"Oho~" The king's voice once again appeared as the door got opened, revealing a gold blonde-haired man, wearing a king's robe. While holding a sword, he narrowed his golden eyes, and suddenly dashed towards me.

!?

Clank!

"You've gotten quite the guts to mock me, aren't you, Rey!!" said the gold blonde-haired king with a big smirk on his face.

"I-I didn't say anything! It was just Gil-" I tried to defend myself but-

"I heard everything from the beginning, you liar! Die!" The king continues to attack me and slash me with his sword.

Clank!

Clank!

Clank!

"A-Alexander! You'll kill me!"

Alexander Azeroth.

The genius king feared not only by the neighboring kingdoms and empires but by the whole world. With his extremely sharp mind, he intelligently takes control of the Azeroth kingdom's powers by playing the opposition nobles under his schemes in his first year of becoming the king. With his charisma and wit, he got wholeheartedly accepted by the citizens, generals, and nobles.

His first-class swordsmanship and great talent in magic made him also invincible in battles. The generals of the kingdom watched his back in awe as he dives into the enemy ranks. Well, together with me, though.

But despite all of his talent, he is a very kind-hearted man and a caring brother, just like his father. The kingdom is truly lucky to have such a king that able to make the kingdom's life felt very blissful.

I'm very honored to be able to serve someone like him, who is considered to be the youngest but mightiest king of history. But...

"Rey! We're no longer kids! I've become a king and you've become a general! Call me 'your majesty'! You stupid Rey!" said Alexander as he continues to attack me with his sword.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

His strikes are suddenly gone stronger and faster than before.

"Damned Alexander, your sword is made from the most valuable materials available and is enchanted with several high-leveled spells! You'll kill me if you continue! Oi!!"

I knew him and the princess since we're kids. The late king took me from the slums and trained me to become a royal guard. But at the same time, he tasked me to protect this young king and his little sister, and to play together with them. And that's why we're very close to each other.

"I said call me 'Your Majesty', you damned black general! I'll hang your head in the gallows!" Alexander charges his mana into his sword and gets ready to use a skill.

"O-Oi! I'll really die if you strike me with that! A-Alexander? Y-Your majesty?"

"It's too late to stop! [Phantasm-" (Alexander the King)

"Brother!"

Right when it's about to get into the climax, the voice of a certain person who Alexander and I feared the most appeared from the room's door.

"And what are the both of you doing in such an important meeting?" asked Aleia as her brows form a V, indicating that the both of us will definitely get scolded harshly after this.

"A-Aleia... I-I was just having a mock battle with Rey, just now... I-It's nothing unusual for us to do, don't you think?" said Alexander as he hits me with his elbow to form a coalition in order to evade the great danger if the beautiful princess of the kingdom snapped.

"Princess. We're counting on you to bring them to their senses, as usual, princess. Especially our idiotic general," said Achaeus as a small smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Oi. I'm your boss, you know that?

"Which side are you at, Achaeus!"

"I'm at the side of this kingdom, general," Replied him as he crossed his arms.

"Like what the lieutenant said, we'll be counting on you, as usual, princess~," said Gil as he covered his mouth and laughed.

"Yes, you all can count on me," replied Aleia with a big gentle smile as she takes out her rapier. That smile and that rapier really didn't compatible with each other, don't you think?

"Gil. Your pay will be halved starting today," Alexander suddenly stated.

"E-EEEHHH!!??? W-Why, your majesty!! I was mocking the general, not you~~," (Gil)

"First, you're annoying. Second, your laugh is annoying. Third, what do you think Rey?" Alexander asked me.

"Hm... Yes, the third, you're hell annoying. I believe that it might be better to make sure he didn't get paid at all, your majesty," I took Alexander's bait.

"Hm... That might be a good idea. Then I'll accept your idea, general. The kingdom is having quite a problem in financial too, after all. Mark my words, Gil. As long as you don't remove that annoying side of yours, you will never get your payment! Hahahahaha!!" (Alexander)

"T-The both of you are devils!! Liar!! The kingdom is one of the richest countries on the continent!! And which side of me is annoying anyway!!??" Tears started to gather at the corner of the eyes of our kingdom's youngest elite warrior.

Thud! Thud!

"Ugh...." Alexander and I groaned as we hold our heads who just got smacked by the 'kind-hearted and soft-hearted' princess of the Azeroth kingdom.

"Stop bullying Gil!" Scolded Aleia.

"Aleia... How about replacing me on the battlefield...? You and Alexander are crazily strong, already... What use of our army for the both of you...?"

"True... Sending Aleia alone will make all other countries tremble in fear-" (Alexander)

Thud! Thud!

Aleia smacked the both of us once more.

"Stop saying as if I am a bloody tyrant, will you...?" said Aleia as she clenched her fist, seems to ready to smack our heads once more if we make a wrong reply.

"Hahahaha! The princess is overpowered as always, huh!? Even the great black general and the great genius king who is feared by the world trembled in front of her! I really can't get enough of this sight! Hahahahaha!" said Achaeus as he laughed whole-heartedly.

Following Achaeus's laugh, the other generals and elite warriors who are invited into the military meeting also laughed at the sight of Alexander and I got scolded by Aleia.

Aleia's cheeks got slightly reddens because of their laugh, but after a moment, the three of us also laughed.

This livelihood.

This warmth.

These dear friends of mine.

This dear family of mine.

Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil, I'll be more than glad to sell it just to make sure that they won't get hurt.

Not even a person.

I won't let any of them die!!

Suddenly...

The scenery suddenly changed after I blinked.

The livelihood suddenly disappeared, but we're standing in the same room.

It's the royal military room, the room where we all discuss the plans to proceed every time we're about to go to battle.

But unlike before, Aleia is not here, and the smiles on the faces of the people who present had also gone.

"We're the closest kingdom towards the Zehemuth empire that already got conquered by the demons. According to the church's holy prophecy, the hero, his party, and Aleia must not get killed here. As vague it may be, we could still interpret it as the battle will still be very intense since the hero's party and Aleia who had high-leveled skills in battle could die. We need to devise the wisest plan in this assembly" said Alexander with a serious expression befitting a powerful king.

"But we can't fully trust the words of the church, your majesty. You remember that how hostile they are towards the black general. That must be the reason why they asked us to let the black general attack the army of demons himself!! They must be lying, your majesty!!" said Gil, agitated.

"I know, Gil. I've considered that as well. That is why we're having this assembly to devise a plan where we won't need to sacrifice Rey," (Alexander)

Alexander stared at me and tapped my shoulder.

"Trust me, Rey. I will definitely find a plan where you won't die, and we'll definitely be able to continue our daily lives together!" said Alexander seriously.

Alexander rarely shows such a serious expression and tone when he talked to me. He always used a joking tone and play with his words every time he talked to me.

Seriously, Alexander...

That wrinkles on your forehead. They only appear whenever you're stuck on a problem that you're having trouble finding the answer to.

And if a genius like you can't find the answer, then it means that the answer must be nonexistent, in the first place.

You... Have suffered enough...

"Alexander,"

"...." Alexander stared at me with a surprised look when he saw my unusually serious face and tone.

"Soldiers," I stared at each face of the elite generals and soldiers that made me proud to be able to stand together with them.

"All of you are necessary for the human race to win,"

"It's not an exaggeration to say, that everyone inside this room had the same prowess and strength or maybe stronger than the hero party. The only difference is that the chosen hero has his holy sword, while none of us has it,"

"In face of this great peril threatened by the despicable demons. Just like what the church had said, the way to have the very least casualty is for me to sacrifice myself and buy all of you time,"

"Rey!" Alexander shouted as he seriously shows his disapproval towards my words.

"Alexander. You're a genius king. I know you understand the situation better than I am. And this is..." I stared right into Alexander's golden eyes who is starting to lose his confidence.

"Don't lose your confidence, you need to act as you usually did. This... Is the will of the late king. I've promised him that I will protect yours and Aleia's lives,"

"....." Alexander could only lower his head and clench his teeth and fist in frustration. It's the first time he ever showed this sight of him ever since his father and mother died.

"Soldiers. You all remember our code. It is the undying and unbreakable code made and accepted by our loyal hearts. And as the code had said, the great general's orders are absolute, and our priority is the lives of our masters,"

"This will be the last time we meet, and I hope we will only meet after all of you had reached the age where you need to walk with a cane. This is my first and last absolute order,"

"Protect the king, the princess, and the citizens. And don't die!"