With more system users, the speed at which they found "new" recipes increased. In just five days, they uncovered a total of 20 new recipes!

However, none of those were similar to the two "error" recipes.

Axel couldn't decide whether to feel happy or sad about this outcome.

Meanwhile...

"So the Empire's troops have already run out of food?"

Upon hearing Navi's brief report, Axel sighed.

It had been five days since then, and even though he had provided barely enough resources to last the entire march, their consumption was alarmingly rapid. They were only halfway through, yet they had already run out of food and water!

"At this rate, those idiots won't be able to arrive here on time... much less alive," Mimir sighed, shaking her little head.

[Well, it was their fault for mismanaging their resources, especially knowing they had a limited supply. It didn't seem like they were paying attention to the only commander left there, a mage named Rico. I guess he holds a low position in military terms?]

"I see..."

Axel rested his chin on his clasped hands, deep in thought.

Thanks to Eve killing Prince Kyle, they no longer needed to keep the army as hostages. It was clear they would go to war with the Empire eventually. While keeping them as slaves had some advantages, it wasn't enough for him to go out of his way to save them again.

Of course, that was just his opinion.

This situation had been Navi's idea from the start.

Thus, the little penguin had already deposited a couple of days' worth of food and water for their army to last the entire march.

What he delivered were items that the Empire troops had originally possessed, which Axel pilfered. He had no intention of spending money on people he didn't even know would be useful!

"Then, what about the princess?" Axel asked.

[As for her...] Navi stammered, trailing off.

"Hmm?"

Seeing such hesitation on Navi's face was unusual, so Axel grew curious. "What? Did she commit suicide or something?" he asked sarcastically.

Navi shook his small head and sighed.

[No, rather, it's the opposite.] Navi shrugged. [She's fostering a new life.]

"...Huh?" Axel was confused.

But after considering Navi's words, he quickly understood what he meant. "You mean, she's pregnant? Given the timing, it must've happened long before she arrived."

[Yes. Though with her current surroundings, stress level, and food, it wouldn't be surprising if she ended up having a miscarriage.]

Ever since Axel left Kyle's corpse there, he hadn't moved it away.

Princess Sophia had to endure the sight of her brother's corpse, slowly decaying day by day. The stench in the prison had become so unbearable that only the reformed slaves—former bandits—would go down there to deliver her food... although they didn't do it voluntarily.

The sight of her dead brother, slowly rotting away.

The stress of not knowing what will happen to her next.

Little food and water, barely enough to keep her from starving.

It wouldn't be surprising if she had already given up, either taking her own life or begging for release. Yet, instead, she remained silent, occasionally whispering to herself, as if she had begun to lose her sanity.

But no.

She was as sane as could be, albeit with the expression of a death-row inmate, uncertain of when she would be sent to the gallows.

After a moment of contemplation, Axel nodded and focused on the two system spirits before him.

"Tell Ria to have the bandits clean up that prince's corpse. Then, wash the princess and bring her before me," Axel commanded. "I suppose it's time we set things in motion."

[Got it!]

"Well, I don't mind running errands."

As soon as they responded, the two spirits vanished.

As system spirits, they could move instantly between each system user.

To them, the system existed solely within Axel, with the girls serving as valid "exits" to teleport to. Therefore, whenever he needed to convey messages to the girls, he relied on the two for efficiency.

Once they disappeared, Axel's expression darkened.

It was as if a shadow had settled over his face.

…

About two hours later, Axel sat in the throne room.

Although he was not officially the kingdom's King yet, it was technically his throne.

He wore grand clothes, different from his usual suit. Clothes that would portray him as a great ruler, a king, or an emperor. Given that he would soon be speaking with the princess of the neighboring Empire, it seemed best to make use of this position, even if just for show.

"Ugh...!"

Two former bandits entered, dragging a woman dressed in tattered rags. Her once-elegant gown was now so filthy that it had lost all traces of its former glory.

Her eyes, which had once sparkled with confidence and arrogance, now reflected sheer fear. She trembled like a newborn lamb, having visibly lost weight.

"Bring her closer," Axel commanded.

The two former bandits complied, dragging the woman—Princess Sophia—forward. The sound of chains clanking loudly echoing in the room, dragged against the tiled floor.

They stopped about ten meters from Axel's throne before leaving her there.

In the throne room, Axel was not alone; all the girls were present, along with several dozen members of the Valkyrie Knight Order.

Everyone was armed to the teeth, fully showing the "might" of their kingdom.

Of course, none of them showed any pity for the woman. Even Eve, usually the most gracious among them, regarded Sophia with a sharp gaze filled with hatred.

"Princess Sophia, right?" After a moment of silence, Axel began. "Looks like you've enjoyed your time in prison. If you'd like, we can let you stay there for all eternity—but we're not bored enough to do that either."

"...!"

Her expression paled at Axel's words. She had thought she was summoned for execution; logically, that seemed to be the only possibility.

"But if you answer a few of my questions and agree to a favor I'm asking, I might consider letting you go."

Axel's words contradicted her expectations, offering her a thin thread of hope to cling to.

"R-Really...?" Princess Sophia stammered, her lips trembling. "A-As long as I can survive and return to the empire... I... I'll do anything...!"

Fear of death was the only force driving her forward, the sole anchor for her sanity.

Axel smiled, noting her desperate nod.

"Then, first question," he began. "Why did you try to invade us?"

"A-A powerful artifact!"

Without hesitation, Princess Sophia responded—no, she shouted her answer.

"T-The Head Mage under my employ detected powerful bursts of mana coming from here several times. Such bursts are only possible if there's an artifact!" she exclaimed. "We came to claim it..." Her voice trailed off to a whisper by the end.

"Artifact...?"

Axel tilted his head, puzzled.

After all, there was no such thing in their entire kingdom.

However, as he listened further, he learned that the artifact had activated one to three times each sunset, releasing powerful bursts of mana. This phenomenon had started about a month ago and had followed the same schedule daily. Suddenly, he realized what it was.

'She's definitely talking about Eve's sniper rifle.'

Using the holy bullets would indeed release powerful bursts of mana for a brief period, which matched what Rico's instruments had detected.

Of course, Axel chose not to reveal the truth just yet. Instead, he and the girls continued to ask her various questions, trying to gather as much information about the empire as possible.

"Then, lastly..."

After about an hour of questions and answers, Axel finally arrived at their last agenda.

"I want you to do me this favor..."

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