Chapter 144

***

Thus, I returned to Nokentoria Castle and rushed to dungeons with the very special troops to fill the remaining four months.

The Black Night unit thanked me for my hard work in bringing Meyer back to his senses and saw me off with tear-stained handkerchiefs.

“Be careful.”

Meyer let me go without adding anything except for those words.

He used to be soft tofu that would shatter at the mere touch of my chopsticks. If he had acted like soft tofu before, he seems to have upgraded to at least mung bean jelly now, after a serious exchange of ideas.

I also nodded my head at him. It was an exchange of trust.

The special forces had already prepared for the hardship and followed my instructions with a solemn attitude. And so time passed.

We lived in the dungeon for most of the four months, except for the occasional stop at the castle for supplies.

Day by day, the children grew up quickly.

I crossed the 60 level mark first, followed by the trio, then Jeanne and Anasta.

The notes I made when I first set foot in Castle Nokentoria were long since tattered. I was so proud that it was proof that I worked hard.

“Wow… It did end somehow.”

Nova rolled his tongue and wiped the sweat from his chin.

Everyone seemed to be in a much more mature mood after the 60th level. It was only natural since as expedition members they had crossed the mountains to be recognized everywhere they went.

August held his tongue as if he hadn’t expected all the special forces to meet the 60th level.

“Do you intend to conquer the empire beyond defeating the Demon King? With this momentum, we can build a corps of over 60 levels.”

“That’s not good.”

I smiled bitterly and waved my hand.

“Just because a dog or a cow is at the 60th level doesn’t mean it’s okay. We have to think about the future.”

Soon we will be able to close the dungeon smoothly, and there will be fewer human casualties, but the problem was after that.

Once the demon king is defeated and the dungeons are closed, there is no place to level up. In short, you stop growing from the level you were at when you fought the Demon King, and your rank ends at the same level you were at then.

Of course, if everyone was good and altruistic, there would be no problem, but…

Living in this world was not something that flowed in a very positive way.

If there was someone who was condescending and persecuted others at level 60 among those who had raised their level…

I was horrified just thinking about it.

It would not be easy to throw them away, who had become contributors to the empire, so all of them would only be a stain on the empire of Meyer’s reign.

Therefore, I intended to grow only those whose talents and personalities had been proven to some extent.

‘And the number of people who apply both personality and talent is rather small.’

August understood exactly what I was saying. He spoke as if he was truly moved.

“Sister knows more about the development and management of the troops than I do. I can’t believe you’re thinking about what the world will look like after the demon king is defeated… I’m honestly impressed.”

It was natural that August did not easily recall the world after that, as he did not know how many years later the Demon King would appear.

‘Between half a year and one year… It’s just around the corner.’

We didn’t have much time left anyway. I was on the verge of upgrading my special troops into backup members against the Demon King, but I didn’t have enough time to train the other troops.

I looked at the sky. If the Demon King Gate was opened, that sky would be darkened with demonic energy.

The memories of the first round were as vivid as if they were yesterday.

While I was pondering my future in the past like this, the unknowing Sevi hummed with a sense of excitement.

“If I go to the performance report this time, I’ll get a nickname too, right?”

Although he had grown taller, he was still only 15 years old. The little things like that made him flush.

Sevi’s eyes were fuzzy as if he was dreaming.

“What will it be? I wish I could make it.”

“If you can choose your name, will you do something like the gale you mentioned last time?”

Julieta asked, frowning in the middle of her forehead. Sevi said clearly by giving strength to every word.

“I’m Gale Destroyer.”

“Ughh, don’t even dream about it.”

Julieta shuddered with disgust.

Sevi asked back, snooping his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Why? It’s cool.”

“It gives me goosebumps when I think your name will be called after that title.”

Julieta responded coldly. The former timid and quiet appearance had disappeared somewhere, and now she had become a fact bomber for the special unit.

The change in Julietta’s personality must have been due in part to the influence of Anasta, a healer of the same age.

Anasta was also the type to say what she wanted to say.

In the beginning, when she joined the special unit, they were awkward, hiding their covering the day with each other, but as soon as they started talking, they became closer.

As it was important to make sure that you expressed yourself in the dungeon, it was a positive effect.

‘I can’t believe that she’s gotten stronger and her personality has become smarter…’

I even began to pay attention to Julieta’s moods from time to time.

Of course, Julieta had changed more straightforwardly, but Sevi had evolved accordingly.

In short, he didn’t care a bit. Sevi shook his head, sticking his tongue out at Julieta as if he knew nothing about it.

“Originally, the stronger and stronger the title is, the better it is. I want to have a title that sounds stronger than Flame Mage.”

“His Majesty decides the title anyway. Why are you so worried?”

“It’s supposed to come true if you sincerely wish. As if I had become a wizard thanks to my desperate wish to become a wizard.”

Whether he was an adult or child…

I smiled unconsciously at Sevi’s fluttering appearance with his chest sticking out.

At that time, Jeanne, who was quietly listening to Sevi and Julieta’s conversation, suddenly intervened.

“… I’ll be the Witch of Ice and Snow.”

“Even you, Jeanne.”

Julieta pondered as if she had been betrayed.

As Jeanne was about the same age as Sevi, it was clear that she thought Sevi’s self-proclaimed title was cool.

Of course, Sevi was blatant. But everyone inwardly expected their own title.

“Haha. Everything is just a wish. The title will be given by His Majesty anyway.”

Nova, who said so, also shouted, “The shield of the empire, Nova Pellum!” to the mirror of the accommodations when no one was looking.

I happened to see him passing through the hallway.

Of course, to protect Nova’s delicate and fragile heart, I pretended I hadn’t seen it and closed the door, so Nova couldn’t have known that I had seen the scene.

So even now, pretending to be mature like that, pretending to be respectful, I was trying to stop Julieta and Sevi

I… Well, I wondered if my title this time would also be Gray Rose.

It was cute to see the kids so happy because I didn’t have any expectations for a title.

Sevi sighed and mumbled.

“The Vice Commander already has a title. Good for you.”

“… what? Since when? I didn’t know.”

I was surprised and asked back at a sound I had never heard of. So Sevi opened his eyes wide and looked at me as if he were surprised.

Then he said it as if it were natural.

“Tyrant.”

“Wait, that’s not it.”

I had a good laugh.

It wasn’t a title, but a sort of nickname that circulated only within the Black Knights.

A title was a second, more public, and widely known name.

It was a term that represented one person, so it had to be recognized by the Emperor above all else, let alone something unique and individual.

The designation of Tyrant was neither.

Apparently, Sevi still didn’t really know the difference between a nickname and a title…

At the moment I smiled and tried to tell him the difference, August intervened with an unexpected look.

“… Brother Sevi is actually right, sister.”

“… What’s right? Tyrant? That’s my title?”

“Yes.”

August nodded slowly. I asked back indifferently at the determination.

“What title is that, without a title ceremony? I haven’t seen His Majesty since the previous results briefing.”

“It’s strange how sister sometimes thinks along the lines of common sense like that. The Black Knights have many exceptions.”

“No, but still… That means that only my title was approved by His Majesty separately. How troublesome? By who?”

“…”

“No, never mind. It was dumb of me to ask.”

I shook my hand as soon as August tried to open his mouth to answer.

Who was it? Of course, it was Meyer Knox…!

He caused an accident without telling me!

In addition, it bothered me that all the kids except me knew.

‘Come to think of it, I think Meyer tried to say something when I recently stopped by the castle….’

At that time, I thought Meyer was whining for no reason, so I shook off my sleeves, saying I had to go into the dungeon quickly.

I cried out in vexation.

“If you knew it, you should’ve told me!”

“I thought you knew, Vice Commander…”

Sevi said quietly.

To be fair, my mistake was not entirely without merit.

If I’d known this was going to happen, I’d have listened more closely to Meyer’s words.

I’m not a loyal dog, I’m not a gray rose, I’m a tyrant.

No matter how figurative a word is, is that okay? The emperor is still alive with his eyes open…

However, it was a ship that had already sailed even if I regretted it. Without room for inventory, my title seemed to have been sold as Tyrant.

“… Phew, okay. There’s nothing I can do.”

Yeah. It’s just a title. The emperor wouldn’t think much either. Maybe he laughed it off.

‘It may be a little threatening if Meyer has the title of Tyrant, but it will sound like an irony only when I, a supporting wizard, have the title of Tyrant.’

Of course, that didn’t mean that I wouldn’t complain to Meyer.

The sooner I give up on what I can’t do anything about right now, the better.

I clapped my palms together and hurried to the Special Unit.

“Now, if you want to be given a title, let’s go back to Nokentoria Castle and measure the levels first.”

“But didn’t you say we exceeded level 60, Vice Commander?”

“That’s unofficial.”

I answered Anasta’s question pleasantly. Then, I stood up looking around the special unit with a confident smile.

“Let’s officially tell them. That all of the special unit troops are at level 60.”