The journey to obtain melarium had finally come to an end.
For the first time in a long while, Henry stood at the docks of the Land of Fire without uncertainty clouding his mind. The rare metal he had crossed kingdoms and seas to find was now safely in his possession. What had once seemed like a distant goal had become reality.
Now, it was time to return.
The ship prepared for his departure swayed gently against the dock, its crew making final arrangements before setting sail. The morning air carried the scent of salt and iron, familiar now after everything he had experienced.
Waiting there to see him off were the people who had unexpectedly become part of his journey.
Eren stood at the front, arms crossed, trying to maintain her usual confidence despite the obvious frustration on her face. Beside her stood the red-haired boy, still complaining about how the Miradur mission had ended without a proper fight. The others from their temporary team were there as well, all carrying expressions that made leaving feel strangely heavier.
Because of the unauthorized expedition to Miradur, all of them had been punished with house arrest for several weeks. Yet somehow, they had still managed to gather here.
"You're lucky," the red-haired boy said with a grin. "You get to leave while we're still being treated like criminals."
"You are criminals," Eren replied coldly.
He laughed.
Even the captain himself had come to the dock.
That surprised Henry the most.
The captain of the Fire Pirates stood with his usual imposing presence, though now there was far more life in his expression. The medicine had worked. His strength had returned, and the illness that once hid beneath his calm face had faded.
He looked at Henry for a long moment.
"You came for melarium," the captain said. "And you leave with more than that."
Henry gave a small smile.
"That seems to happen often."
The captain nodded once.
"Then leave with this as well—if the sea brings you back here, you will not return as a stranger."
For a pirate captain, it was as close to affection as words could reach.
Henry bowed slightly.
The farewells were brief. They had to be.
Ships did not wait for emotions.
Soon, the vessel left the harbor. The Land of Fire slowly faded into the horizon until only the endless sea remained.
Henry stood at the railing, watching the shore disappear.
His path had changed more than he ever intended.
But perhaps… that was not a bad thing.
Before leaving the Dan Kingdom long ago, Princess Irene had entrusted him with a package—a sealed box meant to be delivered to the Queen of the Elves.
And so, his next destination was clear.
The Elven Kingdom.
—
After arriving at one of the ports near the Sea of Arath, Henry disembarked and continued his journey by land, riding his mechacat across the roads that connected the great kingdoms.
The world had changed while he was away.
The conflict between the dwarves and the elves had come to a halt. King Dan had ordered a ceasefire between the kingdoms.
The reason was far more dangerous than politics.
Demonic beasts from the southern regions had begun to emerge in greater numbers than ever before. Reports of destroyed villages and missing patrols spread rapidly. A state of alert had been declared across multiple borders.
War between kingdoms had become meaningless when something far worse was approaching.
Because of this, the borders had reopened for regular trade and passage.
Henry crossed without trouble.
As he entered the Elven Kingdom, the difference was immediate.
Unlike the heavy stone and machinery of the dwarves, the elven lands felt alive.
Forests stretched endlessly, ancient and untouched. Even the capital itself did not fight against nature—it embraced it.
Massive buildings rose between towering trees, supported by living trunks and woven branches. Bridges connected platforms built high above the forest floor. Elegant towers curved with the shape of nature instead of against it.
Technology had reached the elves too, but it did not dominate.
It blended.
Mana-powered lights glowed softly between leaves. Mechanical lifts moved silently through giant trees. It was a kingdom where progress and tradition existed together.
Henry couldn't help but admire it.
As always, his first stop was the Adventurer's Guild.
Guild halls, no matter the kingdom, were always the best place to gather information.
Inside, the atmosphere was familiar—mercenaries, travelers, wandering adventurers, and the constant noise of people chasing problems and rewards.
Henry approached the front desk and began speaking with the clerk, asking for local information and rumors.
Then—
The doors burst open.
A group of royal soldiers entered.
The room fell silent.
Their armor gleamed silver and green, decorated with the royal crest of the elves. Without hesitation, they moved directly toward Henry.
Weapons were not drawn.
But the intent was clear.
"You are Henry?" the captain of the guard asked.
Henry slowly nodded.
"You are to come with us."
Every eye in the guild turned toward him.
Henry had no idea what he had done.
Still, resisting royal soldiers in the center of the capital seemed like a poor decision.
And so—
He was escorted to the royal palace.
—
The royal hall was vast and bright, supported by white pillars wrapped in flowering vines. Ministers stood on both sides, their pointed ears and youthful appearances carrying the unmistakable elegance of elves.
Henry stood in the center, head lowered.
He could feel dozens of eyes on him.
Slowly, he raised his head.
And there—
On the throne—
Sat the Queen.
She was more beautiful than anyone Henry had ever seen, but beauty was the least striking thing about her. She carried authority so naturally that the room itself seemed to bend around it.
She looked at him calmly.
Then she spoke.
"Do you know why you were brought here?"
Henry's mind raced.
He had no answer.
Before he could attempt one—
A familiar voice came from behind the throne.
"It took you long enough."
Henry froze.
That voice—
Princess Irene stepped forward, smiling far too proudly.
Henry stared.
"You?"
Irene folded her arms.
"Who else?"
Suddenly, everything became worse.
After giving Henry the package, Irene had trusted him to deliver it safely. There had been no strict deadline at first.
But later, the Queen had sent word requesting the package's immediate arrival.
Irene had assumed Henry was already close to completing the task.
He wasn't.
Instead, he had crossed seas, joined pirates, survived wars, and nearly forgotten the package entirely.
So Irene had traveled to the Elven Kingdom herself.
As she explained all of this, Henry felt his soul leave his body.
"I… apologize," he said quietly.
His face had gone pale.
A long silence followed.
Then—
The Queen spoke.
"That is all you needed me for, correct?"
Henry blinked.
Irene coughed lightly.
Then, with absolutely no shame, she admitted the truth.
She had asked the Queen to help her play a prank.
The package had never been that urgent.
She simply wanted to see Henry panic.
The ministers tried—and failed—not to laugh.
Henry stood there in complete defeat.
This was worse than battle.
—
Later, the Queen, Irene, and Henry moved to a private chamber away from the court.
The atmosphere became far more relaxed.
There, Henry noticed something strange.
The Queen and Irene were far too comfortable with each other.
Not formal.
Not political.
Personal.
When he finally asked, Irene answered first.
"My mother," she said more quietly than usual, "the late Queen of Dan… was one of her closest friends."
The Elven Queen gave a small smile.
"She was like a sister to me."
For a moment, the room softened.
Then the Queen turned toward Henry.
"By the way," she said, "you may call me Diana."
It felt strange to hear a queen introduce herself so simply.
But somehow, it suited her.
They spent hours talking—about kingdoms, old memories and strange adventures.
And when the conversation finally slowed—
Both Irene and Queen Diana turned toward him.
Their expressions changed.
Serious now.
There was something they wanted.
A request.
And from the look in their eyes—
It was not going to be simple.