Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 239

239.

Even if you scraped together every cavalryman in Grenian, even from the provinces, you wouldn’t reach ten thousand.

I was filled with worry when a messenger urgently approached.

“Your Highness!”

The messenger’s urgent voice made me and everyone else pause, waiting for his words.

“Duke James has sent fifty thousand cavalry.”

The messenger immediately presented me with a letter.

I opened it.

The letter from Duke James was simple.

The news of the undead subjugation had the Imperial Palace and the entire empire buzzing, and nobles were eager to offer their private soldiers.

Thanks to this, fifty thousand cavalry were organized and sent, hoping it would greatly aid in the conquest of the Kingdom Alliance, or something to that effect.

“The homeland has organized and sent fifty thousand cavalry. They say they will arrive in about three days.”

Everyone cheered at my words.

Fifty thousand cavalry is enough to advance to the capital of the Kingdom Alliance.

Ken opened his mouth.

“I will establish a strategy.”

After the undead subjugation, Grenian was gradually stabilizing.

Residents who had fled to the surrounding territories were also returning home one by one.

‘Now that we have received support from the Empire, there is no need to conscript soldiers from the direct territory any further.’

The goal is to stabilize the direct territory as much as possible and return the lives of the residents to normal.

This war will not end in a day or two.

The power of the Empire alone is not enough, and soldiers from the direct territory, and even soldiers from the Kingdom Alliance to be conquered in the future, may be needed.

The reason for quickly conquering the capital of the Kingdom Alliance is also to preserve the soldiers of the Kingdom Alliance as much as possible.

‘If only the king and nobles are caught, the soldiers won’t care whether the country they live in changes or the emperor changes.’

It’s a sad thing.

It means that the residents have no interest in their leaders.

I also thought about the aftermath of the war.

I want to change the Empire into a better country.

I can’t make it like the country I lived in, but maybe I can make it even better?

In the past, there was a part of me that thought this was a novel I wrote, a ‘virtual’ space.

Even if I wasn’t aware of it, I must have had that feeling, which is why I acted more recklessly.

But everything has changed.

I am the Crown Prince of the Calpheon Empire.

A Crown Prince who must take care of not only the subjugation of the undead and the conquest of surrounding enemy countries, but also the people of the Empire!

“Let’s go inside for now.”

My subordinates followed me.

The Royal Palace was not affected by the war, so there was no need for separate repairs.

It would be good for the residents to stay temporarily and clean, but I didn’t take care of such small details.

The place that the old Pireon Kingdom used as a grand conference hall is a sufficient space for everyone to enter.

I sat on the throne.

“Ken.”

At my call, Ken stepped forward.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ken continued calmly.

“While subjugating the undead and stabilizing Grenian, Commander Hamilton dispatched members to the entire Kingdom Alliance.”

Hamilton, upon hearing his name, stepped forward with Ken.

“Information is not coming in from all locations, but the information coming in from major strongholds of the Kingdom Alliance is consistent. None of them are preparing for war.”

Gale asked.

“How is this possible? Don’t they know about the undead subjugation?”

Gale thought it was impossible even as he spoke.

The rumor was spreading like wildfire not only in the direct territory but also throughout the Empire, so there was no way the Kingdom Alliance wouldn’t know.

The rumor spread even faster because the direct territory was the only one to sound the victory cry at the same time as the rumor that hundreds of thousands of undead had appeared.

“It seems they have abandoned the Kingdom Alliance.”

Gale asked with a question in his voice at Hamilton’s answer.

“What do you mean by abandoned?”

“I won’t know until I approach the capital, but the nobles are not visible at the major strongholds.”

I was also taken aback as this was the first time I was receiving this report.

“The nobles are not there either?”

“Yes. It seems they have all run away.”

I turned my gaze to Ken.

“Ken.”

“I think we should grasp the situation in the capital first and then move. Would you like to wait until the cavalry arrives, since there is some time?”

I agreed with Ken’s words.

“Okay.”

This front line has been cleared, but the southern and western front lines are still in fierce battle.

Nevertheless, the reason Duke James dispatched cavalry here was because he understood my plan to completely clear the northern front this time.

‘It’s definitely good to have Duke James in the Imperial Palace.’

It was very convenient for me as someone on the front line to have someone properly controlling things from the center.

“Let’s observe the situation for now. And wait for the cavalry. In the meantime, make efforts to maintain the security of the direct territory.”

“Yes.”

I turned my gaze to Vikan.

“Vikan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He rose to become the best merchant guild on the continent through this war.

He gave a lot of wealth to the Empire, but on the other hand, he also made a lot of profit.

Above all, as my position became more solid, the position of the Vikan Merchant Guild grew to the point where it could not be compared to any other merchant guild.

“How much supply do we have to spare?”

“We have enough supplies. We have been steadily stockpiling in anticipation of a prolonged war.”

Vikan is indeed a capable merchant.

I said with a smile.

“Then can I use some of the stockpiled food as relief rice [rice distributed to the poor]?”

“Of course.”

“It will be getting cold soon. If the enemy is human, the war may stop because of the cold winter. But our enemy is not human.”

The undead do not care about the weather.

They don’t eat either.

It is a disadvantageous war in every way, but there was still hope.

“Now, let’s move.”

* * *

The cavalry arrived in Grenian.

Everyone was in awe of the majesty of the fifty thousand cavalry.

Simply saying that there were fifty thousand cavalry and seeing fifty thousand cavalry with your own eyes were completely different feelings.

I couldn’t help but feel satisfied as I watched the cavalry passing through the gates from the Grenian castle walls.

‘A lot.’

It’s also different from fifty thousand ordinary infantry.

A smile spread as I saw everyone riding their horses gallantly.

“Ken.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Seeing the cavalry makes me feel really secure.”

“Cavalry can launch powerful attacks. We have only been defending until now, but now it’s time to attack.”

“Where is Hamilton?”

“He has not returned yet.”

Hamilton went directly to the border to meet the returning members.

He was supposed to receive reports from the members at the border, compile them, and then return to the Royal Palace, but there was still no news.

“He will be back this evening. It’s about time for the Kingdom Alliance members to start returning.”

I nodded at Ken’s words, telling me not to be impatient.

“Okay.”

I looked back at the cavalry and concluded.

“Prepare a place for the cavalry and take good care of the horses.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Hamilton was waiting for the members at the border.

Not a single one of the members who had infiltrated the Kingdom Alliance had returned yet.

‘Something happened.’

The originally promised date had passed.

This is definitely the meeting place, but not even a shadow of his subordinates could be seen.

“Go around the area. It’s already past the time they should have arrived.”

Hamilton, who had ordered the subordinate who came with him, went outside himself.

The sun was already setting.

Gathering information is not an easy task, and what you have to endure when your identity is revealed is torture that inflicts even greater pain than death.

Therefore, there is a separate method for information members to confirm each other’s identities.

When meeting each other or retreating, they also have bases in various places to prepare for when their identities are revealed.

The border is the last base before returning to Grenian Castle, but so far none of his subordinates have returned.

‘Should I go further? Either way, there is a low possibility that there will be enemies at the next base. Jane has left, and the Eric family has been destroyed.’

As Hamilton was contemplating, a subordinate quickly approached.

“Commander, Number 4 has returned.”

“Number 4?”

Hamilton’s pace quickened.

Returning to the meeting place with his subordinate, he saw Number 4.

Hamilton’s mouth dropped open.

“C, Commander.”

Number 4 was dying.

“Helian!”

Hamilton even broke the rule he had told his subordinates first as the head of the information organization.

From the moment they became information members, everyone forgot their names and were only called by numbers such as 1, 2, and 3, but he unknowingly said Number 4’s name.

“The Kingdom Alliance… there are definitely… undead…”

Hamilton listened to Helian’s words and quickly performed first aid, but he could not save a dying life.

“Only… defense… Countless undead are spreading throughout the Kingdom Alliance.”

Helian swallowed blood.

But soon, he groaned and vomited blood.

“At least hundreds of thousands… or more undead have occupied the Kingdom Alliance. The capital is already… not only the soldiers but the entire population has become undead.”

Hamilton gave up on treating him.

“Helian…”

Helian fulfilled his duty as an information member to the end.

“There are necromancers everywhere, and there are various types of undead.”

Helian’s pronunciation became clearer.

His complexion even seemed to have improved.

Hamilton sensed that Helian’s last moment was approaching.

“Everyone else is dead. Commander, you must thoroughly prepare for defense. The necromancers are uniting the undead. They will soon move south.”

“Okay. Thank you, Helian.”

Helian gave a deep smile.

Helian, who closed his eyes peacefully, no longer breathed.

Hamilton said to his surrounding subordinates.

“If we bury Helian here, the necromancers will revive him and turn him into an undead. Take the body and return to Grenian.”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Hurry!”

At that moment, a subordinate who was guarding the outside shouted.

“Commander! Undead!”

Hamilton quickly went outside.

“Damn it.”

What unfolded before Hamilton’s eyes was a horde of undead.

Countless undead hordes!

And in the middle of them, there were Dullahan [headless horsemen] and Death Knights showing their presence, as well as necromancers and even liches [powerful undead spellcasters] everywhere.

‘Crazy.’

Helian’s words that the soldiers and residents of the Kingdom Alliance had all become undead were by no means an exaggeration.

‘I have to retreat.’

The problem was not the direct territory.

They had to abandon the direct territory and retreat to the Empire to stop those undead.

Hamilton bit his lip.

“Let’s go.”

It was better to get out of here before they arrived.

Hamilton picked up Helian’s body and moved towards Grenian.

He had to deliver this news to Arun as soon as possible.

Pshew-!

Hamilton stopped walking.

The arrow that the undead fired accurately hit the subordinate’s back.

“C, Commander…”

Pshew-! Pshew-!

Dozens of arrows flew.

‘They are not just undead. They know this place exactly and are aiming for it, passing through it and heading to Grenian.’

Hamilton bit his lip.

Pshew-!

Another subordinate fell.

“A, abandon me and go.”

The subordinate said, pulling out the arrow that had pierced his thigh.

“Go quickly!”

Hamilton put down Helian’s body.

And he turned around resolutely.

Tears were flowing in his eyes.

Pshew-! Pshew-!

He had to… live, even for the sake of the subordinates who were taking the arrows with their bodies.