Translator: CinderTL
The moment the voice rang out, Roland recognized the speaker.
He turned toward the sound.
As expected, it was Avril.
The elf girl's slender figure moved nimbly through the trees. With a few graceful leaps, she arrived before Roland as silently as a gentle breeze.
"So, Roland..." Avril tilted her head playfully, her eyes twinkling. "Did you miss me?"
Gazing at the elf girl's radiant smile, Roland chuckled softly and nodded.
"I did miss you a little," he admitted honestly, his words sincere and heartfelt.
Yet his longing wasn't solely for the elf girl before him.
More than anything, he yearned for those carefree days in the River Domain Nations, when he could focus entirely on honing his skills without worry.
Who could have foreseen that a seemingly ordinary study trip would shatter his relatively stable life, plunging it into such turmoil?
With this thought, Roland shook his head gently and let out a low sigh.
Avril, of course, had no way of knowing what was weighing on his mind.
Hearing the young man's candid response, the teasing remark she had prepared caught in her throat, leaving her momentarily flustered. A faint blush crept up her delicate ear tips.
After a moment, she cleared her throat and forced herself to sound composed.
"I overheard you mentioning chasing after someone named Arno? Such an interesting affair..."
As she spoke, she nodded in greeting to Theresa and Galvis, who stood beside Roland.
"How could I possibly miss out?"
With those words, the four of them seemed to instantly recapture the camaraderie of their past adventures—taking on quests together and clearing out demonic beasts as a team.
The atmosphere was harmonious and natural.
If not for Galvis's awkward unease, the moment would have been perfect.
"But..." Roland frowned slightly. "Avril, aren't you a member of the Shadow Veil in the River Domain Nations? This kind of thing..."
"Don't worry, Roland," the elf girl waved dismissively, her tone light yet resolute.
"I've decided to leave the River Domain Nations. The stench of power corruption there has become unbearable. I can't stay any longer..."
"Lord Roland..."
Just as the two were speaking, a clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out.
Following the sound, they saw Gloria approaching slowly, escorted by several soldiers.
Even bathed in the night's darkness, her golden hair seemed to shimmer with a faint glow, and her azure eyes sparkled like stars.
Her sharply tailored battle dress clung to her figure, enhancing rather than diminishing her regal bearing as an Imperial Princess, and adding an air of rare martial prowess.
"Has Duke Arno... escaped?"
Roland first nodded slightly to the soldiers, whose eyes were filled with respect, then lowered his gaze to meet the Imperial Princess's delicate, earnest face. He answered frankly, "Yes."
After a brief pause, he continued in a deep voice, "Princess Gloria, you witnessed Arno's strength firsthand. Though severely wounded, if left unchecked, he could pose an immeasurable threat. Therefore, I propose..."
Roland paused briefly before clearly outlining his plan.
While the two men spoke, Avril studied Gloria's beautiful face, her brow furrowing slightly. She then turned her head to glance at Theresa, who stood silently beside her, and gave her a meaningful wink.
Through their accumulated understanding, Theresa seemed to grasp Avril's unspoken intention. After a moment of surprise, she hesitantly shook her head.
Seeing this, Avril's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, Roland had fully explained his considerations and strategy.
"Therefore, I propose that we seize the opportunity while Arno is fleeing, his territorial forces are without orders, and their defenses are weak. We should swiftly deploy troops to secure the region."
"Duke Arno's power is indeed formidable, but if we prevent him from consolidating his remaining forces, he alone will be unable to halt our advance."
"You're right, Lord Roland," Gloria agreed.
Unlike before, when she had needed time to deliberate, after witnessing Roland's demonstrated strength and his meticulous planning against Arno, Gloria nodded her approval almost without hesitation.
Gloria whispered instructions to the soldiers beside her, ordering them to quickly clear the narrow battlefield. She then spoke softly, "I will personally negotiate with Duke Arno. I'm sure he—"
Before she could finish, a thunderous voice shattered the night's silence, echoing through the darkness like a thunderclap.
"There's no need for you to come looking for me, Princess Gloria..."
As the voice faded, the thunder of approaching hooves grew louder.
Moments later, Duke Arno's imposing figure emerged into the torchlight, riding toward them at full gallop. His armor was stained with blood and dust, clearly bearing the marks of a fierce battle.
What caught Roland's attention even more was the equally imposing figure riding a magnificent warhorse beside the duke—Graham.
Graham clearly noticed Roland's group as well, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he nodded slightly in Roland's direction from a distance, conveying everything without a word.
Seeing this, Gloria took the initiative to approach Duke Arno and engage him in conversation.
She began with polite inquiries about Graham's identity. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she cut straight to the point, declaring that Duke Arno's war against the River Domain Nations was entirely his personal act, unrelated to the will of the Golden Valley Kingdom.
Gloria solemnly pledged to return all occupied territories and guaranteed to cease all forms of aggression against the River Domain Nations.
Hearing Gloria's promise, Graham exhaled deeply, feeling a great weight lift from his shoulders.
After a brief exchange on specific matters, Graham excused himself and rode his mount steadily toward Roland.
"You rascal..."
Graham dismounted and clapped Roland heavily on the shoulder, his stern face softening with a hint of remorse.
"I'm sorry, Roland. Derek... sigh..." His voice was low and heavy. "I wanted to send someone to search for you, but the war broke out so suddenly. Everything... was too rushed."
"You don't need to apologize, Dean Graham," Roland said calmly, shaking his head slightly. A faint, understanding smile played at the corner of his lips. "I understand your position."
Graham's expression froze. He studied Roland's face intently, confirming that there was no mockery in those eyes—only pure sincerity. His tense features instantly relaxed.
After a moment of hesitation, he burst into thunderous laughter that seemed to dispel the dark clouds that had been gathering in his heart for days.
Graham extended his burly arm, just as he would on the training ground, and pulled Roland close, his voice booming.
"Where's that old geezer Reggie? Did he finally get taken down by that bastard Arno?"
Before he could finish speaking, Reggie arrived, leading a dozen or so exchange students from the River Domain Nations.
The students swarmed around Graham like fledglings returning to their nest, chattering excitedly about their recent harrowing experiences.
As Graham listened to their tales, his heart ached for the lives lost, but he maintained a stoic facade. He offered clumsy yet sincere words of comfort, even attempting a few awkward jokes to dispel the lingering grief.
Roland was mildly surprised that Graham could clearly recall each student's name.
After calming the students, Graham turned to Reggie and inquired about the details in a low voice.
When he learned that Roland had single-handedly defeated Leonard and the abyss-corrupted Arno, a complex expression flickered across his eyes—a mix of shock and dawning understanding. Yet he refrained from pressing Roland for further explanations.
Graham immediately decided to lead the shaken students and Reggie back to the River Domain Nations.
He turned to Roland, asking about his future plans.
Before Roland could answer, Graham interjected, his tone grave.
"Roland, perhaps... you shouldn't return to the River Domain Nations."
His words were veiled, yet clearly hinted at the turbulent political climate and hidden currents now surging through the River Domain Nations.
As they parted, Graham clapped Roland on the shoulder and said frankly, "A hero like you shouldn't confine your stage to the narrow world of the River Domain Nations."
Hearing the word "hero," Roland paused, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"Dean, stop joking."
Graham blinked, glancing meaningfully at Bard Galvis, who had been trying to fade into the background since Avril's arrival. He smiled faintly.
"Whether it's a joke or not, you'll soon find out. The stories your companion has woven have already spread through the taverns and streets of the River Domain Nations."
With that, he said no more, turning to lead Reggie and the students back toward home.
Watching Graham's group gradually disappear into the distance, Roland felt a faint pang of melancholy.
But before that feeling could settle, Gloria was already at his side, whispering softly.
"Lord Roland, Duke has approved the plan to pursue Arno. When do we depart?"
Upon hearing this, Roland took a deep breath of the crisp, pre-dawn air and gazed toward the horizon.
There, the inky night sky was being silently torn apart by a sliver of pale morning light.
"Now," he replied, his voice calm yet resolute.
(End of the Chapter)
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