Chapter 538: The Enemy in the North

A majestic music echoed throughout the royal capital.

Music scores were prepared for this day, and beautiful clothes were tailored for this occasion.

Though the royal capital was still in the midst of reconstruction, the festival was greatly decorated to make this moment seem like the culmination of its restoration.

People took to the streets in masses, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new ruler. This celebration followed a triumph, so everyone was celebrating the moment. No one expressed any signs of boredom.

Everyone said that at last a time of prosperity and stability had arrived.

The ceremony took place in the oldest temple of the royal capital.

「…Philos Trait. From now on, you will inherit the name of Ameritz Gharast. May the one god and countless spirits bless your name and grant honor to your reign. 」

The Heraldic Saint Matia, holding the crown, offered a congratulatory speech to Philos.

For generations, it had been customary for the Pope of the Cathedral to crown the King.

However, the Great Holy Church was no longer the state religion of the Gharast Kingdom. The coronation of King Gharast by Matia, the symbol of the Heraldic Order, signaled the end of an era.

Matia and several priests recited sacred words for Philos and placed the prepared crown on her head.

It was at this very moment that Philos Trait, who had been merely the lord of a city and a princess born to a concubine, officially became Queen of the Gharast Kingdom.

「I will fulfill the mission and responsibilities entrusted to me, and I swear to reign over the entire nation as if it were my own flesh and blood. 」

The Queen was crowned, and everyone, including Saint Matia, bowed in obedience. Next, everyone swore loyalty to the Queen and vowed to serve the kingdom.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the opportunity finally came for the appointment as General. Queen Ameritz…Philos received the General’s baton from one of her attendants and waited for Lugis to step forward.

The General’s baton was black with gold embellishments. The colors were inspired by Philos’s dress.

It was meant to convey the message that Lugis should always be prepared to serve the Queen at her side. But Philos narrowed her eyes, wondering how much of that message would get through to him.

And then, a thought occurred to her.

…Or rather, she wondered if that man would actually show up.

Maybe he was just not in the mood to become a General.

It felt like a snake was crawling down her spine. Philos thought that Lugis was the kind of man who could do it.

She had heard that Lugis might try to escape alone in the middle of the night, so she had even made a plan to prevent him, alongside Caria, Filaret and Matia.

Fortunately, that didn’t happen, but Philos honestly believed that Lugis could do anything.

Her heart was pounding. Will he actually come? With this strong thought in her mind, Philos called out his name.

「…Lugis. Come forward. 」

It was a moment of tension. She had never felt more nervous in her life.

Why did she have to be so cornered by one person? It was unreasonable. She even felt angry.

「…Yes. 」

But, as if to blow away Philos’ tension and hesitation…Lugis stepped forward with a short answer.

He was wearing his green military uniform and the gold and black ornaments Philos had given him. He seemed to dislike them, but the colors looked great in a ceremonial setting.

Lugis walked up to Philos and bowed. She felt her heart pounding. From now on, Lugis was going to become her own General.

With this, she had managed to change the fate of the man who had changed her own so many times.

She felt another emotion alongside this dark joy.

He is now my hero, yes, the hero of the Gharast Kingdom. Not of the Bolvat Dynasty, nor of the Heraldic Order.

Philos thought that Matia would have to accept it as fact even if she didn’t want to admit it.

As if taking a knight’s oath, Philos lightly tapped Lugis on the shoulder with the General’s baton.

「Lugis, I hereby appoint you General of the Gharast Kingdom. From this point on, you are our country’s hero, and a father to our soldiers. 」

These words were slightly different from what had originally been agreed upon.

But Lugis responded without any apparent hesitation. He probably didn’t even remember what Philos had originally intended to say. Philos noticed that Matia’s expression flickered for just a moment.

「Yes. I will give it my all and accomplish this without fail. 」

Philos nodded in satisfaction. Even though she knew it was just a formality, it was still very comforting to see Lugis nod so sincerely at her words.

She was well aware that these were twisted feelings.

「So, General Lugis, what will you accomplish? Answer me. 」

These were the words they had agreed upon beforehand.

Lugis agreed that he would say, “defeat the enemies of the nation and ensure victory”. That would be the end of his appointment as General.

That was the way it was supposed to be, and there was no way he could have answered differently.

「The enemies of the nation are now in the north, Your Majesty. 」

Philos’ cheeks twitched. Her eyes widened, though not enough to be noticed by those around her.

This was bad. He was up to something again. A cold sweat ran down Philos’ spine. Such words had never been agreed upon.

And yet, Lugis accepted the General’s baton and began speaking. And it felt as if Queen Philos herself was the one who had asked for those words.

No one could interrupt until Lugis finished speaking.

「Summing up, the Great Demon Zebrililith. The Cathedral boasts that it will destroy it, but it has yet to take action…it appears that the Cathedral’s God cannot defeat the Great Demon Zebrililith. 」

This was nothing less than an insult to the Cathedral, and to the religion known as the Great Holy Church.

Not only nobles and priests were attending this ceremony, but artists and journalists as well, to spread the word about the coronation of the new kingdom more widely.

These words would surely be remembered by them and widely circulated.

Was that the purpose? Philos glared at Matia, wondering who had agreed with this.

But strangely, Matia, too, watched the current situation with wide eyes.

「…Your Majesty. Our enemy is not only the Great Demon Zebrililith, but also the false god who has deceived humanity. I will undoubtedly defeat them. 」

Lugis swore, clutching his General’s baton to his chest. It was proof that he had finished speaking.

Philos’ eyes twisted.

Philos had no idea what Lugis’ intentions were. But even though the Heraldic Order had been established as the state religion, there were still believers of the Great Holy Church within the country.

People didn’t change their faith that easily.

Those people would be branded as rebels if Philos were to accept these words now.

…No. Either way, it was too late, or too soon.

Philos muttered to herself and blinked several times. Then, she opened her mouth.

「I accept your oath. You must lead us to victory, General Lugis. 」

Philos narrowed her eyes as she spoke to Lugis, who bowed to her.

Either way, the Cathedral would not recognize the new kingdom. Despite repeated attempts to negotiate, they showed no signs of backing down from their hostile stance. So, sooner or later, a full-scale conflict would break out.

In that case, one could argue that it would be better to get all of the intentions now.

And, and…and…

Philos looked at Lugis, who bowed to her, and thought…

He said he will do it for me. So, no matter what, he has to make sure he accomplishes it. Philos felt a warmth burning in her heart.

There was no stopping now. Both Philos and Lugis had no choice but to go all the way.

Philos didn’t care whether that meant heaven or the depths of the earth.

I will take this man with me wherever I go. Absolutely.

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