**Side – Hildegard**
Five hours after Lord Yamato and his party headed towards Deseo, we arrived at Solemne’s imperial capital, Deseo, utilizing the traveling method of Lord Yamato and his group, who had returned.
Deseo is located in the Klagen Plain, but due to its proximity to the Praia Desert, there are very few native trees. To the north, one can overlook the vast Wüste Lake, and on a small island in the center, the Treasure Tree blooms in full glory.
Unlike Torencia or Amister, the cityscape here rarely features wooden buildings. Most structures are made of stone, becoming more prevalent the closer one gets to the center of Deseo. Conversely, the outskirts are lined with tents, similar to other cities, and the public safety appears to be extremely poor.
“To think the capital, the face of the country, would be in such a state,” Certina remarked.
“Indeed. It almost makes the slums seem better,” I replied.
The people of Amister are surprised, which is understandable. After all, Amister has no slums. In fact, aside from Amister, most countries have slums to varying degrees, so Amister could be considered unusual. Even Torencia’s Phantom Capital Bestia has small slums. While the Saber’s Guild conducts regular patrols, making the situation not entirely dire, I’ve heard that ruffians still roam freely, and ordinary citizens avoid them.
However, Solemne’s slums are worse than those of any other country. While the areas near the main road running through the city center are not as bad, the tent district to the east looks decidedly dangerous, and the stone buildings to the west are dilapidated and appear unusable.
“We’ll storm the city and head straight for the Emperor’s Castle,” I declared.
News of the Solemne Army’s annihilation likely hasn’t reached Deseo yet. However, with the nearly intact Allied Forces appearing in Deseo, even the most inept of imperial families should be able to deduce the situation. Upon seeing the sudden appearance of the Allied Forces, the citizens of Deseo panicked and fled into surrounding buildings, while the garrison troops, presumably defending Deseo, hastily armed themselves and emerged.
“Your Majesty,” a soldier called out.
“Ah. Hilde, Amister will handle the vanguard. Torencia, proceed to the Emperor’s Castle and take the Emperor’s head,” Lord Rex commanded.
“Understood. I shall accept your generous offer.”
“Lord Yamato, I entrust your guard to you.”
“Understood.”
I have been tasked with taking the Emperor’s head. I am grateful that Amister will handle the garrison forces, and that Saber and the Torencia Alliance will head directly to the Emperor’s Castle, not to mention being assigned Lord Yamato as my personal guard.
“Your Majesty, may I bring Camellia along?” Camellia asked.
“Camellia? But then…”
“I’m going too. I won’t let anyone lay a hand on Camellia, so you can rest assured,” Prim interjected.
“If that’s the case, I’ll come too,” Edward added.
Camellia, and Prim and Edward-san as well. Camellia, a B-rank Hunter, originally hails from Estrella, the capital of Libertà. I’ve heard that when Estrella fell to Solemne, the orphanage where Camellia grew up was destroyed, and many of the orphans she considered her siblings were sacrificed. Thus, Camellia joined Wing Crest and participated in the war to exact revenge.
Bringing Camellia along must be to allow her to witness the Solemne Emperor’s demise. However, they cannot allow her to act impulsively. Therefore, Prim and Edward-san will accompany them as guards, and simultaneously serve as a deterrent to prevent her from taking matters into her own hands.
“I do not object. However, if you should impulsively strike the Emperor, you will be judged for treason,” I warned.
“That is only natural. If that is acceptable, I shall permit your accompaniment,” Lord Rex agreed.
Camellia is participating in this war as a member of Wing Crest. However, if by some chance Camellia were to claim the Emperor’s head, in the worst-case scenario, it could be attributed as a victory for Libertà. While Libertà is not participating in the Allied Forces, Camellia’s Libertà origin is an undeniable fact, and therefore, her actions must be closely monitored by us.
Ideally, she would not accompany us, and there would be no need for it. However, if she were to act on her own, it could indeed become a problem. Thus, by allowing Camellia to accompany us, we aim to contain that potential issue. A single B-rank Hunter cannot even infiltrate the Emperor’s Castle, let alone reach it. However, at this moment, the possibility cannot be dismissed entirely.
“Thank you very much!” Camellia exclaimed.
“However, Camellia, the moment you violate orders, you will become a traitor. The Wing Crest, which permitted your participation, will also bear blame for your actions. Keep that in mind,” I stated sternly.
“Yes, sir!”
Although I do not wish to say such things, everyone in the Allied Forces knows that Camellia is a member of Wing Crest. Therefore, if Camellia violates orders, Wing Crest will also be implicated and could, in the worst case, become subject to punishment. Although Lord Yamato, our leader, is my fiancé, this is precisely the kind of issue that must be clarified.
“To the Allied Forces! The Deseo garrison is our enemy, but that does not permit us to attack the citizens! Especially acts of plunder, which will be met with the sword regardless of the reason! The Solemne Army repeatedly plundered Libertà, but we are the proud Allied Forces! Show the citizens of Deseo that we are different from the barbaric Solemne Army!” General Rex declared as preparations were completed.
Initially, I explicitly stated that acts of plunder were strictly forbidden during deployment, and that any violations would result in immediate execution. Therefore, this declaration is not merely for the Allied Forces but is intended for the citizens of Deseo. While it is uncertain whether the people of Deseo will believe words from an enemy nation, it is a fact that the Solemne Army committed atrocities in the streets of Libertà. If the Allied Forces do not harm the citizens, trust can eventually be earned.
“Order and the Amister Alliance, hold back the garrison forces! Saber and the Torencia Alliance, seize the opportunity and head for the Emperor’s Castle! Lord Viese, I entrust the command to you!”
“Understood. General Order, may you be victorious!”
Under Lord Rex’s command, the Order and the Amister Alliance clashed with the garrison forces. As expected from those defending the Emperor’s very seat of power in Deseo, their skill level was high. However, before the numerous Ancient Classes of Amister, they were unfortunately neutralized one by one. While they did not take lives, as they were within the city, it is remarkable that they had the leniency to do so.
“Your Majesty, let us proceed.”
“Indeed. Grandmother, I apologize for the trouble, but please look after the Hunters.”
“Rest assured, they are all eager. After all, they get to take down the Emperor’s Castle.”
The Torencia Alliance has been active in recent battles on the Klagen Plain and in the Antlion Extermination Battle, but compared to the Amister Alliance, they were more reserved. It is foolish to compare them, but whether one can accept that is another matter. Therefore, when they heard that only the Torencia forces would attack and capture the Emperor’s Castle, everyone rejoiced. Lord Yamato and Prim will accompany us, but they are my guards and Camellia’s watchers, so they will not be at the forefront.
“Viese, please issue the advance order!”
“Yes! To the Saber’s Guild and the Torencia Alliance! We shall now proceed to the Emperor’s Castle! However, as the General Order stated, harming the citizens of Deseo is forbidden! Our sole objective is the head of the foolish Emperor!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!”
Responding to Viese’s command, the Torencia forces, united as one, headed for the Emperor’s Castle. The Emperor’s Castle is built on a sheer cliff overlooking Wüste Lake. It is larger than Torencia’s White Demon Castle and adorned with extravagant decorations, presumably to showcase the imperial family’s majesty. However, without such ostentation, one wonders if their dignity can be maintained. They proclaim liberation by expelling all guilds, but abolishing guilds is superficial and merely a mark of their foolishness.
While traveling within Deseo, I used a Beast Carriage employed by Saber. Lord Yamato and Prim rode Jade and Fluorite, while Certina-sama was on Krale’s back. Saber and Hunters who had contracted familiars rode them, while others used Beast Carriages. The total number of our party was about 250, as there were casualties in the recent battle. Normally, this number would be considered far too few to even consider challenging an army. However, with around 70 High Classes and Certina-sama having evolved into an Ancient Lamia, a slight difference in numbers would not be an issue. Furthermore, with Lord Yamato and Prim providing escort, I have absolutely no concerns.
“S-stop! Do you know where you are, you ruffians! This is the Emperor’s Castle, where His Majesty Emperor of the glorious Solemne Empire resides!?” a guard, presumably from the Imperial Guard, shouted.
“We are aware of that much. We are the Allied Forces. We have come all the way to Deseo to take the head of the utterly foolish Emperor,” Lord Delfina of the First Order, whom Viese had strongly requested accompany them, replied coldly.
“A-Allied Forces, you say!? Impossible! An army of over ten thousand should have been dispatched to intercept you!?”
“Indeed, we encountered them the other day. Unfortunately for you, the Allied Forces defeated that army and sank the Steam Battleships. Allow me to show you the proof.”
To the astonished guards, Lord Delfina took out the head of Prince Airgaitz, entrusted to him by Lord Rex, from her storage.
“P-Prince Airgaitz!?”
“T-Then… then you truly defeated the army…!?”
“Of course. A weak force relying solely on numbers like that was no match for us Allied Forces.”
Although most of the credit for the victory belongs to Amister, not Torencia, Lord Delfina stated this plainly and without emotion.
“Therefore, we will be passing through here.”
“You think we’ll let you pass!?”
“It is the duty of us Imperial Guards to protect His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Your resolve is commendable, but there is no point in protecting a foolish king. Besides, with your Normal Class status, none of you can stop anyone here.”
With that, Lord Delfina threw her Library at the guards.
“An Ancient Ogre!?”
“I-Impossible!? Weren’t the ones in Amister Ancient Humans!?”
It seems the Emperor was aware of Lord Yamato. However, even if he was aware, it resulted in that Ancient Human being allowed to attack his castle, which is utterly meaningless.
“That Ancient Human is also here,” Lord Delfina said, glancing at Lord Yamato. Lord Yamato nodded, then took out his Library and presented it to the guards, just as Lord Delfina had done. Prim and Certina-sama also produced their Libraries, following Lord Yamato.
“An Ancient… Foxy…?”
“Even an Ancient Lamia…”
“Let me be clear, there are over twenty Ancient Classes serving with us! And even the High Classes number over two hundred. Do you truly believe Deseo’s forces can do anything about this?”
The Imperial Guards wore expressions of despair. There are over twenty Ancient Classes, each said to be equivalent to ten thousand soldiers, and the garrison forces have been neutralized by the Amister forces in the rear. With the remaining forces alone, it is impossible to turn the tide. Solemne, in particular, had been careful not to provoke conflict with Ancient Classes, so they were helpless.
“It seems you understand. Then we shall proceed,” Lord Delfina stated.
Not a single guard could refute Lord Delfina’s words. However, we could not afford to be obstructed. Leaving half of the Saber and Hunter forces at the castle gate, we stepped into the Emperor’s Castle.
