Chapter 440: The Leaders’ Resolution

The main area of the royal capital Arche in the Gharast Kingdom was originally supposed to be the Palace and the King’s throne.

But now there was no sign of them. The whole area was covered in smoke and ash, and there was no trace of its former glory.

The King was no longer in the royal capital. Therefore, what people looked up to with reverence was a place that was relatively safe. A temporary throne was set up there.

A person, dressed in a jaded green outfit, opened its lips in a natural manner while sitting majestically on that temporary throne.

「I said no. I’m not going to take the throne right away. I’ve made myself clear. You can leave if you don’t have anything else to say. 」

Philos Trait. The Illegitimate Princess. When she heard that name, Philos shrugged off the words of the nobleman who bent down before her eyes.

The man stroked his beard, saying that the current situation was like having no island to cling to. The man paused for a moment, and then rolled his tongue again.

「However, Princess, the people of the capital have finally returned to their daily lives and are looking forward to their new ruler. Just like a tree, branches and leaves cannot grow without roots. Please use your name and inherit the Gharast Kingdom to lead the people for peace. 」

The man spoke with a calm voice. He sounded reasonable and his intonation indicated that he had received an aristocratic education.

The man’s name was Biomondor Gagari. Among the nobles who helped Philos Trait on this journey, he was the quickest to rise and the man with the greatest merit.

Even in the battle to retake the royal capital, he was the only one who boldly led his troops forward while the other nobles were reluctant.

That’s why he was now able to exchange words with Philos while looking directly at her. He was truly one of the people who led Philos to the throne.

Biomondor spoke while moving his beard.

「Princess, I want you to make a decision. 」

Upon hearing those words, Philos lifted her shoulders in an exaggerated manner and replied.

「How many Kings in the past have taken their crown at any time and place, and then immediately lowered their heads to the ground, Lord Biomondor? I will be the one to choose the time and place. That’s all. 」

And when is that happening? When Biomondor made that question, Philos said that she had already decided. Her monocle stood out by showing her inner emotions.

「I can’t be crowned unless I’m in front of the hero. You’re not the only one who made me sit on the throne. Who killed the magical devilish being, liberated the royal capital, and saved the people? Who did it? 」

How could I sit on the throne without him? Philos touched her green outfit gracefully while speaking with a smile on her face. Biomondor couldn’t help but look at Philos intently. He looked clearly confused as he furrowed his eyebrows.

Despite being an aristocrat, Biomondor wasn’t good at hiding his facial expressions, which was one of the reasons why Biomondor was unable to rise to prominence in the past.

Of course, Biomondor understood what Philos was saying.

The people of the royal capital knew there was a hero who killed the demonic beings who tormented them, and thus driving those beasts to their downfall.

That hero was now a symbol of salvation and peace. The Demon Killer. Those two names had great significance in the midst of this catastrophe.

In order to ascend Philos to the throne, one of the options was to raise that hero in a big way and use him as a sword to support the royal power.

Nonetheless. It was certain that now was the right time to act. Since Philos had not officially taken the crown, the kingship still lay with that northern King.

In other words, Philos was nothing more than the leader of rebels. Defending the Princess without the King’s consent was nothing more than pointing a spear at the King.

That’s why they had to act quickly. When the King abandoned the royal capital and the Princess recaptured it, a small amount of legitimacy fell into Philos’ hands.

It was highly probable that the opportunistic local aristocrats would side with Philos once the coronation ceremony was completed. A crown was something that had great power.

That’s why Biomondor couldn’t hide his impatience. They didn’t know when the King who ran away would come back. If that happened, the King would immediately send to the execution ground all of those who sided with Philos, Biomondor included. His dreams of becoming successful would shatter.

Besides, there were other things to worry about. Just when Biomondor had such thoughts, a voice rang out.

「…Apparently, the situation has taken another course, Lord Biomondor. 」

Biomondor turned his head and looked at the voice. One of the people who led Philos to the throne was there.

Matia, the Saint of the Heraldic Order. She waved her long hair in the air and spoke with a deep voice. The movement of her fingertips looked sophisticated.

「A message has arrived with information about the Bolvat Dynasty’s movements. The message has confirmed their territorial advance as an unmistakable fact. The city-states only have a few days at most before they fall in the control of the Bolvat Dynasty. 」

Biomondor and Philos felt the atmosphere become tense. Everyone began sweating and got speechless for a moment.

Matia continued her words and opened her mouth, forcing the air out of her throat.

She explained that each city-state had sent messengers to the Bolvat’s army to negotiate, but none of them had returned. They were advancing their troops without stopping. There was no dialogue or any communication.

The city-states were also working together to strengthen their defenses, but it was unclear how long they would be able to withstand against the Bolvat Dynasty’s elite soldiers. Their only hope was for demonic beasts to attack them in the death snow.

「There are 8,000 magical armored soldiers…and Mastigius is the general who leads them. It must be a heavy burden for each city-state. 」

「8,000! And Mastigius! If that’s true, then they’ve got more than twice the soldiers! Why did they abandon the protection of their nation even though they were being attacked by demonic beings? 」

Biomondor opened his mouth as if to express exactly what was in his heart. His expression was flustered with shock and agitation, and he seemed unsure of what to say and do.

Matia, on the other hand, let out a deep sigh and spoke with a calm voice as much as she could.

「Fortunately, I heard that Gharast’s main army is busy dealing with the existence of the Great Demon Zebrililith, known as the Bastion Beast. If that’s the case, then we can take measures to stand against the Bolvat Dynasty, Princess. 」

When Matia called her a Princess, Philos tilted her eyes, feeling uncomfortable. It was true that she wasn’t used to that name, but it felt strange to hear it from Matia’s mouth, who had been standing next to her and treating her as an equal.

But that was what it meant for her future role. Philos swallowed that name and looked up.

「I’m sure you have an idea, Saint Matia. I’d like to hear something that would impress even the gods. 」

Philos spoke with confidence. She had never seen Saint Matia cry like a helpless girl, saying that she didn’t know what to do.

Perhaps Matia never stopped thinking. The next, and the next, and the next, she couldn’t stop the swirl of thoughts. She was the Saint of the Heraldic Order, and maybe she had to be that way.

Matia nodded and responded calmly.

「One plan is to concentrate our forces in the walled city of Garoua Maria, the base of the Heraldic Order, and attack the enemy soldiers head-on. 」

Among the city-states, Garoua Maria was a walled city that boasted a strong structure.

As long as they clustered their supplies and troops there, even if the elite soldiers of the Bolvat Dynasty attacked like locusts, there was a high probability that they’d be able to withstand it.

If they endured, time would become their ally. In order words, the falling death snow would force the enemy soldiers to retreat.

Although this seemed to be a useful measure at first glance, it was filled with problems.

First of all, most of Garoua Maria’s Heraldic soldiers were dispatched due to the recent Heraldic Order’s civil war. The current number of soldiers was at a minimum.

Even if they tried to forcefully bring in troops and supplies, the main power of the Heraldic Order still remained in the royal capital. There were soldiers who were meant to protect the vicinity of the royal capital.

Simply put, they didn’t have enough soldiers or supplies. This would only be possible if they were able to gather troops and supplies from the surrounding city-states.

Matia added as she moved her lips.

Then, her lips closed for a moment. Matia’s eyes opened involuntarily. The words that had come out of her mouth so smoothly just moments ago now felt strangely stiff.

Matia knew the reason why. A person came to her mind behind her eyelids.

…What would he say?

Matia felt reluctant. Her fingertips were even unsteady.

She didn’t know if the other option would be successful. And she didn’t know if he’d hate her or not.

Matia heard the painful sound of her heartbeats. It was definitely her own sound. Something seemed to be leaking in her eyes.

Matia thought that it was impossible for her to be a righteous Saint of the Heraldic Order. Intelligence, reason, and calculation were qualities which she had to believe in. Even so, she didn’t want to follow them strictly because he could hate her.

It felt pathetic and shameful.

Matia put her fingertips on her forehead and said in a strangled voice.

「…The other plan is to make the royal capital our base in order to prepare for the war campaign while the Bolvat Dynasty is showing its fangs against the city-states. Once the enemy’s front line has expanded, we will send our troops from here for the first time. 」

This plan was the more realistic one. Matia explained with trembling feelings.

The image of her hero, who was not here, but was probably in the city of Philos, was flashing through her mind. Matia grabbed the golden ring in her hand tightly.

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