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“Where is she?” Joshua asked.
Cain tilted his head in confusion. “By she, you mean
?”
“The Silver-Eyed Ghost Sword.”
“Ah!” Cain clapped when he finally realized what Joshua was talking about. “She left Arcadia before Icarus.”
“She left?” Joshua wondered.
“She located the Flame Emperor,” Theta answered, rather than Cain.
“The Flame Emperor?”
“Ah!” Theta remembered Joshua’s three-year disappearance. “You may not know this. I’m talking about Ulabis, previously known as the Knight of Red Flame and the Prince of the fallen Thran Kingdom.”
Joshua’s eyes widened. “He’s alive?”
“Just like you, I thought he was dead
” Theta met Joshua’s attentive gaze. “The Moon Gate is connected deeply with the Magic Tower, so I’ll be able to answer most of your questions.”
“
Then the organization that’s been secretly helping the Moon Gate to get back on their feet is
?”
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“We aren’t the only organization that’s trying to help Moon Gate, but the Magic Tower is indeed one of them. In fact, you must be familiar with the other two groups that are helping Moon Gate; they are the Mercenary Guild and the Association of Free Knights.”
Joshua’s expression changed slightly.
“If the two empires have truly united, then the return of the Flame Emperor is good news for us,” Cain quickly added.
“I agree.” Theta nodded. “The alliance may look tight and solid on the outside, but the two empires actually just want to devour each other whole.”
“That's because there are many people who want power for themselves, even in times like this. Besides, the only reason that the Kingdom Alliance still exists is because of their leader, ‘The King'...”
“It’s already bad enough to have organizations’ leaders in the Kingdom Alliance, but then there are kings, the leaders of nations. Just the fact that they have to listen to each other's orders must hurt their ego.”
“That’s why there’s a saying that everyone has a dream and plan that looks decent
 before they get beaten up.[1]” Cain shrugged.
Theta grinned. “I don't know who said that, but it’s very refreshing to hear.”
“Isn't it?” Cain grinned back. The two seemed to be hitting it off unexpectedly well.
“Anyhow,” Theta continued, “the words of 'The King' are the law during a time of war, and that is why the other eight kings are secretly divided into factions and growling with each other. Naturally, there’s no way the Kingdom Alliance's relationship would be solid.”
“Despite such circumstances, the Flame Emperor withstood the empires' attacks for over a year even when he and his army were greatly outnumbered, so if he reappears—”
Cain couldn't finish speaking due to another loud explosion assaulting their ears.
Joshua looked faintly anxious.
“What in the world is that sound? I keep hearing it.” Theta frowned.
“Well, it sounds like something is exploding
” Cain said.
“Cain,” Joshua interrupted, “head to the border right now.”
“Pardon?” Cain reflexively asked, surprised. “What about you, master?”
“There is some unfinished business I have to take care of.” Joshua shrugged.
“Are you trying to disappear again?” Cain narrowed his eyes.
“Not this time.” Joshua shook his head with a little smile. “You can trust me.”
“But
” Cain trailed off doubtfully.
“Does that order apply to us too, Captain?” someone interrupted as if they had been waiting for that moment.
Startled, Joshua, Cain, and Theta simultaneously turned their heads to the voice.
“Cazes? And
” Joshua stared blankly at the numerous people that stood behind him.
“We were shocked because you disappeared again, Captain!”
“We thought we were going to be abandoned again!”
“Man, it was scarier than the time my wife tried to kick me out of my home
”
“Scary my ass. Didn’t you want to get kicked out?” Ranger snorted.
“Vice Commander Ranger, do you really have to ruin the mood?”
“I just envy you because you’re the only one who has a wife. Do you have a problem with that?” Ranger grumbled.
Joshua watched one hundred knights of the Auxiliary Battalion chattering uproariously as they stood on both sides of Cazes, who was wearing full armor.
“You guys
” Joshua trailed off.
“No matter how hard you try to stop us, we’re going to follow you this time, Captain,” Cazes determinedly said.
Joshua became silent for a moment as he let it all sink in.
“Then
” he quietly ventured.
Cazes and the other knights waited expectantly for Joshua to finish speaking.
“Can I also ask you to do this?” Joshua asked.
Cazes’s face immediately brightened up, and the other knights became so happy that some of them loudly shouted for joy.
“Of course.” Cazes nodded, smiling faintly.
“
Thank you,” Joshua mumbled. He then immediately turned to Theta as if he was trying to hide the look on his face. “Can I request the same from the Magic Tower too?”
Theta smiled; he had been quietly watching the situation.
“The Magic Tower’s fee is quite expensive
”
“I’ll pay as much as is needed,” Joshua firmly replied.
“I don’t need money,” Theta replied, shaking his head, “but I want the Magic Tower and the Hero King to continue to maintain a good relationship. That’ll be enough.”
“
Okay,” Joshua replied.
Theta’s smile deepened. “That’s a promise.”
After Joshua finished speaking, he sharply turned away. It seemed his business there was done.
“Master!” Cain quickly called out to him. “Don’t abandon us again.”
Joshua shook his head. “I won’t.”
“I’ll really curse you if you leave us alone again. You’ll get married later than me at least!” Cain fervently shouted.
“
Yeah, it won’t take long,” Joshua replied.
“I’ll believe you!” Cain yelled.
Joshua nodded and darted toward the distant Second Prince’s Palace as fast as his legs would take him.
* * *
In front of the warp gate in Arcadia, Icarus rubbed the crystal ball in her hand anxiously.
“Please pick up, come on
! Come on
”
Icarus’s efforts finally bore fruit; the crystal ball lit up brightly.
“I got it!” Icarus delightedly shouted.
-
Oh my, Icarus?
The face of someone familiar appeared on the surface of the communication crystal ball. She was stunningly beautiful, with eyes that were a little bit like that of a cat, and blazing red hair. Over the years, she had become a mature woman and even more beautiful than before, but in a different way.
“Lady Charles!” Icarus smiled, but Charles, the woman in the crystal ball, pouted.
-I told you to not call me by that name when we’re alone.
“Ah, well
” Icarus fidgeted with her fingers.
-Do it.
“Si-sister Charles.” Icarus sheepishly smiled. That put a smile on Charles’s face as well.
-Yes, my treasure. You’ve never called after you left, so what happened?
“I’m-m sorry,” Icarus was quick to apologize. “How are you?”
-Oh my. I wasn’t trying to give you a hard time.
Charles gently bit her tongue for a moment.
-Anyhow, is it because of the war?
Icarus’s eyes widened. “Yo-you already knew?”
-The war involves our Empire, doesn’t it? Besides, war profits the merchant guild greatly.
“Then I can cut to the chase: please help me, Sister Charles.”
-What happened?
Icarus briefly explained what had happened until now. The more Icarus said, the more expressions appeared on Charles’s face.
-Th-then the rumor coming from the capital was true?
“Yes, that’s right.” Icarus nodded.
-Oh my god
 He really

It seemed Charles was remembering her old memories, but Icarus couldn’t wait.
“War is costly because not only do we need food but also other supplies to support the army. No matter how great my master is, he can’t fight a war on his own.”
-Of course, that’s why you tried as hard as you could over the last three years, isn’t it?
“
I’m sorry.” Icarus apologized again.
Charles put her hands on her hips.
-Are you really going to keep apologizing? What are you sorry about? Thanks to your efforts, my Pontier Merchant Guild was able to rise significantly.
“But still
” Icarus trailed off timidly .
-Icarus, I’m always grateful to you. In fact, I would have been disappointed if you didn’t aid him.
“Sister Charles
” Icarus was touched. Charles smiled at her through the crystal ball.
-It’s finally the time for your efforts to bear fruit.
“Yes, you’re right!” Icarus nodded as she smiled back at Charles.
On the other hand, Charles showed her clenched fist to Icarus.
-Trust me, I’ll show everyone on the continent why I’m called the Steel Empress.
* * *
While several nobles trembled in the Second Prince Palace, Babel went down on one knee with his back against the nobles and coughed blood.
“
Keugh!”
The white fragments of his intestines were also mixed with his blood, so it was obvious that Babel was critically injured. In addition to that, his greatsword, which was his symbol, was already broken in half, and the fragments were scattered all around the floor.
“I see why you were once called the treasure of the Avalon Empire.” The masked man, the one who had single-handedly killed the nobles lying on the ground and went up against Babel, looked down at Babel. “It might have been different three years ago, but it’ll be difficult for you to fight against me using only aura.”
“Urgh
” Babel let out a short groan and forced himself to raise his head.
The masked man’s aura materialized and took the shape of six arms behind him as he looked down at Babel.
“I took the form of one of the Eight Legion Deities. He’s called ‘Asura’ in the eastern continent,” the masked man mumbled, just loudly enough for others to hear him. The nearby nobles trembled in fear; the masked man knew how to stir fear in people very well.
“Asura,” the masked man mumbled.
His sword hummed. As he moved, exactly six swords rose high up in the air.
“Shit
” Babel cursed.
“Kekeke, don’t feel too bad because even that greenhorn named the Hero King won’t be a match to me right now. On a side note
 I’m the weakest among these people.” The masked man pointed at the other masked men.
Babel visibly flinched.
The masked man took a moment to examine Babel before raising his arm.
“Now die.”
Babel could clearly hear the sound of the masked man swinging his swords down. Babel fell into despair, but he didn’t look away—rather, he fixed his eyes on the six swords as they descended.
“N-no!”
Kaizen and the other nobles, who had been watching Babel, were the ones who looked away.
‘If I knew I would die in vain
’ Babel mumbled in his thoughts.
“Cheap tricks again,” a new voice suddenly interrupted. “Besides, if you’re going to imitate something, you should do it properly. The real Asura isn’t like that.”
Babel and the masked man’s widened.
Six sounds echoed at once. Babel and the masked man quickly searched for the source of the sound. It was easy to find: the fragments of exactly six silver swords were falling, sparkling as they tumbled through the air.
“You
” Babel gaped blankly as the new person lightly landed with his back turned to Babel. Babel was actually familiar with that broad back now.
In a flash, silence fell upon the room. No one could react otherwise, aside from Babel. The masked man with his swords was really strong, but a person appeared and destroyed all the swords. The other masked men were in disbelief, and busied themselves measuring this new person.
The silence was broken by the sound of someone grinding their teeth. Apparently, Babel wasn’t the only one who’d realized who had just shown up.
“Joshua Sanders!” Kaiser furiously shouted at the top of his lungs. “You bastard! Are you going to stop me again?!”
“This is the last time,” Joshua replied.
“
What?” Kaiser didn’t understand what Joshua meant, but he flinched when he saw Joshua’s next move.
As if to answer by action, rather than words, Joshua swung his blindingly bright, snow-white spear, Hertonia’s masterpiece.
“I’m going to put an end to this long feud,” Joshua declared. “Let’s end this, Kaiser.”
1. This is a Korean meme that originated from a saying that is similar to the English idiomatic expression “knock some sense into them.” It's supposedly the greatest way to distinguish con man or make someone pull themself together. ☜