Chapter 246: Meeting the Queen of the North
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 246: Meeting the Queen of the North
“What… so you have to go today?”
“Yeah. Fuck, it’s so damn annoying… Ugh… I have to leave right after the meeting. If I’d known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have acted so magnanimous… Yesterday was good, wasn’t it? Huh?”
Choi Seulgi’s face crumpled as she spoke. The way she kept knitting her brow made it clear she was genuinely angry, and I had to admit, I would have been just as pissed off in her shoes.
The reason for her fury was the sudden arrival of a messenger from the East, calling for an emergency assembly. Thanks to that, an unscheduled meeting was about to begin. This was a sensitive matter for the East as well as the North. Since the meeting hadn't started yet, Choi Seulgi was letting loose with her usual colorful language, but it didn't seem to be helping her mood.
Of course, it wouldn't.
“That fucking Sword Saint bitch is useless no matter what.”
The reason for the summons was that the movements in the West and South were looking ominous. For Choi Seulgi, this was likely top-secret information, but the fact that she told me so casually showed just how much she trusted me.
“This is so fucking annoying. Seriously…”
I wanted to ask her to stay just one more day, but I didn't voice such a childish thought. I knew she was more disappointed than I was.
Choi Seulgi’s influence was so strong that she could be called the North’s second-in-command. For someone of her stature to miss or be late to a summons was an act unbefitting her position. Given her strong sense of responsibility, she would undoubtedly see her duty through. It was a small relief that she had a bit more leeway, since her unique ability was a movement skill, albeit one with a limited range.
“You think it’s about to blow up?”
“Probably… The timing couldn't be worse. I heard the Queen of the East is pregnant…”
“Yeah. For now, you and I are the only ones who know.”
Naturally, she needed to rest. A war with the West and South was something Jang Ye Ri, the Queen of the North, and even our Brother’s Land had desperately wanted, but the timing was terrible. The fact that a powerhouse like Jang Ye Ri couldn't fight on the front lines was a huge burden on our side.
Just as I was lost in thought, Jang Ye Ri appeared in the meeting room. Given the gravity of the situation, she also had things to discuss with Choi Seulgi. Beside her stood Park Han Cheol, who could now be called her right-hand man. He didn't look too pleased either. In addition, a few other executives, including members of the Greenbelt Clan, also made their appearance.
Aside from a select few, not many knew about the alliance between Garia and the Brother’s Land. The fact that they had joined hands with Green Skins was a sensitive issue for the general public, and we figured it would be excellent ammunition for those who sought to deny Jang Ye Ri’s legitimacy. Park Han Cheol, along with the members of the Greenbelt Clan, was one of the few who knew the truth. Back when I took his weapon, I never imagined our connection would develop like this. It seems that incident became a driving force for him, as he’s achieved some impressive results lately.
Jang Ye Ri and Park Han Cheol took their seats on one side of the meeting room with nonchalant expressions. Park Han Cheol bowed his head to Choi Seulgi and me, who were already waiting, and we returned the gesture. From the priest whose staff I’d stolen to the clan master of the Greenbelt Clan, there were quite a few familiar faces.
Jang Ye Ri glanced our way with a calm expression and spoke.
“Hmm… You all look grim.”
The way she spoke, as if her own situation was of no concern, was classic Jang Ye Ri. Still, I couldn't help but worry. She had been hiding it so well that it seemed even Park Han Cheol was unaware, which only fueled my anxiety.
“I request a detailed explanation of the situation.”
As soon as Jang Ye Ri spoke, Choi Seulgi replied. Yesterday had been a family meeting, but today was a formal council. Her casual speech was gone, replaced by the tone one used to address a queen.
“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve received reports that the forces of the West and South are currently positioned before the northern mountain range. They have yet to declare war, but…”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
“That is what we believe. Officially, they remain silent, but judging by the leaflets they’re spreading about the citizens suffering in the North and East, and the justifications they’re giving for raising an army…”
“There is no justification,” I cut in, interrupting Choi Seulgi. “They just want a fight.”
It was almost baffling that they were trying to pass this off as a just cause. If anything, the citizens who were truly suffering were the ones in the West and South. They simply wanted a fight; they were looking for a reason to start one. The West and the North had been at odds for a long time, and this absurd justification played perfectly to the people of the West, who treated northerners as Murderers and barbarians.
‘We are justice.’
There was no sweeter justification than that.
“How absurd,” Park Han Cheol muttered to himself, equally dumbfounded. He was right.
The West was in no position to make such claims. The old East might have been a different story, but the current West was so corrupt it was second to none. The only people who didn't seem to know it were the westerners themselves.
It was so ridiculous I was at a loss for words. The executives from Garia shared the same bewildered reaction. Seeing this, Choi Seulgi spoke again.
“The North is currently establishing a front line. We are preparing for a potential conflict, but it will be difficult to face the combined forces of the West and South at once. It’s not logical for the southern forces to have reached the North this quickly. They must have coordinated in advance. They were one step ahead of us, with all their preparations complete.”
“The timing is certainly strange,” Jang Ye Ri agreed. “It’s impossibly fast unless the southern forces were already waiting in the West. It takes a minimum of several months for the eastern army to reach the North. With Choi Eunju’s help, we could move troops faster, but… even then, it’s not enough.”
There was a limit to how many people Choi Eunju could teleport at once. After moving a large-scale force, she also incurred a penalty that prevented her from using her ability for a certain period. Having a teleporter was a definite advantage in a fight, but it wasn't the answer to every problem in a war.
That was precisely why the Spider Clan had always operated as a small, elite group. We had been able to deal with the Japanese that way only because their numbers were manageable. The humans on this continent were by no means weak.
“What has the Queen of the North decided to do?”
“It’s not certain, but I believe she’s considering abandoning the major cities. To be precise, it’s not her will, but that of her retainers. If it were me, I would have recommended abandoning the cities as well.”
“Is that so.”
If what Choi Seulgi said was true, it was an incredibly bold decision. The thinking was that as long as they preserved their forces, the cities could always be retaken. From the enemy’s perspective, it was like being handed a major city from the start, but it was a far better option than stubbornly holding on and losing troops.
Of course, I imagined the Queen of the North must be seething. It had to be humiliating. It was the same reason the Green Skins would abandon the Brother’s Land.
“It’s highly likely she will lead all troops and citizens to establish a temporary base. A smaller city closer to the East will probably become the forward base for future battles. Of course, nothing has been officially decided yet.”
“If that opinion represents the will of the North, then it is not a bad one. We in the East will lend our strength to maintaining the front line.”
Choi Seulgi nodded.
I was no expert in tactics, but even with my limited insight, this seemed like the best possible course of action.
Jang Ye Ri gave a slight nod, and at her gesture, Park Han Cheol brought out a large map. With a wave of her hand, the map tore in half.
Seeing it split cleanly into West and East, I understood exactly what she was thinking.
“If the North abandons its cities, this would be the most ideal outcome. It’s possible the Sword Saint and the King of the South are thinking the same thing we are.”
The West of the continent would be taken by the Southwest Alliance, and the East by the Northeast Alliance.
“They are not the only ones who are prepared. The North and the East are ready as well.”
The battle had not yet begun, but it felt as if the war had already started. If the Sword Saint’s side had truly anticipated the Queen of the North abandoning her cities, I thought it was possible they had been planning to split the continent in half from the very beginning.
“Hmm…”
If the goal of the Sword Saint and the King of the South was simply to divide the continent, the stalemate could last for a very long time.
The thought of Jang Ye Ri being safe was, of course, a good thing. But she didn't seem to have any intention of taking it easy. Her reaction was completely different from Mev’s.
“The East will also push its front line forward. I will personally show those arrogant bastards a lesson. We will be the ones to strike first.”
“Your Majesty…”
I could see how flustered Park Han Cheol was. But he wasn't the only one. I was also staring at Jang Ye Ri with a dumbfounded expression. It was as if she had no awareness that she was pregnant.
I sighed and looked at her. Jang Ye Ri met my gaze directly and spoke.
“Our child is strong. You need not worry.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“W-What are you saying?”
Jang Ye Ri’s sudden bombshell left the Garia executives sitting with her completely stunned.
The people here already knew she was a demon, so they must have suspected my relationship with her was unusual. But the pregnancy was clearly something they hadn't expected. A look of shock spread across everyone’s faces.
“………………………………”
Looking at the bewildered audience, Jang Ye Ri spoke again nonchalantly.
“Hmm… I seem to have forgotten to mention it. A child who will be king sleeps within my womb. It is the child of Blood Dagger, who sits over there. There is no issue. This will be a good experience for the child who will one day be king of the continent.”
If I were the baby in her womb, I would absolutely not want that kind of experience. A war could end quickly, but it could also drag on for an eternity. The image of her swinging a scythe while heavily pregnant made my head spin.
At this shocking news, the Garia executives could only open and close their mouths like fish. I looked at the eastern officials and spoke. Park Han Cheol was glaring at me with a look that said, What have you done at a time like this?, but I deliberately avoided his gaze.
“You will not stand on the battlefield. For your sake, and for our child's, it is right for you to quietly hold your position. Do not ignore the counsel of your subjects.”