Though sudden, our next destination was decided the moment I received the news I'd been awaiting. We didn’t even stop at the mansion; instead, we headed directly north to the Argyrian lands. It might have seemed like a spontaneous decision, but it wasn’t. From the moment I received the Umbryan patriarch’s approval—no, even before that—I knew we’d have to go there eventually. But considering what I was heading there for, it would be pointless to get there without Goblin. That's why I had to bide my time until I was sure Goblin and Blondie had completed their mission. Training Aquaflora and Licht to level up was the best way to use that time, and I’d say I did pretty damn well.

Now, atop a literal flying fortress on the back of the White Whale making its way north—I leaned over the balustrade, watching as Veilleuse-19 darted through clouds. The whale, or to be more exact, the arrangement on its back—a castle and a large rectangular yard—was large enough to host her, but she preferred the wind. Watching Veilleuse-19 fly, absentmindedly, I was distilling the information I’d received privately from Bortz. Noting the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth, Bortz, standing beside me, spoke up.

“Ma’am?”

“Mh?”

“You look very satisfied,” he ventured.

My smile widened. “That’s because I am.”

Once we had time alone, I had Bortz recount everything he couldn’t tell me in front of Licht and Aquaflora.

He’d successfully accomplished the mission I’d assigned, which went far beyond securing the Ferron patriarch’s agreement to join our coalition against the maddened Argyrian patriarch. His achievements didn’t stop there. On top of securing this flying fortress from the Ferron Patriarch, Bortz had also convinced him to do something important for us.

Having finished briefing me about his achievements, he also updated me on the progress of Blondie and Goblin, whom he had a way of keeping tabs on, just as they did on mine. No, it wasn’t because he had better communication methods than us—he used the same little bird Goblin entrusted to us for communication. The difference was that unlike me, Bortz and Goblin could actually interpret the information the bird received and transmitted telepathically. When Goblin handed us the bird, I’d hoped that Aquaflora’s swamp witch abilities would include understanding animals or monsters, but no such luck. She was limited to one-way communication, leaving us with patchy intel until now.

Bortz confirmed that Blondie and Goblin had accomplished their mission in the Aurian capital, convincing their matriarch to join our coalition. That wasn’t without its challenges, of course. One of such challenge was, as expected, facing an arrogant monarch who believed herself strong enough to handle the Argyrian patriarch alone. Much like the Umbryan Patriarch, her pride initially blinded her. However, with Goblin and Blondie’s insistence, the grim news from Umbryan lands, and a sample of the Stampede’s might, she reconsidered.

Instead of meeting the patriarch in battle, she planned a siege—a poor decision she quickly abandoned. Ultimately, she agreed to our coalition and to the same clause I had the Umbryan family patriarch accept. A that determined the fate of the Argyrian family.

“Things developed smoother than I could’ve imagined,” I said, smiling at Bortz. “Sure, a certain Dungeon Master could’ve handled the argyrians envoys better than outright slaughtering them, but I won’t pretend I’m not the type to care only about results. And the results are good, wouldn’t you agree?”

He nodded. “Yes, they are.”

Looking ahead, I took a deep breath before turning back to him. “How are you feeling?”

“Right now? Excited, I suppose.” He glanced at his hands, around which chains coiled, clenching his fists tight. Tightly enough to make an audible noise. “I can’t wait to fight him, retrieve [Rule and Overrule], and avenge Charlie and Frank.”

“Avenge, huh?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow. “Did you forget? We’re Dungeon Masters. We don’t do revenge. We bring justice. And justice can be as bloody as it has to be.”

He smiled. “My bad, Ma’am. You’re right. Justice.”

A moment of silence settled between us as we stared ahead. When I glanced at him, something in his silence struck me. “Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked.

He winced. “You know me too well.”

“Of course I do. What is it?”

“It’s about...him,” He glanced around. “How much does he know about everything?”

“Licht?” I glanced back at him, then simply answered, “Just enough.”

“So he doesn’t know about that authority and what else we’re here for, does he?”

I shook my head in confirmation. “He doesn’t, but I’ll have to tell him soon. Once we get to the Argyrian lands, we’ll brief him about everything.”

“He won’t be happy about that,” Bortz said.

I frowned at his words. While we Dungeon Masters share the same root and purpose, he and Licht are practically strangers, yet the way he spoke of Licht, it was as if he knew what to expect from Licht.“Goblin told you about his reaction to Blondie, didn’t he?”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

His grimace made the answer obvious.

“I understand where you’re coming from,” I reassured, stepping closer and patting his shoulder. “And I concede he won’t be happy about it. But I don’t think he’ll complain for long. He might be Dungeon Master 07’s little protégé, but he’s surprisingly flexible. And, with the time we’ve spent together, he’s grown to trust my ways.” Smiling, I added jokingly, “In a sense, you could say I’ve successfully corrupted him.”

“I see.” Bortz nodded. “It was then pointless for me to bring that up.”

“Not at all,” I reassured him, before asking after a moment, “uncomfortable lying to allies and fellow Dungeon Masters?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable, but I understand why it’s necessary. It’s not like I’m colluding against them, so I’m fine.”

Sympathizing, I patted his shoulder again. “Sorry for making you do this. It’ll be over soon enough.”

***

The journey to the Argyrian capital felt far smoother than the one to the Umbryan capital. Partly, this was due to the shorter distance; the forest where we had been training was much closer to the Argyrian capital than to the Umbryan Capital. Even so, the trip still spanned four days, though it could have been halved if we’d taken Veilleuse-19. However, since we had the flying fortress at our disposal, we opted to use it. Given that the fortress included accommodations like a castle—with ample space, respite, and entertainment, not to mention the staff—it really didn’t feel like four days at all.

I stood on the same balustrade where I had spoken with Bortz, but this time Licht and Aquaflora were at my sides. Ahead of us lay the Argyrian capital.

“So this is the Argyrian capital,” Licht mused aloud. “It’s... different.”

Just a glimpse. That was enough to notice the difference between the Umbryan Capital and the Argyrian Capital. The Umbryan capital was vast, protected by its patriarch ancestral tree, its dark structures molded from local woods. In contrast, the Argyrian capital, missing the protective barrier, occupied a much more compact territory. Two dominant colors stood out: the blue of the rooftops and the light palette of the marble-like buildings.

From a distance, particularly from the elevated perspective from which we viewed the capital, one might be reminded of the pseudo-baroque architecture favored by the nobles of the Land of Men. However, a closer look would quickly dispel this notion. The architecture of the Argyrian capital was rougher and more organic, evoking the essence of cities carved into cliffsides or nestled in mountainous terrain. Here, though, the capital was arrayed around a depression, rather than perched atop heights.

“How does it feel to be back where your elven ancestors came from?” I asked Aquaflora.

She didn’t appreciate the tease but answered nonetheless. “It’s at least a little different without the ancestral tree surrounding the city. But it’s still the same, I suppose.”

“Bringing back bad memories?”

“You already know the answer to that... Now tell me. Why are we even here?”

Over the past few days, ever since we reunited with Bortz and he informed us of the recent developments, Licht and Aquaflora had been unusually quiet. If this had been their earlier selves, before the trip to the Umbryan capital, they’d have bombarded me with questions. But now? Nothing. The fortress’s distractions likely played a part, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the results delivered to them had bolstered their confidence in my "mysterious" actions. I felt a little bad knowing I was about to betray that trust.

“Why are we here?” I echoed, before casually revealing, “we're to cripple the Argyrian patriarch by taking away one of his most valuable resources: his peo—oh.” My words trailed off as I spotted small figures flying upward to meet us.

“About time,” I thought, surprised they had let the behemoth get this close to their capital.

In that moment, Bortz joined us on the deck, and I announced, “We’ve got a welcoming party.”

“I’ve noticed,” he replied.

Noting something in his expression, I asked, “Something?”

“Yes, Ma’am. They’re here.”

“They?” I didn’t need to think hard to guess who. “Already?” I murmured in surprise. “They must have pushed that poor beast to its limit to arrive this fast. But well, it’s perfect timing.”

After waiting no more than a minute, “they” appeared in the sky atop the Caarghast, which soon made a smooth landing on the deck. Blondie and Goblin dismounted the friendly creature, and the first thing Blondie did was rush to me for a warm embrace. Patting her blonde hair, I teased, “Did you miss me that much?”

She nodded.

“Well,” I smiled, “we’re all together now.”

As I welcomed Blondie back, I saw Goblin approach Bortz with open arms. “Where’s my hug, brother? I want my hug!”

Bortz, naturally, obliged.

“Sigh. I didn’t think I’d ever say this to another man, but I really missed you, dude,” Goblin said dramatically.

“I missed you too.”

“Hey! Let go now. Let’s not make this weird,” Goblin said, moving on to Licht. “My brother from another mother and father, I missed you too.” Ignoring Licht’s outstretched hand for a handshake, he pulled him into an awkward embrace.

Arriving before me just as Blondie finished, Goblin’s demeanor shifted. His voice sobered as he said, “Ma’am.”

“What?” I stared at him. “You won’t give me a hug?”

“I would like to,” he said apprehensively. “But something tells me you’ll trap me in a vicious bear hug.”

“Just come here,” I said, snatching him up. True to his prediction, I squeezed him tightly, enough to make him squeal.

“Ouuuuch, why?!”

“You and I need to have a very serious discussion.”

At my words, Goblin almost seemed to forget he was being squeezed. “About what?” he asked, before immediately jumping to his own—wrong—conclusion. Looking at Bortz, he accused, “Bortz, you snitched on me, didn’t you? Blondie, I told you not to tell him about it. Now look, he snitched on me.”

Blondie, like a guilty but unapologetic child, immediately ran to hide behind Bortz, giggling.

“I wasn’t talking about what you think I am,” I said, releasing him and causing him to fall to his knees, panting. “But we’re going to talk about that too.”

Goblin remained on the ground, coughing and panting, until he noticed a certain half-elven girl nearby. Instantly regaining his composure, he donned his usual cloak of condescension when looking at her.

With a sigh at the scene before me, I said, “Now then, everyone. As much as I’d love for us to fully enjoy this reunion,”—my gaze went to the floating figures approaching from the capital—"we first need to deal with the welcoming committee.”