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Right after Bahamut returned to the Balhut Cult, Alicia tried to break free from her puppet queen status and carve out her own path, just as he had advised... but.
"In the end, nothing's changed!"
Far from making progress, she still had no clue what to do.
Truth be told, even as queen of a nation, she was little more than a figurehead in the current situation—no real power at all—so there wasn't much Alicia could do anyway.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
I see.
Far from reestablishing her dignity, the Protector and the cabinet acted as if the queen didn't exist—no one even visited her. Well, except for that one guy who dropped by every day, the Marshal.
"Your Majesty. I'll be stepping out for a bit."
"A friend?"
"No, he's here as a guest today. I'll have a quick chat with him."
"...Alright. Go ahead."
Of course, even Mary, who always attended her, wasn't constantly by her side.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
She's being watched, then.
"The international organization's wrapped up. This must be them resuming the surveillance that was paused for a bit."
Silence... or rather, silence for Alicia alone. There was no way the Protector saw his puppet queen that way.
He was just monitoring whether she acted against his will, and his subordinates visited the annex where she stayed without fail every single day.
Once the international organization wrapped up—the supposed opportunity—the Protector's surveillance grew even more intense. What could Alicia possibly do?
All she could do was obediently study in her room and pass the days. But since that day, one thing had changed.
"But... is this really okay...? What I'm saying. It won't leak to them, right?"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
It's a method even America's elite agents couldn't detect, so rest easy.
"Th-that's a relief!"
She now had the Mirror of Farsight from Bahamut, allowing her to contact him secretly at the Balhut Cult without the Protector knowing. And she could discuss ways to break through this impasse with him.
Of course, there was a risk his agents might discover she was communicating with Bahamut, which worried her—but he assured her it was undetectable, even by America's elites.
Alicia wanted to complain—not quite a complaint—that he should take human form when talking to her, seeing him smile cutely in dragon shape. But...
'He's lending me armor that saved my life from an assassin's attack and giving me wisdom. I can't complain about trivial things.'
Still, Bahamut handled the aftermath perfectly. The armor he'd loaned her on departure? One of his American agents said it was a national treasure-level item in this apocalypse.
And now, he was advising her through the Mirror of Farsight. No room for complaints, even if she had any—he'd provided what she needed most right now.
'Yeah, but honestly, I wish he'd do more!? Like blasting the Protector with a dragon breath—how great would that be!'
She did harbor a wish that her Dragon God would just torch that obnoxious Protector's face.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Anything happen after I left?
"The Protector's obnoxious face got even more obnoxious! He boldly declared himself the star of this international organization reconstruction conference!"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Hm. Full of himself, as expected. I knew it.
That's why she needed to borrow Bahamut's wisdom more than ever to overcome this.
Alicia immediately reported the Protector's obnoxious deeds. At the cabinet meeting—even with the queen present—he shamelessly claimed all the credit for the conference's success to impress the public.
His brazenness was infuriating. He declared with swagger that he'd piled up such massive achievements—who dared judge him? The queen and cabinet ministers watched gravely, but no one praised or marveled. Only his lackeys cheered.
Everyone knew it benefited him personally, not Britain.
"Isn't there anything we can do? I don't want to see that obnoxious face anymore!"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Did you look into what I mentioned?
"I asked Mary to. I'm looking for ways to build achievements."
Realizing he'd spend the next month bragging about the conference, the queen sighed and asked Bahamut for a solution. He asked if she'd completed his request, and she said she'd tasked Mary.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
That maid, eh?
"Yes. Mary will definitely find something."
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
You trust her, I see.
"Of course."
Truth be told, Mary was the only one Alicia could trust in this palace. If asked if there was anyone else... she'd boldly say no.
"Your Majesty. I'm back."
"Mary!"
"Just as Your Majesty said. I've found an achievement no one can deny."
Soon after, the maid returned from her guest, bearing glad tidings. An undeniable achievement—one that would showcase the queen's presence to the Protector, the public, and the cabinet.
Bahamut had said she'd need proof to borrow his power, so Alicia looked at her expectantly.
"What is it?"
"Well..."
"Tell me quick!"
The issue was the maid hesitating briefly. Was it okay to say this? Alicia urged her on.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Looks tricky. Perfect.
Bahamut sensed it was a problem neither the Protector nor the cabinet could solve—and grew excited. The harder it was, the more it would boost Alicia's prestige... and his own reputation as her contractor abroad.
"It's that monster the Protector couldn't subdue."
"Eh? Th-that monster the Protector couldn't beat? Such a beast exists in this country?"
A monster the Protector failed to subdue. Alicia recoiled in shock, questioning if a monster even that beastly Protector couldn't defeat lurked here.
She hated to admit it, but he was Britain's strongest Awakener. He wielded power even after the failed palace coup, crushing opposition. A monster he couldn't subdue? Could she really handle it?
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Not bad at all?
For Alicia alone, certain defeat. Undeniable. But she was the Dragon God's contractor. Like Yu-na summoning Bahamut in her darkest hour for victory, Alicia could do the same to conquer the toughest obstacle.
Thus, the fact that even the Protector failed made it promising, in Bahamut's view.
"Yes. More precisely, he charged in arrogantly and got miserably defeated. Back then, he wasn't a Superhuman yet. Not sure about now."
"Same difference! He still couldn't subdue it! What the hell? That's scary, I don't even know it!"
But Alicia was terrified before the fight even began. He was Britain's strongest; she couldn't imagine beating what he couldn't.
She worried she'd suffer a humiliating defeat and flee.
"If even the Protector couldn't... how could I...?"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
You can. You won't be the one fighting.
Bahamut interjected there. She wouldn't fight—but.
"G-getting there... my heart can't take it!"
Alicia huddled, shrinking in exaggerated fear. Sure, summoning Dragon God Bahamut would win it, but reaching that point? Problematic. So maybe skip this one—
"I'll assemble the Guard. If the Awakened Queen declares she'll subdue the monster for her citizens, plenty will rally."
"Mary!?"
But her loyal maid wasn't on her side this time! Mary insisted on seizing the chance, rallying the Guard under the banner of the queen saving Britain herself.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Feasible?
"Yes. Protecting the queen and saving citizens—that's the Guard's role."
Mary believed the cause alone—queen saving citizens—would draw more than enough. Convincing, appealing, honorable. Soldiers guarding the nation would answer.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
With a loyal Guard escort, it should be easy.
"N-no. For my first fight, shouldn't it be goblins...? I'm level 1! One!"
Even with Guard help, Alicia was level 1. She wanted goblins for her debut—but.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
No—aim high for your debut.
"I have to catch it myself!?"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Isn't the Guard with you?
Bahamut insisted firmly—aim high. Alicia panicked at having to go herself, but he brushed it off with the Guard.
"The Guard will really protect me? For sure?"
"Yes. For Your Majesty, we'll give our all. Probably."
Alicia anxiously asked Mary if they'd truly protect her, but even Mary couldn't guarantee it.
Pre-apocalypse, they'd die for her. But now? Loyalty uncertain.
If truly loyal, they'd have resisted the Protector's temptations and guarded her quietly—but some had fallen.
"You didn't need that 'probably'!"
Alicia clutched her head, lamenting Mary's nuanced reply.
"No way. It's over! Someone like me can't beat the Protector."
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Get a grip, Alicia. The fight hasn't started.
"But!"
She despaired prematurely, ready to quit—but Bahamut soothed her.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
You haven't tasted my full power yet. Why not look forward to it? The might of a Dragon God. And...
He urged her to anticipate his power.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
...you already have the strength to fight.
"I can fight? Me? Level 1 me has fighting strength? What joke is that."
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Yes—you.
Bahamut declared she had fighting strength. She trusted his power but doubted her own direct involvement.
Bahamut smiled wryly and asked the maid beside her.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Come to think of it, you're an Awakener too, miss?
"Yes. I Awakened right as the apocalypse began. Level 16."
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Higher than expected. Executive level by our standards.
A proper Awakener, close to level 20 and Superhuman territory with a bit more leveling. Bahamut noted her surprisingly high level—even mid-teens were elite soldiers or executives in the Balhut Cult. A capable fighter now.
Thus, his example would land well. He spoke.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Then, tell her your stats.
"Uh, yeah. So, Strength 18. Vitality 19, Agility 24. Wisdom 22, Magic 112. Luck 152?"
⚔ STATUS ⚔
⚡ Strength: 18
💨 Agility: 24
❤️ Vitality: 19
🧠 Wisdom: 22
✨ Magic: 112
🎲 Luck: 152
"...Y-Your Majesty, if I may—by total stats, you're stronger than me."
"Eh? No way? I'm stronger than you, Mary?"
Mary looked stunned but honestly confirmed the queen outclassed her.
Yes—she did. The Dragon Priestess who Awakened as such had reached heights no ordinary sub-level-20 Awakener could match.
Melee stats lacking, but Magic—vital for mages—defied imagination. Based on that, she'd unleash devastating power.
"Normals average 10 across stats. At level 1, Your Majesty's already near level 30, past 20."
Mary explained her total exceeded level 20.
"Eh? So I'm a Superhuman? Like the Protector?"
"Yes. Even excluding the unnecessary Luck for combat, you're a mage right before level 20. I don't know his current stats, but you're among Britain's top Awakeners. If you level up from here... you might surpass him."
Level to 20, and she might eclipse the Protector. Leveling slows post-10, but grinding to 10 was doable.
"B-but how do I fight...?"
The issue: fighting method. Low melee stats, sky-high Magic. No spells acquired? Useless potential.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
There are ways to fight. Your style is magic-based. Yu-na learned elemental magic at contracting. Seol-hwa holy magic. What did you get?
"E-elemental magic... holy magic too. And summoning."
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Like Seol-hwa. You had mage talent originally.
"R-really? I had talent!"
Likely mage affinity; she gained elemental on Awakening, plus holy and Bahamut-summoning forbidden art from the contract. Means to fight: ready.
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Then just blast enemies with magic. Under loyal Guard protection.
"I still have to fight directly!"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Isn't that enough?
Bahamut advised Guard protection made it feasible, but Alicia pouted—it wasn't easy.
"It's scary!"
✧ Mirror of Farsight ✧
Ah. Sorry.
True—it was harsh for a 10-year-old.