Chapter 188 : The Changed Past (3)
Chapter 188: The Changed Past (3)
Raion Canel’s shocked reaction did not stop Regina from continuing her explanation.
―After the delegation arrived, we prepared a banquet for them. That was yesterday.
“A banquet? Did the delegation go crazy there too and attack people?”
―How did you know that, Master? If you say ‘there too’… does that mean the same thing happened in the Mineta Kingdom as well?
“That’s right. How bad were the casualties? My father? Is everyone all right?”
Most of Raion Canel’s key forces were in the Mineta Kingdom.
Of course, the Canel Kingdom’s own military strength was not something to be ignored. However, if the opponents were monsters on the level of mid-tier Swordmasters, the scale of the problem was entirely different.
―The damage wasn’t small, but we were able to stop them. However… because we couldn’t capture them, we ended up killing them all, which only gave the Empire a justification.
Regina, true to her position as the head of an intelligence organization, was already worrying about what would come next.
Naturally, Raion had anticipated that much as well.
“That’s fine. Tell me the exact extent of the damage.”
―234 lightly injured, 123 seriously injured, and 403 dead.
“So a total of 760 people?”
―Yes.
“Then make sure appropriate compensation is provided for those people. Especially for the deceased, ensure that their bereaved families are treated with due respect.”
They were all people who had died fighting to protect the Canel Kingdom.
―Understood.
“Still, the damage is less than I expected.”
―That’s thanks to His Majesty and Commander Diego fighting.
“The two of them?”
―After you left the kingdom, Master, both of them broke through the realm they had been staying in.
Both had remained for a long time at the upper level of beginner Swordmaster.
Before Raion left, he had sparred with them several times.
The experience of fighting an opponent at a higher realm than themselves might have allowed them to knock on the door to a higher level.
Thanks to that, Laskan Canel and Trine Diego were able to step into mid-tier Swordmaster.
“That’s a relief. Convey my regards to them separately. And also look into the movements of each kingdom.”
―To what extent should I look?
“Start with whether the Dior Empire’s delegation also went to other kingdoms. And on top of that, check the movement of the Dior Empire’s forces.”
―As for the Dior Empire, a regular report should be coming in soon. I’ll inform you as soon as it arrives. But aren’t you returning to the kingdom? If His Majesty learns about this incident, he’ll be worried.
It was only natural, since the kingdom’s sole heir was away in foreign lands.
Of course, they trusted Raion’s abilities. Moreover, weren’t there outstanding individuals serving as his guards?
Even so, from the perspective of Laskan Canel, who was growing older by the day, it was impossible not to worry in any situation.
“There’s a place I urgently need to visit. I’ll return once I’ve wrapped things up.”
―All right. Then please be careful.
Regina’s figure floating above the post disappeared.
Raion visited Fordman’s shop located in the plaza of the Mineta Royal Capital.
Smack—!
At that moment, a woman briskly walked out from inside the shop and slapped the cheek of Turklan, who was standing behind Raion.
“Ah…….”
Negis, Jade, and Caldein, who were standing nearby, were also startled.
Raion, knowing exactly who she was, remained still.
Then the stunned Turklan burst out in anger.
“Xenia! What do you think you’re doing!”
“Doing? Doing? This man! After seeing the current situation, is that all you can say?”
“M-me? What did I do!”
“You had me forcibly hospitalized in the Holy Kingdom, and then you got played around by those bad people! Why on earth did you do that!”
“It was because of you! Do you think I did that for no reason!”
Xenia was Turklan’s wife.
She had suffered from an incurable disease, but had recently been completely cured thanks to Raion’s ability.
Whether it was because of that, or because she had always been like this, Xenia raised her voice even more.
“Do you think I didn’t know? But do you think I was happy about it? I’d rather have died!”
“Why would you die!”
“Because of me, you went around doing bad things!”
“I had no choice! Without their support, you would’ve been in danger!”
As he said, Xenia’s body had weakened to the extreme.
If it hadn’t been for Raion’s ability, her condition would have continued to worsen until she lost her life.
But Xenia was furious that her husband had been used like a tool because of her.
“Even so! You still shouldn’t have done it! How do you expect me to look at you!”
“I can’t live without you!”
In that instant, Turklan wrapped his arms around Xenia’s waist and hugged her.
The hostile atmosphere from just moments ago subsided in an instant.
‘Is this what middle-aged romance is…….’
Even though both of them were already in their fifties, it seemed they still had it.
“Ahem, ahem. You two should keep it reasonable.”
“Ah, sorry, Master.”
“Hmm, hmm! We were very rude. And thank you so much. If it hadn’t been for Your Highness, I might have left without even seeing this man’s face.”
Raion Canel had not only rescued her, who had been kidnapped, but had also saved her husband and given them a better life than before.
Xenia offered a polite greeting. She was sincerely grateful to Raion.
“You don’t need to be that thankful. I’m going to squeeze a lot out of Turklan anyway.”
“Please do whatever you like. Use my husband as much as you want!”
“Hey, aren’t you being a bit too harsh?”
“You’re the one earning the beatings. Should I take them in your place?”
“Hahaha. This woman, seriously.”
Though they bickered, their tone revealed the care they had for each other.
Seeing that, a satisfied smile formed on Raion’s face.
“Hahaha, I’ll use him as much as I like, so don’t worry.”
After finishing the conversation, Raion went further inside.
Passing through a secret passage, he went underground and entered a wide space.
There stood a large post that Raion had installed as soon as he arrived in the Mineta Kingdom.
“Is everyone gathered?”
“We’ll begin.”
That was because news had arrived that information from Regina had come in.
With Patrick’s reply, the post activated, and Regina’s figure appeared largely.
―Everyone is gathered.
“How is the situation?”
―First, regarding the delegations. The Dior Empire sent them so that delegations arrived not only at the Mineta Kingdom and the Canel Kingdom, but also at all other kingdoms around the same time.
“So it’s a situation similar to ours?”
―It’s worse. The Danas Federation is an exception due to its scale and the number of high-ranking mages. Aside from that, the leadership of most kingdoms suffered heavy damage.
“Then the Bachenan Holy Kingdom as well?”
―That place doesn’t accept delegations at all, so it’s excluded. Instead, the Boluzan Kingdom suffered heavy damage. Dekelan, Moratz, and Prios had their leadership and even their royal families completely wiped out.
At that report, the others’ expressions stiffened.
With a single upheaval, it was no different from a kingdom collapsing.
“They’re all kingdoms adjacent to the Empire.”
―Places that were practically vassal states. Because of that, it seems they were hit without being able to flee or respond quickly. Also, with this incident, those kingdoms have fallen into the Dior Empire’s hands.
The fate of a kingdom that had lost its head was obvious.
Rather than feeling pity, what worried them was what would come next.
“What about the Dior Empire’s situation?”
―That’s the biggest problem. They’ve begun gathering their forces. According to the first round of information, they’re moving troops toward Harain, Etherna, Fanir, and Kinazen.
Each of those regions bordered the Edina Kingdom, the Canel Kingdom, the Boluzan Kingdom, and the Danas Federation.
That meant they were forward-deploying their forces, ready to attack at any time.
“So they really intend to wage war.”
―I don’t think it will take long before they move. Given the situation, Your Highness should return quickly. His Majesty said the same.
The Canel Kingdom directly bordered the Prios Kingdom. The Dior Empire’s forces could invade straight away.
Of course, the northern border was still being firmly guarded by the Duke of Arenvatz.
But that was only comfortable when the opponent was the Prios Kingdom.
If the opponent was the Empire, there were far too many risk factors.
“I have things I need to look into, so I can’t return immediately. Instead, contact Count Palvin of Kanas and tell him to carry out the plan I prepared.”
―A plan?
“You’ll understand when you tell him.”
―I’ll do that. Ah, His Majesty asked whether forming alliances with the Kingdom of Laboner and the Kingdom of Rozarin would be a good idea. Additionally, the Kingdom of Laboner proposed forming a marriage alliance with their princess.
“Marriage?”
The situation of the Canel Kingdom had spread to neighboring kingdoms.
The sole remaining heir. Moreover, a prodigy who had reached Swordmaster at a young age.
Naturally, to foreign nations, he was an irresistible match.
―His Majesty also asked me to cautiously inquire whether you might consider marriage.
“Somehow……. He didn’t contact me directly.”
A post had been installed in the royal palace as well.
However, regarding marriage, Raion had already drawn a firm line.
He had said he would handle his own marriage.
Even so, it seemed they were quite regretful, so they tested the waters through Regina.
―He’s extremely worried.
“Tell him I’ll handle it myself. And if there are nobles pressuring him, tell them to be prepared.”
―I’ll be sure to pass that on. I can already picture the nobles’ expressions when they hear it.
Raion might not have formally succeeded the throne, but he was effectively no different from the king already.
King Laskan and the nobles knew that well, so they didn’t treat him lightly.
Rather, they were so cautious that only when King Laskan stepped forward, as in this case, did they participate on the sidelines.
“That’s enough for now.”
―I’ll inform you if additional information comes in.
When Regina’s figure disappeared, the atmosphere sank.
With the Empire preparing for war, everyone was on edge.
Then Jade spoke first.
“If it threatens the Canel Kingdom, no matter where it is, I am ready to fight.”
“Me too.”
“I feel the same.”
“Just give the word. Whatever magic it takes, I’ll wipe them out.”
Starting with Jade, the others voiced their agreement.
Seeing that, Raion felt a sense of pride.
“Even if you’re certain to die?”
“Isn’t the Empire planning to leave no one alive anyway?”
The knights afflicted by MAGUS that they had seen at the banquet were exactly like that.
It gave them a clear image of how the Empire might attack.
“I have no intention of dying, nor of losing. That’s what I’ve lived for.”
“As expected……!”
“Once we finish confirming things at the Bachenan Holy Kingdom, we’ll move as well, so you should steel yourselves.”
“How should we redeploy the troops?”
That was Negis’s question. They had just finished sending back the forces that had been used to fight the Mineta Kingdom’s civil strife.
They were scattered while moving through the Danas Federation, but they could be contacted via messenger hawks.
“No. We have to protect our own kingdom too, so leave them. We have forces here as well.”
They were the elite troops Raion had assembled.
Most had entered the realm of Swordmaster, making them opponents no one could easily face.