Chapter 23: War Games in South Window

As Lene was asleep, Seed was happy to see her but his mind was clouded of what Asher had said to him of how he became as Culgan's descendant while he does not. Outside, Sean looked at the stars at night as he lit the cigarette on his hand. He also thinks about Asher's word of advice.

"You can't sleep in the night."

"What is it, red head? You suppose to guard the princess, right. Why don't you go back and sleep?" Sean said in a stubborn tone as Seed takes his cigarette from his hand. "What the!?"

"This smoke stick you have is gonna ruin your lungs." Seed said as he breaks the cigarette in half. "What is your problem!? You seem pretty jealous."

"I wasn't jealous... Unlike you, you were so lucky if you always getting closer to the princess." Sean said sadly. "A man like me who wanted to find someone around. But I keep running away because I don't want to become a center of attraction."

"I'm already like this, Sean." Seed remarked at his words and he sighs. "Because of my duties as a 3rd General of the Highland Army. I'm more focus on battling Lord Riou and his rabble of mercenaries on the war. Culgan and I discussed about that stuff because many women would never like me. Because I'm a bad man. A baaad... man..."

"..."

"Trust me, Sean... You still have a chance." Seed said encouraging Sean that he could find a right woman for him and soon asks him.

"I got your word, Seed. I really don't know why are you telling me this?"

"I wanted to start a new family here, Sean." Seed answered which surprises Sean.

"Huh? Is it because of Professor Asher who had told you this?"

"I would expect my best friend was very lucky to have a descendant here in your world. But for me, I'm nothing..." Seed said became upset after he had a private talk with Asher. "That might be a reason why I was summoned here accidentally. Just to find a right woman for me."

Sean glees at him when he tells him about the accident and he smiles at him because of his feelings for Lene.

"I wasn't joking when you got summoned accidentally. There's no red headed guys around at our world and you're still a lucky guy. How come you say that Professor Asher is the direct descendant to your war buddy?"

"He told me everything after I checked around his house. I've never seen him he has a close resemblance to Culgan on his youth and he also told me that he had already fed up swinging his sword." Seed answered in a mild tone and he reacts annoyingly. "I've never seen that he can use firearms than a sword. It was ridiculous..."

"But you know, red head... Professor Asher might be using firearms as a weapon. I heard from Damian and the other students that he could swing his firearms as a sword. Cause his shotgun can turn into a long baton stick and that weapon was crafted by himself." Sean explained to Seed of how Asher uses his main weapon and he was surprised when he knew that he could swing his firearms like a sword.

"Asher is indeed Culgan's descendant after all, he can swing his firearms like a sword. I would easily guess that his weapon was made up by himself using the Lightning Rune, that's why he had unlimited ammunition to shoot the enemy."

"Anyway, we have to rest. Cause tomorrow we need to get back to Gregminster." Sean said as he leaves back to his room and Seed looked at the night sky and he smiles in delight.

The next day, Lene's clothes has been fixed and Minato decided to let Domon, Saizo and Hayate to join to their cause.

"Your highness, you can take Domon and Saizo with you. These two including Hayate are my powerful ninjas to help you battle on the war."

"Yes, thank you very much..."

"I will guide you back to Gregminster to inform President Leroy about this incident. I'm sure the bandits would might join up on the war battles." Hayate said letting him to become a guide to Lene and her group.

Back at Gregminster, Asher was waiting for them and seeing that they finally back after dealing the bandits in Rokkaku. Back at Gregminster Castle, Leroy was glad that they manage to defeat the bandits and sensing that they would fight in the war.

"Good to see you safe, Hayate. Especially both Lene and Inspector Rockwell. I will gave you 10,000 men as promised so that we could fight together."

"Thank you so much, President Leroy." Kai said thankfully to him.

"I think I made up my mind, I like to join in your cause, your highness. It seems that my ancestors wanted me to test my strength. With my Kirinji in hand, I'm glad that I can use freely including the Mother Earth rune." Leroy said decided to join up with Lene's group as two men from the Warrior Village came to see them.

"Are you saying that you're joining to the royal princess' side?"

"Well if isn't Heath and Florence. What brings you here?"

"If the President decided to go with the princess. Me and Florence had decided to join as well." Heath said and Florence looked at Lene who is stunning on her looks.

"The princess reminds me of someone I knew. She is a tough person and always testing my strength everyday."

Seed actually recognizes the two men as he thought.

That Heath guy, he looks like that Flik person whom he and Viktor are in Lord Riou's side. But for that Florence, he was just like the guy who is reluctant to test his swordmanship skills because of the woman he loves.

"Okay, you two... glad to be of our company." Lene said accepting them to join on her side which they happily accepted and Tsubame decided to join as well.

"Your highness... I would gladly to join on your side too. I'm glad that you helped me rid of the bandits who ruined in Forest Village."

"Take this Blinking Mirror, this mirror can take you back to where your main headquarters. Hoping you can get back." Leroy gives Lene the Blinking Mirror so that they can return back to the Higheast Palace.

As the Divine Dagger Rune resonated on the mirror, it was glowing in the flash of light. Everyone is now return back to the Higheast Palace. They were met by Tougou and Daniel.

"Oh my... the President of Toran Republic. Glad to see you again."

"I want to speak with Lars regarding this war." Leroy said nicely and Tougou allows him to go freely and facing Lene and her group.

"I'm happy you made it safe, your father is waiting for you. But how did you managed to get through the castle?"

"I guess the mirror, Tougou. It was activated when my Rune glows by itself." Lene said while looking on her Divine Dagger Rune.

"I see... you may see your father, your highness."

At the Throne Room, Lars had decided to retake back South Window after learning that Doug had sent more Silverian armies to secure the entire town and Zelstan was held hostage.

"We have to rescue the mayor of South Window as soon as possible. Now we have more armies to eliminate everyone upon sight."

"I think Lene and her group will rescue Zelstan from taking captive. Then some of us will divulge an attack against the group." Asher said telling them and Renzo informs Lars.

"My army and the other units need to take a surprise attack. Is it okay with you?"

"Yes..."

"All right, your highness... it's time for you to save Zelstan." Daniel said letting Lene to rescue him until Tougou informs Lars about Adelbert's survival.

"Forgive me, your majesty. I received the report that Adelbert had survived from a flash flood and he was immediately treated by Craig and his men."

"That flash flood you meant about... it was coming from Seed's Flowing Rune. That's when Sigurd had shielded himself to rescue me from Adelbert and Seed was enraged to see him getting killed." Lene said informing her father about the ordeal which Lars knows about Seed's bravery and was relieved to see her all right.

"Lene, he will protect you no matter what... In case if our enemies are here to kill you, Seed is there for you. Don't try to let him down..."

At South Window, Craig, Adelbert and Darius' units are preparing to battle against the reformed Higheast Army as Tougou and the rest of the units are ready to battle in the war games. Lene, Clemont and Renzo's group are preparing for the ambush against the group.

"That's weird... why there is a man in black doing in their group." Sean said pointing out on the man in black and Seed recognizes who he is.

"I know that guy..."

Flashback:

By the time during their last stand against Riou and the Allied Army, the blond haired man appears in a black armor with a horned helmet who is sided with Jowy and his Highland Army was none other than Yuber. As the group are about to attack straight through their defenses and Yuber knows that this is will be their downfall if Riou's group are about to overpower them.

"It's almost my chance... and earlier than I expected..."

As Yuber abandons the Highland Army by teleport them on the spot, never to be seen again after learning they will fail as Seed furiously yells.

"Yuber! You fiend!"

"He's just a general-for-hire... he's not going to throw his life away to protect this country..." Culgan said noticing of Yuber's actions.

Flashback over:

"It's Yuber... that coward who left us to fend against Riou and his rabble mercenaries. But how come he is no longer in armor."

"Hmmm, he looks like a modern guy in a fedora. According to my history records, Yuber has been on the run." Sean said knowing about his investigation about Yuber. "You would saying that he is a general-for-hire, he actually knows that most people who hired him knows that it will be their downfall so that's why he always abandon them. He wears that because he's trying to avoid the Black Knight Pesmerga's trial."

"Grrr... I wanna fight him for abandoning us." Seed said gritted angrily over Yuber's appearance.

Asher manages to invent most machines by summoning catapults to blasts most of the armies. Tougou then gives Lene and Renzo's group a signal to ambush most of Darius and Craig's units. Renzo informs Lene to get through South Window to rescue Zelstan which she nods. Melvin's unit manage to take down most of them followed by Ruric's unit.

"All right, the princess' group had made it in South Window." Tougou said informing them. Adelbert became angered to see the Highlanders attack.

Inside of the town, they battle the soldiers as Seed casts Explosion with his Rage Rune to blasts most of them and Sean then attack with his Tokkosho which it was glowed in blue and blasted them with explosion in blue flames. Leroy decided to accompany Lene to rescue Zelstan.

"Zelstan... are you okay?"

"Your highness... glad that you're here."

"We're gonna get you out of here." Leroy said which Zelstan nods in agreement.

As both clear the soldiers out, they were confronted by Yuber and he recognizes Seed who is with them.

"I recognized you, I heard that most soldiers including you as one of the Generals were slaughtered by the wielder of the Bright Shield Rune. It looks like I can feel the power of the incarnation of the Rune of the Beginning."

"You fiend... how dare you abandoned us to let Lord Riou and his rabble mercenaries to defeat all of us for defending our current King of Highland?! I'll never let you get away with this!" Seed furiously points an index finger on Yuber as Lene, Leroy, Tsubame, Hayate and Zelstan arrive the scene.

Yuber senses Lene's powers while ignoring of Seed's meddling as he speaks to her.

"So you were the one who bears the incarnation of the True Rune. Didn't you know that power of the Rune on your hands? That will make yourself as an accursed person. Whoever bears the True Rune, they will live themselves in immortality. Come forth my servant within the dark realm to cause chaos and eliminate this woman!"

Yuber invokes a Bone Dragon behind them which angers both Seed and Sean upon seeing the creature.

"Lene, keep away from that thing!"

The Bone Dragon unleashes a powerful fire breath on everyone as they dodge the attack as Seed immediately drags her to avoid getting incinerated. Lene was surprised to see Seed has saved her again which she thanked him.

"Thank you, Seed. My dad was right about you..."

The Bone Dragon roars wildly on the group which angers Seed after learning that Yuber is able to summon a creature by his own hand to kill her.

"You're not getting away, Yuber! You cowardly asshole! You want to kill Lene then I'm gonna destroyed your pet!"

Seed angrily gets his sword from his sheath as Lene, Sean, Tsubame, Leroy and Hayate to join the fight against the Bone Dragon as Zelstan hides to watch the fight and battle is on.