And so, the war against the foreign tribes came to an end.
No ceasefire or peace treaty had been signed.
However, the envoy sent by the foreign tribes declared they would never invade again.
It was, in the end, only a verbal promise… but the foreign tribes had lost a great many warriors in this battle. At least until new warriors came of age — roughly ten years — they would not be launching another assault.
"You've worked hard, Count Clover. There is no doubt that you are the hero of this campaign. Well done."
The moment Rest returned to the fortress, Vareiya Cattleya spoke with solemn gravity.
"Not at all. I simply did what was expected."
"In time, you shall receive proper compensation… but before that, there is something that must be done."
"The Gaiselle Empire… isn't there."
There was no confirmation yet, but Rest could sense the shadow of the Gaiselle Empire looming behind this foreign-tribe invasion. Reports had also come in of unrest along the eastern border. Even after repelling the foreign tribes, the situation remained unsettled.
"Count Clover. I need you to return to the royal capital immediately and report what happened here. After that, follow whatever instructions His Majesty the King gives you."
"Understood."
It felt rather sudden, but the fact that Vareiya was ordering such a forced march showed just how seriously she viewed the current state of affairs.
"We will return to the royal capital as soon as we finish the cleanup. Let's meet there."
"Yes… then, if you'll excuse me."
Rest offered only a brief farewell before leaving the fortress and launching into the sky with magic.
He manipulated the wind to carry himself through the air, heading south toward the royal capital.
The fight was not yet over.
He knew that the identity of the "Curse Caster" was a member of "Tacfil Kahen," a secret society opposed to the Council of Sages. He did not fully understand their objectives, but judging by the Curse Caster's words, it was certainly nothing good.
(I need to get back to the royal capital as soon as possible and do something about this…)
Once he reported to the king, what should he do next?
The academy headmaster was apparently a member of the Council of Sages — an "overseer," as they were called. If he could learn more about the headmaster, he might be able to figure out the enemy's goals.
"Better hurry…!"
He blew wind backward to accelerate further.
The scenery around him rushed past at breathtaking speed.
Had he not deployed defensive magic around his body, the air pressure alone might have crushed him.
Traveling on foot would take days, but flying through the sky cut that time remarkably short.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"…Huh?"
Even so, it was not exactly a safe journey.
A massive shadow hurtled toward Rest as he flew through the air.
It was a monstrous bird with a body length exceeding three meters — roughly the size of a small elephant. It swooped down, swinging its razor-sharp talons at him.
"Annoying… get out of my way!"
"GYAU!?"
Rest struck it with a [Lightning Ball], and the bird recoiled. He slipped past it in that opening and continued onward, but the creature gave chase. It matched the speed of Rest's high-speed flight, its enormous beak snapping open and shut.
"Really… I'm in a hurry, you know. What a nuisance."
He hadn't planned to fight it seriously — just shoo it away — but the bird was apparently starving. It kept coming, drool streaming from its beak.
With no other choice, Rest halted in midair and unleashed magic at the monster.
"Since you're so hungry, then eat this!"
"GYAU!?"
He conjured a clump of earth and stuffed it right into the bird's gaping maw.
The bird tried to clamp its beak shut, but Rest didn't let it. He kept generating earth, pouring it into the creature's mouth.
"GYPWU…"
"That should… do it! Bon appétit!"
The bird's belly swelled to an enormous size. Unable to bear the weight, it plummeted from the sky and crashed somewhere deep in a forest.
Rest confirmed that his pursuer was gone, then resumed his flight toward the royal capital.
"I can see it…!"
Before long, he arrived at the royal capital.
He soared over the familiar streetscape and landed in the castle garden.
"Who goes there?!"
"An intruder?!"
When Rest suddenly descended into the garden, the soldiers guarding the castle rushed over.
"Ah, right."
He had been in such a hurry that it had slipped his mind. It was no wonder they treated him as an intruder — he had appeared inside the castle without passing through any gate.
Armed soldiers surrounded him, glaring with hardened expressions.
"Um, I am…"
"Rest!"
"Lord Rest!"
Rest was about to offer an explanation, but the voice he had been longing to hear rang out, and two women pushed through the soldiers and rushed toward him.
"Welcome back, Rest!"
"Thank goodness… are you all right, Lord Rest!?"
"Viola, Primula…!"
The two young ladies who appeared were the ones who had changed Rest's life forever.
His fiancée, Viola Rosemary, and Primula Rosemary.
Without a shred of hesitation, the two threw their arms around him.
"I'm home, both of you… I'm home!"
Overcome with emotion, Rest embraced them both — while the soldiers looked on in stunned silence.