Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 166

166

I’m back, but what is this?

“Prince Erader will remain for a while, but Princess Vanessa and Young Master Zion Claussen may leave.”

At Edgar IV’s words, Zion and Vanessa bowed and left the audience hall.

Zion glanced sideways at Vanessa, who was walking beside him.

Originally, the human mind, when viewed rationally, can understand such things.

Yet, instinctively, one feels a sense of disappointment at being distanced.

Just as Zion was about to speak, worried that she might be disappointed in him, Princess Vanessa spoke first.

“If you are having unnecessary worries, you don’t need to.”

So said Princess Vanessa, stopping in her tracks and looking at Zion.

As if to prove that it was not just empty words, there was not a single tremor in her eyes.

“Isn’t it your intention to clear out the southern pirates so that I can entrust the expeditionary force with peace of mind and follow behind me?”

Huh?

That question caught him completely off guard.

Aside from any other reason, he had never even considered that?

He just thought it would look strange if someone who had been refusing the Holy War suddenly participated, or that he didn’t want to show that Princess Vanessa and the Claussen Fiefdom were already politically connected.

In other words, all of Zion’s reasons for choosing to clear out pirates rather than join the expeditionary force were purely connected to ‘parts that would not harm him’.

But Princess Vanessa didn’t mention that part at all, and seemed to understand it as simply ‘he would take care of internal affairs so that she could handle external affairs with peace of mind.’

After exactly one second of consideration, Zion immediately nodded, indicating that was correct.

“If the south is shaken, it will cause another problem different from the unrest of the northern barbarian tribes.

In a few months, even the royal capital could be shaken.

Wasn’t pirate suppression a major issue that risked the nation’s fate just a few years ago?”

“Indeed.

You are such a person.

But I’m worried.

My brother, Prince Erader, will surely doubt your intentions.”

“Still, wouldn’t he be more enthusiastic about suppressing pirates than anyone else?

His Majesty has been encouraging competition between the two of you, but since he has emphasized that both are important national affairs, he must be thinking that you should not fail.”

At that, Princess Vanessa pressed hard on her temple.

As if she was deeply troubled by something.

“You seem to have some worries.”

“···It’s a little embarrassing for me to say it myself.”

“Is it about Prince Erader?”

“Yes.”

“Judging from your expression, I’m worried that Prince Erader might rush and ruin the southern affairs.”

At Zion’s remark, Vanessa looked at Zion as if to say, ‘Look at this guy?’ then sighed and nodded.

“I admit that my brother is more talented than ordinary people.

I have no intention of belittling that.

But the pirates in the south are by no means easy opponents, as proven several years ago.

Even then, we barely won the naval battle, and the pirates were weakened and eventually disappeared, but the navy that the kingdom had nurtured was also greatly damaged.

Above all, this is not a time when we can focus all of the kingdom’s resources on the south.”

The one who contributed the most to the previous pirate suppression was Marquis Volko Redenen.

Zion had met him before and had several conversations with him, and although he had an awkward relationship with the Claussen Fiefdom, he was one of the few nobles who passed Zion’s standards.

Like Margrave Lichten, he had experience in war and was capable, so he made that much contribution.

‘The problem is, if an expeditionary force is organized, Marquis Volko is definitely the kind of person who will assist Princess Vanessa and follow her.’

Margrave Lichten is a shield responsible for the border, so he rarely leaves that place.

In other words, he is another commander that the kingdom possesses who will definitely participate.

Prince Erader was unable to bring with him someone who had accumulated a lot of experience in the previous battle with the pirates.

“There are still navies left in the south, and skilled soldiers with extensive combat experience with pirates are firmly holding their ground.

But even if you take all of that into account, if the commander doesn’t use it, it’s useless.”

“···You’re worried that Prince Erader is ignorant of naval warfare.”

Princess Vanessa’s concern is valid.

No matter how brave the soldiers are and how well-trained they are in battle, if the person commanding them is an ignorant brat, they are nothing more than a third-rate group.

‘A lion leading sheep is stronger than a sheep leading lions.’

In addition, Prince Erader always tries to avoid responsibility at important moments, and above all, he has a tendency not to trust those he should trust at the most important moments.

It was a suspicion that was no better than nothing in a peaceful time in the political arena, let alone in an emergency situation where the fate of the country was at stake.

“Hoo.

That’s a useless worry.

Anyway, the decision has already been made, and I have to go to the Land of the Dying [a dangerous, demon-infested region], and my brother has to go south.

Everyone must do their best to make the right decisions for Hispania and bring the right results.”

So said Princess Vanessa, moving a little closer to Zion.

“Don’t interfere with my brother because of me.

I don’t want to see this country shaken.”

“I feel the same way.

Rather, I think you would grab me by the collar and shout that you would kill me if I did such a thing.”

“···Not to that extent.”

Vanessa pouted, her face slightly flushed.

Then, her lips twitched, as if she had something to say but couldn’t bring herself to say it because of her pride as a princess.

Zion quickly realized what she wanted.

“You’re going to be very busy from now on.

From organizing the expeditionary force to the supply lines, and even worrying about the rear guard.”

“Y-yes.

That’s right.”

“It will be difficult for you to take the time to meet with me, who will naturally have to prepare to head south.”

At Zion’s words, Princess Vanessa blushed a little more and nodded.

No matter how strong she looks, the princess is still human.

The Land of the Dying is literally ‘dying’; the land of the demons where even the Holy Prussen [a religious order] had organized its own forces to advance, but no one returned alive.

It is only natural to be a little worried and afraid.

“Please be careful.

I hope you will return safely and look forward to the day when we can have tea again.

Princess Vanessa.”

Seeing her worried appearance and words, Princess Vanessa finally smiled.

Then, nodding, she said that she hoped to meet again as a member of the rear guard before the southern affairs were settled and the advance into the Land of the Dying began in earnest.

‘Don’t worry, Princess.

I have no intention of dragging out the southern affairs.

But I have no intention of letting Prince Erader have a good time either.’

It was safe to say that Nudia and the Holy Prussen had already fallen into the hands of the celestials [powerful, possibly divine beings].

In Hispania, many people had already fallen for those of the Holy Prussen, who were shouting about light and justice and the annihilation of all evil.

Since there are actually people who are called ‘evil’, people have no choice but to rely on religion.

And they had no choice but to accept the celestials, who were said to be messengers and representatives of God.

‘If I don’t clean this up quickly, those pointy-eared bastards will cause conflicts even among the different races and try to tear Hispania apart from all sides.

Damn it, this is driving me crazy.

I have too much to do.’

Originally, in terms of time sequence, there was the conflict between the southern pirates, the different races, and Hispania, followed by the Holy War.

But suddenly things went wrong, and all of that was about to happen almost simultaneously.

No matter how much Zion knew about everything and took action one step ahead, he only had one body.

He cannot block all the streams of water bursting from all sides.

Then there was only one way: while blocking one, he had to get someone else to block the others to keep the water from flowing as little as possible.

‘I’m so sorry to the kids, but there’s no other way.’

Fortunately, Zion had reached out to various places in preparation for times like this.

Zion said goodbye to Princess Vanessa and headed to the Claussen’s mansion in the royal capital.

Throughout the return journey, Kim Yoo-hyun and Rishikida, who were next to him, realized that Zion’s expression was not good and followed him in silence, carefully watching his mood.

“Kim Yoo-hyun.”

At Zion’s call, Kim Yoo-hyun turned to him.

Zion’s serious expression, which was usually hard to see, seemed to make Kim Yoo-hyun a little nervous.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“···A favor?”

“Yes.”

At that, Kim Yoo-hyun looked at Zion, indicating that he should tell him what the favor was.

Zion made a request to the protagonist that he could not refuse as ‘Kim Yoo-hyun’.

“I want you to protect someone.”

“···Yes?”

“In a few weeks, an expeditionary force will be organized and leave for a distant place.

Princess Vanessa will be the commander-in-chief, but it seems like a very dangerous journey.”

Zion roughly summarized and told Kim Yoo-hyun and Rishikida what had happened earlier.

Anyway, these two had no interest in Hispania’s internal political struggles, and they were not the type to carelessly talk to others, so there was no need to worry.

“···Is the existence of demons that much of a problem?”

After listening to Zion’s story, that was the first thing Kim Yoo-hyun said.

Lilith, who had been by Zion’s side, was clearly a demon, but at some point he realized that she didn’t seem to be harmful to people at all, so he couldn’t relate to the Holy War or the extermination of demons at all.

“You could call it a stereotype.

Or maybe they needed an excuse to blame all the chaos and evil in the world.

That far north, even the name is ominous, and they say there’s actually a red mist in that land, so anyone would see them as demons.

They drive them out and establish justice and peace in this land.

It’s the best reason to unite people all over the world, regardless of gender, age, or nationality.”

“···.”

Then Kim Yoo-hyun’s expression instantly hardened.

Perhaps it was a natural reaction for him, as Kim Yoo-hyun had seen such people several times in the Murim [martial arts world].

Those who called themselves the Orthodox Sect and the righteous swords of this Murim, attacking the Demonic Cult and the Evil Sect, were actually more dirty and rotten inside.

“Of course, demons aren’t just being misunderstood.

They were originally born as troublemakers, so they certainly caused major and minor incidents on the continent.

Thanks to that, they became public enemies.”

“So you’re saying to protect Princess Vanessa from them?”

“That’s part of it, but I’m worried that there might be guys who will do crazy things for a bigger excuse.”

“···You mean there may be others who target the princess, not demons.”

“It’s a good opportunity.

Honestly, the picture is perfect for anyone to see, right?

If the commander-in-chief of the Hispania expeditionary force, who is in charge of one axis of the Holy War, and a direct descendant of the royal family, is attacked by an unidentified person.”

It would be like adding fuel to the fire of the Holy War.

Hispania, which had been lukewarm, would no longer be able to do so.

Kim Yoo-hyun nodded, acknowledging that Zion’s concerns were valid.

Having been scarred in body and mind by all sorts of dirty tricks when he was in the Murim, he also felt disgusted by what Zion was worried about.

“I plan to settle the southern affairs and join as soon as possible.

Until then, I need someone to protect Princess Vanessa.

She must not be hurt.”

Zion waited for Kim Yoo-hyun to come over, showing a subtly urgent look.

Perhaps because of the trauma of the tragedy he had experienced, this protagonist strangely had a tendency to obsess over protecting something that others valued.

To put it nicely, he is full of compassion, and to put it badly, he is nosy.

“···Is it something that I can do alone?”

The protagonist, who had always been with Zion and unknowingly asked him for his opinion, this time also expressed his intention to go the path that Zion was pointing to.

At that, Zion shouted ‘Nice!’ in his heart and expressed his sincere gratitude to the author who had described the protagonist as a very passive person for the first time in a long time.

“Rishi.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Follow Kim Yoo-hyun.”

“Yes?”

Rishikida was startled as if struck by lightning.

Then, her blue eyes filled with tears, and she whimpered as if she was about to burst into tears.

“A-are you abandoning me···.”

“No.

Rishi.

I’m doing this because I trust you.

Princess Vanessa is a woman anyway, right?

Even if Kim Yoo-hyun is there, it would be a bit much to entrust him with close protection.

That’s why I need you.”

“But I protect Master’s side···.”

“You’re feeling it these days too.

That there are many people in the world who are stronger than you.

I wonder if you can protect me from them.”

At that, Rishikida immediately couldn’t open her mouth.

She is a high-ranking knight, but so far she has met tremendous powerhouses.

Kim Yoo-hyun, whose very existence is a cheat, Lilith, the highest-ranking demon that even the celestials feared, and even Eos and Zhan, who can easily deal with high-ranking knights.

Even Trisha, who has not yet properly awakened her stigmata [holy mark], was quite threatening to Rishikida.

“Rishi.

Become stronger through this man.”

“Through Yoo-hyun?”

“Yes.

Kim Yoo-hyun will show you a new path.”

At those words, Kim Yoo-hyun, the person in question, reacted with ‘When did I?’, but when Zion asked him back, ‘That’s right, Kim Yoo-hyun?’, he nodded without realizing it, looking at him with blazing eyes.

Zion, who had received confirmation, stared at Rishikida and continued.

“I don’t want you to waste your talent and sit still because of me.

I believe that you can become much stronger than you are now, and that you will rise to a much higher place and spread your wings brilliantly.”

“T-to say such a thing···.”

The woman who had been whimpering a moment ago was gone, and only the female knight, who was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do with the expectations she had received, was there.

Zion gently touched Rishi’s hand, intending to drive the wedge in.

“Show me, Rishi.

And show my enemies.

How great, beautiful, and brilliantly shining you are.”

Those words were the final blow.

To the fire in Rishikida’s heart, which had been somewhat subdued while she was by Zion’s side.

It was literally like dropping a napalm bomb.

‘···Why do I feel like I’m the only one who’s going to suffer?’

Kim Yoo-hyun had a strong feeling that he was going to have a passionate disciple he didn’t want.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

Are you all having a good weekend!

I hope you enjoyed it today too!