177. Phoenix (1)
But during this expedition, although Alicia received full ceremonial honors as Queen of England from the European Union, she unfortunately could not participate directly in the battle itself.
"So many mages casting spells at once—it's certainly flashy. Power aside..."
"Indeed. Quite the spectacle."
"But I can't even fight. I want to level up."
At first, Alicia had planned to join the fray and rack up some decent experience points. As a latecomer in this apocalypse, she hadn't even reached level 10 yet, and hunting in her homeland of England for levels meant facing scrutiny from countless factions. So she had devised a plan: participate directly in this expedition, free from political interference back home, and boost her experience.
However...
"The Protector wouldn't allow it."
"That's the problem. He's useless in my life anyway."
Unfortunately, the European Union had the Protector, who had no desire to see Alicia gain more levels. And since that was his stance, the Saintess—bound by political alliance—openly ordered Alicia's exclusion from the expedition. From the Saintess's perspective, Alicia was the Protector's rival, and moreover, having contracted with a special entity herself, she greatly feared the being Alicia had contracted with: Bahamut.
Besides, there was ample justification to convince the public: for the safety of the young queen, she would be kept in the safest possible location during this expedition.
"Insidious ostracism."
"Can't deny that."
Indeed.
When she had faced Alicia, the woman who had confidently probed for weaknesses now seemed inwardly terrified of her, resorting to this petty exclusion.
But even with Bahamut's power, Alicia's political influence was minimal. If those two insisted, she had no choice but to comply. Resisting forcefully might backfire, drawing public suspicion, so she stayed put.
"Boring."
So what was left for Alicia to do on this expedition? Simply ride in the ceremonially provided vehicle, dangling idly, and watch low-level awakeners struggle in battle.
"Pathetic. Yeah, pathetic."
Of course, at first, observing foreign awakeners fight had sparked some anticipation in Alicia. But contrary to her expectations, the peacekeeping force's awakeners merely battled monsters desperately, showing none of the prowess she had hoped for. Her anticipation quickly turned to disappointment, leaving her tempted to lash out at the organizers and demand they let her join the fight.
"Why do I have to watch awakeners weaker than my Royal Guard?"
"...Don't you think the Royal Guard is exceptionally skilled?"
"I don't care! It's dull! No fun!"
Naturally, there was a vast gap between the Royal Guard, trained for combat even before the apocalypse, and the civilian awakeners who had joined the peacekeeping force. Sir Arthur reminded her of that, but Alicia brushed it off with an "I don't care," whining like a child that it was boring.
Anyone seeing this side of her might call her an ordinary teenage girl rather than a queen, but Sir Arthur felt like a wild Godzilla was throwing a tantrum from boredom. Her appearance, stripped of her title, was indeed that of a typical teen...
If the Dragon Priestess rampages like this, my walls will crumble...
The priestess who could summon the Dragon God Bahamut was acting this way, so Sir Arthur could no longer view her merely by her looks.
As Alicia lounged vulnerably, exposing such gaps, the Protector—who had been openly surveilling her vehicle—approached with a smug "serves you right" expression.
"Hahaha. Is it wise to be so defenseless? An assassin might target your neck, Your Majesty."
"Tch. Can't go a day without picking a fight, huh? Got a thorn in your mouth or something? Isn't that right, Lord Protector?"
Alicia straightened up as the Protector started needling her, sarcastically asking if he had time to spare...
"Assassin? Of course I'm scared. But if an assassin can even slice the hem of what I'm wearing, be my guest. Oh? The Protector's just a poor beggar without such treasures! Pathetic!"
...boasting that assassins held no fear for her. Flaunting her armor like a child showing off a toy, she displayed the mithril armor—forged from eternally unchanging metal—and teased that he didn't have one.
"...Certainly a national treasure, that armor."
"Jealous? Are you? Don't stare so hard. You'll end up looking tacky like your clothes."
The Protector glared irritably, unable to deny the armor's invulnerability. Facts were facts, but Alicia wielded them like fact-violence, earning his resentful gaze. Yet she ignored it, taunting him like a ten-year-old, claiming he started it.
In truth, being an early teen herself, her behavior fit her age—but as queen, such open mockery soured the Protector's expression.
"Lucky bastard."
"Luck counts as skill, right? If anything, you're the lucky one. Pathetic."
Thus, the Protector's retort was merely calling her lucky, and Alicia countered that luck was skill, mocking that he was the truly fortunate one.
"Without the apocalypse, you'd have been arrested as a delusional traitor by now."
After all, the Protector could even dream of usurping the throne only because of the apocalypse's chaos. Without it, he'd have been seized by the Royal Guard for treasonous delusions.
"Infuriating. A puppet queen with the vessel of an emperor."
"Bragging about yourself? Regretting it now?"
The Protector openly lamented, never expecting such defiance from what he thought was a puppet. To think she possessed an emperor's caliber, thwarting him like this! Alicia first teased it as self-praise, then prodded if he regretted it...
"No regrets. The throne is a man's instinct. Knowing this, I should have killed you back then, damn the backlash."
"Wow. You say it so shamelessly. Knew it. Our Protector's still a son of a bitch!"
...but the Protector admitted no regrets, even regretting not killing her sooner. Alicia's face cooled in disgust, unsurprised, merely sighing. Knowing his nature, she held no expectations; his open treason didn't shock her. It merely reaffirmed that one of them had to die.
"You know it too, Your Majesty. One of us must fall. I merely spoke frankly."
"That one of us must fall... is that all the barbaric thinking you've got? You're officially my subject. If you'd just acted loyally, we both could have been fine."
The Protector declared one must die, vowing to kill Alicia. She lamented the needless bloodlust—after all, as her official subject, faking loyalty would make purging him difficult. Past deeds could be excused as apocalypse necessities.
"Then I couldn't claim the throne."
"Ah. Right. You really want to be king."
Yet even that path he rejected. His eyes fixed only on the throne and crown Alicia occupied.
"God, I want to assassinate you right here."
"Think you can?"
"Whether I can, I don't know. But my Dragon God certainly could."
Wanting to end the bloodshed early, Alicia boldly told the would-be target she wanted to assassinate him. He sneered openly, but blanched at Bahamut's name. Alicia alone might fail, but Bahamut could manage easily. Infamy? A queen's order and loyal coup would silence dissenters swiftly. With the Protector gone, she could crush his faction and forge a dictatorship for herself.
"Terrifying indeed. But..."
So all the Protector could do was issue a warning to Bahamut, watching this scene.
"Your side's starting too, it seems."
"Starting? Is the Saintess telling the truth?"
Having delivered that, the Protector departed. At that moment, as a monster horde blocked the European Union's forces...
"Come forth, my divine beast! For my kin, reveal your glory here!"
With the Orleans Saintess's resounding declaration, flames gathered in the sky toward one point, soon forming a shape. The blue heavens turned red, and amid immense light and heat emerged... a beautiful bird wreathed in fire.
"A Phoenix..?"
"Seems like a Phoenix."
Phoenix
The being called Phoenix—or immortal bird—drew the name naturally from beholders. Forming from gathered flames, it cried powerfully and dove toward the ground. In a daring arc of flight, scattering feathers to the earth, the Saintess showcased her authority with showmanship for the crowd.
"Go. Burn all to ash. Divine beast Phoenix."
At her command, the fire-feathered plumes scattered across the battlefield exploded. Monsters engulfed in the blasts turned to ash instantly, while the awakeners remaining there...
"What? My wounds are healing."
"Incredible!"
...received not harm, but healing power. Awakeners on the field cheered the Phoenix's glory, which brought death to monsters and restoration to them.
Monsters: Instant incineration to ash.
Awakeners: Powerful healing effect.
Those flames carry potent healing too.
"Yes. Impressive."
Bahamut and Alicia watched, understanding why the Orleans Saintess had been so confident.
That said, this method... feels familiar.
"Lord Bahamut?"
No. Just a hunch...
The issue was that this method felt exactly like one Bahamut had seen before. Yes...
It blatantly mimicked Bahamut's past tactics. That approach was how Bahamut had earned trust with Yu-na—now restrained, but once used to claim Gyeongju and Pohang.
Perhaps... just perhaps. Could that Phoenix be like me?
Thus, Bahamut couldn't help suspecting the battlefield's Phoenix might be akin to itself.