Duke Pendragon

"In addition, you wield the scimitar without anyone teaching you because you are my son."

"Yes! That's true!"

Raven tapped the scimitar hanging from his belt with a smile, and Raymond gave a big nod. Raymond remembered how Raven defeated the villains with the crescent sword during their first encounter. It was exactly how he imagined his father, the strongest knight he admired.

"Even mom said so! When dad, no, when Your Majesty unsheathed the scimitar, all the knights were forced to kneel!"

"Yes, yes…"

Raymond spoke excitedly, and Raven took on a nostalgic expression. He recalled Lindsay. She was the one responsible for teaching him love and trust as a human, different from Soldrake.

"Lindsay, no, is your mother doing well?"

"Yes!"

Raymond was mature for his age, but he could not know the matters that existed between men and women. He only nodded excitedly.

However, Mia had an idea as to how her brother was feeling. She gave a small, sad smile and spoke.

"Sister Lindsay always thought of you. At the same time, she raised Ray and El wonderfully. I am sure she will be overjoyed to hear your stories, brother."

Would she simply be overjoyed?

Mia could clearly see how Lindsay would react.

She would burst into tears while laughing. She would want to run towards her husband right away. However, Lindsay was patient and tough. She would supress her longing for husband and wait for his return, just as she had done for the past seven years.

"If I could, I would head to the castle right away to see Lindsay and mother… But as you know, the situation will not allow for it."

"….."

Mia and Raymond flinched, and their expressions slightly darkened.

"Brother, would it not be better to send Raymond back to the castle?"

"What? Auntie…?"

Raymond became wide-eyed at her suggestion, and Mia continued in a worried voice.

"Raymond, if His Majesty wasn't there at the forest at the time, things could have ended in a horrible way. Someone tried kidnapping you with a purpose. So…"

"Well, just as your aunt is saying, it would be right to send you back to the castle, Raymond."

"Y, Your Majesty…"

Raymond looked dismayed. He felt like he was flying in the sky after being reunited with his father. He had experienced the best time of his life traveling with his father…

"But I will not do that this time around."

"Brother…"

Mia looked to be puzzled. Raven responded with a firm voice.

"Mia, no matter what anyone says, Raymond is my son and the successor to the Pendragon Kingdom. If I were to have him take refuge in a safe place in this situation, how would the public regard Raymond and us Pendragon when this incident becomes known to the world in the future?"

"Ah…!"

Mia was startled. Due to her concerned heart, she had forgotten for a moment.

"Above all, me, Soldrake, and Elkin are by both of your sides. Until everything is resolved, no one will be able to land a single finger on either of you. I promise."

Before he was a hero of the world, he was her brother. There was nothing more reliable than her brother's affirmation. That was why she could smile and nod.

"Yes, all right, brother."

"Then I don't have to go back to the castle, right, father?"

"Right. You and me will travel together, Raymond. And see with your own eyes. Why Pendragon is Pendragon. Your father will show you."

"Yes! Yes!"

Raymond replied vigorously in Raven's embrace. The young son would feel warm and safe in his father's embrace. He would be overjoyed to have an exciting adventure with his father.

As such, Raymond was not yet aware of the meaning behind Raven's words – that he would let Raymond know why Pendragon was Pendragon.

Early morning the next day.

Raven and his party bid farwell to Count Elven and left Edenfield. Naturally, nothing happened between Count Elven's sister and Isla.

His cousin had been caught trying to do something terrible to Mia, so Count Elven saw them off with his head lowered. He was thankful that his family was left intact, and he couldn't even think to discuss marriage.

Thus, the party set off towards the imperial castle.

***

"W, what!?"

"Is that really true? Really…?"

Many men were gathered at a tavern located in Leus, one of the top three port cities in the empire. The guests of the establishment seemed to be in a frenzy.

It was no wonder, since port cities were often the first to receive rumors. The latest snoop was a tremendous story that could even excite the roughest of sailors.

"I'm telling you! The former governor-general of our city! Duke Pendragon! No! The Pendragon Kingdom's founding king! He's finally revealed himself! The governor-general of Edenfield and the Knight King of Valvas were there to verify his identity!"

"What!?"

"T, tell me more about it! Didn't His Majesty Pendragon die? He died along with the Dragon Queen after killing the witch seven years ago, right?"

"He was revived by the grace of the gods!"

"What kind of nonsense…"

A sailor uttered in disbelief. Another sailor shouted a response, unable to hold back his excitement.

"What do you mean!? Even the angel of the Lindegor Duchy was there in the last fight, right? What is there to not make sense when an angel, ancient witch, monster king, and other unbelievable, ridiculous things were there at the final battle? How is it unbelievable that he was revived by the grace of the gods?"

"Exactly! He was always the one who did the impossible when he was governor-general of Leus, right? I still piss my pants when I think back to how His Majesty Pendragon led the griffons and beat up those scummy island orcs."

"When you think about a man? Are you sure it's piss? Well, His Majesty Pendragon was always a beautiful man, but this is just…"

"Uhahahahaha!"

Laughter burst out at the lame joke.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

A clear bell ran inside the tavern.

"Hooh?"

Dozens of men turned their heads with bright expressions.

The ringing bell was located in the middle of the bar. The person ringing the bell would be buying drinks to everyone inside the tavern.

"Huh…?"

The roughened sailors of Leus were known for their ferocity. However, they flinched and became pale after turning their heads. The figure excitedly ringing the bell was humongous. They were adorning a robe and hood, perhaps to protect themselves harsh winter sea breeze.

There was another figure of regular physique located next to him, most likely a member of his party, but the eyes of the customers were fixated on the large figure.

"My treat! Round of drinks, owner!"

The guests of the tavern even forgot to cheer at the figure's broad back. He was exceedingly big, easily two or three heads taller than the tallest of the sailors. Moreover, even his voice was extraordinary.

In addition, what was the monstrosity in his hand?

The vessel for his drink was easily three times larger than a regular beer mug. The figure filled the large bucket with rum instead of ale. The sailors had experienced all sorts of things, but even they could not help but be shocked.

In addition…

Thud! Thud!

The hooded figure waddled over to the group who announced the return of King Pendragon.

"W, w, what?"

The sailors felt even more overwhelmed after seeing the large figure up close. They backed down in fear, forgetting to thank the figure for the drinks.

The large figure spoke while slowly removing his hood.

"Oi! What you were saying before, tell me more. Did they really see the Pendragon scarecrow, no, I mean, my friend?"

The strongest orc warrior spoke while revealing his large fang, which was the size of a child's palm. The air of the pub froze over when the conqueror of all orc tribes revealed himself.

"Uwah…"

Due to the nature of a port city, Leus was familiar with orcs. However, the sailors could only stare with their mouths agape.

It wasn't just because of his enormous size.

It was because the orc in front of them was at least as famous as Alan Pendragon to the sailors of Leus.

"O, Orc Overlord Karuta…!"

"Ogre Slayer! It's Karuta, the Ruler of the Islands!"

"Uwaaahhhh!"

The stunned silence only lasted for a moment, and the tavern was instantly thrown into a frenzy.

"It is an honor! Ogre Slayer!"

"To think I would meet the slaughter of the islands in a place like this!"

The sailors fought to say hello to Karuta. The island orcs and pirates had been tormenting the sailors of Leus for decades. As the one responsible for defeating them along with Alan Pendragon, Karuta was a hero to the people of Leus.

It would not be an overstatement to say that it was thanks to Karuta that sailors were able to have relatively safer voyages across the inner sea to the South.

"Kuhahahahaha! You're saying all sorts of things! Even among the scarecrows, the ones who live in Leus have a good eye for orcs!"

Thuck!

-Kuegh?

Someone struck the side of the strongest orc – the orc amongst orcs and ogre slayer. The sailors became stunned. They looked to be in disbelief at the ridiculous situation.

The one responsible for hitting Karuta's side took off their hood and spoke in a low voice.

"Is this the time to be bragging about yourself? We have something more important."

"Huh?"

Healthy, brown skin and deep, large, seductive eyes. She was beautiful, but what was even more surprising was the pointed ears that rose from the sides of her head.

"An e, elf…"

Orcs were rather commonly seen, but elves were extremely rare. So rare, in fact, that one could live out their entire lives without ever seeing an elf. The guests were stunned speechless.

Moreover, the slender elf warrior had struck the strongest orc warrior in the side…

"Kuwhoops! I almost forgot."

Karuta was bold and unafraid of anything in the world, but there were two people he had difficulty dealing with.

And she was one of them.

"Oi, scarecrow, hurry up and tell me. Did the Pendragon scarecrow really come back to life?"

"Yes, yes! Well, so…"

The eyes of Karuta and Eltuan glimmered. The two of them had set off to train for several years, which was really just a fighting trip, and were returning to the Pendragon Kingdom.

***

The legendary hero came back to life.

The surprising news quickly spread across the world beyond the Aragon Empire.

Some were doubtful, and other were enthusiastic.

Alan Pendragon.

Those who knew him reacted in two different ways.

They were either outraged or sobbing.

Naturally, both reactions stemmed from an overwhelming sense of emotion and joy.

And now, two figures were reacting in such ways in a room, which was elegant and antique, but not excessive.

"Uhahahaha! Uhahaha! What did I tell you? I told you he would never die! I know exactly the kind of bastard he is! How could he die? He would even outlive a whale! Uhahahah!"

"Hnng! Hnnnnnng!"

A man was bursting into laughter like a maniac while a woman holding his hand shed endless tears. The people surrounding the two taken aback by their reactions.

"Y, Your Majesty! Please keep your dignity!"

"Your Majesty! Your tears, tears…"

The chief servant, who possessed the status of a baron, stuttered and dissuaded the man, while the maids, composed of noble daughters, comforted the woman while trying to keep her makeup from smearing.

Ian Aragon and Irene Aragon.

The ruler of the vast empire and his companion laughed and cried, disregarding the reaction of the people around them.