392. Dawn (1)
392. Dawn (1)
- 1 -
Only four days had passed since the cheers of the Taemyeong Festival had shaken the central part of the Eastern Continent.
It had been a very short time.
But the wave of change that had begun in the Grakheizen Alliance was already swallowing the entire continent.
"Grand Priestess, thank you! Truly... truly, thank you!"
The morning at the Grand Temple, capital of the Alliance, had begun with dazzling sunlight.
Amid an unending procession of pilgrims, a man cried out in a voice choked with emotion.
"It is a miracle."
A black robe engraved with the sun, and a gentle smile.
The one standing before him was Esther.
It was after the warm holy power that flowed from her fingertips had restored his face, twisted by a curse, to its original state.
She gently shook her head and urged him.
"But from now on, please be sure to visit the nearest temple quickly. You didn't have to come all this way in hardship; the Sun's grace, which seeks to help the people, is with you everywhere."
"Hahaha! That's true, but still, haven't I received the glory of the Grand Priestess's touch directly like this!"
At the man's relaxed jest, warm laughter burst out from those around him as well.
"Thank you, Saintess!"
"Stay strong, Grand Priestess! Do not forgive those treacherous Celestial Church bastards!"
Esther, who had once been the Saintess of the Celestial Church, was now establishing herself as the 'Grand Priestess' and 'Saintess' of the Sun Church, which no one could deny.
This change was not limited to Esther alone.
All across the Alliance, the old cathedrals of the Celestial Church were being torn down, and in their place, gigantic temples symbolizing the authority and glory of the Sun rose tall.
People no longer recited the doctrines of the Celestial Church.
"May our own selves never collapse."
"May we become people who can extend a helping hand to others."
"Above all, may we not become 'a self that is not me'."
And at the center of that change was Philia 'sen' Elscope, the one who planned and guided everything—Libertas.
- 2 -
While the religious reformation was rapidly taking place, secular power was also being reorganized.
The voice of Queen Yurena, seated on the throne of Hylash, echoed majestically.
"We bestow upon the Sun Cult Leader, Lady Philia Elskopf, the title of Archduke of Hylash."
Archduke of Hylash.
A title normally reserved only for a monarch's parent who did not ascend to the throne, the highest rank.
Now, that title had been 'bestowed.'
And to Philia Elskopf, who already held a religious office in the Sun Church.
Simultaneous possession of a holy office and a high noble title.
This was an unprecedented exception, permitted only to the legendary 'heroes' of old before the peerage system was even established.
Yet even in that era, cases where the archducal title, normally reserved for royalty, was additionally granted could be counted on one hand.
"I am grateful."
Libertas smiled peacefully from below the throne.
It was far too relaxed an attitude to take before a monarch of a nation.
Yet no one protested.
On the faces of the nobles and royalty lined up in the hall, only awe and a hint of fear lingered.
"To the Cult Leader, Lady Philia sen Elscope, we bestow the title of Archduke of Clarent."
"For our part, Leophere shall grant the Marquisate of Ironfield to the Archduke of the Alliance."
The proclamation in Hysen was only the beginning.
In Orbis, the rank of Archduke.
In Kiza and Hilsa, the rank of Duke.
In Leophere and Aririt, the rank of Marquis.
All six kingdoms of the Alliance, one by one, dedicated high titles to her.
With this, Libertas came to possess the highest noble rank just below the monarch in all six nations that comprised the Alliance.
And each one was a title with symbolic prestige.
Nominally in a position beneath them, yet practically reigning above all kings.
And encompassing both religion and politics as well.
It was the birth of a being who transcended nations.
- 3 -
The changes of the Alliance were also deeply permeating the lives of the common people.
At a bustling tavern in the capital.
"Ah...! This is it! There's nothing better than a drink after work."
A man with a faint scar still visible on one cheek emptied his tankard of ale in one go and exclaimed.
The friend sitting across from him tried to stop him with worried eyes.
"Hey, Mark. You said you just got treated not long ago. Are you sure it's okay to drink that much?"
"Don't worry, Henri! An apostle of the Sun Church personally examined me and gave a full recovery verdict. Look at this!"
Mark swung his right arm around, showing off how well it had healed.
It was a movement inconceivable for an arm that, until recently, had been thought nearly severed.
"I feel great. I'm paying for everything today! Drink to your heart's content!"
"Mark! Mark! Mark! Mark!"
At his spirited shout, his friends cheered the name of the Alliance and drank.
Before him lay a pouch filled with gold coins.
Inside were so many gold coins that even after the five of them drank until dawn, there would still be plenty left.
It was the compensation paid by the nation for the injuries sustained in this war.
The massive reparations extracted from the enemy nations had returned first to disabled veterans like Mark and to the bereaved families of the fallen, just like this.
It was an act diametrically opposed to the nobility-first policies other nations commonly adopted.
"So, you're really going back to being a soldier?"
As his friends laughed and chatted, Henri asked cautiously.
"Yeah. If I'm lucky enough to become an officer, they say they'll give me a house in the city of my choice. Gotta live with my parents. They nag me every day about not bringing home a daughter-in-law, so if I get them a nice house, they might quiet down a bit, right?"
When Mark answered with a somewhat bitter smile, the mood at the table sank for a moment.
But only for a moment.
"So drink up today! This might be the last time I buy you drinks!"
"You bastard. Just don't forget about us once you make it big!"
As Mark raised his glass, the tavern grew lively again.
"Long live the Alliance! Long live Her Majesty the Queen! And long live Lady Philia!"
The common people cheered for the victory of Libertas and the Alliance from the heart.
But not everyone felt that way—especially the nobles.
Because loyalty and private calculations of profit and loss were emotions that could coexist well enough.
"Respecting honor and caring for disabled veterans is right a hundred times over! But why! Why is there nothing coming back to us, who poured our fortunes into the war?"
In the salon of a certain mansion, a baron raised his voice.
"Baron. Have you not heard the news?"
"What do you mean?"
"Landlord positions for us have already been prepared over there. They say Her Holiness Philia is paying special attention to it."
However, his complaint was forced to subside immediately at the calm words of another noble.
"...Oh, really? Is... is that so...?"
"Yes. The Marquis of Verno's recent promotion to Duke is part of that. You will be granted fiefs and castles in the occupied enemy lands to rule over. In order of those who contributed the most wealth first, of course."
For the nobles who had contributed large sums, positions as lords, castellans, and landlords in the conquered enemy territories were promised.
Complaints turned to anticipation in an instant.
Hearing all of this, Libertas spoke quietly to Yurena, who was seated on the throne.
"Keep a close watch on those who gain land in this way."
Yurena's eyes sparkled with wisdom.
"Because if they fail to govern properly, we must take it back, right?"
"That's right. Although merit and demerit are considered separate matters, reward and punishment invariably influence each other."
In Libertas's mind, the faces of those who would fail to prove their qualifications, already blinded by greed, came to mind.
Their wealth would eventually go to those with proper will.
As she had said, loyalty and greed were emotions that could coexist.
She knew this well.
- 4 -
The benefits of the Alliance did not go solely to the commoners and nobles.
Each nation also reaped justificatory and practical gains.
"Long live Her Majesty the Queen!!"
The honorific for the monarchs of the three kingdoms of Hysen, Orbis, and Hilsa was elevated from 'Your Highness' to 'Your Majesty.'
They had declared to all creation that they had escaped the shadow of the surrounding powers to become fully independent kingdoms, kingdoms of equal standing to the empires.
Of course, the gains were not limited to such justifications.
"...In recognition of the above merits, I confer the title of Duke upon the head of House Verno, Whiseldon, and simultaneously command that the Fiefdom of Hinness be newly incorporated into his domain."
"Glory to Her Majesty the Queen! I shall obey the command!"
Hysen reclaimed the Duchy of Hinness.
Or, to be precise, took it from the 'Duke of Hinness' of Kakia.
"However, each lord and landlord shall be appointed and dispatched by the royal house. I expect you to firmly seize and govern them."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
In that process, the Marquis of Verno was promoted to Duke.
Considering the loyalty he had shown so far, it was an appointment that felt rather late.
At the same time, it was also a promotion backed by a justification no one could oppose.
"Daniel. I shall entrust you with the Margraviate of Hinness. I hope you will do as well as you have so far. And..."
"Is that true?"
"Of course. I look forward to your continued good work. Son-in-law."
He immediately granted his son Daniel the authority to act as deputy lord to govern the Hinness area, and held a grand wedding for him and Francina, his ally's daughter.
Libertas personally appeared at that wedding.
"Congratulations, Daniel. No, should I call you Margrave Hinness now?"
"Your Holiness. To come personally to such a humble place... thank you."
Not only Daniel, but Francina and the Duke of Verno as well were so deeply moved they didn't know what to do with themselves.
For Libertas's blessing carried an authority heavier than the benediction performed by any monarch of a nation.
"Of course I had to come personally. Not only for the devotion House Verno has shown me... Daniel, have you not been loyal to me for a very long time?"
"Your Holiness..."
At Libertas's warm words, Daniel and Francina could not hide their overwhelmed gratitude.
- 5 -
Hysen was not the only one to gain practical benefits.
To Kiza, which had greatly contributed to the Alliance's victory but had no land suitable to receive, the western part of Hysen, near Mamille, was ceded.
"You will administer the west from now on."
"I shall surely repay that trust, my Lord."
Libertas positioned Yuran's dungeon there to gain control of the magical beasts and Dungeon Lords in the Kiza and Leophere regions.
It was to plant Dungeon Lords in more territories in the future, and to allow them to naturally mingle with humans.
If the Dungeon Lords and magical beasts were not to be consumed by their instincts, a strong focal point was essential.
"I heard Emperor Maximilian was greatly enraged. Master."
"Even so, he will be able to do nothing."
"That may be so, but..."
Even as she spoke worriedly, a smile lingered on Amelia's lips.
"Congratulations, Queen Amelia."
"...Why are you suddenly being so formal? My title just changed, that's all."
She was now called a Queen, not an Archduchess or a Princess.
As Orbis absorbed the territory gained through negotiations with Norn, it had finally become a 'Kingdom.'
"Thank you, Lady Libertas."
Besides that, there were places that did not gain additional territory, but gained benefits greater than that.
"It is not something I should be thanked for. You all also fought well, did you not?"
"How could I not be grateful, when Ironfield's rise to Leophere was all thanks to my Lord?"
At Libertas's modesty, Archduchess Adelaide bowed her head once more.
Libertas smiled and patted her shoulder.
"If you cooperate with Wepar, you should be able to eliminate the dangers on the sea. Secure the most efficient sea routes, so long as they do not intrude upon Gaph's territory."
"Understood, Lady Libertas. I will certainly refer to it."
What Leophere obtained was the usage rights to ports essential for trade with the Western Continent.
Adelaide, through consultation with Zenota, succeeded in securing diplomatic channels with the Han Nation as well as with Raindlak, a rival nation of Zenota.
It was an incalculable gain, difficult to easily convert into monetary value, that would help Libertas secure influence over the Western Continent in the future.
- 6 -
It was only natural, but the way of the world was that if someone gained, someone else lost.
"..."
"Father..."
Maximilian, the Red Griffin of the Norn Empire, who had been leading the empire even into his eighties, collapsed onto his sickbed.