The New Kingdom of Garristo. It was not long before this nation, which had lost its body and had a maiden princess seated on the throne, broke with the past and spoke a new name.
Centered on the royal capital of Arche, the new kingdom that had taken over the southern part of the Garlist Kingdom and the area west of the Ogas River continued to renew its system and remake itself day by day. Reflecting in its eyes the impending confrontation with the Northern Garleist and the Cathedral led by the old king.
However, the leaders of the new kingdom of Garleist are not concerned with the distant Northern Garleist.
The concubine Philos, the heraldic saint Mattia, and the nobleman's chieftain Biondor. All three were blindsided by the reports coming from Largd-Anne.
It is because they gather in a remote palace far away from the center of the administration that they can exchange frank opinions. Originally, the three of them had gathered at the palace for such a purpose, but on this day, they were all momentarily speechless. They were unable to accept the report.
Saint Mattia curled her slender fingers into a light grip and closed her eyelids as if to recover her lost words. Then she said in a whisper.
...... I understand the situation. I'm sorry for your troubles, Anne.
Anne gave a small response, keeping her head and eyes down.
Mattia did not question the accuracy of the information. It was information that Anne had personally brought to them from her travels to King's Landing. That meant that it was undeniably true. Mattia looked over the report once more.
--The Mastighios army that had joined up with the Lugis had been destroyed by the demon army. Survivors and casualties are unknown. The same goes for Lugis' survival.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. It was as if the brain itself had melted into a liquid. It was as if she couldn't think.
It had been a long time since he had felt this way. Mattia remembers feeling the same way when he rode alone to the mercenary city of Belle Fain in the past.
As he sat down, his breathing became labored, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if it had been whipped. What should she say?
While Mattia hesitated, the nobleman's head, Biondor, opened his thick lips. His thick fingertips gripped the parchment tightly.
"You should see that there is no longer a moment to lose, Princess, Saint Mattia.
Saying this, Biondor looked at the princess, Philos, and then at Mattia.
He has a tendency to be a bit emotional and expressive, but at this moment, he's bringing his true, scheming face to the fore. It could be said that he did not have much time to spare.
The hero must now be considered dead, or he will be laughed at as an optimist. We need an immediate crowning of the princess and a formal declaration of war.
Biommodore, like Mattia, is a realist. He does not waste time on optimism, but always considers the worst case scenario, even pessimism.
The moment he got the report, he had an idea in his head of what to do next. That is, to deal with the death of a hero.
It was a great accomplishment that he had captured Mastighios and together they had invaded the mainland of Borvat. But if the threat of the demon army had swallowed him up, it was over. It is strange to think that he is still alive.
If we lose the stronghold of our heroes, the fragile new kingdom of Garleist could easily collapse. That's why we need a new pillar.
Princess Philos will be crowned, enshrining Lugis as a fallen hero. The citizens will be saddened by the death of a hero, but also momentarily relieved by the reign of a new champion.
If the Borvat dynasty is shown to be a bitter enemy, the people's resentment will turn in that direction. At the very least, it would save the regime from collapse.
Mattia's lips tightened as he listened to Biondor's words, and after a beat, he said.
I don't think we should go public with him yet. The number of people who know about him should be limited.
The more time that passes, the more devastating the aftermath will be. I think it's time for us to make a decision.
At Mattia's words, Biondor's lips moved in a skeptical manner. Mattia still shook his head.
Mattia does not think that Biommodore's words are wrong. It was more like the right answer, and if this was a normal situation, it should be.
But there was one important factor that Biormondor did not know.
-The heraldry that supports the new kingdom of Garleist, its soldiers and knights are more dependent on Lugis' existence than Biamondor thinks.
There are even those who treat the heroes as if they were the saint Mattia among the heraldic soldiers. When Lugis made his expedition to the east, how difficult it was for him to hold them back.
But Mattia thinks it was inevitable. He kept winning.
From the walled city of Galuamaria to the mercenary city of Belle Fain. From the Battle of Sarnio to the fall of King's Landing. He was always in front of his troops, leading them, and so he won.
It was inevitable that the soldiers would begin to regard the heroes who led them to victory on the battlefield as more sacred than the far-off saints. Mattia doesn't even want to try to control it.
That's why, if they lose that hero, they will never recover. The pillar of the soul, the symbol of victory and glory, is an absolute for the soldiers. We must at least try to do something.
Mattia gritted his teeth tightly and cursed his own judgment. Why didn't I hold him back more? No, I should have held him back even with my troops. I should have never given him permission and put him in the back where he would be safe.
If I had done that, I wouldn't have this regret and I wouldn't be in this predicament. What negligence on the part of his self-appointed caretaker! Mattia dug his claws into his palms again and again.
Lugis is incapable of staying. He is compelled to follow his heart. That's why you must be his clasp.
I should have made it so that he could never be separated from me again, both physically and mentally. Even if it was in a way he didn't want, it would be for his own good in the end.
My teeth chatter. A fierce anger and frustration with himself was in Mattia's brain.
Biommodore and Mattia exchanged a few words, but their parallel discussions never ended. Both of them had their own thoughts and ideas. Neither of them could be bent easily.
Then, suddenly... Both of their eyes turned to the princess, the arbiter of this moment. I wondered which way her thoughts were leaning.
But Philos was still in her green dress and her eyes were not wavering in the slightest. He did not look at either of them.
Sitting on her throne, the princess said as if it were obvious.
"Prepare your men and your provisions and prepare for battle. My sword and horse are here.
Everyone in the room was taken aback by the princess's words. Everyone in the room was stunned by the princess's words, unable to comprehend their meaning. They didn't even know if they should accept or appease her.
No, to be precise, Mattia and Anne were beginning to grasp the meaning. But that didn't mean they had anything to say.
"Princess, it's... What is it?
Biondor replied to the princess, looking as if he was at her mercy. I could see from the side that his expression was full of confusion.
It's not a given, Biondor said.
"It's not a done deal, Lord Biondor--we're just going to invade the Borvat dynasty. Our hero is in danger.
Mattia and Anne could not hide their bitterness, and Biormondor opened his mouth wide, speechless.
This is not to say that Biommodore's thinking is slow or that his direction is wrong. It's just that he sees things within the bounds of common sense and logic.
And so the princess had already eaten up all that.
"Oh, Princess! Now is not the time and situation! We need to consolidate our position, and if we attack Borvat now, our chances of winning are too slim!
"Yes, I know what you mean, Lord Biondor. I know what you mean, Lord Biondor. I know it's right and it's not wrong. It is what a princess should do.
In response to Biormondor's cry, Philos received a momentary look of royalty. It was the look of a noble she had created, a mask to wear.
"But that doesn't matter. There's no point in being fair and truthful, no matter how spotlessly right you are.
From the outside, Philos's tone was as calm as could be. Her tone was calm, as if she were simply saying what needed to be said. She says.
He is the one who gave me the role of princess, and he is the one who is trying to make me wear the mask of queen. If he's going to be gone, why should I take on the role of princess?
Philos said, showing his face for the first time in a long time, not as a princess, but as Philos-Treit.
"Yes, yes. What is winnable or unwinnable, right or wrong - such trivial things are of no concern to a little girl named Philos-Treit, who is not a princess!
Get ready for war, because there is no turning back for me or any of you.
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
The capital of Borvat.
The capital of the Borvat dynasty. In the palace's front guard hall, Caria-Bardnick puckered her lips in annoyance as she led her soldiers. He bites his fingertips slightly.
The reason for his irritation is clear.
Lugis and Shad, who had gone to the royal palace accompanied by Lovell, the demon enemy of mankind, had not yet returned. It's been almost half an hour already. I haven't even heard from them.
With each passing minute and second, Kalia's heart stirred and her breathing became ragged.
The mere fact that he was nowhere to be seen caused a strange sense of anxiety to seep into her heart. First of all, I resent the fact that I am not the one going deeper with him.
Add to that her concern for Fialaat, and it was impossible not to be annoyed. Kalia is not a person who is adept enough to look away from the worries in her heart and keep a calm face.
No, such aristocratic behavior was lost while she was with him.
"Master Kalia. I'm sure Master Lugis will come back. He is a very kind and trustworthy man.
Leu, still wrapped in his blanket, said as he snuggled up to Kalia. Kalia's eyes narrowed for a moment, but then she gently brushed her gray hair back and said.
"Leu. I don't hate you. So I'll give you a piece of advice.
I don't hate you, so I'll give you one piece of advice." Leu receives the voice with a puzzled look on his face as he replies. He tilted his head to the side and waited for Kalia's words.
I have faith in him. More than anyone. But not when it comes to women.
"Except when it comes to women?
Leu couldn't help but ask. At least according to his common sense, he didn't really understand what Kalia was talking about. Doha Sura, who had apparently been listening, was lying on his horse and was about to collapse.
And he's like a child running around on a powder keg. You don't know what will happen if you let him out of your sight. He needs someone to keep an eye on him.
Who that should be, I don't need to tell you. Kalia shifted her gaze from Leu to the palace again, and then opened her silver eyes.
Her throat rumbled. The blood flowing through her body pulsed, telling her something. Reflexively, Kalia's hands were on Kuro Scarlet. Sending Leung back.
I don't know what it is. But my Titan blood tells me. The threat has opened its eyes. Be ready.
It's by the palace. Kalia's brow furrowed and she bit her teeth at the sickening feeling rising in her eyes.
I'll tell the 3,000 men to get into position. I looked over and saw Leung and Dohasura. They were staring at the palace. You can see the agitation in their cheeks.
I hear the sound of a bird flying through the air. It wasn't unusual in this city, but it came from deep within the palace.
It didn't even look at Nuto, the director, or the hexenbiest, but flew right into Kalia's chest.
"Karia! I don't know.
You can tell who it is by his tone and eyes. I'm sure you're not the only one. It somehow took the form of a bird and came running to Karia.
Kalia had a hunch.
With him, it was easy to imagine that he would try to escape Shad if something happened to him. After all, something had happened.
Kalia's silver eye pierced the palace. And so, leaving Shad in the hands of Leu, he took a step forward. There, Nuto, the director, stared at Kalia with an expression of alarm.
I will not allow you to come any closer. This is the land of the demons. I've told you many times to wait there! I've told you many times to wait there! I don't care if you're a demon!
"There's only one person who can stop me. It's not you.
Kalia didn't even hesitate to raise her black scarlet. I'm not going to let you get away with this.
I'm not going to let you get away with this. He would never allow anyone to enter the royal palace where the Lord resides.
It doesn't matter if Kalia is a powerful demon or not.
In an instant, the place boils over. The demon soldiers of the Kingsguard and the soldiers led by Kalia began to show their fangs at each other. The soldiers also sensed from Karia's behavior that something had happened to their master.
Then, there was only one option. When you come here, you put your life in his hands.
A moment later, just as Kalia was about to wave her black scarlet.
And then it came.
"- Retreat from each other immediately. What are you doing in a place like this?
What are you doing in a place like this?" A distinctive voice that sounded like it was rolling a bell, yet lacked humanity.
The demon Lovell. She appeared from the depths of the palace, just as she had earlier. She was as graceful as a doll.
Kalia's silver eyes sprang up as quickly as she could. Then she looked for him in the surrounding area.
But then Kalia's throat rumbled again. Instantly, her brain began to ring alarm bells, screaming that she shouldn't look. Her eyelids reflexively tried to close.
But I saw. He had to see.
He was there, as he should be. But it wasn't him.
--It was the demon itself. With a misshapen sword on his shoulder, he opened his evil eye as if glaring at his surroundings.
His appearance was as if the humanity in him had been stripped away and the demon had been swallowed whole.
It's not him. But it is him. A muddy stream of thoughts flowed into Kalia's brain, creating a vortex of confusion. Then, at the end of it all, something hit him like an intuition.
--Majin.
At some point, Kalia pulled out her black scarlet and ran her legs.