret, but then I immediately started feeling depressed, thinking that you didn’t trust me at all!”

“Th-That’s not true!” I protested. “That’s not the case at all!”

“And that isn’t all!”

“Huh? Other than the fact that I knew, is there anything else I have to apologize for?”

“You said I would grow fat yesterday!” Charlotte exclaimed. “Do I look fat to you?!”

“N-No, but, well, you ate a lot, so I was worried, and...” I trailed off.

“Well, that is none of your business!” Charlotte snapped. “I mean, I really shouldn’t say this about myself, but I’m quite slim! Also, Master Slowe, you know who I am, right?! I am an esteemed princes— Fweh!”

H-Hold up! Those are some dangerous waters you’re heading into! I immediately covered Charlotte’s mouth with my hand.

“Charlotte, what are you going to do if someone overhears you?!” I hissed.

I insisted that we would be in hot water if someone overheard and Charlotte calmed down slightly.

“It’s not like I want to be pampered like a princess or anything. I know that it’s impossible now; too much time has passed. It’s impossible for there to be any royal princesses good at cleaning and cooking in this world, after all.”

I took a moment to process that. “Uh.” Um, I think you probably can find one if you look. Wait. Did she just say that she was good at cooking?

“What’s with that face, Master Slowe?” Charlotte muttered with dissatisfaction.

“Ah, well, it’s nothing.”

Then there was silence. We hadn’t even had the opportunity to meet each other face-to-face up until now. This conversation was too sudden and I hadn’t braced myself for it yet, so I didn’t know what to say to Charlotte.

She is a real princess, you know? Though her country no longer existed, in terms of status, she was someone out of reach for someone like me.

“Charlotte, I’m sorry that I kept my silence about your secret. So please, give me an opportunity to repent for my actions.”

Charlotte went silent for a moment before speaking again. “Well...”

Then, these words spilled forth from her lips. “In that case, I want to go back.”

“To Huzak?”

Charlotte hesitated. “Yes.”

“That’s... I’m sorry. That’s impossible.” The moment I said that, Charlotte lost some of her cheerfulness.

She should have known that, though. Huzak was filled with endless perils in its current state. There was no way I could promise her so lightly that we could go there like a picnic outing. It was a place where even fully trained soldiers had to make thorough preparations before sneaking across the border. There was no way a lacking mage like Charlotte could go.

Immediately after Huzak had been occupied by a group of vampires, the best soldiers in Daryth had made their way to White Castle but had been unable to even recapture it due to the fierce resistance of monsters.

That wasn’t all. Charlotte should know this too. Even if she returned to her homeland now...none of the people she knew back then would be there.

“You already know this, but your homeland is currently occupied by fearsome monsters. The only people who go there are adventurers and soldiers dispatched as scouts, and there are no citizens left there.”

“I...I know that.”

“Then, why?”

Charlotte took a long while before she answered. “The Great Spirit is with me. If I borrow their power, then—”

“Charlotte. The Great Spirit denied your request, am I right?” I said with conviction.

“That’s...” Charlotte trailed off.

Altanger didn’t like using their powers. I didn’t know the reason behind it, but I didn’t think that they would defeat Huzak’s monsters and help Charlotte return to her homeland. The Great Spirit seemed to really treasure Charlotte, but I was pretty sure of what they would do. Looking at it realistically, it was impossible to go to Huzak.

“Ah, so there you are, Lord Denning!” An unfamiliar noble approached me.

Ugh, can’t you see that I’m in the middle of something right now? Read the room, damn it!

“Just now, I overheard that you were talking about a princess or something,” the man said.

“Huh? Oh, uh, it might have been your imagination, I think?!” I said, panicked.

“No, I heard it with my very own ears. Do you possibly have plans with Princess Carina soon, perhaps? If it is all right with you, shall I accompany you? Do not worry, you can count on me to entertain Her Highness. Ever since she was young, I have—”

“Ah, Charlotte!” I yelled. While I was talking with the noble whose name I didn’t even know, Charlotte quickly disappeared from the vicinity.

For your information, I am not talking about Princess Carina. The princess we were talking about was the girl earlier. Princess Charlotte, who went off just now with a sad look on her face...

“I have somewhere to go after this. I am very sorry, but I must take my leave—” I cut him off.

I heaved a deep sigh. “Even if it’s what Charlotte wants, that request is...”

No matter how many times I thought about it, it was an impossible task.

Periodically, the army would send out a squadron of soldiers and scout for anything that seemed amiss in the monster-filled Huzak. Back before I decided to change for the better, I had secretly read some of the reports from the expeditions. There were reports of powerful monsters living around her home city of White Castle, and news that there was a village of orcs in the colossal Tob Forest, among other bits of information.

“My word... Look at him. How repulsive,” a voice filled with distaste whispered.

Oh wow, I’m hearing some hushed whispers again. When stuff like this happens, I just can’t help but be curious, thinking that they might be bad-mouthing me behind my back. It’s probably a nasty side effect of my dark ages as the Piggy Duke.

However, the ladies weren’t talking about me.

“Who does he think he is? Soldiers are such barbaric people,” another lady added.

“This is a completely different world from where those military aristocrats crawled out from,” yet another muttered with scorn.

A young man wearing a splendid military uniform was walking down the corridor. He had probably rushed here with haste as his otherwise admirable uniform was sullied. His mouth, meanwhile, was pressed into a thin line.

The government officials of the castle made faces of disgust as they looked at him. However, the young soldier kept the serious expression on his face and only looked forward, ignoring all the words thrown his way. He must have headed straight to the capital from the battlefield.

Ugh, these people... Do they even know who’s actually protecting this country? Hmm, judging by the rank insignia on his clothes, he’s a commissioned officer, a platoon leader to be specific. I might know him.

On a whim, I looked at his face, and—

I did know him. Before I knew it, my body had moved on instinct.

“This is...a Heal spell? Who in the world...?” the man muttered.

“If you’re going to come to the castle, Marco, don’t show up looking like that. You’ll be an object of ridicule,” I said.

Marco was from a baron house and one of my father’s favorites. He had often played with me in the past. He was a passionate man who couldn’t turn a blind eye to evil. If my memories were right, he was the same age as Silva, and he often picked fights with the other man, saying that he was stronger.

There was a pause before Marco spoke up. “Let the dogs of the royal palace laugh all they want. I do not care. My life is on the battlefield and not in the capital. More importantly, I heard about your dragon-slaying in Kirsch, Young Master. Right now, talk of your feat can be heard everywhere as a story to spice up the wine, and—”

“Save that for later. Why are you here? You were selected for the undercover investigation of Huzak, weren’t you?”

“You are very well-informed,” Marco said at length.

My father had high hopes for Marco’s talents, so he had been tasked with an important mission in Huzak. If there was the need for it, Marco was to infiltrate Huzak with a platoon following his lead, and they were to check on the monsters there.

In my memories, Marco had always been cheerful and kind. However, he looked haggard right now.

“I am a terrible, terrible man. I deserted my comrades, and...I have returned shamelessly all by myself.”

“What happened?”

Marco began his report. In the middle of his usual mission, he had met a strange human in Huzak and it immediately escalated into a battle. Then, his troops were decimated. Despite him being their commanding officer, Marco’s older comrades let him escape.

“Marco. Are you sure that the human who attacked you was from Dustour?”

“I am. Such an ominous aura could only belong to someone from the Dustour Empire!”

I froze. That’s... Wait, that’s... Oh no. What do I do? I completely forgot about it, but a Dustour soldier in Huzak... That’s exactly what happened in the anime!!! This is bad. This is reeeal bad. This isn’t the time to be putting all my efforts into my weight! Considering the timeline, it’s nearly the time that the main story of the anime starts!

This means...the war is going to start, and I will be sent crashing into a bad end where I’ll be separated from Charlotte.

“Young Master. As a soldier, desertion is punishable by death. There is no need to wait for a verdict. In the absence of the queen, I shall directly report to the princess and depart to where all my comrades are. I am prepared to face the consequences.”

“No, hold up! Wait! You managed to survive, right?! You don’t have to make such a conviction!”

“However! I deserted!!!” Marco yelled.

“Uh, well, listen, Marco. You’re a talented soldier who became a commanding officer of a squad at such a young age. Despite that fact, your enemy was so strong that you couldn’t do a thing against them, right? On top of that, losing you would be a severe loss for the army. My father would have the same opinion as me, I am sure of it.” I tried to reason with him.

“Anyone could replace someone...someone so terrible as me!!!”

“Hey, keep it down! This isn’t the battlefield, you know! Lower your voice!”

If everything went according to the anime, Shuya would make use of the long holiday to head to Zenelaus. However, Shuya was an idiot, so he would try to cut across Huzak, claiming that this route would save him time. Alicia would follow him, practically running away from home.

Oh yeah. In the anime, Shuya practically lived in the library for a while before he departed, so that he could learn about Huzak. Drat, I should have kept track of his actions! If he’s acting just like how he did in the anime, oooh boy...

“Marco, you do not have to die to take responsibility for it. You can just fight them again and win the next time!”

“I see! Then I must return to Huzak immediately!”

“No, what are you saying?!” I exclaimed. “You came here to give a report to Princess Carina, right?! You have to let her know that a soldier of Dustour might have snuck into Huzak!!!”

The first twelve or so episodes of Shuya Marionette began with a certain red-haired guy looking to become more powerful and invading a country ruled by monsters after his peaceful school life arc ended. However, due to his lack of foresight, he was immediately captured by orcs and dragged off to their residence.

In the orc village, the anime’s protagonist and the heroine were driven into a corner with no escape. However, their lives were spared thanks to a pixie who sought peace with the humans and they began a wonderful yet odd friendship with the monsters in the orc village.

However, those halcyon days quickly came to an end. A soldier from the Dustour Empire attacked Shuya and his companions when they went sightseeing in White Castle. The man that Marco had encountered was probably that same exact soldier.

“Young Master, I shall report to Princess Carina and go undercover to infiltrate Huzak once again,” Marco said to me, determined.

“I’m going with you. If I leave you on your own right now, I have no idea what kind of weird plan you might come up with.”

I knew the true identity of that soldier from the anime, and even knew what he hoped to achieve in Huzak. That man was a soldier who had the absolute trust of the Great Spirit of Darkness, Nanatrij, who strove to unite the continent.

He was currently undercover in Huzak to eliminate the soldiers of Daryth and Cirquista lying in wait there, as well as adventurers of the Freedom Union who went to the land for a dungeon-like challenge. This was all in order to gauge the power of the south.

In the anime, he met Shuya near White Castle and gained an interest in him. He was a rather temperamental person who marched to the beat of his own drum, purposely pointing out Shuya’s weaknesses many times and doing things that seemed to push the young man’s growth.

I suppose he was like a rival for the protagonist on the enemies’ side? Shuya would lose to him many times, but the man was more like a wall that Shuya was meant to overcome. However, one thing was clear: there was no way Shuya could even put up a fight against that guy in the student’s current state. That soldier is in Huzak now... My cheerful mood from being the Dragon Slayer immediately soured like a lemon.

An endless stream of thoughts continued to churn away in my mind as I walked side by side with Marco, and then...

“You have changed,” Marco said after a pause. “It is almost as if I am talking to the young master from the past.”

“I have. I did lose weight, after all.”

Marco formed a wry smile on his lips, saying, “That is not what I am referring to, though.”

But if he’s talking about how I’ve changed, what is there to point at other than my weight?

We finally arrived at the audience room. Princess Carina and her tutor, the Cardinal, sat in the spots the queen and her Guardian Knight would usually take. Behind Marco and me were the Royal Knights, lined up in formation and wearing their signature white capes. The contrast between the knights’ uniforms and Marco’s tattered one was like night and day.

Having received Marco’s report, Princess Carina frowned as she was deep in thought. This was all because he had requested that she allow him to infiltrate Huzak once again.

“Excuse me, may I interrupt for a second?” I asked.

Princess Carina was quiet for a while before she replied to me. “Slowe? Ah, am I supposed to call you Lord Denning in times like this...? Oh well, my mother isn’t here right now so it doesn’t matter. What is it?”

Still, how could I have forgotten about all this? If I just enjoyed a blissful life without a care and didn’t lift a finger, the events of the anime would have unfolded. If the war begins just like it did there...I would be guaranteed to be sent to the front lines. Bringing Charlotte into the midst of war is out of the question, and there’s also the very real possibility that I might die a lonely death on the battlefield. That’s a future I absolutely, definitely want to avoid!

“In that case... If you are looking for a suitable candidate, there’s one right in front of your eyes, Princess Carina. I can infiltrate Huzak and scout information about the man who decimated Marco’s squad.”

“Y-Young Master!” Marco exclaimed. “Do you understand what you are offering?! If anything happened to you, I could never hold my head up before everyone in House Denning again! It is blasphemy to make you clean up after my shameful mistake!”

“I think it’s the opposite. If something happened to me, many would probably rejoice. And that isn’t all, Marco. I believe that everything I have said is correct. Father told me to live like how a member of House Denning should. Therefore, I should act, don’t you think?”

After all, my father had been angry at me, saying I shouldn’t think that mere dragon-slaying could make up for everything I had done up until now.

“It is my duty to defeat that man!” Marco argued. “Even if you are the young master, I cannot let you do this!”

“Your hot-blooded side never changes...” I muttered. “I suggest that you learn from the levelheaded Royal Knights, even just a little. Look at those guys. It’s written all over their faces that they wouldn’t want to infiltrate Huzak themselves, even if someone begged them to go. Ah, pardon me, I didn’t mean anything by that. I am just trying to cool this man down. As you can tell, his sense of responsibility is too strong.”

For his age, Marco was a soldier with quite a high station. I could tell that just by looking at him, and the fact that he was in charge of a dangerous area like Huzak only supported that theory. In this country, the higher you were on the hierarchy of the army, the more often you were sent to the front lines. This was because of the influence of House Denning. Well, if you aren’t liked by the people of my house in the first place, then there’s no way you could get far in the army.

“Princess Carina, as you can see, Marco isn’t being rational due to the loss of his subordinates. His mind is far from being clear. I fear that if he meets the man in question again in Huzak, history will only repeat itself,” I declared.

“Your Highness! Please, you cannot let this happen! The young master is the treasure of House Denning, and he is still a student learning at Kirsch! It would be ridiculous to send him somewhere like Huzak!” Marco pleaded.

“What are you saying?” I cocked an eyebrow and addressed Marco. “I’m the famous Dragon Slayer, ya know?”

“Uh, um... M-Maldini, what should I do in a situation like this? Mother never taught me how to handle something like this, and, um... It’s a little too much...responsibility for me...” Princess Carina stammered.

“Your Highness, Duke Denning has told me to treat him equally with his eldest brothers. Since that is the case, there is nothing to be conflicted about. All members of House Denning bear the weight of their fate on their backs,” the Cardinal said.

Even if Daryth sent soldiers to Huzak now, they would only fall at the hands of the Dustour soldier. Marco probably thought that there were many soldiers there, but in truth, there was only one. The soldier, Rooney, had infiltrated Huzak all by himself to scout out the power of the south.

After he was satisfied with his findings, Rooney would report the worst outcome possible to the Great Spirit of Darkness, Nanatrij: the union of the continent could be carried out swiftly.

“Princess Carina,” I began. “Huzak is currently under the rule of monsters. Thus, the best way to deal with the matter swiftly is to send in a select few who can adapt to a variety of situations. I am a Dragon Slayer and defeated a dragon by myself. There couldn’t be anyone more fitting for the job. On top of that, my father would probably agree that this is the duty of a direct Denning descendant.”

The Cardinal backed me up. “Your Highness, I believe it is best to leave the matter in his hands.”

“Huh? But...Slowe isn’t a soldier, and you’re the one who said not to let him go anywhere else until my mother returns, Maldini. This is the complete opposite of what you said earlier.”

The Cardinal was silent. Even though Marco was not privy to this knowledge, I was the one who had captured No Face and Sepith. The Cardinal owed me big time.

The man in question took a moment before he spoke up again. “He is the Dragon Slayer. If he is on the case, and even if our opponents are the soldiers of Dustour, it would be a good match.”

“Cardinal, are you in your right mind?! What in the world are you thinking?!” Marco yelled.

“Marco, remember what you said earlier? You said that I had changed,” I reminded him. “I know that you can’t sit still due to the loss of your subordinates, but you look like you could collapse at any moment now. Get some rest. Well then, Cardinal, shall we work out the finer details of this operation? There is no need to worry. I shall come back to the capital before the queen makes her return. Let’s see... I believe two weeks or so would be enough.”

“Dalton...escort the other man out,” the Cardinal ordered.

Obeying his command, a few Royal Knights forcefully grabbed both of Marco’s arms and led him outside.

“Young Master! Huzak is too dangerous for humans to enter! I speak from experience! I have seen how dreadful it is!”

I thought about Huzak, the residence of monsters. In the anime, when Shuya and Alicia thought back about what had happened when they’d tried to cut across the land, they always concluded that they had been too brash and were trying the impossible.

Well, that was only natural. Trying to do that was like a monster trying to sneak into the dining hall of Kirsch and grab a meal without the students finding out. It was equally ridiculous.

However, I was different from Shuya and Alicia. I wasn’t going to take all the difficulties of Huzak head-on. In other words, I’d be lazy where I could. That was possible if I used the knowledge I possessed.

Thus, I was in this place by my own choice.

“We tried to interrogate the criminal about her Transformation spell, but she would not answer. She was quite difficult, even for us, almost like a feral, starved beast. More importantly, are you really sure that you wish to go by yourself?” the guard asked.

“It’s not a problem. Ah, I will be fine by myself from here on out. I don’t need the key either,” I replied.

The guard saw me off as I advanced into the Great Prison of Daryth.

There was a hidden underground area of the castle where not even a single ray of light penetrated its walls. Within its depths, there was a concealed spiral staircase. If one were to walk down to the bottom floor, they would arrive at a corridor with stone paving, with an overall length probably spanning a few hundred meters.

An urban legend whispered on the streets spoke of the existence of a jail for prisoners underground in the castle. That rumor was actually true. As to why I was in this corridor that led to the jail...

“Who is it this time? No matter who comes, I won’t spill a...wor—” The speaker gasped.

The mercenary who had infiltrated Kirsch Mage Institute seemed to have thinned down quite a bit, yet her eyes held the same strong glint as before. I heard that she had been robbed of her wand and was neutralized, but...right now, she clasped her hands tightly around the bars, struggling angrily to reach out her hand and grab me.

Let me state my impression objectively. That scared the living daylights out of me!!!!!!!! I had a feeling she’d be angry, but this was more than I ever imagined. The livid No Face, with her face as red as a tomato, was the mercenary who had snuck into Kirsch.

“Slowe Denning!” she spat my name. “How shameless of you to show yourself to me after all this time!”

On a list of the people whose fates I had ruined, she would be a likely contender for the number one spot. It seemed that Sepith was able to reflect on his actions and change, but this mercenary was probably different. In fact, she had apparently even tried to summon me from within the jail, saying that she had no intention of saying anything until she talked to me. That information never reached me though, so there was nothing I could do about it.

“At Kirsch, you implied that you knew my real identity! Just how much do you know about me?!” she yelled.

I hesitated. “Let’s put aside that question for now. Um... What would you do if I said I would put in my best effort to have you freed?”

There was no way around it; I had to pay a small price for what I needed to do, and in order to infiltrate Huzak, I needed her powers.

Her Transformation spell... Though nobody had realized it yet, the reason why this mercenary was able to use such a grand spell was thanks to a magical artifact. In terms of rarity, that artifact hid a power that even transcended the Mystical Sword, Daryth’s national treasure, by leaps and bounds.

I would make use of all my power to try and stop the war before the anime’s events would unfold. At this point, I wouldn’t hesitate to join hands with a villain.

The anger in her eyes visibly faded. “...On what conditions?”

It was probably because a different emotion overpowered her anger. Should have expected nothing less from No Face. She’s able to adapt quickly. “I want you to lend me your magical artifact.”

There was a long stretch of silence before No Face spoke again. “As I thought, you do know about it. Why do you know my real identity?”

“Because I saw that in the anime, oink.”

“Hah?” She uttered in a murderous tone. “I’ll kill you if you keep that up. Answer me seriously.”

I had answered her sincerely, though. How was I supposed to explain everything to her in the first place? If I claimed that I knew the future, people might force me into some strange hospital.

“I don’t owe you an answer,” I said instead. “However, you should also have your own duties to carry out. At this rate, you would die a death with only regrets and vexation in your heart. That is, until the day you are able to take revenge on the Great Spirit of Fire, Eldred, who burned your homeland to the ground.”

“...Just how much do you know?” she muttered.

“Well, I don’t know your favorite food, for one.” But I know many things about you. Like the fact that No Face is actually a former noble, and that she hated Eldred.

No Face tried and failed to put aside her shock, unable to bring back her calm demeanor. In fact, her fear was controlling her, and I could understand that. This was a normal reaction since the secrets hidden deep in her heart were splayed open by my words. In her eyes, this pig of a stranger knew about her dream... Her impossible dream of striking Eldred from this world entirely.

“Well, then. Are you going to take the deal or not? Tell me.”

When I returned to the surface from the underground prison, the bright sunlight nearly blinded me for a second.

I now wore a black ring on my finger. With this item, not only was the infiltration of Huzak possible, but... I might even be able to get close to White Castle. This ring solved the problem of how I would get into Huzak.

Only an idiot would fight their way into Huzak without a plan so that they could take a shortcut to save time on their trip to Zenelaus. Like Shuya.

“Master Slowe!”

In this place full of stern soldiers, my name was called out by a girl who didn’t seem to fit in. The soldiers seemed curious about her identity, but once they realized she was affiliated with me and House Denning, that seemed to be enough for them.

“You’re fast, Charlotte,” I said. “As for why I called you here, well... I suppose you have the general gist of it already?”

I had made a request to a Royal Knight to call Charlotte all the way here. Judging from the serious look on her face, she must have heard most of it from the Royal Knight.

“I heard that you are going to Huzak! But first, is Mister Marco okay?”

“He’s doing fine. His passion hasn’t changed at all, and he stubbornly insisted that I bring him to Huzak until the last second.”

Marco had asked me many times to bring him along, even as nothing more than a mere guide. However, I firmly declined his offer. He had a grudge against Rooney. If Marco suddenly acted out of line when he saw the man, it would be an unacceptable turn of events, so...

However, it was different with Charlotte. Our relationship was currently pretty complicated, so it wouldn’t be wrong for me to choose to go to Huzak alone. After all, it was a foreign land where monsters walked around like they owned the place. Charlotte, who didn’t yet qualify as a fully-fledged mage, would only get in the way.

“Uh, and then... While Marco was scouting out Huzak, a suspicious man attacked him and his squad was decimated. Thus, I was tasked with investigating what was going on in that land, and that about sums it up.”

“But Master Slowe, until you meet the queen...” Charlotte trailed off.

“Princess Carina gave me two weeks of freedom. It may be short, but I’ll see to the end of it in that period,” I declared.

“Only two weeks? Right now, Huzak is...”

“I know. Even so, as a member of House Denning, I must go. Charlotte, I know this is very sudden, but please, I want you to answer this question of mine immediately.”

Something was stirring in her monster-ruled homeland. Right now, during this time that hinted at the start of the anime’s events... These two months were the very best chance to prevent the war.

“Master Slowe. Earlier, you said that Huzak was full of monsters, and it’s practically impossible to infiltrate...”

“I did. That’s why I chose to join hands with a villain. I don’t know how this will end up, but at least I have an idea of how I would sneak in.”

“That’s... Um, what do you mean?”

“Due to certain reasons, I can’t tell you right now. I will enter your homeland in a way that even you couldn’t imagine in your wildest dreams. Right now, what I want to know is...are you going to come with me, or not? If you aren’t, then I’ll go alone. That’s all there is to it.”

The Dustour soldier was in a whole other league from No Face and Sepith. Even Silva equipped with the Mystical Sword had a high chance of losing against him. In all honesty, I was looking at a steep, uphill road filled with thorns. However, to stop the anime events that would lead to the war, I needed to beat him to a pulp and make him think that uniting the continent was difficult.

“When...do you leave?” Charlotte asked slowly.

“Right now, if possible. I’m planning on making the preparations at our destination.”

“Right now? That’s...super sudden.”

To Charlotte, this must have felt like a roller-coaster ride. I had only just denied her request a short time ago.

That might not have been all either. Even though she said she wanted to return to her homeland, she may have thought that the idea wasn’t realistic. After all, the consensus was that Huzak was a fearsome, eldritch land filled with nonhuman creatures, ruled by a clan of vampires.

Despite those facts, she said these next words bravely.

“I will go as well. So please, take me with you.”

Our relationship currently had a large crack in it. I couldn’t hope that we would work well together, and our goals were very different. Charlotte wanted to return to White Castle, the place she was born. As for me, once in Huzak, I would change the future.

Both of our goals were guaranteed to be extremely challenging missions.