Having tidied up the basecamp surroundings and wrapped up my conversation with blacksmith Kellibey..

"Let's head back!"

My three parties and I returned using the teleport gate.

Kellibey, from beside his blacksmith shop, frantically waved his hand towards us.

"Come visit often, you rascals! I get so lonely here! And bring some tasty stuff! Got it?!"

Oh, such a dialog, he sounded like a lonely grandpa living in the countryside.

Well, we really do plan to visit often.

I bowed politely before shoving my body into the gate.

"You must come often, you must-!"

Stop, why are you so desperate, grandpa! You're waiting like a grandparent expecting their grandkids on a holiday! We'll come back, so just stay put!

Flash-!

***

As soon as we returned to the mansion, I summoned all the members of the three parties back to the drawing room.

Everyone must be tired after the battle, but we needed to settle this incident and move on.

"Firstly, you all worked hard. Thanks to everyone's diligent efforts, this recovery operation was successful."

After passing around simple beverages and snacks, I opened my mouth after taking a full gulp of my drink.

But everyone was staring at me. I shouted with laughter.

"Hey, relax and eat and drink! We won, why are you all so tense?"

"Ah, yes!"

"Thanks for the food!"

"Thanks for the food~!"

As Lucas and Evangeline started eating the fruit pie placed in front of them, the other party members also began to carefully take a bite each.

The little ones of Shadow Squad eagerly stuffed their mouths with snacks, and even the newbie Dion Mercenary Group members who were cautious until the end started to chow down. How cute.

"I guess I should explain to you all. The reason why those guys disappeared instead of dying."

Once everyone seemed to have had a bit of a snack and drink, I resumed the story.

"According to the blacksmith old man, Kellibey, who we encountered at the camp... the citizens of the Lake Kingdom are cursed with immortality."

Lucas furrowed his brows.

"Immortality... curse? So, they don't die?"

"That's right."

According to Kellibey's explanation, when the citizens of Lake Kingdom die, they respawn at specific locations assigned to each individual.

It takes some time to become mobile again. Anyway, it seems like they respawn no matter how many times they die.

"They don't age, they don't die. As if they are fixed on one axis of time."

"Are all the citizens of Lake Kingdom cursed like that? How could such a thing..."

"Well, though I say citizens, only a few are active at the bottom."

The city-state seems to have a population of at least several hundred thousand in scale.

However, the actual NPCs belonging to the Lake Kingdom that we encounter in the game are at most a few dozen.

"There are about a hundred NPCs one can encounter in the dungeon. Half of them used to be adventurers, the rest were citizens of the Lake Kingdom... so at best, you'd encounter about fifty."

I stopped mid-thought. Wait a minute.

'...Then where are the rest of the citizens?'

Where were the rest of the hundreds of thousands of citizens?

If everyone was under the curse of immortality... where on earth were they all?

"It's hard to believe. It's like something out of a fairy tale."

Evangeline, who had been nibbling on a pie, tilted her head.

"But isn't immortality usually considered a blessing, not a curse?"

Lucas chimed in.

"That's right. Everyone is eager to live even a day longer, if we could live forever... wouldn't that be called a blessing?"

Damien looked disgusted.

"I wouldn't want it."

"Why? You want to die soon?"

"I don't want to die, but living forever... seems too exhausting."magic

Everyone seemed to have a slightly different view on life and death.

Wondering what Junior, the last main party member, was thinking, I looked over and saw her.

"...Immortality..."

She was muttering to herself, staring blankly into space.

It was a dreamy expression I hadn't seen from this young wizard before. I was slightly taken aback.

The Shadow Squad and Dion Mercenary Group began expressing their opinions on 'whether to live forever or enjoy a natural lifespan and die'.

The reception room soon became noisy.

'What? Who said they'd let you live forever? They're all counting their chickens before they're hatched.'

I chuckled and swallowed my drink.

'So, I guess from now on, we'll have to chase hostile Lake Kingdom NPCs to their respawn points instead of killing them...?'

It's fortunate that we can suppress and chase them off. But it's a headache that we can't fundamentally eliminate them.

It means we have to fight like this every time the Nightcrawlers show up."Anyway, we've driven them out of the base camp for now.

They won't bother us for a while. We need to focus on preparing for the next defense battle."

I said, settling the chaotic atmosphere.

"The enemy of the next defensive battle is the Blood Clan, more specifically, high-ranking vampire nobles."

Everyone focused their attention on me. I nodded.

"I'll provide you all with new weapons effective against the Blood Clan, and we'll have to train to use them."

I had commissioned Kellibey to make three holy weapons, but separate from that, I planned to provide everyone with silver weapons.

"We have three weeks left until they attack. During that time, we must devote ourselves entirely to our defenses."

I said sternly, then smiled.

"But let's all rest today. You've all done well preparing and executing the operation, and worked hard."

Everyone gave faint smiles. I flung my hand up.

"Well, we've worked hard through the night, let's go get some sleep. Dismissed!"

***

The Shadow Squad and Dion Mercenary Group were the first to leave the reception room, leaving the main party last.

"Yaaawn..."

I stretched out a long yawn. I was so tired.

It was already dawn. Cool sunlight seeped in through the window.

Lucas, Evangeline, and Damien were preparing to leave, chatting away.

'Huh?'

That's when I noticed Junior sitting by the window.

Junior was holding her forehead with a pale complexion. What's wrong with her?

"Junior, are you okay? You don't look too good."

"Huh?!"

As I approached and asked, Junior's shoulders trembled in surprise.

Junior awkwardly smiled and looked up at me.

"Hehe. I guess I'm just tired from staying up all night. My condition is a bit..."

Wobble.

In the middle of her response, Junior lost her balance and, just like that...

Thud.

She fell into my arms.

'What?!'

Surprised, my body stiffened. What? What the hell is going on?

'Does this mage have some kind of plan, right now?!'

Various thoughts crossed my mind for a moment.

What's her aim? Is it because I'm rich and she's after money? Is she trying to seduce the prince that I am? Ash may be infamous for his debauchery, but not me. Anyway, how many children would we have if we get married-?!

"Are you both okay?"

"What happened?"

Lucas and Evangeline rushed over at that moment.

Evangeline carefully helped Junior up, and Lucas swiftly took a stance between Junior and me, as if to protect me.

There was a vague light of caution in Lucas and Evangeline's eyes.

Why are you guys on guard?

Junior, still unable to stand properly, covered her face with her hand, supported by Evangeline.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was just a bit dizzy..."

"Why did you have to dive into his arms of all places when you felt dizzy?"

"Even if you're a valued mage, you shouldn't approach our lord's person so easily."

The two knights were still on guard.

"Junior, are you hurting a lot? Shall I cast a healing spell for you?"

Damien, who had arrived a beat later, brought up healing magic with his hands with an innocent face.

"Haha. No, it's really nothing serious..."

Drip.

Before she could finish her sentence, blood dripped from Junior's nose and down her chin.

"Huh?"

She seemed surprised herself. Junior stared blankly for a moment at the blood from her nose wetting her hand.

"Oh dear, are you okay? Here's a handkerchief-"

I hurriedly tried to pull out a handkerchief from my pocket.

"...Ugh."

But Junior was faster, rushing out of the reception room.

"I, I need to get going now! Everyone, take a good rest!"

"Hey, wait a moment, Junior!"

Before I could hold her back, Junior was already far down the mansion's hallway.

"...At least get emergency treatment from Damien."

I muttered, disconcerted, and glanced at the two knights.

"Why are you both overreacting like this? To a sick person.""The issue is your lack of concern, my Lord..."

At Lucas's words, Evangeline nodded her head.

"Junior's magic power was boiling within her. As if it was going to shoot out somewhere, any moment."

"Huh? It was?"

I had no idea. I might not have the ability to sense that, but those two SSR individuals should have!

"She always seemed like she's hiding something since we first met, Lord. It often feels like her magic power is restlessly fluctuating."

I thought my intelligence and magic power stats were increasing decently, so why couldn't I detect it? Is this kind of sensing a different ability?

"But we haven't mentioned anything because her skills are normally so tidy, Lord."

Lucas stared at the hallway Junior had left, his gaze laced with wariness.

"If she becomes a threat to you, Lord, we must stop her."

"Hmm..."

Watching us carefully, Damien cautiously spoke up.

"But, Lord... Junior really looked sick."

"You can sense that?"

Who would've guessed he was a healer? It seems like he can sense illness rather than magic power.

"Every time Juju uses magic, she puts a smoking pipe in her mouth."

"What... are you sure it's not because she's a smoker?"

"No. What's in that smoking pipe is not tobacco but an herb with analgesic effects."

"Huh?"

"It smells different. I've even seen her fill it with the herb directly..."

"..."

An herb with analgesic effects?

Every time she uses magic? Why?

My head hurt so much that I slapped my forehead.

'Why are all these wizards sick in one way or another?'

One has a hurt leg, another has a magic power outburst, and yet another is weak!

This is a problem! If they're this valuable, they should live long and healthy lives!

"Don't just hunch over your desks researching magic, stretch a bit! Straighten your backs! Get some sun! Got it?!"

As I vented alone, Lucas challenged me.

"It seems that your words apply to yourself as well, my Lord..."

"Huh?"

"That's right, senior! Your face is pale because you're always cooped up in the office!"

"But I go on dungeon outings..."

"Do you think that's enough? From now on, you'll train with us too."

"I will take responsibility for your health, Lord!"

The two vanguard knights put their hands on their hips (though you couldn't see Evangeline's) and began to pressure me.

With a yelp, I shook my head.

"No way! The Prince is an indoor kind of person! Busy with all sorts of things! Get lost, you bastards who only think about physical activity!"

***

The next day. Around noon. In the office.

"Ugh..."

I am sprawled in my chair.

I've been caught by the knight duo all morning and, surprisingly, I've done a quick jog and some training.

Exhausted from sudden exercises...

'...Should I suggest Junior to exercise together?'

I thought about the health of the newly acquired wizard.

She had a nosebleed yesterday. She staggered a bit too.

She also smoked herbs like a cigarette, herbs that supposedly have pain-relieving effects.

Something's definitely off.

The problem is that she shows no intention of opening up about it.

'She's hiding her stats and health issues...'

She even had some sort of magic battle with Jupiter, who's an old lady.

It would be nice if she could just talk about what happened, what's going on. But she doesn't look like she's in the mood to talk.

Suddenly!

It was then. Aider came into the office with a document in hand.

"The scout we sent to the Capital has returned!"

"Oh."

I sat up straight in my chair.

I had always sent requests for reinforcements, but as soon as it was confirmed that our stage 5 opponents were of the vampire clan, I sent another one immediately.

I wrote desperately that if they didn't help this time, we're really doomed.

It was a request for reinforcements, almost like a lengthy petition, handwritten by me. By now, they should respond!

"So, the reinforcements?"

"Hehe, about that..."

Aider scratched the back of his head awkwardly, grinning.

"None!"

Well, that figures, you damn Capital bastards!