After I said those words, the mansion's living room fell silent. The sound of the fireplace burning in the background seemed even louder than before. They all looked at me as I slowly removed the sword from my waist and rested it beside the sofa.
Liriel was the first to notice.
"You're different."
I sat down slowly as I rubbed my face.
"Maybe I'm just tired."
"No."
She shook her head.
"That's not it."
Scarlett leaned against the wall near the window with her arms crossed.
"He's thinking too much."
Rai'kanna pulled out a chair and sat down in front of me.
"What happened at that meeting?"
I let out a slow sigh before answering.
"The nations have officially begun preparing for war."
Vespera immediately became serious.
"Did they confirm the demon army's movements?"
"Yes."
I looked at her.
"The troops are still in the north. Stationary. But there are smaller movements in other regions."
Lyannis rested her fingers on the arm of the sofa as she calmly analyzed everything.
"They're spreading pressure among the nations."
"Exactly."
Elara slowly stepped closer.
"And the First General?"
I remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
"No one knows where he is."
That made the atmosphere in the room even heavier.
The fireplace continued burning softly while the night wind struck the mansion's windows.
Liriel sat down beside me.
"And you?"
I looked at her.
"What about me?"
"What did they decide about you?"
I couldn't help letting out a weary sigh.
"They officially appointed me as the leader of the adventurers during the war."
Scarlett let out a quiet snort of amusement.
"As expected."
Vespera crossed her arms.
"So now you're literally going to command adventurers from across the entire continent."
"Basically."
Rai'kanna remained silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"That's a huge responsibility."
"I know."
My answer came out quieter than I expected.
They all noticed.
Lyannis was watching me carefully.
She had probably already understood what was going through my mind before I even said anything.
"You're afraid of failing."
I raised my eyes to look at her.
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Because she was right.
I slowly ran a hand through my hair before answering.
"Maybe."
Scarlett uncrossed her arms.
"Not maybe. You are."
I looked at her.
Scarlett continued speaking casually.
"And honestly? It would be strange if you weren't."
She walked over to the table in the center of the room and picked up a glass of water.
"You're practically going to face the entire demon army."
Vespera nodded.
"And probably their strongest commander so far."
Liriel gently took my hand.
"But you won't fight alone."
I looked at her in silence.
Her expression was as calm as ever.
It was strange how Liriel could ease the atmosphere just by speaking normally.
Rai'kanna rested her arms on her legs.
"You've carried too much by yourself since the beginning."
"That's true," Elara said.
Lyannis then slowly stood up.
"And that's exactly the problem."
Everyone looked at her.
She continued.
"Takumi fights as if everything depends only on him."
I remained silent.
Because deep down I knew she was right.
Since the beginning, I had always tried to solve everything alone.
I had always tried to carry the heaviest burden.
I had always been the first to enter every battle.
Lyannis stepped a little closer.
"But now it's not just you anymore."
She discreetly pointed toward the others.
"You have a team."
Scarlett set the glass back on the table.
"And a strong one."
Vespera gave a faint smile.
"Even if some people here are troublesome."
Scarlett immediately looked at her.
"You want to start something?"
"Maybe."
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds until Rai'kanna sighed.
"You two really can argue in any situation."
That lightened the atmosphere in the room a little.
Even I let out a quiet laugh.
It was strange.
Even with a war practically beginning...
They still managed to keep the mood lighter.
Liriel spoke again.
"What happens now?"
I took a slow breath before answering.
"The nations' troops will begin taking their positions."
I looked at all of them.
"And we need to become stronger."
Scarlett had already expected that answer.
"So you've decided to intensify the training."
"Yes."
Vespera rested her bow beside the sofa.
"I figured."
Lyannis crossed her arms.
"That probably means more dangerous missions too."
"Exactly."
I walked over to the living room window and looked at the distant lights of Vailor.
From there, the city looked peaceful.
But now I knew what was happening behind the scenes.
Soldiers preparing.
Kingdoms forming alliances.
Armies being organized.
Everything slowly moving toward war.
"They're placing too much hope in me."
I said it without realizing.
Silence returned for a few seconds.
Scarlett was the first to respond.
"Because you've already saved this continent several times."
"But that doesn't mean I can do everything."
She slowly approached.
"You don't have to do everything alone."
I looked at her.
Scarlett rarely said something like that so directly.
She continued.
"You're strong."
Then she pointed toward the other girls.
"But so are we."
Rai'kanna stood up.
"And we're not going to stand back and watch you fight the First General alone."
Vespera gave a faint smile.
"Besides..."
She looked at me.
"If you die, I'll probably kill you afterward."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"But you understood."
I couldn't help laughing quietly again.
Elara then walked over to me as well.
"The demonic mana is increasing."
I looked at her.
She seemed serious.
"Much faster than before."
Lyannis immediately nodded.
"The dungeons are changing. The monsters too."
Liriel added,
"And it's probably going to get worse."
I slowly rested my hand on the sword leaning beside the window.
The golden blade softly reflected the light from the fireplace.
I could feel it too.
The pressure in the air.
The heavy mana.
As if the continent itself were slowly collapsing.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
Then I spoke calmly.
"Then we'll train."
Scarlett smiled faintly.
"Now that's more like it."
I looked at all of them.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll begin taking on more missions."
Lyannis immediately began thinking strategically.
"Dungeons first?"
"Yes."
"Improve our team coordination?"
"That too."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"Physical training?"
"Above all."
Vespera let out a small sigh.
"I knew it."
Elara then asked,
"And you?"
I looked at her.
"What do you intend to do?"
I took a deep breath before answering.
"I need to increase my limit."
Scarlett immediately became serious.
"The armor?"
"Yes."
Liriel lowered her gaze slightly.
"Your body still suffers a lot when you use that power."
"I know."
That was exactly the problem.
My strength increased tremendously when I used the armor and blessing at full power.
But my body still struggled to endure it for long.
Five minutes.
That was practically my absolute limit.
And even then, I was left completely exhausted afterward.
If I was really going to face the First General...
I would have to surpass that.
Lyannis stared at me carefully.
"You intend to push your body even further."
"Yes."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"That's dangerous."
"I know."
Scarlett let out an irritated sigh.
"You always give that answer."
"Because it's true."
She stared at me for a few seconds before turning her face away.
"Idiot."
Liriel slowly stood up.
"Then we'll help."
I looked at her.
She smiled gently.
"All of us."
The others nodded as well.
At that moment, I felt something inside me ease a little.
Maybe because I was finally beginning to realize something.
I wasn't alone.
I never had been.
The group kept talking in the living room for a while longer.
About strategies.
Training.
Missions.
Possible demonic movements.
Little by little, the heavy atmosphere began to ease.
Even so...
The uneasy feeling remained deep in my mind.
After some time, Rai'kanna stretched.
"We need to rest too."
Vespera nodded.
"Because tomorrow he'll probably drag everyone into another terrible dungeon."
"Most likely," Scarlett replied.
I let out another quiet laugh.
We went upstairs to our rooms some time later.
The mansion gradually fell silent as the night went on.
But I still couldn't sleep.
I returned to the balcony alone after everyone had gone to their rooms.
The cold breeze of the early morning drifted slowly through the mansion's garden.
I looked toward the distant horizon.
The north.
Somewhere in that direction...
The First General was waiting.
Perhaps watching.
Perhaps planning.
Perhaps simply waiting for the right moment to destroy everything.
I gripped the balcony railing tightly.
The words from the meeting still echoed in my mind.
Leader of the adventurers.
Front lines.
The nations' hope.
Responsibility.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
Scarlett appeared carrying two glasses.
She handed one to me.
"I knew you'd still be awake."
I took the glass.
"Thanks."
She leaned against the balcony beside me.
We remained silent for a few seconds as we looked over the city.
Then she spoke calmly.
"You know what the problem is?"
I looked at her.
"What?"
"You think you have to win by yourself."
I turned my gaze back to the horizon.
Scarlett continued.
"But we're here."
The wind gently moved her red hair while the city shimmered below the hill.
Then she looked directly at me.
"And I'll fight by your side until the very end."
The way she said it was so direct...
That for a few seconds, I simply couldn't answer.
Then I just smiled faintly.
"I know."
Scarlett immediately looked away.
"Good."
Then she took a sip of her drink.
"Because you don't really have a choice."
I laughed quietly again.
The weight in my chest was still there.
But now it felt a little more bearable.
Even so...
As I looked toward the dark northern horizon...
I could clearly feel it.
The storm was coming.