## Chapter 324 – The Monarch of Monsters (26)
The end of the long, arduous night of fighting, in which countless people bled and struggled.
The end arrived in a manner so simple and clean that it felt anticlimactic compared to the hardships endured.
Was it truly a lack of magical power that prevented the initial sealing of the giant gate?
With the addition of numerous students and professors from the Academy’s Department of Magic, the magic-filled mage corps swiftly covered the gate with a newly created magic circle.
Ultimately, the covered gate was rendered unable to spew out any more monsters.
The mage corps, using their remaining magic and stamina, unleashed combat magic, sweeping away hordes of monsters.
The Knight Order and the students of the Department of Swordsmanship, who had conserved their strength while escorting the mage corps, joined the fray, and the exhausted students of the Department of Swordsmanship gave them a thumbs-up.
“Brothers and sisters, it’s almost over!
The heavens are watching over you, so just a little more strength!”
“Over here!! This person is critically injured!!
Gather around quickly and secure the area!!
Healer!!”
With the mage corps providing supporting fire from behind, and Sistina’s priests and the Department of Medicine providing dedicated healing from the sides.
In the eyes of the swordsmanship students, who were fighting desperately, there was a sense of relief that the end was finally in sight, along with a desperate swordsmanship aimed at that goal.
There were many sacrifices in the process, but those who survived could be said to have become that much stronger.
In this era of peace, how many people would have experienced such desperate real-world combat?
Those who stood atop the mountain of monster corpses would use that experience to become even more formidable beings.
However, damage was inevitable in the process, and dozens of students ended up dying, but the sadness did not last long.
“Dreams unfulfilled, unwavering wills.
May they be realized under the blessing.
Arise, brothers, sisters.
The world still needs you?
Yes… the world……
Even if it is a painful path of thorns…”
In response to Yeriel’s chanting, as she clasped her hands together and prayed with a somewhat sad look, the bodies of the students laid to rest began to slowly regain their unique warmth.
“Hngh… sob… huh…?
A… finger… moved…!!”
“Peterson…!! Hey!! Can you hear me…!?
Wake up…!! Wake up…!!”
“What’s… what’s going on…? Why is everyone…
Why are you all crying…?
Did… someone die……?”
“What nonsense are you spouting…!!
You were… you were really dead!
Oh… heavens…”
“Oh… what do I do…!! Sob…!!
Liana…!! Liana……!!
I’m so glad… sob… Liana……!!”
Unfortunately, there were places where her miracle could not reach, and the Royal Knights, who had suffered near-annihilation, did not receive the grace of resurrection.
But the survivors, befitting their prestige, simply honored those who had fought bravely with silent prayers.
They buried their honorable sacrifices in their hearts forever, and slid their swords back into their sheaths.
And after that, Yeriel, who collapsed powerlessly like a doll with its strings cut, was taken away somewhere by other priests who were protecting her.
Many people were worried about her, who had collapsed after performing a miracle, but seeing that her life was not in danger, it seemed that this incident would end on a somewhat happy note.
“Hic… sob… Serkov…
You crazy bastard… sob…
If you ever… leave me behind again…
I’m going to die… I’m just going to die…!!”
“I’m sorry, Verdi.
But we have to protect the world this guy will live in, right?”
“Hic… don’t make excuses…!!
Really… hic… getting hurt like this…
My husband… my dad……
What were you thinking, dying like that…!!”
“Shouldn’t we just live well now?
That’s why I came back, you idiot.
It’s okay now, so stop crying. You’ll ruin your pretty face.”
“Idiot is… hic…
You’re the idiot… hic…!!
Waaaaah!!”
Well, some speed-violating lovers were hugging each other, crying and laughing, the man who left her behind to play the hero, and the woman who waited for him while crying.
“Haa… haaa……”
“Monehen… I’ve been telling you this since earlier, but don’t keep shaking the tip of your sword…
What’s the point of not maintaining a stable posture…
In such an action?”
“I… I cut down one more… Instructor… nim……”
“…… I let you win. You need to work on your stamina distribution too…”
The rivals, who were jealous of each other but also happy about each other’s growth, were tapping the tips of their swords against each other while keeping each other in check.
“Fourth rib fracture!!
Third cervical vertebra too…!! Ah…!!
Don’t move…!! Just bear with it!!”
“Yui!! We’re running out of bandages…!!”
“Satsuki!! I need a bandage here!!
I’ll catch it, so just throw it!! Quickly!!”
Of course, there were some who were busier after the battle than during it.
However, they also felt a sense of relief in their hearts, thinking that no more people would be injured.
The dungeon and its gate, which had pushed so many people into quite a troublesome and difficult situation.
Even now, a week after all the gates were sealed, they remained in place, steadily occupying their positions.
Although the cause was not properly known, this incident, in which these dungeons were created, may have been recorded in history books as a major event that changed the national fortunes of Groden.
“In some ways, this might be an opportunity.
Monsters in the dungeon constantly multiply up to a certain point…
Monster materials have endless uses depending on the type and processing method.
The transportation costs of monster materials sent from the front lines are drastically reduced.
Rather than recklessly trying to conquer and eliminate the dungeons as they are…”
“Let’s use them practically…
Is that what you’re saying……?”
As long as the seal is maintained, the dungeon gate will never allow monsters to escape.
Also, the types of monsters that come out of each dungeon are diverse, and the materials that can be obtained from the monsters and the unique magic stones inside the dungeon are all different.
In a sense, these dungeon gates were like individual gem mines.
It was a mine where you could dig up quite valuable minerals, although a lively monster would try to swallow your head whole, which was a bit dangerous.
It was not difficult to clear the existing dungeons if a certain amount of sacrifice was assumed.
So, what if we only took out what we needed without assuming any sacrifices?
“A dungeon-holding country… Now that magic has developed so much…
If it were the old days when it was impossible to seal dungeons, it would have been impossible to even dream of it…”
And although there was only one, the only giant gate was the size of the royal palace.
From its very existence, it was estimated to have a difficulty level that was impossible for the current situation in Groden to conquer.
The Kingdom of Groden needed to grow a little stronger before challenging the hard mode dungeon.
Otherwise, they would have to call in the Guardians from the front lines, or cooperate with other countries.
In the end, it was only the mages who meticulously managed the sealing magic circle to prevent this situation from recurring, who had more work to do.
One way or another, the royal capital was a place where people had to continue to live.
There were definitely many people who were a little uneasy, but nevertheless, as time gradually passed, people were regaining their past appearances and returning to that peaceful era.
Meanwhile, such slight changes and the return of daily life were also unfolding equally for other people.
“Welcome. This is Flora’s Brothel.”
“Why are you acting like someone I’ve never seen before?”
“Haha… I don’t feel good about being involved in crime.
It’s a precautionary measure, you might say.”
“Since when have you cared about that?”
“We have always operated only ‘legal’ facilities, haven’t we?”
“I guess so… More than that…
Why don’t you start telling me what happened?”
“We succeeded in concealing our existence in many ways.
We slipped some money here and there… We did some ‘negotiation’ and ‘conversation’ too.
It remains to be seen how it will turn out in the long run.
Thanks to that, we spent quite a bit…
But thanks to that, we got a big door.”
At the word ‘door’, Vivian coughed slightly, as if she had choked on something, and Swallow’s thin eyes curved like a crescent moon.
As Vivian calmed her breath and made an offer, Swallow shrugged.
“‘Door’…… That’s a bit…
How about changing it to something else?”
“Isn’t a door good?
I think it’s perfect?”
“…… Then do as you please…
The important thing isn’t that…”
Together, they passed through the dark streets, opened a large door, and entered a building.
The two people, who wandered around a building that seemed to have a slightly distorted structure, eventually stopped in front of a solid iron door.
As Swallow inserted the key into the door and slowly turned it, the iron door smoothly opened, revealing the treasure inside.
“But… what do you intend to use this for?
It doesn’t seem suitable for us to get involved, does it?”
“No? It’s just for us.
Haven’t you heard the rumors?
That they’re going to send an exploration team into the dungeon.”
Like a bottomless well, a large gate lay on the floor, emitting a dazzling light.
“A gate that is not controlled by the state.
No taxes, no restrictions, we can use it as we please.
Everything that comes out of here is ours.”
In response to Swallow’s question as he looked at it, Vivian crossed her arms and began to stare at him intently.
“Actually, you were aiming for it too, weren’t you?
You started moving as soon as I mentioned it.
I’m going to return the favor to some extent, since I’ve received help too.”
“You have big dreams. I like it.
I wonder what we can achieve using this…
We can think about that later.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m going to leave work early today.”
“You’re leaving quite early today?”
Vivian, who turned away from the dungeon as if she had made up her mind about something big.
Swallow, who was locking the iron door again behind her, was looking at Vivian with strange eyes, who declared that she would go back first, unlike her, who was always obsessed with work.
In response to his question, Vivian gave Swallow a casual answer, as if it was nothing.
“We can’t do business until everything is fixed anyway.
I think I helped with the construction enough today.
So, I’m going to do some of the things I’ve been putting off.
We have to be faithful to life, don’t we?”
“Then do so.
I… I should do some more cleaning.
There seems to be a lot of dust piled up due to the repairs from this commotion…”
“But I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Why are you so obsessed with cleaning?”
“Huh… hahaha…!! Hahahah!!”
Seeing Swallow, who burst into laughter as if he thought it was an unexpected question, Vivian threw out a grumpy word, feeling embarrassed for no reason.
“What’s so funny…”
“Doesn’t it feel good to have a sense of peaceful daily life?
Maybe this is also being faithful to life.”
.
.
.
Vivian, who turned around and came out of the building, glanced at the people on the street who were desperately trying to return to their original lives, and quietly passed by them.
People were repairing houses that had been damaged by monsters or accidentally spread by fire, and were restoring the devastating chaos.
Even though it was a dark night after the sun had set, the faces of those who were continuing the construction with torches lit up no longer had any dark shadows.
They had been destroyed once, but they were only smiling brightly, anticipating the life that would bloom anew from the rubble.
The Swallow Cartel was taking the lead in helping those people recover from the war, and was gaining a lot of support from the surrounding civilians, and Vivian was helping them appropriately with the Henias.
Now that about a week had passed, Vivian was smiling faintly as she watched the people gradually getting closer to their former selves.
Maybe it won’t be long before Flora’s will be bustling again.
“Queen…!! Lanie…!!”
“Vivian…!! We’re leaving work right away today!! Right!?”
Lanie and some of the Henias, who had been waiting for her outside Flora’s building with the lights brightly lit, showed how much they had been looking forward to it.
Vivian looked at Lanie, who had already spread the word about the surprise early dismissal, and closed her trembling eyelids and nodded.
“I can’t stop you… Okay. We’re leaving work right away.
We helped with the recovery a lot today, so let’s go back early.
Everyone, pack your things and get ready to go back.”
“Yay!! It’s time to go home!! Time to go home!!
We’ll be leaving soon, so everyone pack your bags and gather around!!”
“Lanie…!! You’re going to fall…!!”
Vivian chuckled and passed by Lanie, who was as excited as a fish in water at the word ‘leaving work’, and the Henias, who didn’t know what to do with her tension.
She was about to enter the lobby, but at that moment, she realized that she had nothing to take out.
She glanced down at the small flower bed next to the entrance to the lobby, and the small tombstone placed in the inconspicuous location inside, which was gently illuminated by the light leaking from the brothel.
‘Sister……!!’
At the hallucination that seemed to be a cry for some reason, a faint smile slowly appeared on Vivian’s lips as she stared blankly at the tombstone for a moment.
“Lanie…!! Calm down…!!”
“When I get back, I’m going to do it first……!!
Even at the Academy…
I’ve been working all the time at Flora’s too…!!
I can’t take it anymore……!!
Darling!! Just wait a little longer!! I’m leaving work♡”
“Who said you could? I’m first.”
“Eh… Vivian……”
“Then you be the queen?
If you don’t like it…… you know……?”
Lanie looked dejected, wondering if she had done something wrong, at Vivian’s sudden serious tone.
“Ahaha…!! Ahaha!! Heuheuheut!!
I’m going first……!!”
Following Vivian, who suddenly burst into a pleasant laugh and ran out of Flora’s.
The carefree and pure figures of the excited women, who were holding back their laughter after realizing that they had been tricked, and then burst into lively laughter, were running after her.
In the back alley where the moonlight was beautiful, the familiar scent of people living was spreading out today.
