Chapter #59
Sheshi released her breath attack, scorching the mercenaries until their bodies were covered in burns and sent flying across the battlefield.
Hifung and Shelyn, witnessing it, couldn't help but feel a little impressed by Sheshi's strength.
Meanwhile, Sheshi rushed to Yuita, who was clutching his pierced abdomen.
She placed her right hand over his wound, and suddenly, a yellow wave-like aura appeared.
The energy spread over Yuita's abdomen, sealing the hole. Yuita stared at it in surprise.
Yuita (thinking): This wave? Could it be the same as that time? But… the color's different?
Meanwhile, Hifung and Shelyn rushed to Ray, who had also been stabbed in the stomach.
Hifung: Ray, are you okay!?
But Ray was in unbearable pain, clutching his wound, making Hifung and Shelyn even more anxious.
Sheshi's magic covered Yuita's injury for a moment before shattering—and when it faded, his wound was completely healed.
Seeing this, Hifung quickly called out:
Hifung: Sheshi!
She turned immediately, ready for his command.
Hifung: Please, heal Ray too.
Without hesitation, Sheshi hurried to Ray and used the same magic, covering his wound with the glowing aura.
Yuita, now able to stand again, walked over to them.
Yuita: Advanced healing magic.
Hifung and Shelyn blinked in surprise.
Hifung: Eh?
Yuita: That's the magic Sheshi used to heal both me and Ray.
Hearing this, Hifung and Shelyn finally sighed in relief, though still amazed.
Moments later, the aura around Ray shattered as well, revealing his wound had completely closed.
---
By evening, they had returned to the kingdom. Yuita went to meet the generals to devise strategy, accompanied by Ray, Hifung, Shelyn, and Sheshi.
Now they were all waiting in the royal conference chamber, seated around the meeting table.
Hifung: They're taking forever.
Yuita: Strange… maybe I should go check.
He stood and left the room.
Ray: Hah… where the hell are those generals?
After a few minutes, the door opened and two generals entered.
Seeing them arrive more than thirty minutes late, Hifung scowled.
Hifung: Oi, you're late—
But before he could finish, one of the generals cut him off.
General: Who are you!?
General: You've got guts, sneaking into the kingdom to steal!
The misunderstanding startled Hifung, Ray, and Shelyn.
Ray: You've got it wrong—we're not thieves.
General: Hah, as if a thief would admit it!
One general strode toward Hifung with killing intent burning in his eyes.
Hifung: Calm down, sir… We're acquaintances of Mr. Yuita. We're not here to cause trouble.
General: Tch, using Yuita's name? You think that'll save you?
He cloaked his fist in green aura and swung at Hifung.
But Hifung instantly covered his own hand in red aura, catching the blow.
General: You dare fight back!?
The other generals moved to attack too, but Sheshi stepped in front of them.
Sheshi: Don't interfere with my master's fight.
Her body flared with a deep blue dragon aura, a shadow of her dragon form looming behind her.
The generals froze in panic at the sight.
Just as the one facing Hifung was about to strike again, the conference door slammed shut.
Yuita: Stop!
All three generals stiffened in shock as Yuita entered the room.
Generals: Sir!?
---
Afterward, Yuita explained everything about why Hifung and the others were attending the meeting.
More generals arrived, until a total of seven sat around the table.
Before starting the strategy session, they all introduced themselves:
Shiro – Defense General
Anzo – Assault General
Yuza – Strategy General
Jiri – Training General
Yanmo – Intelligence General
Emiru – Royal Guard General
Endo – Supreme Commander, the General of Generals
Once the introductions were complete, Hifung and the others also stated their names.
Finally, Yuita began.
Yuita: Let's begin the meeting.
Yuita: As you know, the Zen Kingdom has seven generals leading their own divisions, under the command of the Supreme General, Endo.
Yuita: Yesterday, the Yuten Kingdom declared war on us. They even hired mercenaries to assassinate me.
Yuita: But the kingdom's funds are running low, limiting our movements.
Yuita: Do any of you have questions or proposals?
The room fell silent until Yanmo, the Intelligence General, raised his hand.
Yuita: Yes, General Yanmo?
Yanmo: The Yuten Kingdom wants to attack Zen? Yet my spies inside their borders have reported nothing.
Yuita considered this carefully.
Yuita: Could it be your spies were captured?
Yanmo frowned, clearly offended.
Yanmo: Impossible. My agents are highly trained—no one can detect them.
Yuita: Still, we must account for every possibility, even the worst.
That calmed Yanmo, though his expression remained tense. Then Yuza, the Strategy General, spoke.
Yuza: What if we try negotiating peace?
Yuza: Given our kingdom's limited resources, we can't fight Yuten effectively.
Yuza: Sacrificing some wealth would be worth it compared to losing countless soldiers.
Yuita: I agree. I've already sent a letter requesting an audience with the Yuten king, but there's been no reply.
Anzo: Then their goal is to conquer Zen outright?
Yuita: That's likely.
Shiro: In that case, we leave the final decision to you, King Yuita.
Yuita blinked in surprise.
Yuita: Wait—I called this meeting because I want us to reach a decision together.
Shiro: As king of Zen, your word is absolute.
Anzo: That's right. Joint decisions can only be overturned by consensus. But a king's decree can only be changed by the king himself.
Anzo: We're ready to follow your command.
Yuita hesitated, still hoping for a collective decision. But then Emiru, the Royal Guard General, spoke.
Emiru: It's pointless, Your Majesty. Years ago, the generals quarreled over how to execute a shared plan.
Emiru: Because of that, King Filz rose to power, establishing the rule that the king's orders carry supreme
authority.
Emiru: Since then, no general has acted out of line—every command flows directly from the king.
Yuita felt somewhat reassured, though the situation still felt strange to him.