Chapter 224
Chapter: 224
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 224
>Chapter Title: Assault (1)
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Forming an official subjugation force took far more time than expected.
As it involved depleting a massive amount of the national treasury, it usually required at least several months just to set goals, schedules, and assemble personnel.
But the Lilium detachment was a different story.
It was a unit that frequently went on subjugation missions anyway, and with Prince Logan leading them, it was a place where zealots willing to leap into the pits of hell gathered.
On top of that, with Prince Logan hurrying more than ever before and a bit of the Holy Emperor's influence added, preparations proceeded at lightning speed.
As they saw off the detachment hastily preparing and leaving the capital like beans frying in a lightning bolt, Chief Chamberlain Louis wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
‘Lately, all sorts of things have been happening. Something ominous must be stirring across the continent. Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't be rushing like this...’
Louis had another recent worry.
Katrina Belpain.
The loyal captain of the knights known as the Holy Emperor's shield had not left his side for several days.
Having served the Holy Emperor for quite some time, he knew well.
Katrina only acted this unusually clingy in one case: when the Holy Emperor's condition wasn't favorable.
And sure enough.
The previous morning, as the Holy Emperor was preparing to attend the council of state, he suddenly sat back down without a word.
He slumped over his desk as if collapsing and promptly lost consciousness!
Startled, Louis rushed over, but Katrina, who was nearby, calmed him.
"His Majesty has merely stepped away for a moment due to some business. It happens often, doesn't it? Please don't worry, Chief Chamberlain."
As she said, the Holy Emperor regained his senses shortly after, but Louis couldn't calm his pounding heart.
Having served the Holy Emperor for so long, he was aware of such occurrences.
But lately, these unannounced departures from his body had become too frequent.
Moreover, just a few days ago, there had been a time when he didn't regain consciousness for quite a while after leaving!
‘And so, it probably started with Prince Mores...’
Noticing Louis's worried gaze, the Holy Emperor raised his hand nonchalantly.
"It's nothing. I just went to check on Mores for a bit. For some reason, he was far from his group. True to form, he'd picked up another strange beast in no time.’
Despite his slightly fatigued appearance, the Holy Emperor seemed in fairly good spirits.
However, the chief chamberlain couldn't miss the fleeting shadow of concern that crossed his face.
"If you were going to fret like this, why not order him to return to the capital immediately when Lycanslope stirred?"
At Louis's question, the Holy Emperor gave a faint smile.
"If you're afraid of a child falling and carry them in your arms forever, they'll never learn to walk."
"......"
It seemed resolving Lycanslope's massive uprising was akin to 'learning to walk' for the Holy Emperor.
Though he spoke casually, there were two critical flaws in his words.
One was that the 'child' falling wasn't just a minor injury—its lethality was unmatched.
The other was that to watch over a toddling child running everywhere, the parent first had to drop everything and follow behind all day.
‘And lately, he's been visiting the prayer room far too often!’
Recently, the Holy Emperor had been going to the prayer room in the depths of the palace almost every day.
[The Rift] opening more frequently than before was part of it, but surely not all.
He was undoubtedly moving his soul somewhere else and handling other matters simultaneously.
The Holy Emperor already had an expressionless, impassive face, but returning from the inner sanctum with particularly parched eyes was, to Louis, far from a good sign.
‘...This state can't continue forever.’
The chamberlain could understand why Captain Katrina couldn't leave the Holy Emperor's side all day.
She too sensed a crisis in his current condition.
And before long, their anxiety became reality.
As the Holy Emperor was heading to the grand council hall for the morning council of state, he suddenly stopped and let out a low sigh.
"This is..."
A peculiar silver gleam flashed in his eyes, staring off into the distance.
The Holy Emperor turned on his heel.
"Katrina, I'm heading to the prayer room now."
"...The [Rift]?"
"Yes."
The loyal knight captain seemed slightly surprised but soon bowed her head and began issuing various orders to her subordinates.
In the meantime, the Holy Emperor quickly commanded Louis.
"Louis."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Contact Tatiana to handle state affairs in my stead—it's sudden, I know. Send Benitus the prepared official notice saying 'Don't overstep.' Delegate external matters to Capran and Cesare as before, but instruct them to consult Cardinal Meyer beforehand as much as possible. And..."
Pausing there, the Holy Emperor smirked with a strange expression.
"If you see the guild informant who always comes here, pass this on: I won't be able to visit 'that child' for a while."
...That child?
Before Louis could even question it, the Holy Emperor, having delivered his concise message, promptly left.
Behind him followed the Saint Aurelion Knights, led by Katrina.
Soon, only Chamberlain Louis and Sir Francis, Katrina's deputy who had been entrusted with all duties, remained.
"Hoo."
Adjusting his glasses and letting out a small sigh, Francis muttered.
"How long must the captain endure this? Prince Mores needs to return to the capital soon."
It sounded like nonsense without context, but Louis understood immediately.
Yes, Prince Mores.
This uneasy atmosphere had begun surfacing gradually after he left.
‘...But is that all?’
When had the disturbances started in the hitherto peaceful capital, which seemed unchanging forever?
When had His Majesty begun visibly busying himself?
Wasn't it right after the prince awoke from his fever?
‘What in the world is happening to him—no, to this Delcross, Your Majesty!’
Caught in a vague and ominous premonition, Louis stood dazedly staring toward the prayer room where the Holy Emperor had vanished.
* * *
Entering the prayer room, Nate promptly dismissed everyone and slowly closed his eyes.
As always, his consciousness expanded vastly, swiftly sweeping across the entire continent.
First, he checked on his son, far away.
True to form, in just one day, he'd added unseen ice monsters to his tail and was racing somewhere with Masain.
Lilium's subjugation force was heading to the Zigsmunt territory at full speed. Logan would make it just in time.
A girl stood forlornly in a garden blooming with blue flowers. Yes, you had no choice but to do that.
Nate's gaze shifted south again, then to the capital.
His great-grandson was conversing with barbarian warriors before a massive sea beast hunted from the swamp. Good that he'd grown into a strong warrior, but it was about time he returned to the capital.
Amelia, book in hand, caressed a small wooden statue with a worried face. Being quite perceptive, she couldn't focus on her reading.
Sisle was visible training with the inquisitors. His daughter, whose expression had brightened lately, occasionally looked north with a worried face, sensing something amiss.
Tatiana attending the council of state, Melody praying in the greenhouse garden, and... Elizabeth.
[Holy Emperor Daddy! We'll keep an eye on Mores for you!]
[Daddy Your Majesty! We'll keep Arenza in check, so go ahead!]
The twins, the most childlike yet pretending to be the most adult, sent him their thoughts.
Feeling a bit relieved, Nate twisted the ever-open [Rift] greatly, warping space toward himself.
Then, from beyond the jagged, intertwined spatial cross-sections, familiar faces leaped toward him with strong intent.
"You knew all along. It was all foreseen from the beginning, wasn't it?"
An elder watched Nate from afar.
"You'll soon learn to your bones how arrogant your deeds have been!"
Berseus smirked twistedly, holding the [Key].
"If you ever change your mind, come find me. The outcome may be painful, but it will also be incomparably beautiful."
Mitra said, raising his liquor bottle high.
"[Grahhh! Raaaaagh#krah!]"
The massive manta ray, having forgotten even speech alongside Iji, gnawed at the [Key] with sharp teeth and roared.
"I will never accept or acknowledge what you've done to us!"
A woman said, with fierce rain at her back.
"If it can't be undone, at least may your heart find peace..."
A tree that had lived countless ages whispered.
And with that, it ended.
Boom!
The alien demon king who had brazenly invaded Delcross alone revealed his massive form along with the entrance to the abyss.
* * *
"......!"
"What's wrong, Your Highness?"
As Seongjin suddenly stopped, Masain turned back with a puzzled look.
‘What is it? Why this sudden chill down my spine?’
Seongjin tilted his head.
Perhaps reflecting his mood, the aura blocking the passage surged violently then calmed.
"...Nothing. No time—let's hurry."
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, Seongjin quickened his pace toward Masain.
They had just visited the fourth outpost and ordered the soldiers to retreat.
Each time they stopped at an outpost, the hilarious spectacle repeated: soldiers fleeing in panic from the three glacier trolls.
Still, after Orden calmly explained, they seemed to accept it somehow. Unfazed by most things—fitting for the demon realm's sentinels.
As they prepared to lead the increased soldiers to the next outpost.
"...Young Master!"
Someone from behind raced toward them at high speed, shouting. It was the fastest knight left to guard the demon realm instead of retreating.
"Young Master! Huff huff! G-Glacier trolls!"
At the knight's urgent cry, Seongjin's group blankly turned to him.
Yes, glacier trolls, as you see.
But call them Frosty Nos. 1, 2, and 3 now.
However, the knight who finally reached them had a gravely serious face. Panting heavily, he quickly reported to Orden.
"The glacier trolls—huff—a massive... assault! Huff huff! Their numbers are no fewer than at the ice wall base!"
"......!"
That wasn't the end.
"And huff, behind them are the—the Lycanslopes! The 500 or so we thought headed to the tundra have all turned toward the canyon!"
"Damn it! So the canyon was their real target!"
Orden gritted his teeth and shouted.
Having concentrated most of the territory's forces at the ice wall base, the canyon fortress was practically empty now.
"Distance?"
"Less than an hour."
It was hopeless.
They had already requested reinforcements from the guard captain, but the enemy horde would reach the fortress before they even departed the territory.
"Retreat first! Signal the canyon fortress ahead of time too!"
As Seongjin, who had been silently listening, raised his head. His urgent gaze met Masain's anxious one.
—Sir Masain. You know as well as I do. I might find the one controlling the glacier trolls from their midst. Catching that one could greatly reduce our casualties.
From Seongjin's eyes alone, Masain knew what he wanted to say.
And Masain's response was firm.
—Out of the question, Your Highness!
Meeting that fierce glare, Seongjin flinched and turned away.
Yeah, I figured as much.
"Young Master. If we hurry, we can make it to the fortress on time somehow. It's not the Third Ice Wall, but the canyon fortress's height isn't negligible either. Once there, we should hold off their assault for a while."
At Sir Oscar's words, Orden replied with a troubled face.
"Probably. The problem is the outer outposts. We've signaled them, but not all will retreat in time."
Must they abandon the territory's soldiers they'd shared hardships with?
As Orden and the knights agonized deeply.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in Seongjin's mind.
"Ah! How about this?"
And upon hearing his explanation, Masain and Orden's faces paled instantly.
"...Pardon? P-Pardon?"