Then Ereka called to him.

  “Well, Sungjin?”


  “Huh?”


  “So…… you want to have Eustasia on our team?”


  Ereka’s voice was shivering with an unknown reason.

  “Yeah. Jenna can attack from a distance, but one attack that covers a wide range of moment is different from consistently attacking. Moreover, she is one of the rare heroes who has mercy on people. So I thought she would be a perfect team member for our upcoming fights.”


  Ereka gently nodded with his detailed explanation.

  “That makes sense. She is a great general, and she would make a great team member.”


  But she couldn’t ask him her next question.

  “Isn’t it that you want her as a girl?”


  Even if so, what could she do? But if not, that would be nice for Ereka.

  Sungjin, but you……tried to stop me from fighting with you.

  It was her who tried to stick with him on his team, but he tried to keep his distance at first. But on the other hand, he wanted Eustasia although she refused.

  What is this difference?

  This was a moment to celebrate Sungjin’s victory, but she was concerned.

  Probably because I’m weak despite my level, and I’m not a person who was made to be a ruler. I’m just struggling to be one because of the situation.

  On the other hand, everyone knew that Eustasia was a great general. She was a cool and confident woman.

  Maybe she was not as strong as Sungjin, but they understood each other, and they were compatible. She felt their connection from when they played chess.

  I’m just a person that Sungjin wants to protect.

  But Eustasia might be a girl he wanted to be with.

  She had so many questions that she couldn’t ask him.

  Next to her, Jenna’s knife tail was sharpening in anxiety.

  This is an emergency!

  It was good that Eustasia rejected the offer and went back, but maybe a tiny spark between Sungjin and Eustasia could become a passionate fire. Who would know what would happen if they became a team!

  Don’t worry, My Queen. I will take care of her.

  Jenna promised herself.

  I don’t know what those girls are thinking, Sungjin thought.

  “Ah, Right. Ereka, I need to ask you another favor.”


  “What is it?”


  “Please announce this bill and enforce it.”


  Sungjin handed a document to Ereka.

  “This is…… a bill to limit the interest rates of private loans and to write off a lot of existing interest. It also cancels any debt if the payoff already exceeds the principle and if there’s a sudden amount of interest.”


  “Yes.”


  Ereka was a queen. She thought about the consequences this bill would bring.

  The heroes who had been earning a lot of money by loan-sharking would hate this, but the people who borrowed the money for the momentary difficulties in life would be grateful.

  Eustasia bought some dishonored bonds to save a few, but Sungjin’s bill would set up a ground principle to build up a new rule that would change the future as well.

  “This is way more advanced compared to Eustasia’s method. You didn’t tell me this when she was here…… was it to respect her present?”


  Sungjin smiled to answer her praise.

  “Not necessarily. Her method will minimize the conflict, while mine needs power to control the aftermath.”


  He admitted that Eustasia’s method had its reason.

  “There’s a difference between idealism and realism. Not necessarily that one is better than the other.”


  One who wanted to have enough power to realize his idea, and one who would find a solid, realistic solution—the two would conflict, but neither of them would be wrong.

  The problem is, I’ve won the fight, but she still didn’t approve of my abilities.

  The reality she saw was their defeat by the alliance of the three kingdoms. Even if they unified them, they would be destroyed by two greater powers from the outside.

  Ha. This battle, I will claim victory……

  So that she would consider his offer again. He wanted to bring her on his team.

  “But Sungjin, you are the one with that power.”


  Ereka found her smile again.

  “I will support you with my small power to help you.”


  “It’s not small, I feel safe with you,” Sungjin responded.

  “That…… that is good news.”


  Ereka blushed and looked down.

  Even if it’s a lie to cheer me up, that made me so happy.

  She felt better when he said she was also helpful, even though she was not as strong as Eustasia.

  Looking at her being shy, Sungjin smiled.

  She doesn’t know that she really is helping me a lot. She is really cute when she is like this.

  She was the queen of a country but also a cute little girl, and also an extraordinary knight.

  If he could combine the shield of Ereka with the sword of Eustasia, that would make a great team.

  What I need is not just a victory, but a great victory so that she will reconsider.

  Well, that kind of victory suited his tastes as well.

  * * *