289. Song of the White Wolf (2)
289. Song of the White Wolf (2)
- 1 -
Deolkeok!
The capital of Hilsa, Zehir.
The sound resounded as the great iron gates of the royal palace swung open.
"Long live the White General!!"
"Thank you! For saving Hilsa from crisis!"
Cheers blanketed the sky.
Beneath the sunlight, the figure of a woman seated atop a giant wolf was revealed.
Her white hair, cascading down to her waist, fluttered in the wind.
Below it, crimson eyes gazed calmly forward.
It was Lin Xue.
"Kyaaaa—!!!"
"She looked this way!"
Toward the crowd gathered before the palace, cheering, Shue raised a single hand.
The gesture was exceedingly graceful. Perhaps because it was an action she had come to perform often of late.
'Troublesome...'
Discontent simmered within her, but it did not show on her face in the slightest.
"The three knights!"
"They don't look like monsters at all from the outside...?"
Behind her, three adjutants accompanied her.
The red-haired bear beastman, Barto, his beast ears modestly covered.
The death knight, Ethel, her body fully concealed by armor.
The human, Simon, the only one who could reveal his face, yet wore a mask to conceal it for the sake of his comrades.
"General White has arrived!!"
- Waaaaah!
As Shue and the monster army crossed through the palace gates while the adjutants and the others remained behind, Shue entered the great hall.
The nobles already gathered there erupted in cheers.
Not a single murmur was heard.
Among them were those who had believed they could overcome this crisis on their own, but in any case, it was proper to acquiesce to the atmosphere here for now.
"You have perfectly suppressed all provocations from the Norn Empire! I can only express my deepest gratitude for the General's efforts."
King Martinell II of Hilsa personally approached her, gripping her shoulders with both hands and praising her.
It was an attitude so radically altered that it was difficult to believe he was once someone who maintained a critical stance toward her.
After Shue had subjugated several dungeons 'hiding' near the capital and rooted out spies from the Norn Empire who had infiltrated the vicinity,
and with the Grakheizen Alliance having been publicly declared, he had no choice but to change his position.
He seemed to feel this was a situation where he had to draw her to his side, not hate her.
"...Thank you. General."
Behind him, Queen Eliza, clad in a crimson dress, approached.
Outwardly, she wore a bright smile, but a cold, calculating light lingered in her eyes.
'A nationalist.'
The fact conveyed by Master's information source surfaced in her mind.
There was no need to meet her eyes. She turned her gaze back to the King.
"I am grateful for Your Majesty's hospitality."
Shue merely bowed her head respectfully. It was a polite demeanor she rarely displayed even before her Master.
Of course, the comfortable attitude she took with her Master was something filled with long years and memories shared with her.
She also knew how to show a sensible side to others.
Though, of course, even that was a gift from her Master.
'When can I leave...'
Of course, inwardly, her heart was filled only with the desire to quickly shake off this place and depart.
Her nature did not enjoy such formal hospitality from nobles.
Tracking prey and savoring its blood-red frenzy was her instinct. And devoting everything to her Master was her reason.
The only thing that could leash her was the commands and requests of her sole Master, Libertas.
"General. I wish to bestow a special reward. Anything. Speak of whatever you desire."
At the King's words, the nobles in the great hall held their breath.
The gazes directed at the foreign general receiving the favor of the King of Hilsa were a mixture of envy and jealousy.
"As a member of the Grakheizen Alliance, I merely provided aid to a fellow ally. I must respectfully decline."
"Hahaha! There is no need for such modesty. For this is also a matter of the royal family's honor!"
Only then did Shue nod slowly, and she opened her mouth, careful to appear cautious.
Slowly, calmly, to a degree that made her usual self unimaginable.
"Since Your Majesty speaks so, I shall offer a proposal."
"A proposal, not a reward? Speak."
The crimson in Shue's eyes deepened. As if steeped in sorrow.
"I wish to create a garden honoring the heroes of Hilsa..."
Her voice, too, trembled slightly. It was an act so superb that anyone who knew the truth would applaud.
"In commemoration of the soldiers who gave their lives in this war, and the civilians who were sacrificed."
"Your will is truly noble..."
As the King's expression became one of deep emotion at the proposal, Shue drew a small flower from within her cloak.
A black chrysanthemum.
Its roots were preserved within a sphere of blue mana.
"Marvelous. This is..."
"It is the black flower, the symbol of the Grakheizen Alliance, combined with the chrysanthemum of Hilsa. I wish to plant this flower as a symbol of our alliance's solidarity."
The King sank into thought for a moment, then nodded.
'Easy.'
Along with the fleeting thought, Shue offered a small smile.
It was the brightest smile she could show to someone who was not Libertas—someone who merely aided her in carrying out orders.
"A fine idea. I shall open part of the palace's outer ward and construct a garden there. Furnish it as the General wishes."
"I shall begin immediately. With my subordinates."
"Of course, that is fine. But truly, will this alone suffice?"
Shue pondered for a moment, then nodded and answered.
"Please arrange a banquet for my subordinates. That, in addition, will be enough."
"Such... something so natural..."
The King wore a bewildered expression.
Only then did he realize that Shue truly desired nothing from Hilsa.
But this was unavoidable.
For to Shue, anything other than what her Master gave held no value.
Yet, she hid such inner thoughts, merely bowing her head as if in humility.
"How can she be so unpretentious."
"Is she truly a noble?"
Though voices of admiration from some nobles could be heard behind her, she betrayed not a single hint.
"Yes. What say you, Queen, to joining this plan as well?"
At the King's remark, made as if the thought had just occurred to him, Shue inwardly concealed a troubled heart, but Eliza's face brightened.
She had finally become captivated by the desireless demeanor shown by the general before her.
For what Shue had acted out was a noble value surpassing nationalism or personal inclination.
"I shall gladly assist. Your Majesty."
Eliza answered with a gentle smile.
The eyes of the two met.
Knowing she could not refuse, Shue bowed her head and answered in silence.
"Then, let the banquet commence!"
With the King's declaration, the banquet unfolding in the great hall came to life.
The nobles raised their glasses in toast, and Shue mingled among them with formal courtesy.
But within her heart, another emotion seethed.
'...It's bothersome beyond compare... If I slit the throats of about three nobles here, would this racket quiet down a little...?'
She wanted to return to Libertas's side as soon as possible.
More than this pretentious smile and awkward hospitality, she longed for the comfort felt in her Master's embrace.
But the 'White General', the 'Red Snow Maiden', endured and waited.
For the final step to completely dominate Hilsa still remained.
"This is the place, General. A message came from His Majesty that you may use this place freely."
"Thank you."
The next day, Shue had come to plant the chrysanthemums with her subordinates, aided by the royal gardeners.
"It is an honor to be with the General."
"The honor is mine."
Naturally, Eliza was at her side.
Looking at her, Shue recalled her objective.
'The queen's demeanor yesterday.'
While Eliza showed a sufficiently gentle demeanor toward Shue herself, the people of Hilsa, like Eliza, had strong nationalistic and chauvinistic tendencies.
This was because the state had actively spread such a spirit for over a hundred years to contend with the great empire of Norn.
If not for Shue's own achievements, such hospitality toward monsters, let alone people of other nations, would never have existed.
And what was softening that spirit was the 'fragrance' of the flower she had brought.
"This black chrysanthemum grows quickly and emits a gentle fragrance. The scent calms the mind, and when brewed into tea, it stabilizes the heart and spirit."
As Shue explained to Eliza, she nodded with interest.
"A flower fitting for an era of harmony."
"Indeed. Your Majesty."
Of course, someday she would play an active enough role that the fusion of humans and monsters might be achieved here, but this was to hasten it further.
The mourning for the fallen soldiers would set their hearts a little more at ease.
Shue carefully placed her hand over the planted seed.
Her fingertips glowed red, and mana was transmitted from her fingertips to the seed.
'Grow well... and dye this nation in Master's colors.'
Unknowingly, a sincere smile spread across her lips.
A pretty arc blooming brightly at the corners of her mouth, wholly different from the one she wore on the battlefield, made her appear not a cruel general but an ordinary woman.
Her subordinates, the gardeners, and the Queen all watched her figure with bated breath.
- 2 -
Atrium, the capital of the Orbis Duchy.
Having come to a private room here to avoid the commotion caused by the dungeon relocation work, I was looking at a map where black flowers had bloomed.
Hysen's narcissus, Kiza's asphodel, Hilsa's chrysanthemum, Leophere's rose, Orbis's lily.
Five kinds of flowers had already bloomed within Grakheizen, and beyond it, toward other nations, each respective flower was being prepared.
Multiple plans were interlocking and in motion. Somewhat hastily.
'It's enough. Let's not be impatient.'
I did not know when the someone watching me from beyond would come.
Whether they were enemy or ally, I did not know... but one thing was certain.
'Demon King.'
It was clear that it was some entity possessing a rank comparable to that.
Nevertheless, rushing forward will not make things that aren't meant to be, happen. So...
"Hoo..."
Looking at the five kinds of black flowers blooming in one corner of my desk, I took a moment to empty my thoughts.
How much time passed like that?
Tok-tok.
The sound of someone knocking was heard.
"Come in."
The woman who opened the door and entered was Shue.
Wearing the white officer's uniform she always wore before me, she immediately knelt and bowed her head.
It was a demeanor in which loyalty and affection could be felt simultaneously.
"Master. I have returned..."
At the affection lacing her voice, I instinctively reached out my hand toward her.
"Rise. You have worked hard."
Shue rubbed her face against that hand and smiled a happy smile. Like a wild beast seeking affection from its master.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No. I crushed the Norn Empire's army, gave cores to the monsters to make dungeons too, and planted flowers across the region."
Her voice was full of pride.
The satisfaction of having perfectly carried out a mission for her Master.
"You did well."
I gently stroked her white hair.
My hand, which had taken countless lives. Now it was softly combing through her hair, as if stroking a cat's fur.
'False dungeons.'
My thoughts turned elsewhere for a moment.
The things created by giving dungeon cores to monsters in hiding, turning them into dungeons.
This, too, was part of the Eclipse Plan.
[Truly... are you giving us a way to take revenge upon the humans? Lady?]
[To give us such an opportunity... I cannot believe it. I truly cannot believe it...]
The royal palaces of Hysen and Kiza held many cores they had collected over time.
And there were many monsters in seclusion in this world.
And among them were not a few who harbored an irresolvable hatred toward humans.
What I had done was merely provide a method and direction for that hatred.
[You shall become greater.]
[We... will have our revenge...!]
Among the monsters who became Dungeon Lords in this way, some remained in hiding, and others foolishly rampaged.
But all of it was part of my plan.
For those who remained hidden would become sacrifices for my future Ultimate.
And those who rampaged would mask the signs of my Ultimate.
For this, I was scattering dungeon cores and giving power to many monsters.
Shue was the one acting as my proxy in that task in the Hilsa region.
"Master..."
"Come here. You were away for a long time. We only saw each other occasionally. You endured well."
Shue approached me and buried her face in the nape of my neck.
Stroking that soft hair, I smiled a satisfied smile.
Along with the sensation of her hands burrowing into my waist, I was gradually feeling my breathing grow warmer.
Anticipating the time with her, and the future to come.