Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 86

86.

It was a kind of show of force.

Currently, there were three people in the Empire known as High-Level Spiritists.

One of them was my father, the Emperor, the ruler of this Empire. The other two were known to be wanderers.

Many families were trying to attract these two High-Level Spiritists, but they didn’t have a fixed residence, making them difficult to find.

And now, I was about to make a name for myself as another High-Level Spiritist in the Empire.

I would be known not as a rookie who had just become a High-Level Spiritist, but as a master who could summon two attributes of High-Level Spirits.

“The fundamental reason why attrition warfare is disadvantageous is because of the sheer number of Orcs.”

Even now, the number of Orcs far exceeded the number of troops mobilized from the West.

Everyone was focused on what I was saying.

“There are still many Orcs in the Dark Forest. Even if we defeat them all now, more Orcs will come down here.”

The Western lords swallowed their groans, and Marquis Mike also wore a serious expression.

In their hearts, they seemed to think that the Orcs in front of them were the end of the threat.

Well, when you see Orcs swarming in endlessly, it’s not easy to imagine that there are even more to come.

“The Orc Shaman and the Orc King haven’t even arrived yet. I saw the Wyvern, called the Ruler of the Ruins, fighting the Orc King in the Dark Forest. The Orc warriors with the Orc King seemed to have at least twice the power.”

Marquis Mike asked.

“Those Orcs already possess power that can’t be called monstrous. Are you saying that they become twice as strong just by being with the Orc King?”

“That’s right. If the Orc King and the Orc Shaman participate in the battle, defense may become exceedingly difficult.”

Thomson sneered.

“Everyone knows it’s difficult and hard….”

I stared intently at Thomson.

I unconsciously felt the mana wriggling in the Mana Hall [the center of one’s magical power], and a strange energy lingered in the barracks.

Thomson let out a shallow groan.

The surroundings were overflowing with mana emanating from my body.

In particular, the pressure Thomson was receiving seemed to exceed his imagination. Thomson staggered.

“Commander.”

At Marquis Mike’s voice, I calmed my breathing.

“I hope you will at least show basic courtesy.”

I took my eyes off Thomson and continued as if nothing had happened.

“There is a being to whom the Orc King swears allegiance: the owner of the Lich. The Skeletons and Dullahan [undead creatures] are undead summoned by the Lich.”

Ken speculated at my words.

“There are many fields of black magic, and that Lich seems to have been a Necromancer [a magic user who can control the dead].”

“That’s right. I didn’t destroy the Lich’s Life Vessel [an object containing the Lich’s soul]. I won the battle against the Lich and the undead, but we should consider that there are still lingering problems.”

“If it’s someone who controls the Orc King and the Lich, it must be a Demon.”

Gayle, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“A Demon probably didn’t descend directly.”

Karen already knew where Goran was sealed and was moving with Gayle to prevent his resurrection.

Gayle didn’t know the exact location, but he confirmed through Karen that the Seed of Evil was sealed.

“The fundamental cause is that Seed of Evil. The owner of the Orc King and the Lich. If we don’t kill that person, the danger in the West will not end.”

I continued to press my point.

“We need to form a special forces team to eliminate that Seed of Evil somewhere near the Orc Legion’s main base.”

Marquis Mike, the Western lords, and Ram were lost in thought.

Thomson seemed to be recovering from the pressure he had received from me, calming his breathing. Perhaps because he was embarrassed, he didn’t seem to be giving the Seed of Evil any thought.

Ram spoke first.

“The Atran Knights will take on that task.”

I widened my eyes as if surprised and asked.

“Lord Ram?”

“Yes. Since it’s a special forces team where mobility is important, the scale shouldn’t be large, and if the power is weak, there’s a risk of being defeated. So, a small elite force is suitable, isn’t it? It’s natural for the Atran Knights to take on this task.”

Ram showed confidence.

“Because the Atran Knights are the best elite in the Empire.”

One of the Western lords raised an objection.

“It may be difficult with just the Atran Knights. If it’s near the Orc Legion’s main base, there will be more Orcs than the ones outside right now. Can they really eliminate the Seed of Evil without being detected by them? Knowing the Dark Forest well is more important than power, isn’t it?”

The Western lord’s opinion was also valid.

Ram also nodded.

“How about Your Highness joining the Atran Knights directly? Marquis Mike has done a good job as the temporary commander, and with Sword Master Lord Gayle, we can more than make up for the power vacuum left by our knights.”

Ram’s opinion seemed reasonable.

But I couldn’t ignore the sense of incongruity hidden within.

‘Are they trying to separate me and Gayle, eliminate the Seed of Evil, and then eliminate me as well? And then disguise my death as being killed in battle with the Seed of Evil.’

The trick was obvious, but I agreed with Ram’s opinion.

“Lord Ram’s opinion seems good. Does anyone have any other opinions?”

I turned my gaze to Ken.

“Lord Ram was upset that the Commander was away from his position, so his opinion is contradictory. I would like to think about it more.”

At Ken’s words, Ram’s expression slightly distorted.

* * *

Without hearing Ken’s opinion, we had to start defending again.

The Orcs suddenly rushed in. Unlike the morning battle, I didn’t just watch, but stepped forward directly.

I unleashed powerful firepower from the walls, centered around the two High-Level Spirits.

The storm of red wind swept through the center of the Orcs.

Kwaaaang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!

Thomson’s magic corps was pouring out high-level magic, not wanting to be outdone by me.

“Thomson is putting in the effort.”

At Ken’s words, I asked while implementing skills through the spirits.

“Was he passive until now?”

“He didn’t exert his full power. He couldn’t refuse the orders of the military officer appointed by the Emperor, so he participated in the battle, but he certainly wasn’t like this before.”

The reputation of the Riverhill family was not in vain.

As the magic corps began to unleash their firepower without hesitation, the battle felt almost too easy.

I only needed to imprint my presence as a commander on several soldiers with a few skills, so there was no reason to use more skills.

“The reason you opposed Ram’s opinion is because his scheme was too obvious?”

Ken shook his head at my question.

“No?”

When I expressed my surprise, Ken explained.

“It’s a golden opportunity to reduce the elite of the Atran family, so he wouldn’t miss it. I think we should also receive some support from the magic corps.”

I twitched my eyebrows.

“Then that means I have to die for sure?”

“Of course, Lord Gayle should go with you.”

Ken showed confidence.

“Leave it to me. I’ll tie Ram and Thomson together. We need to go with a picture of the knights and mages cherished by the Atran and Riverhill families gloriously dying in battle.”

“This place will be left empty?”

Ken smiled brightly.

“Marquis Mike is an excellent commander. He probably won’t be breached. I’ve given him some strategies, so he can defend sufficiently.”

Ken whispered.

“I’m also thinking of joining this expedition. Fortunately, Ram and Thomson didn’t stay still and shook up the Western lords, so it won’t be difficult to tie them together and go on the expedition with Lord Gayle.”

I was someone who trusted Ken’s abilities more than anyone else.

Since he showed confidence, I decided to trust him.

* * *

It was a late meeting, but no one expressed dissatisfaction.

“I plan to depart tomorrow morning immediately.”

The barracks were filled with silence at my declaration.

Ken opened his mouth.

“Accepting Lord Ram’s opinion, the Commander will directly embark on the expedition with the Atran Knights.”

Gayle stepped forward.

“Commander.”

Ken stopped Gayle.

“The expedition team composition is complete: twenty knights from the Atran Knights, including Lord Ram; five mages from the Riverhill Magic Corps, including Lord Thomson; and twenty knights who went to the Dark Forest with Your Highness.”

Thomson jumped up.

“What kind of unilateral decision is that!”

“Are you disobeying the Commander now?”

Thomson didn’t back down easily even at Ken’s words.

“In war, even a small decision can determine victory or defeat! Without any basis….”

Ken cut off Thomson’s words.

“There are many bases. The best elite knights and the best mages to support them, and the Commander is a Spiritist, so the combination itself is the best. Above all, Lord Gayle is a Sword Master and can cope with any variables and dangers.”

Ram calmly stepped forward.

“Then this place will be left empty? What if the Orc King appears while we’re in the Dark Forest? Can the Western forces really stop him?”

Ken nodded.

“They can stop him. Lord Ram and Lord Thomson know it especially well, don’t they? You two are the ones who said that the Western forces are great.”

Ram and Thomson’s expressions hardened.

They probably didn’t know that the sweet talk they had given to the other Western lords, who were suppressed by Marquis Mike’s reputation and influence, would come back to bite them in this way.

“If allies are divided on the battlefield, they will surely be defeated. Promoting division is treason against the Commander.”

Even some of the Western lords became nervous.

Ken’s smile deepened.

“The Marquis will defend this place well. And the special forces team will also hold the Orc King back, so the Orc King won’t come down here.”

Ram and Thomson bit their lips.

Watching the best talents of the two Duke families being constantly swayed by Ken, I felt that I had picked a person with amazing talent.

That was the same for Gayle.

Gayle, who never showed his emotions, was now shaking his head while looking at Ken.

He seemed to have completely taken control of the experienced lords of the West and was recognized by Marquis Mike.

The talents of the two Duke families were completely subdued by Ken, and every word they uttered was only refuted by perfect logic.

I started to wrap things up.

“Then we’ll proceed as the military officer says. Gayle.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Discuss with Ken and pack the supplies. And Thomson.”

When I called him, Thomson released the fist he was holding and slyly turned his gaze to me.

“Since the elite of the magic corps came directly, I assume you brought various items.”

Thomson hesitated for a moment and then answered honestly.

“The items are treasures of the Riverhill family. They can only be used when the existence of the corps is threatened. His Majesty has also directly approved this matter.”

Thomson’s words were not a lie.

The reason why the Riverhill family was famous and great was because they were a family of excellent mages.

There were many types of mages.

Mages who specialized in making items were also mages, and of course, there were various mages in the Riverhill family.

Mages who exerted their presence on the battlefield like the magic corps, mages who studied the academic field of magic itself, and mages who created items.

I wanted to use those items that the Riverhill family produced on their own.

As Thomson said, it was their family’s private property and was used only for them on the battlefield.

My father also recognized the Riverhill family’s rights in that regard.

“I’ll buy it with the Crown Prince Palace budget.”

“It’s not a matter I can decide….”

“Then we should include twenty mages in the expedition team instead of five. What I’m asking for isn’t treasure items. It’s potions with very good efficacy or scrolls with attack magic inscribed on them.”

Thomson was deep in thought.