How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 300 - (Epilogue) Peace (End)

Eight years have passed since I returned to Chenarus from a season that doesn’t exist in the fallen world. That means it’s been 13 years since the battle on the Romanek Plains.

A lot has happened. Both when I was gone and when I was here. When I first returned, I was quite busy. There were many people to meet.

The welcome ceremony, which was also a wedding ceremony, was the same. It was nerve-wracking and exciting, as it was my first marriage both on Earth and here.

To be honest, it was amusing that I, trained as a spy, was more nervous than when I fought the Great Devil. Of course, I was just as happy.

Since it was an event combined with the wedding ceremony, I couldn’t meet Orhen separately. After spending a long time with Erendil, we moved separately.

After meeting Orhen, I also visited Phiri and the Chief of Intelligence separately, and drank with Toun Zaha.

Many other things happened as well. First of all, exchanges with the East began.

Because a huge access road was opened in the Trafal Mountain Range to catch the Great Devil, communication with the East began through that road.

The kingdoms of the East in the past no longer existed. After the Great Devil disappeared, the Empire punished those who sided with the enemy.

‘It was a good purge.’

The East knew the power of the Empire, and the Empire had no intention of maintaining that grudge. Erendil wasn’t that kind of person.

Anyway, the road that appeared in the Trafal Mountain Range came to be called the ‘Road of Peace’ and connected the continent with the East.

This relationship wasn’t limited to the East. Relations with dwarves and elves also improved bit by bit. To be honest, there were many who opposed it.

The elves hadn’t directly harmed us. I had blocked any sign of that by killing the Elf Archmage.

‘The dwarves weren’t like that.’

The dwarves were those who directly harmed the Empire on the side of the enemies. In fact, they were punished along with the East right after the devil disappeared.

But Erendil pushed hard. Bringing up examples from the distant past.

In fact, the reason why these races sided with the enemy could be seen as fundamentally lying with the Empire.

It’s not that other races were friendly. There was a lot of accumulated hatred. Erendil made efforts.

‘She apologized for past events, freed all non-human slaves, and issued a ban on slavery.’

To be honest, we could have pushed through with force. In fact, there were talks within the Empire about eradicating other races.

However, Erendil wanted to prevent the recurrence of such events. She also acknowledged the Empire’s wrongdoings.

It wasn’t resolved immediately. Envoys were exchanged several times, and Erendil personally met with the leaders of elves and dwarves.

The elf side was smooth, but not the dwarf side. After all, we had clashed directly recently.

‘It was fortunate that the dwarf leadership changed.’

After the Great Devil disappeared, it was said that the hardline dwarves lost their positions. That’s how all things usually go.

Erendil apologized for the Empire’s past wrongdoings and promised to establish autonomous regions for other races within the Empire.

Of course, the Empire didn’t completely give in. As talks went back and forth, they demanded punishment for the other races who had sided with the devil at that time.

Count Campbell moved busily. After dozens of meetings, some points of agreement were reached.

And now, things were slowly starting to flow. They couldn’t immediately abandon the world tree and underground cities in the mountains and relocate, but…

As some other races began to move and live in that city, the situation would gradually improve.

I thought it was a positive change. I hoped for peace on the continent for the sake of the future world.

The reason I wished for that was because the most important event in my stable life so far had occurred.

That was the birth of our child between Erendil and me.

“Father!”

“Kerikin.”

The child, now seven years old, was a new light in my life. People often say that when you have a child, your view of the world changes.

I couldn’t understand those words before. But not now. I picked up the light running towards me.

“Do you like Dad that much?”

“Yes!”

“Me too.”

Erendil, who followed with a smile, stroked Kerikin’s cheek and leaned her head towards me. I smiled and kissed her.

“You came out early.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to leave early?”

Kerikin was very curious. Ever since he learned that Erendil and I had driven out the Great Devil, he liked to hear stories about that time.

Then I told him about the West. After learning about the sea, Kerikin said he wanted to see it.

So today was the day we were heading to the West. To the villa that Casmak had built for us.

When Erendil said I came out early, she meant I came from the training ground. I tend to lose track of time when I hold a sword.

But I couldn’t forget my promise with Kerikin. Of course, I came out earlier than the departure time.

“Why? Should we go back in a little while?”

“No.”

Erendil glared at me playfully. Ah, there was one more thing that had changed. It was Erendil’s way of speaking.

Of course, she used the imperial way of speaking when dealing with other people, but I was an exception. Just then, a knight came running towards us in a hurry.

“Your Majesty, Sword Master Denif of Haisen has come to visit.”

“…”

We were at a loss for words for a moment. Erendil looked perplexed too. Then she heaved a deep sigh.

“Does that person have nothing else to do?”

“Well…”

The knight who came to report couldn’t continue. It’s not easy to say anything between the Emperor and a Sword Master.

“That wasn’t a question expecting an answer. I understand for now, so you may go.”

“Yes.”

Watching the retreating knight, Erendil looked at me. Her expression asked what I was going to do. I scratched my cheek.

There was only one reason why Denif would come all the way here. We were both honing our swords for the position of Sword Lord.

‘It seems I might have done something unnecessary.’

Right after I returned to this world, I didn’t like Denif’s diminished passion. I even deliberately provoked him.

But not now. I understood the Denif of that time. Having a partner and a child makes you see the world with new eyes.

Of course, I hadn’t given up my passion for the sword. It’s just that Kerikin and Erendil had become the priority in my life.

Denif was similar to me. However, Denif’s passion for the sword had sprung up again with my provocation and as his child grew a bit older.

‘And Denif’s daughter is said to be just like Denif.’

Denif’s daughter, now over 10 years old, liked to wield a sword just like the old Denif. Even when she met me with Denif, she asked me to teach her about swords.

Should I say he regained his past memories while teaching his daughter and seeing that passion?

Erendil’s gaze was demanding an answer from me. Well, if I had no schedule, I would have gone to train with Denif, but I couldn’t do that now.

“I’ll tell him to go back or wait.”

“He’ll wait.”

“Yeah. He will.”

Anyway, Denif, being a Sword Master, had nothing else to do. Just training with the sword. He wouldn’t go back after coming all the way to the Empire.

He’ll probably wait for me to return from the West. And then he’ll ask to go somewhere to train.

“Carl.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Erendil’s glare was sharp. She didn’t seem to like it, even though I hadn’t even left for the West yet, let alone gone to train with Denif.

“Last time you said that and there was no contact for two weeks.”

“Ah, that…”

I did have something to say. Originally, even when I said I was going to train with Denif, I would return within a week. Contacting was a given.

To be honest, it was an unsatisfying period, but Erendil and Kerikin were more important to me.

However, at that time, I had faced a wall of realization. Should I say I saw a clue? I couldn’t overcome it, but I needed to invest time.

“It’ll be different this time.”

“Can’t you just do it here?”

Erendil asked back.

“Loving me and Kerikin a lot. It’s not that I don’t like you focusing on the sword. I just want to be together.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s Erendil’s request, after all.”

Strictly speaking, there was no need to go far away to train with the sword. It was just more convenient that way. There’s a difference between being able to focus solely on the sword and not being able to.

It’s the same context as Erendil leaving the imperial palace when she wants to spend time with me and Kerikin.

But I didn’t want to insist when Erendil talked like that. Originally, it’s about adjusting to each other bit by bit.

Neither Erendil nor I are the type to complain to each other. Even this complaint was the first in years.

And in fact, it’s not right to leave your partner and child for days. I was always grateful to Erendil.

And saying that wouldn’t make Denif dislike it or throw a tantrum. Denif had changed a lot too.

He wasn’t childish like before. His passion was similar then and now, but he had become quite mature.

It must be because he’s with Rina and has a child. Sometimes the change feels unfamiliar, but I think I like the current Denif more.

“Thank you.”

Erendil smiled and hugged me. I hugged her back.

“I’m more grateful, for understanding.”

“Me too! Me too!”

As we embraced each other, Kerikin reached out, asking to be hugged too. We laughed and hugged Kerikin.

“Get ready to leave. I’ll go talk and come back.”

A smile unconsciously formed on my lips as I went to meet an old friend to spend time with my family. Should I say it’s peaceful?

And when I met Denif, I realized that my friend had come for a different reason.

He didn’t come alone with a sword, but with Rina and his daughter Selene.

“Uncle! Hello!”

The friendly Selene smiled brightly and waved at me. Inside the imperial palace, I could see Rina trying to stop her because of the many watching eyes.

“It’s okay. What brings you here suddenly?”

“Selene said she wanted to see Kerikin during our travels. Sorry we couldn’t contact you in advance.”

“No need to be sorry. But, um…”

If he didn’t come for the sword, the story changed slightly. Erendil was quite fond of Selene, and Kerikin followed her well, calling her sister.

In fact, we spent time with Denif’s family about twice a year. Erendil liked it too.

Erendil probably enjoyed it because there were no friends her age around her, so she found Denif and Rina, who were close to me, interesting. Still, I couldn’t decide alone.

“Why?”

“Actually, we were about to leave for the West to see the sea.”

“Really? Oh no. Selene, we’ll have to see Kerikin next time.”

“Huh? The sea? I want to go too!”

While Denif spoke, Selene looked at me with even greater curiosity. She had a silly side like Denif but was also quick-witted like Rina.

That look in her eyes was asking me to take her along too. I had no intention of refusing right away.

“Wait a moment. I’ll talk to Erendil.”

And Erendil agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

“Okay.”

“Are you sure? We said we’d spend it as a family.”

“It means you won’t go training after we return, right? And Selene is cute too.”

Well, it seemed she was focusing more on being able to spend time with me even after the trip, rather than going on the trip together.

I smiled too. Time spent with Erendil was always happy.

“Kerikin!”

As soon as approval was given and I brought Denif’s family, Selene started running towards Kerikin.

When Kerikin, who was standing still, opened his arms, Selene hugged him.

“It’s been a while! I missed you!”

In fact, doing this to Kerikin, who was a prince, was absolutely impossible behavior, but it was possible because it was between us. Rina tried to stop her.

“Selene, Kerikin might not like it.”

“No, he likes it!”

It was as Selene said. Kerikin was smiling while being hugged by Selene. The more I looked at her, the more she seemed to resemble Rina and Denif.

“We’re a bit late, shall we depart now?”

Everyone nodded at my words. Kerikin and Selene, holding hands tightly, led the way towards the dragon carriage.

Following behind them, I, Erendil, Denif, and Rina made eye contact and smiled.

“Should we engage them now?”

“Denif!”

At Denif’s fuss, Rina slapped his shoulder. It’s still too early. Erendil just held my hand.

Not surprisingly, I liked this happiness. I wanted to live happily like this for the rest of my life. No, I plan to.

-End-