Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 165

165.

Not only I, but also the commanders and soldiers, rested fully for a day in Kaila Hall.

The soldiers’ morale soared, having enjoyed moderate drinking and plenty of meat, which was usually hard to come by.

In the Lord’s office of Kaila Hall, Ken and I pondered how to attack the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom.

“How many soldiers are there?”

Ken answered my question.

“Between fifty thousand and seventy thousand.”

I clicked my tongue at Ken’s answer.

“That’s a lot. Unlike Kaila Hall, attacking the capital won’t be easy.”

Now that Jane, Eric, Gordon, and Lillian are gone, the number of soldiers in the Pyreon Kingdom’s defense force is similar to that of the Imperial Army.

It is basic common sense that the number of besiegers should be greater than that of the defenders.

Looking at the number of soldiers alone, we are clearly at a disadvantage compared to the Pyreon Kingdom’s capital defense force.

“Still, they don’t have Sword Masters, High-Grade Spiritists, or 8-circle mages. Since there are no powerhouses, beings outside the norm, even if we have fewer soldiers, it’s still a winnable battle.”

I agreed with Ken’s words, but on the other hand, I felt uneasy.

“We didn’t have many casualties when we wiped out the Pyreon Kingdom’s guerrilla forces and occupied Kaila Hall. However, in the attack on the Pyreon Kingdom’s capital, the casualties among our soldiers are likely to be quite high.”

“If we insist on a head-on battle, we will lose many soldiers. Even though Lord Gale, Lady Olivia, and the Commander are here, we can’t ignore the number of soldiers.”

“That’s right. Moreover, everyone will be desperate not to lose the kingdom’s capital. That means the siege will be more difficult than usual.”

Ken was lost in thought at my worries. I quietly waited for Ken to open his mouth, my eyes fixed on the map on the table, which he was carefully examining.

After a while, Ken pointed to a spot on the map with his finger.

“How about deploying infiltration troops here?”

“Where is this?”

It was east of the Pyreon Kingdom’s capital, but there was nothing particularly special about it on the map.

“There are a total of four fortresses near the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom. They are fortresses guarding the eastern, western, southern, and northern strongholds. This fortress is the one guarding the east, and it is the only place with little management.”

“Little management?”

“Yes. The east of the Pyreon Kingdom is the sea. The northern fortress faces the Kingdom Union, and the western fortress faces the Mille Mountains. Behind the Mille Mountains is the Empire.”

Ken continued.

“And the southern fortress faces Kaila Hall. The western fortress faces the sea.”

Ken summarized.

“The northern fortress is strong. Since it is adjacent to the Kingdom Union border, the northern fortress was quite well-managed when the Pyreon Kingdom and the Kingdom Union were potential enemy countries.”

“Does that mean it’s not anymore?”

“As our Empire expanded, the Pyreon Kingdom was considering joining the Kingdom Union. In terms of power, they were far behind the Kingdom Union, so they were thinking of joining the Kingdom Union and increasing the influence of the Pyreon royal family within it, rather than going as a vassal state.”

I nodded.

“I see.”

“As the Pyreon royal family was making it a foregone conclusion to join the Kingdom Union, the northern fortress was no longer a strategic stronghold. It became like a gateway where people coming down from the Kingdom Union would stay for a while. Next is the western fortress.”

“The Mille Mountains are very high.”

“Yes. It faces the Imperial border, so it seems like the western fortress would be important, but the ruggedness of the Mille Mountains makes it the safest place.”

“Is there no way to break through these mountains and occupy the western fortress?”

Ken shook his head.

“The path through the mountains is not wide enough for a large number of soldiers to pass through, and the damage would be considerable. The Mille Mountains are known to be as infested with monsters as the Dark Forest.”

Ken pointed to the southern fortress.

“This southern fortress is continuously managed, but it has long since become a gateway for people coming to the capital through Kaila Hall, like the northern fortress, rather than a strategic stronghold. It was difficult for the royal family to think that Kaila Hall would be breached by the enemy.”

“Well, Kaila Hall’s defense is great.”

“Kaila Hall was acting as the southern fortress, but it was destroyed in the last Emperor’s campaign, and it was destroyed again this time. The capital defense force is probably strengthening its defenses at the southern fortress.”

Ken finally explained about the eastern fortress.

“The eastern fortress is more like a village on the border of the capital than a fortress. It is also a place where many poor people live.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Are you saying we should attack this place?”

Ken shook his head.

“We need to attack all three places: east, west, and south.”

“Three places?”

“Yes. The east won’t be difficult to occupy. If we give bread to the poor, they will open the fortress gate on their own. For the west, if we organize an elite unit and cross the Mille Mountains, it won’t be difficult to open the fortress gate. If the main force attacks the southern fortress, attention will be focused on the southern fortress.”

Ken planted flags on the three fortresses in the east, west, and south.

“After occupying the three fortresses, we will blockade the capital.”

“The northern fortress is still there.”

Ken’s smile deepened.

“The Kingdom Union will be too busy stopping His Majesty. What if Gordon is dead and even the main houses of the three Sword Masters are destroyed? They will have no choice but to be in a state of chaos. They will start by thinking about how to stop His Majesty. And it’s the only opportunity for the Kingdom Union as well.”

“The only opportunity?”

“Yes. It’s a very good opportunity to kill His Majesty and the heads of the Duke families, who are called the Empire’s Four Guardian Families.”

Ken said.

“His Majesty has gone to the Sword Master’s main house with only a small elite force.”

* * *

Ken said that more time was needed.

Since we had just occupied Kaila Hall, I didn’t rush.

The powerful defense of Kaila Hall itself and the individual abilities of Gordon, Jane, and Lillian put pressure on us.

We somewhat insipidly [unimpressively] occupied the castle by crossing the walls, killing Gordon, and capturing Lillian, but looking at the process, it was by no means easy.

There are no powerhouses like Gordon, Jane, and Lillian in the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom. The capital’s defense is also weak.

On the other hand, the large number of soldiers and the strong will of the Pyreon royal family will increase their combat power several times over.

We had to approach carefully in many ways to occupy the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom with minimal damage.

“What does Olivia think about attacking the capital of the Pyreon Kingdom?”

Olivia was by my side as a guard even when I was having a strategy meeting with Ken.

“If we don’t occupy the fortresses, it’s impossible to attack the capital itself, so I think Military Advisor Ken will find a way.”

“Yes. Ken will call the commanders and hold a strategy meeting, so something will come of it. It would be great if Lillian cooperated.”

Outwardly, Lillian is a prisoner and lives alone, unlike the other soldiers.

The mages of the Riverhill family’s magic corps take turns guarding Lillian so that she can’t do anything foolish.

I moved my steps to the basement of Kaila Hall, where Lillian was imprisoned.

“Lillian seems a little different from the rumors.”

Olivia agreed with me.

“She is well known as an evil mage in the Empire.”

“Whether that rumor was maliciously spread by the Riverhill family or whether Lillian is really an evil mage will determine many things.”

“It seems like the Commander wants to bring her under his command?”

I nodded at Olivia’s words.

“That’s right. It would be good to have a mage organization under my command. Lillian is an 8-circle mage [a mage of very high power]. My enemies are not only outside. Perhaps the enemies inside are more frightening.”

Olivia cautiously said at my words, which were alluding to the Riverhill family.

“Can we trust her?”

“There are many ways to trade even if she doesn’t accept the relationship of lord and subject.”

I briefly explained the story I had with Lillian.

Olivia was lost in thought, then opened her mouth as she descended the stairs to the castle’s basement.

“It seems that Lillian stayed in the Kingdom Union because of a deal with the Kingdom Union, and if she meets a better trading partner and breaks the existing deal, it proves that she is an untrustworthy person.”

Olivia’s words made sense.

“What if she is under the Commander’s command and a better trading partner appears? She is likely to betray us again.”

“That’s right.”

I arrived in the basement with my answer.

Magic circles installed by the mages of the magic corps were visible everywhere.

A mage was looking at the magic circles, then turned his head at the sound of me and Olivia.

“Commander!”

I said briefly to the mage who bowed his head.

“I want to talk to Lillian for a moment.”

“Please come this way.”

The mage guided me to the prison where Lillian was.

The quick-witted mage quickly left the scene.

Olivia also stepped back, thinking that this meeting would be the same as the last time I had a private meeting with Lillian.

Lillian, who was leaning against the wall, raised her head.

“The Crown Prince’s guard has a special look in her eyes when she looks at the Crown Prince, but she steps back easily? I thought she would be guarding you this time.”

I didn’t answer Lillian’s trivial words and got straight to the point.

“Have you thought about it?”

“I’m still thinking about it. Whether to trust His Highness the Crown Prince and stick with the Empire, or not to trust him and fall into Austin’s hands, suffer humiliation, and look for a chance to escape.”

“Duke Austin seems like he would execute you right away?”

Lillian smiled.

“That’s impossible. A prisoner like me is usually dealt with directly by the Emperor. Austin can’t execute me as he pleases.”

Lillian shrugged her shoulders for a moment and continued.

“Austin might kill me and clean up the mess, given his personality. Anyway, it doesn’t seem possible to get out of here, so I’m thinking hard.”

“The important thing is how credible my words are, it seems.”

“That’s right.”

Lillian agreed.

“If you still doubt me even after seeing this sword [referring to his power and position], how can I give you credibility?”

As I pondered, Lillian answered.

“It’s simple. Tell me the location of the magic book first.”

“What if even that is a lie?”

“Ah, ah, I can listen and judge for myself. Research on the Reinhardt family is basic for all mages. And no one has researched the Reinhardt family as deeply as I have. I can fully judge whether the Crown Prince’s words are true or false after listening to them.”

Lillian continued.

“Let me tell you one thing. The deal I made with the Kingdom Union is that only I can enter the Reinhardt ruins sealed in their capital.”

I chuckled.

“Is that really the case?”

“Whether I researched black magic or conducted bio-experiments, you can judge for yourself. Anyway, I told you the truth for now.”

“There was no magic book in those ruins, was there?”

“There wasn’t. Only a few items were all. I was thoroughly backstabbed by the Kingdom Union. I don’t blame them. In the first place, they didn’t even know what was in there. What would those guys who couldn’t even break the seal on the ruins know? I was just tricked into signing a 7-year contract.”

I deduced one fact from Lillian’s words.

“You’re still a wandering mage.”

Lillian smiled.

“I don’t have a homeland. All the places where I operate are just places that pay me. And if His Highness the Crown Prince wants me to work under the Empire, especially under His Highness the Crown Prince, he must offer appropriate compensation.”

“Magma’s Fury.”

Lillian’s expression instantly sank.

“You won’t say you don’t know, will you? You said you know the Reinhardt family very well. The title of the magic book I know is Magma’s Fury.”

I added with a smile.

“The Reinhardt family explained Magma’s Fury like this.”

Before I could continue, Lillian opened her mouth first.

“The race that brought magic to the middle world, the race of myth! A gift from the Dragon race.”