The Duke’s explanation revealed the 1st Queen’s intentions and goals, but questions still lingered.
“Then why was the 1st Queen so obsessed with the heir?”
Arthur voiced the question. If she was going to resurrect the king, then the heir wouldn’t even be necessary.
If it was just an obsession with Rene, it could be seen as a mother's love for her child. But if the 1st Queen truly cherished Rene, then the mont she saw a budding interest in Arthur, she wouldn’t have cast aside Rene so easily.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know that much either.”
“You don’t know? Weren’t you close with the 1st Queen?”
“Prince, to her, I was only a close friend of His Majesty. There was no reason to tell everything, as I was just a tool for His Majesty’s stability.”
The Duke, speaking of how even after long acquaintance, he was rely a tool to the 1st Queen, had a solemn expression that made Arthur, who had been arguing just monts ago, fall silent.
“When I t her not long ago, she simply told not to interfere. I asked for at least so basic information, but she refused. I even lost a wager, having to beg her for a little more information. That’s really all I know.”
Karia nodded, confirming that what the Duke had said was indeed true.
Like , the others who had confird this with Karia all remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
A heavy silence lingered, and then Karia suddenly shrugged her shoulders and covered her mouth with one hand.
"...I think I understand."
"Karia! Is that really true!?"
The Duke shouted suddenly, snapping Karia out of her reverie. She slowly lowered her chin.
"I’m speaking based on circumstantial evidence. It’s just a guess, please understand."
"Why the hesitation?"
"It’s sothing that feels like my throat will get dirty just by speaking of it."
Seeing Karia warn them like that, it was clear that the 1st Queen’s purpose was sothing deeply disturbing.
What could it be? Was she planning to offer him as a sacrifice to the Evil Gods? The more powerful one is, the more valuable they are as a sacrifice—this theory seems plausible.
“Not?”
‘...Not the heir?’
Could it be that the 1st Queen had decided to use Rene as a sacrifice in the ga too?
It makes sense. Toward the end of the kingdom story, Arthur would seem more capable than Rene. At so point, they might have thought Arthur would make a better heir.
Ah, now I get it.
The 1st Queen was planning to use Rene as a sacrifice to bring back the king but failed.
For so reason, Rene made a contract with the Evil Gods and killed the 1st Queen.
That’s why Rene beca the final boss in the kingdom story.
In this case, it’s his own fault.
He was killed by his own son—there’s no sympathy here.
“Phew.”
Karia let out a long sigh and made eye contact with everyone.
Heh, I already know what she’s going to say, so I’m at ease.
I’m going to watch everyone else be shocked. As I folded my arms and leaned back, Karia slowly opened her mouth.
"As everyone knows, His Majesty the King was intelligent, but he wasn’t a strong man. Even though he grew up receiving royal support, he was frail."
Huh? Why are they bringing up his frailty? Are they implying that she might have asked for sothing like that from the sacrifice?
As I tilted my head in confusion, the atmosphere around us beca serious.
Joey, who had been acting as the noble young lady, forgot to keep up her act and covered her mouth with both hands. The clueless fox scoffed, muttering a curse under his breath, and Benedict clenched his fists so tightly that his veins stood out. Arthur stared at Karia blankly, forcing a smile.
“Wait. Please, Karia. This is too much. How could a human do such a thing?”
“Brother, please stay quiet.”
“But brother! If what Karia is saying is true!”
“If it’s true, then the king was raised as livestock to offer his body.”
...What did I just hear?
“I see. Now I understand why the 1st Queen seed pleased whenever my abilities grew.”
“I think this is the most plausible theory based on the information I’ve gathered about that crazy woman’s intentions.”
So, the 1st Queen raised Rene to offer him as the king’s vessel? Not out of love for her child, but for this purpose?
I knew she was crazy, but this is going beyond the line.
“What’s the context?”
“In recent years, that madwoman has been using the intelligence agency to approach dark mages. She’s definitely been connected to prominent figures in the underworld. Not long ago, we concluded that it was all for His Majesty’s resurrection. Most of the information provided by the dark mages was related to souls. The original conclusion was that they were trying to store the souls of the dead and later breathe them into resurrected bodies, but after our conversation here today, my thoughts have changed.”
Karia brushed her hair back and continued.
“If the goal was just resurrection, it would have been more efficient to focus on training an heir. But, as my employer told you, that madwoman’s goal is to create a reigning king who would rule the kingdom forever. She has no need for an heir.”
“Can’t you just replace the heir with the current king, who has physical issues?”
When the clueless fox questioned if this was just speculation, Karia readily admitted it.
“It could be. But do you think that madwoman would change the current king on a whim?”
“I don’t know. It’s a human matter.”
“The madwoman I know would never allow such a variable. She’s not soone who would let such things happen.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“To her, the heir’s personality is irrelevant. If the current king has more imdiate value, she’ll change things as she pleases.”
She’d take everything anyway. Upon hearing Karia’s conclusion, I was left speechless.
Wait a minute. Does this an the final boss in the ga wasn’t Rene, but the king?
Even after I thought Rene had redeed himself in the true ending, he’s actually still playing the king’s role?
No. No, that’s not it.
In this case, even the king didn’t know he’d go this far.
How could a parent take their child’s body like that? This must have been so ss-up by the useless god.
“Ha.”
Rene, who had been holding his face for a while, let out a hollow laugh and slamd his hand down on the table.
“If your guess is true, then I can’t even ask my mother, the 1st Queen, for her true intentions.”
“Yes. Now that the possibility of her achieving her goal has increased.”
“I feel the sa as my older brother.”
The atmosphere was so heavy it felt like the air would crush us.
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything! Can soone please break the tension with a silly remark!?
I can’t do that! If I say sothing wrong, it’ll be a disaster!
“Phew. If it were just the three of us, we’d be a powerful force.”
Here it cos! Soone finally broke the silence!
“Prince Peanut, you don’t seem to have any problems, right?”
“You again with that nickna! Wait. Why do I have no problems?”
“Well, you’re lacking in many ways.”
“Oh, really? If you want to die that badly, I’ll make it happen!”
Cecil quickly caught on and played along well. I’m not sure how things were before, but he’s pretty decent now.
...He’s playing along with the joke, right? That strange killing intent in his words is probably just intentional, right?
After Cecil’s performance helped lighten the mood, Joey, who had been silent all this ti, spoke up in a dry voice while keeping her eyes on the desk.
“Wait a mont. Karia, may I ask you one question?”
This wasn’t the usual Joey trying to act like a noble lady, nor the bashful schoolgirl; this was a glimpse of the genius mage Joey.
“Of course.”
“Your theory is definitely convincing. But is the transplantation of a soul really possible?”
“That’s…”
“Lucy said that the Evil God Agras is the one who brings an end to things. The transplantation of souls must be sothing that can only be done with the 1st Queen’s abilities, regardless of divine power. Can a re human actually do sothing like that?”
“That Partlan young lady?”
“If it’s possible, there should be records of it, and asures should exist to counter it. If it’s handled well, we might be able to resolve it quietly.”
Muttering various possibilities, Joey suddenly looked up, then realizing she had everyone’s attention, hurriedly pulled out a fan to cover her face.
“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”
“No, Partlan young lady. That was a valuable opinion.”
“Yes. Thanks to you, we now have the possibility to directly speak with the 1st Queen.”
When Karia and Rene both praised her, Joey smiled cautiously.
“Karia. How long do you think it will take to gather more information?”
“Well, it’s hard to say for sure. Skilled dark mages are always on the move. I could collect information from amateurs, but…”
“For now, let’s divide the roles. Duke Kurten, will you cooperate?”
“I’ll be happy to.”
While the smart people continued their lengthy discussion, I slipped outside with Joey.
We wouldn’t be of any help inside there anyway. We need to focus on what we can do now.
“Lucy, are you going to see Erginus?”
“No. The pathetic virgin is probably going to co up with so pathetic excuse again.”
Erginus clearly knows a lot and could offer us plenty of advice, but getting any useful answers from him would be hard.
Now that he’s reached godhood, he’s weighed down with many restrictions. Even if we go to him, all we’d get are vague stories.
“So who are we seeing then?”
“Clueless. Don’t you rember? That old, musty hag who was buried underground.”
“Adri? Was it?”
“Yeah. Let’s go tease the lonely old man. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”
“...Is that really the right word?”
“Of course! The mont I touch him, he’ll start crying like a baby.”
I’ve done so much for that guy, so I might as well get so benefit out of it, right?
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