VOLUME 13: CHAPTER 9

"What's going on here?!"

Senator Sima roared at the panicking soldiers.

The soldiers, who'd been running about, utterly terrified of the army outside, cried in relief upon seeing Senator Sima and the High Magistrate.

"Senator Sima!"

"High Magistrate!"

"Oh, thank god! They're here!"

"The Senator and the High Magistrate are here!"

Senator Sima and the High Magistrate frowned.

Although the mana cannons—the Republic's strongest defensive weapons—had been charged and ready to be fired at any time, they noticed fewer soldiers than usual in this place.

Did several soldiers abandon their posts?

How vexing. He couldn't believe there would be deserters when the fight hadn't even started yet.

Well, maybe it was their fault for leaving the capital of the nation this defenseless.

Most of the experienced soldiers were currently stationed at the frontiers, leaving the capital with only five thousand soldiers at most. Moreover, nearly half of these soldiers were greenhorns who hadn't experienced real battle yet.

There was a popular saying in the Republic: One could be called a real soldier only once he managed to return alive from the frontier.

The ones stationed at the frontiers were hardened veterans who wouldn't lose even against the soldiers of the Empire. But the same wasn't true for those stationed at the capital.

Unlike the Empire, the Republic of Everfrost did not have the manpower to station a sizable army in every city it owned. Instead, it strategically concentrated most of its forces in chokepoints and territories bordering other nations.

This bold move was the reason they'd managed to keep their territories even against the imperial forces for years.

"What are you all so nervous about! Running around like headless chickens!" spat Senator Sima.

"B-But Senator Sima! T-The army outside!"

Senator Sima moved closer to the battlements. He gazed at the army outside the city. It took him his everything to stop his body from trembling.

What the hell were those creatures? Dragons? No, it did not make sense. One of them had seven heads.

Seeing them with his own eyes, he understood why some of the soldiers abandoned their posts.

The only way to survive those creatures if they decided to attack Quraso was to run away from here, as far as possible.

He doubted if the mana cannons could even damage those creatures.

Still, the question of whether or not they were enemies remained.

"Senator," said the High Magistrate. "Didn't you say that General Marduk is currently chasing after the escaped criminals?"

"That's correct, High Magistrate. But why — huh?"

The eyes of Senator Sima widened when he saw General Marduk from afar. The General was with the unknown army, together with the soldiers of the Republic under his command.

Senator Sima also saw the cursed kid who gave them the wrong formula. Noticing the Senator, the kid waved his hand several times, as though mocking him. The other members of Zenith glared at the old Senator.

Under usual circumstances, Senator Sima would have turned livid, but he was so baffled and confused by what was happening that he simply stood there, unmoving.

General Marduk, the explorers of Zenith, and this unknown army.

Why were they together?

What's going on?

"Explain," said Senator Sima to the soldiers around them. "What is General Marduk doing there? Why is he together with that army?"

The first thing that came to mind was treason.

Did the General guide the army here to overthrow the government?

No, the General may be cold-hearted, but he was a man who lived by his own sense of justice. Among all of the Generals in the nation, he would be the last person to abandon the Republic should it meet its downfall.

"About that…."

The soldiers started explaining the things they'd witnessed before to Senator Sima and the High Magistrate.

The sudden appearance of the flying army, the arrival of General Marduk and his soldiers, and their request for an audience with the officials of the Republic.

"General Marduk himself is the one who said not to open the gates yet and wait for the decision of the higher-ups, so…."

"They're waiting for a representative from our side to come?"

"Yes, Senator."

Senator Sima rubbed his brows. He was starting to feel headache after listening to the report of the soldiers.

"High Magistrate, what do you think?" said Senator Sima.

There was a trace of fear in the High Magistrate's eyes.

'Even she is shaken, huh?'

"We do not know the true goal of this army. It's too dangerous for both of us to go outside to meet them," said the High Magistrate. "But we must send someone. Otherwise, if they decide to attack us… even if we hide behind the walls…."

Senator Sima held the same opinion after seeing the massive winged creatures outside.

If those monsters stood up, they would probably tower over the walls they were currently standing on right now.

For several minutes, the two of them stood there, contemplating their next step.

They heard a commotion below.

"What is it now?" muttered the Senator in an annoyed voice.

Looking below, he saw several carriages stopping near the eastern gate. The carriages were bearing the flag of the Five Courts.

"The Five Courts…."

That crest was the last thing they wished to see right now.

The Five Courts was one of the three main branches of the government in the Republic.

Although the executive branch under the High Magistrate was the law-enforcing body, the Five Courts held special authority to investigate and administer justice at their discretion.

The Five Courts even had its own army called the Justice Army. As cringey as the name may sound, it was composed of straightlaced elite soldiers who would never hesitate to execute the Five Court's command.

The Five Courts held political and military might, making them hard even for Senator Sima to touch.

The carriage door opened, and a hunched old woman with ashen hair came out. She was using a cane to support herself, with several soldiers escorting her.

The old woman quickly scanned her surroundings. Her gaze eventually moved upward, and she locked eyes with Senator Sima.

Seeing the Senator, the Lord of Five Courts smiled, forming numerous wrinkles on her face.

Senator Sima hated that smiling face of hers.

"Tch. She's climbing up here."

Accompanied by her escorts, the Lord of Five Courts slowly climbed the flight of stairs leading to the top of the walls.

Upon reaching the top, she nodded at the Senator and the High Magistrate, before going toward the battlements. She looked at the Coalition Army waiting outside Quraso City.

The Lord of Five Courts shuddered upon seeing the army's composition, but quickly regained her composure afterward.

"So, the reports I've received are true," she mumbled.

Senator Sima walked toward her. "Lord, I heard your health has been deteriorating recently. Why are you here?"

It was a popular topic in taverns when the Lord of Five Courts fell unconscious from overworking a month ago. Some even said she was dying, with only a few months left to live at most.

"It sounds like you wish this old bone to die soon, Senator Sima," she said teasingly. "Don't worry. I am turning ninety next year. Who knows, I might suddenly drop dead one morning."

Senator Sima shook his head. He faked a cough, "No, that's not what I mean, Lord."

The Lord of Five Courts was probably the only person who could fluster Senator Sima like this. She was even talking about her death as though it was nothing.

The Lord of Five Courts turned to the High Magistrate.

"Yvone, it's been a while."

The High Magistrate bowed her head lightly. She did this despite their rank being equal out of respect for the Lord's seniority.

"Yes, teacher."

The Lord chuckled, "You call me teacher, but here you are, colluding with the fox of the Senate."

The Lord didn't even hesitate to call Senator Sima a fox right in his face.

She'd always been like this.

No matter the ordeal or opposition, she never faltered.

"Colluding? Teacher, there must be—"

"—Yvone, didn't you remember what I told you? One must uphold their convictions, whether or not it is right or wrong."

It was her way of saying that even if what the High Magistrate was doing wasn't right, she should at least do what she must do with conviction and pride.

Even if they had differing beliefs, they must at least have a backbone.

Senator Sima didn't like how the Lord of Five Courts was starting to take control of the situation.

He repeated his question, "Lord, why did you come here?"

The Lord of Five Courts looked at the Senator as though he was asking a stupid question.

"Senator Sima, when something as big as this happens, I have no choice but to force this old bone to come." She turned her gaze toward the Coalition Army. "Those creatures… they're Dragons, aren't they? How fascinating. Who would have known I would get to see one before I die…."

She squinted. "…And isn't that General Marduk? What is he doing there?"

Even now, General Marduk stood in front of the Coalition Army, waiting for a high-ranking official from the government to meet them.

Senator Sima found it hard to answer the Lord's question, as he was the person who sent the General outside to chase after the explorers in the first place.

"About that…."

"Haah, nevermind. I shouldn't have asked you."

The old woman started walking down the flight of stairs.

"Wait, where are you going, Lord?!"

"Where else? Do you think this wall can protect us from those monsters? They came here to negotiate, Senator. I'm sure you know this. If they're hostile, they would have blown up the entire city already. The fact that they haven't done anything and are patiently waiting outside speaks volumes about the purpose of their visit."

When the Lord of Five Courts started ordering the soldiers to open the gates, Senator Sima and the High Magistrate finally mustered the courage to go outside.

Although they were still uncertain about the true purpose of the Coalition Army, they deemed that it wouldn't do them good to let the Lord of Five Courts meet them on her own.

Who knew what kind of deal she would make with them when no other high-ranking officials were around?

"Wait! We're coming with you, Lord!"

Left with no other choice, the three highest-ranking officials of the Republic went out to meet the Coalition Army.

***

While waiting for the representatives from the Republic to come out, Lark merrily chatted with Aster.

It was a strange sight to see a king casually engage with a kid, moreover a commoner at that.

"Then the Boss carried me down, and we went swoosh! Yeah, like this! We fell down so fast, but the Boss landed softly! When we entered the city, I asked the Boss what he was so wary of!"

Aster was retelling the time they entered the newly discovered ruins, entered its dungeon, and reached the ancient underground city. He was at the part when they'd just seen the waterfall and started descending the cliff.

"The Boss said," Aster started mimicking the Red Bear's deep voice, "Quiet, kid! Who knows what kind of traps or monsters are waiting for us here. Kyaak! Sounds cool, right?"

The members of Zenith wryly smiled. They found it absurd that Aster could fearlessly converse with the leader of this army. Even now, they could feel the gaze of the seven-headed monster on them.

For some reason, it seemed to be sulking as Lark conversed with Aster.

It couldn't be jealous, right?

Haha, no way.

"Your Boss seems like a cool guy."

"Yeah, he really is! Ah, this feeling… what is this?" Aster's facial expression quickly transitioned from joy to rage. "I feel angry whenever I remember the Boss died because he refused to divulge anything!"

Maybe because he was still young, Aster still couldn't fully comprehend the rage he was feeling now that the Boss was gone.

"King Lark, I feel like I want to punch the man who did that to the Boss in face! That… that fucker! That fucking bastard!"

All of the members of Zenith were surprised when Aster suddenly started spouting curses. It was the first time they heard such words come out of the kid's mouth.

The time the kid had spent with the members of Zenith was short, but he'd already started adopting the way they spoke.

Ludwig nervously observed Lark's reaction. Thankfully, the King still wore an amused smile.

"Haha, he's still young, Your Majesty. He knows nothing about the world of nobles. Kuhum! Y-You know… proper manners and the like." Ludwig pushed down Aster's head, forcing him to bow. "As the temporary leader of the group, I apologize on his behalf!"

Ludwig whispered to the kid, "Hey, apologize, too! What the hell are you doing, cursing openly before a King!"

Lark chuckled, "I don't really mind. It's not like those words were directed to me anyway."

"I-Is that so…? Your Majesty is truly kind."

"You're overthinking again, temporary Boss," said Aster.

"What! This kid!"

"But is it alright to tell me all of this?" said Lark.

General Marduk aside, there were a lot of soldiers from the Republic nearby. It was apparent that they were eavesdropping to the conversation, and they would probably report everything they heard later to their superiors.

"They already extracted the Boss' memories," said Ludwig. "And it's not like we're revealing the formula of the concoction here."

"Is that so…."

Oblivious to the worries of his party members, Aster continued recounting everything that happened in the ancient underground city to Lark.

When he reached the part when they met the hooded figures – presumed to be dwellers of the ancient underground city – Lark looked at Lady Alice.

The leader of the Witches of Aravark nodded at him once, wordlessly saying that the people Zenith met were probably her comrades.

"Hmm? Now that I thought of it, didn't their voices sound female?" said Aster. "It's amazing, right, King Lark! There are people living in that city!"

Aster continued chattering away, with Lark nodding every now and then. The kid only stopped speaking when the eastern gate opened.

"Ah, King Lark!" said Aster. "Someone is coming out!"

A carriage escorted by several dozen mounted soldiers came out of the gate and stopped right in front of Lark's group.

General Marduk and his men recognized the crest on the carriage. They immediately knelt on the ground before the person inside even came out.

The carriage door opened, and the first to come out was a hunched, elderly woman.

"Lord Caliqua!"

She was the Lord of Five Courts. Afterward, Senator Sima and the High Magistrate also disembarked from the carriage.

The expressions of the members of Zenith turned grim upon seeing them. Lark noticed this change.

The Lord of Five Courts said to General Marduk, "Stand up, General. Tell us what's going on here."

"Yes, Lord."

After standing up, General Marduk told the three highest-ranking officials of the Republic everything.

The time when they were chasing after the explorers, to their encounter of the flying army, until the time they decided to accompany the coalition to Quraso.

After he was done with his quick recount, the Lord of Five Courts nodded in understanding.

"I see. A Coalition Army."

With the help of her cane, she trudged toward Lark.

"I apologize for not greeting you immediately," she said to Lark. "I am Caliqua, Lord of the Five Courts. And these two behind me are Sima, Head of the Senate, and Yvone, the High Magistrate."

Unlike Lord Caliqua, Senator Sima and the High Magistrate were trembling. The presence of the Dragons and the seven-headed creature felt even more overwhelming now that they'd come closer to the Coalition Army.

A civilian would normally freeze when faced with a tiger in the wild. And the Dragons around them were several times larger and fiercer than an overgrown cat.

They could somehow suppress their fear when they were from afar, but it was an entirely different story when they were this near to the creatures.

Aster said to Lark, "That's him. The fucker, the old man I want to punch in the face."

Raiga pulled Aster toward him and covered his mouth.

"Mm!"

"Just shut up, kid! Now's not the time!"

Lark ignored the commotion behind him.

"I am grateful that such distinguished individuals of the Republic came to me in person," said Lark. "Lark Marcus, Regent King of the Kingdom of Lukas. Just like what General Marduk said, we came here to propose an alliance."

"You want us to join this so-called Coalition Army of yours?"

"Yes."

"Hmm… this seems to be an inappropriate place to discuss such important matters," said the Lord of Five Courts. "Why don't we come inside the city? Although we hold high positions within the government, this isn't something we can decide by ourselves."

Unlike the Empire where the Emperor's words were the law, the Republic was ran by democracy. Although they wouldn't need to go as far as ask the citizens to vote for this particular matter, they still needed the consensus of other government officials in order to decide the next course of action.

The Lord of Five Courts proposed that Lark stay in the city for a day or two while they gather the other key officials of the government.

And once everyone had been gathered, Lark would discuss the details of his proposal to everyone. From there, they could decide whether or not they would join the coalition.

"Lord! How could you just ask them to stay in the city without consulting the othe—"

"—What? Should we tell them to scram away then? Or should I tell them to stay here, to camp outside the city while waiting for our answer?"

"No, that's not—"

"—If you don't have a better proposition, then just let them enter the city, Senator. And besides… you heard it, didn't you? The Empire is part of the Coalition Army."

Senator Sima and the High Magistrate realized the intentions behind the Lord's actions upon hearing the last part of her statement.

How dim-witted of them.

Why didn't they think of it before?

Since the Empire was part of the Coalition Army, it wouldn't be able to attack the Republic should it become its ally.

Even if the goal of the Coalition was to protect the nations in the continent against the threat of demons, it also granted those within the alliance invulnerability against attacks from the other members of the Coalition.

It was no wonder Lord Caliqua seemed really interested in the idea of the Republic becoming part of the group.

"I understand," said Senator Sima. He realized there were merits in at least hearing them out. "If you wish to enter the city, I'll arrange accommodations for your group, King Lark."

"Thank you, Senator," said Lark.

Lord Caliqua clapped her hands once. "It's decided then. I'll send word to the other officials. Please feel free to roam the city while we prepare the venue for the convening, King Lark."

After selecting several people from his side to accompany him into the city, Lark entered Quraso, the capital of the Republic.