[Royal Capital – Eldoria Castle]
A day after the monster tide was repelled, the kingdom was in high spirits. Adventurers were celebrated. The battlefield had been cleared, and the Truck Survivors Clan returned battered, but victorious.
A grand ceremony was held in the royal audience chamber. Banners flew, nobles gathered, and soldiers stood in formation.
At the front, the Truck Survivors knelt as King Aldebrand rose from his throne.
King Aldebrand (booming voice): "Today, we honor the heroes who safeguarded our lands! Especially the one whose iron chariot crushed the enemy with unrivaled force!"
Everyone's eyes turned to Takeshi, still in his dusty jacket, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Takeshi (scratching his head): "Ehh… just doing my job."
Daichi (elbowing him): "Stand up, idiot!"
Takeshi stood, shrugging.
The king grinned.
King Aldebrand: "Takeshi of the Truck Survivors, for your exceptional service and… creative methods on the battlefield, I hereby grant you 1,000,000 gold, a noble title, and a mansion with accompanying lands on the western hills of Eldoria!"
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Aiko: "ONE MILLION GOLD?!"
Hiroshi: "A MANSION?!"
Ms. Sato (deadpan): "And a noble title. Gods help us."
A royal attendant stepped forward with a small chest glittering with gold coins. Another handed Takeshi a royal decree scroll, and a third brought forth a signet ring.
King Aldebrand: "You are now Baron Takeshi, Lord of Westhill Estates."
Takeshi (pocketing the ring): "Heh… guess I'm a big shot now."
Jun muttered under his breath.
Jun: "The universe really has a weird sense of humor."
Captain Marwick (laughing): "A well-earned reward!"
[After the Ceremony – Guild Hall Tavern]
The clan gathered at their usual spot, drinks and food laid out.
Rina: "A million gold… so, what are you gonna do with it?"
Takeshi (grinning): "Truck maintenance. And a bigger garage."
Nobu: "That's… actually fair."
Yumi: "So we're officially taking a vacation, right?"
Daichi: "Yeah. The king even insisted. Said we 'fought hard, and probably need to rest before another crisis'."
Aya: "I vote hot springs!"
Mari: "Same here!"
Everyone cheered.
Ms. Sato: "Alright. A week of rest. No training, no quests, just relax."
The entire clan raised their mugs.
Everyone: "To Truck Survivors!"
They downed their drinks.
[Meanwhile… In The Demon Realm]
A dark chamber. Torches flickered. A tall demon in a horned cloak bowed before a throne.
Demon Lord Zarvoth: "Another commander… lost?"
A trembling imp messenger nodded.
Imp: "Y-Y-Yes, my lord. It appears… Commander Gravax was killed in the monster tide."
Demon Lord Zarvoth: "How?"
Imp (sweating): "Witnesses say he was… struck by some unknown fast-moving object. Flattened instantly."
The demon lord growled.
Demon Lord Zarvoth: "That's the second one this month!"
A black-robed demon behind him spoke up.
Advisor: "It matches the pattern, my lord. High-speed blunt force trauma… from an unknown iron beast."
The Demon Lord's eye twitched.
Demon Lord Zarvoth: "Find the source of this… 'iron chariot'! Before it claims another of my commanders!"
None of them realized the culprit was a beat-up Fuso truck driven by a chain-smoking Japanese guy in a dusty jacket.
[Back at Eldoria – Truck Survivors Mansion]
Later that evening, the clan arrived at Takeshi's new mansion. It was huge, with a grand courtyard, stables, and even a private hot spring.
Aiko (eyes sparkling): "We're living here now?!"
Takeshi (grinning): "Yup. Plenty of room for my truck too."
Daichi: "This guy's luck is unfair."
Hiroshi: "I call dibs on the biggest guest room!"
Aya: "I want the room next to the hot spring!"
Everyone rushed inside, calling rooms.
Takeshi leaned against his truck, looking at the sunset.
Takeshi (to himself): "Another day survived. Another demon commander flattened… not that I'll ever know."
He flicked his cigarette away and headed inside to join his friends.