Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 205

205―――――

I apologize, but I must leave due to a family emergency!

The Land of the Mortal, situated in the northernmost reaches of the continent, is a barren place avoided by all due to the demonic race that dwells there. Yet, countless tents were erected in perfect rows just outside its borders.

A large-scale holy war, initiated by Holy Prussen, continued by Nudia, and now joined by Hispania, was about to commence once more.

The expeditionary force from Hispania, having journeyed the farthest, arrived and paused to gather their strength when…

“What are you saying? It makes no sense!”

Otto Heidler, the commander of the Holy Knights of Holy Prussen, couldn’t mask his bewildered expression. He, along with the rest of the Holy Prussen delegation, stared at the round table where the representatives of Hispania sat, their faces etched with dissatisfaction.

“Due to an urgent matter in our homeland, we intend to withdraw,” Princess Vanessa announced, her voice remarkably calm despite the intense gazes fixed upon her.

Marquis Volko Redenen, standing beside her, and the other nobles from Hispania appeared displeased by Holy Prussen’s reaction, but they remained reserved, seemingly deferring to Princess Vanessa’s composed demeanor.

“Why on earth would you make such a decision, especially on the cusp of the holy war?”

“It concerns a matter within our homeland.”

“An explanation is required. Understanding is needed, Princess Vanessa. Do you realize the extent of preparations Holy Prussen and Nudia have undertaken for this day? To abruptly withdraw from the front lines upon your arrival would significantly impact the army’s morale, especially when it’s currently at its peak with Hispania’s expeditionary force joining us.”

At Commander Otto’s insistence, Princess Vanessa shifted her gaze to a young man seated silently beside him, his eyes fixed on her, and then spoke, “I stated it was a matter of our homeland. Must I elaborate on the details, Prince Carolus?”

“…”

The man, bearing the gray hair characteristic of the Holy Prussen royal family, was Prince Carolus, the sole heir to the Holy Prussen throne. He slowly began to speak.

“Currently, the continent is in a precarious state due to the demonic race and their followers. If we fail to eradicate their roots swiftly, we cannot foresee the extent of harm they may inflict upon this continent.”

“And?”

“Therefore, Holy Prussen, recognizing that we stand to gain no material benefits, declared a holy war and sought like-minded comrades to share our cause. Many within the kingdom volunteered, and Nudia promptly joined our endeavor. Hispania, too, readily agreed to fight for the stability of the continent.”

*Readily*, my foot. *Those who practically coerced us are speaking so sweetly.* Princess Vanessa inwardly scoffed, maintaining a neutral expression. There was nothing to be gained from a confrontation with Holy Prussen at this juncture.

“Knowing Hispania’s intentions, we waited, anticipating the arrival of another pillar of the holy war. Thus, the Hispania expeditionary force arrived a few days ago. While allowing you time to recuperate, we sought the opportune moment to strike. Now, suddenly, a retreat? Is it not natural that Holy Prussen and Nudia are deeply disconcerted?”

His words carried the unspoken sentiment: *We waited because you said you were coming, and we accommodated your need to rest after your long journey. Yet, you show no enthusiasm for participating in the holy war and seek to depart as soon as you arrive.*

“I understand your concerns, Prince Carolus. It is indeed regrettable that Hispania must urgently retreat just before entering the Land of the Mortal. But what choice do we have? It is His Majesty the King’s direct order to return to the kingdom immediately due to an urgent matter.”

“Can you not disclose the reason?”

At Prince Carolus’s persistent questioning, Princess Vanessa paused, feigning deep contemplation.

*This is strictly an internal matter of the kingdom.* However, she reasoned, remaining silent would only invite further pressure and relentless pursuit from Holy Prussen. It seemed prudent to reveal the reason, albeit indirectly and with careful wording.

“It is a matter concerning the royal family.”

Upon hearing those words, Prince Carolus’s eyes flickered subtly. The subtle rivalry between the two siblings of the Hispania royal family for the throne was already known to Prince Carolus in Holy Prussen as secret information.

It seemed that the sibling rivalry, which was expected to be long, had ended more easily than expected.

“Princess Vanessa,” he said, attempting a nonchalant tone, “Field commanders dispatched to the battlefield do not readily accept just any order.

Moreover, you could strike at the demonic race immediately and achieve some merit, but you are even reluctant to do that and are trying to return to your homeland?”

He was hinting, albeit indirectly, that with Prince Erader having concluded the southern affairs far ahead of schedule, her return without any accomplishments would leave her at a disadvantage. He suggested that she should, under the guise of being a field commander, reasonably defy the king’s order and participate in the holy war to gain the trust of those who followed her on the expedition.

*It seems the news has already reached their ears.*

They were secretly gathering news about each other, and it seemed they had somehow heard the news that the pirates who had been harassing Hispania’s maritime trade routes had been recently suppressed.

Princess Vanessa nearly laughed aloud at the irony of those gathered to eliminate the forces of evil engaging in behind-the-scenes maneuvering to secure a slightly more advantageous position.

Frankly, their participation in the holy war was, officially, entirely voluntary.

Considering the pressure and the rather unpleasant remarks in Hispania, Princess Vanessa still wanted to overturn this round table, but she had to endure it because of her position.

*In any case, since we participated as volunteers, they shouldn’t have any reason or authority to hold us back, even if we withdraw due to circumstances. So why do they keep poking at us?*

She had explained the situation in her homeland, even revealing it was a matter within the royal family. From Hispania’s perspective, from Princess Vanessa’s perspective, and as the commander of the army, this was a huge concession.

Nevertheless, the people from Holy Prussen all reacted as if they could not understand.

*That’s why those who believe in the doctrine of light are so tiring.*

Sometimes it should be warm, and sometimes it should be a faint ray of light.

Those believers all believed that only a strong, intense flash was the best and that they should live that way.

They were the ones who said that advancing towards the demonic race right now was the path desired by the descendants of light and soon the path desired by God, so it was all said and done.

“You are all going too far,” Marquis Volko finally interjected, unable to remain silent any longer. He was a senior figure in the Hispania military, a noble who had consistently distinguished himself in major battles alongside the Clausen March [a famous military unit or family in Hispania].

“Princess Vanessa has already explained the situation and even humbled herself to ask for understanding.

Moreover, Hispania owes you nothing, yet we have come all this way. To return now due to our own circumstances… what kind of rudeness is this?”

At Marquis Volko’s words, the nobles from Hispania nodded in unison.

They had come with good intentions, but before they could even fight splendidly, urgent matters arose, forcing them to return home. Princess Vanessa herself had clearly conveyed their apologies.

Hispania was not a vassal state of Holy Prussen or Nudia; they were on perfectly equal footing. Indeed, they had taken a humble stance.

From any perspective, it was impossible to see Hispania as being at fault.

Despite their apologies, the fact that these people were still so openly displeased was naturally unwelcome.

“Marquis Volko Redenen,

I am not disregarding Hispania’s circumstances.

However, if you come all this way and then suddenly turn back, what are we supposed to do with the people gathered here?

We clearly heard Hispania’s intention to participate in this Holy War, and we have adjusted all our preparations and schedules accordingly. We have spent a week waiting for you.”

Commander Otto was speaking to Marquis Volko, but everyone present knew that his words were directed at Princess Vanessa, not him.

“I hope you are not suggesting that Holy Prussen and Nudia should proceed with this Holy War alone.

If you declare your participation and then withdraw now, do you think Nudia will remain silent?

The two nations will exhaust their strength attacking those tainted by evil, and if Hispania, adjacent to Nudia, maintains its full strength, do you think they can focus on this sacred battle?

Turning the entire army around is no different from nullifying the entire Holy War.”

His words certainly made sense.

If only Princess Vanessa were to return and Marquis Volko remained to take command, no one from Holy Prussen present would object.

They might even secretly welcome the idea of an experienced commander taking charge.

However, turning the entire army around would not simply mean losing one force.

If Nudia, which shares a border with Hispania, knew that their troops were fighting in the Holy War while the troops of a neighboring country were fully stationed, could they enthusiastically participate in the Holy War?

Everyone would say that it was impossible.

No matter how much Hispania upheld its honor, in matters between nations, a moment’s honor or promise could be discarded for the sake of the future.

‘If Nudia were to withdraw as well, Holy Prussen would naturally falter, and the Holy War would simply end.’

In fact, Princess Vanessa was secretly thinking that wouldn’t be so bad.

Lately, she had been receiving reports of incidents and accidents caused by the doctrine of light and its followers within the kingdom.

Offering a meal to the hungry, giving medicine to the sick, and lending a helping hand to the struggling.

If they spoke of the light of the world while doing so, Princess Vanessa could listen as much as they wanted.

If they only did that, she could accept the doctrine of light and its followers with a smile.

‘But the world has both light and shadow, as you say.’

After Zion Clausen overturned the Earldom of Konean, where a slave market was openly operating in the center of the kingdom, the royal palace itself launched a large-scale internal investigation, something they had not done for a while.

The royal family had avoided interfering in noble territories as much as possible, but since illegal activities that the country had banned were openly taking place, they had no choice but to draw their swords, even at the cost of criticism.

The internal investigation included not only disobeying the royal orders but also harshly treating the kingdom’s people, stirring up public sentiment, or discriminating against other races, inciting conflict.

‘Should I say it’s fortunate, or should I say it’s obvious?

There weren’t as many nobles harming the kingdom as I thought.

But there was also unpleasant news.’

Those who claimed to believe in the doctrine of light, the so-called followers of light, were involved.

They were openly committing acts that even villains would hesitate to do, all in the name of light.

‘The investigation continued after that.

The final investigation ended when Zion Clausen was overturning the nobles in the north.

It turned out that there were far more followers of light in the west and south, which were farthest from Holy Prussen, rather than in the east of the kingdom.’

The number of followers of light had increased dramatically without the kingdom’s knowledge.

Especially since there were so many in the west, which was falling behind, and in the most economically important areas, Princess Vanessa couldn’t help but feel a surge of wariness.

It was too unsettling to see it as a simple coincidence.

“…You’re going too far, Commander Otto Heidler.”

“I am merely stating Holy Prussen’s honest opinion, Marquis Volko Redenen.”

As the conflict intensified, Princess Vanessa and Prince Carolus simultaneously restrained their people.

No matter how sharp their nerves were, grumbling inwardly was entirely different from openly exploding.

If they were to truly fight here, it was certain that the pan-national Holy War itself would not occur for at least several years.

“…I admit that Holy Prussen’s reaction was sharp, Princess Vanessa.

I apologize if our reaction made you uncomfortable.”

Prince Carolus offered his apology first.

Princess Vanessa could not ignore his apology, so she nodded as if she understood everything and looked at the commander of Nudia, who had not said a word until now.

“Nudia has been silent since earlier.

Surely you have something to say as well?”

Come to think of it, unlike Hispania and Holy Prussen, Nudia did not have a member of the royal family participating as commander.

There were rumors that the commander was a dullard who couldn’t even reach the level of mediocrity, or that there was a serious problem preventing them from going to the battlefield, but those rumors soon melted away like snow in the spring sun.

The person who stepped forward as commander on behalf of Nudia’s royal family was a much more outstanding figure than expected.

Of course, their background was noble, though not as much as the royal family.

“Still no answer.”

At Princess Vanessa’s words, the woman sitting next to her slightly turned her head.

Because almost her entire face was covered with cloth, except for her eyes, it was impossible to know her exact appearance, but her sparkling eyes alone were enough to tell that she was a very wise person.

“…Do you want to hear Nudia’s answer, Princess Vanessa?”

“Indeed, Aive Gi Lestion.

I want to hear the answer from you, the daughter of Nudia’s Chief Advisor [재상], Etelmo Gi Lestion, and the commander of Nudia.”

The woman who once visited the Kingdom of Hispania under the alias Chess King.

However, at that time, she had subtly altered her appearance and even changed her voice without their knowledge, so no one in Hispania knew that the person sitting in the position of Nudia’s commander was the same person as her.

Even though the name was the same, Aive was not a unique name.

“May I speak frankly, Princess Vanessa?”

Aive smiled a smile that others could not see and continued.

“Personally, I wished that Your Highness would return to the kingdom and that a new person would come as Hispania’s commander instead.

Yes… Duke Zion Clausen.

That man, I mean.”

“…”

At that moment, a flash of light flickered in Princess Vanessa’s eyes.

―――――――Author’s Notes―――――――

That bitch is after mine?