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“—So, you two are going to stay behind?” I asked to confirm, even though their determination was already evident.

“I apologize for abandoning the duty entrusted to me, Princess. But it would tarnish the honor of the beast tribe women if I fled while my husband fights for us. The three of us will stand and fight until the very end.”

“Three…?” It took me a moment to understand Chloe’s words, but clarity came as I noticed her hand tenderly resting on her stomach.

Instinctively, I glanced at King Collard, who responded with a sheepish, broad grin as if to say, “Ahaha… I guess I’m caught.”

—A shotgun marriage?! For real? And it’s the genuine kind this time!!

“P-Please reconsider! You can’t risk your life when you’re expecting a child! The Sacred Beast would never condone such recklessness, Miss Chloe!”

Asmina, Revan’s step-sister, approached Chloe with a blood-curdling expression. Chloe chuckled softly, her demeanor akin to that of a patient adult soothing a child, as she gently patted Asmina’s head.

“This isn’t a sacrifice. As a daughter of the beast tribe, you too would rise to face anything, anywhere, to protect the ones you love, wouldn’t you? Defeat is not in our hearts. We will fight and claim victory.”

Asmina surely understood Chloe’s conviction, yet accepting it seemed unbearable. Tears welled in her eyes as she stood at a crossroads between logic and emotion. Revan gently rested a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back.

“That’s enough. You can’t dictate how someone chooses to live their life, nor should you try. If you’re so upset on their behalf, why not listen to me and make your own escape?”

“How could I do something so heartless, Dearest Brother? I am wherever you are—be it the «Void Mist» or the depths of Hell. This is my place, and I’m not leaving, not ever!”

Asmina’s fiery declaration brought a smile to Chloe’s face. Oliana chuckled as if she found the situation amusing, while Christoff cast a hesitant glance my way, as though debating whether to speak. Meanwhile, Revan’s face contorted in a blend of embarrassment and unease, as if dealing with a persistent stalker. Lost in his conflicted thoughts, Revan was brought back to reality when King Collard placed a knowing hand on his shoulder.

“Just accept it,” King Collard advised with a thin smile. “Believe me, it’s futile for men to try and outdo women.”

King Collard’s smile deepened, carrying a hint of pity as though he regarded Revan as a fellow sufferer. Yet, in his gaze lingered a subtle darkness, as if beckoning him toward an unspoken abyss.

“—So, the both of you are staying behind as well?” I asked, my voice laced with curiosity. Raven responded with a firm nod.

“Yes. As one of the beastmen, it is my duty to lead them to the very end of this path.”

His resolute gaze left me speechless, unable to form a response.

“…Those are some bold words coming from my fool of a disciple.”

Without any prior indication of his arrival, a towering two-meter-tall old man draped in a robe of white fur—the Beast King—suddenly spoke from the corner of the room.

“Master?!”
“Granduncle?!”

The Beast King strode forward, paying no heed to a stunned Raven, Asmina, or even Chloe, who quickly turned and saluted. He stopped before me and offered a deep bow.

“I realize this is sudden, and I admit I am reluctant. However, I am officially resigning from my position as Martial Arts Instructor effective immediately, Your Majesty.”

“…What’s the reason for this decision?”

“This old man is far too fussy to sit back and let dimwits like him handle the situation. Besides, having once held the title of ‘Beast King,’ however briefly, it is my duty to oversee the fate of the beast tribes.”

When someone like him sets his mind to something, persuasion is futile. I had no choice but to accept his decision.

“Very well. Your contributions have been greatly appreciated, and I mean it when I say you’ve been an invaluable help. I would wish you good health, but… well, that seems unnecessary to say.”

For the first time, the Beast King smiled at my farewell. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward his people.

“…Master, I know you’re worried about us, but—” Revan’s voice carried a hint of frustration at being called a dimwit, but before he could finish, the Beast King bowed deeply toward him.

“I’m sorry. I placed burdens on you that should have been mine to bear. Please, indulge this old man’s final whim and allow me to shoulder this responsibility one last time.”

“Master…” Revan, stunned by his master’s resolve, glanced toward Asmina.

In an instant— “Haaa!” The Beast King’s fist struck Revan’s stomach with precision, rendering him unconscious as he collapsed to the ground.

“—Brot…” Before Asmina could reach Revan, the Beast King delivered a swift chop to her nape, rendering her unconscious as she crumpled beside him.

Everything unfolded in an instant.

Before their unconscious bodies could hit the ground, the Beast King caught them effortlessly. With gentle care, he passed them to Sofia, who stood nearby. Then, he turned to me and offered another respectful bow.

“I apologize for troubling Your Majesty with my request, but could you confine these two here for a while? It’s an act of selfishness on my part, but they represent our future.”

It was obvious the two would be furious once they regained consciousness and learned of the situation. Yet, the Beast King radiated with unwavering determination—he was fully prepared to bear their resentment and anger.

“—Utsuho, can I entrust them to you?”

I directed my request to the Divine Beast Utsuho, a majestic nine-tailed fox with pristine white fur, who had been quietly waiting behind me.

“Of course. I will ensure they understand everything clearly,” Utsuho replied calmly. Clad in her ceremonial priestess attire, Utsuho stepped forward gracefully. She directed her subordinate Sacred Beasts to carry the two unconscious figures away.

“…So, essentially, all the kings and leaders of their respective nations are staying behind on the surface, huh?” I swept my gaze across the room and, though I felt it was cowardly, repeated the question one final time.

“It seems so. But I wouldn’t want to weigh you down with unnecessary gloom, Your Majesty, so I’ll forgo my farewell speech,” King Collard said. He had probably seen through me—seen how fragile I truly was. This was likely his way of trying to lighten the mood.

“Indeed. Consider this a rushed farewell from me, but I’m leaving behind my foolish disciple and grandniece. That’s far better than enduring a stiff old man’s farewell,” the Beast King added with his characteristic boldness. As expected, he remained the brazen Beast King I had come to know.

“I’ll skip my farewell too. I don’t fully understand this «Void Mist» situation, but personally, I believe you’ll find a way to handle it, Your Majesty,” Oliana said with a playful giggle.

Her confidence seemed to spread, as others murmured, “Now that you mention it, it does seem possible.”

“…Is it just me, or are all of you far too casual about the end of the world?”

At my comment, everyone exchanged glances. If I didn’t know better, I might have thought they were playing some kind of elaborate joke on me.

“Ahaha! Well, we’re already at the edge of the end. Worrying about it now just feels like a waste of energy,” King Collard replied with a carefree grin as he adjusted his spectacles.

“Besides, after meeting you, everything else seems insignificant by comparison. It’s just a shame that noble priestess left for her nation looking so pale. I suppose she hasn’t quite grasped the situation yet,” Chloe added with a wry smile.

So Eleanor had already returned to her nation, huh. Aeon was right in the path of the approaching calamity, making them the first to confront the end. For her, every second mattered.

“You’re absolutely right,” Oliana chimed in, following the others’ lead. “If this were before I met Your Majesty, I think the pressure would have crushed me. But now… well, it might sound pessimistic, but if the end of the world is truly inevitable, and not even Your Majesty can stop it, then honestly, any actions we take would be as futile as beating a dead horse. Once you accept that, the impatience just… fades away.”

“That’s perfectly understandable. That’s just how it is,” the Beast King added with a calm smile.

“Well then, I shall return to my homeland. Until we meet again, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice steady and resolute.

With those parting words, the Beast King took the lead, his departure brief and unceremonious. The others followed suit, offering their own simple farewells before leaving the room.

Left alone in the vast, now eerily empty room, I remained seated, the silence pressing down on me as I bit my lip in frustration.

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