Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 237

237―――――

Coronation

“And, you know,

Recently, some unpleasant rumors keep spreading.”

“Unpleasant rumors, you say?”

“Though Nudia is the origin, not Hispania, it is related to Hispania. Didn’t you hear it from Father?
That unexplained fires occurred in every area our army stayed.”

At Princess Vanessa’s words, Zion sighed, “Ah.”

She calls it unexplained, but Zion already knew who was doing this.

‘Who else would do such nonsense other than the pigeons [a derogatory term for members of the Church of Light] and the pointy-ears [a derogatory term for elves] who flock to them?
Since shaking things up from the inside doesn’t work, now they’re shaking things up from the outside?’

The expeditionary force was commanded by Princess Vanessa and Marquis Volko.

If he didn’t know anything about them, that would be one thing, but he knew everything about who they were, what abilities they had, and what their past and future actions would be.

Princess Vanessa, and Marquis Volko, might make mistakes, but they are certainly not foolish or lazy enough to repeat them.

A fire broke out in the encampment?

Of course, it could happen.

People spend the night, and to do that, they inevitably have to light a fire.
From there, management might be insufficient, and they might move without completely extinguishing the embers.
Because of the anticipation and excitement of returning home, tension disappears and they become slightly disorganized.

But that’s only a few times; when warnings from superiors come down, they can’t help but react sensitively.

Yet, after staying and moving, a fire breaks out, and a fire breaks out, and that repeats.

When this happens, one can only think that the events are not caused by humans, but by something supernatural or the intervention of another being.

“Nudia is officially silent.
But the locals call it a curse attached to the tails of those who abandon the holy war and flee.”

“A curse.
How amusing.
If it’s going to cast a curse, shouldn’t it burn brightly when the soldiers are staying in the encampment, instead of flaring up after everyone has left? Where in the world is there such a curse?”

“Sometimes, people believe in emotional rumors that are immediately visible rather than unseen rational judgments.
What can we do?
It just so happens that it’s Nudia’s land.”

If the fire had occurred in Hispania, they would have just moved on somehow.

But Nudia is a country that had a rather uncomfortable relationship with Hispania until recently.

Naturally, the kingdom’s people were bound to react sensitively and emotionally to rumors related to Hispania, with whom they had fought fiercely.

“Hoo.”

Originally, Princess Vanessa would have sighed, saying she didn’t understand either.

But the current princess is different.

Not long ago, she was almost ‘educated’ by someone she could never have imagined.

Princess Vanessa finally realized that those she only knew as descendants of light were actually hiding something dark inside.

“Do you think this is also the work of the celestials?”

“…The possibility is not entirely nonexistent.
But it’s too early to jump to conclusions.”

The possibility is very high, but nevertheless, one should not hastily draw conclusions.

Hasty certainty in such cases can lead to excessive confidence and hostility, and if that happens, Princess Vanessa might make a mistake and have her weaknesses exploited by the Church of Light or its followers.

There’s no need to rush.
Rather, they are the ones in a hurry.

The bigger they make the situation, the higher the probability of them being exposed, which is only natural.

This side should not move rashly but should aim for their weaknesses and dig in sharply.

By doing so, they can inject ‘doubt and suspicion’ into the hearts of the believers who show them infinite trust.

“Why are they doing this?
The celestials are those who guide all beings on the continent to the side of light while confronting the demons who harbor opposing intentions.
Aren’t they the descendants of light?”

“Originally, ‘belief’ is not always right.
There are those who believe that a wrong belief is simply right and try to put it into practice no matter what.”

“…You seem to know something.
The way you speak, too.”

Princess Vanessa makes a rather sharp observation.

Unlike other women, she is not yet aware that Zion was once targeted by the celestials, so it was natural that she didn’t know Zion was aware of the celestials and showing such a sharp attitude.

“I could roughly guess.
There was a fairy among those who attacked the royal castle, and there was also a fairy among those who targeted the territory of Count Klausen.”

“…Could they just be extreme individuals who hate humans?”

“If they had such a purpose, they should at least prepare a back door through which they can escape.
But they are pushing forward as if they are being urged by something, to the point of being slightly excessive.
Above all, if you think about it, the purposes are connected.”

The attack on the royal palace caused great chaos in the capital, and if the territory of Count Klausen had been shaken and collapsed, the entire eastern part of the kingdom could have been paralyzed.

Whatever it was, these were events that would cause great ‘chaos’ in the kingdom.

“Think about it, Princess.
When the royal palace was attacked, didn’t rumors spread that it was the work of demons or demon worshippers?”

“…It did.”

“Then, if they had confirmed that rumor and the territory of Count Klausen had suffered great damage from a monster attack from behind, who would you have thought was responsible for driving those monsters?”

“I would have thought it was the work of demons…”

Princess Vanessa answered that and then made a ‘could it be?’ expression.

Zion did not say the answer himself but waited for her to think and draw a conclusion and say it out loud.

There was a big difference in acceptance between accepting something by hearing someone else say it and thinking, drawing a conclusion, and saying it yourself.

“Are you saying they wanted a war against the demons, a holy war?”

“I would say there’s a high probability.”

“Why?
What’s the reason?
Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know that.”

It’s not good to act like I know more than this; it will only arouse suspicion.

But this is enough.

Just by planting deep questions and some hostility towards the celestials in Princess Vanessa, who will become the next queen, the harvest has already been worth it.

Anyway, in order to achieve their plans, the celestials will inevitably have to be hostile to everyone on the continent later on.

If you exclude the extremely crazy fairies or fanatics who are crazy about them, anyone would immediately rebel at the sound of being told to sit here quietly and burn to death.

The celestials have been creating these disturbing movements and creating an atmosphere that it is the work of demons in order to prevent that.

If they erase all the demons from the world, if they start a holy war, they whispered that everyone could escape from that chaos.

‘And I’m going to ruin that by showing them that the celestials aren’t such good guys and that we, the beings on our continent, should unite and live well together.’

There’s no need for me to suffer alone knowing the truth.

No, I don’t even intend to suffer alone in the first place.

I will show those who believe in false light as light the true meaning of light and shout that you are being deceived, and then make those who are angry hold torches and chase away the shadows.

‘And I just need to follow Kim Yoo-hyun from behind and become a new light.’

Zion himself sets the stage, and Kim Yoo-hyun puts on the ultimate performance there.

The difference between a hero and a villain is literally a paper-thin difference, so if you grasp that boundary well, there’s nothing to worry about.

“What I can say for sure is that you can’t unconditionally trust the Church of Light or its followers.
For them, what’s important is the realization of the meaning spoken by the descendants of light, not this Hispania.”

“…That’s right.
Come to think of it, when the northern tribes were moving and pirates were rampant in the south, the Church of Light greatly expanded within the kingdom, and I didn’t know it at the time, but now that I think about it, it’s quite suspicious.”

Oh, as expected of the next queen, she has a good sense.

Zion clapped lightly inside and hoped that Vanessa would become the iron-blooded queen who cuts off the heads of fanatics in Hispania instead of him.

If you eat the blame alone, even Zion would be burdened.

But there’s someone who’s willing to eat it with you, so there’s no need to stop them, right!

“Those two men you killed before.
Those trash who lived as slave traders, you said they donated a lot to the Church of Light and lived as if they had been pardoned?”

“That’s right.
Those who broke the kingdom’s laws did not receive royal pardons for making great contributions, but they were pardoned for putting some money into the Church of Light, so I personally asked them about their arrogance.”

“Father seems to have been investigating the Church of Light further.
It’s not enough yet, but information has been gathered to the extent that it can become a huge fire depending on the situation.”

“Does that mean?”

“That the Church of Light is not just ‘light’.
That’s for sure.”

Even while his health was not good, Edgar IV had made some preparations for the next king.

For that reason, he told Zion to ask about things that could put pressure on the Church of Light.

“For now, even if we detonate it, it won’t be a big profit or a weapon, so we’ll have to watch the situation a little more.
If the light is really not light as you think, there’s no need to treat it as light.”

“That’s right.”

Princess Vanessa nodded at Zion’s answer and then sighed.

Wondering if something else was wrong, Zion glanced at her, but the princess waved her hand as if it was nothing.

“It’s not me, it’s because of you.”

“Yes?”

“You left the territory of Count Klausen before leaving for the north, so haven’t you been home for several months already?”

“Ah… Come to think of it, that’s right.”

Zion realized that he had not been to the territory of Count Klausen, which is now called his home, for a long time, more than three months, because he had been spending his time so busily.

Even if he hears news through magic, it was not a pleasant thing for the successor to leave his room for so long.

“You can return to the territory of Count Klausen after the coronation.
You have done so many things during that time, so shouldn’t you take a rest?”

“…Of course, Princess.”

Rest?

Of course, I want to take it.

Even now, I just want to lie in bed and laze around all day, fill my stomach with delicacies in the evening, and choose one of the women who slap the goddess on the cheek as a dessert and taste it all night.

It’s unfair enough to be suddenly dragged into the world of the novel, but the body is a mana idiot who can’t use even a single mana, and now it’s changed thanks to his actions, but originally he was a guy who was called a jerk.

Frankly speaking, if I had done this much, I could have quit and returned to the territory and lived quietly, and I could have been remembered as a hero of the kingdom for the rest of my life.

‘But it’s too late now.
Now, I just need to finish all my work and enjoy it a little before leaving this world.
That’s the best.’

If the kingdom’s people and nobles thought of Zion Klausen as a hero until now.

The time was approaching when another hero with a different appearance would appear.

A sword that punishes injustice and cuts through the shadows disguised as light.

It was time for someone to show the majesty of power that Zion could never show, no matter what enemy he faced or what difficult battlefield he went to, he would eventually win.

‘Kim Yoo-hyun, you were just flying yesterday, right?
Your body doesn’t suffer, and your mind doesn’t suffer, so your body seems to be getting better.
If you’ve been eating well and sleeping well so far, you should suffer a little now.
You have to do a great job for EOS [a powerful entity or organization] to come over to you for sure!’

To be honest, Zion was talking nonsense, saying that EOS would come over to Kim Yoo-hyun even without such activities.

I have to make these claims to myself so that I can use Kim Yoo-hyun later without any pangs of conscience!

“The coronation will definitely be held within a month unless there is something special.
Father said he wants to see me become queen while he’s still alive.”

“You will announce that fact within the kingdom in a few days and inform Nudia and the Holy Prussian side.”

“Yes.
That’s why I’m saying this, tell that woman, Jan, to act in accordance with Hispania’s etiquette so that there won’t be any unnecessary noise until then.
So that there won’t be any words like, ‘Barbarians are not barbarians for nothing,’ or ‘You shouldn’t invite such rude people to the coronation’.”

“I will try.”

“The word ‘try’ is not enough.
You must do so.
I don’t want just a brief peace with the north.
Once a friendly relationship has begun, it must be maintained.”

If you do, I’ll welcome it.

Zion muttered and smiled.

The various northern tribes have nothing to do with the Church of Light, which is gradually expanding its power.

They are not the kind of people who would betray you by saying the will of light, no matter how you use them.

“And one more thing.”

Princess Vanessa glanced at Zion for a moment and then carefully continued.

“There is something you need to do at the coronation.”

“Me?”

“Yes.
Only you can do it, and it’s something I definitely need.”

When Zion asked what that was, Princess Vanessa gestured instead of answering.

At the princess’s intention to come a little closer, Zion tilted his head and leaned slightly towards Vanessa.

“…I’m thinking of entrusting my side to you.”