Ch.304Meeting Room

The report of the werebeasts’ approach came not from the scouting party that had been sent to the northern wall and was annihilated, but from the watchtowers located between the northern wall and Faelrun Castle.

Apparently, as soon as they saw the beast horde coming over the horizon, they lit the signal fire and fled on horseback to Faelrun Castle. It was the right decision. What good would it do for fewer than twenty soldiers to hold out in a watchtower, only to become a meal for the werebeasts?

In any case, according to the report from the returning soldiers with deathly pale faces, it seemed that almost the entire werebeasts force had mobilized. Considering the distance to Faelrun Castle and the marching speed they briefly observed… it was expected they would reach the vicinity of the castle by dawn at the latest.

Naturally, the evening banquet scheduled for that night was canceled. It was no time to be leisurely enjoying a feast.

“…They’ve come. Those damn wolves.”

As soon as Frider heard the report, she threw aside the document she had been writing and summoned the commanders and key forces to the meeting room.

—-

The meeting room I was guided to was a rugged yet practical space. A room without a single decoration. Only simple lighting hung on the walls and ceiling, and a large map was fixed on the table positioned in the center of the room.

“You’re a bit late, Haschal.”

Around the table with rounded corners were eleven chairs. Two seats were empty, while eight were already occupied by those who had arrived earlier. And at the head of the table, at the far end, sat Frider, with her chin resting on her interlaced fingers.

“Sorry. I was taking a bath. Is almost everyone here except for me?”

“Yes, except for Demian, whom we didn’t call because he’s recuperating.”

Frider gestured toward the empty seat. After pulling out the chair and sitting down, I quickly surveyed those gathered in the meeting room.

Almost all familiar faces.

—-

Millia was constantly looking around with a somewhat intimidated expression, as if unsure whether she should be there, while Leonore was engaged in a battle of wills, glaring at a man sitting across from her.

He appeared to be in his mid-twenties. With the bright blonde hair characteristic of the imperial family, and a face that looked like Leopold and Ernst had been mixed together and split in half. He was a man whose well-trained physique was occasionally visible through his neatly worn knight’s uniform.

“What are you staring at so intently? If you have something to say, why don’t you just say it?”

That’s quite an aggressive tone for Leonore. But it’s understandable given who she’s facing.

From her perspective, he must be as burdensome as Leopold.

Karl VIII.

The Empire’s second prince… no, “former” second prince would be more accurate. Now he’s just an ordinary knight.

Leopold’s younger brother, who had relinquished his imperial privileges and headed north before Leonore.

…So he remained at Faelrun Castle.

I thought he would have joined the Benes punitive force, if only to meet his brother.

“No, I just thought the more I look at you, the more resemblance I see.”

“…It would be better for your well-being not to mention that witch. I might let it slide once, but there won’t be a next time.”

“Witch? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was merely saying you resemble your father.”

“Hey.”

Karl smirked with a shrug. Leonore frowned sharply, thinking he was mocking her.

…Well, it probably is mockery.

Karl too would grind his teeth at the mention of Isabella.

After all, it was because of the witch’s assassination threats that he had to give up his succession rights and leave for the north, abandoning his brother to the system.

On top of that, his younger sister was practically sold off to that perverted old man of Panam.

Even if Isabella is dead, old feelings don’t completely disappear.

Since Leonore is also a victim whose life was ruined by the witch, holding her accountable for her mother’s karma would be misdirected resentment.

“Lord Karl. I’d appreciate it if you stopped there. Leonore is my knight, so if you have any complaints, you should take them up with me, shouldn’t you?”

“Huh?”

Leonore turned her gaze toward me.

She seemed quite surprised, as if she hadn’t expected me to intervene.

“…I apologize, Lord Median. I momentarily lost my composure during a reunion with an old acquaintance, but I had no intention of causing you displeasure. I offer my apologies.”

Surprisingly, Karl’s attitude toward me was extremely respectful, unlike his manner with Leonore.

Despite having been of imperial birth, even though he had renounced his status, he was lowering himself to the point of using formal speech.

“And… I bow my head in gratitude for helping my brother.”

He even bowed his head to express his thanks.

So he still harbors ill feelings toward Leonore but only gratitude toward me?

Well, thanks to me, he was able to avenge his mother, and Leopold escaped from his ephemeral life to ascend to the throne. It’s certainly something to be grateful for.

“If that gratitude is sincere, I’d appreciate it if you would respect Leonore as well. I won’t ask you to immediately let go of your ill feelings… but she too is a knight who fought alongside me against the witch. Is that too difficult a request?”

“…No. If you say so, I will comply.”

Though it was a reluctant statement, Karl at least expressed his agreement. He too would rationally understand that his attitude was improper.

He wasn’t the type of character who was so emotional that he couldn’t discern right from wrong.

With my warning, he probably wouldn’t openly show hostility toward Leonore anymore.

Leonore nodded with a grateful smile, and Rain, sitting next to her, also silently bowed to express his thanks to me.

—-

After their argument was settled, Frider introduced the rest of the people to me.

Of the nine people gathered in the meeting room, six were familiar faces, but the other three were individuals I was seeing for the first time.

First, the three knights who had reached the level of Master: Frider, Leonore, and Millia.

If there was anything unusual, it might be that all three were female knights.

According to reports from House Faelrun, Leonore had been lent a True Silver Sword, and Millia, who had suddenly risen to Master level, had been given an iron bow with a metal riser and a great bow nearly 3 meters in length.

Both were bows that ordinary archers couldn’t even draw, but with strength enhanced by the power of Karma, they could be handled sufficiently.

There was the silent Karl, and Rain and Ellen sitting right next to their respective masters.

In their case, they weren’t invited to the meeting room because of their skills or positions, but had simply accompanied others.

The other three were said to be personnel from the Church of Menes and the Imperial Army.

Since I had never seen any of them before, they probably weren’t particularly outstanding individuals, but they were representatives of the forces currently remaining at Faelrun Castle.

Priestess Flora and High Paladin Noah.

And Knight Silvan of the 1st Corps, who had suddenly become a commander because all the knights of higher rank than him had died.

The Church of Menes. I thought they had all gone down with Valdemar, but there were still some remaining.

The god they serve, Menes of the Moon and Dreams, is one of the 11 Major Gods and is especially welcomed in the north.

The miracles of the Church of Menes were particularly effective against werebeasts.

For example, one of their representative miracles, “Moonsilver,” like the “Sword of Radiance” of the Church of Elpinel, is a blessing that enhances weapon power by wrapping it in holy light… but strangely, it has the effect of hindering the regenerative abilities of werebeasts, similar to silver plating.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Baron Median. I heard you are a knight of Elpinel, but meeting you in person… it’s truly strange.”

“Strange?”

Flora tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

Something seemed odd, but her expression was full of doubt, as if she herself wasn’t certain.

“Protection… no, rather than protection, I should say observation. I can feel Menes’s gaze circling around you, Baron. Perhaps, have you had any peculiar dreams?”

Peculiar dreams?

Wait a minute. Could it be…?

“I have had a few unpleasant and bizarre dreams.”

Dreams of marrying Demian. Dreams of becoming an idol. Dreams of becoming Leopold’s wife, and even dreams of dancing with Boris?

Just recalling them made my face contort as if I had bitten into rotten oysters.

Seeing my face, Flora gave a bitter smile tinged with sympathy, as if she could guess what kind of dreams they were.

“Menes is fond of pranks. Those dreams you had were probably… pranks played by the deity.”

…I suspected as much, but to think they were really a god’s pranks?

“No, but why…?”

“Well, Menes governs the moon and dreams, madness and rest. Even we find it difficult to understand what intentions lie behind the deity’s actions.”

She’s saying he’s crazy so no one knows what he’s thinking.

Fine. For now, I’m satisfied just knowing the culprit.

Menes. If you play pranks in my dreams again, I’ll smash everything you hold dear.

Lacy will take care of the aftermath.

—-

“Well, now that we’ve all been introduced to each other, shall we get to the main point?”

Frider lightly tapped the table to set the mood. Everyone’s attention turned to her.

“You all know the situation, right? It seems the beasts, tired of waiting, are coming. Straight here. So… we need to prepare to welcome them. Let’s have a battle of revenge.”

Her cold smile was filled with deep and intense killing intent.