Princess of the Fallen Kingdom (1)
It was 4 a.m.
Yeon Je-seong, who had been sleeping quietly, suddenly opened his eyes.
"……."
Following the alarm ringing in his head, he sat up and gazed out the window beyond the curtains.
'…….'
Something was there.
As he slowly dressed, Yeon Je-seong thought to himself.
'Something's gone down.'
The restless air hanging in the atmosphere.
Sensing the knights' movements with his sharp intuition, Yeon Je-seong lowered his gaze toward the outside.
"Hmm."
Since no one from Rischel had come to wake him, it seemed like he could ignore it, but his instincts were sending warnings too strong to brush off.
"Tch!"
In the end, he threw on his overcoat, got up, opened the door, and stepped out.
Passing through the silent corridor and exiting the lodgings, he headed straight for the inner castle where Aser would be.
"Halt!"
But perhaps moving alone looked too suspicious.
As he made his way to the inner castle, a sharp shout stopped him in his tracks.
Turning his gaze toward the source, he saw knights who had been bustling about now eyeing him warily.
"State your identity!"
Was it because of the darkness around them?
He could feel thick suspicion from the knights mistaking him for some shady figure.
"It's Mugyok. What's going on?"
"You are... ah!"
Immediately igniting his aura to light up the surroundings, he took a step forward toward the knights and spoke.
"I woke up sensing the commotion while sleeping."
"W-We apologize for disturbing you. We're handling the disturbance right now, so please don't worry, Mugyok......"
"...Is that so? But it feels like something serious is happening."
"Th-That is......"
The knight, who had spoken in a heavy tone laced with warning, realized who he was facing and bowed in surprise.
At the knight's reaction, as he was about to press for details on the commotion, he shifted his gaze beyond them to a presence nearby.
"It's a demon raid, Mugyok."
At the same time, a knight pushed through the others and revealed herself.
"Gawain."
"Good morning, Mugyok. Though I can't exactly call it a good one."
It was still close to dawn, so that phrasing didn't quite fit anyway.
But from her expression, it didn't seem like she meant it that way.
"I was just on my way to you. Follow me."
"Sure."
"You've done well. Continue your duties as before."
"Y-Yes...!"
Gawain ordered the knights to resume their tasks and headed toward the inner castle, following the lights installed throughout.
"Demons have raided."
Starting off like that, Gawain led the way using the lights as beacons.
"...Demons?"
"Yes. At least a high-ranking executive-level demon is attacking the defensive barrier Avalon."
"Avalon......"
"According to the fairy who brought word here to Camelot, Avalon's defense and repair systems are already half-destroyed, and the fairies are barely holding the crumbling barrier together."
Gawain continued her calm explanation, stroking the sword at her waist with a grim expression.
"As you know, Mugyok, Avalon is Rischel's greatest shield—an impregnable fortress."
"Mm."
"The fairies' supreme magic formation that has repelled countless demons and powerful magic beasts until now. That's Avalon. For it to fall so easily means the enemy is no ordinary foe."
"Which means......"
"Yes. Those filthy demons must have used some method we never anticipated to neutralize Avalon."
Yeon Je-seong let out a low groan at Gawain's words.
Rischel's pride, Avalon, had been breached—far more serious than he thought.
"Avalon isn't the kind of barrier that breaks so easily."
"Exactly. Avalon has absolute resistance to demonic energy. Breaking it by force would require all Four Heavenly Kings at least."
Avalon was a barrier with anti-demon power pushed to the extreme.
Thanks to that, not only demons wielding demonic energy but even magic beasts born from its influence found it nearly impossible to cross.
'Yet that Avalon has fallen.'
He didn't know the reason.
They said the barrier system broke at the same time as the demon attack, so at first glance, it might seem like the demon assault damaged it.
But Avalon, with its super-effectiveness against demons, wouldn't take damage from a mere ambush.
And not just minor damage, but enough to cripple the defense and repair systems? Unbelievable.
The most plausible explanation was...
"...Internal sabotage?"
It was more convincing that someone inside had dismantled the barrier from within than demons breaking it by brute force.
But this hypothesis had a major flaw.
Would anyone in Rischel be insane enough to touch Avalon?
No fairy living on this island was ignorant of Avalon's value.
They put immense care into maintaining and repairing it, and any suspicious activity would be swiftly stopped by the personnel stationed there.
'Then there's only one possibility left.'
Reaching the same conclusion, Gawain spoke up.
"The Death Devil has made her move."
"It seems the Death Devil has appeared."
They exchanged glances, and Gawain cleared her throat before continuing.
"I heard she appeared out of nowhere in Lucidus too."
"Yeah, without any warning."
He still didn't know how she ignored distance, but if that method could bypass even the barrier and enter Rischel...
'She could neutralize it from the inside.'
It was a hypothesis with extremely low feasibility, but far more credible than demons smashing through by force.
The Round Table chamber where Gawain and I arrived was already filled with many knights holding a meeting.
"Your Majesty! We must lead the knights and march out immediately!"
"I'll take the vanguard! Just give the order!"
"Even now, Avalon is being brutally destroyed by those bastards!"
Watching the heated meeting, I spotted Tatiana off to one side and headed straight there.
"You're here too."
"Ah, President."
She said she'd followed the knights who woke her, then gripped her hands tightly, tense as she watched the intense proceedings.
"Did the knights wake you too, President?"
"No, I sensed the unrest and woke up. Ran into Gawain on my way out and came together."
"I see."
"How's the meeting going?"
"They're planning to dispatch knight orders centered on the Round Table."
"To defend the barrier."
"Yes. No word of it falling yet, so it's still holding."
That's why the Round Table members are raising their voices to march out quickly.
Finishing her explanation, Tatiana gazed at the meeting with heavy eyes.
"We must march out as soon as possible and join them!"
"Exactly! With Avalon on the verge of collapse, we need to send reinforcements now!"
As the knights strongly advocated for dispatch, Aser slowly opened her closed eyes and spoke.
"I understand your opinions. With Avalon under demon assault, there's no reason to hesitate on marching."
"Then...!"
"Bedivere, Percival, and Lancelot. I entrust each of you with 10,000 troops. Assemble your forces immediately and head to the barrier."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"We shall obey."
"As you command...!"
As the three knights shot up from their seats at the orders, Aser turned her gaze to Merlin.
"And Merlin."
"Y-Yes! Your Majesty."
"Is long-range warp possible?"
"It'll take a little time, but yes, it's possible."
"W-Wait, surely not...!"
Right after, Gawain, catching on to Aser's intent, jumped to her feet.
"Please wait, Your Majesty!"
"What is it, Gawain?"
"As far as I know, long-range warp is a high-difficulty spell that consumes massive mana. It requires great skill and can't handle many people. Using it on a dangerous battlefield is...!"
"No objections. This is the surest way."
"Your Majesty...!"
"And time is of the essence. By the time 30,000 troops arrive, it'll be too late."
30,000 troops—no small number.
Assembling them alone would take considerable time.
By then, Avalon would surely collapse.
"So those forces are for cleanup afterward."
Saying that, Aser slowly rose.
Her silver hair like spun thread swayed gently with her movement.
She touched the sword at her waist and looked at Merlin.
"Merlin, how many can join a long-range warp?"
"E-Even at max capacity, 10 is the limit."
"Perfect."
Aser looked around the Round Table with satisfaction, nodding with a smile.
The knights, realizing her plan, stared in shock.
"W-Wait, Your Majesty! Surely you're not thinking of going yourself?"
Starting with Kay's casual tone.
"You are all of Rischel. We cannot approve you going personally."
Agravain's stiff manner.
"It's exactly 10, including Merlin. The rest of the Round Table steps up."
Tristan's relaxed suggestion.
"Still short two. Pick skilled knights for the rest......"
And even Mordred, recalling knight names.
All opposing Aser's march, she spoke firmly.
"This unprecedented crisis with Avalon attacked is Rischel's peril. I cannot stay behind."
"But...!"
"And for a small warp team, sending elites is most efficient."
The strongest here are me, after all.
Continuing, Aser drew her waist sword sheath and slammed it down.
In case you're wondering.
"Is there a knight here stronger than me?"
"……."
"Then I'll go myself. No objections— that's final."
As a stunned atmosphere filled the chamber, only Aser calmly raised her gaze and met mine.
"And Sir Mugyok."
"...Speak."
"Will you join us?"
At her words, the knights who'd avoided looking my way widened their eyes.
"I fully understand the danger. But as a monarch, I ask this."
She bowed her head politely, then looked straight at me.
"Understood."
"...Really?"
"I was dispatched to counter demon raids anyway. If they've truly attacked, it's right for me to step up."
Not knowing the demon's level, including me maximizes safety.
That's why she's asking.
'Though she's being unusually humble for that.'
She's always been like this, so no need to overthink.
Aser's eyes sparkled briefly at my words.
"I deeply thank your dedication. Then......"
"Wait...!"
As Aser tried to wrap up, she turned to Tatiana beside me at the sudden cry.
"...What's wrong?"
"Me too—I'll go too!"
"……."
Hesitation flickered in Aser's eyes at Tatiana's words.
"Hmm......"
"Don't think of it as repaying a debt. I'm here today not as Hero Tatiana, but as an individual."
Her eyes burning with deep fury met Aser's, and only then did Aser grasp her resolve.
'I see, so that's it......'
Hand to her mouth in thought, she finally nodded at Tatiana's desperate plea.
"Very well. Your skills rival the Round Table's."
I'd heard Tatiana's name before.
A top-tier hero in the 50s of the hero rankings, part of the golden generation.
A spirit mage wielding great spirits, no less.
But the bigger reason her name rang out—
The now-extinct Crim Kingdom.
Its last princess was her.
Tatiana Gustayevna Crim.