Ch.169Chapter 169

When it became exactly midnight by Rondan time.

All the knights gathered in Rondan began their charge.

The vice-commander led the front, followed by rows commanded by each knight order’s captains.

The Princess, Asti, the Huntsman, and I were positioned at the very back, with the knight captain walking nearby to protect us.

Aghartha decided to emerge once the operation began, as there were too many people around.

The distance to the territory where the Princess was located was quite far.

Without trains, the knights walked silently over this distance.

From a certain perspective, it was like they were walking their own path to death.

Yet despite how frightening that should be, the knights continued walking without complaint.

Perhaps this was the result of all their training.

Or perhaps the warmth of the protective gear that the Princess had worked so hard to produce had warmed even their hearts that might otherwise have frozen.

“Tanthyn.”

“Yes?”

The Princess, who like me had been quietly observing those ahead, called my name.

Her gaze remained fixed on the knights.

“How do you feel when you see this sight, Tanthyn?”

“Hmm, I feel somewhat overwhelmed, perhaps because I realize we’re truly approaching the end.”

“It seems people’s thoughts aren’t so different after all.”

The Princess said with a bright smile.

“But my reason for feeling overwhelmed is the opposite of yours.”

“The opposite?”

“That’s right.”

The Princess stretched her arms wide and looked up at the sky.

Just seeing her like this made me feel as if she wanted to embrace the entire world.

“I see this as marking a new beginning!”

“A new beginning, you say.”

“Irreversible events have led us to our current situation. Humanity thought we would never rise again, that we would be trampled by this cold snow and return to our primordial state. But that didn’t happen. We struggled until the end, and now we’re finally prepared to forge peace with our own hands. Since we’ve earned this peace ourselves, it’s not the end of something, but the beginning of something new!”

The Princess’s words were so hopeful yet heart-wrenching that even the surrounding knights couldn’t help but turn to look.

I too listened with a dazed expression.

The Princess, who had been happily speaking while looking at the sky, gently opened her eyes and smiled at me with a drowsy gaze.

“And it was you, Tanthyn, who played the decisive role in bringing humanity this far. Without you, I wouldn’t be here, nor would Rondan, nor humanity. It’s thanks to you sacrificing yourself as if it were only natural.”

After suddenly saying these uplifting words, the Princess closed her eyes tightly and smiled.

“Thank you, Tanthyn.”

She expressed her gratitude to me.

How should I put it?

At this moment when my heart was already swelling, hearing such words almost brought tears to my eyes.

It’s not like I had been working so hard just to hear such things.

But I came to believe that words of gratitude from someone can truly become the driving force that makes someone willing to act.

Because that’s how I felt right now.

As I stood motionless, quietly looking at the Princess, she maintained her smile and spoke again.

“So, you’ll be handling all these knights alongside me from now on. How do you feel about that?”

The moment I heard those words, all the lingering emotions I’d been feeling vanished, and I nearly spat.

“W-what are you suddenly saying?”

“What do you mean? It’s just a continuation of what I told you before.”

I felt my breath catch as she leaned in with a profound expression, as if waiting for my answer.

Ugh.

Why are they all so mischievous?

If that’s how it’s going to be, couldn’t they at least be less attractive!

This is truly maddening.

Scratch, scratch.

As I was unable to collect my thoughts due to this dizzying sensation, I heard something scratching on the wooden chair the Princess and I were sitting on.

When I turned my head toward the sound, an “ugh” escaped me involuntarily.

Aghartha’s words were being inscribed:

– Phiore says to tell you she won’t go easy on you just because you’re the Princess if you cross the line.

How should I take this?

As I scratched my head, the Princess also looked at where Aghartha’s words were inscribed.

“Is that the Chronicler’s writing?”

“Yes, she’s written exactly what the Gardener said…”

“Hehe, I wonder if she wrote something telling me to behave myself?”

Wait, how did she know that without even reading it properly?

Unable to properly refute her words, the Princess chuckled and stroked my arm with her hand.

“P-Princess. That is…”

“They can only manifest here through Tanthyn as a medium, right?”

The Princess said with a somewhat wicked smile.

“So what can they do if I act like this when I’m right next to Tanthyn?”

Oh my.

Princess, are you sure you can handle this?

Or is she acting this way on the assumption that we’ll definitely be able to rescue the Princess?

“…And they’re the ones crossing the line. I liked you first…”

…Deliberately ignoring my about-to-explode mind, I pretended to fall asleep from exhaustion.

My head felt like it was truly about to burst because of the Princess who seemed likely to say even more outrageous things if I didn’t.

“Playing around at a time like this.”

The Huntsman’s exasperated comment was just the cherry on top.

#

When I woke up after dozing off briefly, a massive wall appeared before us.

It meant we had arrived at the territory where the Princess was located.

From the front came screams along with bizarre sound effects that seemed like they belonged in a game.

Standing as straight as possible to see what was happening ahead, I could understand the situation.

The Empress had arrived and was casting something on each knight, one by one, from the front.

The knights seemed to be screaming in terror at the sight of the Empress.

I thought the knight captain or vice-captain would have explained things beforehand, so their fear seemed a bit much.

But how could I empathize with the cosmic horror they were experiencing, something I’d never faced myself?

I could only be grateful to Oko for ensuring I never had to feel such emotions.

“…Raedan, what is that person doing?”

“I asked the Empress to prevent the Mountain Giant from stealing our warmth. The Empress is now taking measures for that.”

I answered Asti’s curious question.

After all, Asti hadn’t yet properly heard how things would proceed.

She probably thought she just needed to carry out the operation I had mentioned.

But even so, is it really okay to let her proceed in her true form like that?

I wonder if it might cause problems with the knights’ mental fortitude.

“It’s fine, Raedan.”

Aghartha’s voice reached me.

“Demeter has transformed into a more pleasant appearance compared to other deities. Just, well, an extremely wrinkled old woman?”

….

If “extremely wrinkled” is severe, I can understand why the knights are surprised.

Wait, then aren’t the knights being rude?!

…Let’s not dwell on this.

Everyone’s on edge due to the war situation.

The Empress, who had been walking from the front, finally reached where we were.

When the Princess met the Empress’s eyes, she gave a bitter smile.

“Mother…”

The Empress seemed about to say something, but perhaps thinking her words wouldn’t reach the Princess, she offered the same bitter smile and extended her hand.

That hand reached the Princess’s head, and I soon realized it was meant to caress her.

The Princess quietly felt that touch.

Seeing this made my heart ache.

And it gave me one more reason why we must not fail this operation.

After casting something on the Princess, the Empress did the same for the Huntsman, Asti, and the knight captain, before finally coming to me.

“Your Majesty.”

“…You truly came fully prepared, Tanthyn.”

The Empress spoke to me in a murmur, as I was the only one her voice could reach.

“‘Everyone’ prepared together.”

“It was because of your will that they could move. Without you, they would have felt no hope.”

“Thank you for your words.”

The Empress slowly nodded at my greeting.

“I’ll continue to help from behind whenever you’re in danger. Though I can’t help too much.”

“I understand.”

When the Empress finally stepped back completely, the vice-captain, who had been watching, shouted in a loud voice.

“Knights! I judge that all preparations are complete.”

The vice-captain’s thick voice echoed.

Not just mine, but everyone’s hearts must be beating fiercely.

The vice-captain raised his weapon toward us and shouted once more.

“I won’t speak at length! Knights, demonstrate the chivalry you have honed until now! This is your proof, your expression of will, and the way to fulfill your mission without a trace of shame!”

As the vice-captain spoke, the gates of the territory opened.

Unlike outside, a fierce snowstorm was raging within.

One could barely see a step ahead.

But not a single person showed fear.

The intense flames that had risen from the brazier seemed to flicker in the knights’ eyes.

“Knights! Advance! Prove your chivalry here!”

“Uaaaaaaah!”

And so, the final saga.

No.

The saga of the Empire’s new beginning is about to be written here.