The evening slowly descended upon the territory of Aissuren.

  The air felt much calmer compared to the bustle of the royal territory they had left earlier.

  Now they had returned to a far simpler pce.

  Mr. Gilbert’s house.

  On the front porch, three people sat in a row facing the yard, which was gradually changing color under the light of the setting sun.

  The wind blew softly through the small trees surrounding the house.

  Yet the atmosphere on the porch felt far heavier than usual.

  Lily lowered her head slightly while holding her forehead.

  So… that’s all we got?

  Her voice sounded disappointed.

  Sasa, sitting in the chair beside her, didn’t look much different.

  She leaned back with a long sigh.

  We argued for hours… and the answer is just “it will be considered”?

  Sasa lifted her hand for a moment before letting it fall again onto the armrest.

  Seriously?

  Lily sighed again.

  I thought… at least we’d get an answer today.

  Both of them truly looked like they were mourning the outcome of the meeting.

  Not because they had completely failed.

  But because their hopes had felt so much greater when they stood inside the royal throne room earlier.

  Amid their quiet compints—

  Rendara sat on the far end of the porch.

  His posture was rexed as usual.

  His hands rested lightly on his knees.

  His gaze was directed toward the quiet yard of Mr. Gilbert’s house.

  He did not look disappointed.

  Nor did he look bothered.

  As if the king’s decision earlier had been something completely ordinary.

  Lily finally turned toward him.

  Mr. Rentaro, why do you look so calm?

  Sasa also looked at him.

  Yeah, Mr. Rentaro, you haven’t said anything since earlier.

  Rendara didn’t answer immediately.

  He simply looked up at the sky, which was slowly changing color as the sun descended.

  A few seconds ter, he spoke in a very calm tone.

  That’s enough.

  Lily frowned.

  Enough for what?

  Rendara turned slightly toward them.

  An answer like that means they already know.

  Sasa narrowed her eyes.

  Know what?

  Rendara didn’t give a long expnation.

  He simply said,

  That we came.

  Then he looked back toward the yard.

  Meanwhile, beside him, Lily and Sasa remained seated, still trying to understand the meaning of his words.

  For them, the king’s decision felt uncertain.

  But for Rendara—

  everything seemed to have gone exactly as he expected.

  Just then, Mr. Gilbert, who had been inside the house, heard voices he recognized on the porch.

  He quickly came out with excitement.

  Ahh!! That must be Lily, Sasa, and young adventurer!!

  But he seemed slightly surprised when he saw Lily and Sasa sitting there quietly, not looking happy at all.

  Eh???Why don’t you look happy???

  Lily and Sasa heard the question.

  But neither of them answered.

  Meanwhile, instead of expining, Rendara simply stood up and walked into the house.

  Excuse me…

  Mr. Gilbert looked confused by what was happening.

  Seeing the situation, he made his own assumption and asked Lily and Sasa directly.

  Did young adventurer Rentaro disappoint you?Were you unable to buy the things you like?Were you treated badly?Did you feel bored?

  At the same time, Lily and Sasa quickly answered.

  Of course not!!!But…

  Mr. Gilbert interrupted.

  But?Did your wish not come true?

  Sasa, hearing those words, began to shed quiet tears.

  Lily tried to remain calm and expined.

  Mr. Gilbert…Actually, we truly wanted to make Aissuren not only recognized… but united again.

  That’s what we told the kingdom.

  Mr. Gilbert was shocked.

  What do you mean by that???Wasn’t your trip with Mr. Rentaro just meant to strengthen your retionship on a small vacation?If it’s about Aissuren… I’m the one who should go to the kingdom as the leader of this territory.

  Just as Lily was about to answer—

  Rendara returned, carrying a diary.

  He opened it.

  Then read it aloud.

  The territory of Aissuren!!!

  Mr. Gilbert froze.

  How…?How could you take that book?!

  But Rendara continued reading.

  Right now, I can only protect part of Aissuren. The rest is led by Mr. Rehzu under a different territorial name.

  I truly wish for Aissuren to become whole again…

  But it seems very difficult.

  As a native citizen of Aissuren, I have failed to protect our territory.

  I’m sorry.

  I hope those who fought for it will forgive me.

  Mr. Gilbert could only stand there in silence after hearing Rendara read those words.

  Lily and Sasa were shocked.

  Sasa spoke first.

  Grandpa Gilbert… wasn’t Mr. Rehzu just guarding another part of Aissuren because the territory was too rge?

  What do you mean that it’s no longer Aissuren?

  Or… have you been forbidding me from going there because it truly isn’t part of Aissuren anymore?

  Meanwhile Lily stood there in shock.

  All this time she had interacted with both Mr. Rehzu and Mr. Gilbert without knowing that Mr. Rehzu’s territory was no longer part of Aissuren.

  Pressed by the questions, Mr. Gilbert finally answered honestly.

  It’s true. Mr. Rehzu’s territory is no longer part of Aissuren.

  This is my fault.

  But the territory under Mr. Rehzu is strong.

  I tried many times to recim it for Aissuren… but somehow all my pns failed.

  Forgive me, Sasa… I failed—

  Suddenly Lily interrupted with tears in her eyes.

  I’m sorry, Mr. Gilbert…

  I didn’t know Mr. Rehzu’s territory wasn’t part of Aissuren anymore.

  And I’m also the one who disobeyed your rule and went there.

  I interacted with Mr. Rehzu many times before…

  Without realizing it was no longer part of Aissuren.

  Mr. Gilbert smiled gently.

  It’s alright, Lily.

  This is also my fault.

  I should have told you from the beginning.

  But my blind ambition made me refuse to admit that the territory was no longer Aissuren.

  And then—

  Sasa suddenly interrupted.

  Then what if we take it back?

  As a citizen of Aissuren, I volunteer to become the spearhead to recim that territory!!!

  With a loud shout, Sasa ran toward the road near Mr. Gilbert’s house and began shouting.

  Hey everyone!!!

  I, Sasa, a citizen of Aissuren, will take back the territory currently controlled by Mr. Rehzu!!!

  So is there anyone among you who will stand with me to recim our glory?!

  We will definitely get that nd back!!!

  Several vilgers began gathering.

  Some came out of curiosity.

  Some came because they heard the commotion.

  Others simply wanted to know what was happening.

  Seeing the crowd gather, Sasa’s spirit burned even brighter.

  She stepped forward and climbed onto a wooden crate.

  Alright then… who will join me?

  But the response was not what she imagined.

  Many vilgers gathered.

  But their faces… were not filled with excitement.

  Some stood silently.

  Some looked hesitant.

  Others lowered their heads.

  At the front stood several elderly men with white hair.

  Beside them were women holding the hands of small children.

  There were young people.

  But very few.

  Far fewer than there should have been.

  One of the elderly men finally spoke.

  Sasa…

  He paused.

  We know your intentions are good.

  He looked toward the others.

  But… look at us.

  Several people nodded.

  The old man gestured toward the crowd.

  Many of the men here are too old to fight.

  Then he looked toward the women and children.

  And the young…

  His sentence trailed off.

  Everyone already knew the rest.

  Many of them are gone.

  The atmosphere grew even quieter.

  Another old man added,

  The war that happened before left deep scars in Aissuren.

  Many young men never returned.

  Those who remained were only elderly men, a few youths, women, and children.

  Sasa stood on the wooden crate, silent.

  The fire in her expression was still there.

  But now she was beginning to realize something.

  Aissuren still stood.

  But its strength was no longer what it once was.

  Then Sasa suddenly lifted her head.

  Her face darkened into a shadowed expression.

  For a moment her face looked like a shadow face.

  Then her expression turned fierce and determined as she looked at the vilgers.

  So what if they are women?!!!!!

  So what if they are young?!!!!!

  So what if they are old?!!!!!

  Is that enough reason for you all to let our nd be taken away?!!!!!

  Where is the spirit of Aissuren written in our history books?!!!!!

  Where is the glorious resistance when Aissuren defeated the invaders?!!!!!

  Is this enough to make us retreat as citizens of Aissuren?!!!!!

  The vilgers fell silent.

  Then—

  as silence spread—

  the sky above Aissuren slowly grew dark.

  The sunlight that had once illuminated the yard disappeared behind the hills.

  The night air became colder.

  Small mps inside houses began lighting up one by one.

  In the middle of the open yard—

  Sasa still stood on the wooden crate.

  But the atmosphere had completely changed.

  The vilgers who gathered earlier were no longer enthusiastic.

  Some of them began to walk away.

  There was no shouting.

  No argument.

  They simply… left.

  One old man patted his friend’s shoulder before heading home.

  Some young people ran back toward their houses, unable to bear the pressure.

  A mother held her child’s hand and returned home.

  A few young men who had been listening earlier quietly turned away.

  Sasa watched everything.

  At first she stood there with clenched fists, waiting for someone to say something.

  But one by one the vilgers continued leaving.

  Her passionate speech slowly felt like it never reached them.

  For the vilgers—

  Sasa’s request felt unrealistic.

  War.

  Reciming nd.

  Fighting someone who already held power there.

  While Aissuren was now filled with people who had already lost too much.

  Sasa slowly lowered her head.

  Her expression changed.

  Her face became bnk.

  The shadows from the mps and the night made her face appear like a shadow face—dark and unreadable, with only her faint eyes visible.

  She remained standing on the wooden crate.

  Still hoping.

  Maybe one person would stop walking.

  Maybe one person would turn back and say,

  “I’ll go with you.”

  But reality was not like that.

  The footsteps of the vilgers grew more distant.

  The yard that had once been crowded slowly became empty.

  The sound of doors closing echoed from afar.

  Some house lights were turned off.

  Night had truly fallen over Aissuren.

  And in the middle of that nearly empty yard—

  Sasa was still standing on the wooden crate.

  Her face hidden in shadows.

  While the hope she had just built slowly disappeared along with the vilgers returning to their homes.