I will become the ice jellyfish queen with the Chat Group

[Grey Pov]

The entire crowd froze as the massive airship passed overhead, its shadow looming over the ground. Every gaze followed its descent, momentarily forgetting everything else.

I didn't waste the opportunity.

With swift, silent steps, I bolted toward the landing site. By the time the ship's ramp extended, my knights and mages had already formed ranks, kneeling before me in perfect unison.

Two figures stepped forward—one clad in gleaming armor, the other draped in flowing enchanted robes.

Michael and Ammar were here too.

The knight leader struck his fist to his chest in salute.

[Belcher]: Knight Captain Belcher greets the esteemed head of the great family.

Beside him, the wizard leader gave a deep bow, his gun tapping against the ground.

[Riga]: Arch Wizard Riga pays his respects to the head.

I looked at the two leaders before shifting my gaze to the so-called friend I had asked for help. And, apparently, he had invited even more friends.

My smile was anything but friendly.

[Grey]: Akako… you said you were coming alone.

A nervous chuckle. Sweat dripped down his forehead like a river.

[Akako]: Well, about that… See, Jack here has been fighting zombies nonstop, and I figured he needs some experience fighting actual monsters. And Goosein… well, he needed a place to lay low while his lawyer sorted out some minor war crime charges.

[Goosein]: Cutting off certain body parts isn't a crime when they belong to men who prey on kids.

I blinked.

[Akako]: Goosein, you cut off high-ranking politicians' family jewels and made them wear them.

[Goosein]: And you did better, punching the king's 99-year-old mother in the face?

[Akako]: She groped me, She's ninety-nine years old, and I'm just a 33-year-old—wait, why did I say teenager? Whatever, that's not the point!

Jack sighed, rubbing his temples.

[Jack]: Will you two calm down?

Akako turned on him immediately.

[Akako]: Oh, I should calm down. You—the guy who accidentally turned the Middle East into a flaming desert—you're telling me to calm down?

Jack crossed his arms.

[Jack]: It was one oil well.

[Akako]: ONE OIL WELL?! Jack, that 'one oil well' was powering the Great Iron Wall! The entire mission was to protect it! And you didn't even kill the Zombie King!

A long, heavy silence.

[Jack]: I had a plan.

I exhaled slowly, massaging my temples.

[Grey]: I should've just fought Monster Wave myself.

I was already regretting everything when a new problem—because of course there was a new problem—made itself known.

The three idiots who had been playing the blame game suddenly stopped, along with the knights and mages, their hands drifting to their weapons. A tension filled the air as a group of figures emerged from the trees.

Wolfskin cloaks. Massive wolf pelts. Bone weapons. Eyes gleaming with the cold, hardened stare of killers.

I sighed.

Of course, it was them.

The wolf-skin-wearing barbarians I had trained.

At the front of the group stood Ash, now looking every bit like some hardened warlord who had crawled straight out of a dark fantasy novel.

Ash Flatly, pointing at the three newcomers

[Ash]: Miss Grey… can you explain this?

I looked between Ash, his battle-hardened squad, and then back at the three problem children I had apparently adopted.

I started Rubbing my temples again

[Grey]: Can you explain why you look like you conquered the North?

[Ash]: We didn't conquer it. We won it.

One of the soldiers behind him nodded solemnly.

[Soldier]: We have claimed the wolf throne.

I blinked.

[Grey]: The what?

[Ash]: Long story short, the wolves really didn't take kindly to us being in their territory again. So, uh… we killed their king.

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Then opened it again, because what?

[Grey]: …You assassinated a wolf king?

[Ash]: Assassinate is a strong word. Challenged is more accurate.

[Grey]: You know what? Never mind. I'll deal with that later. Right now, let's focus on the three criminals I apparently have to babysit now.

Akako, Goosein, and Jack all turned to look at each other.

[Akako]: Criminal is also a strong word—

Ash immediately cut in, his eyes narrowing.

[Ash]: Did you say criminals?

In a single second, every soldier in Ash's unit reached for their weapons.

Jack sighed deeply, rolling his shoulders.

[Jack]: Great. First wolves, now these guys.

Goosein cracked his knuckles, clearly unfazed.

[Goosein]: Just tell me whose kneecaps need to be rearranged.

I put my hands up before things really went off the rails.

[Grey]: Nobody is fighting. We are all on the same team.

A tense silence.

Then—

[Soldier]: The wolves said the same thing before they attacked.

I was so done, Author, please. Skip to the next day. I can't handle any more of this.

[Next day]

I stood on the fortress wall, staring at the sky with a tired, deadpan expression.

The knights and mages manned the defenses, ready for battle. Behind me, the warship's cannons gleamed under the sun, primed and waiting.

Akako was deep in discussion with Ash, pointing at the battlefield and giving him tactical advice on defensive improvements.

Jack—who had somehow acquired full medieval armor overnight—stood off to the side, inspecting his sword while chatting with Lucas and Evangeline.

Goosein, ever the professional, was cradling an old-looking sniper rifle, checking the scope with a calm, practiced ease.

But none of that was the problem.

No.

The problem was the massive swarm of wyverns soaring toward us, their dark wings blotting out the sky.

And as I prepared for the inevitable chaos, one thought consumed my mind.

I may have created monsters.

Because as I glanced at my soldiers—these former rookies, these once-normal people—I saw nothing but evil grins and wild eyes.

Some were licking their knives.

Some still wore their wolf capes and skull helmets.

One of them cracked their neck and whispered, "Meat's back on the menu, boys."

I sighed deeply.

This was going to be a long day.

[Ash]: Soldiers, ready… FIRE.

The sky roared as my airship's cannons erupted, turning the incoming wyverns into nothing more than airborne confetti.

Just as the last creature fell, another airship loomed overhead, its shadow stretching across the battlefield. It descended smoothly, landing a short distance away.

A mage stepped out, clad in robes that shimmered with enchantments, speaking to Ash in hushed tones.

Then she turned to me.

And in an instant—every single soldier aimed their weapons.

My soldiers aimed at the mage and her team.

Ash's soldiers hesitated for a second before snapping into action, weapons raised.

My airship adjusted its cannons, now locked onto the newcomers.

The tension was thick enough to cut with a dagger.

Ash let out a sharp sigh, stepping between both groups and raising his hands.

[Ash]: Stand down. Lower your weapons.

His soldiers obeyed immediately.

Mine? Not so much.

The knights held their ground, grips tightening on their swords. The mages' staffs hummed with energy, eyes locked onto the opposing group.

Even the airship crew hadn't moved their hands from the triggers.

I crossed my arms, staring at Ash.

[Grey]: You're awfully trusting today.

[Ash]: And you're way too paranoid.

I raised an eyebrow.

[Grey]: Didn't you just tell me last night that the wolves used 'tactics'? Excuse me for being cautious when a mystery airship shows up right after we nearly get wiped out by a monster wave.

Ash pinched the bridge of his nose.

[Ash]: Grey, tell your soldiers to lower their weapons. They're here to invite us to the capital.

I narrowed my eyes, looking between him, the mage, and her team.

An invitation?

Something about this reeked of trouble.

I exhaled, rubbing my temple.

[Grey]: ...Fine.

With a flick of my wrist, my soldiers reluctantly lowered their weapons—though none of them looked happy about it.

The mage smiled.

[Mage]: Smart decision. The capital awaits, after all.

I hated everything about that sentence.

And I had the sinking suspicion that this 'invitation' was about to throw me into even more of a headache.

[Chapter end]