As He was Guided
The enemy is the divine race. Many people do not get the idea when told this. The existence of the divine race has completely disappeared from the history of humans. Anyone who would even think of leaving a legacy to future generations has been erased by the divine race.
What they do know is that the Luine Kingdom is on the verge of getting destroyed. The Izrim Empire Army has finally crossed the border of the Luine Kingdom. The Luine Kingdom Army, which is on its way to the capital, has not been able to stop them.
It will not be long before the enemy approaches the royal capital. People who have been informed of this by the government are hurriedly leaving the capital and taking refuge in places that will not become a battlefield. King Albert made them do so.
Even if they lose, they want to reduce the number of casualties as much as possible. That is what is necessary to hasten the revival of the world. He didn't want to make it any more difficult for them to rebuild after being driven to the brink of extinction.
"Milianea-sama, it's time to go."
It is not only the people of the royal capital that King Albert is trying to get away from it. He wants the people in the castle and Milianea to escape as well.
"Don't make me repeat myself. I will stay here."
"But, His Majesty said."
"I swore I would never run away again."
She fled the Lemberg Empire, fled the Izrim Magic kingdom that she was supposed to take back, and came here. Without fulfilling any of her duties as an empress and as a princess. Milianea did not want to run anymore. She did not want to be the only one to survive.
"If Milianea-sama doesn't run away, even Her Highness will be left behind."
Princess Grace doesn't want to leave Milianea alone and run away. She still remains in the castle.
"It is the duty of a retainer to persuade Her Highness. Please tell Her Highness not to worry about me."
"No matter how much we say it"
If that would make Princess Grace willing to run away, the subjects would have no trouble. Princess Grace thinks that if she escapes first, Milianea will definitely remain in the castle. If she doesn't want her to die, she wants her to escape with her.
"Then, let Her Highness be the emissary."
"Emissary?"
"An emissary to the Nord Emperor. Bring reinforcements at any cost."
The details about the divine race and the demon king did not reach Milianea. However, she still thought that they needed the support of the Nord Empire to manage this situation. It is not difficult. The Nord Empire is the only country that can compete with the Izrim Empire.
"That's……"
"It doesn't matter if Her Highness doesn't make it in time. Anyway, send Her Highness out of the country. That's what you should do."
"……I understand."
Grace is the princess of the country. Even if Milianea knows that King Albert is more important to her, they should prioritize Princess Grace. She gave up trying to persuade Millianea for the time being, and decided to try to persuade Princess Grace.
"If only we could bring him..."
If it's Ren, she's sure he'll be able to do something about it. Milianea has such unfounded trust in Ren. It is Ren who has made the impossible a reality.
But it is futile to hope. If it is Ren, he might really do something, but that is a long time in the future. By then, the Luine Kingdom will have been destroyed. King Albert, who is fighting, will be dead.
"...If you don't mind, could you give me an order?"
"You are?"
Someone offered to take on such an unreasonable task.
"My name is Darren, I'm a lowly necromancer."
"A necromancer... as I recall, the same as the Nord Emperor?"
"That's outrageous. It's a terrible thing to think that I'm the same as that person."
Darren is actually trembling. The reason for this is not clear, but Milianea could tell that he was seriously afraid.
"You're not just going as an emissary."
"I know. With the help of the spirits and somehow... I'll tell the king in three days."
"Three days? Is that true?"
He can meet Ren in the far east in three days. Milianea wonders if he could do that. It's a natural question.
"It's true. I will ask the spirit where the King was, and I myself will become a spirit and go to meet him."
"That means you're going to die. I can't ask you to do that."
"...There is a possibility of dying, but there is also a possibility of coming back. I will only leave my body temporarily."
Darren has his own unique ability. Astral Projection. He can leave his body as a spirit and travel to a distant place in a very short time. However, if he cannot successfully return to his body, it is the same as death. If the body decomposes, it is complete death.
"Why would you want to take on a dangerous mission that puts your life on the line?"
"I am indebted to this country. I was of no use, but this country continued to hire me without punishment. One reason is to return the favor. The other is because I think it's information that the King should know."
"...Why do you call the Nord Emperor a king?"
"That person is the ruler not only of the living, but also of beings like spirits."
The [King of the Dead], although what is official is not clear. To some people, Ren is called this.
"Well then...... will you entrust your life to me?"
Become a spirit and go to see Ren. To be honest, Milianea does not properly understand what this means. But Darren is willing to risk his life to do it. She knew she had to believe him.
"......Gladly. I am glad to have met someone like you."
"Me too. Thank you for being here. Darren, please."
Milianea bows to Darren. This gave Darren another reason to risk his life. She was grateful for meeting him, who had been despised for a long time, and thought that he could die for Millianea, who even bowed her head.
"The body will be in a dead state, but please leave it as it is."
After the astral projection, the body is the same as a corpse. In fact, it is still breathing and the heart is still beating, but the movements are so small that you have to be very careful to be sure.
"Is it no good to move it?"
"As long as it's somewhere I won't have trouble finding it, no problem."
"I understand."
"Well then, I hope to see you again."
"Eh?"
Daren collapsed on the spot. He suddenly collapsed without warning, which startled Milianea. There is no need for chanting in astral projection. The same is true of Ren, who can see and talk to spirits without doing anything special. If he wanted to leave, he could do so immediately. The problem was the time. Darren had told Mirianea it would be three days, but he had never been away from his body for that long. The same goes for distance.
(...Even if I can't go back, I'll still be able to tell the king. Besides, just being able to meet such a wonderful woman at the end is my long-cherished wish.)
Darren had this thought when he saw Milianea asking the people at the castle to carry his body politely. Milianea believed in what he was saying, in the power that everyone had suspected of being a fraud and called him an impostor. That alone was enough to make him willing to die. It's not so much that it's abnormal to think that much in just a short time. Darren, too, is not afraid to die, for a different reason than Ren. He has always thought of himself as dead, and he has lived his whole life like that. Becoming truly dead does not change anything.
◆◆◆
The Lemberg Kingdom was retaken by the former subjects of the Lemberg Empire. Since many of those who served in the Lemberg Kingdom were former vassals of the Empire, it does not feel like a recapture, but the fact that it has left the Izrim Empire is a big deal. They have to decide what they are going to do with the Lemberg Kingdom and carry it out.
Ren was to help with that, albeit only a little. Of course, this was not what Ren wanted. There is still no one whom he can stand as king, no one whom he thinks can rule the country as he can. The Lemberg Kingdom wanted to rely on the influence of Ren, the emperor of the Nord Empire, who had protected the rebels and was a force in this battle.
"...An alliance with the Eastern Alliance... how about that?"
"But you can't just keep fighting the Eastern Alliance, right?"
The contact person for discussions with Ren is Lucas Ruben, who was the former head of the Imperial Order of Knights and is now the head of the Kingdom Order of Knights. There is a reason why he, who is not a civil official, is Ren's point of contact. Ren is an object of fear for the people of the Lemberg Kingdom, although this time he is on their side. Lucas has had the most contact with Ren, although he has never met him directly.
"Of course, we will end the battle. I just thought it would be a good idea if the Lemberg Kingdom joined the Alliance anyway."
"I see. Would that make for a stronger tie?"
It would also be beneficial to the current members of the Eastern Alliance. The Lemberg Kingdom would serve as a western wall for the Eastern Alliance. The military power of the Lemberg Kingdom would protect them.
Furthermore, unless the Lemberg Kingdom withdraws, it will not be able to conduct its own diplomacy. It will automatically become hostile to the Izrim Empire. Ren does not have the kindness to tell Lucas this.
"So, have you found someone to be king?"
Whether it is an alliance or a confederation, when it comes to diplomacy with other countries, a decision-maker, a king, is needed. The Lemberg Kingdom must crown a new king as soon as possible.
"There are people who have imperial blood, but…"
"Are they brave enough to be king in this situation?"
"No. I am ashamed to say."
There are still trials to be overcome in the Lemberg Kingdom. The world has not settled down at all, and is in the middle of a turbulent period. In such times, it takes courage to be the king of the great Lemberg Kingdom. If he fails, death awaits him.
"Then, what if Lucas-san do it? Heinz-san was supposed to be the acting emperor, right?"
"No, I don't have the political talent that my son has."
"I wonder if your son had it...... that's terrible. I am sorry."
Heinz died in the plot of the heroes. Even before that, he had been driven into a corner by Ren's scheming. As for Ren, he doesn't think he has any political talent. But this is not something he would say to his father, Lucas.
"No, it is true that my son was not strong enough."
"...Would such a person have been a banner of defiance when the country was taken? It can't be Milianea-san..."
Even if the emperor and Princess Rosa Linde had been taken hostage, if there had been someone who could have replaced them, the Lemberg Empire of the time would have resisted more fiercely. But that was not the case. There was no one who could take their place.
"Wouldn’t it be better to ask for your support for the time being?"
"Then Lemberg will be thought to be a vassal state of the Nord Empire. What would they think about that?"
"I see……"
Lucas thinks that is fine. The Lemberg Kingdom will soon be absorbed into the Nord empire if Ren is so inclined. But Ren is not going to do that. He wants the Lemberg Kingdom to remain a separate country from the Nord Empire.
On the other hand, a man without such ambitions can be trusted with the country. That's what Lucas thinks.
"I'm troubled……"
Ren is really troubled. He has absolutely no intention of making the Lemberg Kingdom part of the Nord Empire. Not because of a lack of ambition, but because of a lack of merit. It is undesirable to have more countries to protect that are also harder to protect. This is Ren's consistent view.
He wants the Lemberg Kingdom to fight against the Izrim Empire on its own. Even if they lose, the Nord Empire has nothing to lose.
"……Wait a minute."
"Eh? Ah, yes."
Ren suddenly tries to interrupt the conversation. Lucas doesn't know why, but if he is told to wait, he has no choice but to wait.
(...Have we met somewhere?)
The reason Ren interrupted the conversation was because he immediately noticed a spirit on his knees on the ground in front of him. He felt like he had met him once.
(I am in awe. We met before on the battlefield as enemies. I deeply apologize for that time.)
Darren is kneeling down on Ren. He was able to find Ren.
(…Ah, that time. Huh? But you were only in the enemy camp, weren't you?)
Ren remembers when they met, but he doesn't remember being hostile. There was someone who was hostile, but he knew that it was someone other than Darren.
(As expected of the king. Thank you very much for your understanding, I'm Darren.)
(You're formal. You don't have to be so afraid. I don't blame you for what you did when you were alive.)
No matter how many wrongdoings he may have committed during his life, Ren will not blame him for his sins. Most spirits are punished by being bound to the ground for the sins they committed during their lives. There is no need to condemn them further.
(No, I am still alive. There is something I must tell the king, so I came to you in this way.)
(Ah... I met someone like that once a long time ago. He was unconscious of it though.)
Ren has also met a living spirit. But he also remembers that it was troublesome to talk with such a spirit because it was not conscious of being dead.
(I would like to enjoy talking with the king forever, but I don't have time. Let me tell you why I came.)
Ren is a terrifying presence for Darren. But when he comes into contact with him as a spirit in this way, he finds him to be a warm presence. He understands why the dead are attracted to him.
(Yeah, go ahead.)
(Please go to the Luine Kingdom as soon as possible.)
(Are you asking me to help the Luine Kingdom?)
Daren was in the Luine Kingdom's camp in the united front against the Nord Empire. Ren thought that he was still working for the Luine Kingdom.
(There is also that, but the King's important person is fighting in the Luine Kingdom. Leading the demons)
(...Rin?)
(I am sure it is her. The enemy is not a former hero, but a divine race. They are more powerful than anything in this world. It is an opponent that could annihilate all those participating in the battle.)
(Divine race…? When was that?)
Ren is quite upset to hear that Rin is in a critical situation. He is upset, but he remembers to check the situation properly. He knows that this will lead to the right next action.
(I left the Luine Kingdom three days ago. At that point, the enemy had broken through the border.)
(Three days... I see. That's why you became a spirit. Thank you.)
If it wasn't for Darren, it would have been impossible to convey the information in three days. He doesn't know if he would have made it in time. But there is no doubt that Darren did his best. Ren was honestly grateful for that.
(Such words)
(I honestly don't know if I'll be able to make it in time. But I'm heading to the Luine Kingdom right away.)
(Understood. I will go back to convey it to Milianea-sama. Milianea-sama will pass it to the King's important person as well.)
(Milianea... I understand)
Ren was a little surprised that Milianea's name was mentioned. Apparently, she was the one who asked Darren to convey the message. That's enough. Ren did not have time to talk any longer.
"Thank you for waiting. But you will have to wait longer. I will leave here soon."
"Eh!? Why is that?"
He was silent for a long time and then suddenly said he was leaving. For Lucas, who is unaware of Darren's presence, it's that kind of situation.
"I'll head to the Luine Kingdom. The Izrim Empire wasn't the enemy we thought it was. It's an opponent we have to fight immediately without waiting."
"...What shall we do?"
"...If you are confident that the country will not be disturbed, I want you to attack the Izrim Empire. As a rear disturbance."
"I understand. I will move the army immediately."
Lucas has no hesitation when it comes to military affairs. If the Nord Empire were to enter the war in earnest, and apparently side with the Luine Kingdom, it would be natural for their own country to move. He could not afford to miss the opportunity.
"Then, please. Ah! Maybe you'll meet the remnants of the Orthea Kingdom. They are an ally. I'll tell the Orthea Kingdom as well."
"...Understood. We will work together on this."
Lucas knew about the existence of the rebel army that wanted to restore the Orthea Kingdom. But the fact that the rebel army and the Nord Empire were connected was new to Lucas. The Nord Empire was extending its reach beyond itself. It was only natural, but even so, he could not help but be surprised.
"Then I..."
"Excuse me. The Emperor has a guest."
A knight approached Ren, who was about to leave his seat and hurriedly head for the exit, announcing that he had a visitor.
"Huh? For me? And now?"
He doesn't care about the visitor. He doesn't have time to deal with guests. Ren does not hide his annoyance, but it shows on his face.
"Yes. Just... Riko."
The people of the Lemberg Kingdom know about Riko. As Jin's mistress and former hero. Naturally, she is someone they regard as an enemy.
"Later."
"I understand. I've been asked to just insist on telling you."
Satoko knows that she will not be able to meet with him easily. She thought that she had to tell him what she wanted to tell him first, and asked the knight to give him the message.
"What?"
"The message is [Please help Rin-san]."
"...Where is she?"
It was a short message. But after hearing Darren's story, that was enough for Ren to know what she was talking about.
"She is waiting for you at the castle gate."
"Okay. I'll go. Lead the way."
"H-ha!"
The people and the countries were moving toward the time of the final battle. Ren, the center of the movement, moved. The situation accelerated.
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