Episode 198
“The plan suddenly changed?”
The Artua Manor complex in the royal capital of Radianor.
Lachmos, the incompetent sword, was receiving a report from a knight while looking at a short note in his hand.
“Yes. They say the Holy Kingdom has notified us. They have already completed their infiltration into the kingdom.”
“Crazy fanatics. Are they out of their minds?”
The plan to usurp the throne, conveyed by the exiled Crown Prince Emeter, had been shared from an early stage.
However, they had now notified him that they would suddenly change the timing and details of the strategy that had been laid out in advance.
The reason he could say nothing was that the decision-maker was the Holy Kingdom.
“This is why I said we shouldn’t borrow their power.”
Emeter’s fiancé is the niece of the current head of the family and Lachmos’s younger sister.
Therefore, she was able to be involved to some extent from the very beginning of the plan to usurp the throne.
This was also the reason why she was entrusted with a significant role by the head of the family, despite her moniker of the incompetent sword.
The problem was the Holy Kingdom, which had intervened by offering to lend their power.
Upon hearing the news, Lakmos angrily tried to dissuade her, but Emeter, blinded by power, bit into the poisoned apple.
“The troops? Have they already arrived?”
“Yes. They have been deployed not only at the planned locations but also near the royal capital. The total number is estimated at around 50,000. It is said that a significant portion of the regular troops were drawn from the Northern Lore Alliance.”
“What about the guys from the Holy Kingdom?”
“This side is a bit strange; a force I have never seen before has been deployed. It seems they prepared a trump card.”
“Ha, a trump card, my ass.”
Lakmos let out a scoff.
Even if the Holy Kingdom was the strongest on the continent, those guys were a cowardly and cunning bunch. They
might just be testing the waters by throwing out a disposable card for no reason.
“Wait, wait. Does this mean Emeter is already in front of the royal capital?”
Lakmos asked the knight as he examined the note again.
He nodded in reply.
“Yes. I hear that key figures, including Emeter, have all accompanied us.”
“Really?”
Hearing the explanation, the corners of his mouth curled up.
“Then there is no need to go out of your way to act with those guys, is there?”
“Huh? What do you mean by that…”
Sensing the strange atmosphere, the knight cautiously asked back.
At that, Lakmos tapped the table and said,
“We are usurping the throne. Once we get our hands on the artifact Emeter will bring, we don’t need the rest.”
The Artois family, unable to become royalty due to a blood pact made by the first head of the family.
The artifact capable of breaking that pact is in Emeter’s possession.
This was also the ultimate goal of this plan.
“What about the Artois knights and soldiers? I heard it is time for them to return.”
“Yes. Those who set out to subdue the northwestern territory have all completed their return by late afternoon.”
“Really?”
The strongest military force in the kingdom, excluding the Royal Guard.
The knights of the Artois family exist as sharp swords that obey orders.
Although the head of the family’s permission is required, Lakmos was qualified to use them.
With a force of nearly 20,000 returning, their power had become even more formidable.
Combining all their forces, swallowing up 50,000 would be entirely possible.
“I can’t stand seeing a third party snatch our share. After all, it is we, Artua, who will ascend to the throne.”
If they launch a pincer attack like this, they will easily swallow up the royal capital and depose the current king.
However, they will inevitably have no choice but to acknowledge the contributions of the Holy Kingdom and the Lore Alliance and share the pie.
The Holy Kingdom bastards, in particular, will likely demand a considerable amount.
“I’ve decided.”
Rakmos rose from his seat and turned his gaze out the window.
He crumpled the note in his hand and said,
“Send the order in the Lord’s name. Move one step ahead and strike them from behind.”
“Huh? Then shouldn’t you ask the Lord for permission first…”
“Shut up and do as I say. I’m going to be the one to take the greatest credit this time.”
Swoosh—
Hanbit’s vision returned with the last voice.
He was standing in the royal capital’s square.
‘Yeah, this is how it would turn out.’
Lakmos's behavior shown in the cutscene was exactly as expected.
A burning greed, hot enough to bypass even the absolute permission of the Lord of Artua.
This was the major variable the Holy Kingdom player had missed.
“Move it quickly!”
“The eastern wall comes first!”
“Follow orders!”
The interior of the city was quite chaotic.
Soldiers within the royal capital were urgently moving supplies.
Their bewilderment at this unprecedented emergency situation was evident.
“Things look terrible,”
Avantgarde said, observing the chaotic atmosphere.
Seeing how completely different he looked from usual, one couldn't help but feel puzzled.
'At least it's a quest field, so that's a relief.'
There were no ordinary players in sight.
It was a relief to avoid unnecessary interference in an already chaotic situation.
“It looks like there are a lot of enemies.”
“I’ve become curious about the situation outside the castle walls.”
The twins showed interest in the unseen anti-state forces.
However, there were things to verify before they attacked.
“Let’s head to the royal palace first.”
Whoosh—
Hanbit teleported with the three of them to a designated location inside the palace.
It was something he had discussed with Leon beforehand.
“Welcome.”
The place they arrived at was a dimly lit reception room.
Standing there, amidst rows of maps and building blueprints, was a woman dressed as a servant.
“I will escort Lord Leon.”
As if no explanation was needed, she immediately opened the blue door and stepped out.
Hanbit, watching her retreating figure, turned his gaze to the girl standing beside him.
“Haneul, could you bring Ms. Zenith?”
“Yes!”
When the request was made while handing over the ring, Haneul nodded and teleported immediately.
It was no surprise that she returned with Zenith.
“Lord Black Dragon!”
Zenith approached Hanbit the moment she appeared.
She had come in such a hurry that she was holding a quill pen in her hand.
“What happened? The Guild Master of Temosha suddenly said the situation was under control, and I only heard reports that the other side was fine. Furthermore, what is this new enemy of the Holy Kingdom?”
“We have literally passed the localized crisis. It is just that now is the time to focus on the royal capital.”
Creak—
Just then, a sound came from the direction of the blue gate.
And the King and Leon appeared.
“Zenith has come, too.”
The King, who had approached with quick steps and taken his seat,
seemed to have many questions.
“Their movements were faster and more violent than expected. Were you aware of it?”
Having suddenly heard the news of the battle situation, the King wore a face of deep concern.
It was a natural reaction given the situation where a massive army had suddenly appeared in front of the royal castle.
“I hadn’t anticipated this. However, thanks to facing the very people who caused it, I was able to extract some information.”
Hanbit conveyed this story to the King, excluding the concept of the “Player.”
Listening quietly, he slowly nodded.
“A new special force, perhaps? Given the Holy Kingdom, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were hiding something.”
An entity powerful enough to suddenly revise plans.
The fact that its background was the Holy Kingdom was convincing enough.
“If they killed five people, doesn’t that mean the other side has been significantly weakened as well?”
Leon, who had been listening to the conversation, asked cautiously.
Hanbit had considered that as well, but it was difficult to reach a conclusion immediately.
“The largest concentration of enemy forces is currently in the royal capital. In fact, it is highly likely that there are even more special forces than five.”
“…I see.”
Leon nodded with a serious expression.
The troops inside and outside the royal capital were mostly the armies of Artois or the nobles who had sided with them.
If they were to join forces with the anti-state forces numbering tens of thousands, there was absolutely no future where victory seemed possible.
“How were Artois and the nobles’ movements?”
Janice, who had been listening to the conversation, asked Leon.
She replied with a slightly ambiguous expression.
“I have also taken measures to gather information, but for now, they are simply reinforcing the castle walls’ defenses. Both Artois and the nobles following him are doing the same.”
“That is strange. They should be showing signs of something different by now.”
Janice fell into thought with a puzzled look.
The role of those seeking to betray the King lies in dominating the interior of the royal capital.
This is because doing so is the only way to minimize unnecessary attrition.
Dominating the situation after entering an all-out war was highly likely to cause even greater chaos.
“The Artois forces will become hostile even to the anti-state forces.”
“…What?”
“Hostile?”
Everyone questioned the conclusion reached so abruptly.
The voice of the King, whose life was at stake, was heard the loudest.
“Black Dragon, wasn’t their goal to join forces and dominate the royal capital?”
“If the enemy numbers were more than half of what they are now, that would have been the case. The chances of domination would increase if they dug inside and attacked from the outside. But now it is different.”
Hanbit rose from his seat and brought over a map of the royal capital placed to one side.
It briefly marked the surrounding area up to several kilometers.
“What the House of Artua desires is the artifact that Emeter will bring. Their ultimate goal is to use it to break the contract and seize royal status. However, Emeter will likely be dealt with as soon as the political situation stabilizes.”
“…Deal with? Emeter, whom you put forward as the legitimate bloodline of the royal family?”
The King was taken aback.
Legitimacy is crucial in governing a nation.
This is because the sincere support, encouragement, and admiration of the people manifest as the King’s power.
However, a founding hero’s family that assassinates the King to ascend the throne is bound to be branded as ‘traitors.’
This does not change, even if they suppress the people with a coercive attitude.
“Of course, that is likely not the consensus of Artua. But the one currently in charge of rallying forces is that incompetent sword Lakmos. He is not a man who would stand by and watch the Holy Kingdom and the Lore Alliance piggyback on it.”
In a way, it is a natural ambition.
And the confidence that one can accomplish anything sometimes leads to actions that are more radical than expected.
“So, does this mean Lakmos is going to betray even his own allies?”
“He will likely strike from behind the troops stationed in front of the capital. The movements are starting to…”
Boom!
Just then, a violent roar shook the reception room.
“This… surely not…”
“Does this mean they really are going to fight among themselves?”
The start of a fierce battle was felt physically.
The scene picturing in the minds of those listening to Hanbit’s speculation was identical.
“Mr. Avant-garde, please check the troops gathered from each city. They are likely ready.”
“Here!”
Haneul handed the ring to Avant-garde.
“Understood.”
Nodding, he vanished via teleportation.
Edlen, Ifrit, and Temosha.
With the people gathered around them, there would naturally be a large number of prepared troops.
Of course, it is not yet the time for them to appear.
“Let’s go outside as well.”
Hanbit stepped out of the palace with everyone.
Leon and the King decided to monitor the situation from inside using a magic device.
Bang!
Boom!
The noise of battle echoed loudly from a distance.
Hanbit headed toward the castle walls with the twins and Zenith.
'There are a damn lot of them.'
Troops were spread out in pitch black across the entire outer forest.
Their presence was clearly visible even in the darkness.
Crackle—!
The enemy lines were responding to attacks flying in from the rear and both sides.
These were the forces of Artua deployed under Lakmos's orders.
Swoosh—
As Hanbit surveyed the structure of the enemy lines, he discovered a space rippling like a faint curtain.
'There it is.'
The ringleaders of the raid would normally never reveal themselves at this time.
However, given the scale of the force, it would be stranger if they didn't participate directly in the battlefield.
[Main Quest #7: Invasion II]
You have faced a new enemy of the Holy Kingdom.
You must stop the massive forces of the Royal Capital that have emerged as a major variable.
Objective: Stop the large-scale forces appearing near the Royal Capital.
Reward: Distributed after result assessment
Time Limit: 2 hours
*Current Progress: 58 percent
*If the time limit is exceeded, the main quest will be treated as a failure. This was
the largest main quest that would drive the episode to its conclusion.
There was just over an hour left.
The goal of this quest was simple.
All that was to do was kill all those enemies.
Moreover, with Artua even helping out, there was plenty of time.
Hanbit looked at Zenith, who was standing beside him.
“I’ll be right back.”
“…Are you going inside?”
“Yes. Please keep an eye on the situation from here. Noeul, help defend the walls, and let’s go together, Haneul.
” “Understood!”
“Yes!”
Ta-ta-
The two descended to the area outside the walls.
Swoosh-
He took a dark red crystal from his inventory.
It was a summoning stone imbued with madness.
Snap-!
As he used it immediately, a shimmer emanating from the crystal dug into the ground.
And a moment later.
Swoosh-
A fully armored elite of the Madness Legion appeared.
Crack-!
Those who used to be like lunatics have now begun to uphold their identity as the 'Army.'
Things might change once the battle begins, but that is of no concern.
“Keep killing until I tell you to stop. Don’t distinguish between enemies.”
Having given the order, Hanbit drew his pure white sword.
Whoosh—!
Flames blazed along the blade and a whirlwind enveloped the surroundings.
Right now, he must focus on wide-ranging firepower.
Swish—
Before anyone realized it, the power of the spirits and elements had reached its limit.
Hanbit took a stance and kicked off.
Ta-da!
The sight of the soldiers fighting gradually drew closer.
And just as someone who had spotted Hanbit was about to speak…
Whoosh!
A storm of flames ejected and engulfed the forest.
