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Chapter 91…………………………………………………..
Whatever Stands in Our Way
Even in the dead of night, the four border zones on the southwest edge of the Pritan Kingdom, facing the Harun Empire, were lit as if it were broad daylight.
The kingdom’s knights had all been mobilized in preparation for an all-out war with the Harun Empire.
On top of that, a surprisingly large contingent of reinforcements from the Malau Kingdom had arrived—led personally by the Malau King.
Considering that Malau’s military is only a quarter the size of Pritan’s, one could imagine how much effort they had invested in this expedition.
In the conference room of the fourth border zone, Mikrok and the Malau King sat facing each other. While Mikrok was grateful for Malau’s support, he couldn’t help but be curious about their true intentions.
“Although a friendly agreement exists between our nations, the scale of your deployment is far beyond what we expected,” Mikrok spoke first. The Malau King merely looked at him silently, without responding immediately.
“I heard that Queen Rea sent a divorce petition. Yet Pritan has classified this as the Harun Empire kidnapping their queen. Are you, by chance, refusing to face reality?”
“That’s impossible,” Mikrok said through gritted teeth.
“Recently, monsters living near the Harun-Pritan border suddenly began consuming human flesh. Behind this lies a deliberate scheme by the Harun royal family.”
“Excuse me?”
“We obtained evidence that royal knights abducted orphans and fed them to the monsters. Once the monsters tasted human flesh, they began hunting humans of their own accord.”
“The emperor… how could he do such a thing to his people…”
The Malau King murmured in disbelief.
“Immediately after my consort departed for Harun, the monsters attacked the border villages. The timing was perfect. I am convinced it was a plot to keep me tied in Pritan even after kidnapping my consort.”
A sudden murderous aura radiated from Mikrok’s eyes. Though it was not directed at him, the Malau King flinched slightly.
“Then speak plainly. What is Malau’s calculation in joining this expedition?”
“There was something peculiar when you visited Malau Castle before. Queen Rea resembles the late Clamens, the eldest of the previous Malau line,” the Malau King said.
Mikrok’s eyes widened. This was entirely unexpected.
“The Zolmon who went to the Harun Empire received testimony from Marquis Uzkhal that Queen Rea is not his biological daughter. We also confirmed that her mother, while still a priestess, once went into the Geufa Forest by imperial order to obtain Silverberries.”
“Who told you that?”
“The daughter of the Harun imperial regent, currently residing in the Holy Empire,” he replied.
The Malau King looked at Mikrok with a slightly somber expression.
“Later, I verified the situation through elderly retainers. My late brother, who was the guardian of the Silverberries, was killed while helping a human who stole them escape. The culprit was a beautiful blonde human woman.”
“Ah!!!”
“If all of this is true, Queen Rea is my late brother’s daughter—and my niece.”
Mikrok’s expression shifted from astonishment to deep curiosity.
“There is a major flaw in that assumption,” he said.
“What is it?”
“She claimed to have seen her parents’ visions inside a Geufa Forest cave. The man had long platinum hair, but his ears were human, not demonic.”
For this reason, Mikrok and Rea were convinced that her biological father was not Malau.
However, as soon as Mikrok finished speaking, the Malau King, whose lips had been trembling, finally shed tears.
“…Why?”
Without a word, the Malau King pulled an envelope from his chest and handed it to Mikrok.
“Look. It’s a portrait of Clamens that I painted myself as a child.”
Mikrok opened the envelope to reveal the portrait: a slender face, firm mouth, and beautiful platinum hair—resembling Rea perfectly. Remarkably, the boy’s ears were entirely human, not demonic.
After meeting Rea, the emperor, consumed by inexplicable lust, felt his body burning and headed straight for the bedroom of his young consort recently brought into the palace. Even after a passionate encounter, his thirst would not subside.
“You seem to be very strong these days, Your Majesty.”
“You feel it too?”
“Indeed. After you drank the restorative tea I prepared, you seemed even stronger. Shall I bring another cup?”
“Hmm… perhaps.”
The consort, a commoner, did not want to miss this opportunity to gain the emperor’s favor.
Her father ran a small trading company, mostly importing rare items from the eastern continent, where he rarely interacted with the Harun Empire.
In recent days, the emperor had been drinking the tonic tea secretly obtained by her father from the eastern continent’s demons. Perhaps because of it, even past sixty, he felt more vigorous than ever.
She respectfully handed him the hot tea. Watching him drink silently, she smiled with satisfaction. A few days ago, it had not been her father’s messenger, but the empress who delivered the tea.
“How did Your Majesty’s consort obtain this humble tea?”
“You have the emperor’s favor these days, yes?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The empress placed the tea before her.
“As you know, I lost the crown prince and am in a precarious position with my natal family. Help me a little.”
“How can someone like me help?”
“Give this tea to the emperor. It will work. When the time comes, tell him it was I who sent it. That will ease some of his anger toward me.”
“Understood. I will do so.”
“Thank you. If this succeeds, I will not forget your kindness.”
After drinking the hot tea, the emperor’s vitality surged as he once again pursued her.
Holding him in her arms, she resolved never to reveal to the emperor that the tea had come from the empress.
On the hill overlooking the Harun border, tens of thousands of Pritan soldiers led by Mikrok were ready to advance, radiating deadly determination.
Behind them, the Malau army led by the Malau King waited only for the order to move.
Mikrok approached the Malau King.
“Our goal is the Harun imperial regent’s palace. We will advance unconditionally and sweep away whatever stands in our way.”
The Malau King nodded.
“Malau will secure the rear. If Harun retreats, fine. But if they strike at Pritan’s back, we will handle it next.”
“By the time Malau forces reach Harun’s capital, fires will rage everywhere. Be careful to avoid casualties.”
“Do not worry.”
Mikrok held the Malau King’s gaze, full of unspoken emotion.
“Let us continue the conversation with my consort later.”
“Agreed.”
After shaking hands, Mikrok turned and rushed to the front of the formation.
As he took his place, William looked over the soldiers and shouted:
“The emperor dared to kidnap the Queen of Pritan! Let us show them exactly what they have provoked!”
At his words, a tremendous cheer erupted.
The closer the Pritan army advanced, the more tense Harun became in response to the sudden provocation.
“Cut down anything that stands before the Pritan army! We advance until we see the Queen!”
“Waaaahhh!!!”
With a deafening roar, the trumpets of advance sounded.
Leading the charge, Mikrok raised his spear high, its purple scarf fluttering like a flag. At this signal, the Pritan army surged forward, breaking through Harun’s border.
Some Harun soldiers dared to resist but were hopelessly outmatched. Within an hour, the Pritan forces crossed into the Malta region and advanced rapidly toward the capital.
Riding at the front, Mikrok mercilessly cut down all opposition.
“Vampires… Pritan’s vampires have appeared! Everyone, retreat!”
Harun’s forces scattered like straw before a storm. Brave knights who attempted to block the way were quickly mowed down by Mikrok’s blade.
Mikrok’s expression, as cold as ever, was now tinged with bloodlust.
‘Rea, I’m coming. Stay safe.’
After healing the head of the Wayne trading company, rumors of my miraculous healing powers spread throughout the Harun Empire. For the first two days, the main temple was flooded with people seeking cures.
However, I turned away anyone who could not afford the fee.
“How can a priestess just turn away someone dying? If you save my daughter, I’ll pay any price.”
“How do you expect to pay ten thousand gold? Dream on and leave.”
The knights guarding the temple ruthlessly filtered out the poor. Those who cried and pleaded left, cursing.
As a result, only wealthy patients arrived, bringing large sums for treatment.
It pained me to turn away the sick, but I had to focus on safely escaping the Harun Empire. Helping secretly could draw suspicion from the emperor’s spies in the temple.
At that moment, priests carefully chosen by the high priest approached.
“Rea, if resentment among the people grows, it will benefit neither the Harun royal family nor the main temple.”
“What do you propose?”
“Why not leave the less profitable patients to the temple priestesses of the Small Temple? They have little else to do.”
“Hmm… not bad. If the emperor permits, we shall proceed that way.”
Pretending to deliberate, I had the temple’s knights report to the emperor. Presenting it as a measure to calm unrest, the emperor gladly approved.
After sending commoners to the safer Small Temple, I focused on treating wealthy patients.
Suddenly, a commotion arose at the main temple entrance.
“Wait your turn! Didn’t we finish appointments for today?”
“Money solves everything! I’ll pay triple what the person ahead paid—let me through!”
After some disturbance, a knight approached me, looking embarrassed.
“Lady Rea, a woman who looks like a traveler demands treatment for her consort, offering triple the fee.”
“Why hesitate? Bring her immediately if she pays triple.”
“But the people waiting…”
“Tell them to come tomorrow.”
The knight reluctantly left, likely muttering that I was money-grubbing. I didn’t care.
Milly, waiting nearby, looked worried.
“Your Highness, they seem suspicious.”
“Milly, do you remember that voice?”
“Excuse me?”
“Princess Shine!”
The voice that had caused a commotion at the door earlier was undoubtedly Shine.
