Alicia (3)
Those words filled her with so much hope. Alicia lifted her head, which had been bowed in despair, and looked at Yu-na.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I was just a frail healer myself. And now look at me—a proper pontiff."
Yu-na, too, had started out as nothing more than an ordinary Awakener with some talent when she first awakened. But through her contract with Bahamut, she had shattered the fate of a weak girl and now stood here as the leader of the Balhut Cult. That was why she was telling Alicia it was too soon to despair over something like this.
She's not wrong. Though it's not quite what I intended, Yu-na's rise is undeniable.
Bahamut knew Yu-na's claim held truth, so he nodded quietly in agreement.
"Then... can I win? Against that monster?"
"Yes, of course you can win. Though before we think of ways to defeat the Protector, the first step is honing your abilities. No matter the power of a Dragon Priestess, an Awakener who reaches level 20 wields strength worthy of the title Superhuman.
Victory was entirely possible. From the very start, the moment Alicia gained the Dragon Priestess class, she had ascended to a realm far beyond any ordinary Awakener. She was only level 1 now, but levels came from hunting monsters, and as they rose, so would her options for triumph. Of course, Yu-na warned that a level 20 Protector possessed power befitting a Superhuman, so complacency was out of the question.
"How strong is he, exactly?"
"Even if a hundred Awakeners below level 20 came at him, they couldn't beat a single Superhuman—assuming equal equipment, of course. If those hundred planned meticulously to target the Superhuman's weaknesses, they might have a chance. But in practice, even with good tactics, the Superhuman wins."
Yu-na used the example of identical gear: a hundred sub-level-20 Awakeners couldn't overcome one level-20 Superhuman. In truth, Jin A-yeon's feats on the Ulsan front far transcended ordinary Awakeners; she dominated the battlefield single-handedly. If the Protector was a level-20 powerhouse like her, countermeasures were essential.
"But we claim the job change that countless Awakeners chase at level 20—right from the start. That's an enormous advantage, and the potential of this class is beyond even my imagination as a Dragon Priestess."
Alicia had begun with a level-20 job at level 1. Yu-na called it a merit so vast that even she, a Dragon Priestess, could scarcely fathom its power.
"So if I train hard, I can gain the strength to beat the Protector alone?"
"Yes, provided you have the talent for combat. Heh. Since the Dragon God ultimately consented to the contract, you must have it."
As Yu-na began consoling Alicia, Bahamut—who had been watching silently—turned to the maid who had attended her without a word until now.
"By the way, you don't oppose the contract. At first, I thought you were a watcher sent by the Protector to monitor the queen. But you're not from his side, it seems."
The maid had supported Alicia since they arrived, accepting her choices without protest. Bahamut had initially pegged her as a Protector plant upon hearing Alicia's status, but if so, she would have blocked the Dragon God's contract, which was against the Protector's interests. Thus, he dismissed that notion.
"I serve only the royal family. Unfortunately, the Protector is not my master."
She belonged to the royalist faction. More precisely, as a servant of the British monarchy, she drew a clear line: the Protector was not her lord.
It might be a lie, but if it were, she would have interfered with Alicia's actions before the contract. So she truly seemed to be a royalist, as declared.
"I see. And so your queen contracted with me. But isn't this nation's state religion the Church of England? To the world, I'm a god of a foreign faith."
"On the contrary, I believe this contract is the path to saving the royal family."
"So you're one of the prime movers behind this contract?"
Bahamut questioned whether a foreign god clashed with the national faith, and the maid replied that it could save the royals—implying she was indeed a key instigator.
Of course Alicia, still a child, wouldn't contract me on her own. Someone must have advised her.
Bahamut hadn't believed the young queen reached this point alone. Alicia was very young, full of resolve but lacking knowledge. In such straits, she would lean on trusted aides—and this maid fit perfectly.
"Yes. Through my connection with Anna, I learned of you, Lord Bahamut, and brought Alicia to make contact."
The maid confirmed it: via Steven's aide Anna, she gathered intel on Bahamut and orchestrated the contract.
"There wouldn't be another chance for Alicia to gain the power to protect herself."
Naturally, a queen with self-defense powers would irk the Protector's cabinet. For a failed usurper like him, the reigning queen was an obstacle to claim the throne. Having failed when she was powerless, her new strength posed an even greater threat. Thus, the Protector had blocked all awakening means for the queen—who, as head of state, remained an unawakened civilian.
From the maid's view, awakening was essential to shield the queen from the Protector. Through exhaustive search, she found this path.
"We got incredibly lucky. The Protector overreached, pushing for the international organization reconstruction summit to rebuild his tarnished image. It created an opening."
She had learned of becoming a Dragon Priestess via Bahamut. Timely news arrived: the Dragon God was visiting Britain amid summit prep and visiting heads of state, distracting the Protector's cabinet. They acted swiftly.
Normally, even minor royal movements drew fiery scrutiny and forced escorts from Protector loyalists. But today, they were all tied up with summit duties, short-staffed.
And the U.S., at odds with the Protector's cabinet, provided the perfect conduit to spite him.
With American aid, queen-dragon-god contact was feasible. The U.S. obliged, and the plan succeeded.
"That's as far as my scheme went. Had you refused the contract, Lord Bahamut, I even considered capturing a outskirts monster during the summit and having the queen hunt it."
"A high-risk plan that could've been exposed."
This was the golden opportunity for the queen to gain protective power. It succeeded, awakening her via Dragon God contract—but failure odds were steep.
"Yes. But when else? If my life saves the queen's, it's worth it."
This is the resolve of one staking her life. Terrifying determination.
Bahamut realized the maid, ready to hunt monsters if needed, was equally committed.
"Is Alicia worth such loyalty?"
"I've served Her Majesty from childhood to now. If no affection grows in that time, you'd have to question one's humanity."
Bahamut doubted Alicia merited such devotion, but the maid simply said she'd served since youth.
Yes—a bond stronger than wealth or honor, the noblest emotion...
"Affection. I understand fully."
Love. A vassal truly devoted to her princess from girlhood, acting for her sake. With that, Bahamut turned to gaze at Alicia.
Consoled by Yu-na, her sullen expression had softened to normal—though her red, puffy eyes were unavoidable.
"In any case, the contract is complete here. Alicia, you've gained the miracle of summoning—borrowing my power proportional to the mana you offered. That alone provides ample means to overcome your trials."
"I can overcome them!?"
Bahamut boldly assured her.
"Indeed. In this apocalypse, nothing impresses people more than power. You mentioned guards who follow you?"
Of course—with power, followers gathered naturally. The Balhut Cult began by proving might, captivating masses. Even in settled power structures, demonstrated strength earned respect—and built factions.
"Umm... Mary, do I really have many loyal guards?"
"The Coldstream Guards and Welsh Guards still swear fealty to Her Majesty even in this apocalypse. However, the Life Guards to Labour, Grenadier Guards to the Liberals, and Blues and Royals, Scots Guards, and Irish Guards to the Protector."
As queen, she inherited her predecessor's legacy—including elite London defenders. Post-apocalypse, some units remained loyal, though scattered. Of seven, she held two; others split by factions. The Protector dominated but hadn't monopolized them. Better than Balhut's early days, her powerless state hadn't eroded all support.
"More followers than expected."
"I had no idea!"
Bahamut deemed it sufficient; Alicia, surprised her guards were unknown to her, eyed Mary for confirmation.
"You're still too young for state duties. The regent Protector handles everything, limiting documents to Her Majesty."
"So real military and executive power lies with the Protector."
"Yes."
Thus, she couldn't command them freely—no muster orders or private meetings with commanders. The Protector wouldn't allow it.
"Then, for survival, proving your power and reclaiming the scattered guards' loyalty would more than suffice."
"Is that enough? But... the Liberals, Conservatives... they all look at me with distrust."
Existing loyalists could pressure the Protector if reunited. But Alicia noted even his rivals distrusted her.
London politics deemed a 10-year-old queen unreliable; she needed their support, not vice versa. Fears of Protector flattery swaying her bred skepticism.
"Persuasion will handle that. Pre-apocalypse, it'd be tough—but now you have achievements to show."
"Achievements... ah!"
"Exactly. Borrow my power then. The queen contracted to the Dragon God—that narrative alone will stir hearts."
Unlike the failed usurper Protector, her legitimacy as direct heir aided persuasion.
"Slay humanity's foes, the monsters, with that contracted might. It's straight out of hero legend. In this land, King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone is iconic. Like that, the queen contracts the Dragon God to protect her people."
No eloquence or charm needed—just an apocalypse-resonant tale. Alicia already had the narrative; one miracle would unveil it.
"Next, spread this truth across Britain before lies dominate."
"Yes. With headlines and a national address, you can command true awe."
Unlike stigmatized cults, as supreme leader declaring a protective Dragon God contract, few would oppose.
"Yes! I'll do it! Just watch! You lolicon Protector bastard!"
The path forward was set.
That's all well and good, but why do I feel it'll thrive more abroad?
Bahamut sensed an ominous premonition.