Side Story Chapter 202
Everyone in the Hubalt Empire knew that the Martial Knight Order, Bel’s personal order of knights, was the real strongest knight order within the empire. However, most of them would be surprised to discover how the Martial Knights joined the order—the knights’ stories weren’t known to the public.
“...Our master brought each of us to our knees at least once,” Hawke, the Martial Knights’ commander, mumbled.
This was right after Ardian, the paladins’ leader, suffered a crushing defeat to Skell, an ordinary Martial Knight.
Bel’s past had been solely focused on fighting, honing him into a weapon to kill the Martial God. Just like a beast should be fed, Hubalt needed a supply of strong warriors. At first, Hubalt had supplied Bel’s opponents from the people within the empire, but many of those partners had been killed during Bel’s battles. Inevitably, no more volunteers came forward, so Hubalt had to kidnap Bel’s opponents from other countries or from the streets.
Most of the Martial Knights used to be Bel’s sparring partners. When Bel found one of his opponents useful, he would teach them instead of killing them. Of course, that was just a form of entertainment to him...
“...Anyone who went up against the Battle God is bound to swear loyalty to him if they survive,” Hawke murmured.
Knights experiencing Bel’s power reacted in either one of two ways: they felt utterly powerless in front of his overwhelming might, or were in awe of his inhumanely strength.
Hawke had been both helpless and in awe of Bel. Although he was certain that no knights stood a chance against the Martial Knight Order, he never let his guard down. A second and third Battle God could show up at any time from anywhere.
‘Joshua Sanders, the Martial God and the Emperor of Avalon, must be at the same level as my master,’ Hawke thought.
He believed without a doubt that Bel was stronger, but other people on the continent didn’t share his ideas. The Martial God was widely considered the strongest person on the continent, not the Battle God. Imagining a battle between a god of battle and a god of martial arts made Hawke tremble in excitement.
“If we take this road south, we’ll arrive at Arcadia in three weeks,” Ardian reported to Hawke, his scout having returned from a nearby village.
The paladins made sure to be respectful of the Martial Knights. Ardian, their leader, had set a firm example; there was no point in the paladins resisting. Hawke didn’t destroy their remaining pride.
“Great work.”
“...It’s nothing.”
The Martial Knights were alive because Bel showed mercy to them.
“I’m sorry, but let me ask you one more favor,” Hawke said.
“Go on.”
“I would like you to find a shortcut so we can get to Arcadia in fifteen—no, ten days.”
“T-Ten days?” Ardian’s eyes widened.
“You do understand the necessity of not giving the Avalon troops any more time to reorganize themselves?”
“I do, but it’ll take at least fifteen days if we ride our horses ragged. We’re farther away from Arcadia than we expected. Even if we arrive on time, I’m not sure if we would have any strength left to fight,” Ardian cautioned in a concerned voice.
“It’s more than possible for us.”
Ardian flinched. The Martial Knights had drawn a line between them and the paladins as if they didn’t want to be considered the same in the slightest—until now. Hawke had referred to Ardian and the paladins as “us” for the first time.
“I understand that many divine spells can replenish stamina,” Hawke said.
It was true, and some of the paladins had authorities that would maximize the efficiency of those spells.
“But then we’ll have to sit out during the battle because those spells consume an enormous amount of stamina—far more than you would think.” Ardian tilted his head. “We’ve already traveled a long distance, so some of us might faint from exhaustion.”
“It doesn’t matter. Leave the rest to the Martial Knights. That’s what comrades are for.”
“...I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.” Hawke bowed slightly.
Ardian nodded and turned to go with a faint smile on his face, but Hawke’s smile was brighter than Ardian's.
‘I think I understand Sir Bel a little,’ Hawke thought.
* * *
Exactly three days after the battle, numerous people arrived at the Avalon Palace’s council chamber. They were all nobles answering Icarus’s emergency call for nobles of a rank higher than count to convene.
“I don’t know how long it has been since we came together like this.”
The nobles filled the council chamber with their murmurings. This war changed many people’s perceptions of many things. The hottest topic was, of course, the Avalon’s two princes.
“I heard that the First Prince made a great contribution in this war.”
“Even an A-Class knight can’t fight a death knight one on one, but Prince Selim defeated over ten of them on his own...”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Hahaha.”
Most of them spoke compliments about Selim.
“I’m surprised by the Second Prince’s work. I heard that the number of the death knights he killed isn’t so different from Prince Selim.”
“Prince Kireua defeated exactly one less death knight than Prince Selim. If that weren’t for that demon’s interference, there’s no knowing how their competition would have turned out.”
“I guess that’s why it’s said that life is unpredictable. I feel like it was just yesterday that His Highness Kireua left for the Thran Kingdom to study...”
“He must be a late bloomer.”
Everyone looked at the people who stood right in front of the platform that led to the throne. It was no exaggeration to say that those dukes from the Five Ducal Families would determine the next emperor.
“I can’t see Duke Agnus.”
“What difference would he make even if he were here? The Agnus family has fallen so much that they’re on the verge of demise. Sir Cain’s choice, as His Majesty’s First Knight, would be more influential.”
“But isn’t it too farfetched to compare one man to an entire family?”
“That’s just how it is.”
Duke Agnus aside, the dukes of Avalon were present. Charles stood as the representative of the Pontier Family.
She felt deeply moved. She may be the Queen Consort but she was also serving as the Pontier Family’s acting head. It was inevitable—the Pontier Family had suffered from a long internal conflict that had even caused the death of Charles’s father, the previous Duke of Pontier. It was safe to say that the family line was going to die with Charles, although Kireua could be the next Duke Pontier if he were not to claim the throne, of course.
‘...But that would hurt Kireua’s pride a lot,’ Charles thought.
She could see that Kireua had started to desire the throne at some point. Despite that, she supported both of the princes. She wasn’t going to favor Kireua just because she had given birth to him; if she did, she would disrespect the other Queen Consorts, who had been considerate of her during her marriage. In fact... Charles wished for her two sons to grow through a good-hearted competition.
“Your Majesty, Prince Kireua has grown up to be an outstanding man. Even I was surprised by his growth,” Duke Tremblin told Charles from his position beside her.
Charles smiled. “It’s all thanks to your help, Duke Tremblin.”
“I have done nothing.” Tremblin couldn’t hide his shame.
Despite what Charles wished, other people believed that the Queen Consorts each wished for their biological sons to take the throne. On that note, Tremblin had decided to support Selim, the First Prince.
“Announcing the arrival of Their Majesties the Queen Consorts!”
Everyone fell into a hush as Icarus and Iceline entered the chamber through the door behind the throne, guarded by Cain and Valmont.
“Oh, my!” Icarus gasped, her hand rising to cover her mouth. “Your Majesty Charles, why are you standing there?”
“Well, it's a nobles' meeting, so I couldn’t let the Pontier Family have no representative...”
“Why don’t you come upstairs? We need you here.” Icarus gestured to the upper platform.
Iceline nodded in agreement. The Queen Consorts were responsible for commanding the nobles on behalf of the Emperor of Avalon.
“In that case...” Charles walked up the platform.
Icarus took a look around with a smile on her face. “As all of you already know, the empire has sustained significant damage from a recent series of incidents. We have a gap of manpower in Arcadia’s garrison and we must draft soldiers from each family.”
Everyone nodded. This was just the beginning of their war. Their reactions might have been different if the war was between two families, but this war was with a foreign country. If the Imperial Family issued a draft, the nobles were mandated to obey.
“The Agnus Family has a situation, so... I would like to organize an army with the four dukes’ soldiers as the core. Experienced heads of the families are strongly encouraged to share their expertise,” Icarus continued.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Please keep in mind that the enemies of Hubalt are heading south as we speak. According to the rumors, Avalon isn’t the only country that Hubalt has invaded; their army has crossed the borders to all of Hubalt’s neighboring countries.”
This was without a doubt the beginning of a Continental War. Everyone’s expressions were grim.
“So this is how it begins.”
“Those hyenas. It wouldn’t have come to this if we’d formed an alliance ages ago...”
The nobles’ anger was directed at the other countries, not Hubalt, for letting the situation fester by wasting time tiptoeing around Hubalt.
“Speaking of which, I have a good idea,” Icarus said.
The nobles blinked at her, confused.
“You can leave Arcadia unguarded. I would like the four dukes to cross the border into Hubalt with the army.”
She received nothing but shocked stares.
Icarus’s goal was to put the remaining four dukes in charge of the mission that Babel, the Duke of Agnus, had failed. That mission must succeed.
“Every country in the continent is busy fighting Hubalt’s invasion, so we’ll use this opportunity to take over Hubalt’s capital. And...” Icarus trailed off with a faint smile and turned to the princes. “...The two princes shall join this mission as well.”
“The princes, too? Your Majesty, that’s too dangerous!”
“Dangerous... The emperor of the Avalon Empire is a seat where such threats are part of their daily life, so the princes aren’t worthy to claim the throne if they can’t overcome this much.”
“A-Are you saying...?”
The other two Queen Consorts looked composed despite Icarus’s statements; the three of them had obviously talked everything out.
“I would like all of you here to assess the princes’ accomplishments to determine who is the most apt to be your next emperor.”
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel