The gates of Korvath opened to a city that had not yet recovered from its wounds. Banners still hung from rooftops, but cloth could not hide the cracked stone beneath. People walked with purpose, but the rhythm of the streets was slower, quieter—like the city had learned to breathe carefully.
Yoshiya and Omina crossed the bridge toward the Guildhall. The morning air carried the mixed scents of cooling metal and burned incense, remnants of the long vigil for the dead.
The courtyard had been swept clean, though scars from battle still marked the stone floor.
A crowd of adventurers gathered.
Yaguro Aka stood before them—scarred arms crossed, posture like the foundation of a fortress. Her voice cut through the courtyard:
"Rank promotions will now be announced."
There was no pomp. No parade. No staged celebration.
Only acknowledgment.
"For service in the defense of Korvath," Yaguro declared, "for the successful termination of the Giggleburg infestation, and for conduct under direct threat of annihilation—Yoshiya and Omina are hereby raised from Three-Star Adventurers to Four-Star Adventurers of the Korvath Guild."
The courtyard erupted—voices lifted, hands raised, boots stamped.
But the applause felt thin. Not insincere—just tired. The cheers of survivors, not victors.
Yoshiya bowed. Omina nodded once, her expression steady, though her fingers trembled just slightly as they closed over her chest.
Other names followed.
Veterans who had broken kobold choke-points in the eastern lanes.
Novices who had held shields while others retreated.
A few who had not returned—but whose promotions were spoken aloud anyway.
The living saluted for the fallen.
When the ceremony closed, the crowd slowly thinned, dispersing like smoke.
---
Above them, on a balcony overlooking the courtyard, Kouki Nozomi appeared—cloak moving in the cold wind. His voice carried easily, not because he projected it, but because everyone wanted to hear.
"Next deployments."
Maps were brought. Officers stepped forward.
"Scout teams will leave immediately."
His tone was sharp, military-straight.
"Kaito and Anzuyi—already departing for Frostholm.
Yami Kurikage's squad—to Eldoria.
Mikage Reiken's army— to Bustleburg.
Kenji Katsuragi' team—into the ruins of Giggleburg itself."
A few adventurers exchanged uneasy glances.
Giggleburg was quiet now, but quiet places after war were rarely empty.
"They will search for salvageable materials, survivors, remnants of kobold command network—and any signs of the Kobold King."
No dramatics. No speeches of heroism.
Just tasks.
Orders.
The machinery of war turning again.
---
Yoshiya and Omina remained where they stood, expecting a name, a destination.
None came.
Kouki glanced toward them—just briefly.
"Those who have fought hardest will stand down temporarily. Recuperate. Train. Prepare for reassignment."
The dismissal was not unkind.
Simply necessary.
---
Outside the courtyard, the two walked side by side.
No orders. No emergency. No immediate threat.
Just the heavy quiet of after.
Omina stretched her shoulders, rolling tension from muscle and bone.
Yoshiya exhaled, long and slow.
Rest felt foreign.
But time had to be taken before the next storm broke.
They headed toward the training yard.
Not because they needed to prove something—
—but because they knew that the war was not finished.
And the world was already changing again.