Sunlight spilled into the room as Lancer opened his eyes. Unlike usual, he didn't immediately rise; instead, he glanced gently at the girl nestled in the crook of his arm.
Curled up like a sleepy kitten, Leone's delicate lace nightwear barely concealed her figure, tempting him to explore further. But he quickly discarded the thought, remembering his own high-minded words from the night before.
Maybe I should just go practice my spear techniques…
Letting out a wistful sigh, Lancer carefully slipped his arm from beneath Leone and tiptoed out of the bedroom.
Today's breakfast was routine—yet not quite.
Leone prepared his meal like always, quietly watching from the steps with her chin resting in her palms as he trained with the spear. They sat facing each other over breakfast as they had countless times before…
Yet something had unmistakably changed between them.
Before, Leone had always maintained a respectful distance, and Lancer had kept his composure firmly in check. This morning, however, he felt strangely energized while practicing, aware of Leone's eyes following him. When their gazes met at the breakfast table, Lancer found himself awkwardly averting his eyes, while Leone giggled softly at his reaction.
"Come home soon," Leone said warmly, standing at the doorway.
"I will." Lancer replied solemnly, sincerity evident in his voice.
But just as he turned to leave, Leone suddenly rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist from behind.
"I'll be waiting," she murmured softly.
"…Yeah, I'll definitely come back soon," Lancer repeated, his voice much gentler this time.
They parted once again, and Lancer walked toward the Imperial Palace with determined strides. Neither noticed the shadow perched atop a distant building, silently following his path until it, too, disappeared…
...
Ever since he'd obtained the [World Entry Ticket], Lancer had been haunted by questions: What would happen to this world when he left?
Would time freeze until his return? It sounded absurd, yet considering how time had stopped when he'd first entered and exited worlds, perhaps it wasn't impossible.
Or would time flow naturally—meaning the longer he stayed away, the longer Leone would wait?
This scenario seemed more plausible, but he had no way to verify it. Until he solved the Ghoul food crisis, returning home was out of the question.
If time froze, fine; but if it kept flowing, what would Leone do?
Initially, he'd planned to give Leone enough money to live comfortably. But now, she was no longer just a character from a familiar story—she was someone he needed to protect.
After some consideration, the only person he could trust was General Budo.
As for the Emperor…
Lancer's feelings were complicated.
He'd sought to change the dark future brought by Honest, and thus allied himself closely with the Emperor. At first, the Emperor treated him favorably, almost like a friend.
Yet as Lancer's strength grew, so too did the subtle shift in their relationship.
He'd gradually become the Emperor's most valuable weapon—and the Emperor's attitude toward him quietly changed.
The absurd speed at which bizarre rumors about him had spread through the capital couldn't be coincidental. Someone was pushing these rumors from behind. Whether it was Honest or the Emperor himself, he couldn't be sure.
Now, he was the sharpest blade in the Emperor's hands:
Eliminate traitors, weaken nobles, subjugate foreign tribes.
These three tasks dominated his present existence. Yet accomplishing them inevitably sowed hatred and resentment. Sometimes he wondered if he'd dare act so recklessly had he not planned to leave within two years. He understood too clearly what happened to heroes when their usefulness ran dry.
So, yes—Lancer's feelings toward the Emperor were complicated.
If the Emperor proved to be a visionary leader, perhaps the Empire would thrive for a bit longer. True reform would eventually come, and he couldn't be certain it would be for the better, but at least he'd avoided the disastrous future he foresaw.
Frankly, he'd been exceptionally lucky to even shift the timeline this far alone. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe one person could fundamentally alter an entire world's trajectory. The future belonged to those who lived in it.
Lost in his turbulent thoughts, Lancer's pace never slowed. Precisely on time, he reached the Imperial Guard's staging grounds, where thousands of troops and General Budo already awaited.
Without unnecessary words, Budo gave a firm nod, and Lancer immediately ordered the troops forward.
As the army began to mobilize, Lancer approached Budo quietly.
"General."
"Hmm?"
"There's something I'd like to ask of you during this campaign."
Though Budo's expression remained stoic, curiosity stirred inside him. Lancer, the man who had never once requested a favor since willingly joining the frontier forces, now wanted his help. Was it something significant?
"Speak. If it's within my power, I'll grant it."
"I'd like you to look after Leone while I'm away."
"Leone? Oh, that slave girl you bought—"
"No," Lancer interrupted quickly. "I've already freed her from slavery. She's a free citizen now."
Rumors about Lancer's preferences had long been whispered among nobles. Some had suspected he had no interest in women at all, while jokes about him only favoring his "pet slave" circulated privately. Most dismissed this as nonsense, since before buying her, Lancer had lived an almost ascetic life.
Yet, shockingly, the most laughable rumor had turned out true.
"Relax," Budo said evenly. "Protecting the family of Imperial Guards is also part of my responsibility. Imagine the trouble if enemy forces abducted a soldier's family for leverage. You're one of my vice commanders, and your home is already under surveillance. But considering your reaction, I suppose I'll raise the protection a few more levels—"
"Ahem, General, thank you. I'll head out now!"
Seeing the usually stoic Budo speak so strangely, Lancer swiftly excused himself and jogged ahead.
Watching Lancer hurry away, a meaningful gleam flickered in Budo's eyes.
So…this is your weakness.
---
T/N: ?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT also was that esdeath that wsas sneaking, i think what was iffing me was the power dynamicssss anyway hopefully she'll just call him Lancer later on that will help with my uenase
T/N: SORRY I TOOK A SMALL WEEK BREAK!!!!!!!! I ANNOUNCED IT ON THE P WEBSITE AND DISCORD
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