The Saint King (Holy King) 3

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Allied reinforcements swiftly converged via warp gates, concentrating the continent’s full military might in Muspelheim.

Including the Paladins, senior dignitaries too gathered at Muspelheim’s royal palace as the first Paladin Council convened.

Foremost among their predicaments involved ascertaining the enemy’s true intentions.

“Just what are they thinking…?”

Poring over the strategic map charting the war’s progress, the generals and Paladins furrowed their brows in consternation.

The Alliance utterly paled against the Demon Lord’s forces in sheer strength disparity.

A century earlier, their annihilation would have been assured without Sir Enoch’s presence. No, their current prospects proved even bleaker without him.

While unspoken, none genuinely expected the Demon Lord’s defeat – the enemy simply remained overwhelmingly powerful still.

They merely fought tooth and nail for sheer survival against this invasion.

Yet the Lion King’s existence slightly altered that dire outlook to an extent.

Assessed as potentially surpassing even Sir Enoch in sheer firepower, the Lion King’s accomplishments included the continent-spanning Great Celestial Extremis Barricade fortifications in addition to Muspelheim’s strongest barrier stone.

The Demon Lord’s forces had failed penetrating this triple defensive line.

Thus the frontlines had stagnated over decades with scant progress either way.

The recent northern advances achieved by Apostle Han Doyun represented the first major upheaval in over half a century.

Hence, the Alliance’s sole aim involved defending Muspelheim’s barrier stone territory at all costs as their final stronghold.

Naturally, any total war committing the full Vanguard General roster would overwhelm even Muspelheim itself.

Yet the Demon Lord lacked that decisive option.

The barrier stones enfeebled demonic entities while outright restricting Vanguard General entry – their mere presence within incurred staggering costs.

Should all Vanguard Generals breach those barriers, even conquering Muspelheim through such desperate gambles would cripple the Demon Lord’s forces irreparably.

For reasons unknown even to them, the Demon Lord himself never emerged beyond the Demon Realm – yet this chronic pattern across prior Demon Lords too had become accepted as an inviolable constant, ruled out of consideration entirely.

Hence the current invasion’s inexplicable approach:

“The enemy forces advance in a straight line rather than sweeping the frontlines.”

“You mean to conquer Muspelheim itself?”

Such an advance pattern left their flanks and rear fortifications untouched, a risky tactic inviting encirclement and isolation if Muspelheim itself could not be decisively seized.

‘Yet they failed conquering it before, so why now?’

The Allied commanders failed comprehending the enemy’s rationale – they surely knew such ambitions remained implausible.

Their sole consolation involved Doyun pushing the frontlines far enough northwards to buy them some time for contingency planning.

Alternative interpretations had emerged as well:

“Perhaps their true objective lies with Labyrinthe.”

One elder ventured cautiously.

“Labyrinthe? You mean they target the Saint King?”

“Indeed – should Muspelheim eventually fall followed by the Demon Lord’s unrestricted continental invasion, the nation of Labyrinthe and its mighty Saint King would pose their greatest obstacle as an impregnable fortress.”

“So eliminate Labyrinthe preemptively first?”

“Precisely. While marching towards Muspelheim’s capital currently, they may divert course for Labyrinthe instead. Razing it to ashes would weaken their overall forces, but eliminating the Saint King represents a massive strategic boon for the Demon Lord even at the cost of total annihilation.”

A plausible theory, explaining the Saint King’s intransigent stance defending his homeland at all costs.

“We must dispatch reinforcements to aid Labyrinthe!”

Yet someone immediately raised counterarguments:

“That remains impossible.”

Heineken himself.

“For what reason?!”

The objected elder retorted indignantly.

“Lord Heineken Razvolnic. Given their current advance speed, the enemy forces must be overwhelmingly formidable. Rockenmeyer and Labyrinthe without barrier stones cannot possibly withstand them! In contrast, Muspelheim’s Great Celestial Extremis Barricade remains impregnable. We must allocate deployments to safeguard Labyrinthe!”

A superficially reasonable strategy on its surface.

However, Heineken and a few others appeared deeply troubled.

Steepling his hands before his face in grave contemplation, Heineken eventually spoke:

“Currently, the Lion King remains in seclusion.”

“Pardon?”

Utterly blindsided, the elder faltered in shock.

Nor was he alone – a brief commotion erupted throughout the chambers.

“What in…? You mean His Majesty has become inactive? Since when, pray tell?”

“Top-secret information known only to a handful even among Alliance leadership. Around six months or so, I’d estimate.”

For over half a year, even the Allied high command had remained unaware of the Lion King’s reclusion.

Testaments to the meticulous secrecy maintaining that confidentiality.

“Wh-, What in the… As a ranking elder, am I not entitled to know such critical affairs?!”

“Should the Demon Lord’s forces learn of the Lion King’s condition, the Alliance would effectively cease existing overnight. We had no choice – I implore your understanding.”

Heineken’s tiger-like eyes bored into the man with smoldering intensity until he shrank back cowed into silence.

Glancing around apprehensively, he realized his ignorance proved far from unique – over seventy percent of those gathered reacted with similar bewilderment despite this highest echelon council assembly.

“…Hmph, hmph!”

Given the urgency gripping them, the elder opted to table the matter for now.

“…And the reason behind this condition? Has His Majesty suffered some grievous injury, perchance?”

“Even I remain unaware of the specifics.”

“Pardon me?”

“Those privy to the cause number fewer than five across this entire continent, my own master included.”

A secret known only to the Lion King’s innermost confidantes, their very survival hinging upon it.

Yet that revelation had just been divulged before this assembly itself.

The sheer profundity of that disclosure resonated heavily throughout.

“Then that means…”

Heineken nodded gravely in grim acknowledgment.

“Muspelheim currently stands more vulnerable than ever before. This war may potentially breach our walls altogether.”

The gathered personnel paled, aghast.

“Th-, That cannot be…!”

“Utter nonsense!”

“Then quickly! We must summon His Majesty at once, whatever the cause…!”

Pandemonium erupted in an instant across the chambers.

Observing this unfold, Archmage Undying recalled Doyun’s earlier words predicting this first council’s inevitable outcome:

‘Ultimately, they shall abandon the frontlines entirely to entrench within Muspelheim for the defensive.’

Sir Enoch had foreseen this entire war’s trajectory from the very beginning.

The Alliance remained too weak – now as before, a century ago.

Historically, the sole recourse available to an Enoch-less Alliance amounted to defensive siegecraft alone.

Watching the uproar unfold, Archmage Undying rapped his staff against the floor firmly.

“Silence.”

Thwack.

Emanating mana forcibly sealed the attendees’ protests.

As the commotion subsided, proceedings resumed once more.

“Given their advance speed, Vanguard Generals must undoubtedly be among the enemy forces.”

“B-, But we have Lord Heineken alongside three Paladins, and Apostle Han Doyun whose might matches a Paladin…!”

Heineken interjected again with weighty gravitas:

“…Should more than two Vanguard Generals be deployed, I cannot guarantee our chances.”

“Pardon?”

Only the current paramount Alliance figures of the Saint King, Lion King and – exceptionally – Heineken himself could potentially fight Vanguard Generals on equal footing within barrier stone territories.

To reiterate – only match them evenly, without assurance of outright victory.

“Two Vanguard Generals – under ‘normal circumstances’, the Great Celestial Extremis Barricade should still enable us to endure.”

Granted, the casualties would undoubtedly prove catastrophic – potentially including Paladin losses themselves.

Yet that represented the optimistic scenario at least.

“Under ‘normal circumstances’, that is.”

“What do you imply…?”

In Heineken’s uncharacteristic silence, Bruder continued gravely:

“The enemy grows empowered by some unknown systemic force.”

“Ah…!”

A collective groan of dismay echoed across the chambers.

“Even if only two Vanguard Generals, the Lion King’s absence may render Muspelheim indefensible.”

“…Extremely unlikely, but what if three Vanguard Generals appear?”

“…”

A profoundly heavy silence descended.

Should such eventualities transpire, the consequences would be utterly apocalyptic.

‘Could the enemy truly be marching to conquer Muspelheim itself?’

They almost wished the Labyrinthe scenario proved accurate instead at this juncture.

“If only His Majesty were here… No, failing that, even the Saint King’s participation…”

Someone’s dejected mumbling trailed off despondently.

“…”

“…”

After a prolonged pause, one attendee cautiously ventured:

“But… where is Apostle Han Doyun?”

Archmage Undying provided the answer:

“Doyun has gone to Labyrinthe, claiming to converse with the Saint King himself.”

“Hmm?”

“Labyrinthe, you say?”

Incredulous murmurs rippled across the chambers.

“Surely he does not intend retrieving the Saint King?”

“…”

Archmage Undying remained silent on that matter.

“Hah.”

Those elders familiarwith the Saint King’s resolute convictions regarding Labyrinthe scoffed derisively.

An atmosphere already fraught with tense apprehension only worsened as a few vocal skeptics who had previously praised Doyun’s meteoric rise began voicing open disdain:

“Tch, a meaningless endeavor…”

“Haha. Youth and inexperience, failing to differentiate possible from impossible. But even so, in these dire circumstances…”

While frowning at such disrespect towards Sir Enoch, Archmage Undying could not bring himself to rebuke them overtly.

For he too believed Doyun’s quest would ultimately prove futile.

“Come now, an individual the Saint King himself spurns the Lion King’s own overtures – how could a mere Apostle sway him through whatever means? Does the lad fancy himself Enoch reborn?”

That utterance gave Archmage Undying momentary pause.

‘…Could it be possible?’

While highly improbable, just perhaps…

If Sir Enoch revealed his true identity to the Saint King?

Might that catalyst potentially move him into action?

‘…’

A faint flicker of hope kindled within Archmage Undying’s bosom.