“Huh. As expected, the Knights of the Britannia Empire weren’t just for show.”

A man in a black robe sitting atop the ruined spire chuckled.

“You’re rather candid. The monsters we’ve spent a month creating by pouring in magic… Ah, they’re all annihilated now.”

As another man in a black robe responded, hearing the death cries of the monsters from a distance, the first man cackled.

“Do you think we just ended up giving them some experience?”

“Don’t be like that. The entire Knights Corps was deployed, we couldn’t have won anyway. Let’s just consider it a reconnaissance on both sides.”

“Human beings have developed quite a bit in the meantime. It was not as easy to deal with them as it used to be.”

“Well, considering this was our first fight in 10 years, or rather 500 years, it wasn’t too bad.”

The man in the black robe stretched lazily.

“We only have one for now, but it’s not bad. I can already feel the power gathering.”

“Thank goodness.”

A disgruntled voice replied, and the man snickered as he opened his mouth.

“Getting started is half the battle. Cheer up.”

“Half the battle? That’s nonsense. We still have a long way to go.”

“Tsk. You’re no fun.”

Still, the man chuckled as if he found everything hilarious, and the other man looked at him without a word, thinking.

He’s certainly not sane.

This man, at least, hadn’t changed at all over that long period of time.

The joint training intended to raise the prestige of the empire ended miserably with the appearance of the monsters.

The once glorious square was devastated along with the spire, and there were many casualties among the spectators.

The only consolation was that most of the knights, who had their first encounter with monsters, managed to ‘somewhat’ annihilate them, but it left a lot of homework.

The fact that the current Knights Corps was not at all prepared for fighting monsters, and that the tracking of magicians who could create such monsters had been lax, was cited as the biggest problem.

‘Damn. This is going to mean more work.’

After the cleanup of the monsters was finished, Eric, who was surveying the square, grimaced and ran a hand through his hair.

The thought of being summoned here and there for emergency countermeasure meetings starting tomorrow was already giving him a headache.

The Emperor must have been greatly surprised, so he would have many instructions, and given the situation, it was a natural consequence that he would have to work late at the Imperial Palace.

After instructing Allen for the finishing work, Eric moved his steps towards the temporary shelter.

The socalled temporary shelter wasn’t much.

A few tents were set up, and emergency patients were accommodated there first.

Doctors gathered hastily were running around, and those who were relatively unscathed were volunteering to help the medical staff and the knights.

By the time Eric arrived, the cleanup of the monsters had finished and the sequential repatriation measures were underway, so it was less chaotic.

Through the crowd, Eric searched for his parents and Alicia.

“Eric!”
The Duchess of Gloucester was the first to spot her son and waved to Eric.

“Are you alright?”

“We’re fine. What about you? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. What about Alicia?”

“She’s helping others right now. Quite remarkable, isn’t she?”

“Ah.”

As he was about to ask where she went, he heard his subordinate calling out.

“Captain!!”

Eric gestured his subordinate to wait, then turned his head toward the Duke and Duchess.

“We’re fine, you can go.”

“Please stay here, don’t go anywhere.”

“Alright, we will.”

Eric nodded his head, then moved toward his subordinates.

“Are there any monsters that escaped?”

“We’ve checked, there are no reports or witnesses. It seems like they all perished here.”

“Good. What about the corpses?”

“The 1st Knight Squadron is dealing with it. We’ve also called for the priests and mages.”

“Request a report sharing later.”

“Yes, Captain.”

As he walked with his subordinate, Eric continued to receive reports.

“The patient transport and return measures to the temporary shelter area 2 have been completed. Two more areas are left.”

“Make sure no one gets hurt during the return. Prioritize people over carts.”

“Yes. And your fiancée was over there earlier.”

“……”

How did he know?

Eric felt embarrassed and kept his mouth shut.

“Weren’t you looking for her? You kept glancing around.”

“I wasn’t necessarily…”

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry.”

“Anyway, good job. Keep it up.”

“Yes, Captain.”

After dismissing his subordinate, Eric started moving in the direction the man had indicated.

“Just a moment. Let me take a look at this.”

Alicia examined the bloodstained arm of an elderly man.

“The wound isn’t deep, so the bleeding seems to have stopped now. I’ll disinfect and bandage it for you, but if it continues to hurt, see a doctor.”

“Thank you, miss. Thank you.”

There was a shortage of doctors, so minor injuries were pushed down the priority list, leaving the wounded unable to receive treatment.

That’s why Alicia disinfected the wound herself with the hastily provided disinfectant, cleaned it, and bandaged it.

“You can go home soon, so please wait a little longer.”

After advising the old man, she smiled at the young boy he was tightly hugging with one arm and got up from her spot.

Returning to the tent, Alicia was about to pick up the box of disinfectant and bandages when someone intercepted the box from the front.

Wondering who it was, she lifted her head and Alicia’s face quickly lit up with delight.

“Eric.”

“I’ve been looking for you.”