"Senomi, try to relax… this is your vacation. There's no superior–subordinate relationship between us right now."
"R-Really…? Then, may I call you Arthur?"
"Of course you may, Senomi. A name is only a label. There can be many people on this land who share the same name, but does that make them identical? Kashchey, Satan, Arthur… all of these are me. If any name feels more natural to you, then use that one."
"…Understood, Mr. Arthur."
"Haha, that's it. You're doing just fine~"
'…'
'Interesting.'
'So she really does harbor feelings for me?'
'Hmm~'
'As long as she doesn't bear any malice toward me, that's enough.'
After all,
the Black Snake doesn't concern itself with such trivial things.
———
Inside a construction company office in Kazimierz.
It was technically noon break, yet many employees were still hunched over their desks, drowning in paperwork.
Their daily targets were still far from complete.
There was no choice. Even if the rules said it was break time, the amount of work required to meet the daily quota far exceeded the so-called official working hours.
Unless you wanted to be fired for "low efficiency," it was better to quietly get everything done.
Still, even in such a suffocating atmosphere, people knew how to find slivers of joy in hardship.
Right now, a few employees were sharing bits of gossip to ease their stress.
They talked about the upcoming Major, about Ursus increasing troops near the borders again, and whether the new Infected Knight system was truly justified.
Only one person remained unmoved.
Unlike the others, he had a sword with elaborate engravings hanging at his waist.
No one questioned it.
After all, he was a member of the Nearl family.
The Nearl family had produced many legendary figures.
Especially those who once stood against Ursus, which was then one of Terra's most powerful militaries.
For a time, the Nearl household was regarded as a model knight family of Kazimierz.
Even though the title of "knight" had long faded in glory, few dared look down on a lineage that had produced so many remarkable talents.
Młynar Nearl had been working at this mid-sized construction firm, controlled by the Młynar Group, for some time now.
He had no great achievements to his name, yet no one could ever find fault with his work.
But recently, his mood had been poor.
Both of his nieces had stepped onto a path he despised.
"Competitive knights"—what a laughable title.
Does a knight need victory to prove their worth?
'I have to finish all of this today.'
'Margaret… I want to see just how much you've grown after all these years.'
He ignored the idle chatter and continued working in silence.
His coworkers were already used to Młynar's habits.
They continued chatting among themselves, their topics ranging from trivial daily annoyances all the way to national issues like Ursus increasing troop presence near the Kazimierz border.
"By the way, that Laughing Knight who once took the whole era by storm… turns out he was actually Ursus' Eternal Duke. Gives me chills just thinking about it."
"Right? Who would've thought that the man idolized by countless teenagers was an Ursus duke? Damn it, how dare Ursus trample on Kazimierz's dignity. Why don't we just declare war?"
"…You can say that, but if war truly broke out, what would we use to stop Ursus' steel tide? Don't forget we suffered a crushing defeat before."
"Shh, quiet down… And honestly, what do any of us really know? There are no eternal enemies between nations, only eternal interests. For all we know, those high-ranking figures had full knowledge of letting Duke Kashchey enter the tournament. The game played by important people isn't something we small fry can understand."
"I always knew that knight was bad news. Promoting that ridiculous so-called Infected Knight system… what a joke."
"Alright, alright, wise guy. Let's change the topic… Have you heard? Apparently our boss was replaced recently."
"What's that got to do with us? We just need to do our jobs… I still haven't finished the project on my desk."
Gradually, the office sank back into its suffocating silence.
Młynar, who had been working quietly all this time, let out a heavy sigh.
That Ursus duke—they were speaking of someone he knew.
In fact, for a member of the Nearl family, not knowing Duke Kashchey would be a disgrace.
His father, the former head of the Nearl family, had once brought him and his brother to visit the family's library.
Among the many items there, one painting remained etched deeply in his memory.
A depiction of a scepter.
"Children, our war with Ursus is far from over."
"Perhaps even when you both grow up, when you travel the world like every Nearl youth before you, our conflict with Ursus will still have no end."
"…"
"I will give you both one piece of advice, from your father."
"If you ever see someone holding this scepter…"
"Look away immediately and retreat."
"Do not meet their eyes, do not listen to their words, do not attempt to analyze their actions."
"Unless absolutely necessary, do not attack first."
"That would only throw your lives away… and you would die without honor."
The knight in heavy armor let out a weary sigh.
As much as he hated to admit it, Ursus had earned its reputation as a top military power.
Even when Ursus committed only a fraction of its military might to the conflict, Kazimierz struggled to hold the line.
He could hardly imagine what would happen once Ursus finished dealing with Sami, the Eastern factions, and the threat of Yan's potential strikes. What strength would Kazimierz have left to resist such a war machine?
Moreover…
He recalled the emissary Ursus had once sent.
A refined Phidia gentleman, carrying a scepter.
That scepter alone revealed his identity.
The god of Ursus—the immortal Black Snake.
———
"Sign this treaty and you will save more lives."
"How much longer do you think you can hold out? Once Ursus regathers its armies, even the Silverlance Pegasi that Kazimierz is so proud of won't be able to change the outcome."
"Ursus simply hopes that you can contribute to this land."
"Ursus has already sacrificed far too much for every living being on this land."
"Don't you think it's time for Kazimierz to do its part as well?"
"For example, voluntarily ceding territory and resources to support Ursus in its noble crusade against the demons…"