******* Carolus' POV *******
Okay.
Before I'm going to start crafting weapons and armors, I have to take care of something first and that is my territory.
There will be nobody left to take care of my castle since I'm leaving so I need to harvest my crops and release the animals.
I also need to gather all the necessary things in the storage that I think is necessary in this world.
I started walking towards the farm to start harvesting all of the crops. I didn't bother to replant them since nobody will be taken care of them.
After taking care of the crops, I started walking towards the chicken coop to release the chickens.
I opened the door of the coop and slowly guide the chickens towards the gate using seeds.
After making sure that every single of the chickens is outside, I quickly head towards the barn to release the remaining animals.
I was having trouble with releasing the pigs since they are reluctant to move in their place but the sheep and cows are really compliant.
After a while, I successfully managed to guide all the animals outside.
All the animals in my territory are now on the field outside the gate except for the two horses since we will be needing them.
I recently tame another horse that is raised in this forest to give to Rose since horses here can run faster than an average horse. It will be useful since she really wants to get back to her kingdom quickly.
I watch all the animals on top of the wall and it seems they are not going anywhere.
They probably used to be taken care of and they don't want to leave.
After watching them for a while, I can no longer take it seeing them not leaving so I just crafted a new wooden bow and equipped it in my hand.
I then nocked an explosive arrow.
I fired at the moat in front of the gate.
I made sure to aim in the right direction to make sure not to hurt the animals.
A huge explosion occurred and lots of water is sprayed all over the place.
All of the animals frantically run on all directions.
Good.
You need to take care of yourself my beautiful meat supply.
I was just watching them run off in the distance when I suddenly remembered that I have someone sleeping in the keep.
I quickly turned around to see if there is a very angry lady coming out in the keep but luckily after a moment, I didn't see any.
She probably still asleep.
I hope she wakes up soon since I'm planning to discuss with her what we are going to do and what direction and route we are going to take to get to the Kingdom of Aezeokar.
After seeing the last animal running away from the castle, I then turned around and jump off on top of the wall to start walking towards the keep.
I didn't bother to use the stairs or equip my Feather Falling boots and just land safely on the ground. Ninja moves at its finest.
After reaching the keep, I quickly head towards the enchanting room to start crafting and enchanting.
I remembered to prioritize fixing Rose's bow since she will probably be really mad to me about it.
******* Rose's POV *******
After waking up from another horrid dream, I quickly wipe away my tears and started to look around.
I'm in the room where I was taken care of this past couple of days.
What I am doing in here?
I remembered being hit in the neck.
I was probably knocked out and brought here.
I quickly get up on the bed and saw a blue bow on the chair beside the bed.
There is also a paper with writing on it.
I picked up the paper and start reading it.
'Rose
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Sorry about your bow. Don't worry. I'm fixing it right now but you need a better weapon if you want to travel in this forest. I'm giving you my diamond bow. I'm also planning to give you different kinds of arrows.
PS. I don't know why you attacked me but I remembered that I already told you that I agreed to travel to the Kingdom of Aezeokar.
PSS. Just letting you know.
Carolus Rex'
I suddenly remembered that my father's iron bow is broken.
That bastard destroyed my only remembrance of my father but I quickly calm myself since I remembered I'm the one that attacked him first.
The way he also talks in his note is strange. It is really different from his regular attitude I keep seeing.
I put down the note and picked up the blue bow.
It is really well made and it has meticulous designs on it.
It is really beautiful.
I remembered the stories about the strongest material used in weapons, armors, and tools during the first battle of monsters.
I believed it is called a diamond.
They said that the world has already run out of this material so I wonder where did he get this?
I wield the bow in my left hand to try using it.
I tried to draw the bowstring but it is really hard to pull it all the way.
How I am able to use this bow?
How strong you need to be to able to use it?
I just put away in my inventory and quickly run outside the room.
I need to find that person quickly.
He might run off or hide once again.
I quickly run towards the third floor to see if he is in his room when suddenly I heard something in the enchanting room.
I opened the door of the enchanting room to see King Carolus hammering an iron armor in the anvil.
"Oh. You are finally awake." He just casually said to me while still hammering the iron armor.
I started to walk inside until I saw my father's bow on the table.
I quickly picked it up.
"I already fixed it. Just let me know if the bowstring is little to tight." He said to me while holding the armor in his hands to see his work.
I tried to draw the bow and was surprised that it is exactly the same. It is perfect. I can't believe that my father's bow is now fully fixed like nothing ever happened to it.
I can see King Carolus starting to walk towards me.
He then touched my right shoulder.
I try to shove away his hand but he is too strong.
"Here. Take these items. You will need it." He said to me while taking his hand off me after a while.
I quickly opened my inventory to see what he just gave me.
I was shocked to see a variety of items.
There is a full set of enchanted iron armor. It is enchanted with so many enchantments that I can't believe that it is true.
He also gave me an enchanted diamond dagger.
There are also different kinds of arrows. I tried to look at each and one of them when suddenly my attention shifts to King Carolus as he starting to walk away.
I quickly followed him to see where he is going.
He then opened the door of I believe called the map room since I never been inside.
I saw a beautiful room with a table and chairs in the center.
There are also maps on top of the table.
Everything in this castle is so well made and beautiful.
I heard a rumor from the soldiers that King Carolus made this castle by himself.
Instead of saving the world, he just spent entire centuries building a home to hide into.
I can see him putting a new map on the table.
"What are you doing?" I suddenly asked him since I'm starting to wonder when is he going to travel to the Kingdom of Aezeokar.
"I believe this is what you called planning." He just casually answered me while starting to place small wooden figures in the table.
The small figures are shaped like monsters and people.
"We are right here right now." He pointed at the center of the map while placing the human figure.
"This entire map right here is the place that I already traveled in the forest." He continued explaining while starting place the skeleton, zombie, and giant spider wooden figures on the map.
"You said that your kingdom is in the north of Xaerin so we need to travel northwest from here." He then started to place small wooden sticks to mark our path of travel.
"We need to make sure to avoid the skeleton fortress in the north and pass through undetected."
"Why?" I suddenly asked him after listening to him for a while.
"Because I recently battled with the King of Skeletons so I'm pretty sure he will be not happy about me strolling around his territory."
What? Did he recently fight with one of the Legendary Monsters?
The way he also talked about it like it is not a big deal.
He started talking again and we began planning our journey.
******* Carolus' POV *******
She is a lot calmer right now than I thought.
I thought that she will attack me the moment she saw me.
The first thing that I did when I reached the enchanting room was fixed her father's bow.
I made sure to restore it to its original form.
I'm happy that she has no complained about my restoration.
After planning for a while for our journey, I decided to call it a day and sleep.
She complained that we should start moving but I just showed her the clock in my inventory to let her know that it is already night time.
She was shocked to see a clock.
It is probably a rare item in this world.
She is still hesitant to follow my orders so I just left her alone in the map room and started walking towards my room to sleep.
******* Prophet's POV *******
"You should rest now, Prophet. You keep praying to the Goddess whole day long and it is now night time." I can hear someone talking behind me while I'm kneeling in the altar praying.
That is probably the king but I just ignored him since I can no longer hear the voice of the Goddess.
She is probably angry at me for what I have done.
I made a decision to use my abilities given by the Goddess to help mankind.
Even though it is so horrifying, I still gave the order to do it so we can have enough resources to fight back our enemies.
'Goddess. If only you come down in your heaven to help your children. We will not be desperate enough to start committing crimes.'
I prayed once again and I still don't hear her voice.
I also starting to wonder about Rose since it has been a year and we still haven't heard from her.
She probably perished and failed her mission.
I suddenly can hear someone running from behind.
"My king! My King! A messenger just arrived. The Kingdom of Xaerin's army is marching north with 2500 soldiers." I can hear the voice of a man delivering grave news.
"What!? What did we do with the Kingdom of Xaerin that they are now marching towards us?" The king quickly questioned the soldier but I can't hear any reply.
The silence began to fill the room and I stand up after a moment.
All of the people in the room quickly stared at me.
I straightened my back and fixed my robe.
"People of Aezeokar. The goddess has spoken. We need to fight our invaders and crushed them beneath our feet." I spoke to them with a really divine tone while raising my hands in the air.
They all look at me with confusion but after a while, someone started cheering in the crowd until all of them are now shouting and screaming.
The king looks at me with a worried face but I just ignored him since he is too soft to handle the kingdom affairs.
If the goddess won't help us, I just have to do it myself even if I have to lie to every single one of my people.