Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 177

8. Summit Meeting

1

Clang, clang.

With the dull sound of iron chains, over a hundred people, bound in chains, were being led towards the Brenden Central Square.

Quite a few citizens of the royal capital were watching them from the roadside, including Jack, a traveling merchant who had come up from the provinces that morning.

“Hey, what are those people? They look like prisoners.”

His colleague, who had come to meet him, snorted and replied to his question.

“Those guys are traitors. They’re the ones who tried to stab His Majesty in the back during the war.”

The procession of prisoners consisted of corrupt nobles and radical republicans who had been caught trying to incite rebellion and sabotage by colluding with spies from the Livia Kingdom not long ago.

“Really? No wonder the people’s reactions are so harsh…”

As Jack said, the people watching from the roadside hurled insults and pointed fingers as the prisoners approached.

“You scum, you deserve to be torn apart!”

“Even if you’re blinded by power, there’s a limit!”

“You filthy Red Dawn bastards! Is betraying His Majesty, who is fighting to protect the people, by colluding with corrupt nobles the revolution you were talking about!”

“Exterminate the corrupt nobles for three generations and confiscate their property!”

Although insults and shouts were rampant, no one threw stones or filth like in the old days.

This was because Luke had forbidden it, saying that the escorting soldiers could be harmed.

It was also thanks to the propaganda from the temples and magic schools that dirtying the streets was bad for hygiene and could spread epidemics.

So, while no one had deliberately prepared projectiles, no one was stingy about what naturally accumulated in their mouths.

“Ptooey!”

“Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!”

The prisoners couldn’t help but grimace at the barrage of spit that kept flying at them.

More painful than the spit was the fact that all the honor they had prided themselves on had vanished.

This was especially true for the radical republicans, more so than the corrupt nobles.

“Damn it, it’s all your fault! We should never have joined hands with those petty nobles!”

“How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this!”

The Red Dawn members, who were being punished for treason, began to fight among themselves.

The escorting soldiers approached and swung their clubs.

“Shut up, you trash! You criminals dare to open your mouths?”

“Ugh! I was just trying to achieve a true revolution…”

“You bastard, is betraying your country a true revolution!”

One of the soldiers rushed in with the intent to beat them to death, and his colleagues stepped in to stop him.

“Why is that guy so agitated?”

Philip, the commander of the 1st Army, who was in charge of the execution of the nobles and Red Dawn members who had participated in the rebellion, asked his adjutant.

“He was caught with republican books during an internal inspection not long ago and was taken to the military police.”

“What? He’s a republican?”

“Yes, he said he was interested but absolutely did not support radical actions, and he begged us not to doubt his loyalty, saying he supported His Majesty’s parliamentary politics.”

The soldier was a republican, but he was a moderate and had no connection to the rebel forces, so he was released.

However, he had no choice but to suffer hardships because he was caught in a chaotic situation due to the rebellion during the war.

Moreover, he must have been severely scolded by his superiors after returning to his unit, so there was no way he would look kindly on the radicals.

“I’ve also read books written by republicans, but I don’t agree with their claims. I don’t think the world has developed enough to do as they say.”

“There’s also the example of the Volga Republic.”

“They also ended up keeping the peerage system. Even if they say that ability is more important than blood ties, they still take care of their own children and acquaintances first, which is no different from us.”

“It seems that people are the same everywhere.”

“Well, something like that.”

While Philip was talking with his adjutant, the escort procession arrived at the central square.

Gallows were already prepared there.

Whether they noticed it or not, the noble traitors, including Count Lamerite, widened their eyes.

“What, hanging?”

“Not beheading?”

In the Rodisia continent, hanging was a method of execution for petty criminals who committed murder or robbery.

For serious criminals like traitors, beheading was the norm.

In fact, nobles preferred beheading.

Unlike hanging, where they would suffocate, soil themselves, and die grotesquely with their tongues hanging out, beheading maintained a clean appearance as much as possible.

There was also the old custom of knights that dying by weapons like swords and spears was honorable, and there was a superstition that dying bravely and valiantly would allow their souls to be saved by the god of war in the afterlife.

“We’re not petty criminals! If you’re going to kill us, kill us by beheading!”

Philip frowned at Count Lamerite’s protest.

“Geez, you’re a criminal, yet you have so many demands. Isn’t it the same whether you die this way or that way? Don’t you know that King Fernando of Grenada died by hanging?”

“We’re different from that filthy pirate leader!”

“What’s different? You and Fernando are both just petty thieves at heart.”

Luke and the leaders of the Symphonia Kingdom had no intention of respecting the traitors’ honor.

That’s why they were trying to execute them in the same way that the Holy Empire had executed Fernando.

“Execute them!”

As Philip gave the order in a loud voice, the soldiers dragged the prisoners from the front and put nooses around their necks.

“Let go, let go!”

“Luke, you bastard! We were the ones who supported you as king!”

“Spare me! Please, just give me one more chance…!”

The prisoners’ reactions varied, with some resisting to the end, some bursting with resentment, and some begging for mercy.

However, after a while, they all looked the same.

As the soldiers pulled the ropes, they kicked their legs in the air and stuck out their tongues.

The prisoners waiting their turn in the back trembled or shed tears as they watched.

“Puhaha, look at that guy crying.”

“It’s too late to regret it, you idiot!”

The citizens watching the execution jeered or sneered at them.

They thought that such trash should disappear quickly for the sake of the kingdom.

Thus, the traitors’ end was miserable from beginning to end, both while they were alive and while they were dying.

‘With this, the internal instability is completely gone.’

Bell tower of the temple located near the central square.

Luke watched the traitors being executed and then turned away.

Although he had suffered losses due to Arsene’s scheme, he had also gained some benefits.

First, the Holy Empire had occupied the Kingdom of Grenada, completely eliminating the threat from the south.

In the future, merchant ships traveling to and from the southern continent would no longer be attacked by pirates, and the safety of coastal cities and towns would be secured.

Second, he had eliminated the dissatisfied forces within the kingdom.

As the Symphonia Kingdom was founded, the power of the nobles weakened and the power of the royal family strengthened, but that did not mean that the elements of instability had completely disappeared.

Rather, some nobles were harboring resentment for having their power taken away and were constantly looking for opportunities.

Now that he had cleaned them all up, things would be quiet for a while.

Smirk.

With a satisfied smile on his face, Luke headed towards the Black Tower.

2

Chiiik! Chiiik!

Clang, clang, clang!

“Lower it slowly, slowly!”

“Is the magic circle engraving on frame number 3 still far off?”

“It’s almost done, please wait a little longer!”

The workshop of the Black Tower.

On the surface, it looked similar to any other magic tower’s Gigant workshop [A large, humanoid war machine powered by magic].

One difference was that black mages and white mages, who had been like sworn enemies in the magic world for a long time, were cooperating with each other to carry out the work.

Moreover, the Gigant improvement work being carried out here was actually being led by black mages, not white mages.

“Is this the artificial muscle that reinforces the joints of the Gigant?”

Luke, who had visited the Black Tower, pulled on a piece of smooth, cloth-like material in front of him.

It had considerable elasticity, and the artificial muscle did not break even when it was stretched several times its original length.

“It’s like rubber produced in the southern continent.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But it’s much more durable than rubber and doesn’t melt easily in fire.”

There was a time when some magic towers tried to introduce rubber to reinforce the joints of Gigants.

However, they soon gave up because the production of rubber was not high, it was not as tough as they thought, and it burned easily.

Johas, shrugging his shoulders, led Luke to where the Gigant with artificial muscles was located.

The test Gigant was bare, without armor, and had reddish artificial muscles attached to its joints and frame.

Whirr! Thud! Thud!

The test Gigant was wielding a wooden sword and performing the Symphonia Kingdom’s standard swordsmanship.

Perhaps for comparison, a normal Gigant of the same specifications was performing the same movements next to it.

However, the test Gigant with artificial muscles had much smoother movements, and its actions were more elastic.

“Originally, to show such elastic movements, a complex magic circle had to be applied to the balance device, but by replacing it with artificial muscles, the device can be made much simpler.”

“The malfunctions must have decreased as well.”

“Yes, and the production time and cost of the balance device have been significantly reduced.”

At Johas’s explanation, Erewyn, the court mage who accompanied Luke, asked a question.

“Still, there must be time and cost involved in applying artificial muscles, right?”

“Of course. But it’s much easier and cheaper than adding a magic circle to the balance device.”

The artificial muscle itself is made by cultivating it with black magic and a special solution, but processing and installing it can be done easily by ordinary engineers.

“Moreover, because it is elastic, it can reduce damage when hit.”

“That means the armor can be made lighter than it is now.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. As expected, you are well-versed in magical engineering, so you understand quickly.”

Not only was he well-versed in magical engineering.

Luke was far beyond Johas in the realm of black magic as well.

This was known not only to Johas himself but also to Erewyn.

‘Everyone would be shocked if they knew His Majesty’s true identity?’

Seymon, the Dark Moon’s patriarch and the black sage who was falsely accused of being a demon king.

The world would be turned upside down if they knew that his soul had been reborn in the body of Luke, a descendant of Rakan.

But this was a secret that had to be kept forever.

Even though Seymon’s reputation is being reevaluated, revealing Luke’s true identity would cast doubt on the reevaluation itself. It would also likely lead to renewed oppression of black mages, who are gradually gaining acceptance in the world.

Therefore, Johas and Erewyn intended to keep it a secret forever. In fact, they tried their best to forget the truth themselves.

“But what do the priests say about this artificial muscle?” Luke asked.

Looking at the white mages currently working together, there didn’t seem to be much resistance. The only ones left were the priests from the Black Tower, who supervised and monitored the black mages.

At Luke’s question, Johas replied with a somewhat stiff expression. “The priests are already fiercely divided on the matter. The debate is quite intense.”

“So, there are those who agree?” Luke asked, looking surprised.

“Yes, although the opposition is slightly larger,” Johas admitted.

Originally, artificial muscle was created by Dark Moon while developing bio-golems. It’s made by taking muscle tissue from a living creature, soaking it in a special solution, and then cultivating it with black magic. The priests in the Black Tower had witnessed this entire production process.

“The opposition seems to have a strong aversion to the use of corpses. Moreover, since black magic is involved, they questioned whether it was related to necromancers who deal with the undead,” Johas explained.

In reality, it couldn’t be said that there was absolutely no connection with necromancers. The solution used to cultivate the muscle of living creatures is also used in the creation of the undead.

“Did you tell them that fact too?” Luke inquired.

“I thought it would be better to disclose it beforehand rather than have it exposed later, so I informed them,” Johas replied.

“Good job. But there are still priests who agree?” Luke asked.

“Yes, they’ve taken the position that this level of connection isn’t a problem,” Johas said.

The priests who agreed argued that artificial muscle was no different from using leather. Leather, when you think about it, is also taken from the corpses of living creatures, and it undergoes special chemical treatments to soften it, remove odors, and add color. In that way, some of the chemicals used in leather processing were quite toxic.

“Especially the coloring agents… In the history of the Irea Kingdom, there’s a case where a rebel spy stole paint from a court painter and released it into the palace’s water supply, incapacitating the Royal Knights,” Johas added.

“Hmm, I’ve heard that story too,” Luke responded.

Using such examples, the proponents argued that tools can be harmful or beneficial depending on how they are used. Therefore, if artificial muscle is carefully monitored to prevent misuse, it would be acceptable.

“What do you think, Meister?” Luke asked.

“Well, I don’t think it will be easy to reach a conclusion. The proponents’ arguments are valid, but we can’t completely ignore the anxiety felt by the opposition,” Johas said with a bitter expression.

Last time, he and the elders of Dark Moon had secretly identified and annihilated the Veritas group that had infiltrated. However, people’s perceptions did not change easily, especially the priests who had always been disgusted by black magic. It was surprising that there were so many proponents.

“I’ll have to persuade them,” Luke declared.

“Your Majesty, you yourself?” Johas asked, surprised.

“I have a useful card, you see,” Luke said with a confident smile. With that, he headed towards the conference room where the priests were gathered.

***

As Luke approached the conference room, the sound of the priests arguing could be heard from outside the door.

“I believe that much can be permitted without any problem!” one priest exclaimed.

“Absolutely not! Don’t you know the saying, ‘A needle thief becomes a cow thief’? If we turn a blind eye to a small injustice, it will later return as a greater disaster!” another countered.

“What are you saying? Do you consider them thieves, Bosco? Those who have repented of their sins, surrendered themselves, and are cooperating?” a third priest argued.

“Hmph, who knows what’s in people’s hearts? The black mages might be using us in their own disputes,” Bosco retorted.

“No, how can you say that?” another priest protested.

“Why can’t I say that?” Bosco challenged.

When the argument reached that point, a guard announced Luke’s arrival. As he opened the conference room door and entered, the priests rose from their seats and bowed respectfully. However, only one person, a robust middle-aged priest wearing a white toga over his armor, merely nodded with a sullen look.

‘That must be Priest Bosco, the leader of the opposition priests,’ Luke thought. He had heard the argument from outside, and Johas had given him a rough explanation on the way. Bosco was a priest of the Mars Order, and as a priest of the order that worshiped the god of war, he was skilled in martial arts and possessed considerable divine power. However, what made him more troublesome for Luke than his personal skills was the fact that he was a priest of the Mars Order.

The priests of the Elkasel Order generally supported Luke, or at least treated him with courtesy. This was because he was the king of Symphonia, the first ally of the Holy Empire, and was known to be very close to the Pope personally. However, this political position did not work for the Mars Order. Rather, they felt a sense of betrayal. The Rakan family was originally close to the Mars Order, but in Luke’s generation, they had become rapidly closer to the Elkasel Order. In fact, since the founding of Symphonia, the number of Elkasel Order believers had been increasing, while the Mars Order had been steadily declining, even though the continent was in the midst of war. As a result, the priests of the Mars Order were inwardly displeased with Luke, and Bosco was no exception.

Luke approached him and spoke. “Are you Priest Bosco?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am Bosco Dagama, the Symphonia Diocese Overseer of the Mars Order,” Bosco replied.

The Diocese Overseer of the Mars Order was a position equivalent to the Archbishop of the Elkasel Order. Moreover, there were many knights in the Kingdom of Symphonia who believed in Mars, so his words could shake the country.

“I heard you are arguing about the issue of Gigant’s [large humanoid war machine] artificial muscle…” Luke began.

“I know that Your Majesty is not so idle as to be concerned about such trivial matters?” Bosco retorted.

“It’s embarrassing to hear that from you, who should be overseeing the entire kingdom but are only focused on monitoring the Black Tower,” Luke countered Bosco’s sarcasm with sarcasm. And before getting into petty arguments, he went straight to the point. “To be blunt, I think artificial muscle is not a problem as long as production and management are done well.”

“I believe it is reckless for Your Majesty, who is not a priest, to judge such things,” Bosco said.

“Really? Are you not being reckless in underestimating my abilities?” Luke challenged. As soon as he finished speaking, a bright light emanated from Luke’s body. Bosco’s expression changed at the divine power that more than surpassed that of a high-ranking priest, or even an archbishop. He had heard rumors that Luke used divine power, but it was far beyond what he had imagined. Luke spoke to him, who was inwardly flustered.

“I’ve heard that martial arts training is one of the essential practices for the priests of the Mars Order?” Luke asked.

“That’s right. We are training martial arts very diligently with the desire to resemble the god. That’s why our order’s priests can handle not only spears and swords but also cannons and Gigants,” Bosco replied.

At the mention of Gigant, the corners of Luke’s mouth curled up slightly. He had gotten the words he wanted. “Then, Overseer Bosco, you must also know how to operate a Gigant?” Luke asked.

“Of course. If you are curious about my skills, I can prove it to you right now,” Bosco said, showing strong pride in his skills.

Luke, with a smile, continued to speak to Bosco. “That proof can wait. But… I don’t know if you know this. The invention of the Gigant is originally related to black magic.”

“Wh-what did you say?” Bosco stammered.

At Luke’s words, the priests in the conference room were startled. But the person who was most shocked was Bosco. For the past 500 years, the Gigant had been the main weapon of war, as well as the romance and symbol of knights. The same was true for the priests who worshiped the god of war. But that the Gigant was related to dirty black magic! Bosco’s expression hardened severely. It felt as if he was being insulted by saying that the god Mars was the child of a demon god.

“Do you have any evidence for that?” Bosco demanded.

“Of course, I do. There is something called Marionette Magic in black magic. It is used to control golems, and it was created by Seymon, who waged war with golems in the old days,” Luke explained.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Bosco asked, frowning.

Luke calmly continued to speak to Bosco. “The Gigant has its roots in golems. Many of the basic magic circles used in Gigants have borrowed formulas from Marionette Magic.”

“That’s absurd… !” Bosco exclaimed.

“If you don’t believe me, investigate it yourself. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize to Mars by cutting off my tongue,” Luke said confidently. At Luke’s confident statement, Bosco was speechless. The investigation was not a difficult task. The basic magic circles of the Gigant were commonly known in the magic world, and Marionette Magic could also be easily found through the black mages here. But before that, after hearing Luke’s story, he also had a point of suspicion. It was related to the person known as the first developer of the Gigant on the continent.

“In addition, the first Gigant was created by Arsene, the founder of the Veritas Magic Tower. The black mages of Dark Moon say that Arsene stole Seymon’s progress, who was a master of golems… Doesn’t that seem suspicious?” Luke asked.

“Th-that’s…” Bosco stammered.

“Moreover, it was exposed that the Veritas Magic Tower was secretly researching black magic. Isn’t that enough to draw a conclusion?” Luke pressed.

At Luke’s words, Bosco could only sweat and could not say anything more.

“The person I love said that flowers can bloom even in dirty soil, and that poison can sometimes be a life-saving medicine. If you are a priest, you should know the complex and cyclical nature of the world to some extent. How about reconsidering the artificial muscle issue?” Luke said. Having said that, Luke left the conference room, leaving Bosco, who was lost in thought. He didn’t know what kind of path he would take in the future. But he believed that anyone who knew shame would not judge based on just a part of the picture, as they had been doing.

***

Time passed, and it was the day of the magic video conference. Luke installed five magic communication orbs and a relay magic device that connected them in the king’s office. As he injected mana into the relay magic device, the five magic communication orbs began to light up one by one. When all the lights were on, he opened his mouth. “There are some familiar faces, but for those I’m meeting for the first time, let’s introduce ourselves. I am Luke de Rakan, the King of Symphonia.”

The first to respond to Luke’s introduction was Reina. “– I am Veronica III of the Holy Artenia Empire.”

“– I am James II of the Kingdom of Castia. Your Holiness Veronica of the Holy Empire, you are as beautiful as the rumors say. I regret not having met you sooner. Hahaha!” James II said.

Luke frowned slightly at the words of James II, a handsome man in his early 30s with brown hair. ‘Tsk, he’s a playboy, just as they said!’ Luke thought. According to the intelligence department’s report, James II had more than 20 mistresses inside and outside the palace, in addition to his five queens. That was just what was officially known, and the number of women he had approached during his occasional outings was not even known. He was often criticized for his womanizing behavior, but he was not a tyrant or a dark ruler. He never forced women he liked, and his governing power over the kingdom was stable. A peculiar point was that despite being so immersed in women, he still had no children. ‘Hmph, he must be cursed by Beliz, the goddess of earth and life,’ Luke thought.

While Luke was pondering this, Henri III of the Navarr Duchy and President Vladimir of the Volga Republic introduced themselves.

The kings wore somewhat uncomfortable expressions when President Vladimir introduced himself.

‘Tch, was it really necessary to invite even the head of the republicans?’ one king muttered.

‘Those Volga guys should just be left to fight the Baroque Empire to the death,’ another grumbled.

However, Reina, who harbored deep resentment as the princess of a fallen kingdom, greeted President Vladimir warmly.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you, and I’m so glad we finally have. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ah, yes… I am honored to receive Your Holiness’s greetings,” Vladimir replied, inwardly sweating.

No matter what anyone said, he was the enemy of the Volga royal family. She had every right to declare war on him.

Now that the Holy Empire had become the strongest power on the continent, even if they mobilized only half of their military force, the Volga Republic would be hard-pressed to defend itself.

However, Reina didn’t seem to harbor much desire for revenge.

‘Well, if she did, she would have attacked long ago,’ Vladimir thought, sighing inwardly in relief. The king of Irea, known as the Hermit Kingdom, finally spoke.

“Nice to meet you. I am Charles of the Kingdom of Irea.”

Charles was a young man with a freckled face and a straightforward demeanor.

The Kingdom of Irea, located in the center of the Rodisia continent, bordered several kingdoms geographically.

Although its territory was surrounded by mountains, making the land barren and the population small, it possessed a military force that could not be ignored.

This was because half of its people were either hunters or made their living as mercenaries in other countries.

Because of this, countries like Baroque or the Holy Empire, which had underestimated and invaded this country in the past, had suffered great defeats and retreated.

Despite having such potential, the Kingdom of Irea did not invade other countries or form alliances.

They didn’t want to be swayed by foreign powers, and they were too proud to become a vassal state of the Holy Empire or the Baroque Empire like the Navarr Duchy.

So, they chose a policy of strict neutrality, that is, isolation.

As a result, the only diplomatic activity of this country was the tariff agreement when using the trade route that passed through the mountains.

Such a hermit kingdom had agreed to a summit meeting.

That meant that the issue to be discussed this time was serious.

In total, six countries participated in this summit, including Symphonia, which proposed the meeting.

In addition to these, there were some nomadic tribes or small kingdoms in the Rodisia continent, but they were excluded from the meeting because their power was insignificant.

After the introductions of each country’s leaders were over, Luke brought up the main topic.

“The reason why I am meeting with the leaders of each country today is because we can no longer condone the activities of the black mages represented by the Veritas Magic Tower.”

“Regarding that, I understand from the data that King Luke sent that the situation is not normal. But is it really necessary for us to directly sanction the Baroque Empire and the Kingdom of Livia?” Charles of Irea unexpectedly spoke up first.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“There must be conscientious forces in both countries. So, wouldn’t it be better to support them and encourage them to turn things around from within?”

It was a statement befitting the king of a secluded and isolated kingdom.

‘How foolish. Let’s say they don’t know that the Kingdom of Livia has been secretly taken over by Arsene, which I haven’t mentioned. But isn’t it quite well-known that the nobles who opposed Rudolf in the Baroque Empire have disappeared?’ Luke thought.

The noble factions that started the civil war had become independent as the Milton Kingdom and the Kingdom of Livia.

Even the remaining lords and nobles were fleeing to Symphonia with the people due to Rudolf’s continuous tyranny and wars.

But to support the dissatisfied forces and make them revolt?

Before Luke could speak, Reina immediately retorted.

“That’s completely unrealistic. There are no opposition forces left in those two countries that we can support.”

Reina presented information based on what the Holy Empire’s intelligence department had gathered.

“I agree with Your Holiness’s claim. We also supported the peasant revolt in the Baroque Empire, but we did not achieve results that could turn the country around,” President Vladimir agreed with Reina’s words.

In fact, the Volga Republic had gained some territorial benefits by supporting the peasant revolt.

However, it was smaller in scale than initially thought.

This was due to the betrayal of the Kingdom of Livia, which had formed a secret alliance.

They didn’t know why they had suddenly turned around, but after seeing the data Luke sent, they were able to grasp the inside story.

‘They must be plotting something in league with the black mages,’ Vladimir thought.

“I also agree with what Her Holiness Veronica said. It’s already too late to incite internal forces. Now, the only way is to impose strong sanctions from the outside,” James II of Castia stated, advocating for a hardline policy.

He didn’t just agree, but also winked at Reina.

‘This guy dares to hit on my wife!’ Luke thought, inwardly displeased with James II, who was flirting with his woman, but he held back for now.

Even if he were to deal with him, now was not the time.

“King James II’s words sound like he’s suggesting starting a continental war?” Charles asked.

“It’s my judgment that if we leave them alone like this, the Demon King War of 500 years ago will only be repeated,” James II replied.

The meeting was largely divided into two groups.

Those who thought the Baroque Empire and the Kingdom of Livia should be sanctioned and those who thought they should wait and see.

The latter were Charles and Henri III of the Navarr Duchy.

The Navarr Duchy was a vassal state of the Baroque Empire.

Although they had escaped political interference due to the decline of Baroque’s national power, they still seemed hesitant to attack their former overlord.

As the meeting was at a stalemate, Luke decided to release one more piece of information.

“Are you aware that the Veritas Magic Tower is secretly creating undead? They are largely divided into liches [powerful undead mages] and death knights [undead warriors], and they appeared in the southern part of our kingdom and caused great damage.”

“Ah! That’s right. We sent support at the time, and according to Grand Duke Gregory, who directly fought the undead, the liches were at least 7th circle mages [a high level of magic], and the death knights were sword masters [highly skilled swordsmen],” Reina chimed in.

Luke continued with that momentum, “The problem is that there are hundreds of such undead being created, not just one or two.”

Thud!

The leaders of each country were shocked by his explanation.

Imagine hundreds of 7th circle mages and sword masters running rampant.

Which country could stop them?

If Luke’s words were true, the situation was more serious than the Demon King War of 500 years ago.

“Why are you only telling us about this now?” King Charles asked reproachfully.

“We also got the information recently. It took time to verify if it was true. More importantly, shouldn’t we make a decision now?” Luke countered.

“Ugh, then of course we have no choice but to launch a preemptive strike,” Charles conceded.

They couldn’t give the Veritas Magic Tower time to complete the creation of the undead.

After that, the meeting proceeded smoothly, and as a result, a temporary alliance of six countries was formed.

“Oh, by the way, the Song Empire and Yemaek of the Southern Continent have a military alliance with our Symphonia. Those two countries will also participate, so please understand,” Luke added.

“The more allies, the better, so that’s fine,” Vladimir replied.

“Then, let’s leave the details to the working-level staff, and I’ll be leaving now…” Luke said.

“I also have work to do, so I’ll be leaving now. Your Holiness, I hope to see you again if I have the chance,” James II said, continuing to provoke Luke’s anger until the very end.

The leaders began to log off one by one.

After everyone had left, only Luke and Reina remained.

Reina spoke to him, who had a sullen expression for some reason.

“You’ve looked uncomfortable since earlier. Is there something bothering you?”

“Yes. I’ve just realized your popularity again,” Luke grumbled in response.

Reina asked with an amused look, “Hahaha, why? Are you jealous?”

“It’s not jealousy, it’s unpleasant. A slick-looking guy keeps hitting on my wife, and what man would just let that slide?” Luke said, expressing his feelings with a sulky tone.

“Why didn’t you warn the King of Castia or tell him off for being rude?” he continued.

“Well, it’s to avoid more troublesome things,” Reina replied.

“Avoid more troublesome things?” Luke asked, puzzled.

Reina explained the reason in detail, “You are a master of swords and magic, but you still don’t know much about people’s personalities. There’s no need to respond to playboys like James II. If you talk to people like that, it just gets more tiring.”

There are some types of people who become more mischievous if you warn them not to do something.

That was especially true for womanizers like James II.

That’s why Reina had consistently ignored him.

“Besides, right now, the countries of the continent need to unite to defeat Arsene. I don’t think we should let a minor issue cause emotional rifts and ruin the great cause,” she added.

“I see. I didn’t understand your deep intentions,” Luke said, smiling awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.

“More importantly, wouldn’t it have been better to reveal Arsene’s identity at this time?” Reina asked.

If they had revealed the fact that Arsene had stolen the body of King Shaikhan of Livia, the leaders of each country would have agreed to the alliance without a second thought.

They would feel anxious about when their own bodies might be stolen.

However, Luke deliberately did not say it.

He thought that they might agree to the alliance because of anxiety, but they might also become afraid and try to protect themselves.

“And above all, I want to be the one to take Arsene’s head, not anyone else,” Luke stated.

“Is it because of your family’s long-standing grudge?” Reina asked.

“That’s part of it… but that guy has been operating in the shadows for the past 500 years and has sacrificed countless people. So, I definitely want to punish him with my own hands,” Luke replied.

Reina nodded her head after hearing Luke’s words.

“Okay. Then, please make sure to take me with you when you go to eliminate Arsene,” she said.

“I can’t. It’s too dangerous,” Luke countered.

“That’s why I have to go even more. I am the highest leader of the Elkasel Order. My divine power will be of great help in suppressing Arsene’s black magic,” Reina insisted.

“But…” Luke hesitated.

“We’re a couple, aren’t we? Your work is my work. The reason I received the power of ether [a mystical energy] from Sylphid in the spirit realm was also to help you,” Reina explained.

Luke tried to dissuade Reina in any way he could.

However, because she showed such a firm intention, he eventually agreed.

“Okay. Let’s go together then,” he conceded.

Frankly, if she went with him, it would be like having a million soldiers on his side for Luke.

Reina’s ether, that is, the power converted into the Pope’s divine power, was the greatest counter to black magic.

Moreover, Reina had reached a much higher level in divine power than Luke.

It was not just that she converted ether into divine power like Luke, but because she had a steadfast faith in God and a deep love for life, her divine power was manifested more strongly.

‘So that’s why she’s called a saint. But Reina, I will not let you go with me,’ Luke thought.

Luke did not want any situation where she would be in danger.

So, he decided to secretly set out alone when he went to deal with Arsene.

He knew he would be nagged or resented by Reina later, but he was already prepared for that.

The two talked for a while longer and then ended the magic communication.