Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 255

255.

“Now, you must handle the government affairs directly.”

Ron chuckled at Duke James’s words.

“Aren’t you doing a good job?”

“Your Majesty has recovered his health. We must announce Your Majesty’s well-being to the world. The Empire is at war. Just the news of Your Majesty’s recovery will greatly boost the morale of the soldiers.”

“Speaking of which, let’s take a look at the front lines.”

At Ron’s words, Duke James immediately spread a map on the table.

“The most difficult front is the western front.”

“The west? Not the south?”

“The Purifying Flames Order has stopped advancing in the south. It seems they are busy completely subjugating the occupied territories.”

“Turning the Empire’s territory into their own?”

“Yes. They are building temples everywhere and gathering people. The main forces of the Purifying Flames Order’s southern front are the barbarians and undead of the Southern Union.”

“I see.”

“It’s to include the Imperial citizens in their forces.”

Ron clicked his tongue.

“Karen seems to lack tactical acumen. Now is not the time to stabilize the occupied territories, but to advance to the Imperial Palace in one fell swoop.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

Ron smiled faintly.

“Why? Am I wrong?”

“Well, from the enemy’s perspective, that’s true.”

“You need to know the most efficient way for the enemy to attack in order to defend properly.”

Ron pointed to a total of three places on the map.

“Once the occupied areas are stabilized, Karen will definitely advance to the Imperial Palace. Deploy troops in these three locations.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Duke James replied with a much more relaxed face.

Everyone praised only Ron’s ‘martial prowess,’ but Duke James knew.

Ron was a genius tactician.

The reason he was able to build such a vast empire was the combination of martial prowess and tactical talent.

The victories that always overwhelmed a large number of enemies with a small force were due to overwhelming the enemy with tactics as much as with force.

“There’s no need to deploy a large number of troops at the first point. It’s a kind of deception. Their main strategy is to stabilize the occupied areas as they advance.”

“In that case…….”

“It takes a long time to pass through even one gate. Defend the first gate moderately. Deploy the main forces at the second gate.”

Ron’s eyes turned cold.

“Since the second gate is next to the river, there are many ways to deal with a large number of enemies. Dispatch the commander of the Imperial Knights to the second gate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Arun will return before the third gate is breached.”

“Are you talking about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“That’s right. He will destroy the altar, stabilize Grenian and the entire former Pireon Kingdom, and then return. Then, that child and I can go out together to meet Karen.”

“Your Majesty, does that mean that even the second gate will be breached?”

Ron did not deny it.

Duke James was once again surprised by Karen’s strength.

‘The third gate is right in front of the Imperial Palace. If we can’t stop the gate, the enemy will advance directly to the capital… Also, they are spreading a corrupt religion to the Imperial citizens in the process of advancing. Even if we win, the aftermath will be very great.’

Ron, noticing Duke James’s concerns, smiled and said.

“They will also become impatient once the altar is destroyed.”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t they trying to summon the Demon King? No matter how much religion deceives people, there is a limit. They will eventually realize that the religion they believe in is with the undead and summons the Demon King.”

“But their religion is brainwashing the ignorant people. The brainwashed people call the undead the Divine Army and respect them.”

“How long do you think that will last?”

“Wouldn’t it last at least until the end of the war?”

Ron replied.

“Other religious orders are also preparing various things. My power has weakened the power of various religious orders, but they are also religious people. They can’t just stand by and watch a heretical religion dominate the entire empire.”

“Has the Pope… moved?”

“He must have thought that the Empire would win as always, so he has been quiet until now. Sending only a few paladins was all he did. But if the second gate is breached, things will change.”

Ron was already preparing for the final war.

“The Pope will also become impatient. They will realize that they are safe only if they have the umbrella of the Empire. Anyway, is the next one the west?”

Ron turned his gaze to the west.

“I heard they are fighting to the death?”

“Yes. Duke Austin has been killed in battle, but the western lords are holding out quite well.”

“That’s good. The Crown Prince’s vassals are doing well.”

“Y-Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s vassals? They are all Your Majesty’s vassals.”

Ron shook his head.

“The west is the Crown Prince’s political base. The fact that they are holding out well against the fairies is thanks to the Crown Prince. I think the special products from that area are having a big effect?”

“Yes. The spring water discovered by His Highness the Crown Prince during his visit to the west has excellent healing effects and is of great help in the war.”

“It would be good to send support troops to the west, and leave the rest to them. The fairies are not showing as much power as I thought.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then shall we wait for Arun to return? The timing will probably be right.”

“Since His Highness the Crown Prince has entered the Kingdom Union, won’t it take some time?”

“Didn’t you hear the news about your daughter, my daughter-in-law, Olivia?”

Duke James’s eyes widened when Olivia’s story suddenly came up.

“Oh, it seems you haven’t heard.”

Ron smiled brightly.

“I received a report through a messenger. The Crown Princess has crossed the threshold of Sword Master.”

Duke James’s voice trembled.

“O-Olivia…….”

He should have used honorifics, but Duke James was so surprised that he called her name.

Duke James didn’t even notice his mistake and said.

“Are you saying that she has entered the path of Grand Sword Master?”

“I don’t think she has completely reached Grand Sword Master. However, it is certain that she has crossed the threshold. In terms of swordsmanship, that child is the best in the Empire.”

“Heh heh.”

Duke James was speechless.

His young daughter had reached the end of swordsmanship.

He couldn’t believe it.

“The Kingdom Union’s affairs will be settled soon. A spiritist who summons the Spirit King and a knight who has reached Grand Sword Master are together.”

* * *

Even when destroying the second, third, and fourth altars, the enemies’ resistance was not strong.

I even felt like the number of undead had decreased.

I was inwardly embarrassed because I destroyed the altars too easily.

“Could it be that the High Priest has given up on the Kingdom Union?”

I considered Olivia’s words before responding.

“Well, maybe they’re planning a final stand at the last altar… or perhaps they’re abandoning the Kingdom Union altogether.”

The altars all radiated a tremendous dark energy.

Could the High Priest really abandon such powerful altars?

Moreover, how much effort and time did the Purifying Flame Brigade invest in occupying the Kingdom Union?

What reason could they possibly have to abandon all of that and retreat?

‘Olivia’s become too strong, so the High Priest gave up? That’s unlikely.’

I focused on the idea that they were concentrating all their forces to defend the last altar.

“It seems they’re focusing all their power on the last altar.”

“Yes.”

I sighed.

“The entire Kingdom Union has been tainted by the darkness.”

Regardless of whether the altars are destroyed or not, the Kingdom Union has already become a land where it’s difficult for people to live.

Even though the spirits are diligently circulating the natural energy as I destroy the four altars, it will take a considerable amount of time for the land to return to normal.

‘There are no traces of people left. To think that such a prosperous kingdom has become a land of the undead.’

They truly are terrifying bastards.

Instead of simply killing people, they turn them into the undead.

The Purifying Flame Brigade is an evil group that must be driven out of this land.

The funny thing is, they also call me an evil group and are attacking the Empire.

“Who is good and who is evil is debatable… but the victor will be deemed good.”

Olivia responded to my muttering,

“Your Highness will surely be victorious. Furthermore, you will restore this land and build an even greater empire.”

“It sounds good just hearing it. But once the war is over, we’ll have to focus on recovering from the war’s damage for a while.”

I was worried about the situation in the south.

If the Kingdom Union is in this state, the situation in the south, which has been occupied by the Purifying Flame Brigade’s main force, probably isn’t any different.

“We need to destroy the altar as soon as possible and return.”

I wasn’t planning on simply returning after easily destroying the four altars.

The altar is like a demon summoning circle, so if we destroy the altar here and eliminate the High Priest, our rear will be safe.

“Let’s go. The last altar isn’t far away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I soon rode onward with Olivia again.

The cavalry followed us.

The number of cavalrymen had decreased since we first entered the Kingdom Union, but the losses weren’t too severe.

Rather, it was a great achievement to attack the Kingdom Union’s territory with only about a hundred casualties.

Still, I wanted to preserve this force as much as possible.

I strongly desired to save even one more soldier and send them home safely.

‘With Olivia and me, we can definitely overcome whatever elaborate preparations the High Priest has made.’

The ground shook as the cavalry advanced, kicking up dust.

Thump, thump, thump!

I urged my horse to go even faster.

Soon, the last altar came into view.

The last altar was truly enormous.

‘Was this really built by humans?’

It was a colossal structure.

The peak of the altar, which was shaped like a tower, seemed to touch the clouds.

‘It must be the power of magic.’

And the dark energy flowing from the altar was far greater than that of the other altars.

The cavalrymen gasped.

Even the knights struggled to withstand this dark energy.

I quickly summoned a spirit.

The Wind Spirit King, Aquilus, appeared.

Immediately, he blew away the dark energy with a strong gust of wind.

“Attack!”

I took advantage of the cavalry’s strength and began to break through.

Thanks to the refreshing energy emitted by Aquilus, the cavalrymen were no longer as affected by the dark energy.

“Olivia, I’m counting on you. It’s hard enough for me just to maintain Aquilus.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”

I was struggling to even properly channel the flow of mana [magical energy] swirling throughout my body to Aquilus.

Aquilus was fiercely drawing upon my mana, making it difficult to even stay on horseback.

I regretted not being able to fuse the energy of the Spirit Stone with my mana.

If I had properly fused all that mana, I would have been able to maintain Aquilus much more easily.

‘If my mana runs out, I’ll use the energy of the Spirit Stone. I can summon the Fire Spirit King.’

Thanks to the Spirit Stone, Ifrit had become the Fire Spirit King.

Of course, it was impossible to summon two Spirit Kings at the same time.

My body couldn’t handle it.

‘Aquilus alone is enough for now. Olivia has also become stronger.’

Black light poured out from the last altar.

Kwaaaang-! Kwang-!

The black light transformed into spheres and then into the undead.

The light flowed out continuously.

The battle began as the cavalrymen clashed with the undead.

‘Attack the altar directly.’

I sent my command to Aquilus.

Aquilus waved his hand and created a powerful wind.

Kwaaaaaaaang-!

“Indeed, a Spirit King?”

The High Priest revealed himself behind a barrier.

‘He blocked the Spirit King’s attack?’

I couldn’t hide my shock.

Wasn’t the Spirit King supposed to tear the undead apart just by his presence?

But the wind was blocked by the High Priest’s barrier.

How could that be possible?

The High Priest smiled, stroking his long beard.

“Crown Prince, why are you so surprised?”

Soon, black light gathered from the High Priest’s staff.

The light gradually grew in size and became a sphere.

“You must have been quite happy to destroy the altars, weren’t you?”

The High Priest continued.

“They were all just empty shells. The God will reveal himself. This place is already the domain of God.”