Volu 2, Chapter 144: Ti to Return
“Well then…”
A white robed man gave King Ashtal a letter, and he glanced it, then nodded and handed it over to his pri minister.
“So this is the formula for potion,” the old pri minister said with great interest.
The ssenger nodded. He was a young man with a tall and lean figure, but though he wore a slovenly smile on his face, his eyes were not smiling. “Please consider this as one of the wisdoms of our ivory tower. With this formula you will be able to create as many of these potions as you like.”
The pri minister turned to the ssenger. “This can instantly heal wounds?”
The ssenger t his gaze. “That would be praising it too much. This potion can only increase the regenerative abilities of people. It is not magic. If you need instant healing, a magician would be preferable. In fact, lately, I’ve heard that there are skilled healers here in the country that could be hired for a large sum.”
The ssenger’s sharp gaze turned to King Ashtal as well, but being king, it could not affect him.
King Ashtal smiled and chuckled. “Interesting, our country would be very interested to adopt it. Right, pri minister?”
“…Of course, Your Highness,” the pri minister agreed.
Bloody tanuki, the ssenger cursed in his mind, but his smile remained unwavering.
“Now, about Lady Reshia’s return. Will one month be acceptable?” The ssenger asked.
“Yes, that’ll be fine. Thanks to her holiness, the city has gotten much livelier. I am cannot overstate my gratitude to the Ivory Tower.”
“No, no, surely, this must also be a gift from the heaven’s because of his highness’ great virtue,” the ssenger said as he excused himself.
“Hmph, shrewd mutt. I suppose this ans they’ve seen through our intentions?” King Ashtal spat.
“We really can’t look down on them. They don’t just have influence among the bureaucrats, their intel is also superb. Your Majesty, are you truly going to hand over the saint?” The pri minister asked.
Ashtal reluctantly nodded as he leaned onto his armrest. “It can’t be helped. There’s no point in having a trump card if you never use it. It’s good timing, though. Gulland should be coming back for his regular report soon. We can have one last feast then.”
The pri minister courteously nodded and faintly smiled. “I shall send a letter to the rchants and nobles then. The saint needs to dance one last ti for us, after all.”
“I’ll leave it to you then,” King Ashtal said.
At that, the pri minister withdrew, leaving King Ashtal by himself.
Reshia’s return to the Ivory Tower. They have been discussing through the Ivory Tower’s ssengers for so ti now, and finally, the day has co where they would have to hand her over. As far as King Ashtal was concerned, that so-called saint was only a girl. Exactly what was her worth?
King Ashtal did not know, but one thing was certain: the Ivory Tower wanted her safe.
“Well, whatever,” he muttered.
So long as he could get what he wants.
The formula for potion. With that in their possession, King Ashtal could strengthen his army even further. With the potions and the healers together, King Ashtal’s personal army would truly beco a force to be reckoned with.
“I need to whittle down the nobles’ influence and strengthen my own… My royal family must beco stronger.”
Suddenly, knocking could be heard from the other side of his office’s door.
“Your Majesty, it is Ishtel. May I request an audience?”
“I don’t mind. Enter.”
The person that entered was a young man with a great figure. If Ashtal were younger and better trained he would look just like him.
“Grandfather!”
No sooner than the imperial guards closed the door, Ishtel ran up to Ashtal.
“Are you truly going to send Lady Reshia away?” He asked.
Ashtal wryly smiled when he saw his grandson so excited. This boy was still wet in the ears, but he was King Ashtal’s sole heir.
As King Ashtal felt the warm of his would be successor, he made a stern face. “That was the plan from the start. She could only stay here temporarily. We can’t refuse the Ivory Tower’s ssenger if he asks us to send her back.”
“That’s… That’s true, but…”
“Ishtel, I understand you are fond of the saint, but…”
“E-Excuse !? I… I couldn’t possibly…”
Not even Ashtal could keep up appearances when he saw his grandson react like that.
“Ah, Ishtel, you are kind, so kind… But that kindness is sothing you must share equally among our people, to do otherwise is to betray our duty as kings.”
One may love, but never indulge. One may hate, but never diverge. Those are the teachings of the Germion Family that have been passed down since long ago.
“20 days later, a feast to send her off will be held. You must bid her farewell then.”
“…Yes, grandfather.”
The young prince ca with great vigor, but when he left, he left with none.
“All sources of trouble shall be cut, be they from within or from outside,” King Ashtal said.
He would see to it than when he passes on his royalty to his grandchildren, it would be a peaceful one. To that end, he would have to quickly dispose of the goblins festering in the west.
◆◆◇
“The lizardn are on a rampage?” I asked.
The assassin, Gi Ji Arsil, had personally trained an intelligence division. One of those goblins reported before with tottering words. Apparently, the lizardn from around the river to the north were on a rampage and have even caused casualties among the goblins.
“Your Majesty, please give us the command to subjugate them.” The knight class, Gi Ga Rax, enthusiastically said, but I remained quiet.
I wonder if there’s a way to add these lizard n to my horde? They are beasts that live by the riverside, but they’re not incapable of reason. If I could add them to my horde, that would add another point to my favor in the coming war with the humans.
“Before killing, we should try talking. Summon Tanita of the long- tailed tribe,” I said.
At that, a ssenger was sent to the distant demihuman village. Until then, the area where the lizardn were rampaging was to be off-limits.
If talking doesn’t work, then we’ll kill them.
Next was a report from Kuzan.
It was about her investigation’s progress.
In the end, it seems they couldn’t figure out how far the path underground extended. I listened to Kuzan’s report with a frown.
I don’t think there are any dangerous beasts down there, but… An endless path, huh? A large path that stretches horizontally and vertically. It seems I’ll have to send more people if we are to search both ways.
The small Kuzan looked pitiful as she sighed.
According to Kuzan, the legend passed down among the goblins says that this place is the entrance to the underworld that the underworld goddess herself had sealed. But that’s all we know.
I ordered Kuzan, who was feeling down, to prioritize the search in the first level.
“As you will, Your Majesty!”
This search’s purpose is mainly to find out whether there are other entrances to the basent or not. There could be a path leading to the human world, after all. While it’s true that we could simply leave the forest the normal way, having just one path out would limit our options. Besides, why go the normal way and do as the humans expect?
That aside, I can’t settle down for so reason.
The days have been passing with receiving reports and sanctioning new orders. It seems I’ve built up stress because of that. It seems a goblin’s body really does need to move from ti to ti.
Because of that I decided to take a peek at Gi Ga and Gi Jii’s training.
Taking my great sword with , I got off my throne and headed to the plaza, where the normal goblins trained.
“My lord,” Gi Jii said.
“Your Majesty,” Gi Ga said.
Gi Ga trained the young goblins to beco warriors, while Gi Jii trained the warriors to beco soldiers.
Gi Jii’s training would start with three-man cells, then Gi Jii would put several three-man cells to form one unit, a kentor. After that, he would put several kentors together to form one unit, a regiol.
The rare-class goblins were the ones who usually led the kentors, while the noble goblins led the regiols.
Apparently, this was sothing Gi Jii figured out after consulting with Pale, a thod to make the army operate faster.
“If that’s how you’re going to do it, then you might as well na them all,” I said.
“Na them?” Gi Ga asked with wide eyes.
“For example, the Yubu Regiol,” I said.
“I see… Then, by all ans, my lord. Please pick out so nas,” Gi Jii said.
Huh, !?
Gi Jii looked at with curious eyes. I know I was the one who suggested it, but…
“Hmm, let’s pick out nas when everyone has returned,” I said.
“…Very well, my lord. Let’s do that then,” Gi Jii said, sowhat dejectedly.
What was he expecting?
Like this, the days passed with happiness and satisfaction. The fact that we were steadily progressing toward our goal filled with satisfaction, and I was able to get a good night’s rest.
I■、saw……■Ah、──Saw……
Voices of jubilation that I should have forgotten long ago resounded within my ears, though to , they were really nothing more than sothing to hate.
The distant mories of my humanity that I’ve already forgotten surfaced a little and then vanished again.
Was I really once human?
Maybe I was always a goblin, and these mories are nothing more than a clutch I used to explain these incomprehensible and vague knowledge I was born with?
In truth, I—
—In the darkness, I opened my eyes.
“Gu, …”
In front of was the ceiling of the Fortress of the Abyss that I should have long gotten used to.
Wiping my sweat with my damp hands, I shook my head.
“I am the king. I am he who shall beco the king of monsters…”
Nothing more, nothing less…
At least, that’s how it should be.
◆◆◇
“It’s been a while, Lady Reshia.”
When Reshia heard that familiar voice, she turned around with Gastra in her arms.
“Lord Rolika? What are you doing here?”
What would an acquaintance from the Ivory Tower be doing here? Reshia wondered, though her emotionless expression never broke.
The tall and lean figure that was Lord Rolika courteously bowed. “At the whims of the white elders, I have been tasked with escorting you back.”
“…Isn’t that saying too much?” Reshia frowned in a way that made it hard to understand her expression.
In response, Rolika continued to smile that slovenly smile of his, while his eyes never did. “Oh? And here I thought it was a splendid answer. As usual, it is difficult to understand you.”
Rolika looked at her in a way that was akin to soone observing a test subject, a cold, emotionless gaze, though his smile never left his lips. It was unnerving to say the least.
“The ‘whim’ part was a joke, but I really was tasked to escort you back. Lady Reshia, please return to the Ivory Tower. Everyone is worried about you.”
“…Worried about my seal?”
“Oh? Oho oho? You’ve beco a lot easier to understand than before. Such a childish response is disappointing to hear. That simply won’t do, lady Reshia. You must be more complicated…”
As Rolika mumbled, he suddenly appeared before Reshia without a sound and grabbed Reshia by the arm.
Sensing Reshia’s apprehension, Gastra began growling, but Rolika looked into Reshia’s eyes all the sa as if nothing was amiss.
“Was it the great hero, Gulland, who changed you? Or was there soone in this kingdom that managed to move your heart?”
The tall Rolika looked at her from above, his slit for eyes opening, revealing an ecstatic expression. It was a crazed expression no one would expect from the usually composed Rolika.
Marked desire twisted Rolika’s face.
“Aren’t you simply misunderstanding?” Reshia asked.
Rolika looked at her eyes for a mont, and after ascertaining that her eyes were unwavering, he shook his head and his expression went back to normal.
“Hmm, that’s odd… Maybe it’s because you were always locked in here with no one to talk to, so you’ve beco worse at talking.”
Rolika Ralra, the clairvoyant, a researcher student at the Ivory Tower.
“…And? When will I be departing?” Reshia asked.
“One month later. You’ll have to endure then. Do take care not to lose heart.”
“I understand,” Reshia said in a dismissive way.
Rolika complacently smiled back and withdrew, and Reshia held Gastra tightly.
“I’ve changed…”
Gastra ekly cried out of worry for his master.
“If that is true, then…”
It could only an that she has seen he who will fight fate. His body was that of a monster’s, but his will was greater than any other’s; a will so great it would not tremble even before the gods themselves.
To the followers of fate, there was nothing more fearful than his existence.
Through the will of the gods, the paths have been laid out. From the mont of birth, to the mont of death, everything was decided long ago. That is the correct order of the world.
But the king did not fail to reach her in ti because of fate. That result was not due to fate but her own cowardice.
Sothing like that isn’t fate!
If the gods have chosen a path, then it is only human to go against it.
She has always been pondering to herself, but now that Rolika has appeared, she knew what she had to do.
“Let’s go back… to the Ivory Tower.”
—192 days until the war with the humans.
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