Kaito's departure filled the people of Stormveil Castle with sadness.
But they knew their king would not be just the king of Stormveil Castle; he would become the king of this world, establishing a new, great empire.
After the nation bid him farewell, the knights swore to protect Stormveil Castle with their lives.
As long as they stood, the city would stand!
Even if they fell, the city would not fall!
In six months, Kaito had deeply impacted Stormveil Castle. He had done everything a king should, truly considering everyone's life and happiness.
He had even fulfilled a hidden desire to play emperor.
But he wouldn't be satisfied here; this game had to be cleared eventually.
He wondered where the other ladies were now, how they were faring.
Unable to communicate, he could only wait until he cleared the game to find out.
Six months was long, yet short.
Especially in the real world, it was merely a second.
Kaito rode Torrent, holding Melina in front, with the Fire Keeper holding him from behind, as they embarked on a new journey.
The knights wanted to come, but they would be useless. It was better they stayed in Stormveil.
During this time, through Melina, Kaito had visited the Roundtable Hold and met its inhabitants.
Naturally, he saw many Tarnished.
Not just those from the game's story, but many other unknown Tarnished.
Upon reaching level 50, a Maiden could transport them to the Roundtable Hold via a blessing.
This differed from the game.
Each time he visited, Kaito saw envious looks from other Tarnished.
He was currently the only one who had successfully obtained a Great Rune.
Others had tried, but those who challenged had died. Survivors hadn't dared to try, let alone succeed.
They were a diverse group. Kaito also saw the game's NPCs.
As early arrivals, they had their own quarters in the larger Roundtable Hold. Latecomers had to fight for rooms.
Kaito easily won a room, where he could stay with his Maidens.
He had also found Fia, the Deathbed Companion.
She was lucky.
She had arrived at the Roundtable Hold just as Kaito was there.
But Deathbed Companions weren't unique to Fia; many existed in the Roundtable Hold.
They were all beautiful, and all pitiable.
To understand Fia's story, one must understand what a Deathbed Companion was.
They were a group, a calling; Fia wasn't alone.
Simply put, Deathbed Companions were "sacred" or "holy courtesans".
After the death of Godwyn the Golden, Deathbed Companions appeared in the Lands Between.
Awakened by grace, they would be intimate with heroes, sharing a little life force, granting them "bed's blessing".
After accumulating enough life force, they would travel to the Prince of Death's Throne beneath the Erdtree's roots, offering that life force to the Prince in slumber, hoping to birth new life from death—a Mending Rune acknowledging death's existence.
In the game, the Tarnished's encounter with Fia reflects the plight and unwavering dedication of countless Deathbed Companions.
How the first Deathbed Companions came to be wasn't something they could question. It was as if the knowledge was implanted in their minds: they were tools for Godwyn, the Prince of Death, to channel life force, to bring about the first Those Who Live in Death, ushering in an age of death.
They called this awakening. Yet they had no time to question why this will contradicted the Golden Order. Perhaps the Golden Dynasty was nearing its end, even the Greater Will abandoning it.
Fia was one of them. She was pitiable, yet also very fortunate!
Her pity began when she could see the golden grace. From then on, Fia was shunned.
Her sudden awakening felt like guidance from the Greater Will, assigning her the role of Deathbed Companion.
In the Lands Between, where the Erdtree and the Golden Order were revered, death meant return, and Those Who Live in Death were taboo.
After the Night of the Black Knives, fragments of the black blade scattered across the Lands Between. The power of Destined Death within them became Deathroot, bringing "death" back to the peaceful Lands Between.
When Fia awakened, she was met with hostile stares from her neighbors.
The kind neighbors now looked upon her with horror, fear, anger, and confusion.
"Heretic! Leave our home!"
The gentle Fia didn't blame those who drove her away. She accepted her sorrowful fate, to become Godwyn's "bride," to bear their "child".
Fia began wandering. She didn't know her destination, but she knew her mission.
Eventually, she was guided to the Roundtable Hold.
And her luck began.
Kaito was there, and as a newcomer, Fia drew attention.
But Kaito's strength intimidated the other Tarnished. Fia became his.
She hadn't started her work yet, after all!
Just a little energy!
Take it, take it!
He recovered quickly!!
He brought her to his room, letting her live there permanently.
She would quietly complete her tasks, unsure of what to do next, but Kaito simply kept her with him.
Fia did what was necessary, a loophole in her calling.
Only Kaito could open the door to that room.
But truly, Fia was lucky because Kaito claimed her.
Other Deathbed Companions were not so fortunate.
They served the boastful Tarnished in the Roundtable Hold, and it wasn't just hugging like in the game.
The game's embrace was a sanitized version.
In reality...
Sigh. It was a harsh, melancholic reality.
Upon learning this, Kaito couldn't save them all.
There were countless beauties; why fixate on these Deathbed Companions?
What?
Fia arrived?
Cough, disregard that!
Anyway, Kaito was fated with Fia's [Bed's Blessing].
Because of Kaito, Fia didn't need to interact with other Tarnished.
Sometimes she would accompany him outside.
Even as the Fire Keeper and Melina repeatedly...
suggested Kaito exercise restraint, they eventually gave in, considering his constitution.
Not that they were exempt.
Thanks to Kaito, the three had grown close.
…
"That's Liurnia Town ahead, isn't it?"
Riding Torrent, Kaito looked at the massive town built upon a lake.
In the game, it was small, just the Raya Lucaria Academy.
But in reality, Liurnia Town was larger than Stormveil Castle, and more mysterious.
No broken bridges; monsters were scarce.
Even on the bridge to Liurnia Town, mages, commoners, and merchants could be seen.
Unlike the game's dark, ruinous atmosphere, this was a normal, functioning society.
The mages of Raya Lucaria Academy had suppressed the Deathroot problem.
And within lived Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
"Sigh, this world is too vast to explore quickly."
Just reaching Liurnia Town, which seemed like a straight path from Stormveil Castle's back gate, took two months, passing through many smaller towns and villages.
Some were intact, others in ruins, some overrun by monsters.
This was also due to Kaito stopping to grind monsters along the way.
Upon reaching Liurnia Town, they saw vast flooded cities and forests.
Once, this was a supermassive city, but now only Liurnia Town remained, like a city built on water.
Originally, it was built on a mountainside.
"Greetings, traveler. Welcome to Liurnia Town!"
After crossing the extremely long bridge, they reached the town outside the southern gate. Soldiers welcomed them.
"Traveler? My emergency food... never mind, if you say so."
This place was prosperous; all sorts of people crossed the bridge.
After staying in an inn in this smaller town for a night, they continued, crossing another bridge to reach Liurnia Town's main gate.
Here, identity checks were required. Soldiers stood guard alongside Academy mages.
They didn't discriminate against Tarnished. Even if one wanted to challenge the Queen, they first had to get past the Academy mages.
If you couldn't even beat the mages, forget challenging Rennala!
These mages also gained combat experience from fighting Tarnished.
Fights were to the point, mutually beneficial.
Unlike the game, where it was instant combat.
"My Lord, to challenge Raya Lucaria Academy, applications are held in the first ten days of each month. The next window is a week away. Should we find lodging nearby?"
"Of course."
Kaito shrugged in response to Melina.
This was a well-organized town.
No nobles ruled; instead, Raya Lucaria Academy managed the entire city.
If a Tarnished wanted to challenge Rennala for her Great Rune, they had to follow the rules.
The Academy wasn't denying them opportunities; but you wouldn't want to make enemies of the entire Academy, would you?
So, wait. Once a month! Miss it, tough luck!
Thus, the Roundtable Hold was abuzz with talk of challenging the Academy.
Stories of powerful mages, their formidable magic, became strategy topics.
The Academy's relatively good treatment of Tarnished meant challenges weren't fatal, providing experience for both sides.
Mages weren't just bookworms; they also went on quests and hunted monsters.