The fall of the Clay Emperor and the retreat of the Demon Cult marked the end of one nightmare, but it was far from the end.

In contrast to the blood-soaked, heaven-shaking battles they had endured, the aftermath felt almost serene, like the quiet that settles over a monastery after the bells stop ringing. But peaceful didn't mean easy.

Ellahan and Eris dedicated themselves fully to guiding the souls of the Sekhmet Empire into eternal rest. It was a slow, reverent process as they made special considerations to ensure that no corrupted soul was left behind.

Meanwhile, Leon and Gallahad were left to navigate the chaos they'd left behind in Olavaguel. The town had been plunged into confusion as they prepared for the Demon Cult to take over completely. Thankfully, Governor Vaedros's swift evacuation efforts had spared many lives, but the political and social ripple effects were harder to contain.

The sudden vanishing of the Eternal Storm and the emergence of a lost golden city drew attention like vultures to a carcass. Journalists, opportunists, self-proclaimed historians, and even bored wanderers poured into Olavaguel, hungry for spectacle or significance.

As acting commander of Eldorin's forces, Leon found himself buried under meetings, briefings, and a near-endless stream of questions from curious and confrontational reporters alike. Ironically, the administrative storm drained him more than any battlefield ever had.

At times, he felt like he might fossilise in his seat, worn to the bone by protocol and public scrutiny. Fortunately, Gallahad stood beside him, fielding inquiries with the patience of a saint and the strength of a seasoned leader. Without him, Leon suspected he'd be lying in a sarcophagus somewhere like the Clay Emperor before him.

All in all, it took two weeks for Leon and the group to settle the aftermath, and at the end of it all… they were spent.

"Urgh, I could use a long vacation now!"

Venya roared while downing a cocktail glass. As a former mercenary herself, she was tasked with managing the crowd, particularly the nosy mercenaries who had been hired to gather information. Alongside her, Khali was sprawled out in a star shape as she enjoyed the coolness of the ground.

"Never again! We didn't sign up to be public relations! I'm going to protest!"

Khali kicked her feet in the air like a spoiled baby. Her tanned legs in her skimpy shorts made it hard for guys to avert their eyes, but most of them did, simply out of pure exhaustion.

"We're done here, right? We can go home soon, right?"

"Urgh… I'm going on vacation for a month or two. I don't care what Amon says!"

Gale and Adelia similarly protested, their words resonating with the crowd. Even Leon, Amon's most ardent supporter, had half a mind to request a vacation for his comrades. But, the other half of his mind was preoccupied with the more pressing issue at large…

"Those bastards… Even after witnessing the carnage the Demon Cult caused, they're still demanding compensation and increased oversight of our activities. Seriously, is the Hyades Republic on the Demon Cult's side or what?!"

Rufus voiced out Leon's frustrations on his behalf, to which the young Hero could only give a wry smile.

"They can't help it… The Solaris House is growing its influence quickly…"

Fenric, a virtual outsider in this entire matter, weighed in with his opinion. Although he was part of Eldorin, a Solaris Knight Order, it was only recently that he joined, and his allegiance lay with Amon and Yue, rather than the Solaris House. Therefore, his view was much less biased than the others' protests.

"The Solaris House had always been a powerhouse in the Hyades Republic, with its indomitable Knight Commanders and mysterious lineage. But they'd always acted in the interest of humanity, so the government was forced to turn a blind eye. Besides, they always had the other Houses and High Council to balance them out."

Fenric spoke eloquently, which immediately enamoured the room. They hung on his every word, practically agreeing with the facts he presented.

"But with the addition of Eldorin… The scales have been tipped. We have the Hero of this generation, the Saintess of the Holy Chuch, the successor of the Amaris House, and two of the greatest geniuses the world has ever seen in Sir Amon and Lady Yue. Not to mention, the rest of us, while not as famous as they are, do possess immense potential. There's no wonder the government is worried."

The rest didn't know yet, but after Amon and Yue's mission to Espadavale, the Sword Saint and his successor were soon to join Eldorin.

In their eyes, it was necessary to gather this many talents to defend against the nefarious schemes of the Demon Cult. But those who weren't involved couldn't see that, and only feared witnessing the rise of the Solaris House.

"If we grow any further, the government's position would be diminished. Their seeking control over Eldorin and putting checks and balances on us is just one way to prevent that."

"Hmph! It's not like we're seeking world domination! We are just trying to protect the world from the Demon Cult."

Lydia spat in disgust. As one of the first members of Eldorin, her insight into Amon and Leon's goals were clear. They didn't desire to rule the world, but protect it.

But of course… not many people could accept that.

"Yes, we all know that. But from the perspective of the weak, the strong will always be menacing. No matter how many guarantees we give them. Right now, Amon has firm control over Eldorin, but we're practically one move away from becoming a terrorist organisation."

"..."

Fenric's continued logic silenced the group as they reflected on their actions. Other than Amon and Yue by extension, no one could fully control the Eldorin bunch. Bane's defiance of Leon and Eris's desire to move alone was proof of that. And if they couldn't be controlled, they could one day pose a significant threat not only to the Hyades Republic but also to the Solaris House.

Those in question knew it better than anyone else.

Bane remained stone-faced while Eris hid her face behind her hair, preventing anyone from reading her thoughts. Even Yeon and Venya, two contractors who hadn't learned to put the interests of the group ahead of their desires, felt attacked by Fenric's words.

For none of them could deny it.

"I think… that's the reason why Amon left command to Leon. To make us aware of our flaws."

Lydia shot out a hypothesis that resonated with the group. All this while, Amon had been directing them like an iron conductor leading an orchestra. His firm guidance had brought Eldorin plenty of success, but at the same time, had made them overly reliant on him.

Should the day come when Amon relinquishes control over Eldorin in pursuit of a greater goal… would they be able to survive?

Naturally, neither Amon nor Yue thought that far. Amon simply wanted to give Leon experience as a commander and put him through a trial by fire. Second, he wished for Leon to befriend Manon and handle the matter of the Clay Emperor, something he believed was relatively simple according to his knowledge from [Bright].

And finally… well, he had his hands full with the Sword Saint and the matter of the First Calamity. Amon simply had no more bandwidth to spare on Leon and Eldorin.

As the group were brooding, the doors of the hotel conference chamber split wide open. Gallahad, leading his group of elite Knights, strode into the room with heavy footsteps. If Leon had it hard, Gallahad, the Golden Dragon Order Commander, had it even harder.

His wrinkles deepened as the indomitable commander showed signs of his advanced age. Gaunt and fatigued, Gallahad tumbled towards the lead chair and gradually started to peel off his outerwear.

"Good work," Gallahad spoke, his presence filling the room. "I know it isn't in my place to comment on another Knight Order's actions, but your deeds here have saved countless lives. And for that, the Solaris House thanks you."

"..."

The Eldorin members remained silent, but upon closer observation, many of them were beaming with pride. It was nice to be acknowledged, especially by a legend like Gallahad.

"For the clean-up, you can just leave it to the Solaris House. Take some time to have a good rest. A flying ship will arrive in the morning to ferry you home."

Hearing that their long ordeal was finally over, jubilant cheers erupted from the group. They finally didn't have to bear the desert heat anymore and could finally take an extended break!

With Gallahad's cue, Leon finally spoke up: "Alright, you heard the Commander. You're dismissed."

Without wasting a second, all of the members scurried back to their rooms to pack. Some even used magic and their skills to expedite the process. Only Leon, their commander, stayed behind. He sat in front of Gallahad as his blue eyes peered through the veil of the elder Knight's smile.

"Is there an issue?"

"Oh? You've become quite perceptive. After your role as the Hero is over, you could easily enter the realm of politics."

Gallahad showered Leon with praise, to which he only frowned. Perhaps it was the exhaustion catching up, but Leon wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. And Gallahad sensed that.

"I'll cut straight to the point then… The government demands that Eldorin present themselves to the public. Maybe a victory parade or something similar."

"... I don't quite understand."

"Your deeds here have shaken the world, young Leon." Gallahad smiled as he folded his arms. "A new Knight Order, one whose average age is below thirty, took down the Eternal Storm and uncovered the secrets of an ancient dynasty. The government wishes to witness the grandeur of the Knight Order, who will usher in a new age for the Republic."

"..."

"If I weren't present, I wouldn't have believed that either."

"So… they wish to give us medals for our deeds?"

"That's one of the reasons, but their true interest is to present Eldorin to the world and put a leash on you."

"That's…"

As expected, Fenric's words had been proven correct. The government aimed to identify all the members of Eldorin and was likely to entice them away from the Solaris House.

"The details aren't confirmed yet, but I heard that Alrock is kicking up a huge fuss over it. Haha, perhaps you won't have to present yourselves after all."

Gallahad tried to downplay the matter, but deep down, both of them knew… A trip to the capital was imminent.

"Whatever the case, it would be a while before they hash out the details, so you just relax for the time being. Return to the Solfea and wait for your next assignment."

"T-Then, what about Amon? Have you heard from him?"

"Ah, you haven't heard?"

Gallahad glanced back at Leon, flashing a slightly bitter smile.

"Amon… he's returned to Solfea injured. He'll be out of commission for a month."

"... what?"

Leon's eyes widened at the sudden news, far more surprised than when he heard about the government's scheme to tie down Eldorin.

"Well… I guess you'll be having an extended vacation after all."