Chapter 66
“Neither the monstrous beasts nor the demons... Their true strength is unknown, so I don’t even know how to plan against them.” “Mm... It ma
“Neither the monstrous beasts nor the demons... Their true strength is unknown, so I don’t even know how to plan against them.”
“Mm... It may sound odd to say this now, but I don’t believe there’s any need for excessive worry.”
“Is there a reason you say that?”
“Well, Your Majesty, you’ve already defeated the Wolf. Even if you had assistance, the Empire’s Masters stood against it as well. This shows that the Empire’s military strength is far from lacking.”
“Are you saying those beasts are weaker than the Wolf?”
“The Wolf, freed after a long seal, was indeed weakened compared to its prime—but even so, it was said to be stronger than the monstrous beasts at their peak.”
As my expression remained grim, the Pope spoke again.
“Hm... Your Majesty, it seems there’s a bit of a misunderstanding. Not all divine or transcendent beings are as powerful as the Wolf.”
“Oh, really?”
I had assumed there were at least four more monsters like that wolf waiting to awaken.
“The King of Beasts was a creature that even two ancient dragons, one holy dragon, and three divine beings couldn’t kill when they joined forces. Though it lacked the power one might call divinity, its raw strength alone placed it among the greatest even before the Great War. So even if the beasts awaken, I do not believe the Empire’s forces—especially with Your Majesty at the helm—will be overwhelmed.”
Upon hearing that, I realized it wasn’t wrong.
Though Xian made slaying the Wolf look effortless, it was not because the Wolf was weak—it was because Xian was strong.
Even the Grand Duke’s magic had failed to inflict fatal damage, and my Masters only managed to take turns holding the creature at bay.
“As for the demonic beasts, we can accept that. But what about the demons?”
“The Green Dragon of the Great Forest is on standby, and a few other surviving dragons are preparing to face the demons. Though this is merely a precaution—Kiriya herself believes the chance of demons awakening anytime soon is extremely low.”
“Of course. Waking a sleeper is far easier than unsealing something. Very well. If the dragons are prepared, I shall focus on unifying the continent and preparing for the beasts.”
“Excellent.”
I turned toward the window—only to find that the sun had long set, and night had fallen.
It didn’t feel like we’d been talking that long... yet time had already flown.
“Very well. Though it’s troubling to hear that monstrous beasts, demons, death, and ancient gods may all become my enemies, the alliance between myself and Kiriya is a great fortune. Let us end here for today and continue at tomorrow’s banquet. Is there anything else we must coordinate?”
“If we are to speak further, it will be regarding the unification of the continent.”
“Then I already have a plan in mind. All I ask of you, Your Holiness, is to prepare the stage.”
They say a rumor has no feet, yet travels a thousand miles.
Less than two days after the Pope visited the Emperor, strange rumors had already swept across the continent.
“Kiriya has acknowledged His Majesty as ruler of the continent!”
“The Emperor and the Pope have formed an alliance!”
“The Holy Kingdom finally reveals its ambitions—to govern half the continent!”
“Calamity is coming! To prepare, the continent must unite, and the Empire must lead the charge!”
Half were rumors planted by the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. The other half spread on their own.
As with most rumors, fact and fiction were tangled together—but Lion King knew better than to dismiss them as mere nonsense.
“Cardinal. Explain yourself.”
As the rumors spread, the Lion King summoned the Cardinal who had been staying in Anon.
It was a bold, even disrespectful act—but even if half the rumors were true, the Lion King had no intention of showing courtesy to a Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom.
If the previous suggestion to surrender had truly been a prelude to joining forces with the Empire to rule the continent, the Lion King was already prepared to mobilize his knights and march on the Holy Kingdom.
“What exactly do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“The rumors. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard them.”
“With due respect, Your Majesty, I have been residing in the temple without any contact with the outside—”
Crash!
Before the Cardinal could finish, the Lion King slammed the table, shattering it with a thunderous roar.
“Damn it! Does Kiriya’s scripture include lines for such pitiful excuses as well? I summoned ten priests and they all said the same thing—and now even you, Cardinal?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
The Cardinal feigned ignorance—but the Lion King’s accusation wasn’t entirely baseless.
It wasn’t written in scripture, but there had been direct instructions from the Pope.
Breathing heavily with rage, the Lion King paused to take a deep breath before regaining his composure.
“Cardinal. These absurd rumors are stirring chaos in my kingdom. Normally, I would have personally punished those who spread such lies. But because this involves the Holy Kingdom, the Pope, and Kiriya, I ask that you resolve this issue yourself.”
Though the request was phrased politely, his tone was anything but.
Once a top contender for the title of strongest Master on the continent—alongside Duke Pale and the Black Swan—the Lion King’s killing intent was so intense that even the knights nearby flinched. Still, the Cardinal remained unshaken.
“Your Majesty. I truly do not understand what you’re saying.”
A Cardinal, aside from the Pope and Saintess, possessed the highest divine power.
Though no match for the Lion King in direct combat—he wouldn’t last twenty exchanges—he did not fear the man’s wrath.
He had served a being far greater, far closer to the divine.
“Hah. So that’s how it is, then.”
“I won’t kill you.”
Saying so, the Lion King rose from his seat, hand moving toward his sword. Just as the Cardinal began to chant a prayer, a noble from Anon burst into the room in a panic.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
He wasn’t a thoughtless man, and yet he had barged in, risking offense.
Rather than explode in anger, the Lion King decided to hear him out.
“What is it?”
“A m-messenger from the Emperor has arrived!”
——————————————————————————-
“Please forgive the intrusion, Lion King.”
“...You don’t seem like someone who should be running errands as a mere messenger.”
“What can I say? With such an abrupt visit, we needed someone who could match the occasion—and there was no one else available.”
The one who had come to meet the Lion King was none other than Kraol, Commander of the Imperial Arcane Legion.
He was someone of sufficient rank to speak one-on-one with the Lion King, capable of space magic, and fast enough to arrive in Anon on time. More importantly, there were few who could escape with their life if the Lion King drew his sword in a fit of rage. That made Kraol the reluctant but logical choice as the imperial envoy.
“So then, what brings you all the way to Anon? No—since you’re already here, I suppose I’d like an explanation about the rumors going around.”
“That’s actually why I came.”
Kraol pulled a sealed letter from his coat and handed it over.
“This message was written by His Majesty and signed by the Pope.”
The imperial seal, a deep violet dragon representing Arhan, was emblazoned on the envelope.
But unlike the Lion King’s memory of the symbol, this one bore white accents instead of the usual black—a clear sign that the Empire and the Holy Kingdom had joined hands.
Now certain that the rumors spreading across the continent weren’t baseless, the Lion King gritted his teeth and practically snatched the letter from Kraol’s hands.
Kraol, half-expecting a sword to come flying his way, nervously reached for the protective artifact he had borrowed from the Emperor. But surprisingly, the Lion King’s response remained calm as he silently read the contents.
“...Are you aware of what this letter contains?”
“I am not. I was only ordered to deliver it.”
“I assume a similar letter has been sent to the Current King as well.”
“I would imagine so. For the record, someone from the Holy Kingdom was dispatched there.”
Hearing that, the Lion King seemed to fall into thought again.
From Kraol’s perspective—unaware of the letter’s contents—the reaction was simply puzzling.
Is he going to draw his sword again?
Considering the Lion King had unsheathed his weapon at the Cardinal earlier, Kraol had good reason to worry—but thankfully, it didn’t come to that.
“...Return to the Emperor and tell him this: I accept the proposal.”
“Proposal?”
Kraol tilted his head in confusion, this being the first he’d heard of any “proposal”—but quickly remembered his role as a messenger. Rising from his seat, he bowed respectfully.
“Lion King, thank you for granting me an audience despite the sudden visit. I shall return now and deliver your reply to His Majesty.”
The Lion King gave a silent nod, allowing the arcane commander to leave.
Once Kraol’s presence had completely vanished, a knight approached the Lion King.
He was the Commander of the Royal Knights—the most elite unit under the Lion King, and the man the Lion King trusted most.
“Your Majesty.”
“Chancellor. Are you familiar with the old Continental Assembly Hall?”
“...I’ve heard of it. In the past, the rulers of each nation would gather there regularly to decide the affairs of the continent.”
“And now?”
“It’s long since abandoned, overrun by beasts, and considered part of the wildlands.”
“The Emperor wishes to meet there.”
“...Will you go?”
Given the Lion King’s temperament, the knight expected him to refuse.
Even if he were to meet with the Emperor, the first proposal would likely be rejected, and then a more neutral location renegotiated.
But the Lion King’s answer defied expectation.
“Yes. I’ll go.”
“...Excuse me?”
“Read this.”
The Lion King handed over the Emperor’s letter.
The knight carefully began reading. As he reached a certain part, his eyes widened and he began to read aloud without realizing.
“I understand that the source of your confidence lies in your personal strength. Let us test it. If I am defeated by you…”
The knight instinctively swallowed and continued, his voice now trembling.
“...I shall give you the Empire.”
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