After the war ended, the Empire became extremely busy.

Although the damage was much less than expected, that was only because the expectation was such a devastating blow.

In reality, many people had died, and the restored barrier was not without its scars.

Above all, at this point where the path to Manggot was somewhat open.

The Empire embarked on its first territorial expansion since the monster war.

They hadn't pushed back the monsters outside or defeated the monsters of the abyss, but the path was definitely open.

The monsters that had been attacking the barrier from all sides retreated, and now was the time when the number of monsters between the Empire and Manggot was at its lowest.

The Empire announced that it would develop the path to Manggot, and it was no wonder that the hearts of the Empire's citizens were excited.

...So, the Empire first spread easy-to-understand and good news to the public, and convened a meeting once again to resolve the issues that were difficult to deal with right away.

"...Retirement?"

Medart nodded at Empress Philly's question for reconfirmation.

"Yes. I realized it clearly in this war. I am already an old body. It is not appropriate for me to be in the seat of the Zodiac."

Medart de Thebes.

The oldest among the Zodiacs, he paired with Sybil during the Manggot War and defended the barrier.

And he was fatally wounded by one of Manggot's Shepherds, barely escaping with his life.

In fact, Medart's defeat was one of the unexpected situations for Frondier, and Frondier was also greatly surprised when he heard about it later.

He believed that Sybil had changed, but even Frondier didn't know what form that change would ultimately take.

"...The Imperial Palace does not prevent you from stepping down from the Zodiac. Medart-nim, you have fulfilled your role sufficiently, and it is not strange to think about retirement at your age."

Philly began with a dark expression, her words suggesting that a "however" would follow.

"However, if possible, could you please postpone it a little?"

"Postpone...? Why?"

When Medart asked, another Zodiac who was next to him, Lily, shook her head.

"Ah, right. Medart was unconscious, so he doesn't know the current atmosphere of the Empire."

"What do you mean?"

"If Medart retires now..."

Lily raised her finger with a playful expression.

"Frondier de Roach might suddenly become a Zodiac."

"...!"

Medart's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Lily's words and looked around the conference room.

However, Medart was the only one surprised; the people around him seemed to agree with Lily's words. Some even nodded their heads.

"...Frondier, that young boy?"

"Yes. He made a tremendous contribution. Besides, the citizens of the Empire have seen his skills."

Of course, what the citizens of the Empire saw was a very short scene, but at least in terms of destructive power, it was clearly demonstrated that Frondier possessed overwhelming strength.

"...Huh, that's surprising. Even so, at that age..."

"Yes, that's the problem."

As Lily nodded, there was someone who crossed their arms and tilted their head.

"Is that a problem?"

It was Zodiac Ludovic.

"If Frondier is qualified to be a Zodiac, it is only natural that he should ascend to the position of Zodiac. His young age is not an issue."

"...That's unexpected. I thought Ludovic disliked Frondier."

"Me? No way. I first met Frondier during the devil incident, but I highly value his composure and judgment. At that time, it was just a situation where suspicion was inevitable."

Ludovic said so and nodded his head, saying, "Hmm, but to think he had that kind of power..."

Empress Philly let out a long sigh at that.

"His young age is a huge problem. Frondier hasn't even graduated from Constel yet. He lacks experience as a pro or a knight, and he hasn't accomplished anything worthy of becoming a Zodiac."

"He accomplished something a week ago, didn't he?"

"...Well, that's... true, but."

Rarely, Philly was at a loss for words.

Of course, it wasn't that Philly disliked Frondier. Rather, she deeply trusted Frondier, so she needed to be cautious about this matter.

Make Frondier a Zodiac now?

Of course, the citizens of the Empire would be ecstatic. It had only been a week since his splendid side was witnessed on that giant screen.

Soon, people would also learn that what he defeated was not just anyone, but the head of Manggot. Such things couldn't be hidden even if they tried.

But Frondier was young. So young that both his brother and father were candidates for Zodiac.

His father, Enfer, had refused, and even his eldest brother, Azier, hesitated at the offer due to Enfer's refusal and his own young age. But to skip both his father and eldest brother and make Frondier a Zodiac?

This was to the extent that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Roach family wasn't just backed by the Imperial Palace, but the Imperial Palace was trying to crawl under the Roach family's feet.

'I can't push that child into this dirty political arena.'

Ultimately, it was politics.

The Zodiac was a symbol of power, but once they reached that position, it was nearly impossible to be uninvolved in politics. If that were the case, Enfer wouldn't have refused becoming a Zodiac so vehemently.

In other words, even Enfer couldn't avoid politics if he became a Zodiac, so he chose not to.

Knowing this all too well, Philly didn't want to make Frondier a Zodiac.

She wanted to let him enjoy his life at Constel for now. She wanted him to experience things that anyone could try, like becoming a pro or a knight, just like other people.

It had become a very difficult thing to say now, but it wasn't impossible yet.

Yes, like Aten.

"Right. Frondier being a Zodiac? Nonsense."

And fortunately, Philly had a few helpers.

One of them, Zodiac Monty.

He shook his head deeply with a stern expression.

"Frondier is going to be my disciple. We made a blood oath. Frondier agreed, and I agree, so this is a done deal."

Ludovic was surprised at that.

"What, really?"

"...I don't know about a blood oath, but there was such talk."

Zodiac Ludwig, who had been watching silently, muttered with his characteristic strange dialect mixed with a sigh.

Lily slammed the table and raised her head.

"What are you talking about! Before that, Frondier promised to be my knight! We made a soul oath!"

"What, really?"

"...I don't know about a soul oath, but there was such talk too."

Monty shook his head.

"Lily. I told you last time, that was just for a month. When that period is over, naturally..."

"Huhuhu, Monty. Do you really think Frondier will come to you after a month?"

"..."

Lily's confident smile.

Common sense dictated that Frondier had made promises to both Lily and Monty.

To Lily, he promised to be her knight for a month, and to Monty, he promised to be his disciple.

So, when the one-month period was over, Frondier would naturally go to Monty. That was the promise they made.

Even though that was common sense.

"Hey, Ludwig. Is that true? Frondier becoming Lily's knight? Did Frondier really agree to that?"

Ludovic asked Ludwig again with a serious expression.

"He didn't just agree, Frondier was the one who suggested it."

"...Oh my god."

Ludovic, with a devastated expression as if watching the world end, bit his lip.

"Frondier, what have you done..."

"Hey! I can hear you!"

The conference room fell silent, everyone except Lily wearing a gloomy expression.