Fled Without Realizing I Had Prevented the Apocalypse

The duels were over.
There were no more superhumans left to fight.
All the superhumans staying in Winter Forest who could continue dueling had been cut down by my hand, so there was no way they could duel anymore.
Moreover, the superhumans who saw the final strike in the last battle with Elaine seemed to have their own impressions.
Even while dragging their tired bodies, their eyes were sparkling, probably thinking they would come out in a better state than now.

‘It was helpful in its own way.’
Maybe because they were people who had reached the rank of superhuman, it was just right for handling the fighting style as the Heavenly Thunder.
Because many people rushed in, it could also evoke the moments of fighting alone against warriors in the North.
Of course, I couldn’t fully project that fighting spirit and desire, but at least I succeeded in getting a feel for fighting as a lightning magician through the vow I had made.

Therefore, although I originally had to go to the room Elaine provided and re-measure my techniques alone.
“I’m sorry, really…”
“……”
Instead of rechecking my techniques, I was facing Elaine in her room.
It’s because I thoughtlessly had group duels with the superhumans and even went further to call Elaine herself to the dueling place.
Even though it wasn’t just anyone, I already knew that she disliked showing those wolf ears, the symbol of beast-people, to others.
Of course, during battle, her ears would naturally be exposed, so the superhumans who had just watched the duel probably already saw Elaine’s ears.
The hood she had custom-made seals most of her abilities as a beast-person in exchange for hiding her ears.
However, knowing that didn’t mean she needed to come out for a duel.
It was close to forcibly dragging her onto the dueling ground by using her remaining improvement mindset as a superhuman.
This was an act of turning away her heart as the lord of Winter Forest.
Kuguk kuguk.
The reason I was personally massaging Elaine’s back even using magic power was because of this.
“You don’t need to go that far.”
Has it been about thirty minutes already? Perhaps the massage I put effort into even using magic power was successful, Elaine spoke with a slightly relaxed voice.
However, although she’s more relaxed compared to before, the fact that she’s still sulking hasn’t changed.
This must be the timing to put in the most effort.
“When they challenge to a duel in the North, how could I avoid…”
“That’s the problem!!”
Ah.
Is this not it?
Elaine, who had been receiving my massage, pounced with her eyes wide open.
“What kind of fight maniac are you? Fighting every day? Isn’t it enough to just block the barbarians coming down from the North side?”
“No, it’s not that it’s not enough. But still, duels and real battles, their fighting styles are different…”
“……”
“Sorry.”
Sometimes, the common reaction that came out in conversations with Beatrice or the Emperor also comes out from Elaine.
So I immediately apologized.

Of course, she’s neither as eloquent as the guild master of the Empire’s 5 Great Guilds nor as politically capable as the Emperor of the Empire.
Nevertheless, I bowed my head without any excuse.
‘Don’t make excuses. No, just don’t speak! If you feel you’ve done wrong, just bow your head and say you’re sorry!’
‘…Looking at you, I sometimes realize that God is fair. Despite having such talent in many areas, everything you say is only eager to fill people’s resentment. Brother, I recommend not adding unnecessary words as much as possible.’
This came from the advice of people I’ve encountered for a long time, and since my mistake was clear, there was a definite feeling that saying more here would worsen the situation.
“Haah…”
It seems that women indeed understand women’s hearts better, as following the advice of the two people, Elaine’s expression softened a bit when I just apologized without saying anything.
As I kept my head bowed like that, Elaine, having sufficiently calmed her anger, slightly raised her body and said,
“You can stop now.”
Gently removing her hand and turning the chair around, Elaine looked at me.
I also sat on the edge of the bed that was placed.
“Seeing that you’ve come here, I suppose Her Majesty the Emperor has accepted my request for support?”
“It seems so. Since it takes time for the army to come directly, she sent me first.”

Most people, except for the Emperor of the Empire and the Prime Minister, don’t know about the Heavenly Thunder’s identity.
However, everyone knows where the Heavenly Thunder’s status reaches.
The Empire.
A country that rules most, no, it’s not an exaggeration to say all of the continent.
The information that the Emperor of that country handles the Heavenly Thunder.
Although the facts are a bit distorted, the Heavenly Thunder’s status was naturally affiliated with the Empire because I used it when I was in the Special Forces.
I acted quite comfortably because the Emperor gave me as much convenience as possible in none other than the Empire.
The Emperor also used it well, as if holding the card of the Heavenly Thunder.

“How long will it take for the reinforcements to arrive? I’d like them to come within 2 weeks if possible.”
“One week. They’ll probably arrive before that.”
Since it’s an answer directly given by none other than the Emperor herself.
“One week…”
Elaine’s expression improved a bit upon hearing my answer.
Considering the distance between the Imperial capital and Winter Forest, and the size of the legion to move, arriving in a week is close to flying.
Judging from the state of the food I received when entering the castle earlier, it seems they were prepared to hold out for months, so she seemed to brighten up at the news that reinforcements would arrive in just a week.
“Supplies…”
“They’ve been cut off for two weeks.”

Elaine said as if used to it.
When the barbarians of the North try to attack a castle, the first thing they do is isolate the castle.
Unless it’s someone like me who has built up their rank slipping in quietly, it’s almost impossible to receive and bring in support supplies.
In the case of Winter Forest, they’ve held out because they always prepare food for months in preparation for Northern invasions.
Other castles can’t hold out for long once the warriors’ strategy begins.
The fall of Winter Forest last time was also due to the delay in requesting support, resulting in the support supplies and reinforcements that should have arrived not coming.
At that time, only the survivors could safely escape with Arlea’s help.
“This time is different from before.”
Saying this, I naturally patted Elaine’s head.
Just because they’re beast-people doesn’t mean they share all the same senses as that animal.
Perhaps because of this, Elaine didn’t show any particular reaction when I patted her head.
Nevertheless, the reason I pat Elaine’s head is close to a kind of comfort. Rather than treating an animal, it’s more like patting someone’s head saying they did well.
Moreover, she said it made her feel calm herself.
So I thought patting her head at a moment like this wasn’t such a strange action.
Gyarurung.
Until Elaine suddenly made a strange sound.

“…?”
“…Ah.”

Realizing she had made a strange sound, Elaine opened her eyes wide.
Kung-!
“Wha-what are you doing?!”
“Huh?”
At Elaine’s words, I instantly looked down at my hand.

Did I do something to my hand without realizing it?
That’s why I had such a doubt.
But there was nothing on my hand.
I didn’t touch anything with magic power either.
It was just a pure hand.
“Why are you suddenly touching someone else’s head…!”
Elaine, who distanced herself from me even knocking over the chair, covers her head with her hands.
Her face was flushed red, and she seemed clearly flustered.
…I’m flustered too though.
“No, we used to do this a lot…”
“Still, who suddenly strokes someone else’s head like this?”
“Are we strangers?”
I’m starting to feel a bit hurt.
Looking at her with such an expression, Elaine hesitated for a moment as if choosing her words, then shook her head.
“That’s… not it.”
“Right.”
“Still, not the head.”
“Why?”
“Anyway, no!”
Only after giving an affirmative answer to the huffing Elaine could the conversation enter a lull.
I scratched my head and looked at Elaine who was frowning, then brought up the main point.

“I swept away the vanguard earlier, but the leader of the vanguard called himself Wolfpang.”
“……”
“As there are still many beast-people living in the North, I think it could overlap. I’m asking just in case…”
“It’s him.”
My words are cut off.
As Elaine answered my words, silence fell inside the room at the same time.
It’s because both of us knew well who that guy was.
The fourth arm of the Khan, and former 9th in the Northern hierarchy.
The leader of the wolf-headed beast-people in the vast North, and uniquely called the White Wolf alone because his fur had turned snow-white.
And.
“Lycan…!”
A 7th rank superhuman who roams the North and kills any green-furred wolf without question, and thus led the vanguard and annihilated the gates of Winter Forest in the last war.
The enemy who had killed Elaine’s parents and siblings was right beyond that mountain range.