Chapter 593: The Endless Demon War

Midway between Ashe, the capital city of the Gharast Kingdom, and Fort Medraut, a village abandoned in anticipation of the Great Demon Zebrililith’s destruction served as the meeting place for the New and Old Kingdoms.

There were no people in the village. The fields and houses were likely invaded by monsters. Some parts were burnt down, and signs of destruction were evident.

An abandoned village wouldn’t easily recover. Things built by humans quickly rusted away without human intervention.

Naturally, similar incidents were occurring frequently in other villages as well. People had to flee not only from Zebrililith, but also from the demons that had become ferocious after losing their leader. Numerous scars remained on the land of neighboring countries. Reconstruction would take countless years.

Such abandoned villages had been used as meeting places several times. They were less visible to the public, yet the roads for carriages remained intact.

「Did Lugis not make it in time? It’s understandable, considering he’ll have to catch up to the carriage on foot…」

Saint Matia murmured as she stepped out of the carriage, as if remembering something. She spoke casually, deliberately, not wanting to spread her inner unease to those around her.

Beside her stood Caria, who reeked of iron while her silver hair was swirling in the air.

「He said he’d catch up later. So he will. He’s not the kind of person to be killed by just anyone now. 」

It seemed like an unusual attempt at encouragement. Matia tried to nod to Caria’s remark.

Although Caria had said something reassuring, her expression was the complete opposite. Her pale skin had turned even paler, and her eyes had transformed from those of a seasoned swordsperson to those of a maiden on the verge of tears. It was clear she was harboring an overwhelming amount of emotions.

It seemed that those words were more of a reminder to herself than something she was saying to Matia.

「…Yes. I’m not thinking about him dying. But he’ll probably just wander off somewhere else again. It’s troublesome that I can’t control his actions. 」

「Absolutely. Even the rainy season sky is calmer than him. 」

While leaving footprints on the ground, Matia looked directly into Caria’s silver eyes, thinking, “This isn’t good”.

Like Lugis, Matia’s relationship with Caria, Filaret and Eldith were no longer that of strangers. They had often shared the same carriage when traveling somewhere, and she couldn’t count how many times they had helped her.

That was when Matia learned. Caria was the most unstable of the three closest to Lugis. The other two, the sorceress and the Elf Queen, had other things reflected in their eyes.

But for Caria…

「Saint Matia. It seems the Old Kingdom’s side has already arrived. 」

Just as Matia’s thoughts were beginning to drift into deep thought, Largud Ann, who was accompanying her, pointed towards the inside of the village. Judging by the faint dark circles under Ann’s eyes, it seemed she hadn’t rested despite being in a carriage loaded with sleeping berths.

Seeing her, Matia finally pulled her attention back from Lugis to the current situation. She took two deep breaths. This was her battlefield.

Matia possessed no extraordinary martial prowess. As a Saint of the Heraldic Order, it had been a long time since she had wielded a spear on the front lines. A wrong move could easily lead to her being killed even by a common soldier.

Her battlefield lay outside the chessboard. Her and Ann’s true strength laid in the off-board negotiations…how to seize the greatest possible outcome using the victories their soldiers had achieved.

Leaving the young Leu behind in the carriage with the cavalry, Matia, along with Ann, their bodyguard Caria, and a few other civil servants, headed towards the center of the village. The enemy came into view before she could feel the chill.

「It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Saint of the Heraldic Order. You possess a beauty that lives up to the rumors. 」

A simple table and several chairs were set up in the center of the village. There seemed to be no traps in the open area or the surroundings. A cavalry unit had been sent out beforehand, but no concentrated soldiers had been spotted.

The large man who addressed Matia stood to greet the New Kingdom’s representative, rather than sitting in a chair. His demeanor alone made it immediately clear that he was the Old Kingdom’s negotiator, the central figure.

「My name is Roymetz Formor. Today I have come as a representative of the National Protector, Jace Brackenberry. 」

He was a relative of the King and the head of the Formor Family, a high-ranking noble family. He was undoubtedly among the highest in terms of noble rank.

There was no trace of the tragedy that drove him from the capital or any emotion regarding his own circumstances. His demeanor revealed a bold and cheerful nature, yet the refined elegance in the details of his actions was surely due to his noble lineage.

Matia introduced herself and returned the bow, then exchanged a brief glance with Ann.

「I, too, have been entrusted with full authority by our Queen and am here. Let us hope that today’s negotiations will be fruitful. 」

She knew that Roymetz would be present today. That was why Matia had come here. To conclude the negotiations.

Whether the New and Old Kingdoms could reconcile without conflict depended on this meeting. There were still issues with the demon…the being calling herself Altia. Nevertheless, if things went well here, the concern of repeated wars between humans would disappear.

This was a meeting where both sides absolutely had to avoid collapse.

Ann exchanged a glance with Matia before sitting down for negotiations. Then, she whispered. Her gaze fell upon the two knights that were standing by Roymetz’s side.

Both are exceptional individuals. The ferocious Garras Gargantia and the guardian Valerie Brightness.

The moment Matia heard this, her eyes widened, and she let out a silent sigh of relief. It was so quiet that not a single sound escaped her lips.

…She truly felt relieved that Lugis wasn’t here.

Garras Gargantia was the successor to the Knights of the Holy Order, revered as a knight of honor. His appearance, with its sharply slanted eyes, even suggested a wild, almost primal look.

Having made a name for himself in various countries as the foremost knight in the past, he narrowed his eyes, showing little interest in this meeting.

The problem was the other person.

Valerie Brightness. She was the one who captured Fort Medraut, held by the New Kingdom, and threatened the royal capital. Her Silver-Rimmed Ultramarine army was the most elite force in the kingdom.

Like Garras, there were few who didn’t know her name. If the Human King Medic was a hero of the mythical age, then these two were modern-day heroes.

「…We’ve only just seen our soldiers shed blood, and yet you’re here at these negotiations? Have you changed your beliefs, Silver-Rimmed Ultramarine? 」

「The battlefield has many faces. Surely someone like you wouldn’t be unaware of that; you’re not some powerless little girl, are you? 」

Caria said while her gaze fixed on Valerie. Valerie replied without changing her expression.

There was even a hint of clashing between them, but they refrained from further conversation, likely because they understood the situation. They gritted their teeth and suppressed them.

Once again, Matia was grateful for Lugis’ absence. Things wouldn’t have ended like this if he had been here. He would’ve drawn his sword right here, even if it meant turning the entire Old Kingdom against him.

After all, Valerie had killed his master. He was strangely rational in some ways, yet surprisingly emotional in others. Matia didn’t think he would remain calm seeing his enemy.

「Sorry, Burdnick. We’re just bodyguards. We’re nothing more than that. The Knight’s Code says not to engage in pointless battles, doesn’t it? 」

Garras seemed genuinely uninterested. Perhaps, he wasn’t suited for negotiations, given his personality.

After Valerie and Caria each took a step back, the people involved in the negotiations finally took their seats. Roymetz and Matia were at the center, surrounded by civil servants.

「But the fact that the Saint has come means that the Queen is…」

Roymetz was the first to speak. He probably wanted to end the already obvious conclusion before getting into practical matters. Matia agreed on that point. She had no interest in beating around the bush when the matter was obvious.

「…Yes. We, the New Kingdom, have no intention of changing our state religion from the Heraldic Order. This is the Queen’s will. Please understand that this point will not be discussed in negotiations. 」

「So, you’re saying that even the original Great Holy Church followers should change their god? 」

「No. However, the national doctrine will not change. 」

Matia was here as the Queen’s representative. There was no point in negotiating the state religion. Moreover, as the Saint of the Heraldic Order, she would never make concessions to the Great Holy Church. Roymetz understood this as well.

What was crucial to him was how things would proceed from here and securing conditions that would serve as bait for the various nobles he had brought under his control.

But before that, there was one more thing he needed to settle.

「I understand the conditions of the state religion. It will be a financial burden, but I will persuade the nobles. The troops will be assembled by the protectors. However, there is something else I must discuss with you, Saint of the Heraldic Order. It concerns our…Saint Ariene of the Great Holy Church. 」

Roymetz’s massive frame intensified, and the wrinkles on his face even cast a shadow. This was supposed to be a meeting to confirm the terms of the prior negotiations, but he introduced a different topic.

Matia and Ann’s expressions hardened slightly. Caria’s too.

「A secret letter arrived from Saint Ariene. Not to me, but addressed to the Protector…To summarize, it says that…a demonic force has infiltrated the Cathedral. 」

Roymetz spoke with a pained expression, yet his eyes held a sincere gaze. It was Ann, not Matia, who reacted. Doubt, rather than unease, was more prominent.

「If I believe in your words, then you’re saying that evil still resides in this country? 」

Roymetz nodded, shaking his massive frame. A shock like lightning swept through the surrounding area.

「Saint Ariene may also be unable to move freely. There’s even less time for internal strife. Our war against the evil is far from over. 」

Roymetz said, struggling to utter the heavy, bitter words.

Matia recalled Lugis’ words behind her eyelids.

…An evil being calling herself Altia is clinging to the Cathedral.

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This is getting pretty interesting…!

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