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Gilbert let out a sigh without even realizing it.

Just when he thought the main story had concluded, a warrior from the Sigurd Tribe Union suddenly unleashed a barrage of indiscriminate magical artillery fire at him.

This was an unforeseen variable in tactical combat, but the decision to activate CT-777’s autonomous function just before exiting the colossal mech saved his life.

CT-777, synced with Gilbert’s minimap, had already detected the movements of the Sigurd Tribe Union warriors and promptly defended against the sudden magical artillery attack.

If Gilbert had assumed the main scenario was over and hadn’t activated CT-777’s autonomous function, something terrible might have happened.

While high-ranking knights can cut through magical artillery with their bare hands, it was impossible for Gilbert in his current state.

Ultimately, the experience of countless battlefields before coming here saved his life at the decisive moment.

[You’re safe!]

Brynhild’s voice echoed from Fafnir.

Seeing him under attack, she had boarded Fafnir to prevent a clash between the two forces, which was quite impressive.

Her actions proved that the route Gilbert had set to clear the main scenario wasn’t wrong.

But what is that?

Gilbert’s eyes turned to the colossal mech standing awkwardly.

The warrior from the Sigurd Tribe Union who attacked him was an unexpected variable.

At least, the Sigurdians he knew wouldn’t launch a sneak attack after the Volsung saga had ended.

Even though the Volsung saga was a fading ritual among the Sigurd Tribe Union, such a sneak attack was almost taboo among them.

To ambush after a duel between warriors had determined victory or defeat?

It was an act completely contrary to the honor-centric ethos of the Sigurdians.

Gilbert intuitively sensed that there was something hidden behind this incident.

“Brynhild, we’ll discuss the details later. First, we need to secure the warrior who attacked me.”

[Understood.]

As soon as Gilbert heard Brynhild’s response, he boarded his colossal mech. In the distance, a colossal mech that had broken formation and started fleeing was visible.

[Fermo, combat is prohibited from now on. However, be on guard as a similar situation might occur.]

[I have much to say, but I understand.]

While chasing the fleeing colossal mech, Gilbert ordered Fermo to stand by and followed Fafnir, pursuing the runaway mech.

His intuition had now moved beyond suspicion to certainty.

The Sigurdians always considered dying in war an honorable death. Even if they resorted to a cowardly sneak attack, they would never turn their backs and flee.

[Who are you! Sigurdian warriors never flee!]

The anger in Brynhild’s voice alone confirmed that his thoughts weren’t wrong.

Something he didn’t know was influencing this war.

The pursuit didn’t last long. Gilbert’s colossal mech aside, Brynhild’s Fafnir was a top-tier mech even in tactical combat.

A lower-tier mech piloted by an ordinary warrior couldn’t escape their pursuit.

However, if the distance grew too great, unforeseen variables might arise, so Gilbert suddenly stopped his mech and gripped his iron sword in reverse.

Winter Sword – Ice Drill

A sword imbued with fierce aura split the space.

Gilbert’s iron sword, now glowing golden, completely shattered the leg of the fleeing colossal mech. Losing its leg, the mech collapsed, immobilized.

Meanwhile, Brynhild, who had caught up to the fleeing mech, pushed it down as it tried to rise and thrust Gram into its torso. It was a masterful strike, perfectly missing the cockpit.

The pursuit, which had lasted less than five minutes, was finally over.

[Main Scenario: Sigurdian Ambush – Hidden Route Volsung Saga Singer Cleared.]

[Achievement: Singer of the Saga Unlocked.]

Gilbert finally felt the relief of safely clearing the Sigurd part, letting out a long sigh.

Not everything went according to plan, and many problems remained, but at least for this moment, he was satisfied with achieving his goal.

At the very least, preventing a terrible war deserved high marks.

***

The pilot who emerged from the fleeing colossal mech was, as Gilbert expected, not a warrior from the Sigurd Tribe. Nor was he from another country.

He had the typical appearance of an Imperial citizen but remained tight-lipped, so he was restrained and thrown into the dungeon.

Detailed information would come from interrogation, but with many tasks at hand, it was pushed down the priority list.

Gilbert first reported the situation to the Count of Lithuania. Despite being the supreme commander with full authority, the final decision-maker was his father, the Count of Lithuania.

Withdrawing troops without permission was a clear overreach. Fortunately, the Count, who understood the situation well, ordered the troops to withdraw, knowing that unnecessary wars only harmed both sides.

Additionally, the Count formally invited Tarhal, the chieftain of the Sigurd Tribe Union, to discuss the food issues that had caused the conflict and future relations.

This was also partly due to Gilbert’s influence. He had managed post-war affairs while securing a powerful ally.

[The priest has done something remarkable even during his leave. The Sigurd Tribe Union, you say?]

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

[Then I’m curious. The Empire and the Sigurd Tribe have deep-seated animosities. Yet, you ask me to mediate between them?]

“I understand. But from a political perspective, there are no eternal enemies, right? If the situation and timing align, alliances can be formed.”

[I didn’t know you were interested in politics… but you’re not wrong.]

“I’m not interested in politics. This is the result of careful consideration to avoid unnecessary harm to the Empire’s citizens.”

[The Sigurd Tribe Union…]

Seraphina, visible through the communication magic, seemed deep in thought.

The long-standing conflicts with them couldn’t be resolved with a few words.

The Empire still harbored widespread prejudice against the Sigurdians, and the hardliners among the nobility felt the same.

Moreover, with the severe drought they were experiencing, some even suggested wiping them out to eliminate future threats.

If she were to embrace them now, the backlash would be significant. The faction supporting the First Prince might even absorb the hardliners.

Considering all these factors, accepting Gilbert’s request was fraught with difficulties.

But it wasn’t all bad.

Stabilizing the border by engaging with the Sigurdians had significant future merits.

It was an achievement that even her father, the current Emperor, and his predecessors had failed to accomplish.

Moreover, the current continental situation was far from stable.

It was like a mana bomb waiting to explode. In such times, forming friendly relations with the naturally strong Sigurd Tribe would be a significant advantage, even in the worst-case scenario.

When that time came, she could suppress the First Prince faction without much sacrifice.

But beyond all that, there was an even greater benefit.

Seraphina silently observed her priest, who had taken on such a challenging task.

The hottest topic in the Empire was none other than Gilbert Lion Heart’s actions.

Known as a troublemaker, his heroic deeds had captured the Empire’s attention.

And now, he had done it again. He had not only prevented another potential war between the Empire and the Sigurd Tribe without a single casualty but also secured an opportunity to establish friendly relations.

While some might view this negatively, it all depended on how it was framed. Public opinion could be shaped accordingly.

Seraphina quickly organized her thoughts.

The choice here was clear.

[Very well. I accept your request. I grant you full authority to establish friendly relations with the Sigurd Tribe Union. This is approved by the First Princess of the Infractus Imperial Family, so proceed as you see fit. I will take full responsibility.]

“I will live up to your expectations.”

[I trust you will.]

With Seraphina’s support, establishing friendly relations with the Tribe Union progressed smoothly. While the Count of Lithuania and Tarhal led the negotiations, Gilbert was confident the agreement would be finalized.

If the Emperor of Infractus were to overturn this, it would be a different story, but the current Emperor rarely interfered with his successors’ actions unless it concerned the Empire’s fate.

This was a form of test for the heirs.

Thus, Gilbert wasn’t overly worried and simply waited for the matter to conclude.

***

On a particularly moonlit night, Gilbert was leisurely strolling through the Lion Heart Count Family’s garden.

He seemed much more relaxed compared to his tense demeanor while resolving the main scenario.

This time, things had gone much better than he expected.

Not only was the main story concluded without a single casualty or injury, but Lily had also been freed from her past shackles.

When Lily visited as things were wrapping up, she remarked that he had made the most of his second chance. Though the scars in her heart might never fade, she could now move forward.

Her words implied forgiveness, and Gilbert felt he had finally atoned for his past mistakes that had nearly ruined her life.

Gilbert offered Lily a handshake, and after a moment of hesitation, she smiled and accepted it. It was a handshake symbolizing moving forward together.

What a relief.

The smile Lily gave him when they first met in this world was dazzling. At least, he felt his struggles in this unfamiliar place had been worth it.

As he strolled through the garden, listening to the chirping insects, Gilbert noticed someone approaching in the distance. Though the figure was shadowed under the magic lamp, he could guess who it was.

“Brynhild, is that you?”

“Were you here?”

Brynhild, who had come as Tarhal’s escort, had also made significant progress in their relationship.

Given the Sigurdians’ respect for strength, Brynhild had come to acknowledge Gilbert after their intense clashes, making their friendship a natural progression.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Yes. The friendly agreement is almost finalized, so there’s one more thing I need to discuss with you.”

Gilbert raised an eyebrow at Brynhild’s words.

The mention of something remaining piqued his interest.

“Something left, huh? Is it something we need to move elsewhere to discuss?”

“No, here is fine. This is a matter between you and me.”

Perplexed, Gilbert wondered what could be left. He tried to recall but couldn’t think of anything.

“A matter between you and me? What’s left?”

“Yes. It’s important to me.”

“Important, you say?”

Brynhild’s face, illuminated by the magic lamp, was tense. Sensing she was about to say something significant, Gilbert also grew tense.

Brynhild, who was usually unflappable, showing such demeanor was unusual.

“It might sound a bit silly, but I’m considered one of the strongest warriors in the Tribe Union.”

“I agree. Having faced you myself, I can’t dispute that you’re an exceptional warrior.”

“To say such embarrassing things so casually…”

“What did you say?”

“Never mind. Anyway, in our tribe, regardless of gender, there’s a deep admiration for strength. I think you know that well.”

Gilbert stroked his chin with his right hand.

Indeed, the Sigurdian tribe revered strength. In the non-academy route, if you demonstrated exceptional skill, you could quickly gain recognition as a tribe member.

Their ancestor, Sigurd, was a paragon of human strength, which made this tendency even more pronounced.

“I’m aware of that tendency.”

“It’s a bit awkward for me to say this, but… I’ve been receiving constant marriage proposals from various tribes.”

Given her strength, it was no surprise. At a young age, she had been granted the title of Grand Warrior and the right to pilot Fafnir.

Considering these factors, it was highly likely that marriage proposals had been pouring in.

But why bring this up now?

Gilbert suddenly had a strange thought. He couldn’t fathom why she would seek him out in the middle of the night to discuss this.

Or rather, he was in denial about the obvious reason.

Gilbert looked at Brynhild again. Her flushed face and the embarrassment visible between her tense features finally caught his attention.

“At first, I found such talks annoying, so I declared I would marry whoever could defeat me. I thought it wasn’t a bad idea, given my admiration for strength. Of course, no one had ever beaten me. Except you, Gilbert.”

Wait, this is getting really weird.

Cold sweat dripped down Gilbert’s back.

There was always a reason for bringing up such topics. Though he was a bit dense in these matters, he wasn’t so clueless as to miss such blatant hints.

“When I lost, it was painful. Carrying the tribe’s future on my shoulders, I couldn’t help but despair. But you presented a solution where the Empire and the tribe could coexist. The emotions I felt then were indescribable.”

“That’s only natural. We can’t move forward if we’re stuck in the past.”

“It’s not easy, I know. In that regard, you’re a savior to our Tribe Union. And Sigurdians always repay their debts.”

Brynhild’s eyes shone brightly under the moonlight, transparent yet filled with determination.

Gilbert swallowed hard.

“So.”

Brynhild paused, then drew a dagger from her waist and grabbed her tied-up hair.

-Slice!

Without hesitation, she cut her hair and handed the severed locks to Gilbert.

“In our tribe, we never cut our hair except in battle. The only exceptions are marriage or when we owe a life debt. And you fulfill both conditions.”

With a flushed face, Gilbert took the hair, his mind blank except for one thought.

Ah, I’m in trouble now.

As he stared at Brynhild’s beaming face, Gilbert sighed.

 

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