The morning after the banquet, I woke up a little later than usual. For the first time in several days, I didn't have to open my eyes thinking about combat, strategies, or demon movements. The silence in that part of the giants' castle was different from the silence of Vailor. It wasn't an empty silence. It was heavy, slow, and ancient, as if those mountains had been watching the world for thousands of years.
When I went downstairs to the main hall of the mansion, I found Scarlet sitting near the window, calmly sharpening her sword. Liriel was helping two demi-dragon servants organize some medicinal herbs they had received that morning. Elara was studying a few papers filled with numbers and small commercial notes about the region. Vespera looked bored as she spun a small dagger between her fingers. Lyannis was reading a thick, dark-covered book near the fireplace. Rai'kanna was eating breakfast as if she hadn't eaten in days.
Freyja appeared shortly afterward, entering through the mansion's front door. Even in her human form, she still carried a powerful presence. Her brown hair was partially tied back, and she wore simple clothing from the Kingdom of the Giants, though it had been adjusted to human size thanks to the artifact.
"Good morning. I hope I'm not interrupting."
"You're a princess. Technically, you can go wherever you want," Vespera replied without looking up.
Scarlet let out a small laugh.
"Ignore her. Vespera just wakes up grumpy."
"That's a lie," Vespera replied.
Lyannis slowly closed her book.
"So, Princess Freyja, are you here to drag us on another giant sightseeing tour today?"
Freyja smiled.
"Actually, yes. My father asked me to show you more of the kingdom. Many people still want to thank you personally for what you've done."
Rai'kanna finished her drink.
"Then let's go already. I want to see the giant forges again."
"You just want to eat again," Elara replied.
"That too."
I quietly chuckled as I picked up my coat.
A short while later, we left the mansion accompanied by Freyja, General Durgan, and Tholgrim, the kingdom's master blacksmith. Walking beside them still felt strange. Even with the artifact reducing Freyja's size, Durgan and Tholgrim remained enormous. Every step they took made the ground tremble slightly.
We descended through the main sections of the castle and followed the enormous stone streets of the Kingdom of the Giants. The place was very different from any other kingdom I had visited. There were no extravagant luxuries, jewels scattered everywhere, or overly refined buildings. Everything looked like it had been built to last for hundreds of years.
The houses were massive and broad, built mainly from dark stone and thick timber. Some had ancient symbols carved into their walls. Others displayed enormous horns from unknown creatures decorating their entrances.
The giants we passed watched us closely. Some still looked suspicious, but most showed respect. Many bowed slightly to Freyja. Others thanked us directly for what we had done.
"A single human killed more demons in five days than our army did in weeks," an elderly giant commented from beside a forge.
"It wasn't just me," I replied, looking at my companions. "Everyone here fought."
The old giant looked at the entire group and slowly nodded.
"Then you have fine warriors by your side."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"Warriors? No. Warrior women."
The giant fell silent for a moment.
"Then you have terrifying warrior women."
Scarlet seemed satisfied with that answer.
We continued walking until we reached a busier part of the kingdom. The strong smell of heated metal filled the air. Great forges worked without pause. Massive giants hammered enormous pieces of steel as though they were ordinary objects.
Tholgrim smiled proudly.
"These forges have existed for generations. Most of our kingdom's weapons are born here."
I watched enormous axes being slowly forged. Some were so large that an ordinary human wouldn't even be able to lift them.
"You don't use swords?" I asked.
"Rarely," Tholgrim replied. "Axes and hammers suit our physical strength much better."
Lyannis studied everything carefully.
"Interesting... you barely use magical enchantments on your weapons."
Tholgrim nodded.
"Very few giants can use magic on a large scale. Our race has always relied more on physical strength."
"That's why the demons managed to pressure you with those stones," Lyannis replied.
The master blacksmith narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yes. They discovered a weakness we never imagined existed."
The atmosphere grew noticeably heavier after that.
We continued through the city until we reached an open area near the mountains. Huge fields stretched across the slopes, with giants working normally on the harvest.
Elara observed everything carefully.
"So you produce almost everything you consume yourselves."
"We rarely depend on other kingdoms," Freyja replied. "Our people have always preferred living in isolation."
"That explains a lot," Vespera commented.
Rai'kanna looked at the surrounding mountains with interest.
"Even so, you have a beautiful kingdom."
Freyja smiled softly.
"I'm glad you think so."
We passed an enormous arena shortly afterward. It looked ancient and incredibly durable. Deep scars covered parts of its stone walls.
Durgan pointed toward it.
"Our young warriors train here from childhood."
Scarlet seemed interested.
"Can I fight someone later?"
"You want to fight literally everywhere," Elara commented.
Scarlet shrugged.
"Training is training."
Durgan burst into laughter.
"I like her."
We spent most of the day walking through the kingdom. At various moments, Freyja showed us details of giant culture. Ancient sculptures of former kings, temples built into the mountains, monuments raised after ancient wars.
One particular statue caught my attention. It depicted a gigantic warrior holding a massive broken axe.
"Who is he?" I asked.
Freyja paused for a few seconds while looking at the statue.
"King Valkron. One of the greatest kings in our history. They say he fought alone against a creature that emerged from the northern mountains more than four hundred years ago."
"He sounds troublesome," Vespera commented.
"Or courageous," Scarlet replied.
"Or insane," Elara added.
I smiled.
As we continued walking through the kingdom's streets, I noticed something strange. Despite the giants' immense physical strength, there was a certain heaviness in the eyes of the people. It was as if the demon attack had shattered part of their confidence.
Perhaps that was exactly what the demons wanted.
Not just to destroy cities.
But to destroy security.
Freyja walked beside me in silence until she finally spoke softly.
"Thank you."
I looked at her.
"For what?"
"For giving hope back to our people."
I gently shook my head.
"It's not over yet. The demons will return someday."
"I know," she replied. "But at least now we know we're not completely alone."
Her words made me think about something I had been noticing for quite some time.
Humans.
Elves.
Demi-dragons.
Giants.
Even though we were different, everyone was slowly beginning to unite against the same enemy.
Perhaps that would be the only way to win in the end.
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, we slowly returned toward the castle. The orange sky illuminated the enormous stone walls of the Kingdom of the Giants in a way that was both beautiful and melancholic.
At the castle's main entrance, Tholgrim stopped beside me.
"Takumi."
"Yes?"
"You've changed the way many giants see humans."
I remained silent for a moment.
"I only did what needed to be done."
"Even so," he replied. "Very few would have done the same without asking for something in return."
Durgan crossed his enormous arms.
"If the demons ever return, we hope to fight beside you again."
I looked at both of them.
"And you will. Because they won't stop anytime soon."
The general nodded slowly.
"That was exactly the answer I expected."
We entered the castle grounds once again as night began to fall. One by one, the giant torches were lit along the walls and enormous corridors.
As I walked beside the girls and Freyja, I felt a strange sensation in my chest.
That kingdom was different from all the others I had come to know.
Simple.
Brutal.
Honorable.
And perhaps that was exactly why it was so worth protecting.
When we finally reached the mansion, Freyja looked at me before saying goodbye.
"Tomorrow I want to show you another place."
"What place?" Rai'kanna asked.
The princess smiled softly.
"The greatest forge in the Kingdom of the Giants."
Tholgrim immediately looked proud.
"Then you'll finally see the true heart of our kingdom."
And at that moment, I realized that despite the war slowly approaching the entire world, there were still places worth continuing to fight for.