Chapter 706: Chapter 706
“Hire us.”
“……”
Alex, King of the Kingdom of Plovitz, was flustered by Ghislain’s suggestion.
Though he was merely a lowly mercenary, he had been permitted to attend a meeting with the lords. That was because the lords had insisted on it.
Alex understood how highly the lords regarded him, but it was infuriating to see someone of such low status step forward so boldly, even ahead of the lords. As a king, he couldn’t help but feel offended.
‘Even a mere mercenary dares to look down on me.’
Andrew and Rio had been promoted to counts. It was only natural, they now controlled Crest County and Count Swifel’s lands.
The fact that they had taken down Count Crest, a vassal of Marquis Falkenheim, meant they were certainly not part of the marquis’ faction. That’s why Alex had been trying to win the two over to his side but both Count Nodehill and Count Larks had been frustratingly passive. Just when he was growing desperate, a mercenary dared to speak up; it only made him feel worse.
“Astion… you said you’re the deputy commander of the mercenary corps?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Alex’s lips twitched. His words and actions were polite, yet the atmosphere felt anything but.
The sly smile, the strangely relaxed demeanor it all rubbed Alex in the wrong way.
With a face full of indignation, Alex asked,
“Do you also think I’m a fool?”
Alex had ascended the throne so suddenly that he hadn’t even had the chance to solidify his authority.
In fact, he had been a puppet from the start. He hadn’t even known a civil war had broken out in the kingdom until Andrew and Rio arrived.
That was how blinded and deafened Alex had been. The Royal Palace had been completely taken over by Marquis Falkenheim’s men.
A king who could die at any moment, that was Alex.
All the pent-up feelings of inferiority and injustice exploded when he saw Ghislain’s demeanor.
“I asked, do you also think I’m a fool?!”
“……”
Ghislain quietly stared at Alex.
He had already completed his investigation into the situation in the Kingdom of Plovitz. So, he understood exactly why Alex was acting this way.
Someone constantly on the brink of death, cornered from all sides of course he couldn’t be in his right mind. Ghislain himself had been the same when he’d lost his family and territory and lived in hiding.
But for Ghislain, this was actually a more favorable situation. It would make it that much easier to turn Andrew and Rio into the kingdom’s true power.
With a soft smile, Ghislain spoke.
“How could I possibly? I understand Your Majesty’s worries all too well. What I’m saying is we’re here to help alleviate those worries.”
“How could a mere mercenary possibly help me?!”
As Alex seemed unable to calm himself, Andrew, who had been quietly watching with a nervous expression, finally stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, Astion, the deputy commander of the mercenary corps, is a Transcendent.”
“W-what did you say?”
Alex was shaken. He had never even heard of a Transcendent working as a mercenary.
Someone he had dismissed as a mere lowborn suddenly appeared very different.
Even though he was the king of a nation, Alex didn’t have a single Transcendent to protect him. So, it was only natural for him to covet Ghislain.
“Y-you mean… he’s really a Transcendent?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. And the other officers of the Julien Mercenary Corps are all high to top-tier combatants. Our victory in the war was entirely thanks to the Julien Mercenary Corps.”
At Andrew’s earnest words, Alex gulped.
A Transcendent couldn’t be treated like a mere mercenary.
The same went for the other officers. They were all capable enough to easily earn noble titles if they wished.
And yet, he had let his pride get the better of him with such people.
Glancing at Ghislain, Andrew continued.
“You asked us to be your strength, didn’t you? But we’re not the ones who can make that decision. Without the Julien Mercenary Corps, we would’ve been dead long ago.”
Only then did Alex understand why the lords had been so passive. Their true strength had been the Julien Mercenary Corps.
Alex suddenly grabbed Ghislain’s hand, tears brimming in his eyes.
“I-I’m sorry. I acted out of ignorance. Please, I beg you, help me.”
“……”
Ghislain forced a bitter smile inwardly.
He had heard that Alex had been exceptionally bright in his youth. For someone like that to fall so far, the pressure from Marquis Falkenheim must have been truly immense.
Well, it made sense. Being watched for years by even mere servants, if someone still stayed sane under such conditions, that would be stranger.
“Will you be able to do as I say?”
It was a question one should never dare to ask a king but it was also a question that had to be asked.
Alex hesitated for a moment.
If he just followed a mercenary’s orders, could he still be called a king? How would that be any different from being manipulated by Marquis Falkenheim?
As Alex wavered, Ghislain spoke again.
“Forgive my bluntness… but the reason Your Majesty is still alive isn’t because Marquis Falkenheim is merciful.”
“……”
“It’s only because the Holy Empire has yet to grant its permission that Marquis Falkenheim is leaving you be.”
Alex lowered his head deeply. There was nothing wrong in what the other had said.
The Holy Empire of Murond. An empire ruled by the Pope that presided over all Four Major Temples.
Ghislain had been slightly surprised when he first heard about Murond. It was different from what he had known.
In the future, not only Ghislain but nearly everyone had believed that a single empire had once ruled over the entire continent.
But after traveling to the past, he found that this wasn’t true. The Holy Empire might have had the name of an empire, but the territory it controlled was actually quite small.
Still, all the kingdoms regarded the empire as a spiritual pillar. That was because the Holy Empire had always served as the unifying force in the fight against the Demonic Abyss.
Since the empire was the central base of the temples, it couldn’t be helped. It was even said that dragons and other races respected the Holy Empire.
For that reason, by tradition, every kingdom had to receive the Empire’s permission to proceed with succession. Seizing the throne without approval and getting excommunicated could lead to serious trouble.
This too was a measure to prevent internal turmoil within a kingdom during the ongoing war against the Demonic Abyss.
Of course, if the heir had legitimate qualifications, the Empire generally refrained from interference. After all, it wouldn’t benefit them to incur the dissatisfaction of the kingdoms.
In other words, succession only required a courtesy notice afterward.
However, the situation in the Kingdom of Plovitz was slightly different.
“Marquis Falkenheim has yet to receive the Holy Empire’s approval. Even now, he’s sending people tirelessly to persuade the Holy Empire. He claims that he must take the royal authority to prepare for the fight against the Demonic Abyss.”
“……”
“Most of the factions have already shifted to Marquis Falkenheim’s side. Even the attendants around Your Majesty are likely monitoring you.”
“……”
“The Holy Empire will ultimately support Marquis Falkenheim. What matters to them is whether someone can aid in the war against the Demonic Abyss or not, whether they uphold justice or not doesn’t matter. Your Majesty has no choice.”
“……”
Listening to Ghislain speak with a brutality rooted solely in truth, Alex wore a hollow expression.
Once the Holy Empire’s approval was granted, he would be executed immediately and it was obvious that the Holy Empire would side with Marquis Falkenheim eventually.
At this point, the Kingdom of Plovitz was essentially under Marquis Falkenheim’s control.
With a powerless look, Alex asked,
“But won’t you also have to fight against Marquis Falkenheim?”
“We have plenty of options. We could simply offer our territory to a neighboring kingdom and flee. That would certainly cause Marquis Falkenheim a headache.”
“……”
At the outrageous remark, Alex’s mouth fell open. Andrew and Rio also looked visibly startled.
It was a statement that shattered all customs and honor. The real issue was that he had both the power and decisiveness to follow through.
Eventually, Alex let out a long sigh and asked,
“What is it that you truly want?”
“I simply want Your Majesty to act as I wish. If you do, I will restore your royal authority.”
If Ghislain so desired, he could even make Julien a king. But he had no such intention.
Julien must always act with legitimacy. He would lead humanity as a flawless Hero.
That was why they had no choice but to go through such tedious procedures.
Alex nodded.
“If I’m doomed to die anyway, I’d rather remain a puppet. I will do as you say.”
“You won’t be disappointed. There’s no time, so we’ll begin at once.”
The moment Ghislain heard Alex’s affirmation, he moved immediately. Andrew and Rio simply followed Ghislain’s orders.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Armed mercenaries and knights began barging into the royal castle.
“How dare you enter such a place without permission!”
The castle guards and the Royal Knights tried to stop them, but when Alex’s royal decree was issued, they stood aside for the moment.
Even a puppet was still a king. Since the king had summoned them for his own protection, it wasn’t for them to judge.
Of course, from that day forward, the ministers began storming in constantly to pressure Alex.
“What is the meaning of this!”
“Are you saying you’ve allowed knights and mercenaries of unknown origin into the sacred castle?”
“Expel them at once!”
Regardless of what the ministers said, Alex remained silent. So, the ministers decided to resort to force.
They were gathered around the king, yes, but it was only a few hundred men at most. If they summoned the guards and the Royal Knights, it could be resolved quickly.
There would be bloodshed in the royal castle, but the ministers didn’t care.
“Is he relying on the armies of Count Nodehill and Count Larks?”
“Absurd. What do they think they can accomplish?”
“Surely they don’t believe occupying the capital will change the tide?”
The ministers clicked their tongues in disbelief.
The armies brought by Nodehill and Larks hadn’t even entered the capital; they were blocked by the Royal Army.
Even if the king issued a decree, the Royal Army, now under Marquis Falkenheim’s control, refused to stand down. The idea of the king commanding a military force was something they could not tolerate.
Therefore, Andrew and Rio brought only a portion of their knights and soldiers as an escort.
Only the Julien Mercenary Corps managed to slip past the Royal Army and enter the castle in small numbers.
So, the ministers couldn’t help but sneer. With such meager numbers, they wouldn’t be able to hold the castle, let alone seize it.
Just as the ministers ordered the guards and Royal Knights to drive out the so-called intruders, the king summoned all of them.
The ministers, full of confidence, made their way to the throne hall. When they saw Andrew and Rio standing beside the king, they scoffed.
‘They got lucky seizing land and now they’ve grown arrogant.’
‘They must’ve sided with the king because they’re doomed under Marquis Falkenheim anyway.’
‘We might as well just kill them here.’
Such thoughts crossed their minds without hesitation. Since most of their troops were blocked by the Royal Army, if they were attacked here, they’d have a hard time defending themselves, let alone striking back.
Any army left without a leader would surely surrender on its own.
Under the ministers’ sharp gazes, Alex struggled to open his mouth.
“I have… made a decision today. I’ve summoned you… to announce it…”
The ministers didn’t even wait for Alex to finish his sentence before shouting,
“Your Majesty! Didn’t we tell you to leave the affairs of the state to us!”
“Did we not already say that Your Majesty lacks experience and needs more time?!”
“First, expel those lowly mercenaries who invaded the castle! What king allows mercenaries into the royal palace?!”
Everyone was looking down on Alex. It was natural they considered him a king who had already received his death sentence.
Ghislain, who stood behind Alex, casually glanced around. Only a few were hanging their heads in anxiety.
The rest had clearly sided with Marquis Falkenheim. It was so obvious, it actually made identifying them easier.
Ignoring the ministers’ protests, Ghislain stepped forward. Seeing this, Alex quickly continued speaking.
“This man… is the deputy commander of the Julien Mercenary Corps and has become my new advisor. And… he will participate in governance as my representative for the time being.”
At this absurd declaration, the ministers’ eyes widened. What did he mean, letting some mere mercenary participate in government?
Before the ministers could erupt, Ghislain opened his mouth first.
“By the grace of His Majesty, the true master of this kingdom, I have taken on the heavy duty of acting on his behalf. I now issue His Majesty’s first royal order to all of you.”
The ministers, stunned by the absurdity, could only gape at Ghislain. He didn’t care. He said what he wanted.
“Marquis Falkenheim, who threatened the royal family and arbitrarily manipulated state affairs, shall be punished for treason. Notify all lords and nobles and gather troops.”
“……”
The ministers continued blinking in silence. Powerless nobodies babbling about punishment – what utter nonsense.
If it were that easy, the king would’ve seized power long ago. And Marquis Falkenheim would never have started a rebellion in the first place.
Finally, one of the chancellors couldn’t hold back and stepped forward, shouting.
“What is this lowly dog saying! How dare a mercenary speak of representing the king in this sacred place! Your Majesty! Have you gone mad? What do you think you’re doing?!”
Ghislain drew a hand axe from his belt and spoke.
“Insolent cur. I will tolerate no further disrespect. Obey His Majesty’s command at once.”
“Shut up! You lunatic! How did a madman like you even make it into the royal castle! Everyone’s gone mad! Your Majesty! I believe it’s time you retire to the tower and rest!”
At those words, Alex flinched. That was no metaphor, they truly meant to imprison him in the tower.
The chancellor and ministers, though shouting in outrage, were inwardly pleased. They finally had an excuse to lock the king away.
If they claimed he’d gone insane and couldn’t tell right from wrong, the Empire would surely approve of Marquis Falkenheim taking the crown.
Ghislain glared at the chancellor and spoke once more.
“This is your final warning. Obey His Majesty’s command.”
“Guards! Seize this lunatic immediately! And mobilize the knights to eliminate all these filthy merce—”
CRACK!
Before the chancellor could even finish, Ghislain’s hand axe flew through the air and embedded itself in his forehead.
The chancellor collapsed with a shattered skull, dying instantly.
The hall was instantly plunged into silence. Every minister stared at Ghislain in horror.
To kill a chancellor so openly in front of this many people, none of them had ever seen a lunatic this extreme in their entire lives.
In the thick, chilling atmosphere, Ghislain spoke again.
“Listen closely. I am the appointed representative, entrusted with full authority by His Majesty. So…”
With a cruel smile, he continued.
“My words are the king’s words.”
“……”
The ministers fully realized it then. The king had brought a lunatic, an utterly unhinged madman who couldn’t be reasoned with.
While they were all still frozen in shock
BANG!
The doors to the throne hall shattered, and Royal Knights and soldiers stormed in with fierce expressions.