The Kingdom of the Giants was slowly awakening that morning.
The mountains were still covered by a thin layer of mist while the cold wind swept across Gromkar's enormous castle walls. After nearly two weeks in that place, for the first time I truly felt that I was leaving.
The war in the giant lands was over.
The demonic camps had been destroyed.
The villages were being rebuilt.
And thanks to Liriel's purification, the demons would not be able to return to those regions easily.
Even so, something inside me remained restless.
Maybe because everything was too calm.
I left the mansion early while the demi-dragon servants prepared everything for our departure. In the main garden, several carriages were already waiting near the castle entrance.
Scarlet appeared just behind me, still fixing her red hair.
"You really wake up early even on the last day."
"It's become a habit."
She crossed her arms.
"Or maybe you're overthinking again."
I glanced at her.
"You notice everything way too fast."
"Someone has to."
Scarlet walked over to my side while watching the giants working around the castle.
"Worried about the First General?"
"A little."
"Only a little?"
I let out a small laugh.
"Alright. A lot."
She looked at me for a few seconds before sighing.
"You need to stop trying to carry everything by yourself."
Before I could answer, Elara came down the mansion's outer stairs together with Liriel.
"You two started a serious conversation this early?" Elara asked.
"Takumi was overthinking again," Scarlet replied.
"Is that anything new?"
I simply shook my head while Liriel laughed quietly.
Rai'kanna appeared shortly afterward together with Lyannis and Vespera. Little by little, the entire group gathered beside the carriage.
Those days in the giant kingdom had brought all of them even closer to the giants. Especially Rai'kanna, who, being a princess herself, understood the responsibilities of leadership better than anyone.
Lyannis was carrying several enormous books she had obtained from the castle library.
"Did you take half the library?" I asked.
"You can never have too much knowledge."
"But that's heavy."
"Then carry it for me."
Scarlet let out a small laugh while I sighed in defeat.
A few minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed through the garden.
General Durgan appeared accompanied by several giant soldiers.
Even after so many days, it was still strange looking at him without feeling ridiculously small. The giant was practically the size of a small tower.
"Hero Takumi."
"General."
He crossed his enormous arms.
"The King is waiting for all of you in the main hall."
I nodded.
Then we followed him through the castle.
The enormous corridors were still just as overwhelming as on the first day. Every door looked as though it had been built for creatures three times larger than any normal human. Massive pillars supported the colossal ceiling while giant torches illuminated the grand hall.
When we arrived, King Gromkar was already seated upon his throne.
Beside him stood Tholgrim and Freyja.
My gaze lingered on her for a few seconds.
Freyja was once again using the Royal Giant Artifact in her human-sized form. Her brown hair rested over her shoulders while she maintained a calm expression, though I could tell she also seemed a little saddened by our departure.
"Hero Takumi," Gromkar said with his deep voice. "I'm pleased to see all of you before your departure."
"We came to thank you for your hospitality."
The King let out a brief laugh.
"After saving our kingdom, the least we could do was welcome you properly."
Tholgrim stepped forward carrying a massive metal chest.
Although enormous for humans, to a giant it seemed like an ordinary box.
"As promised," he said. "Two hundred solid gold bars."
The chest was placed on the floor before us with a heavy thud.
Even though I was already used to handling wealth by now... it was still impressive.
Next, another giant brought over several neatly organized documents.
"The deeds to the lands granted by the Kingdom of the Giants," Gromkar explained.
I felt a little embarrassed again.
"Your Majesty, you really didn't have to do all this."
"Yes, I did."
His voice was firm.
"You saved our people."
The hall fell silent for a few seconds.
Then Gromkar continued,
"Giants never forget their debts."
I looked at the documents again.
More land.
More responsibility.
At one point in my life, all I wanted was to survive.
Now I was managing territories across several different kingdoms.
Sometimes it still felt strange.
As I looked over the documents, Freyja slowly walked toward me.
"These lands are near the northern mountains."
I looked at her.
"They're good lands."
"You seem happy to be giving me even more work."
She smiled softly.
"Maybe I am."
Scarlet watched the conversation with a suspicious look from the background while Elara struggled to hold back her laughter.
Liriel whispered something to Vespera, who looked away while pretending she wasn't paying attention.
I already knew that atmosphere.
Gromkar noticed it as well and burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! Women are truly the same regardless of race."
Scarlet immediately replied,
"We're not jealous."
"Of course not," Elara said, trying not to laugh.
Scarlet shot her a deadly glare.
I simply sighed in defeat.
After that, giant servants began bringing the remaining rewards. The sixty thousand gold coins had already been converted into Vailor's standard currency.
There was so much money that several smaller chests were needed to transport it all.
"The giants use a different economy from humans," Tholgrim explained. "So we preferred to convert it beforehand."
"That helps a lot."
"Furthermore," Gromkar continued, "if the demons return... we hope we can count on you once again."
I looked directly at him.
"As long as I'm alive, I'll keep fighting them."
The King nodded in satisfaction.
The hall remained silent for a few moments.
Then Freyja stepped a little closer.
"Will you really come back?"
The girls immediately looked at me.
I took a slow breath before answering.
"I will."
She seemed more at ease after hearing that.
Then Gromkar struck one of his enormous hands against the armrest of his throne.
"Excellent! Then we'll hold another grand banquet when you return."
"Father..."
"What? I'm happy."
I smiled faintly.
After a few more conversations, the moment of farewell finally arrived.
Durgan escorted our group to the outside of the castle while several giant soldiers watched us leave.
Many nearby citizens had also gathered.
As we passed, numerous giants raised their arms in respect.
"Hero Takumi!"
"The savior of the giant lands!"
"The human warriors too!"
Voices echoed throughout the castle's main entrance.
Liriel looked a little shy with all the attention while Elara waved more casually.
Vespera simply maintained her usual serious expression, though I could tell even she seemed a little pleased.
Rai'kanna watched everything in silence.
"You've become famous even among giants now," she commented.
"That doesn't help at all."
"It helps your ego."
"I don't have an ego."
Scarlet immediately replied,
"That's a lie."
I ignored her as the group boarded the enormous carriage prepared for our journey.
Before climbing aboard, however, I looked back one last time.
Freyja was still standing near the castle entrance.
The cold wind slowly moved her hair while her eyes remained fixed on me.
I walked over to her one last time.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she quietly said,
"Come back alive."
"You've already asked me that."
"I'll keep asking."
I smiled.
She gently took my hand.
"The giants expect a lot from you now."
"That's worrying."
"It is for me too."
She seemed like she wanted to say something else... but remained silent.
Then she slowly stepped closer and kissed me once again.
It was brief.
Gentle.
But enough for Scarlet to practically pierce me with her stare from behind.
When Freyja pulled away, she continued holding my hand for a few more seconds.
"I'll wait."
I nodded slowly.
"Then wait."
After that, I finally climbed into the carriage.
The doors closed, and the horses slowly began moving along the mountain road.
As the giant castle gradually disappeared into the distance, silence filled the inside of the carriage for several minutes.
Until Scarlet finally spoke.
"You really can't stop collecting princesses."
"I didn't do anything."
"She kissed you twice."
"That wasn't my fault."
"Sure."
Elara started laughing.
"I gave up arguing about this a long time ago."
Liriel simply sighed softly.
"I think it was already expected."
"Expected by whom?" I asked.
"By everyone."
Lyannis calmly closed the book she had been reading.
"Statistically, it was inevitable."
"You actually analyzed that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Academic curiosity."
Even Vespera let out a quiet little laugh this time.
I simply rested my head against the carriage window as I watched the enormous mountains gradually disappear behind us.
The journey back would be long.
But something inside me remained restless.
The demons were advancing.
The First General was making his move.
And deep down... I felt that this might have been the last peaceful journey we would have for a very long time.