Chapter 134: Magic

King Rosyth, Im returning to Lezzah then.

Alexio bowed to me.

It costs money to maintain an army.

After seeing the aftermath of the war with Aldos execution, there was no reason for Lezzad to maintain the army any longer.

I guess they want to break up as soon as possible.

I see. By the way, Mister Alexio.

What is it?

Are you planning to serve my country? It would be a shame to let a man of your caliber end up as just a mercenary captain.

Well, our country is not a small country.

Im not very good at war.

Ive gained some experience, so I can fight against ordinary generals.

But if our country is to expand its territory, we will have to fight with opponents like General Curio many times.

We may be forced into a two-front war in the future.

I want someone who can take Bartolos place when that happens.

Ive learned enough about Alexios capabilities from this war.

Nothing would be more reassuring than if he were to serve me.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Lezzad for taking me in. I have abandoned my homeland, but I am not so ungrateful that I would leave the country that accepted me without permission.

So, youre not going to take me up on my offer.

Indeed, if I serve you, I may be able to lead a more prosperous life. You are a great King. Led by you, Rosyth Kingdom will grow more and more. Riding a winning horse, thats the right answer.

Hmm?

If you think so, why do you refuse?

Lezzad is a land of merchants.

No one would blame Alexio for leaving Lezzad for profits.

There is a big price to pay for retaining good mercenaries and generals.

Lezzad also knows that very well.

I dont think he needs to worry about it.

The most important thing to me is my wife, and the second most important thing is my child. If you become a powerful man, you will have to deal with more enemies. Sometimes you may have to abandon your family for the sake of your country. Thats what being a soldier, a general, a noble is all about. It is the duty of those who bear the responsibility. But, I am not prepared for that. I cant put my country before my family. So, I cannot accept your invitation. Please forgive my rudeness.

Really?

Well, if thats the case, I guess I dont have a choice.

All right. Im sorry to keep you. I dont want to force you. If you need anything, please let me know. Ill help you as much as I can. If you change your mind, youre welcome to come to my Kingdom anytime.

Thank you for your kindness to me, even after I ignored your kindness.

Alexio bowed again and walked away.

How do I get that guy out of Lezzad?

So, Im home safe and sound. Father-in-law.

After returning to my home country, I first visited the former King Rosyth.

I hadnt seen my father-in-law in a while, and he seemed to be in good health.

The air and water here is clean, and its quiet. There are hot springs here. My son in law has taken over the troublesome job of being the King. I am in perfect health.

My father-in-law laughed at that.

And I cant die until I see my great-grandchildren.

Haha,good luck with that.

I chuckle.

Great-grandchildren means that, at the very least, Anos and Fiona have to come of age.

Fifteen years to go.

Enough about my life span. I want to hear your story. All about the course and end of the war, from your mouth.

I understand.

I nodded.

The most surprising thing was that Merlin the witch was from my hometown.

Hometown? What do you mean?

His father-in-law frowned at him.

Huh? Didnt we talk about this?

I dont think Ive ever told anyone about it.

I dont think talking about it will do me any harm though.

Just because I dont talk about it doesnt mean that it is harmful.

If this were a monotheistic country, I would be chased being labeled called, Evil man! You are a curse! But in the Adernia Peninsula, this kind of story is so tolerant that people will theorize, I am the son of God, and my mother had an affair with God.

The quickest way to explain the source of my knowledge is to talk about reincarnation.

Thats what Ive been thinking.

So I thought we were talking somewhere else.

The one who knows the details is Master Griffon.

Tetra, Ron and the others know a little from Master Griffon.

Or was it?

Have I talked to Julia about it? Since I havent talked to my father-in-law, I mightnt have talked to Julia either.

Im sorry. Ill explain everything from scratch.

I carefully explained to him about reincarnation.

After all, it was nine or ten years ago.

I dont remember, but I think I ate a centipede.

For me, the fact that you ate a centipede is more shocking than your previous life. Is it edible?

It was bad.

It tasted indescribable.

I dont want to eat it again.

I was out of my mind at the time.

But, well, that explains your childhood cleverness.

Father-In-Law muttered and then meditated as if he was thinking a little.

He then suddenly opened his eyes.

So, Merlin is a reincarnator too?

No, I think it was a metastasis. I think her body is still Japanese.

In fact, the facial structure was that of a nostalgic Japanese.

Her skin color was also yellowish, different from the white Gauls.

Well, there are mongoloid races here too, so it is possible that she reincarnated as one of them.

She doesnt die, you know. Even if you pierce her heart with an arrow or stab her with a sword, her body regenerates immediately. Maybe its a blessing. How can I kill her?

I think if you burn her to ashes, she will die. Theres no such thing as immortality. Its probably just a powerful regenerative ability.

Father-In-Law considered this.

I certainly dont think immortality is possible either.

There are immortal characters in mangas too, but they always have some kind of weakness.

But its real.

Maybe she really is immortal.

Master Griffon knows more about such things than I do, doesnt he? Ask him.

Yes, he does. He seems to know everything.

Lets stop talking about Merlin for now.

Theres still time. Tell me about your hometown.

I understand. You can ask me anything.

After greeting my father-in-law, I headed to the temple first.

This is the temple that I ordered to be built.

In case youre wondering, Im supposed to be the son of Mares, the god of war.

I had to go and report my victory to God.

Afterwards, I made my triumphant return to the capital.

The carriage Im riding in is a four-horse carriage, decorated with gold in many places, a national treasure of the Rosyth Kingdom.

The carriage was pulled by a large, good-looking white horse.

First, the Kings guard, led by Ron and the others, walked in the front.

Then I show up in a carriage, flanked on either side by Bartolo and Raymond.

Behind them are wagons carrying the spoils of war, prisoners of war, ivory, and loot, followed by the great nobles and heavily armed infantry.

I waved my hand and the people cheered.

The soldiers and the people are all proud of themselves.

Long Live Your Majesty!

Long Live Your Majesty!

Long Live Your Majesty!

The people chanted as such.

The Kings of the small and medium-sized countries of the Adernia Peninsula do not use the honorific title of Your Majesty.

After all, he has even less authority than some nobles.

Neither the feudal lords nor the people give much importance to the Kings existence, so they do not give him honorific titles.

But now, I am indeed being called by an honorific title.

Your Majesty youve been summoned.

Bartolo says with a grin.

I nodded.

He draws his sword and raises it to the sky.

The sword shone beautifully in the sunlight.

All Hail His Majesty, The King!!!

Today, for the first time, I understood that my position as King had been solidified.

Its been a while Master Griffon.

After my triumphant return, I visited the Romalia Forest, the forbidden forest where Master Griffon lives.

All the former members of the village are here today.

All of them were holding jars of alcohol in their hands.

Julia and Tetra were not holding alcohols, but holding their babies, Anos and Fiona, in their arms.

Ron, Seyon, get ready.

Yes!

Ron and Seyon placed the large, shallow-bottomed bowl they had brought with them in front of the Master Griffon.

We poured our drinks in there.

There will be three kinds of sake this time.

Wow, all of you came but only alcohol?

Master Griffon complains.

Dont worry.

I also brought some snacks.

Master Griffon. This is the deer I killed.

This is the boar I killed.

Roseward and Gram placed the chunks of meat they were carrying on their backs into the bowl.

I lightly sprinkled salt and spices on the lump of meat and presented it to Master Griffon.

We brought fruits as well.

Lulu heaped up the fruit she was carrying on her back and presented it to Master Griffon.

Alcohol, meat, fruit.

It was a sumptuous meal.

Hmm, you know your way very well!

Master Griffon smiled with satisfaction.

Hes probably smiling. His face is an eagle, so I cant really see the change in expression.

Those babies over there, are they your son and daughter?

Master Griffon turned his attention to Fiona and Anos, who were being held by Julia and Tetra.

Julia and Tetra walked up to Master Griffon.

This is my daughter, Fiona.

Julia shows Fiona to Master Griffon with a slightly strained face.

Julia is not very close to Master Griffon, so she must be nervous.

Tetra, on the other hand, is smiling.

This is my son, Anos.

Master Griffon brought his beak close to the two sleeping babies, who were sleeping peacefully.

He poked them on the cheek with his beak.

Whether its of a man, a boar, or a deer, babies are cute things. Take good care of them.

I know.

If they live up to three theyre not going to die.

I can only pray to God about this.

Now, tell me whats going on.

Afterwards, we talked to the Griffon about what we had been up to lately, about war, politics, and of course, our daily lives.

Because of my position as the King, I cant usually talk to Ron casually.

But just for today, we drank, ate, and talked with Master Griffon.

As we were talking, we decided to go swimming in the lake together.

Thats the lake where I met Julia.

Master Griffon is a cat (lion) and a bird, so he doesnt like water.

As a result, the day was closed for now.

Ron and his friends carried Master Griffons dishes on their backs and headed for the lake.

The only ones left are me, Julia, and Tetra.

Master Griffon, tell me about Merlin, who we talked about earlier.

I dont mind, but are you sure Ron and the others are okay with this?

Ill explain it to them later.

Ron, Roseward and Gram dont like to talk about difficult things.

Blessings, fairies, immortality, agelessness, otherworldliness.

They dont have much understanding of the story.

They would be bored, and it would take a long time to explain each of them.

Were better off without them.

It would be more efficient to talk about it all together later.

Was Master Griffon close to Merlin?

Close? Well, I guess you could say close. Not as close as I am with you, though. Five hundred years ago, we used to see each other frequently. Well, from my point of view, she was just a kid beside Etzell

Who is Etzell?

Chief of the Khalifa tribe. They called him the Great King.

The Khalifa?

I tilted my head.

Ive never heard of them before.

These are the people you call the Flat-Faced. They came from the far east and conquered Gaul, Germanis, Hexpania, and the entire Adernia Peninsula. They are mounted nomads.

Flat-Faced?

The ancestors of Muzio and the other Alv