Chapter 115: Hero King (3)

Chapter 115: Hero King (3)

Norba Kingdom’s Lord’s Castle.

“Please, save me! Please save me! I- please! I didn’t know this would happen-”

Thunk-!

“Choke-!”

The reporting soldier, looking at the black blade embedded in his neck with disbelief, died on the spot.

Thud-!

The corpse fell backward, and servants quickly moved to remove the body.

“......”

Kelva, watching this, twirled the black blade in his hand with magic before looking at Landaron and speaking.

“...What happened with the mission?”

Kelva, who killed the returning soldier without properly listening to his report of failing to take over Tesnoka territory, asked, and Landaron answered his question.

After listening for a while, Kelva laughed incredulously before speaking.

“...So, this time, that outsider interfered, you mean.”

“Yes, I heard they dealt with it using magic that even Dispel couldn’t properly counter.”

“Phew-”

At Landaron’s words, Kelva let out a deep sigh.

If they can’t destroy Tesnoka territory under the current circumstances, it would disrupt their future plans.

‘No, it won’t be disrupted. It’ll just be delayed.’

Kelva tried to regain his composure amidst the anger and irritation flooding his mind, attempting to think rationally.

He knew well that no proper judgment could be made in an emotional state.

And after pondering multiple times and sighing, Kelva said,

“Damn it all!”

Boom!

After blowing away an entire wall of the Lord’s castle, he was finally able to sit down on a sofa.

“...Let’s end the subjugation here for now.”

At the voice full of anger from Kelva, Landaron responded,

“We will do so, but what will we do going forward? The Holy Kingdom will arrive soon.”

“I know.”

“...If the Holy Kingdom arrives while we haven’t subjugated all the territories, it seems it will be difficult to stop them.”

“It will be difficult, but not impossible to stop. If we delay the plan, it’s entirely feasible.”

Crack-!

“If we delay, that is.”

For a moment, the First Legion Commander crossed Kelva’s mind.

If he could bring her here now, most of the current problems could be immediately solved.

The first division commander he knew was strong enough to do such things with ease.

But paradoxically, for that reason, Kelva erased the thought of the first division commander.

Because if someone with such absurd strength were to learn the truth, it would be a significant problem.

Therefore,

“...Let’s keep our heads down for a while.”

With eyes full of anger and a deep sigh, Kelva-

“For a while, that is.”

-shut his mouth.

About a week after the Norba Kingdom effectively finished its final attack to subjugate Tesnoka territory.

Territory: Lartania

Territory Development Level:

3580

Territory Residents:

[Humans: 20,133]

–Owned Buildings–

[Lord's Castle LV2↑ >>> Upgrading 0%]

[Walls LV3 >>> Upgrading 0%]

[Residential Area LV5↑]

[Blacksmith LV5]

[Barracks LV5]

Thanks to them being firmly locked up, as if Norba Kingdom would not engage in any more wars, she returned to a hill near Lartania.

“...Gerta?”

“Boss, it’s been a long time.”

As Merilda returned, looking at an artifact that was now completely dyed in a deep blood color, she saw Gerta, one of the Four Kings, whom she had not seen until now.

“Gram and Ryu talked so much about the Boss changing that I came to see, and it really has changed.”

Gerta, who looked surprisingly refined for a beastman, clapped her hands with her goat-like eyes wide in surprise at Merilda and laughed; Giral then spoke.

“The group has not been brought here initially, Boss. They have settled in a forest a few days away from here.”

“I told you to manage the group on your own...”

“Don’t you know that there’s no one else but the Boss to lead the Red Eyes?”

In response to Merilda’s annoyed remark, Giral began to report to her about what had happened so far.

Starting from the ‘plan’ they had prepared when Shadra appeared last time to the affairs of the Lord later on.

And then.

“...That gloomy Dragon gave the Master a Teleportation scroll, right?”

“That’s right.”

Giral nodded at Merilda’s words.

“So, I have a good idea,”

Gerta, who had been quietly listening, said.

“...A good idea?”

“Yes. It’s a good idea.”

“What is it?”

Gerta immediately began to explain.

“First, the Teleportation scroll received by the Lord of Lartania has coordinates written on it.”

“...Coordinates?”

“Yes. In other words, if you tear that scroll, the user of the scroll will be transported to a space predetermined by the scroll.”

“So?”

“My guess is, if other heroes are in the same situation as the Boss, the place with these arbitrary coordinates is likely where that dragon is. In other words, the dragon who gave that scroll intends to create a situation where the Lord can be summoned to her location in case of danger, as if to be saved.”

Merilda muttered,

“Huh,”

in response to Gerta’s words.

“That sounds like something a gloomy dragon would think of.”

“But this method is subtly effective. As you know, Boss, when there’s nowhere to rely on and suddenly there is, sentient beings naturally tend to depend on it... In short, it’s clever.”

Gerta tapped her own head, and Merilda responded.

“So, I roughly get what that gloomy dragon is trying to do...but what’s your good idea?”

“It’s simple. We change the coordinates the gloomy dragon has written.”

“The coordinates?”

“Yes. It’s impossible for ordinary people to change the coordinates written on the scroll, but for someone with sufficient magical aptitude like me, it’s easy. In other words, if you, Merilda, just bring me that scroll.”

“...Change the coordinates?”

“Yes, then if anything dangerous happens to the Lord of Lartania, you, Merilda, could be the one to save him.”

Gerta’s words.

Upon hearing that, Merilda unconsciously envisioned such a future for a moment.

Her own figure appearing after tearing the scroll, having lost everything.

Her own figure gently caring for her Master, who is in despair.

Her own figure naturally returning to the territory with him, solving various issues, and helping to rebuild the Master’s territory.

The figure of the Master, having received help in every aspect, becoming dependent on her.

“...Oh.”

Merilda, having thought of those scenes in what could be called a moment, unknowingly let out an exclamation.

“Let’s do it right away.”

Merilda’s red eyes shone.

At the same time.

“...Master, Ruin says it seems entirely possible to change the coordinates.”

“Is that so? Then- we must do it right away.”

Rin also smiled, her purple eyes flashing within the darkness.

...A greedy smile hung on both their lips.