NOVEL WEB Chapter 488
Chapter 488: For the Royal Family (1)
Count Domont paced restlessly in his office, deep in thought.
“Bring a Priest of the Salvation Society…”
In truth, the king was making an unreasonable request.
A Priest of the Salvation Society wouldn’t simply provide treatment. They would undoubtedly impose some restrictions or demand a price.
Moreover, the Salvation Society was already designated as a public entity on the continent. If the king were to ally himself with them, he too would become a public figure of the continent.
If that fact were to come to light, Marquis Branford and the nobles following him would not stand idly by.
“But… if it succeeds…”
It could turn the tide.
Not all Crown Prince Faction members were of the same ilk. It just so happened that Marquis Branford held the strongest power, making him the center of the faction.
If the king were to regain his health, the nobles and lords who had been suppressed by Marquis Branford would raise their heads. Perhaps they could even oust him.
“There are quite a few nobles unhappy with Branford supporting Count Penris.”
Ghislaine was known for brutally suppressing the nobles while pushing forward. This, in turn, earned him the ire of many.
“Especially those nobles deprived of medicinal herbs and the eastern regional nobles.”
Nobles who were deprived of medicinal herbs, as well as those who lost their territories to Amelia, would certainly harbor resentment towards Ghislaine, who supported her.
Therefore, if the king could regain his strength, it would be a fight with promising odds.
Of course, it was a dangerous venture. Any misstep could cost him his life, and the king would become even more isolated.
“I have to do something.”
Despite this, Count Domont wanted to grant the king’s wish.
Having witnessed his pitiful state for so long, he felt a sense of compassion.
And he hoped that Berhem would regain the dignity of a king, even if just once. That was Count Domont’s way of showing loyalty.
“I must find a way.”
It wouldn’t be easy. Marquis Branford’s eyes and ears were spread all over the capital.
It was impossible to make contact with the Duke Faction nobles either; most had either fled or been captured as soon as the war began.
“As a Chamberlain, I can’t leave the royal premises. I would be caught by Marquis Branford.”
After contemplating for a while, Count Domont called for his second son.
“You called for me?”
His second son, Kohlen, was, to put it nicely, extremely lively, and to put it poorly, he loved to play. He was also a knight with a promising future.
He was the perfect person to be out and about, especially during this brief pause in the war.
Count Domont tightly grasped his son’s hand and spoke with a pleading look.
“I have a request for you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a matter of life and death.”
Kohlen, puzzled, listened as Count Domont calmly explained the king’s wishes.
After hearing the plan, Kohlen’s expression turned grave.
“Wh-what do you mean? If we get caught, our family will be finished!”
“I know. Nevertheless, I truly want to do this for His Majesty.”
“Even if I persuade a Priest of the Salvation Society to come, I won’t be able to reach His Majesty. I can’t evade Marquis Branford’s gaze.”
“That’s for me to figure out. Just bring the priest back by any means. You are the only one who can do this.”
“Father! Are you really willing to risk our family? Even if we succeed, Marquis Branford won’t let us off! How long could His Majesty even survive!”
Count Domont grabbed the trembling shoulders of Kohlen firmly.
“It’s for the royal family.”
“Father…”
“And if we succeed, our family could take the place of Marquis Branford.”
“……!!”
“While we are central nobles, our family has nothing. We don’t even have a foundational territory; all I have is the favor of His Majesty.”
Count Domont’s eyes were filled with an unknown longing.
“Except for the capital defense forces, all our troops are moving to the southern front. The Supreme Commander is still in the capital, and the families of the legion commanders remain here. The royal knight order is on our side. Do you not understand my meaning?”
Kohlen gulped.
He understood well what his father was suggesting.
If the king could regain his strength, the subsequent matters would turn in their favor.
Kohlen steadied his mind. It was a dangerous task, but for the family, it was worth a shot.
He realized for the first time that his usually calm and gentle father held ambitions of his own.
“Can the Priest of the Salvation Society really… heal His Majesty?”
“To be precise, it’s not healing. However, if it’s the power they are known for, they could restore His Majesty’s vitality.”
Though he couldn’t be sure, Count Domont believed they could do it. After all, they were the ones who used human life to open rifts and create Holy Knights.
Kohlen sat quietly in thought, while Count Domont patiently waited.
After some time, Kohlen nodded resolutely, his eyes firm.
“I will do it. I will definitely bring back a Priest of the Salvation Society.”
“Thank you, thank you. If we succeed, our family will thrive greatly.”
From that day on, Kohlen resumed his drinking and went out to have fun. No one found it strange, as he was known to love leisure.
“Isn’t the war pretty much over? Sitting cooped up in the capital is driving me crazy. I have to go hunting or something.”
While he blabbered on about such things, a few days later he took some guard knights and servants and headed out of the capital.
Although no one stopped him, Kohlen wasn’t careless.
“I need to throw them all off.”
Though they were knights and servants of the Domont family, he suspected some were likely under Marquis Branford’s orders.
As Kohlen traveled leisurely south, he was soon stopped by his guard knights.
“Your Highness, you shouldn’t go any further. There’s danger up ahead. If bandits show up, we won’t be able to handle it.”
Only three guard knights and two servants had followed him. And those guard knights weren’t particularly skilled.
The further south he went, the worse the law and order became. With these numbers, facing bandits would be troublesome.
“Hmm, you’re right. I should start heading back. Let’s camp out for tonight. I’ll take the first watch.”
After a few days of wandering, the tired guard knights and servants soon ate their dinner and fell asleep quickly.
As the shift change approached, Kohlen confirmed everyone was asleep and slowly drew his sword.
Today, he had deliberately wandered a bit more. His intent was to tire everyone out so they would fall into a deep sleep.
Even if the knights weren’t that skilled, three of them would be a challenge. They needed to be taken care of quickly.
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
When a knight sleeping nearby felt his throat pierce, the remaining two bolted upright.
However, Kohlen was already a step ahead.
Slash! Slash!
“Gah… Why…?”
Caught completely off guard, the knights couldn’t comprehend what was happening as they died.
Looking at the trembling servants, Kohlen spoke with a bitter expression.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know who was watching me.”
Swish!
The servants couldn’t even resist before they too were silenced.
Having eliminated all his companions, Kohlen donned a somber expression and draped a robe over himself.
This was only the beginning. He had to pass through this lawless region safely and reach the south.
It wouldn’t be easy. Bandits would be swarming, and scouts would be lurking everywhere.
Still, he had to succeed. He had memorized the maps and paths where he could hide.
“Father, I will definitely succeed.”
The person he needed to meet was Count Raoul Joseph. He was the brain of the Duke faction.
Kohlen clenched his teeth and embedded his waist with determination.
*
“The Kingdom Army and the Allied Forces are regrouping.”
“The Northern Army is waiting a bit further away. We can’t guess how they’ll move.”
“It seems they’ll pressure us from all around and hit the weakest spots.”
After receiving the report from his advisors, Raoul pursed his lips.
The tides had completely turned. With the Northern Army active, the remaining forces were emboldened and dared to surge towards the south.
If time passed, the encirclement would be completed. If that happened, they would be in trouble.
“The Northern Army is not to be underestimated. They’ve even had new superhumans join.”
They didn’t even know precisely how many superhumans there were in the Northern Army.
It was said that the ‘Guardian of the World Tree’ was among them. This rumor came from a priest who escaped from the defeated 2nd Corps with an arm severed.
“Moreover, there are rumors that the ‘Saint of War’ has also joined…”
There was also the 7th Circle Mage ‘Alfoy’ and rumors that Gillian also ascended to superhuman status.
It was hard to believe, but hadn’t considering things based on common sense led to continuous failures so far? They had to prepare their force assuming it to be true.
“Gathros must also participate this time.”
At Raoul’s words, Gathros nodded.
“Alright, I’ll take care of the Guardian of the World Tree.”
The Guardian of the World Tree was an old enemy of the Salvation Society. To face him, someone of sufficient caliber was required.
“Count Penris will take care of Count Balzac. And Alfoy will be handled by Lord Eloise. We should deploy as many high priests as possible.”
That level of strength should be enough to face the Northern Army. The issue was with the Kingdom Army and the Allied Forces.
“We’ll have to hold out with as few troops as possible. Once we dispose of the Northern Army, the rest will be merely a rabble.”
“It will be a tough fight.”
“There’s no other way. The Northern Army has become too strong.”
“What will happen if they gather together and attack?”
“Honestly, that would be easier to handle. We can concentrate our efforts as well. Our mobility lags behind that of the Penris Army.”
Given the battle record so far, the mobility of the Penris Army could not be matched.
It was easier for them to face an opposing force that clumped together rather than deal with them scattered.
“The technology of Penris is remarkable, indeed.”
The Penris Army was equipped with new material gear. They also carried new combat food.
However, they still had no clear understanding of what exactly these two technologies were.
Combat food and equipment were produced exclusively within the Territory of Penris and kept under strict secrecy.
Therefore, they could only rely on their past experiences to gauge their mobility as accurately as possible.
“For now, we should strike first as soon as we gather our forces.”
Even with slight preparation, this seemed wise. If the Kingdom Army and Allied Forces gathered fully to press down on the south, things would become even more difficult.
As Raoul sketched out a rough strategy and discussed detailed situations with his advisors, the commotion outside the door alerted him as the knights entered.
Raoul frowned and asked, “What’s going on?”
“There’s someone insisting on seeing you, my lord.”
“Who is it?”
“He claims to be the son of the royal chamberlain.”
“Hmm?”
Raoul tilted his head. Right now, they were in the middle of a war. There was no choice but to confront the Crown Prince faction.
But a royal had come? Not an official envoy, but the son of a chamberlain?
How on earth did he make it this far?
Curiosity piqued, Raoul waved his hand, signaling to bring the visitor in.
The person the knights brought in was none other than Kohlen. He was disheveled and covered in wounds.
As soon as Kohlen entered, he collapsed and cried out, “My lord! I am Kohlen, the second son of the chamberlain! We met briefly at a feast long ago!”
“Look up.”
Raoul carefully examined Kohlen’s face. He was dripping with grime, and his hair was a mess, but it was indeed a familiar face.
“Ah, I do remember you. Why have you come all the way here to see me? Are you unaware that we are in the middle of a war?”
It seemed he had gone through quite an ordeal to reach here. It was evident he had come to evade prying eyes.
Raoul was curious about what he intended to say. However, the words that came from Kohlen’s mouth were more surprising than he expected.
“I was sent by His Majesty!”
“What?”
“I came all the way here while avoiding Marquis Branford’s gaze! I came to bring a Priest of the Salvation Society to heal His Majesty!”
Raoul and Gathros exchanged glances, their eyes locking. Gathros slowly nodded.
Raoul feigned a smile and asked, “Oh? You want me to heal His Majesty? Please elaborate.”
Kohlen relayed all the words he had heard. He spoke of the king wishing for power akin to that of a Priest from the Salvation Society and of his desire to rid himself of Marquis Branford.
In a solemn expression, Kohlen conveyed what they would offer in return.
“If this succeeds… the Duke faction will grant the ‘royal family’s treasure’ and fulfill all your wishes.”
“Ho…”
Raoul let out a cold smile. It was evident this wasn’t a lie. He knew all too well that there were problems with the king’s health.
There was no way they would go through such lengths just to take hostages of a couple of Priests from the Salvation Society.
“Did you say… ‘royal family’s treasure’? And that you can grant all we desire?”
“Yes, but you must ensure that His Majesty regains his vitality. That is paramount. Can you manage that?”
“Hmmm…”
Raoul grinned while looking at Gathros. As Gathros rose from his seat, he spoke to Kohlen.
“Well then, it can certainly be done. If His Majesty wishes, I can turn him into a superhuman.”
Gathros’s eyes gleamed with a peculiar excitement. It was an opportunity to obtain what he had long desired, swiftly and easily.
Kohlen looked up at Gathros. Just meeting the eyes of the one exuding dark energy filled him with terror.
Kohlen stammered, “Wh-who are you?”
“You don’t need to know about me. Just consider me someone who will grant your wish.”
Gathros leaned closer to Kohlen’s face, an ecstatic smile plastered on his features.
He looked just like a demon grinning.