While the development of MARS proceeded smoothly, Mina and I came to Amagi Castle to participate in the Knights’ Conference.
To be honest, I wanted to prioritize MARS’s development, but having been conferred the title of Celestial Peer, and with an agenda item concerning the Scholar’s Guild, I had no choice but to attend.
After all, there were still many things to decide for the Scholar’s Guild. Although the headquarters were planned to be built in Float, the establishment of a comprehensive school was decided to be in Memoria, so I couldn’t be uninvolved.
The land selection for Memoria was already in its final stages, and even the planned commencement of construction was set.
Participants were to be either Grand, Conform, or Associate Masters residing in Float, but as this was the first Knights’ Conference, the Grand Masters of all Ritter’s Guilds were in attendance.
There were also a few Rriters, and representatives from each country attended as observers.
The Knights’ Conference was held at a round table, with the observers’ seats arranged in a circle to match, a new addition made within Amagi Castle for this purpose.
At the round table, besides the Grand Masters, there were two Rriters each, and seats for observers were provided.
“Esteemed sirs and madams, I thank you for attending the first Knights’ Conference. We shall now commence the 1st Knights’ Conference.”
Grand Order’s Master Rex declared the opening.
Although the use of a round table was intended to show equality among the Ritter’s Guilds, the Order’s Guild, being directly under the Celestial Emperor, was effectively the top of the Ritter’s Guilds.
Therefore, the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman were to be held by Grand and Associate Order’s Masters, and for this reason, the Order’s Guild had five seats at the round table.
For some reason, Mina and I, along with the Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master, were also surrounding the round table.
The remaining seat was occupied by Isabel Corrado, a female Hydragonewt who had served as the First Order of the Solemn Offensive Army’s 2nd unit and had now been appointed Royal Order’s Master.
“It has been one month since the Ritter’s Guild was officially established. First, please report on the current status of each guild.”
“Regarding the Father’s Guild, there have been no major changes. If anything, with the removal of the threat from Solemn and Slume Lord, we can now focus on reconstruction.”
The current status reports from each guild began.
First was the Father’s Guild, with Grand Father’s Master Viser standing to report.
The order was Father, Feiser, Soldier, Draguner, Beastar, and Order, the reason being the seating arrangement.
The reason for this seating order was simply the order of establishment.
The Order’s Guild, being the earliest established, was last because the Grand Order’s Master served as the chairman.
“As for the Feiser’s Guild, we have appointed the Associate Feiser’s Master as Conform Feiser’s Master and have newly appointed an Associate Feiser’s Master. We are barely able to provide personnel to Float and Esperanza, but we hope to recruit transfers or secondments from the Ritter’s Guild in the future.”
Grand Feiser’s Master Lord Folia, with a look of apology, mentioned the transfer of personnel.
Originally, the Feiser’s Guild was the holy knight order that protected the Kingdom of Basion, so their numbers were only around 200.
However, since Basion submitted to Amister, the Feiser’s Guild took on the role of temple knights protecting the Priest’s Guild.
Naturally, they wanted to dispatch knights to the Priest’s Guilds scattered throughout the regions, but they were far from having enough personnel, and currently, Rriters were still handling patrols and guard duties as before.
This was also a concern for the Grand Masters, and I heard that they planned to recruit transfers and secondments to the Feiser’s Guild in the near future.
“The Soldier’s Guild has seen 70% of the remaining Libertà army join. However, vigilance is necessary not only within Solemn but also towards Retisencia, so we are currently rushing to reorganize. We have also appointed an Associate Soldier’s Master as Conform Soldier’s Master and have appointed a new Associate Soldier’s Master.”
The Soldier’s Guild’s top priority mission was maintaining public order within the former Solemn territory, but due to a shortage of manpower even more so than the Feiser’s Guild, they were currently only able to reach as far as Deseo and surrounding areas.
For the territories of nobles who had their titles stripped recently, deputies and Soldiers were dispatched. However, it seemed that many of them were rebellious, similar to Deseo initially, and not only Delfina but also Hilde had to visit multiple times to enforce the law and rescue outcasts.
I accompanied them a few times, and it was really troublesome.
The incorporated Libertà army was difficult to move, being responsible for the defense of the new bridge-state established in the Libertà region.
Still, they had brought about 100 people, but there were problems with them sometimes going too far.
“Regarding the Dragoner’s Guild, we have finally completed the incorporation of the knight units held by nobles the other day. However, the rascals have not been fully purged, so it will still take some time to stabilize.”
King Brother Harut, who had taken on the role of Grand Dragoner’s Master, looked tired.
The Dragoner’s Guild had no particular issues with the Dragon Knights of Draconia, the Royal Dragon Knights, or the Dragon Knights held by nobles on the west side of Valentia. However, the Dragon Knights on the east side of Valentia were reportedly full of problems.
Things had improved since the Nizhegr Duke’s family was demoted, but there were still many Dragon Knights who had treated civilians arrogantly, and it seemed many were punished.
Furthermore, there were nobles who refused to be unified into a single knightly order called the Dragoner’s Guild, and it was said that they even sought the cooperation of Dragonians.
I heard that King Brother Harut, or rather Lord Harut, whose wife was a Dragonian, personally took the lead in suppressing them.
“As for the Beastar’s Guild, at the request of the Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels, we have incorporated the army stationed in Libertà in Lichtenfels. We are currently constructing the Beastar’s Guild headquarters in Lichtenfels.”
Grand Beastar’s Master Lord Charlotte’s report was news to me.
I had heard that the former Libertà army was incorporated into the Soldier’s Guild, so I assumed the soldiers stationed in Lichtenfels had also registered with the Soldier’s Guild. However, it seemed that the former Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels had its own knightly order, and a petition from Grand Duke Liar had reached the Beastar’s Guild headquarters in Glacian.
As Charlotte alone couldn’t make the decision, a letter was sent to the Grand Masters, including Rex. However, since the Father’s and Draguner’s Guilds were knightly orders of Torencia and Valentia, it was decided rather easily that the Beastars, who defended the small nations of Alegria and the Baliente region, would be suitable. Charlotte mentioned that she had considered making it an agenda item for the Knights’ Conference, so she was taken by surprise. Therefore, she had incorporated the Lichtenfels garrison army before the Knights’ Conference and had begun construction of the Beastar’s Guild headquarters.
“Lastly, our Order’s Guild. We have currently dispatched a Scout Order to Retisencia, but the situation is not favorable. Abnormal species and Catastrophe species that evolved due to Demon Crystals have broken free from the control of Demon Race also changed by Demon Crystals, and it is reported that the northern towns and villages have already been annihilated.”
Since Rex was the chairman, Associate Order’s Master Miranda stood up to report.
The content of the report was mainly based on information from the Scout Order infiltrated into Retisencia, which would mean that the Philia Continent could not be truly united as long as Retisencia existed, so everyone listened intently.
“Some Abnormal species have also appeared in the west, but fortunately, they do not seem to be heading towards Vagenbach. However, many appear to be heading south. The other day, we received a report that the city of Carabela, north of Kobaldia, was invaded by several Catastrophe species and was devastated.”
Seriously?
Carabela was the second city of Retisencia, and it was ruled by a ducal family.
However, most of the garrison forces had been dispatched to Kobaldia to attack Amister, which proved to be their undoing, and they were unable to offer much resistance before being annihilated.
Even if they had been in full readiness, if several Catastrophe species attacked simultaneously, the vulnerable Retisencia army would have been unable to counter them.
“Catastrophe species, huh? What was confirmed?”
“Blue Fenrir and Flood Crane were confirmed. Furthermore, it is unconfirmed, but Leo Species was also present.”
The confirmed ones were already quite formidable, but the presence of Leo Species too?
Blue Fenrir is a subspecies of Black Fenrir, a G-C rank monster that Prim and I defeated previously. Flood Crane is an M-C rank monster, like Ignis Bird and Rud.
With Blue Fenrir, the Retisencia army might be able to handle it if they attacked all at once, but Flood Crane would be difficult.
Furthermore, Leo Species is one of the strongest species of Helios Orb, along with Dragoon. If it were a Catastrophe species, it could potentially be O-C rank.
“Leo Species? Troublesome…”
“The Scout Order retreated immediately after confirming Blue Fenrir and Flood Crane. While Blue Fenrir alone might be manageable, they judged Flood Crane to be beyond their capabilities.”
“It is an M-C rank, so it can’t be helped. Moreover, with Leo Species present, only Ancient Class individuals could deal with it.”
Miranda explained to the surprised Lord Harut, and Lord Charlotte agreed. I also thought it was the case.
“If they are heading south, are they perhaps heading for Amister?”
“The monsters’ path seems to be towards Kobaldia, but since some are heading west and south, we cannot deny the possibility of them flowing towards Amister.”
In that case, will Polar be the first battlefield?
Polar has Bout-led Trial Hearts with Ancient Ulfy, but would it be tough against multiple Catastrophe species?
I think Blue Fenrir would be fine, though.
“Then, Lord Rex and Lord Miranda, will you head to Polar immediately after the Knights’ Conference?”
“Yes. Rosemary, Muse, and Saya are already waiting in Polar.”
I thought I hadn’t seen Rosemary, Muse, and Saya, but they were already in Polar.
Well, the report came just the day before yesterday, and since Traveling is also available, it’s natural for them to prepare for emergencies.
I should talk to everyone after the Knights’ Conference and head to Polar as well.
“With four Ancient Classes already present, the defense of Polar should not be a problem.”
“However, we cannot let our guard down. Kobaldia is likely under attack as well, and while the Retisencia army may not have the leeway to interfere with Amister, including the Demon Race, it is not impossible for them to defeat Catastrophe species.”
As Lords Harut and Folia said, Polar’s defenses are strong with four Ancient Classes, so they should be able to defeat even something like Flood Crane without issue.
However, among the Retisencia army gathered in Kobaldia, there should be many who have transformed due to Demon Crystals.
When a High Class person transforms into a Demon Race, their Magic Power approaches that of an Ancient Class, so it is entirely possible for them to defeat Catastrophe species, and some may have already defeated them.
If they were to come to the forefront, there is a possibility of being attacked by both Catastrophe species and Demon Race in the worst-case scenario.
“To prevent that, after the conference, I intend to request Wing Crest to fly to Polar. Fortunately, their leader, Celestial Peer Yamato, is here.”
The conversation turned towards me, but I was already planning to do so even without a request.
Frankly, Retisencia’s destruction due to Abnormal and Catastrophe species is their own fault, so I don’t care. However, I cannot tolerate Amister and Vagenbach being harmed because of it.
Moreover, from a material perspective, the materials from Catastrophe species are quite valuable.
To complete MARS, I can never have too many materials from high-ranked monsters.
Incidentally, no one voiced concern for the lives of the Retisencia citizens.
Retisencia is famous for its arrogance, even among ordinary people, so they are not trusted by any country. Traders, in particular, have been greatly inconvenienced by them.
Even if they were helped, they would likely complain, and there’s also the reason that even if a rescue party were dispatched, morale would not be maintained.
However, some towns close to Vagenbach have had their lords flee to Vagenbach with a small number of their retainers, and these lords are apparently quite upright individuals. It seems that Duke Catarina has expressed a desire to provide aid to these territories if possible.
Since we in Wing Crest can move with ease, I suspect we will be assigned to the Vagenbach region.
Well, given the circumstances, I am not opposed to going to their aid.
