Chapter 192 – King of War (7)

“Holy shit!!!!”

Kwasik!!
The fragments of the crystal ball that he had nervously thrown and shattered were spread widely across the white office floor.
The hymns coming from outside stopped.
Soon, an auxiliary bishop came in to check on Kassel.
Ignoring the fearful believers seen through the crack in the door, he immediately called Fagaras.

“What about morale in the border areas?”
“It’s pretty bad. “The number of soldiers who are confused by their words is increasing.”

It has been three days since the kingdom’s propaganda began.
The Seongguk army was gradually becoming anxious.

The average number of saints possessed by past saints was three.
Eris Phra Shukh Raman, who was called the saint of the poor, was an exceptional exception and possessed twelve sacred powers. Even with only six, she is considered the incarnation of a goddess.
But there are as many as nine.
Not just the army, but the entire castle is shaken by Caroline’s single word.
In this way, there was no need to ask which side was at a disadvantage when the war dragged on.

“Today, I healed a sick person with 〈 Goddess’ Kiss 〉. “It has been confirmed that what they said was true.”
“… What about other bishops?”
“No one is directly expressing anxiety, but Selucia Frederick seems to have noticed something strange.”
“It’s worth it. “The North has become so quiet.”

Among the bishops of the four major dioceses, there were only two who did not know about the deal with Antiope.
Seleucia Frederick, Patriarch of Solfroid in the Northern Diocese and leader of the Knights of Holy Light.
And Myrna Gilitia, the leader of the Wandering Missionary Group that Eris Prashuhra was a member of.

“Damn, what the hell is that bitch doing… ?”

There was no military agreement with the demons.
Anyway, the repercussions are too big.
After Louis’ death, they entered a phase of competition for each other’s goals.

But the northern part was very quiet.
I heard that the demons suffered great damage once, but isn’t it like we are just watching the Holy Kingdom become a target for arrows?
Antiope would not have been able to enter Parenzia without penetrating the northern part anyway, so he seemed very relaxed.

“What shall we do, Holy Father?”
“… “What is the warrior’s condition?”
“The settlement of beliefs is over. However, in order to do so, it is difficult to control it because the ego has to be diluted as much as possible.”
“The most damaged area would be the Western Front, right?”
“Yes.”

Just as the demons had to cross the north, the Holy Kingdom also had to go to Parencia and obtain the holy relic.

“Get ready.”

Now that time was truly running out, Cassel decided to counter Terra Ernisten’s first move.

***

There are only two things that are unfair in the current situation.
One is that even though I did the requested work properly, the gaze towards me was not kind.
And the other thing is that I haven’t been able to leave this room for several days.
In other words, I was placed under house arrest because I had to hide my presence in the royal castle.

The meals and rooms are in excellent condition, but the problem is that they are so boring.
Erzsebet and Terra were so busy that they didn’t show their faces very well, so all they could do all day was listen to Caroline’s speech through the crystal ball on the table or watch the Mon King’s Tale.
Of course, there is no special business in Thessalon, so there is no one to stop you if you just return to Parenzia.
But there was a reason why I couldn’t easily leave this room.

“… “I came.”

About an hour after dinner is delivered every night.
After finishing her speech, Caroline quietly opens the door and comes in.
She must have misunderstood my intention of wanting to see me dressed, and she came to my dorm every night.

“Today… “Did you see it?”
“Uh? Yes.”

A video of her praying to God was playing from her crystal ball, which she had turned on because she was bored.
The pure white toga has a deep cut in the back to bring out her wings, like the women in old myths.
Her thighs exposed under the side slit and the part that covered her voluptuous breasts, I don’t know if she was a saint, but it was definitely her outfit that brought out Caroline’s charm even more.

“What are you thinking. Turn off.”

Looking at herself in the video, she turned her crystal ball half a turn with an expression filled with shame, breaking her magic.
Still, when I didn’t take my eyes off him, he hesitated for a moment, then climbed on top of me and whispered in my ear.

“It’s in front of you now, look here.”

The reason I can’t leave for Parencia.
It was because he was willing to sacrifice his body only to protect his precious second homeland and lead the war to victory.

“If you get your clothes dirty… Because it doesn’t work. If you can’t stand it, say it… “Sigh!”

Because the saintess who suddenly lost her sense of compensation should not have her speech interrupted due to feelings of self-destruction.
That’s really it.

Anyway, one evening when I had been bored all day like that.
Unlike usual, a delicious smell wafted through the air.

“Is there a special meal today?”

Since she last spoke to her maid, she had received a stern warning from Erzébet, so when she opened the door at her knock, there was no one in her hallway.
But today was quite different.

“Can I come in?”
“…”

A middle-aged man dressed as a servant— King Baor III of Penheim came with a steaming steak.
What business does this guy have to me?

“Excuse me.”

King of Fenheim.
He doesn’t have any special feelings.
Exactly how uncomfortable it feels.
I’ve only seen him twice today, and the last time I met him, I was in a bit of a bad state.
He was talking nonsense about early marriage and all that, so I broke his cervical vertebrae.

Even so, he was the king of a country and not a very incompetent king.
I followed Terra’s words without even explaining why, erased all information about me and Eris from the royal records, and started a small war.

“What is your business?”

The politeness was not due to his age or high status, but simply because it was awkward for him to speak politely to Erzsebet while speaking informally to her father.
I couldn’t figure out why he came to see me.

“How is your relationship with Hergé these days?”

What is your relationship with Erzsebet?
Instead of answering, I picked up a fork and lightly threw it toward the window.
Wrap it in tissue paper so you don’t get hurt.

Clink!!

— Wow, princess!!
— Ouch! Roo… ! What are you doing! I told you to stay quiet in your room!!

“… “I guess he’s good enough to joke around without hesitation.”
“You can think whatever you want.”
“Then what do you seriously think of that child?”

This time I threw the spoon.

— This, this human… ! Just wait there!! I’m going up now!!

“Do you want to see it right away? “I understand.”

They say it’s more of an interpretation than a dream.
It seems like what I want to say has been decided.

Bang bang bang!!

– Louis! Can’t you open this door right now!? What are we going to do now!!!

King Paul III locked my door and calmly cut up the meat.

“I have a meeting with Lord Terra in a little while, so I’ll be leaving soon. “The reason I came to you was because of a reward.”
“The war is not over yet.”
“It’s a story about a war that has already ended.”
“I said 15 years ago that I would refuse if it were an engagement.”
“I know this well because my throat still feels stiff every morning these days.”

A determined light flashed through the King’s eyes as he playfully massaged his neck.

“But in the end, didn’t the reward come back as a bigger debt? “You helped that kid a lot.”
“…”
“He said he rejected all of Erzsebet’s offers. “I heard that the armor was probably obtained out of necessity, and that it was not given as compensation in the first place.”

Still, he lamented, “How can a princess of a country be so clueless?” Contrary to what she said, he didn’t look that disappointed.

“Anyway, the royal family has no way to reward you for your merits other than a marriage contract.”
“…”
“Or is there something else you want?”

It didn’t take long to ponder the king’s question.
There’s no particular reason to marry Erzsebet, who is so impatient that she can’t get enough of me.
What was more important to me was the fact that Parencia Academy was entirely royal premises except for the canteen.

“There is a low mountain behind the bayou pipe.”
“Huh?”
“Although the villas of nobles are lined up, there are many quiet places in the south that have not yet been developed, and it is a nice, quiet place with a good view of downtown Parenzia. “Please give me the whole thing.”

Little by little, I began to feel short of breath and my chest tightened.
But this will be fine.
I stopped chewing the meat and thought to myself several times.
I’m still keeping my oath.

“…”

The king was a thoughtful man.
His words and actions may have been frivolous for a royal, but his resourcefulness in saving a sinking ship during the continent’s greatest war was superior to that of any other leader.
Although the royal family is indifferent to the Alliance, the Magic Tower, and the Grand Dukes, there has never been a single rebellion.
This was the reason why Erzsebet, who produced iron soldiers, minimized damage at the border, and even led the Grand Duke’s conference to success, was still not fully recognized by the Extreme Colors.

“Tsk.”

King Baor III frowned openly.
Looking down at his simple but splendid conquest beneath his whitish beard.

“Nobility shines even in the midst of trash.”
“…”
“You haven’t changed at all.”

The throbbing pain in my chest gradually spread.
He stood up, leaving me unable to even answer for fear of my heart exploding.

“Okay, I’ll tell the administrator and get it ready right away. “Please think again about Gwain’s suggestion.”
“…”
“It’s because that child isn’t honest, but when you find out…”

Slam!
The King opened the door and almost collided with someone standing in front of him.
He stood aside and gave her a light scolding, thinking it was Erzé Bet.

“Huh, what happened to your promise to Lord Terra and why are you still standing there?”
“…”
“Great. Even if we take this opportunity to talk alone… Huh?”

But the person outside the door was not Erzsebet.
As usual, Caroline came to my room right after finishing her speech.
It even has wings that emit brilliant light.

“…”
“…”

Zinc.
And real color.

As soon as I made eye contact with her, she shook her head desperately.
It was difficult to speak because my heart had not yet subsided.
But she was so embarrassed that she didn’t give me the answer I wanted.

“Oh, no… ! I think he likes this kind of thing, especially…”
“…”
“Today is my first time… Usually I just come in… Yo. This.”

I shouldn’t have said the last sentence.

“I guess I’ll go.”

The situation was so embarrassing that even the king, who was caught up in state affairs, was unable to speak for a moment, but he quickly came to his senses.

“Oh, let’s pretend you didn’t hear the last part. “Thank you for saying no.”

Of course, we didn’t forget about post-processing.
Even if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to open my eyes if my daughter came to me in the middle of the night wearing angel wings and a white robe in front of her father-in-law.
Rather good… Is it?

Crash.

“Ah, ah… !”

It must be unfortunate for at least one person.
Caroline sat down on the floor, covering her face with both hands.
I witnessed the moment when one more of her dark stories was born, and I pushed the remaining piece of meat in her mouth down her throat.

***

“No, he couldn’t stand that bird and threw dishes out the window today!? I’m not a child who wants attention…”

As soon as she arrives at the conference room, Erzsebet pours out her complaints about Luis.
Her Terra smiled at her, her sigh mixed with her own.
The only thing they have in common is Louis, but I never thought they would care so much.
Even though we were so busy, all we talked about when we met was about him.

“Ah, what is the situation like?”
“It’s not going too bad.”

After listening to Lewis’s bad points and habits that need to be corrected for about 20 minutes.
Blocking out her surroundings, Terra snapped her fingers and the light emanating from the crystal orb that filled one side of her wall revealed a huge map.

Telegraph lines extending from the Lighthouse of Horus spread across the continent, transmitting information in real time.
A majesty that befits the nickname of the Great Mage of Current Affairs.
Erzsebet, impressed by the sight, pointed out several dark places on the map.
Excluding other countries that were not accessible by telegraph lines, there were dark areas within Fenheim.

“Why can’t I see here?”
“This is the place where the Seven Magic Towers are located. “The magic around that area is unstable, so I can’t observe it properly.”

Penheim’s seven magic towers are each equipped with different natural defense facilities.
In some cases, a magic tower was built in a place where an abnormal phenomenon occurred from the beginning, and in some cases, like in the Batudis region where ‘Baldur’s nightmare’ is widespread, the magic tower was created artificially after it was built.
In either case, it is easy to defend against enemy air attacks and searches since the magic power is unstable.
Other black areas were the northern Lavier Mountains and near Lake Senrir.

“The observation area in the north has recently decreased somewhat.”
“Yes? “Why?”
“Telegraph lines were attacked by flocks of ducks… Still, it seems like they are calm after arriving at Parenzia.”

Terra sighed lightly and leaned back in his chair.
Ever since Caroline’s propaganda began, she has never taken her eyes off her crystal orb.

“The demons are so quiet. I’m sure they’re planning something…”
“Maybe you’re scared?”
“Haha, I’m scared.”

Surprisingly, this is a word that suits them.
Especially Antiope.
To the woman who has been running away from this surveillance network for the past 15 years.

“First of all, we will continue to watch until Seongguk reacts. Just in case, when Caroline goes on the podium, she always has an escort…”

Right then.

Bibibbibik——!!

In an instant, the color of the west side of Penheim turned black.
It was evidence that telegraph lines spread across the Western Front had been shot down all at once.

— Princess! We’re in big trouble!!

And an urgent message was heard from the crystal ball that Erzsebet was holding.
Terra, who heard the contents from the side, spoke with a stern expression.

“… “It has begun.”