Despite Juan’s persuasion, Lenly only nodded in silence and didn’t answer. Then, he headed somewhere with heavy steps while dragging his feet.

Juan could understand where Lenly was coming from; however, he couldn’t move the entire army for just one person. Not only was the Imperial Army already exhausted, but the speed of their current march was also way too fast.

“Your Majesty.”

Juan saw Pavan upon turning his head toward the voice. Pavan was holding a leather bag toward Juan, and inside it was a liquid swaying around. Juan took the leather bag and drank from it. He frowned slightly at the bitter taste of the low-grade alcohol, but he drank it anyway since he was thirsty.

After quenching his thirst, Juan handed over the leather bag to Pavan.

“Did I look like I needed a drink?”

“I know that Your Majesty doesn’t drink often, but you looked thirsty.”

Juan smiled bitterly at the fact that Pavan knew him very well despite having served him for only a little while. Just like he didn’t need to eat, Juan didn’t need to drink anything either.

Yet the thirst he was feeling was psychological.

“This war is strange,” Juan said.

“Aren’t all wars strange?” Pavan answered.

“Maybe. But a lot of the wars I’ve been through have been much...