By Zephyria 
Six gods remain on this land, excluding me.
Spiritus returned to his lair, and Gano Paquin returned to Biban. The First Goddess returned to Sierren’s temple, and the Sun God had never left the Shatun Desert. The river god, whom I had never met, was likely settled in the Saras River as well.
So I assumed the Oasis had also found its place on its own.
“The day you disappeared, that fellow went completely mad, spilling water everywhere and causing a ruckus. Spiritus, who was already overwhelmed, entrusted him to the Sun God, saying he was a nuisance. Thanks to that, I’ve been living without thinking about it until now.”
“Mm.”
“But about three or four months ago, while Leon was searching for you, he discovered a mermaid in the Saras River. Remember? That mercenary.”
“⋯Ah, of course⋯. I remember. The one who could receive the Sun God’s divine revelation.”
And he was the one who was with me right before Oasis and I fought.
It seems they’ve assigned all the knights who could recognize my face to the tracking unit. It’s both embarrassing and appreciated.
Ruben didn’t lift his head. With his elbows propped on the desk, he covered his chin with both hands, listening quietly to what Hugh Benson was saying.
Hugh Benson continued in a nonchalant tone.
“Yeah. So, just in case, he apparently asked the Sun God through prayer. He said he’d only seen a mermaid once in his life and asked if there might be a connection. The Sun God, perhaps thinking there might be, asked him to bring her over. So he went back to the Shatun Desert, and then we received word that he had arrived in Felix, and it turns out that mermaid was Nadi.”
“⋯Ah⋯. He was originally human, wasn’t he?”
“How would I know? That’s probably why the Ninth God, despite all his efforts, couldn’t harm the human the Third God kept close. Perhaps he felt a sense of camaraderie, or something like that. That’s what we were talking about, until just now.”
No matter how foolish Oasis was, he was a god. If that fellow started rampaging, he would be difficult to deal with, and I might have to step in again to protect humanity. It was a great relief that he had calmed down for whatever reason.
Come to think of it, I have quite a deep connection with the gods. Should I invite them to my wedding later?
“If you’re referring to my story.”
“As soon as that Oasis regained his senses, he asked you to convey his thanks. The Emperor here actually funded the entire project of moving the mermaid, and Leon worked hard carrying water and the mermaid all the way to the waterless desert, but he wanted to thank you. So I asked if you knew anything about it.”
“⋯Ah. No, I don’t know much.”
“Really? Did you perhaps not visit the desert while you were gone?”
“No, not at all. I returned home immediately after killing the Ninth God.”
“⋯.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hugh Benson looked quite taken aback.
“No, I just can’t believe it. You say things like ‘I killed a god’ so casually.”
“Haha, well⋯. Honestly, I feel the same way. In the final moments, I was so exhausted that I couldn’t distinguish whether I was the sword or the sword was me. Besides, the opponent used magic more than swords, so it was chaotic.”
“Where on earth did you fight?”
“I was dragged into the Ninth God’s Origin and fought there.”
“For three years?”
“Hmm, well. It seems the flow of time was a bit different inside there.”
The flow of time here and there might not have been vastly different.
But enduring for years without eating or sleeping was a terribly inhuman feat. With familiar and unfamiliar faces around, and with Ruben by my side now, I didn’t want to go into detail.
After giving a brief answer, Hugh Benson didn’t pry further and turned his gaze back to Ruben.
“So, to return to what we were saying earlier⋯. The Michael Tracking Unit personnel have suddenly become surplus. What should we do, Your Majesty? Shall we gather at Grimsvein?”
“Didn’t you say all the disciples of Soho Cheon-nyeo had taken refuge in Owen?”
“Yes.”
“King Owen’s royal family is already half-collapsed. They’re probably dragging monsters into human battles because they lack sufficient troops. We’ve received a request for reinforcements from the Widdrow Duchy, so send those who volunteer to Widdrow. The rest go to Grimsvein.”
“Finally?”
“Yes, finally. Since we can now defend it, shouldn’t we reclaim the border?”
Ah.
Come to think of it, I forgot to tell my family about Duke Ernhardt’s Territory.
I should bring Ruben to dinner tonight. Ruben had expressed a desire to have dinner with me, and I couldn’t neglect my family whom I’d met after a long time, so it would be a good plan. It would be easier to have Ruben explain things himself then.
While I was thinking that, Hugh Benson and Ruben were discussing how far to push the Grimsvein border and which families would contribute to the reconstruction efforts.
I suggested asking my uncle for help, but they said that for Ernhardt to stand tall as another ducal house, it would be better for Ruben to be involved than to rely too much on Valentia’s aid. Fine, I left it to them.
After the not-so-long meeting concluded, Hugh Benson, who was organizing the files, suddenly said.
“The tracking unit personnel will be coming to the capital soon. Still, you should treat them to a meal. They’ve all worked hard.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you for your help.”
“Yeah. And if you manage to coax them into making your duchy, keep them there.”
“You too, Senior?”
“Me too.”
I was surprised by the casual reply to what seemed like a joke.
Unable to respond, Hugh Benson sighed once more and brushed his bangs back. Both his eyes shone with their usual complete green.
But it seemed he didn’t feel that way himself.
“Thank you. This Hip-Circlet or whatever it is keeps my eyes from going wild even when I’m tired. It would be rude to just wash my hands of this after receiving something like this. Marianne isn’t going to become a Count, so you become a Duke and take care of me.”
“Senior.”
“I hate being touched by emotion, so be prepared to pay me a proper salary. There will be many people coming to see you, not just me, so don’t look foolish and act the part. I’m leaving now.”
“⋯Yes. I’ll see you again.”
“Yeah. Once you’re my superior, I’ll use formal language, so just bear with it until then.”
“Yes!”
He’s always been a good guy, then and now. Thinking about accepting and cultivating a new territory, I had many worries, even with Ruben’s help. If I had a strategist by my side who didn’t hesitate or fear me, I could handle anything.
If Hugh Benson comes, Elvin Brooks will likely come too. Fifty or so top-tier Sword Masters would be enough to make monsters, whether medium or large, pose no significant threat. Plus, I’ll be there, and then⋯. Ah.
As the knights bowed and left the reception room, I turned to Ruben.
“Ruben. Um, if⋯. If I receive a territory, would it be alright to raise some monsters there?”
“⋯Huh?”
I hadn’t thought of this when I first came to the capital.
Goblins were small monsters. To me, they were no more threatening than newborn puppies, but they were dangerous beasts to ordinary people who hadn’t trained in martial arts, and to livestock.
However, they had already been touched by human hands. They could speak short human phrases and express themselves clearly through smiles, tears, and frowns. They had already learned how to communicate with humans, not attack them for food.
Most importantly, they were hungry.
I knew well how great the pain of hunger was. Whether human or beast, I wished for them not to starve in this good land. Furthermore, my new territory bordered the Yuil Mountains. Monsters could live by moving between their territory and human territory. Thinking that, my desire grew stronger.
I remembered attending a class with Ruben long ago on how to treat monsters righteously. I hoped Ruben, who would understand my feelings, would be receptive, but I was also worried. I knew well that theory and reality differed.
“After speaking with the goblins a bit, I think I can handle them. I learned that goblins typically live for about thirty to forty years, so if they learn how to interact with humans for generations, they might not be a threat to humanity in the future⋯. Also, there are many people already researching monster languages, so if we establish an academy in the future and reorganize the methods for teaching monster languages, we could coexist safely.”
“⋯This is, truly⋯. An unexpected field.”
“Is it not possible?”
“What should I do, Mika?”
Perhaps it was too dangerous.
Even large monsters posed no threat to me now. Therefore, the way I saw monsters and the way civilians saw them must be vastly different. It was disappointing, but I was about to give up, thinking it couldn’t be helped.
“I⋯. I think I’ve fallen for you again⋯.”
“Huh?”
“Right now, I’m analyzing the altered mana structures of the monsters brainwashed by Soho Cheon-nyeo’s disciples and calculating them in reverse. Monsters trained by humans since childhood show fear towards humans even after their abnormal mutations are released. Because of that, wizards who are reluctant to slaughter normalized monsters wholesale are emerging.”
“Ah⋯. Um, then.”
“We could bring in humanitarian monster researchers and have them raise the monsters whose mutations have been completely removed. If the mutated monster problem is resolved, the chaos in the Widdrow Duchy could also be resolved. If word gets out that Duke Ernhardt’s Territory can take on such dangerous tasks and solve them, it would be beneficial not only for the mining industry but also for the monster industry.”
“Is this good for Ruben too?”
“Of course. It means more time spent with you.”
“⋯Hmm.”
Ruben’s eyes, as he looked at me, were sparkling.
He’s so lovely. Seeing Ruben, who was discussing how to manage state affairs, was so endearing and impressive that I unconsciously reached out my hand again. Ruben leaned into the hollow of my palm, rubbed his cheek against it a couple of times like a young animal, and giggled.
With the child’s permission, I sat beside him that day and watched him work.
Everyone who came in looked at me with wide eyes, as if seeing something strange. Some bowed respectfully, and some asked for a handshake. Without much thought, I shook hands with a couple of people, but Ruben looked displeased, so I refused from the third person onwards.
While my conversation with Hugh Benson was largely comprehensible, most of what the people who came later said was beyond my understanding. I simply enjoyed watching Ruben issue commands and admonish them in his strict or gentle voice, losing track of time.