The meeting we participated in continued until after 7 PM, with several breaks.
While there were several unexpected events, such as the sudden appearance of Beast King Gumnos of Valentia and the apprehension of Gustav, the representative of Formalhaut, a city on a bridge, the most surprising thing was the proposal to unite the Philia Continent under Amister.
As I mostly observed the meeting, I understood well that everyone was extremely surprised. My father was executed for the unfounded crime of treason, but the true enemy was Solemne, so my vendetta is over. Nevertheless, Gumnos, whom I once suspected to be my enemy, was right in front of me, making my feelings complicated. When the topic of unification of the Philia Continent, not to mention the return of Valentia, which I had long thought about, came up from Gumnos himself, it was impossible not to be surprised.
“Then, that concludes our session for today. Thank you for your participation until late,” Brother Rai announced, finally ending the meeting.
Solemne will be governed by Amister as the main entity, with Sister Hilde acting as representative. However, since Sister Hilde will be in the position of deputy, there may be a need to seek Brother Rai’s approval in certain situations. While Brother Rai would likely approve of Sister Hilde’s decisions, there are also issues regarding future standing, so despite the hassle, it will probably be necessary to go to Float. Afterward, once the situation stabilizes, it will be merged with Amister, and the decision on whether it will remain independent as a small nation will be made at that time.
Simultaneously, Sister Hilde will officially abdicate as Queen of Torencia, and Hilde will be enthroned. Regarding the Guilds, since the future of Guild Magic is uncertain, a small branch will be temporarily opened in Deseo to observe the situation. Only the Priests’ Guild, considering the horrific events of the past, will dispatch only a few priests. Their residences will be within the Emperor’s Castle, similar to the dispatched Soldiers and the children of nobles. For the safety of the Guild employees and priests, temporary accommodations will be transported from Amister and Torencia, and a simple Guild office will also be established within the Emperor’s Castle. The Soldier’s Guild will be permanently stationed in Deseo, so a solid facility will be constructed, but until its completion, they will also be living in temporary accommodations built within the Emperor’s Castle. Five Multi-functional Beast Carriages will also be provided by Amister for the Order’s Guild, so there should be no issues with transportation. As for the Soldier’s Guild, currently, only the positions of Grand Soldier’s Master and Soldier’s Master have been decided. It is expected that positions like Royal Soldier and Escort Soldier will be established later, but it seems this setup is sufficient for now.
Regarding reconstruction aid to Libertà, the plan will be formulated on the premise that the bridge cities of Libertà will be annexed by Amister. Lichtenfels, Denebulate, and Vagenbach will proceed with reconstruction. Estrella will be abandoned, and for Formalhaut, since its representative Gustav was discovered to be colluding with Solemne, its fate will be decided after a detailed investigation. It seems to be the general consensus that most of the other council members of Formalhaut, like Gustav, are traitors colluding with Solemne, so they will likely be abandoned. However, these are still tentative decisions, and we need to await the judgment of other bridge cities, so the specific course of action will depend on those decisions. It’s not something that can be finalized in a day or two.
However, before that, there is something I must do.
“Brother Rai, may I have a moment?”
As the meeting attendees were leaving the main conference room, I stopped Brother Rai.
“I understand. They are expecting it as well. I will guide you.”
So they were expecting it too? That makes things easier. With that, Brother Rai gestured for me to follow and began to walk.
“Prim, can we come too?”
“Yes. I think it’s alright, but I’ll feel more at ease with everyone there.”
I believe I can now face Gumnos without issue, but I still feel a sense of fear, so I would be grateful if everyone could come with me.
Brother Rai led me to the guest quarters in Amagi Castle. There are two guest quarters: one for nobles and envoys from other countries, and the other for royalty and monarchs from other countries. For the safety of royalty, the quarters within the guest area are divided into several separate sections and are inaccessible to outsiders, making them highly secure. We were led to the royal/monarch guest quarters, specifically to the room with the most luxurious door. This room is only permitted for monarchs to stay in, so there are only about ten such rooms in Amagi Castle. Therefore, among the participants of this conference, only two people could stay in this room. One of them, Sister Hilde, is coming to Alka, leaving only Gumnos.
“Long time no see, Primrose.”
“Yes, it has been a long time.”
As I entered the room, the person there was, as expected, Gumnos. Just as Brother Rai said, he seemed to have been waiting for me.
“I cannot apologize enough to you. I had no choice but to execute Ternal, who should have been my friend.”
“I have heard about that. Not only from Sister Neige, but also from Brother Rai and Sister Hilde. And that is correct, you were not an enemy. You simply had no choice but to carry out my father’s execution according to Valentia’s laws. While I have my thoughts, I no longer see you as an enemy.”
“Even so. Because my eyes were blind, I allowed Streihait, Reine, and Gilfa to scheme and the country to be divided.”
Just moments ago, he had the demeanor befitting a Beast King, but now, standing before us, he is merely a man filled with anguish and regret. I hadn’t known until Sister Neige told me about his friendship with my father, but when I confirmed it with Mother, she admitted it was true. She also said that their relationship had become strained due to Streihait’s machinations, preventing them from trusting each other, and that Gumnos had been troubled by this for a long time.
“The country is not divided. It was certainly on the brink of being divided, but Valentia was saved precisely because you defeated Gilfa and cornered Streihait. It seems the Northern Baron has also been succeeded by his son, and I thought Valentia was secure.”
I was genuinely happy that Valentia had avoided the brink of destruction. Even if there was no place for me there.
“That’s why I decided to live as a Hunter without any regrets. And I have many co-wives, not just my husband.”
“Lord Yamato, an Ancient Human and a guest. This is my first time seeing you, but I have no intention of disparaging the person you have chosen. I offer my heartfelt blessings.”
“Thank you, His Majesty Gumnos.”
As I spoke my words of gratitude, I naturally knelt and offered a subject’s bow.
“What is this gesture?”
“Although I have been demoted, I am the daughter of Ternal Hydrangea and was the next Duke of Hydrangea. The Duke of Hydrangea family is a ducal family of Valentia, so offering a subject’s bow to His Majesty the Beast King is natural.”
“I see… Thank you, Primrose. And while I may be overstepping, do you have any intention of returning to the Hydrangea Duke’s Territory? Now that Ternal’s crimes have been cleared, your own crimes have also been erased. It is possible to re-establish the Hydrangea Duke’s family, which was demoted.”
“I am grateful for the offer, but I am currently a Hunter. My co-wives include the second and third princesses of Amister, the head of a Marquis family, and Queen Reine of Torencia is also expected to join. It would be nothing but trouble for such a person to become a lord.”
“As expected. Then, I shall fully restore Ternal’s honor in my name. Furthermore, the former Hydrangea Duke’s Territory will be incorporated into the Ovest Baronial territory. I am sure Neige will develop the former Hydrangea Duke’s Territory.”
“I am grateful for this exceptional consideration.”
I believe this exchange was a form of ritual for me and Gumnos, or rather, His Majesty Gumnos. As a former daughter of a Duke of Valentia, the Beast King’s family was my liege lord. The previous king was my uncle, and the king before that was my grandfather, so you could even say we were family. However, after my cousin Titus died in an accident, Streihait, consumed by ambition, took action, and Valentia, involving the ducal families, took on the appearance of a succession dispute. The Duke of Hydrangea family was caught up in this dispute, and I, who held succession rights to the throne, was disinherited, leading to my father’s execution. Thus, it was natural to view His Majesty Gumnos, who ascended the throne before me, as an enemy.
“Your Majesty, please let me ask one thing. I heard that Gilfa was defeated, but what happened to Streihait?”
“Streihait, you ask? I apologize, but we have lost all track of him. However, Valentia has him listed as a national traitor and has issued alerts to Amister, Valentia, and Alegria. It is unclear if Libertà, which by the time of the alert had already suffered considerable damage, has been notified.”
The only remaining issue is the whereabouts of Streihait Freihait, who is still on the run. I heard he escaped the subjugation force dispatched by His Majesty Gumnos and has been missing ever since. However, we immediately participated in the march to Solemne, so we didn’t know what happened afterward. Valentia also conducted extensive searches within the country, but they have not been found to this day, so it is likely he has already fled abroad. The world is vast, and even with Streihait’s connections, the possibilities are limited.
“If there’s a possibility, it would be Solemne or Libertà. Both are in a state of national turmoil, so there are plenty of opportunities to escape.”
“Indeed. However, both will be annexed by Amister following His Majesty Gumnos’ proposal, so they will be thoroughly tracked.”
Mana and Yamato, do you think the same? We cannot be simply optimistic, but they will undoubtedly be tracked. After all, he colluded with another country, Solemne, and nearly destroyed Valentia; he is nothing but a traitor. At a time when the Philia Continent is on the verge of unification, there is no way such a traitor can be left unattended, so Valentia’s Beast Knight Order will likely resume a large-scale search. Solemne may be difficult, but perhaps they will be dispatched to Libertà under the guise of reconstruction aid. However, in that case, there’s a chance I might find him, wouldn’t there?
“If I happen to discover Streihait, am I permitted to dispose of him?”
“You may. We have also informed the Beast Knight Order, which is carrying out the search, that it is a matter of life and death. Capturing him alive might require vigilance against escape, so there is no issue with disposing of him.”
His crime is treason, so even if he were captured, he could not avoid the death penalty. There might be information to glean, but with Solemne destroyed, it’s unclear if it’s even necessary. Rather than letting him escape and being burdened with potential trouble, it would be less troublesome in the long run to eliminate him on the spot once discovered.
“Thank you. If I discover Streihait and manage to dispose of him, I will surely report to Your Majesty.”
“Indeed, I shall keep that in mind. Also, I will return this to you.”
With that, His Majesty Gumnos produced a beautifully ornate sword from his storage. “Wha—this sword!” “This is the symbol of the Beast King, passed down through generations. You may not need it, but this is something you should possess.” “B-but I have no intention of succeeding the Beast King!” “I understand. Valentia as a nation will soon disappear. Royal authority of a disappearing nation holds no meaning. Therefore, should it not be returned to its rightful successor?” He’s giving me the Holy Sword, the symbol of royal authority? No, as the symbol of the Beast King, I cannot accept this. I tried to return it in a hurry, but His Majesty Gumnos had no intention of taking it back. “This sword, Holiness Breath, is a Holy Sword of Divine Metal prepared by Lord Shinichi Mibu at the founding of Valentia and blessed by His Majesty Pope Basion. As it has no particular magic imbued, it holds no meaning other than the King’s symbol. However, the first Beast King was also your ancestor, Primrose. Therefore, this sword should be held by you, his direct descendant.” If asked if I am a direct descendant, I believe I am the closest among the four ducal families, including the Hydrangea Duke’s family. Yes, even including my late uncle and cousins, I believe I am a direct descendant. The United Kingdom of Valentia will soon disappear, so is he returning the Holy Sword bestowed by Basion to me, a direct descendant of the first Beast King? “I have heard that Amister has developed the technology of alloys. Therefore, you will likely not need it, but you can keep it as a spare, melt it down for materials, or do as you please.” “But if you are a descendant of the first King, you should be as well. All ducal families are, without exception, blood relatives of the first King.” “My Basilus family has the thinnest bloodline of the first King among the four ducal families, including the Hydrangea family, so I have no right to possess this sword. However, Ternal was the eldest son of the previous King. Therefore, besides you, the direct descendant of the first King, there is no one worthy of this Holy Sword.” Indeed, my father was the eldest son, and he was supposed to succeed the throne as Beast King. However, my father gave up his succession rights to marry my mother, who was the daughter of the Baron of Ovest, and was allowed to establish a ducal family. For that, he was often reprimanded by my uncle, the previous Beast King. Come to think of it, the Beast Kings have always been succeeded by their legitimate sons since the first King, haven’t they? Therefore, I must be the only direct descendant, including my cousins, and that is why he is returning the Holy Sword Holiness Breath, the symbol of royal authority of a disappearing nation, to me. I want to hear the opinions of Yamato and everyone else, but this is something I must decide for myself. “Understood. I, Primrose Hydrangea Mikami, will take custody of the Holy Sword Holiness Breath. Although I am not even a lord, let alone one with succession rights, I will strive to be worthy of the first Beast King.” Kneeling again, I spoke my oath with the Holy Sword Holiness Breath in hand. I don’t believe all my lingering feelings have been resolved by this, but the emotions I held in my heart have become a little lighter. Still, I never expected to be handed over Holiness Breath. I don’t use swords, but as the Holy Sword bestowed by the first King from the first Pope, and as the symbol of Valentia’s royal authority, I can’t possibly melt it down. Like Yamato suggested indirectly, I suppose I can only display it in my room.
