Chapter 120

‘His Highness is returning.’

—At those words, the soldiers guarding the gate snapped to attention.

The same went for Hans on the wall. He felt the faint traces of fatigue vanish.

‘…H-His Highness?’

‘Now? R-right now?’

‘Good heavens… am I going to see him in person? His Highness?’

The Crown Prince Leonardo, a figure who was for all intents and purposes the king.

Who wouldn't be nervous knowing he was coming?

Among the kingdom's forces, not many had seen Leonardo’s face.

Even among the royal guards who protected the castle, very few had seen him in person, as Leonardo rarely came out of his room. And when Leonardo did show himself in public, he was usually wearing a mask.

The only soldiers who knew 'exactly' what Leonardo looked like were those who had gone with him to Misty Port.

“Y-yes! A-a-alright!”

The soldiers guarding the gate hastily took out the keys to the locks to open the gate.

The soldier who was rushing to open the locks looked up at the wall and said to Hans.

“Hey! Hans! What are you doing not coming down?! You have a gate key too!”

“Ah… yes!”

There were three locks on the gate. One was held by the knight on duty, another by the soldier guarding the gate, and the last by the soldier guarding the wall.

The gate couldn't be opened without any one of them. That's why the soldier below the wall had called Hans.

Hans scrambled down from the wall to open the gate. Then, a concern suddenly popped into his head.

‘Wait a minute… it’s not time to open the gate yet.’

The gate was opened every day ‘when the sun was fully up.’ That was what Hans had been taught repeatedly when he was assigned as a wall guard.

But right now, the sun wasn't fully up. He could see the sun rising in the distance, but it was still too early.

‘But I can't just not open it when His Highness is coming…’

As Hans hesitated in front of the gate, deliberating, Hagen glared at him fiercely and said.

“Private Hans, what are you doing? Not opening the gate?”

“Th-that is……”

Hagen held a rank incomparably higher than his own.

Under his pressure, Hans deliberated.

Still, to fulfill his duty, he spoke his mind.

“I-it is the rule to open the gate every day after the sun is fully up!”

“……What?”

Hagen asked back, as if in disbelief.

The soldiers next to him all scowled at Hans with a look that said, 「“That good-for-nothing punk……”」.

“This bastard……. His Highness is right in front of us, what are you talking about! Hurry up and give me the key, you bastard—!”

A soldier who was quite senior to Hans said harshly.

But Hagen stopped the senior soldier.

“Hmm… No, Private Hans is correct.”

At the Vice Commander’s words, the senior soldier asked blankly.

“Sir? V-Vice Commander, what do you mean? You said His Highness has arrived, didn't you? Then we must open the gate—.”

“No, Private Hans is correct. It is military law to open the gate after the sun is fully up.”

“…….”

“Of course, His Highness' command is above that military law. However, His Highness only said, 「“I will arrive soon,”」 not that the gate should be left open. Isn't that right, Lady Seria?”

Hagen asked, lifting the crow from his shoulder onto his hand.

The crow replied in Seria’s voice.

「“That is correct. His Highness only said he would arrive soon.”」

“Hmm.”

After thinking to himself for a moment, Hagen put the key he had brought back into his pocket.

Then he lightly tapped Hans on the shoulder.

“Excellent, Private Hans. I learned something from you.”

“Ah… n-no, sir! I’m sorry!”

“What are you sorry for? I said you were right.”

“…….”

“Go back up to the wall. And when His Highness arrives, ask him. Ask whether the gate should be opened even though it is not yet time, or if it should not be.”

“M-me, sir? To, to, to His Highness?”

“That is the duty of the one who guards the wall, is it not? He will arrive soon, so hurry up.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Hans went back up to the wall. He was disoriented by the situation that was unfolding.

‘Tell His Highness Leonardo to wait? Me? Really, me?’

In the meantime, the three people riding horses toward the royal capital had reached the very front of the gate.

Upon identifying the faces of the three, Hans felt as if his breath had stopped.

‘It’s C-Commander Jereuth. Then is the person wearing the hood His Highness? I can't see his face. …Then who is that other one?’

Putting aside the incredibly large boy.

Hans was so awestruck by the appearance of Leonardo, the absolute ruler of the kingdom, and Commander Jereuth, the second in command and head of the military, that he couldn't speak properly.

It felt like his thoughts had stopped.

However, as commanded by Hagen, and as he himself thought, he shouted loudly.

“I-it is not yet time to open the gate! According to military law, the gate can only be opened after the sun is fully up!!”

***

Jereuth.

Upon confirming that the gate was not open despite having arrived at the royal capital, a thick vein popped on his forehead.

‘I clearly said we would arrive soon… why isn't the gate open?’

Did their discipline slacken this much just because I was gone?

Should I gather the knights for a discipline check?

Gather them all up and give them a harsh punishment—.

—Jereuth was having such fearsome thoughts.

—…According to military law, the gate can only be opened after the sun is fully up!

The words of some rookie soldier came from the top of the wall.

At those words, Jereuth was flabbergasted.

But at the same time, he realized his thoughts were wrong.

‘Hmm… that’s right. It is not yet time to open the gate.’

Jereuth was quick to change his tune.

‘It’s not that their discipline has slackened, but rather that it’s razor-sharp. But even so, for them to do this when His Highness has arrived…’

Jereuth discreetly observed Leonardo’s reaction.

He was curious to see how he would react to the soldier’s words about not being able to open the gate after returning to the castle at the end of an eventful journey. He was also worried that he might be displeased.

However.

“Excellent. To say you cannot open the gate because it is not yet time.”

As expected, Leonardo was different from the other powerful figures, nobles, and royalty of the past.

“Commander. Please tell them we will wait until the sun rises.”

“Are you really… going to wait outside?”

“Yes. The sun will be up soon anyway, so let's wait a bit. To save that soldier’s face as well.”

“The soldier’s face… I understand.”

Jereuth nodded and rode his horse closer to the wall. He intended to convey Leonardo’s words.

A smile was drawn on Jereuth’s face.

***

Hans, on the wall, shouted.

“The-the sun is up! The sun is up!!”

The knights and soldiers, who had been waiting for only those words, opened the gate as fast as an arrow.

Creeak…….

Clatter—.

Through the opened gate, a boy in a hood rode in on a horse at the forefront. His face was not visible due to the deeply pulled hood, but everyone knew he was 'Crown Prince Leonardo.'

Behind him came Jereuth. And finally, a boy with a youthful face—but a build as large as Jereuth’s—walked in, holding the reins of his horse.

The giant boy was looking around curiously.

Thud—!

“Welcome, Your Highness Leonardo.”

Hagen, as the representative, saluted and greeted Leonardo, who nodded with a smile.

Though the smile was not visible due to the hood covering his face.

Behind Hagen, knights and soldiers stood in two lines. They had made a path for Leonardo to pass through.

The people of the royal capital, wondering ‘what’s all this commotion so early in the morning?’—had their eyes sparkling as they saw their savior return to the royal capital.

Many people were disappointed that they couldn't see the crown prince because the hood covered his face.

Just then, a group of people appeared before Leonardo. They were officials who had hastily prepared to greet him upon hearing the news of his return.

—Ah, congratulations on your safe return! Your Highness Leonardo!

—Long live His Highness Leonardo!

—Are you uninjured?!

These were the officials who had been severely reprimanded for preparing a banquet to welcome Leonardo before.

So this time, the officials did not prepare any special welcome party. Even if they had intended to, they wouldn't have been able to prepare it with the crown prince returning so suddenly.

Looking at those officials, Jereuth spoke from atop his horse.

“Step aside. His Highness is weary from his long journey and wishes to rest quickly.”

“Ah… yes! Of course!”

“What are you doing! Step aside quickly! Make way!”

“Soldiers! Why aren't you clearing away those commoner onlookers?!”

The officials were trying hard to get on Leonardo’s good side.

But this, in fact, made Leonardo uncomfortable.

Jereuth was not one to miss Leonardo’s displeasure.

“Do not give orders to the soldiers. The only one who can give orders is His Highness Leonardo.”

“Hup…! Yes, my apologies!”

“More importantly, I don't see Heinshtangl and Olivia. Is something wrong?”

“That is… Official Heinshtangl and Olivia said they would not come out to greet you! They audaciously and insolently presumed that Your Highness would not wish for it! They said they have so much work to do, that they've been working since morning and told us not to disturb them! That father and daughter have their noses in the air! They must be severely punished!”

To the officials, Heinshtangl and Olivia were thorns in their side. Because they were individuals who had received Leonardo’s recognition and trust.

So the official tried to take this opportunity to belittle them.

But once again, it was utterly ineffective.

“What is the problem with having a lot of work to do? Isn't it stranger that you are out here because you have no work to do?”

“……Pardon?”

“If you have no work, go to the farms or the barracks' dining hall and at least do some cleaning. Though the very fact that you have no work makes your qualifications as an official suspect.”

As if it was too much trouble to say more, Jereuth finished his words. Then he followed Leonardo, who was slowly riding his horse ahead.

Clatter—.

Leonardo headed toward the royal castle. Behind him followed Jereuth, Hagen, and other knights, soldiers, and finally, the officials who had missed their timing.

Just then, an official tactlessly—or perhaps tactfully—asked.

“By the way… where is King Philip? He went with you, did he not?”

This was actually something everyone was curious about.

Because the ‘King,’ who had surely left the royal capital with them, was absent.

“……The King is-.”

Just as Jereuth was about to answer the question.

Leonardo spoke first.

“My father sacrificed himself for this kingdom.”

Sacrificed himself for the kingdom.

There was no one who did not know the meaning of those words.

Unlike Leonardo’s calm voice, everyone was plunged into shock.

***

Inside Leonardo’s room.

Elly was fidgeting, and at the same time, she couldn't stop her heart from pounding as she surveyed the room.

‘There aren't any messy spots, right?’

Ever since Leonardo left for the Wasteland of Ruin, Elly had cleaned and organized Leonardo’s room every morning and evening without fail.

One might wonder what there was to clean in a room no one entered, but Elly cleaned and cleaned again.

‘I’ve also replaced the flowers with the ones His Highness likes-.’

Just as Elly was surveying the room so thoroughly that she was breaking a sweat.

Click—.

The door to the room opened. Elly thought Leonardo had already arrived and was startled, turning to look at the door.

But the one who entered the room was Olivia. Olivia, holding a thick pile of documents.

“Sister Olivia—.”

“……I told you not to call me that. At least, only call me that when we’re alone.”

Olivia sighed and shook her head.

After talking alone with Olivia before, Elly had opened her heart to her.

Faced with Elly’s innocence, Olivia couldn't help but open her heart in return, and the two had grown quite close while Leonardo was away in the Wasteland of Ruin.

Of course, Elly was worried about Olivia, who possessed a different kind of beauty than herself, being close to Leonardo.

But in any case, Elly liked Olivia as a colleague and a friend.

‘She seems to be wearing more makeup than usual today… I guess it's because His Highness is coming.’

“What brings you here? Even for you, Lady Olivia, entering His Highness' room without permission is……”

“I’m just going to leave these documents and go, so you don't have to worry. The Head Maid will be the first to see His Highness in his room.”

“Ah… hehe, yes.”

“I want to be recognized for my abilities by His Highness, not receive his affection.”

“A-affection…?”

Olivia, as if she was reading her thoughts.

At those words, Elly blankly repeated Olivia’s word.

On the other hand, Olivia, as if she truly had no intention of meeting Leonardo, just placed the documents on the desk and turned around.

It was then.

“Ah, so you two were here. The door was open, so I wondered who was here.”

“!”

“!”

Leonardo, entering the room with a smile. At his voice, Olivia and Elly were startled.

“Y-you’re here!”

Elly said hastily. In Elly’s line of sight, she saw Olivia discreetly adjusting her appearance.

That action was, to anyone, the action of a woman who wanted to look good for a man she was interested in.

‘…She said she had no intention of looking good for His Highness.’

But such petty jealousy lasted only a moment.

Elly felt that Leonardo’s atmosphere had changed.

‘His Highness… somehow feels more mature?’

Of course, Leonardo had been beyond his years even before.

He had always shown a calm and cool, strangely brilliant and dignified appearance.

But now, he had an even more ‘manly’ feel.

Perhaps because it had been a long time, his body also seemed to have become a bit more solid.

This was not just Elly’s thought.

‘His Highness Leonardo’s… presence seems to have changed. His posture is straighter than before, and he seems to have put on some muscle. Did he train under Commander Jereuth during his journey? He was on the journey for quite a long time, but can he change that much?’

Of course, Leonardo was still boyish. His face was youthful, and his body was incomparable to that of an adult man.

But clearly, just looking at Leonardo’s body, he was similar to knight squires who had trained for quite a long time.

‘…What am I thinking. I just admire His Highness Leonardo’s abilities.’

Olivia lightly shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Leonardo entered the room. He placed his backpack on the floor and spoke.

“I haven't been able to wash properly for a long time, so I'm going to wash up. And I'd like to rest alone for a bit, so could you please leave?”

***

“Then, Your Highness! Please rest well! If you need anything, please call for me right away!”

Elly said brightly and left the room. Beside her, Olivia, who had already left the room, was slightly bowing her head to me in greeting.

Click—.

I stared blankly at the closed door and thought.

‘I told Elly and Olivia I would wash up and rest a bit… but I don't feel like resting.’

My body craved a shower right away. Thanks to the 'Health Necklace,' my body wasn't tired, but my mind was.

But despite that, my head was so cluttered that I couldn't rest.

‘First… let’s read the Future Diary again.’

On my way back to the royal capital, I had checked the Future Diary whenever I had time.

In the hope that some unknown variable might have changed my fate.

But my future had not changed.

‘In the end, the future will only change if I make a change myself.’

Flip—.

I took the Future Diary out of my backpack and sat in a chair. Covered in sweat and dust.

Dirty particles fell onto the once spotless desk. I felt sorry for Elly who had cleaned it, but I didn't have the luxury to care about such things.

‘This is the part of my ending that bothers me the most.’

……

Four months have passed since the war with the monster army began.

My army fought bravely. At first.

But after the defeat of the human & Giant allied forces led by Jereuth, my army lost hope.

However, in that fierce war, the damage suffered by the monster army was also considerable.

So if my army had not lost its courage, we could have put up a good fight. Probably.

But… the absence of the hero Jereuth was too great.

I could not replace his presence.

In peaceful times, the soldiers were loyal to me, who governed for them, but in a situation where their lives were at stake like this, the soldiers did not trust me.

Because I had never shed blood, sweat, and tears with them. During the preparations for this war, I was just a person who sat on the throne and worked busily. Most of the soldiers had never even seen me, so it was only natural that they did not trust me.

…….

‘When I arrived at the royal capital earlier. The knights and soldiers seemed to show me infinite loyalty. And they might actually be.’

But the diary said, ‘In peaceful times, the soldiers were loyal to me,’ and ‘in a situation where their lives were at stake, the soldiers did not trust me.’

It meant that when the kingdom was on the verge of ruin, they sought a way to live.

‘The one silver lining is… the future me told me why the soldiers didn't trust me.’

The reason the soldiers didn't trust me.

It was ‘because I had never shed blood, sweat, and tears with them.’

That seemed to be what the future me was trying to tell me.

‘But how do I shed blood, sweat, and tears with the knights and soldiers? Should I order an attack on the Monster Mountains right now and participate in that operation myself? Or should I just leave the internal affairs to Olivia and participate in subjugating the bandits?’

In fact, this was a dilemma I had been pondering throughout my journey back to the royal capital. I had read the Future Diary and thought about it whenever I had a chance on my way back.

But I still hadn't found an answer that satisfied me.

“Hoo…….”

I sighed in frustration, stood up from my chair, and looked out the window.

‘Shedding blood, sweat, and tears with the soldiers……. What should I do? As I thought, it’s best to participate in the bandit subjugation fir—.’

As I was thinking.

Outside the window, I saw the soldiers who had begun their morning training on the training ground.

Along with that scene, I could hear the rough shouts of the knights and the sounds of the soldiers training with clenched teeth.

—Yaaaaaaah!

—Run! Run faster!

—You bastard, you're a disgrace!!

—Get down and give me push-ups!! Hey, look at your form?!

—Forward prone! Backward prone!

—Stab! Slash! Strike!

—Bastard! You're gonna do it like that?! If the formation breaks because of you, are you gonna save all those bastards?!

—S-sorry, sir!

—Does being sorry end your military service?!

—No, sir!

—Is this outside or inside?!

—The assault formation like a spear and arrow! The defensive formation solid as a rock!

—Can you even eat with skills like that?! Do you think we have bread to spare?!

Blood and sweat with the soldiers.

‘What if I train with them over there…?’

As that thought suddenly occurred to me.

Scribble, scribble, scribble, scribble, scribble—!

“!”

The conclusion part of the opened Future-Diary went back a few pages.

New content began to be written.