Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 234

234.

The nobles all agreed on one thing.

To limit the battlefield to the ‘Directly Governed Territory.’

Wasn’t that a transparent attitude? The nobles didn’t want the empire to be engulfed in war.

To be precise, they didn’t want their own territories or those of their relatives to become battlefields, so they decided to concentrate all their forces in the Directly Governed Territory.

I leaned back in my chair in the war room.

‘This isn’t going to be easy.’

Since the work at the Imperial Palace is somewhat finished, I’m thinking of returning to the Directly Governed Territory.

And I’ve decided to relieve Duke James of his duties there.

We need someone to spread troops from the center of the empire to the Directly Governed Territory, the west, and the south.

I needed a loyal subject of the Imperial Family to monitor the current nobles, and I felt Duke James was the most suitable.

If the empire is shaken too violently, nobles could revolt.

Even in the face of the world’s destruction, selfish bastards always emerge. Rather, there are those who take advantage of the crisis to satisfy their own greed.

To them, only their own greed is visible, not the destruction of the world.

I got up.

It’s time to go back to the Directly Governed Territory.

* * *

As soon as I finished my work at the Imperial Palace and arrived in the Directly Governed Territory, what I’m doing is ‘fighting.’

The soldiers’ morale wasn’t easily lifted by the sight of the endless swarm of Bio Ghouls.

KWAH-! BANG-!

Lilian’s magic and my skills combined.

Undine created a huge hole in the Bio Ghouls’ formation with a storm of water, but the soldiers didn’t cheer as enthusiastically as before.

‘Why?’

Ken answered my stern expression.

“There are Bio Ghouls who have received the power of Necromancers. Those guys are even raising the Ghoul corpses.”

“There are Bio Ghouls using the abilities of Necromancers?”

“Yes. So, we are currently trying to pinpoint their location. Once we locate them, Gale, Olivia, and Duke James will set out to assassinate them.”

I had a lot to say, but I nodded for now.

Now is the time to focus on the battle.

The Bio Ghouls’ attack continued until sunrise, and with the morning sun, the battle finally ended.

I sighed in relief and said.

“If we only knew where those guys were hiding during the day, wouldn’t it be easy to deal with them?”

“We are already establishing a plan regarding that.”

“It’ll be tiring, but gather everyone. I also need to explain what happened at the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ken left to summon the others, and I moved towards the palace.

The soldiers’ expressions were all dark.

We drove out the Allied Kingdoms, and it seemed like victory in the war was just around the corner, but the sudden appearance of the Bio Ghouls filled the soldiers with despair.

Now, they have to fight while worrying about the destruction of the world, not just the war.

The emergence of Necromancers always plunged the continent into crisis, and this time was no different.

This time, Necromancers appeared on the largest scale since the beginning of human history!

Not just one, but hundreds, and wars are breaking out all over the continent!

I didn’t bother to encourage the soldiers.

Now was not the time for any words to resonate with the soldiers.

‘I should at least provide ample supplies and more food to the people of the Directly Governed Territory.’

That part was sufficiently discussed at the Imperial Palace.

Now, the Imperial Capital will be responsible for supplying not only the south and west but also the Directly Governed Territory.

It was decided that the Imperial Family’s assets, as well as the assets of the Imperial nobles, would all be used to support this war.

‘If not just the empire, but the human world itself could be destroyed, it’s only natural.’

Soon, I arrived at the palace and entered the conference room.

Some people were already there.

After taking a seat at the head of the table, I waited a bit, and then Olivia, Duke James, Gale, and a few commander-level knights entered.

Not only my subordinates but also the knights were made to attend the meeting.

The number of knights has also significantly decreased due to the war with the Allied Kingdoms and the war with the Bio Ghouls.

I looked around at the assembly and said.

“I have informed the Imperial Palace of the current situation. And the news I heard from the Imperial Palace is that large-scale black magicians in the south are joining forces with barbarians to invade the empire.”

Duke James exclaimed, “Ah!”

The others struggled to stifle their groans.

“Even Ted… was brainwashed by them. I heard he became a Necromancer. His Majesty and Duke Beregon have headed south to deal with him directly.”

Everyone’s face hardened.

I said monotonously.

“Those who cultivated the Necromancers are a religious group called the Order of the Cleansing Flame. To be precise, it is a force disguised as a religious group.”

Lilian asked.

“What are you planning to do, Your Highness?”

“First, I need Duke James to return to the Imperial Palace.”

Duke James asked in surprise.

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes. We need someone to control the nobles in the Imperial Palace. Everyone already feels the crisis. If even one of them goes astray… the empire is doomed.”

Duke James immediately understood my words.

To monitor and control the Imperial Palace nobles, we need a noble with strong power and loyalty.

Duke James meets both conditions.

He has the martial power of a Sword Master [a highly skilled warrior], the background of a Duke’s family, and finally, the status of being the Imperial Family’s relative as the Crown Prince’s father-in-law.

“Yes, I will return to the Imperial Palace.”

“His Majesty will probably give you separate instructions once you are in the Imperial Palace, Duke.”

I immediately brought up another topic.

“What exactly is the story about Ghouls among the Bio Ghouls using the abilities of Necromancers?”

First of all, it was important to know exactly what new things had happened while I was away from the Directly Governed Territory.

* * *

Karen arrived in the south and met Ted immediately.

Ted, who met Karen in front of the camp, bowed deeply to Karen.

“Greetings, Priest.”

Karen encouraged Ted.

“I heard you have done a lot of good in the south. It couldn’t have been easy to cut off your bloodline.”

“It’s all my fault. I didn’t even know my family was caught up in evil… I was just wallowing in the wealth and honor they gave me.”

Ted burst into tears.

Karen gently hugged Ted.

It was truly an amazing scene.

Ted, who blames even his family as criminals, and Karen, who comforts him!

I could see how scary the power of brainwashing is.

But in reality, neither of them knew that they had been brainwashed.

Ted held up his staff and said.

“God has given me the power of purification. I will now use this power to destroy the evil empire and purify my family by burning them with flames.”

Ted pointed to the border wall.

“I’m going to break through that place first. The root of evil is there.”

“You mean the Emperor.”

“Yes. It’s been overwhelming so far, but now that Priest Karen has come, my army, the believers in the south, and even the Priest, we will be able to destroy them sufficiently.”

“Yes.”

Karen nodded.

Karen recalled the Emperor’s face.

The battle with the Emperor was the first battle that taught Karen the bitterness of defeat.

I had never felt like there was a wall before, but to Karen, the Emperor was a huge wall.

‘He’s much stronger than before. Ron Carl Leord.’

Karen was confident.

The High Priest came directly to the wall.

Karen and Ted quickly bowed their heads.

Ted especially looked at the High Priest with unusual eyes, as if he was deeply moved.

“Why is the High Priest here?”

“All the believers are fighting to defeat evil, so this old man has come to lend a hand.”

The High Priest turned his gaze to Karen.

“Priest Karen.”

“Yes, High Priest.”

“There is a man named ‘Beregorn’ leading the evil forces in the enemy camp. Priest Karen, you probably know him, he is one of the Emperor’s subordinates.”

“Yes. I know him as the Duke of the Empire.”

“Today, we must return that priest to God’s embrace. Priest Karen, please help me.”

“Of course, High Priest.”

The High Priest quietly held up his staff.

The ground shook.

GOOOOOOO-!

Huge centipedes popped out of the ground.

The wriggling appearance of the very grotesque centipedes aroused disgust.

But the faces of the High Priest, Karen, and Ted, who were looking at the centipedes, were filled with ecstasy.

“They are the messengers of God. They and Priest Karen will be able to catch Beregon. Priest Ted, support Priest Karen’s rear.”

“Yes, High Priest.”

Karen jumped off the wall.

Following Karen’s movements, the centipedes followed Karen.

And Ted led the southern barbarian army and Ghouls and advanced.

GOOOO-!

Karen, who quickly advanced towards the wall, immediately emitted an Aura Blade [a weapon made of pure energy].

“Where is Duke Beregon!”

Karen, who was now quite experienced, provoked Duke Beregon.

If the enemy commander ignores his provocation, the morale of his allies will increase, and the morale of the enemies will decrease.

On the other hand, if the enemy commander appears in response to his provocation, he was planning to cut him down in one fell swoop.

“Duke Beregon!”

Karen called Beregon loudly once again.

Duke Beregon jumped out from among the Imperial troops.

Duke Beregon’s eyes were redder than ever.

He hesitated whether to go down to the south after hearing the news about Ted.

He wondered if he should go to the western front instead, but in the end, he came to the south.

He thought it was his fault.

Even if he was in a power struggle with the Emperor, he couldn’t tell the Emperor to stop Ted.

Ted was the core of his power, but wasn’t he the Emperor’s son?

“To make my grandson like that.”

The centipedes, the southern barbarians, and Ted’s Ghouls attacked the wall.

Beregorn only glared at Karen.

Karen raised his sword.

Beregorn chased Karen, who disappeared, leaving afterimages.

CHAEENG-!

“I thought I could cut you down in one strike.”

Duke Beregon’s face hardened at Karen’s words.

“As expected, the closest aide to the leader of evil is not easy to deal with.”

Beregorn roughly raised his Aura Blade.

CHICHICHING-!

The Aura Blades of each other met, making a sound of metal scraping.

The aspect of the battle changed dazzlingly, heading in the direction of Beregon’s dominance.

Beregorn’s sword, filled with anger, was very sharp.

Nevertheless, Karen calmly faced Beregon.

‘He’s burning himself out.’

Karen realized that Beregon’s condition was not normal.

He was forcing himself to raise his Aura Blade, and he was forcing himself to create much faster movements.

Even a Sword Master is human.

Karen smiled faintly and deflected Beregon’s Aura Blade.

KWANG-!

Karen’s Aura Blade was emitted much more intensely than before.

In addition, Beregon’s face contorted at the pressure of the mana pouring out of Karen’s body.

‘This… is not at the level of a Sword Master.’

While wielding his sword, Beregon felt the gap between Karen and himself.

‘Is it the same realm as His Majesty… or even stronger than His Majesty?’

Instinctively, Beregon bit his lip tightly at the fact that he was of a different ‘class’ from himself.

‘But it doesn’t matter. Even if I can only kill this guy here, it will deal a great blow to those who made Ted like that.’

Beregorn’s Aura Blade was also becoming more intense.