Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 417

417―――――

Beyond Hope

The battle was over, but the war was not.

In fact, that battle was the most important one in determining the course of the war, and because they had won that battle, the victory or defeat of the war was as good as decided. But officially, it was definitely still ongoing.

“Welcome, Ive.”

While slowly moving forward, tending to the wounded soldiers, Ive visited the camp again.

It seemed she had heard the battle results and rushed straight here from Basura County.

“Congratulations on the great victory, Commander Zion Klausen.

If the heroes of Hispania and Nudia, who have died countless times, hear this news, they will shed tears of joy.”

“I’m sure they would.

More than that, seeing you rush here in one breath, it seems you have something to say.”

“I heard that the enemies abandoned even the royal castle they had occupied and retreated to Holy Prussia.”

At Ive’s words, Zion nodded.

Even if they combined all the survivors, they would only amount to a few thousand. Above all, the enemies had lost almost all of their top-tier and high-tier Celestials, who could be considered their best forces.

As their power greatly diminished, the supporting forces that had been shouting for light until then quickly withdrew.

In particular, the nobles of Nudia suddenly betrayed them and rose up in various places. It seemed they thought that if they held out any longer, they could be surrounded from the front and back and meet their end.

“They won’t be able to hold out here any longer.

I and several commanders predict that they will retreat to Holy Prussia, especially to the sanctuary that has never been breached, and steel their resolve for a final stand.”

“If we don’t completely erase them, it will be troublesome later, and if we erase them all, our side will be forced to bleed.”

The place called the sanctuary should actually be seen as one huge castle.

Inside, there is a spring that the Celestials consider sacred. It is said that they treated those who were seriously injured there, reorganized their forces, and gained an advantage in the fight against the demons.

It is said that the walls of the castle, built directly by the Celestials, do not collapse, but some dismiss it as mere rumors, but Zion knew it to be true.

‘Of course, not all of it doesn’t collapse.’

Every place has its weaknesses.

Even Kim Yoo-hyun, who was said to be the strongest in that world, had clear weaknesses in his mental state and relationships, so Zion Klausen seized that part and dragged it out, eventually creating an opening.

“For now, we plan to advance to Holy Prussia.

That way, we can make them realize that they are hypocrites and false lights, and the people of the world will no longer support them.”

“I understand.

Of course, we have to.

If we step on the land that the light protects and cannot be breached by anyone, that would be a great way to announce that we are the true descendants of light.”

In Ive’s eyes, as she said that, there was a strange light of anger.

Those who call themselves descendants of light thoroughly trampled on their country, divided public opinion, and completely ruined the lives of the kingdom’s people, so they could not show good feelings.

“More than that, it seems you had something to say.”

“…I won’t ask for anything else.

However, please allow the Nudia army to enter the royal castle first when it is recaptured, and please allow them to plant the Nudia flag again.”

A request to have the Nudia army enter the royal castle of Nudia first and plant the flag, not in any other place.

At first glance, it might seem strange to even call it a request, but considering the current situation, it was not unreasonable for Ive to say this.

The current remaining Nudia forces barely amount to 10,000.

That was barely gathered including the wounded, and the actual combat force was less than 8,000.

Hispania also suffered as much damage as Nudia, and although support troops had arrived, the number was just over 10,000.

If you only look at this, they fought together and suffered similar damage, so Nudia might not feel like they were losing out, but the next problem was the issue.

‘It’s not just Hispania soldiers here.’

Right now, the number of northern warriors alone is 2,000.

That’s the sound of 2,000 purely cavalry forces, and even the elite of the elite.

What’s more?

If you add up the beastmen and fairy combat personnel, there are more than 2,000 more troops.

All of them came to this place to help ‘Hispania’.

For Hispania, not Nudia.

‘From Ive’s point of view, and from Nudia’s point of view, they must be anxious after the battle is over.

They are all exhausted and wounded soldiers, but this side is allied with skilled cavalry and other races, so it would be strange if they weren’t anxious.’

If Hispania changes its mind, Nudia will really fall into the abyss.

To what extent? Right now, even if Klausen secretly, no, openly sends troops to attack Basura County, there are not enough troops to stop them.

With more than half of the most important royal knights drafted into the battle, it is natural that there are almost no personnel left to hold out.

They firmly believed in Hispania and Zion Klausen’s promise and focused everything on the battle, but not all matters between countries can be achieved with trust alone.

Sometimes, a country can abandon faith or promises for its own benefit.

In that situation, Nudia, and Ive, were in a hurry.

The national prestige was already at rock bottom, and the kingdom’s people were disappointed in this divided country as crises continued to strike.

They are not openly rebelling, but if something worse happens here, then there is no telling how that dissatisfaction will explode.

‘So, they want to regain even a little of their lost pride and gather the scattered public sentiment once again.

So please understand.

That’s what they’re saying.’

There is no better picture than them retaking the royal castle that had been taken over by the enemies.

If they are the first to enter and even plant the flag, it will be good for boosting the morale of the soldiers, good for appeasing public sentiment, and above all, it can restore even a little of the fallen dignity of the royal family.

Conversely, Hispania shows the image of recapturing the royal castle, surpassing Nudia?

That was an act that would send the already fallen national prestige straight to the abyss.

Also, the fluctuating public sentiment will now turn fierce and shout that they are those who do not even have the power to retake their own country’s royal castle, and they will have nothing to say.

A matter that can never be retreated from, something that must never be handed over.

Even though they are in a situation where they can no longer be the subject of the war, Ive was making such a careful and humble request.

“Hmm.

It just so happens that our Hispania army confiscated the Nudia royal flag that the Holy Prussia was carrying around as spoils of war.”

“….”

The moment Ive heard Zion’s words, her heart sank.

The fact that he was saying such a thing to her now meant that the Hispania side was preparing to take the most important and glorious achievement of recapturing the Nudia royal castle, wasn’t it?

‘Can I stop it?’

Impossible.

Of course, it’s impossible.

Just looking at the power of Hispania and Nudia, Hispania is showing superiority, and it was obvious that even the northern warriors and other races would all be on their side.

What’s more?

The powerful figures who wielded terrifying power in this battle were all people from Hispania, or more precisely, Zion’s people.

One of them was Rishikidai, who was from Nudia, but since he was already disowned here, the situation was that he should be regarded as a complete stranger.

No matter which part you look at, no matter how you look at it, Nudia could no longer gain an advantage over Hispania.

Putting everything else aside, they came all the way here to help Nudia and suffered tremendous sacrifices, so they couldn’t just bring up their circumstances and ask them to listen.

“I beg you, Commander Zion Klausen.

I don’t want to take away Hispania’s merits, but this is more than just pride for Nudia, it’s an important matter.”

Ive bowed her head and earnestly asked Zion.

Not revealing one’s true feelings is originally the basic of negotiation.

But the current situation is not even at the level of negotiation, and from Nudia’s point of view, it is no different from begging.

It’s humiliating, but what can I do?

I have to reveal all my inner thoughts and beg desperately.

If they can’t even do this, it was obvious that Nudia would never be able to stand up again.

“….”

Unfortunately, Zion did not answer.

Should I call it the composure of someone who already has a clear advantage?

Ive closed her eyes and bit her lip tightly.

The man in front of her is not a fool, but rather a person who is 100 times better than herself.

He would have been able to see through how important and desired she, and Nudia, were to be at the forefront of the recapture of the royal castle.

No matter what Hispania demands, they will eventually have no choice but to accept.

That’s how important this is, something that can never be avoided or ignored.

“….”

As the silence grew longer, Ive’s anxiety grew like a snowball.

What on earth is he trying to demand that he is taking so much time?

What is he calculating that he is showing such a reaction even though he knows all about their desperation?

“I, I will give you other glory.”

As the situation became urgent, Ive briefly lost her reason and opened her mouth in a flustered manner.

Of course, she realized her mistake and immediately closed her mouth, but Zion was already looking at her as if asking what she meant.

“If you mean other glory?”

“Th, that’s….”

To be honest, is there any more glory that Hispania can take beyond this?

They fought more fiercely than Nudia in the battle and achieved victory, and they succeeded in harmonizing not only with Nudia, who had been at odds with them until now, but also with the tribes of the north, beastmen, and fairies.

It is the current Hispania and Zion Klausen who have achieved that, so how can Nudia give them more glory than this?

‘It’s not like… it’s not like there’s nothing at all.’

If they hand over the recapture of the royal castle to Hispania anyway, the current royal family, and herself, who is the biggest supporter of the current royal family, will never be able to stand up again.

The aftermath is obvious.

They will be torn apart by political enemies who have been secretly aiming for the Lestion family, and they will be blamed for everything and kicked out.

That’s what the world of politics is like.

‘If I can’t hold it in my hand, everything will be ruined anyway.

In that case, I have to bet everything.’

Ive swallowed and slowly raised her head.

Then, she slowly opened her mouth, exhaling her finely shaking breath.

“Hispania and Nudia.

It is natural to celebrate such a blood alliance between the two countries, and there is nothing better than marriage to make that relationship last long.”

“Hmm?

Are you saying…”

“But that’s not just Hispania’s glory, so you won’t be interested.

So, I dare to suggest.

If you hand over everything about the recapture of the royal castle to our Nudia, I will become your concubine in the future.

This is all I can give you.”

Puhah.

Zion barely managed to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out of his mouth.

He never thought that this brilliant woman would go so far as to pawn herself.

‘That’s a disgrace to Nudia in its own way, but is it still less than the recapture of the royal castle?’

The person who made the greatest contribution to establishing the current king of Nudia.

The person who still managed to maintain Nudia to this point from the Holy Prussia’s massive attack.

If Ive Gi Lestion, who is such a person, were to enter Hispania’s royal family, not as a noble, but as a concubine, not even as the legal wife, it would be no different from Nudia acknowledging their inferiority and prostrating themselves on the ground, rather than an amicable move for the alliance.

The fact that she is even uttering these words means that the situation is that bad.

In addition, it meant that there was nothing that Nudia could give to Zion right now.

‘Originally, if you save a drowning man, it’s best to take his bundle as the price for his life.’

That also depends on the situation.

If Nudia’s situation is already close to the worst, and they are forced to endure even this humiliation, Nudia will never be stable, even if Hispania doesn’t know it.

In that situation, the light’s pawns, who had been killed, might take root again.

The woman in front of him was the best person to fix this chaotic political situation in Nudia.

‘Maybe this woman knew that I would reject this offer outright, so she did it on purpose.’

Thinking that way made him feel a little dirty, but honestly, there would be nothing more miserable for a woman, and for someone in power, than to even say such a thing, so Zion decided to let it go.

“I refuse.”

“Huh?”

“I said I refuse, Ive.”

At Zion’s answer, Ive was about to let out a sigh and make a face filled with despair.

“I don’t want to demand anything from my comrades who shed blood and fought together.

This land is your land, and it is a place that you have protected by shedding blood, so you rightfully have the rights.

Of course.”

“Ah, ah?”

“There are no enemies left in the royal castle anyway.

At best, there will be a few light cultists or traitors who are hiding in a hurry.

Everything regarding the recapture of the royal castle will be entrusted to the Nudia side, and we will not interfere in any way.”

Zion took Ive’s hand.

Then, he patted her hand as if she had worked hard and gave a soft smile.

“We’ve been through a lot together; let’s live together.

It was too hard, let’s go a little easier.”

“Si, Zion Klausen-nim.”

Zion spoke so calmly, without any feelings of aiming or wanting.

Thanks to that, Ive suddenly felt ashamed of herself for still being wary of him.

He probably didn’t come here just thinking about Nudia.

Because things between countries can never be moved by such faith alone.

But he must have come forward because he still had some affection for Nudia.

Ive knows very well that Zion Klausen was the one who took the lead in Hispania to help Nudia and to fight against the Holy Prussia and the Celestials.

If he is showing this favor in order to have a slightly closer relationship with this country called Nudia, then she has been too petty in dealing with Hispania and Zion.

‘I still have a lot to learn.’

Ive thought that there was no need to play chess anymore.

No matter how she looked at it, she was completely defeated by this man in every way.

‘I need to buy more time so that the pro-Klausen work near the border, which is currently progressing smoothly, is not disrupted.

I’m sorry, Ive.’

―――――――Afterword―――――――

You’re falling for me―