Chapter 720

Chapter 720

Crossroad. Temple.

I had numerous conversations with King Poseidon.

Nameless's corruption, the Demon King's return, the state of the Lake Kingdom, and future plans...

And also about King Poseidon's retirement.

He had expended all his physical and mental strength in the last battle against the black dragon. His current appearance, having aged significantly, was proof of that.

"Of course, it only means stepping down from the front lines. I will remain in this city and help in any way I can."

King Poseidon looked at his withered hand.

"Besides, I am still wielding the power of our ancestral deity. At least until I pass this power onto my successor, I must stay here."

I nodded but then paused, recalling Hecate and the Glory Knights.

I had prevented their retirement. I had stopped them from leaving the front lines.

I wanted them to find answers to how they should live moving forward here on the front lines, rather than fleeing in despair, thinking their lives were useless.

But was this the right decision as their superior?

Wasn't it just my unnecessary meddling...?

"Do you have someone in mind as your successor?"

Shaking off my thoughts, I asked. King Poseidon scratched his chin with a somewhat troubled expression.

"I hinted to Serenade about it in advance..."

"What?!"

I blurted out in shock.

"You're going to make Serenade your successor?!"

"No, no! That's not it..."

King Poseidon hurriedly waved his hands with an awkward smile.

"The person I have in mind for my successor is someone Serenade really dislikes. So, I sought her consent first."

"Someone Serenade dislikes?"

"The one I intend to pass the power of the ancestral deity to is... someone every merchant on this continent dreads."

King Poseidon crossed his arms and looked at me cautiously.

"Have you ever heard of the Rompeller Pirates?"

I looked stunned. I vaguely remembered discussing them with someone else a long time ago.

‘Of course, I know. They're the worst pirates in the southern continent, the most notorious among the roaming hostile NPCs...!’

Come to think of it, their leader in the game had...

‘Blue hair!’

He must be of merfolk blood...!

"I plan to make them my successor."

King Poseidon nodded awkwardly as he said this.

‘First the Bandit King Kuilan, now the Pirate King Rompeller.’

It was a moment where connections with new heroes were being made.

Am I going to collect bandits by attributes now, following my role as a master of captured monsters...?

***

The Demon King had returned, and the authority of the royal scepter, which had been so useful, was also reclaimed.

‘Taking back what you gave is cruel...’

Thanks to it, we managed to breeze through the final four stages, but still, it felt a bit disappointing now that it was gone.

And with the Demon King's return, the mysterious fog that blocked the teleport gate had also cleared. Now we could re-enter the Lake Kingdom.

‘This is Stage 45.’

Once again, we were at a boss stage.

This made reconnaissance even more critical than usual, so I planned to assemble an elite squad for a direct scouting mission into the dungeon...

"Wait a moment, lord."

Aider, who had suddenly rolled into my office, stopped me.

"Please decide carefully about entering the dungeon this time. It's going to be... different from usual."

"Huh?"

"Prepare thoroughly before entering. And be aware that after this, many things will change."

After hearing Aider's warning in a daze, I asked.

"So, what are you saying? It's like one of those RPG warnings: 'Entering this dungeon will progress the main scenario event'? You can't go back, so prepare thoroughly?"

"Hahaha!"

At my geeky example, Aider clutched his stomach in laughter.

Across the floating Lake Kingdom, people filled the streets, listening intently to the king's speech.

"And today, finally, after 500 years since the founding, we can proclaim it."

The king slowly stood up.

A brilliant hope shone on his face, broadcast throughout the city.

"Proud citizens of the Lake Kingdom!"

The king roared, spreading his arms wide.

"We have won!"

Cheers erupted from the streets filled with people.

"We have succeeded in repelling the last of the final monster legions!"

Indeed, today was none other than the victory declaration ceremony.

Having eradicated the last bloodline monster legion, this event confirmed that no beings threatening humanity remained in the world.

"Also, I hereby proclaim!"

The king clenched his fist.

"Our Lake Kingdom has seized the hegemony of the world!"

Cheers and applause shook the entire country at the king's declaration. Knights and mages in the audience chamber, unable to contain their joy, shouted as well.

The magical achievements of the Lake Kingdom were extraordinarily advanced. They were incomparable to other human nations and overwhelmingly superior even to the four major non-human races who had discovered and used magic first.

Despite efforts by these non-human countries and even other human nations to bring down the Lake Kingdom, the technological gap eventually became insurmountable.

Representatives of the four major non-human races and envoys from other human nations, attending the victory declaration ceremony, all wore bitter smiles.

For hundreds of years, the Lake Kingdom had fought at the forefront against monsters and achieved magical advancement proportional to the bloodshed.

Now was the time to monopolize and savor the fruits of that labor.

"Be proud, my people! We have protected this world, and we stand at the pinnacle of this world!"

The king shook his fist.

"Now, our Lake Kingdom will remain the undisputed ruler of the world forever-!"

The entire city-state resounded with cheers and applause.

In front of the knights and mages shedding tears and applauding, a young princess, watching her father deliver the speech, also clapped with a radiant smile.

The young princess, with long, flowing silver hair and deep turquoise eyes like the lake.

Her name was Ariel. (TL Note: Lol)

***

At the same time.

While all the 'citizens' of the Lake Kingdom rejoiced at the king's proclamation under the brilliant sunlight.

"Wow..."

In the shadows, all the 'non-citizens' were.

In the outer sector, outside the inner district, they were still handling rough and dirty work.

"It seems there's good news."

Sewer.

A non-citizen boy, helping clean up the sewage, covered in filth and grease, looked towards the distant royal palace.

He listened quietly to the king's victory declaration from afar, then raised both hands and cheered.

"I wonder if I'll ever get to visit that palace someday..."

The boy muttered with a faint smile.

"Now that our country's path is paved with glory, I wonder if someone like me will ever bask in that light."

Immediately, the boy adjusted his grip on the broom with a gasp. The sewer manager was glaring at him with sharp eyes from afar.

The boy diligently swept the trash and rat corpses from the sewers.

The shining royal palace and the glory of the country.

It was all a distant story.

***

The boy didn't know.

That within a few days, he would enter that royal palace.

And that the future path of the Lake Kingdom would be.

Not of glory, but filled with downfall.

At this time, the boy had no idea.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading