The Duke and Duchess of Khalid returned to Khalid immediately using the power of the Divine Beast.

The power of the Divine Beast was so remarkable that it instantly transported all those knights and carriages from southern Rowen to the north. Dana, who was in the carriage with the maids, squeezed her eyes shut as the strong wind leaked in, and only opened them after the wind had subsided. The scenery visible through the carriage window was no longer the royal palace in the capital, but in front of Eluan Castle in Khalid.

The Duke and Duchess of Khalid’s procession arrived in Khalid with the black Divine Beast and numerous Divine Beast winds following behind.

The reason they returned to Khalid so urgently and Taras permitted this return was due to news that magical beasts were causing havoc as they descended from the Dorbas Mountains.

It was the peak breeding season for magical beasts. During this time, magical beasts rarely ventured outside the Dorbas Mountains as they were focused on protecting their territory and laying eggs. That’s why this news was very sudden and disturbing.

‘Has something like this happened in the past?’

Dana couldn’t know.

However, the man who had been in the north in his previous life remembered the events of this year. Right after the breeding season, magical beasts suddenly went berserk, causing great difficulties in the northern situation. But that had clearly been after the breeding season, at the end of summer.

‘It’s earlier than I remember.’

It was still breeding season now. Early in the third month of Solsita. Still the time when magical beasts should be laying eggs. The magical beasts’ rampage had started earlier than he remembered.

‘Why did it change?’

Things were certainly different from his previous life. Dana hadn’t contracted with a Divine Beast, came to Khalid, and married him. And he had become duke and contracted with a Divine Beast.

He wondered if these changes from the past had any connection to this variation. He couldn’t tell.

Whether the timing was earlier or not, he knew how to resolve this situation. It was time for him to do what he needed to do.

Dismounting from his horse, Kaiden opened the carriage door and took Dana’s hand to escort her. As she stepped down from the carriage, Dana looked up at Kaiden.

He wore black chain mail armor with Khalid’s emblem on black clothing and a helmet on his head. When Kaiden waved his hand, the black Divine Beast spread its wings and flew over. It was Divine Beast Bazesus.

The servants who had come out to wait for the ducal couple at Eluan Castle, and the knights who had been waiting in front of the castle after receiving advance notice through the Divine Beast sent by the duke, all witnessed this sight.

The black Divine Beast spread its wings wide and flew in a large circle above the castle before descending again. The Divine Beast folded its wings and landed beside Dana. Kaiden spoke to Dana.

“This Divine Beast will stay here.”

A startled Dana looked at the Divine Beast. The black Divine Beast looked back at Dana. Thinking this was absurd, Dana said.

“But aren’t you going to subjugate the magical beasts now? Bazesus is a powerful Divine Beast. It would be of great help.”

The Divine Beast beside her proudly puffed out its chest as if it understood her words. Without looking at the Divine Beast, Kaiden kept his gaze fixed on Dana as he spoke.

“Even without it by my side, I can command the Divine Beasts under Bazesus because I am the contractor. Also, I can protect myself without a Divine Beast. But you cannot. So while I’m gone, this Divine Beast will stay by your side to protect you. This Divine Beast is yours.”

The strength in the Divine Beast’s shoulders drained away. Dana stood with a surprised expression, watching as Kaiden removed the helmet he was wearing. His head lowered toward her. He said.

“Close your eyes.”

With that, Kaiden kissed Dana. Dana raised her head while closing her eyes and stood on her tiptoes. The hard touch of his gauntlet supported her bent neck from behind. In front, his lips and tongue met hers hotly.

After stealing into Dana’s mouth with movements that felt urgent and hurried, Kaiden pulled away while licking her lips. The man who separated and moved away put his helmet back on. Then he turned around.

Dana, catching her breath from the kiss, watched as Kaiden mounted his black horse. His black cape fluttered behind him. Kaiden pulled the reins. He planned to fly with the knights present here and join up with the knights waiting at Leonas Castle.

The other Divine Beasts spread their wings and flew, except for the black Divine Beast sitting beside Dana. A strong wind blew. Dana unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head. The black Divine Beast beside her spread one wing to shield her front.

When she finally opened her eyes after the rough winds had subsided, the knights were gone. All that remained were the carriages and wagons, servants and Dana. And the black Divine Beast that Kaiden had left beside her.

Dana turned to look at the Divine Beast that had folded its wings back.

“Will this be alright…?”

The Divine Beast still gave no answer.

Dana, who had been looking into the distance where her husband in black armor and the knights had disappeared, turned toward the servants who were waiting for her. While her knight husband had departed for the magical beasts’ territory, she needed to do what she could here at the castle.

“Let’s go in.”

The black Divine Beast followed Dana as she entered the castle. It was time for the servants who had gathered the luggage to follow the lady of the castle inside and do their duties.

* * *

Looking back on Kaiden’s memories, the magical beasts’ rampage had started from the territories bordering the Dorbas Mountains.

Crazed magical beasts came down, hunting people and trampling everything. Based on judgment from long experience, the northern knights realized that these magical beasts were mothers who had grown larger and stronger after laying eggs during breeding season.

Why were the mother magical beasts, who should have gone deep into the mountains to gather food for when their offspring hatched, now coming down to Rowen and causing havoc?

The reason became clear as more territories suffered damage from the rampaging mother magical beasts. New species of magical beasts that ate Huran had appeared in the Dorbas Mountains.

They had clearly laid eggs and placed Huran at the end of summer, but these newly appeared magical beasts had quickly eaten the Huran and were running away. After the ones that ate the Huran disappeared, the mother magical beasts who returned from finding food and realized their eggs were gone began to rampage.

The excited mother magical beasts came down from the mountains, rampaging madly. They came down to human territories, searching for scents they considered enemies and causing havoc. Except for those that died trampled under the mother magical beasts’ momentum, the surviving males followed behind.

That’s how angry magical beasts gathered in swarms by habitat and came down to human territories. The northern knights became very busy dealing with the packs of crazed mother magical beasts.

At that time, Kaiden thought that continuing to deal with the mother magical beasts was very tiring, a waste of time, and only caused more damage. So he used the essence he had to find a solution to this problem.

After hearing the method he found, he freely distributed essence to the northern territories requesting help. Thanks to this, the entire north got through the difficult situation well, and his reputation soared to the heavens. Word spread widely that he was lacking in nothing, both as a knight and as a lord.

And amid news of mother magical beasts rampaging earlier than he remembered, Kaiden was receiving reports from knights at the border of Leonas, which was very close to the Dorbas Mountains. Among the knights’ tents filling the wide field, his tent was the largest. The Leonas and Khalid emblems were drawn on the outside of the tent, and two flags were erected beside it.

“All preparations are complete.”

Upon hearing the northern news in the capital Larnas, Kaiden immediately sent Divine Beasts to relay his instructions. According to those, the Khalid knights and soldiers, and Leonas soldiers were ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Among the knights standing in the tent, Gaien Gunter, who had remained in Khalid instead of following the ducal couple’s procession to the capital, asked.

“But how did you know? About there being new species of magical beasts that eat Huran?”