"—With this, the White Whale's reign on the Lifaus Plains is completely over!" Crusch's clear, cold voice echoed across the plains like a mo
"—With this, the White Whale's reign on the Lifaus Plains is completely over!"
Crusch's clear, cold voice echoed across the plains like a morning bell. The warriors, who had been immersed in speechless shock, all looked up, their gazes following the young woman who rode forward composedly on her white Earth Dragon. Crusch's long, jade-green hair was disheveled, her magnificent battle armor was tattered and broken from the fierce battle, and her cheeks were stained with blood and dirt. But at this moment, in the eyes of the crowd, this battle-worn green-haired young woman was more dazzling than ever before. If the radiance of one's soul could measure a person's worth, then at this moment, she was undoubtedly the most brilliant existence.
"Everyone—" Crusch took a deep breath, straightened her back, and under the watchful eyes of all, raised her sword high towards the sky. "Let us witness this moment together! The Mabeast of Fog that has ravaged the world for over four hundred years—has been successfully subjugated today by Knight Natsuki Subaru! From this day forward, the people of Lugnica will no longer have to live under the shadow of the White Whale!"
"Long live Lady Crusch!"
"Long live Lord Natsuki Subaru!"
"A hero! Knight Natsuki Subaru is a true hero!"
"The Guardian of the Kingdom!"
"Without Knight Natsuki Subaru, we would have all died long ago!"
"Lord Natsuki Subaru, the true Whale Slayer!"
The cheers erupted like a tsunami.
Mimi of the Iron Fang jumped up and down excitedly, her cat ears twitching nonstop. "Big brother is so amazing, meow! Mimi wants to become big brother's disciple..."
Hetaro, for once, did not stop his sister's antics, merely gazing at the enormous carcass of the White Whale before them and sighing softly, "To slay the White Whale head-on with his power alone... that strength has probably already surpassed the captain's."
"Hahaha... that it has." The captain of the Iron Fang, Ricardo, laughed heartily. "That little bro's strength is indeed above mine! Without him fighting and tangling with the White Whale's main body in the air, we could never have achieved victory!"
Beneath Flugel's Tree, the massive carcass of the White Whale lay silently. But this was not the end of the fairy tale. As the cheers gradually subsided, the heavy burden of reality followed. Tending to the wounded, collecting the remains, searching for traces of the warriors whose very existence had been erased. This cruel work had only just begun.
A preliminary count showed that over fifty warriors had perished in this battle, including two members of the Iron Fang.
"Although I provided all the key intelligence about the White Whale in advance, sacrifices were ultimately unavoidable." Natsuki Subaru silently gazed at the corpses covered by white cloths, his expression somewhat complex. He couldn't help but recall the tragic outcome of the White Whale subjugation in the original work, where out of more than two hundred and twenty members of the subjugation party, only forty-eight survived. In comparison, the current result was indeed much, much better. Yet this outcome was still bought with more than fifty living souls.
"You have already done very well." Crusch had approached Natsuki Subaru's side at some point, her emerald eyes shining with admiration and gratitude. "If not for the crucial intelligence you provided, if not for your life-and-death struggle with the White Whale in the air, our casualties would likely have been several times what they are now."
"Lord Subaru, you are the hero who ended the scourge of the White Whale." Wilhelm gently patted Natsuki Subaru's shoulder, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes under his silver hair shining with an elder's care. "Do not be too hard on yourself. On the battlefield, the living must carry on the will of the departed."
"...I understand." After a moment of silence, Natsuki Subaru nodded. He looked towards the soldiers in the distance who were collecting their comrades' remains; a young knight was kneeling before a body covered by a white cloth, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Speaking of which, my original agreement for the alliance with Crusch was to exchange intelligence on the White Whale, plus assisting Crusch in subjugating this Mabeast, for her sending elites to help counter the impending attack on Emilia by the Witch Cult and the Sin Archbishops. This was originally an an alliance built on an exchange of interests. But now, looking at the soldiers casting reverent gazes upon him, the emotions surging in Natsuki Subaru's chest were far more complex than a mere transaction. After all, after this battle fought together, a bond transcending interests seemed to have sprouted in everyone's hearts.
"The result is pretty good; the White Whale has been eliminated," Natsuki Subaru said to Crusch beside him. "It's for the best that Miss Crusch is safe and sound."
"This is my duty." Crusch nodded slightly, a hint of gravity in her emerald eyes. "Even though the White Whale has been eliminated, the lives that were lost cannot be brought back. The sacrifices of these brave warriors are all the more worthy of being remembered."
"Rest assured, they will not have sacrificed in vain. Their names will be engraved on the most conspicuous monument in the Royal Capital, and their families will receive the best care."
"That would be for the best..." Natsuki Subaru nodded in agreement, then his gaze shifted towards the White Whale's carcass, where some lightly injured survivors were gathered. He changed the subject, "What are they doing?"
"We must transport the White Whale's carcass back," Crusch replied.
"Transporting this behemoth..." Natsuki Subaru raised an eyebrow, sizing up the White Whale's body, which was over fifty meters long. "How many dragon carriages would that take?"
"I have already ordered twenty specially made transport carriages to be dispatched. If it proves too difficult, we must at least bring the head back to the Royal Capital intact." Crusch composedly arranged her messy hair, her gaze becoming sharp. "The people need to witness the end of the nightmare with their own eyes."
"Is this... a political necessity?" Natsuki Subaru keenly sensed something.
"Not entirely." Crusch looked towards the assembling soldiers and said slowly, "Four hundred years of fear needs something physical to break it. When mothers can point to the White Whale's skull and tell their children they no longer need to be afraid, only then will this victory be truly complete."
"I see..." Natsuki Subaru nodded thoughtfully. Only now did he fully understand Crusch's political considerations. Originally, subjugating the White Whale was an important political achievement she wanted to display during the Royal Selection process. Of course, Crusch was by no means the sort of shallow person who only cared about showing off her achievements; this had been amply demonstrated in the bloody battle just now. But it was undeniable that the significance of this successful subjugation was extraordinary. The Mabeast of Fog, which had plagued the world for four hundred years and devoured countless lives, was now finally vanquished. As the most formidable candidate in the Royal Selection, Crusch already enjoyed extremely high public support. Coupled with this achievement of eliminating one of the Three Great Mabeasts, the White Whale—a feat worthy of being recorded in the history books of the Kingdom of Lugnica—Crusch's position would become as solid as a rock.
"All in all, although Crusch's faction has gained unprecedented prestige in this battle, I, as part of Emilia's faction, have also won valuable political capital." Natsuki Subaru looked at the cheering soldiers in the distance, a smile unconsciously lifting the corners of his lips. After all, by participating in this subjugation of the Mabeast White Whale, the world will witness firsthand that under the banner of the silver-haired half-elf, there are also heroes who fight for the kingdom. This might be the most powerful proof to change deep-seated prejudices.
"What is it, Sir?" Crusch's keen intuition caught the subtle change in Natsuki Subaru's expression.
"Nothing, just thinking about some things." Natsuki Subaru waved his hand, but saw that Crusch had already placed her right hand solemnly on her chest—the starting gesture of the highest Karsten family etiquette.
"The success of this subjugation of the Mabeast of Fog, the White Whale, is entirely thanks to your invaluable assistance." Crusch's voice was clear and firm. "If not for your intelligence and bravery, not only would we have been unable to slay the White Whale, but I fear we couldn't even have retreated in one piece. The path of my ideals might have long since been severed in that fog."
With that, Crusch bowed deeply to Natsuki Subaru, her long, jade-green hair cascading down like a waterfall. The gravity of this gesture was enough to make the busy soldiers around them stop their work and watch with bated breath.
"Hey, hey, Miss Crusch, you're being too dramatic..." Natsuki Subaru hurriedly stepped forward to help Crusch up, saying modestly, "This victory was bought with everyone's blood and lives; it's not my achievement alone."
Truth be told, if Crusch hadn't commanded the ground troops to continuously wear down the White Whale's health with Magic Stone Cannons and perfectly tied down the two duplicates, and if Wilhelm and the Iron Fang mercenaries hadn't continuously attacked the White Whale, I would never have been able to land that final blow.
"You not only provided key intelligence on the White Whale's splitting ability, allowing us to prepare countermeasures in advance, but you also single-handedly tangled with the White Whale in the air, enduring the most ferocious attacks..." Crusch straightened up, her emerald eyes shining in the morning light, as she began to list his contributions as if counting treasures. "And finally, you accurately seized the opportunity to deliver the fatal blow. Every task was completed flawlessly."
Crusch's praise was not exaggerated in the slightest; every word was weighty and resonant. Her face, which usually wore the calm demeanor of a politician, now held only pure respect and gratitude.
"The one who established the primary merit in this subjugation is, without a doubt, you—Knight Natsuki Subaru." Crusch's words were so direct and frank that one could almost directly touch her noble soul.
"Err..." Natsuki Subaru felt his ears grow hot. This kind of unreserved praise was more disarming than any harsh questioning. He helplessly scratched the back of his head and said, "Spare me, Miss Crusch... If it weren't for everyone's hard work on the ground, I would have been torn to pieces by the White Whale long ago. This was truly the result of everyone's collective effort, not just me..."
"There's no need for modesty." Crusch firmly interrupted Natsuki Subaru, pressing her fist tightly to her chest—the posture of making an oath. "I swear on the name of Crusch Karsten, I will surely repay your meritorious service in the most appropriate form. This is not only as an ally, but also as... a friend."
"Friend...?" Natsuki Subaru was slightly taken aback, subconsciously looking at the hand Crusch extended.
It was a surprisingly soft hand. Although years of wielding a sword had left thin calluses on her knuckles, her palm was surprisingly delicate and warm. Her slender fingers were long and elegant, her nails trimmed neatly and roundly, showing a faint pink hue. These hands possessed both the resilience of a warrior and the unique tenderness of a noble young lady.
"Miss Crusch..." Natsuki Subaru let out a light breath, gently taking the offered hand. Feeling the warmth from her palm, he couldn't help but nod. "We are friends."
"Natsuki Subaru..." A sincere curve lifted the corners of Crusch's lips. It was a smile Natsuki Subaru had never seen before, a completely unguarded smile. A few strands of jade-green hair fell beside her blood-stained cheek, adding a rare touch of vulnerability.
Speaking of which, a Miss Crusch like this... is truly beautiful.
The moment this thought popped up, Natsuki Subaru hurriedly shook his head internally: Ahem... what nonsense am I thinking!
Fortunately, Wilhelm walked over at that moment, promptly interrupting Natsuki Subaru's thoughts. The old Sword Demon, Wilhelm, stopped before Natsuki Subaru, then suddenly knelt on one knee, performing the highest standard of formal salute, just as he had demonstrated the night before their departure.
"Lord Natsuki Subaru." Wilhelm's voice trembled slightly, a rare emotional fluctuation for this weathered old man. "For fourteen years, I have longed for this moment day and night. I never imagined that the one to finally achieve my revenge for me would be a young man like Your Excellency."
Wilhelm bowed his head deeply, his silver hair fluttering in the morning breeze. "That this body could have its long-cherished wish fulfilled is all thanks to Your Excellency's aid. This debt of gratitude, I shall spend the rest of my life repaying."
"Actually, killing the White Whale wasn't my achievement alone..." Natsuki Subaru quickly waved his hands and said, "The key to success also lies in Mister Wilhelm's own strength. It was you who constantly thought and investigated how to defeat the White Whale, you who persisted in training and fought without ever giving up... It was your deep love for your wife that ultimately allowed us to defeat the White Whale together."
Here, Natsuki Subaru paused, looking at the old man's wrinkled face, and continued, "I don't know if it's appropriate for me to say this... but, congratulations. And, all these years, you have worked hard."
However, the moment the words left his mouth, Natsuki Subaru felt a pang of regret. After all, these feelings were just his own presumptuous empathy with Wilhelm's state of mind; such a dogmatic statement might displease him. But looking at this old man who had persisted for fourteen years, he just couldn't help but want to say some words of comfort.
"—Thank you." Wilhelm replied briefly, his voice trembling. This Sword Demon, known for his iron will, seemed so fragile at this moment.
"..." Natsuki Subaru was silent for a moment. He knew Wilhelm had come this far to take revenge on the White Whale, but the crueler truth was that his wife had actually been killed by the Witch of Vainglory, and had even been turned into a Corpse Soldier. These unspeakable facts filled Natsuki Subaru with pity for this old man.
When Wilhelm looked up again, Natsuki Subaru saw complex emotions flashing in those azure eyes—relief, sorrow, and an endless longing.
Just then, a painful groan came from not far away: "Ah—Knight Felix, don't worry about me..."
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