?”We thought you were dead, Dalgan.” The demoness said, tearful and devastated as well. “The Grand Prince came himself and informed us about your demise along with the other four Generals.”

Dalgan gritted his teeth, his fist clenched. “I-I was on a mission in another world! How could you do this, Agerza… You…”

“She didn’t marry for a decade and grieved for you, General. She waited for you, but once her health started deteriorating, Reren brought her to the hospital,” Byeren said, his voice shivering, knowing the man before him was abysmally powerful. “I am a healer, General—A military healer…”

“Enough. I have no interest in knowing about your love story.” Dalgan rubbed his face, cleaning the tears around the corner of his four eyes. “Clearly, I should have died instead of returning.”

Dalgan turned around after that and started walking away. “I won’t disturb your happy little family again. Pope, let’s go. I’ll guide you to the capital.”

“Father!” Lord Two ran after Dalgan, followed by Sylvester. Behind them, Agerza fell to her knees in a sense of grief, as she felt like she betrayed Dalgan. Yes, three decades, but that didn’t feel relevant anymore.

Sylvester wasn’t expecting to witness such a family drama, but he did sympathize with Dalgan. It was the usual trope of the soldier returning home to find a wife married to someone else, but it was somewhat more reasonable in this case.

Sylvester took the man to what he guessed was a small restaurant to calm his nerves. Modest, with multiple wooden tables; the aroma was mouthwatering. Of course, food wasn’t the focus, at least for everyone other than a furball. 𝘪𝑎.

“Dalgan, it’s not your fault or hers. It’s that Grand Prince’s fault. Didn’t he create the whole confusion? Why did he just assume that you were dead? I’m sure the same fate befell the other Generals who had gone with you,” Sylvester consoled him—his so-called hostage.

Thud!

Dalgan slammed his forehead on the table. “It was worthless to have joined the Prince. I have gained nothing and lost everything.”

‘Maxy? Why is he crying?’ Just then, Miraj whispered into Sylvester’s ears.

Sylvester sighed and replied mentally. ‘His wife left him, Chonky. He’s sad because he just found out.’

‘Then why is he crying? Can’t he just find another wife?’

‘It doesn’t work like that, buddy. It’s a matter of the heart. It’s a matter of love. Once you marry someone for love, it’s not easy to forget them… in most cases,’ Sylvester taught him, knowing Miraj had probably never fallen in love.

‘Really? Then it’s like you and me? I love you so much. Should we get married?’

Sylvester worked really hard to control his laugh. ‘Love you too, buddy. But we’re already family, so we don’t need to get married. Marriage happens between people of two different families.’

‘Oh, oh… Like Fe-Fe marrying Bella? Will you marry someone too?’

‘No, I’ve had enough love for one lifetime. I’m devoted to my work and retiring in peace now. Ah, your food is coming. Eat it sneakily.’ Sylvester changed the topic and hid Miraj under the table on his lap.

“Father, what are we going to do now?” Lord Two asked, feeling somewhat hurt too, but not as much.

Dalgan snarled and smacked Lord Two in the head. “What do you mean ‘we’? You’ll go back home and take care of your mother and sister. No matter what, you are still her son.”

“And you?” Lord Two asked.

The defeated man relaxed in the chair and looked at the table. There were a plethora of dishes present now, most made from Red Cactus. As if in rage, he started gobbling them down. “I’m fine… I’ll go with the Pope and be his guide. If there really is someone supreme above all of us; who wishes to destroy this world, I’ll fight alongside the Pope. I still love my family… I can’t have you dying.”

But then Dalgan realized that his son was also a captive. “P-Pope, I plead with you to let go of my son. I’ll serve you in anything you require.”

“Sure, as long as he’s willing to sign the Blood Contract and vow not to act against me or divulge any information regarding me to anyone,” Sylvester proposed and placed a magical piece of paper he created out of thin air. “Just punch your bloodied thumb here, and it’s done. Of course, if you break the contract, I’ll know it immediately and come for you.”

“Sign it.” Dalgan pushed his son to go ahead. “Forget we ever went to that world. Forget you ever met the Pope. Start a new life, son. You’re strong and wise, so just manage the Red Cactus farms and grow some wealth. Get married and have a lot of kids. Don’t join the military again… it’s given us nothing.”

Lord Two didn’t want to. Clearly, he cherished his father. “I’m more worried about you. You’re growing old, Father.”

“I’m still a General, both in rank and might. Worry about yourself, boy,” Dalgan shrugged and focused on the meal, holding back his tears.

And so, Lord Two signed the contract with his thumb. “Please don’t kill him, Pope.”

Sylvester shrugged, “I don’t plan to as long as he doesn’t betray me. Go home now, kid.”

“Go home.” Dalgan also pushed Lord Two away. “Take care of them, and kill that bastard if he ever hurts your mother and sister.”

“I-I will.” This time, the son didn’t hold back his tears and jumped to hug his father. “Please come back once you’re free to do so.”

Pat! Pat!

With Lord Two gone, Dalgan sat back down and looked at Sylvester sternly. “Pope, if I die… Please make it honorable.”

“You’re helping save two worlds, my friend. There’s nothing more honorable than that. Come, eat now, and forget your sorrow.” Sylvester gave him more food to eat. “We leave for the capital in the next airship.”

“Understood, I’ll go to the bank and close my account there before we g—Wait! Where did the princes go?!” Dalgan stood up and frantically looked left and right. “They were with us a moment ago!”

“Calm down.” Sylvester didn’t bother much and just ate the spicy vegetable that reminded him of radishes. “They have a greater purpose to fulfill. Ah, I can see why Red Cactus is so loved. I’m sure folks in my world would have loved this too. Perhaps someday we’ll have permanent portals through which our two worlds could establish a trade.”

Confused, Dalgan decided not to ask about the Princes. He didn’t care about anything anymore. “Trade? Do you really wish to establish peace with us?”

Sylvester nodded. “I know this world has an overpopulation problem. But that doesn’t mean we need to conquer each other. We still have multiple moons, and there’s the whole sky. There are other planets out there where life can thrive. With mastery of spatial magic, I believe we can explore the universe and beyond.”

“Ambitious.”

“I’m barely thirty years old, Dalgan. My career can be defined by that word. Anyhow, let’s move.”

…

Following lunch, Dalgan went to the local bank. With the proof of his life easily provided with his magical signature, he got access to all his wealth. He immediately withdrew everything and divided his wealth into three parts—one for his son, one for his daughter, and a part for his wife. Making sure the new man wouldn’t get anything, he took out everything else that was left.

After finishing everything up, he met with Sylvester at the airship station on his own accord. There were no longer any chains binding him. He truly served Sylvester because he wanted to see where everything would lead to.

“I got the tickets.” Dalgan approached Sylvester in the waiting area. “The next airship will head to the capital. But it will make a few stops along the way to refuel.”

“Understandable. Let’s board then.” Sylvester didn’t make a fuss since he wanted to experience the Demon World. “By the way, what are the ranks of power in this world?”

As they walked over to board the massive vehicle, Dalgan explained. “It’s the same as our military ranks. All the wizards get officer ranks by default—Lieutenant being the lowest, and Supreme Commander being the highest. As a General, I’m equivalent to your world’s Grand Wizard.”

‘Acolyte is a Lieutenant then? And I’d be a Supreme Commander?’

“Then why does the Empress have five Supreme Commanders?”

“It’s just a powerplay. Only Zama’tar was a Supreme Wizard. The rest are on the brink of becoming one. The rank puts them above everyone else, so it’s convenient. Every single user of magic in this world gets assigned a military rank, even if they don’t wish to serve. It’s great to keep track of everyone.” Dalgan stopped at the door of the private room for Sylvester and opened it. “The Empress is said to be a Supreme Wizard too.”

Clack!

Sylvester entered the room, but he didn’t walk beyond the door. “It seems we have company, Dalgan.”

“Who?!” Dalgan peeked inside confusedly, finding a woman sitting inside the room on the luxury sofa, covered from head to toe in white robes, her face also covered with a hood. “But I’m sure we’re in the right room.”

“We are.” Sylvester smiled, prepared to fight the woman. “Not a very good spy, are you?”

“Greetings, traveler… from another world.”

_________________

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