Ch.578578. Unhindered Succession (2)

At the current point, there are four families leading the kingdom.

One is the Ducal House of Lephelia, positioned at the apex of the central nobility. Another is the Marquisate of Kallia, which repelled the great demon. And though their presence is certainly less prominent than those two, there is of course the Marquisate of Feiosha, which has accumulated competent mages and overwhelming wealth.

But the one enjoying the most brilliant power these days was none other than the County of Sianella.

Rustle, rustle.

“Haah…”

Noah Velleia, who had been constantly comparing Princess Amelie with the current power structure of the kingdom, let out a sigh heavy with darkness.

The documents his breath touched were as heavy as the dark circles under his eyes. Across those papers were chaotic, scribble-like traces of Noah Velleia’s night-long agonizing.

“What on earth was Mother thinking when she joined hands with Princess Amelie?”

The Marchioness of Velleia was not someone who failed to read the flow of politics.

The position of Marquis itself, just by sitting in it, forces one to develop necessary abilities whether one likes it or not.

Especially since Velleia had a tendency to follow stable and reliable paths, even if the profits weren’t that great, rather than going against major trends or exploring new divergent paths.

Noah Velleia, who prided himself on knowing his mother’s tendencies better than anyone, couldn’t help but doubt her judgment.

“…There must be something hidden beyond the southern special trade agreement.”

Adelheid, who had gone to the Empire as part of the delegation. During her temporary absence, the kingdom had fallen into brief confusion. The large-scale territory war among western houses. While the myth of a baronial house breaking through the overwhelming power difference between itself and a baronial alliance was being written…

Princess Amelie had been recruiting houses from the southern region, the kingdom’s largest and finest granary, instead of focusing on the west where everyone’s attention was directed. By whatever means she had used, the Princess who had gained their support reached out to the County of Velleia with various benefits and preferential treatment related to the south, but…

“Velleia wouldn’t be swayed by such trivial things.”

All those numerous rewards were not that significant compared to the traditions Velleia had maintained and the strength they continued to possess.

Noah Velleia couldn’t help but suspect that Princess Amelie must have presented his mother with conditions she couldn’t refuse.

Moreover, whenever he gently brought up questions related to this matter, the Countess of Velleia would only look at him quietly with a small smile.

Noah Velleia made a determination.

“For Velleia’s sake, I have no choice but to stay by Her Highness the Princess’s side and read the situation.”

Since he was the liaison and coordinator between Princess Amelie and Velleia, it was right that he should assess her actions and their repercussions as the closest insider by her side.

That’s why, years after entering the royal palace for Adelheid’s coming-of-age ceremony—

At the kingdom’s most luxurious and splendid conference hall for the official delegation achievement coordination meeting.

“Lord Noah Velleia, recommended by Princess Amelie, is entering.”

Now, as he set foot again as part of Amelie’s faction.

Attention gathered on Amelie, who had managed to recruit Velleia, which had always maintained neutrality.

And curious gazes fell upon Noah, wondering why he had aligned with Princess Amelie rather than even a prince.

“Lord Velleia, this way.”

“Your Highness, I will do my utmost today.”

“Don’t be too nervous. After all, this is a meeting between royal family members who share the same blood. It won’t be that intense.”

Contrary to Amelie’s words.

Noah Velleia couldn’t help but feel it as he saw the Queen sitting in the solemn seat of honor behind Amelie.

And Adelheid, who was staring at him with cold eyes.

“…”

This place was a battlefield borrowing the name of a conference hall.

And Amelie was, as rumors subtly spread throughout central noble society suggested, a heretic who had turned all royal blood against her.

* * *

Woong—

The solemn sound of horns filled the battlefield. That uniquely heavy yet intoxicating sound soon made those guarding the front line look beyond the horizon.

In that moment when the enemy’s appearance became visible to everyone, not just the scouts watching from high towers close to the sky.

The imperial troops who had been diligently defending the line against demons felt a sense of frustration and despair like falling into a swamp, rather than the excitement that comes before battle.

“Saint Artena, demons have appeared with an army that looks to be at least 30,000 strong.”

“Numbers aren’t what matters. What’s most important is what those evil demons have raised. Have you finished confirming?”

“About that… unlike the monster armies they’ve been sending until now, they seem to be sending back our fallen comrades who died fighting alongside us.”

“…Resurrected warriors.”

Endless corruption, the flow of life. Those with empty wills that have escaped that bondage and grown cold.

Their abilities were determined by their achievements and capabilities when alive. While simple monsters remained just that even in death.

Warriors who had experienced war and accumulated battle experience. When risen from death, they retained some ability to implement those sensations from when they were alive.

“Heavenly God.”

Artena sought the divine.

The battle situation was not good.

A brief engagement. But after the demon’s long-term machinations, the soldiers and the Holy Nation’s support troops were already exhausted.

And the enemy not only had numbers, but they were weapons with unending fighting will unless their bodies were completely reduced to dust.

“Today we might lose the front line we’ve been protecting so hard.”

Artena walked steadily to the very front of the battle line, holding her mace.

A woman chosen by the goddess of war and law. She was a saint, but rather than healing and caring for people, she existed to crush those who spread evil in the world. She was the embodiment of the gods’ hostility toward demons.

As she intensified her extreme disgust toward the undead, an overwhelming pressure emanating from Artena’s core weighed down on everyone around her.

“Well, at least they came to the sector our Holy Nation is in charge of. Thanks to that—”

Artena showed a rotten smile, far from benevolent and excessively violent.

“We can start by burning them all with divine power first.”

She began to speak while pouring out her divine power intensely.

“Everyone! Prepare for holy war!”

For holy knights and battle priests, a saint’s orders were absolute.

“If this front line breaks! Within less than a week, the number of sacrifices will exceed 30,000! And God himself will not be able to hold back his lament at the sound of human wailing!”

Everyone drew their weapons at that powerful voice resonating with divine power.

“Everyone recite the scripture! Empowered by God’s voice, until the Empire—no, the Continental Alliance forces back us up! Hold the line and grant eternal rest to those who have been forcibly raised!”

As everyone recited their favorite passages from the scripture.

“Pour it out!”

Vast divine power covered the enemy lines.

While it was the warmest and most comfortable power for humans, divine power was the most powerful weapon against those who wielded Magia. Starting with quite a number of undead falling to the merciless bombardment of divine power.

After Artena pulverized a skeleton’s head with her mace, she tried to catch her breath and check the battle situation, but at that moment.

“This is…!”

Vast amounts of Magia began gathering at the center of the army.

It was fundamentally different from what was currently attacking the front line. The Magia they possessed was so far from being even worthy of the term replica or copy.

While it was the same Magia that revived the dead, this spine-chilling Magia that seemed to lead everything to death could hardly be considered ordinary.

Artena could tell.

“…It’s a great demon!”

That the great demon intended to reveal itself in the middle of these troops.

Even for a saint with the most outstanding combat ability, Artena clearly recognized that it would be impossible to capture a demon of that level alone.

“Damn it…! If only the Empire’s support had arrived a little faster…!”

As her expression soured in real time at that overwhelming presence.

Suddenly, a gentleman with pale skin appeared in the middle of the battlefield.

“So that’s—”

As soon as light returned to the gentleman’s pupils, his gaze turned directly toward Artena.

Not just killing intent, but a gaze full of curses that things would never go as planned.

Beyond that, faced with a presence that even shook the divine protection that had been guarding her, Artena could only grip her mace handle more tightly.

“The true Lord of Corruption—”

Before she could finish her lament.

A presence suddenly appeared beside her, breaking through the saint’s protection and sensing ability as if to show it off.

“It’s a fake. Still, that nasty bastard put quite a bit of effort into this doll.”

“You are—”

“What’s the point of knowing the name of someone who’s about to disappear anyway? Rather than that, I’m just—”

She, wrapped in a thick robe and hood, slowly raised her bow and said.

“Just passing through because this place shouldn’t fall yet.”

The bow imbued with the World Tree’s blessing was loaded with elemental magic that only Edelin could demonstrate on the continent.

When all her concentration was directed solely at the Lord’s doll.

She released her hand holding the arrow, sending her hostility and justice toward the enemy.

Kwaaang—!

As a natural disaster covered the enemy legion with a world-shattering sound.

“Ah…”

Edelin’s hood was blown back by the arrow’s recoil, revealing her appearance.

She then.

“…I definitely need to be careful when using this.”

She merely wiped away the blood that had thickly formed at the corner of her mouth.