Ch.335Chapter 335 – What Happened in the Kingdom (1)

“What is this situation?”

The soldier analyzed the scene visible through the slightly parted curtain.

A princess holding a sword.

People standing at a distance, as if giving her room to swing freely.

A man kneeling before her.

“W-what’s going on? Surely not an execution?” Chris asked with startled eyes.

And as if hearing Chris’s voice, the princess seemed to look in our direction.

Apparently, due to the silence inside, Chris’s voice had carried clearly.

Immediately, Chris spoke quietly with a frightened face.

“Ah, um, should we come back later?”

“That won’t be necessary. It’s fine if more people join us.”

It was the Domestica who quickly approached us and spoke.

Then she grabbed Chris’s hand and said:

“We were just about to begin, so this is perfect timing. Goddess, please bless us.”

“Pardon?”

With that, Chris was dragged inside.

Not wanting to abandon her, we also cautiously entered.

Chris was pulled to stand between the kneeling knight and the princess.

When she made a face that said “what am I supposed to do,” Princess Gabriella whispered something to her.

Soon, Chris nodded with a bewildered expression, and the princess gave a slight smile before saying:

“Then let us begin.”

She raised her sword.

The kneeling man bowed his head.

Gabriella tapped the man’s shoulder once and his head once with the sword, saying:

“In the name of Princess Gabriella, I declare.”

With a serious face, she continued:

“Lord Colonis. You clearly attacked, killed, and fought against my soldiers alongside the royal guards.”

The man kept his head bowed.

“However, in a situation where no one else was willing to take responsibility, you sought forgiveness with your own neck and tried to save your subordinates. I highly commend your willingness to accept the consequences rather than fleeing to save yourself, and I swear not to take personal vengeance against you. At the same time, I pray that the Goddess will forgive the sins of you and the royal guards.”

The princess planted her sword on the ground.

Then, looking at Chris, she said:

“I beseech the Goddess. My subject momentarily lost his way and committed the injustice of raising his sword against the divine, but he is now repenting and seeking forgiveness. Goddess, please show mercy and forgive him.”

“I-I forgive him.”

Perhaps due to being suddenly dragged in and pressured by Princess Gabriella, Chris’s tongue seemed slightly tied.

Still, she seemed to remember the procedure as she quietly placed her hand on the knight’s shoulder and said:

She was slightly glowing, as if using a bit of divine power.

“In the name of the Goddess who guides lost sheep, I absolve you of your sins.”

“Glory to the Goddess’s mercy.”

Gabriella bowed her head as she spoke.

And the people inside the tent followed her, bowing their heads to Chris in respect.

Of course, having been suddenly dragged in, Chris was glancing in my direction as if wondering if this was okay.

But her part seemed to be over now as Chris stepped back, and Gabriella looked down at the knight again and said:

“The Goddess has forgiven your sins. Now serve me beyond what you have done, and earn merit. Use the courage you showed in trying to sacrifice yourself to save others to serve me, and ultimately, the kingdom. Now I ask you:”

The princess held her sword horizontally and said:

“Lord Colonis, do you swear before the Goddess to become my knight and devote yourself to the kingdom?”

“I swear.”

“Do you swear before the Goddess to risk your life to quell the kingdom’s turmoil?”

“I swear.”

“Do you swear before the Goddess to use your sword for the king above and for the people below?”

“I swear.”

Gabriella smiled and said:

“Here, under the name of Firenchena and the Goddess’s blessing, I proclaim that you have become my knight.”

“I sincerely thank you for your mercy!”

I could see the royal guards thanking Gabriella.

Soon, I could understand why this theatrical performance had suddenly taken place.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed, as Eve nodded.

“It seems she’s decided to embrace them to expand her influence.”

“Even using Chris in the process.”

I figured it was a tactic to reduce potential dissent by invoking not just her own name but also Chris as a goddess.

Of course, it wouldn’t work elsewhere, but among the resistance fighters here, many had witnessed Chris exercising her divine powers, so it might be somewhat effective.

‘Still, springing this so suddenly feels a bit much.’

While the princess surely had her own considerations, and Chris herself would probably be fine with it, I made a mental note to ensure we received an apology and compensation for this later.

Eve seemed to have similar thoughts as she looked at me, and I nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Chris discreetly made her way back to us, and Sera moved her behind us while asking:

“Will this be alright?”

Eve smiled at Sera’s question.

“She must have calculated and decided this on her own. I think it’s best for us to stay quiet.”

As Eve finished speaking, I could see the royal guards rising and bowing to the princess.

+

After the brief commotion settled, the royal guards left the tent.

They went to announce that the princess and goddess had agreed to forgive them and to open the castle gates.

“Well, that’s one matter resolved.”

Princess Gabriella sighed softly as she spoke.

Then, sitting in her chair, she looked at us.

“So, what brings you here? I see unfamiliar guests—did you come to introduce them?”

“These people are—”

“Let me handle this myself.”

Diana stopped me as I tried to make introductions.

Then she looked at the princess with a confident expression.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Gabriella. I heard there was a major battle, and you’ve achieved a splendid victory.”

“Thank you for the compliment. But it wasn’t just me—many people helped secure this victory.”

The princess smiled gently as she spoke.

“So, what brings you here, General Diana?”

“You know this old woman?”

“I’ve heard descriptions from a cleric I know. They said you were a remarkable woman.”

She was probably referring to Priest George.

Diana smiled and said:

“First, I have something for you, Princess. I’ve brought a personal letter from Princess Liriel of the Mikea Kingdom.”

“Please give it to me.”

At Gabriella’s words, the Domestica approached Diana.

Diana slowly handed over Princess Liriel’s letter, and after the Domestica returned to the princess’s side, she first opened and examined the letter before showing it to the princess.

Soon the princess looked at the letter and said:

“…According to this letter, your purpose for coming here is related to the soul-devouring formation.”

“That’s correct.”

Diana nodded as she spoke.

After thinking for a moment, the princess quietly said:

“How curious. According to the last information I received, a soul-devouring formation also appeared in the Mikea Kingdom, didn’t it?”

“Our country had many young heroes. Thanks to their help, we succeeded in destroying the formation.”

And then, Diana quietly smiled and added:

“We also beheaded the two main culprits who installed the soul-devouring formation.”

“Culprits?”

“Demons. Haven’t you received this news?”

Gabriella shook her head at Diana’s question.

“I had the opportunity to learn that demons had reappeared and that they had summoned the soul-devouring formation.”

“You were faster than us.”

“But what do you mean by beheading?”

“Two individuals who called themselves demon legion commanders invaded our kingdom, claiming they would overthrow it.”

Legion commanders.

They must be subordinates newly appointed by that Demon Lord.

Probably demons who were elevated to the same position as Minos, the commander I fought here.

‘Honestly, they didn’t seem that impressive.’

Still, assuming these legion commanders were at a similar level to Minos, they would be opponents too strong for ordinary soldiers to face.

So two such beings had invaded, but in the end, the Mikea Kingdom had withstood their attack and even killed them.

“…So the Mikea Kingdom weathered this crisis on its own.”

“Several strokes of luck aligned for us.”

“I’m curious how you resolved it. Could I hear the details?”

“I’ll keep it brief.”

Diana smiled as she spoke.

+

Shortly after the sky over the Mikea Kingdom turned red.

Princess Liriel quickly ordered an emergency assembly.

Using her connections from the previous dragon subjugation, she swiftly gathered only the essential personnel.

And at that location, Kara and Diana were also present.

“The child didn’t need to come.”

“Unfortunately, I have some ideas about that red sky.”

Kara spoke quietly.

“You could have just told me?”

“I wanted to say it directly.”

At Kara’s words, Diana resigned herself and headed to the meeting hall.

And there, Kara met familiar faces.

“I didn’t expect someone from the Magic Tower to come.”

“They sent me because Bea wasn’t available…”

Asam spoke with a dispirited expression, apparently relieved to see a familiar face.

And the pink-haired individual next to him looked at Kara with surprise.

“Why are you here?”

“Holy Maiden of the Hati Order, Aria. Good to see you again.”

Kara greeted the woman she had met before meeting Diana.

Aria also bowed in greeting.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

“Thanks to your concern.”

As the two exchanged greetings, a nobleman approached Kara and sat next to Aria.

Then he smiled at Kara and said:

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, friend of the Holy Maiden.”

The silver-haired Count Metis smiled at Kara.

Kara asked somewhat cautiously:

“And you are?”

“I am Count Metis, ruler of the Metis County.”

“I look forward to working with you,” he said quietly.

Kara nodded at the count’s words.

After that, more people began to enter one after another.

Among faces both familiar and unfamiliar to Diana, she saw a holy knight from the Jeoleigh Order entering.

“So it’s Kaal.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your wedding. The children were sick then.”

“It’s fine. Actually, my father-in-law was rather grateful you didn’t come. He said he didn’t want anyone to see him crying his eyes out.”

“I should have gone if I could have.”

Diana expressed regret at Kaal’s words, who had married Rudger’s daughter.

“Did Rudger retire, so you came instead?”

“The other holy knights are busy with other matters.”

“If it’s that strange novel, I’d like to tell them to tone it down.”

“Strange novel?”

At Kara’s question, Diana made a “hmph” sound and said:

“Even so, ‘The White Dragon Warrior who soars through the skies, defeating corrupted holy knights of the fallen order single-handedly, saving people, maneuvering through demon legions, defeating the evil goddess’s holy maiden, and driving away the evil god’—who would believe such an absurd story?”

“It’s popular with the kids, though.”

At Kaal’s words, Diana sighed deeply.

Kara looked at Asam with a slightly guilty expression.

And Asam smiled triumphantly and said:

“Holy Maiden of the Evil God. Anything to say?”

“Shut up.”

Kara sighed at Asam’s teasing.

As Diana looked strangely at this interaction, finally the last person, Princess Liriel, began to enter the meeting hall.

“Everyone, it’s been a while.”

Princess Liriel smiled in the now quiet meeting hall.

And then:

“Let’s begin the meeting. First, does anyone have information about the red sky?”

With her words,

Asam and Kara rose from their seats.

+

“As the meeting began, we first received an explanation about the current situation. Thanks to this child and the witch dispatched from the Magic Tower, we clearly understood what the soul-devouring formation was.”

Gabriella nodded at Diana’s words.

“Wasn’t there any mention of demons at that meeting?”

“The higher-ups already knew about the demons’ appearance. It seems Count Metis had already reported their appearance in his territory to the princess.”

Diana added that they apparently didn’t announce it widely to avoid causing panic.

“Soon we formed an alliance including the Adventurer’s Guild, the Magic Tower, and even the Emiris Order, and immediately dispatched forces to dismantle the soul-devouring formations. We needed many troops because monsters were attacking from all directions and demons were guarding the formations.”

“The Magic Tower located them. That’s because one of the witches attending the meeting was among those who had researched methods to find the soul-devouring formations, so preparations were very quick.”

Kara added her explanation.

Though her sudden interruption might have seemed rude, Princess Gabriella didn’t object.

“At the end of the meeting, Princess Liriel determined it would be best to deal with all the soul-devouring formations simultaneously, so she decided to divide the forces into three groups. Holy Maiden Aria would lead one direction with forces merged from all factions except the Jeoleigh Order, Count Metis volunteered to personally command one direction with knights under Princess Liriel, and I would lead the remaining forces and adventurers.”

“…The Count personally.”

Eve’s face darkened slightly.

She seemed to think he had engaged in dangerous activities while she was away.

Thinking that she was indeed weak when it came to family, I gently grabbed her shoulder, and she pressed herself against me.

“Kay.”

“He wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

For some reason, I felt that the count wouldn’t have put himself in a situation where he could get hurt.

He seemed similar to Eve in that sense.

At my words, Eve pressed herself even closer to me.

She seemed to be calming down quickly.

Noticing Eve’s reaction, Diana smiled and continued:

“The knights led by the Count were the first to dismantle a formation, followed by the order led by the Holy Maiden. The Count’s side suffered minimal casualties thanks to his excellent tactics, while the Holy Maiden’s side benefited from her almost single-handedly pushing back the demons from the front lines.”

It was as expected.

While the Count just gave that impression, Aria had very high combat power due to her holy relic.

Given her personality, she was the type of woman who would push back enemies from the front lines.

With two soul-devouring formations destroyed, what remained was the force led by Diana.

“There, we had to face two legion commanders who came together to defend the formation.”

Even one surviving soul-devouring formation could be restored.

The legion commanders must have decided to focus on protecting just one.

“The demons’ resistance was fierce. Although we had superior numbers, the legion commanders were the problem.”

“You mentioned earlier that you beheaded the legion commanders. So…”

“Ah, it wasn’t me who did it.”

Diana smiled and said:

“It was thanks to the newly appeared Holy Maiden of the Chris… no, the Evgenia Order.”

“Holy Maiden?”

“This person here.”

Diana said, pointing to Kara.

With that, Kara began to emit golden divine power with a confident expression.