Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 353

353

To the Battlefield of Justice!

Thanks to the aerial reconnaissance of the Griffin and the guidance of the Nudia nobles, the 2nd Hispañan Army reached the vicinity of the Nudia Royal Castle relatively quickly.

Along the way, the soldiers repeatedly saw columns of refugees moving in the opposite direction, making them acutely aware of the dire situation.

“It would be best to stop around here.”

Even as reinforcements from Hispaña, the King and nobles of Nudia wouldn’t necessarily welcome foreign soldiers swarming the Royal Castle.

Furthermore, to avoid exacerbating the anxiety of the Nudia Kingdom citizens within the Royal Castle, Marquis Volko, with consideration, halted the army about half a day’s distance away.

Marquis Volko thanked the Nudia noble who had guided them, asked them to wait, and then separately summoned his command staff for a meeting.

Once everyone had gathered, he hesitated before speaking with determination.

“I believe I should go to the Nudia Royal Palace.

However, to prepare for any eventuality, Sion Claussen, you will remain here as the vice commander.”

“Pardon?”

“Commander?”

“There’s a possibility that Nudia’s interior has already fallen to the enemy.

In such a situation, if all the commanders enter and are captured and massacred, the army will collapse instantly.”

His words were quite plausible.

After all, even the previous King of Nudia was a known follower of the Church of Light. Hispaña couldn’t know how many fanatics might still be disguised within the Royal Palace.

Therefore, Marquis Volko seemed to be preparing thoroughly to avoid such a scenario.

‘But…’

Sion, however, thought that if anyone had to go in, it should be him.

It wasn’t out of self-sacrifice.

Firstly, he was far better protected than Marquis Volko.

Lilith was a given, and Rishikida was now one of the strongest humans.

If things went wrong, they had the power to simply destroy the Nudia Royal Palace and escape with ease.

‘And frankly, nothing is more frustrating than hearing about things secondhand.’

Sion believed that, given the situation, seeing and hearing for himself was the most reliable approach.

Therefore, he had already decided to enter the Royal Palace himself and began to persuade Marquis Volko with logic he couldn’t easily dismiss.

“Commander,

If you’re worried about that, it’s even more logical for me to go in and for you to stay.

It’s a completely different matter whether the commander enters a dangerous place or the vice commander does.

I believe many of the nobles on the command staff would agree.”

The nobles nodded at Sion’s words.

Marquis Volko was the most senior figure in the military, a veteran who had been active in wars since the reign of the previous king.

Even though he was now old and not as capable as he once was, he was a figure who served as a mental anchor for the soldiers.

Even Sion would struggle to comfort and perfectly control the soldiers if something happened to such a person.

‘Ibe is the kind of woman who would send someone ahead to warn us.

She’s not stupid enough to fall for the teachings of the Church of Light now, and she’s not the type to resist and then surrender meaninglessly.’

Sion confidently stated he would go in, relying on Lilith and Rishikida, as well as his own confidence.

However, perhaps because Sion’s presence was so compelling, Ludwig, who had been quietly silent, stepped forward.

“Commander,

If Vice Commander Sion Claussen is making such a suggestion, there must be a valid reason and something he believes in, so I think it would be best to trust him and leave it to him.”

“…”

When Ludwig Redenen, the adjutant to the vice commander and heir to the Redenen Marquisate, said that, the nobles persuaded Marquis Volko with even more enthusiasm.

It was clear that having the commander take risks was something any army should avoid, so Marquis Volko eventually relented.

“Alright, Sion Claussen.

You go to the Nudia Royal Castle.

Ludwig Redenen,

As adjutant, do your best to properly assist the vice commander.”

Marquis Volko, thinking that Sion must have a good reason for stepping forward, repeatedly urged Sion and his escorts to be careful as they headed to the Nudia Royal Castle.

He told them to always be on their guard, as they didn’t know what kind of enemies with hidden intentions might be inside, even though Nudia was now an ally.

“Don’t worry, Commander, just take good care of the soldiers.”

“…That annoying bastard always makes me lose all my worries!”

In the end, Marquis Volko said that in response to Sion’s confident answer and sent them away.

Afterward, Sion and his party rode with the Nudia noble and reached the Royal Castle, which was half a day away.

Originally, like the Royal Castle of Hispaña, it should have been magnificent and vibrant as the center of the country, but Nudia’s current state was far from good, making that an absurd notion.

“I am truly ashamed.

To show the guests from Hispaña such a gloomy Royal Castle.”

“Don’t worry about it.

Rather, seeing how quiet it is despite the war, I can tell that His Majesty the King of Nudia and Lady Ibe are paying close attention.”

Sion was finding a reason to praise them even in a situation where there was little to praise.

It was said that praise given in this kind of situation was more effective than casual praise.

The Nudia noble muttered, “That’s right,” and guided Sion and his party to the Royal Palace.

“Hmm, it’s still manageable?

Their eyes are still alive.”

Lilith whispered after being searched by those guarding the Royal Palace.

Rishikida, standing next to her, also spoke.

“They didn’t seem to have any intention of harming us.

However, their vigilance is a bit excessive.”

“It would be strange if they didn’t show vigilance in Nudia’s current situation.

More than that, it seems Ibe is doing a good job and has placed her people well.

Because there are almost no people that Lilith or Rishi would consider failures.”

“That’s a relief.

Even though that bitch humiliated Sion, she’s still doing a good job.

If she couldn’t even do her job and dared to blemish my man, I would still want to twist her neck off.”

“Please bear with it, Lilith.

I’m already on edge because of Ekaterina, who I left with the army.”

Endurance, and rest.

She had emphasized those two things repeatedly and forcibly suppressed the woman eager to fight, but that couldn’t suppress the Yongin’s [a person of great strength and courage] instincts forever.

Just in case someone provoked her, she had even set up a personal tent and ordered the knights from the Count’s territory, brought from Claussen, to prevent anyone from approaching her, but they couldn’t stop Ekaterina, so she couldn’t help but worry.

“Sion Claussen, this way.”

At that moment, the Nudia noble pointed to the stairs and said he could go no further.

He finished by saying someone familiar would probably be waiting for them upstairs, then turned and disappeared, his job done.

“…Surely the thing I’m worried about won’t happen.”

“If you were worried, you shouldn’t have come, Duke Ludwig.”

“I am a person with the mission of assisting the vice commander.

If I avoid that position because it’s dangerous, I would be throwing away even the little honor I have left.”

Yes, talk a lot about that honor.

I wouldn’t take something like that even if you gave it to me.

Of course, I would think about it if that honor brought a string of other benefits.

Sion thought so and climbed the stairs, confirming the person waiting for them.

As he expected, it was that woman.

“Welcome, Sion Claussen.”

Their first meeting wasn’t pleasant, and she still didn’t have a good opinion of Sion.

How could she have good feelings when she, and Nudia, had suffered so much because of him?

However, Sion’s help, and the help of Hispaña he was leading, was more desperate than ever, so she was hiding her uncomfortable feelings and welcoming Sion, Ibe Gi Restión.

“It’s been a while, Lady Ibe.

It seems like a lot has been going on, and you’ve suffered a lot.

Your face is half gone.”

“…It’s a very difficult situation.”

Noticing Sion’s joke wasn’t malicious, she glanced around him.

Rishikida and Lilith, Ludwig, and five escort knights.

It was a very small number for the vice commander of a huge army of over 20,000 to bring.

Considering this wasn’t their own country but a foreign one, and even one they had been fighting a life-or-death war with until recently, bringing as many people as possible to ensure their safety wouldn’t be unreasonable, but the number Sion brought was absurd even from Ibe’s point of view.

Moreover, Sion was no ordinary person, but a hero of the kingdom and, at the same time, the number one enemy Nudia wanted to eliminate, so Ibe naturally thought his escort would be substantial.

‘But even if there is a high-ranking knight, that’s all there is.’

Ibe had seen Rishikida a few times; she was once called the genius knight of Nudia.

Ibe didn’t doubt the skills of a high-ranking knight, so she assumed the magician was also skilled, but the rest seemed ordinary.

“Judging by your gaze, it seems you’re thinking the number of escorts is too small.”

“You know.

What if Nudia turned around and joined hands with Holy Pruscia on the condition of betraying Hispaña? Why did you come in so recklessly?”

“If she were someone with such shallow tricks, I wouldn’t have let her live that day; I would have just killed her.”

The Nudia knights guarding Ibe couldn’t hide their discomfort at Sion’s words.

It was only natural that the main player of Hispaña, who had inflicted the worst defeat on them, was saying such things to the person with the second most power in Nudia, next to the king, in Nudia’s own home.

Sensing the other party’s reaction wasn’t good, Rishikida and Lilith glanced around.

They had already handed over all their weapons, but they were skilled enough to subdue the enemy even without weapons.

If the atmosphere became more hostile, they were ready to knock down the others and use Ibe as a hostage to escape.

“Well, isn’t it thanks to the fact that I sent you back that day that Nudia isn’t being played by Holy Pruscia and fighting against Hispaña, but fighting against them like this?

I am grateful you sent me back alive, but I am also suffering that much.”

However, Ibe didn’t react badly to Sion’s words.

Rather, she even showed the audacity to ask if it wasn’t beneficial to him that she sent him back alive.

Sion smiled lightly and gestured to stop the women who were on high alert.

“That’s right.

Anyway, it’s because she’s not someone with shallow tricks that Nudia has been able to hold out like this, and that’s why I didn’t think you would fall for the nonsense of Holy Pruscia and abandon your allies and betray them.”

“You have a strange faith in me.”

“I’ve been stabbed in the back once, so of course I have faith.

Because you are the kind of person who tries to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses and never misses an opportunity.”

He provokes the other party but then changes his words and praises them.

Lilith muttered inwardly at Sion’s fluent tongue, ‘As expected, Sion, your tongue skills aren’t just good in bed.’

“…Enough with the compliments, let’s go.

His Majesty the King is waiting for you, the war hero of Hispaña, the enemy of Nudia, and now the savior of Nudia.”

“Shall we?”

Sion, convinced there was no more threat while talking to Ibe, told his escorts to wait a moment before entering the reception room; he and Ibe went inside.

The atmosphere of the Royal Palace, generally quiet despite the fact that Nudia’s entire territory was at war, wasn’t only due to Ibe’s influence, but also because the monarch was unshaken and continued to defend and endure this dangerous place.

In that sense, the current King of Nudia was proof he was a much more normal person than the previous king.

“Your Majesty, Sion Claussen of Hispaña has arrived.”

When Ibe bowed and said that, the knight standing next to her gestured for them to come closer.

The two moved further inside and saw someone struggling with a pile of reports.

‘…He seems young.’

Even if he was highly regarded, he was only about 14 years old.

It was a bit unfamiliar to Sion to see a boy of about middle school age sitting in the highest and most dignified position in Nudia and doing his work.

“Welcome, Ibe.

And to the guest from afar.”

However, the voice conveyed the clear majesty of a monarch.

According to information collected by the Hispañan royal family and Helen, although he was young, his bloodline was closer to the throne than the previous king’s, and it seemed the blood of the royal family couldn’t be hidden.

Sion, confirming the eyes that contained a spirit as bright as Vanessa’s, bowed his head and thought:

That boy will become a king who will not ruin this country.

“Hoo.”

The young King of Nudia, Saradin, sighed and pushed aside the reports he had been checking, gesturing for Ibe and Sion to sit down.

Originally, a person from another country would have to pay respects to the monarch and offer greetings, but he boldly skipped all of that.

“I’ll cut to the chase, Sion Claussen.

How long does Hispaña assume Nudia can last and provide support?”

Furthermore, he asked directly without hiding anything.

Sion noticed the words also implied whether they were only going to support Nudia until it could barely hold out, then abandon them and focus on defending their own country.

‘To ask such a question is quite awkward, and it also involves Nudia’s pride, but to say such things…’

He was already quite well-forged as a king, even though he was only a middle school student, so Sion clapped inwardly and opened his mouth.

“The premise is wrong, Your Majesty King Saradin.”

“…The premise is wrong?”

King Saradin frowned slightly, as if to say, what does that mean?

Ibe was worried Sion might be playing tricks again in front of her monarch, but Sion already knew this wasn’t child’s play.

Therefore, he had to say something that could reassure everyone.

“Hispaña has come to win this war with Nudia.

Holding out isn’t even a consideration for Hispaña and Her Majesty the Queen.

We will win this war, push into Holy Pruscia, and plant our flag in their precious sanctuary.”

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

I just wrote a scene and pushed the story, so I uploaded 3 chapters.