Henry held a liquor bottle in one hand, though it was completely empty.
He didn't seem particularly drunk, so he was likely just carrying the empty vessel after having already finished it. It appeared that even Henry was exercising a degree of self-restraint given the gravity of the situation.
"Hey, Boss. Came to say hello."
"Thank you for coming."
I had entrusted these two with the same mission I'd given Grom. It seemed they had carved out a moment from their brief rest period just to check on me.
"Don't worry about it. We’re close, aren’t we?"
"…I suppose so."
Luciana maintained a casual facade, though unlike Gwen’s sheer airheadedness, she held a palpable level of focus.
I turned to Henry with a question. "Is the Demon King's Army holding the line across the various fronts?"
"Yeah, no problem. I’ve hammered them into shape myself. Even if they get their limbs blown off, they’ll survive."
Henry asserted this with absolute confidence. Since he was the one saying it, I knew it had to be true. The Demon King's Army was our greatest and most powerful force. Even while I had been mired in my own internal struggles, they had never wavered in their training. They weren't so fragile that I needed to worry over them.
"The spies are also distributed throughout the regions, so the communication network is perfect. You can rest easy and leave it to us," Luciana added.
"That's a relief."
Luciana was fulfilling her role as the Chief of Spies perfectly. Thanks to the leadership of these two, I could focus on reuniting with her without any lingering anxieties. I truly owed them my gratitude.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, Luciana looked at me with a slightly mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So, what did you say to the Bone Minister? He seemed incredibly fired up."
"I only told him the truth."
What I had shared with him was nothing more than my sincere feelings. I likely hadn't dispelled Grom's worries entirely, but I had conveyed my heart as it was. I felt that I had helped him find some clarity.
Sensing the weight of my words, Luciana nodded in understanding.
"Bonding between men… or perhaps I should call it trust between master and servant. Well, it's a good thing. If he's moping around, it just causes trouble for the rest of us."
Then, as if remembering something, Luciana clapped her hands together. She pointed toward the remains sealed within the crystal.
"Once she's brought back, introduce us if things go well between you two. I’d like to be her friend."
"I’ll have the best liquor ready for the occasion. Let’s have a real drink when we get back, Boss."
"Understood. I look forward to it."
Even as I basked in the reliability of my subordinates, a high-output reaction approached from the distance.
The object flew in at a terrifying speed, crashing into the ground a short distance away. The impact caused the earth to explode, sending a massive cloud of dust billowing into the air.
I focused my gaze on the silhouette standing within the haze. A sudden, sharp gust of wind swept the dust away, revealing the identity of the newcomer.
Standing in the center of the fresh crater was the Great Spirit. Exuding a stately, dignified aura, she was, for some reason, carrying Logan over her shoulder.