Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 367

The day after Torencia’s coronation, we arrived at the Principality of Alegria.

It was our first time in Alegria, and the reason for our visit this time was to attend the coronation ceremony.

Alegria is composed of four islands, with its capital city, Glacian, located on the largest island, Plazia.

Even though it’s the largest island, its area is only about 600 square kilometers, not much different from Awaji Island.

The smallest island is Enigma Island, which is home to the Treasure Tree and a labyrinth, with a total area of about 150 square kilometers.

Alegria’s environment varies slightly depending on the island.

Plazia Island, where the capital Glacian is located, is covered by forests for about a third of its area. The next largest island, Piedra Island, has several mines where raw gemstones, silver, and high-quality building stone can be excavated.

Lagoa Island, located a little further away, is a marshland with rice paddies managed by the Trader’s Guild.

Since only Piedra Island can quarry stone, almost all houses in Alegria are made of wood, while the royal castle and noble mansions are made of concrete.

Alegria, an island nation in the Nadal Sea, has a weak industry.

Silver is in demand, but the silver mines on Piedra Island only produce about 10% of Amister’s total output.

Nevertheless, it is a rather important export item because Liberà is just a short boat ride away. Therefore, the development of the silver mines on Piedra Island is receiving the most attention.

The rice harvested from the paddies on Lagoa Island has a different flavor from the rice of Amister and Valiente, making it another important export product. However, due to the island’s size, the harvest volume is not very large.

Plazia Island, with its forests, exports timber. However, Valiente’s timber is said to be of higher quality, making the advantage of importing from Alegria limited to cost reduction.

For this reason, or perhaps not, Alegria has established concrete production and export as its largest industry.

The concrete of Helios Orb is not made with cement like usual, but rather by mixing cement-like water with crushed ore using magic power.

This water is sourced from Lagoa Island, and the ore is naturally mined on Piedra Island.

Piedra Island has ample space for processing facilities, which are lined up and have truly made it a major industry in Alegria.

Furthermore, Alegria Concrete gains high strength by mixing powdered iron and silver with magic power, making it resistant even in tall structures like castles.

Although the manufacturing method is known in other countries, the water can only be obtained in Alegria, making it an important export product. Additionally, the mixture ratio of Alegria Concrete is a secret of the Ducal Royal Family, meaning concrete from other countries does not have the same high strength as Alegria’s.

This is why Alegria Concrete is used in structures like the White Demon Castle, Snow Demon Palace, Dragon King’s Castle, and Beast King Castle, as well as the bridge piers of the bridge city of Liberà, with transactions occurring regularly for repairs.

Although the topic of Alegria Concrete has come up, Alegria’s cityscape leaves a first impression of a large port town.

Perhaps because Alegria is an island nation floating in the Nadal Sea, the houses have a Japanese-style appearance, a mixture of Japanese and Western styles.

This is likely due to the high humidity.

The royal castle is built on a small hill, and there’s a small pond within its grounds.

Though small, it’s about 30 square meters, and on the bank of this pond stands the royal palace, which serves as the Ducal Royal Residence.

Being a short distance from Glacian, the royal castle and palace offer a good view of the Glacian cityscape, as well as the towns of Acquario and Rodpiece.

It is in this royal castle that the coronation ceremony will take place.

Following the coronation, the country’s name will change from Duchy to Beast Kingdom, and the capital will be called Beast Capital. Simultaneously, His Majesty Grace has announced her abdication.

As the country’s name changes to Beast Kingdom, the royal title will also change from Duke to Beast King. It has been repeatedly mentioned at international conferences that a daughter of the same generation as the Celestial Emperor, Phantom King, and Dragon King should ascend to the throne.

Indeed, from the third conference onwards, the first princess, who would be enthroned as the Beast King, accompanied her.

However, at the Celestial Emperor’s coronation, the first princess had not yet ascended the throne, so His Majesty Grace had no choice but to attend.

“From today, the Principality of Alegria shall henceforth be known as the Alegria Beast Kingdom and shall participate in the glorious Amister-Philias Federation Heavenly Empire, becoming a nation that will shoulder the future of the Philia Continent. Therefore, it is believed that the throne should be succeeded by the First Princess and Crown Prince, Glisina Alegria, and thus we proceed with this coronation ceremony.”

As His Majesty Grace placed the crown upon the head of the kneeling First Princess of Alegria, Glisina Alegria, she delivered her speech.

“From now on, I, Glisina, shall become the Beast King of the Alegria Beast Kingdom. Glisina, I entrust the rest to you.”

“Yes, Mother. From this moment on, I, Glisina Aura Alegria, as the Beast King, shall dedicate myself to working tirelessly not only for this country but also for the Philia Continent. I ask everyone to exert even greater efforts, not for my sake, but for the sake of the people and for the sake of all the inhabitants of this continent.”

His Majesty Glisina also stood up and stated her resolve.

Originally, the Ducal Royal Family of Alegria did not have middle names. However, as she was inheriting the throne of the Beast King of Valiente and would be listed among the Five Royal Families that admonish the Celestial Emperor, His Majesty Grace and His Majesty Reinhardt jointly devised them.

“New Beast King Glisina Aura Alegria, your resolve has been heard. With this scepter in hand, dedicate your strength for the people and for the Philia Continent.”

“I gratefully accept, Your Majesty the Celestial Emperor.”

His Majesty Reinhardt handed over the scepter, Reinard Plessa, which was crafted by combining lapis lazuli and a magic stone imbued with barrier magic.

His Majesty Glisina accepted it reverently, much like His Majesty Folias of Valiente and Hilde.

The Reinard Plessa handed over is a long staff, but like Carol’s Lapis Light Rod, it is a concealed weapon.

The blade is, of course, made of lapis lazuli, giving it excellent sharpness.

The magic stone is imbued not only with barrier magic but also with telekinetic magic, shielding, and several healing enchantments, making it highly defensive and healing.

However, since Extra Healing could not be imbued, it was reduced to Noble Healing.

The Beast King of Alegria, like the Phantom King of Torencia and the Dragon King of Valiente, is tasked with admonishing the Celestial Emperor, and thus possesses another authority.

This other authority is to be conferred by someone other than His Majesty Reinhardt or His Majesty Grace.

“New Beast King Glisina Aura Alegria, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on your enthronement and coronation. At the same time, I express my profound gratitude for you inheriting the throne of our country.”

Who might this person be? It is His Majesty Gumnos Basilious Valiente, the last Beast King of Valiente.

Valiente has already broken away and become independent, and his son Tigre Basilious has already been enthroned as the Beast Duke of the Blume Beast Duchy, becoming Tigre Basilious Blume. Therefore, he should be referred to as the former His Majesty.

The title of Beast King has existed since the founding of the United Kingdom of Valiente, but it is a title that is no longer used now that the United Kingdom of Valiente has disappeared.

His Majesty Gumnos, regretting this, approached Alegria, where a beast kin had ascended to the throne. His Majesty Grace accepted this, and the throne of Alegria changed from Duke to Beast King, and the country’s name was changed to Beast Kingdom.

Furthermore, as His Majesty Grace would succeed to the title of Beast King, she proposed that the granting of royal authority be entrusted to former His Majesty Gumnos.

Although former His Majesty Gumnos initially refused, he was pleaded with by the new king, His Majesty Glisina, and finally agreed, bringing with him the shield that symbolizes royal authority.

“Like the lion of this shield, I wish you to be a courageous and majestic king, watching over not only this country but also the Philia Continent. Therefore, this shield is named Lyon Crista.”

“I am grateful, Your Majesty Gumnos. I shall strive to be worthy of the name of Beast King that I inherit from you.”

Lyon Crista is a shield modeled after a lion. The lion was chosen because it is a species not found among beast kin, and because the lion is a top-tier monster in Helios Orb, comparable to dragons.

The Alegria Royal Family has traditionally been Ulfies, so a wolf could have been chosen. However, it is not guaranteed that Ulfies will always ascend to the throne in the future, and proof of this is that His Majesty Glisina’s sister is a Dragonewt.

Therefore, Alegria’s royal authority is symbolized by a lion, while the five countries of the Valiente region have royal authorities modeled after all six beast kin species.

The scepter Reinard Plessa is also designed with a lion holding a magic stone in its mouth.

After receiving Lyon Crista from former His Majesty Gumnos, His Majesty Glisina inserted Reinard Plessa, which she had received earlier, into a recess on the inside.

Since Reinard Plessa is a long staff, it cannot be worn at the hip like a single-hand straight sword.

However, it can be used as a sword in times of need, and it is designed to connect and lock with Lyon Crista.

It would look like a staff extending from the tip of the shield, but His Majesty Glisina drew out the blade of Reinard Plessa from this state.

The blade is slender, but its size is that of an ordinary single-hand straight sword, so it is long enough to be drawn even while wielding Lyon Crista.

“I shall renew my oaths with these two royal authorities. As the new Beast King, I pledge to serve this Alegria Beast Kingdom and the Amister-Philias Federation Heavenly Empire. However, I am a novice who has just ascended the throne. I will need everyone’s cooperation. I ask for your strength to carry on the will of His Majesty the Celestial Emperor, the former Duke, and the last Beast King!”

The moment His Majesty Glisina uttered these words, cheers erupted in the audience chamber.

Alegria has few nobles, so influential figures from each town and village were invited.

These individuals expressed their support for His Majesty Glisina, thus signifying consent.

“Thank you.”

After offering her thanks, His Majesty Glisina sheathed Reinard Plessa and took her seat on the throne.

“With this, my coronation ceremony has concluded. However, the system of Alegria will remain unchanged, except for some parts.”

The “some parts” that His Majesty Glisina referred to are the Beastar’s Guild.

The Beastar’s Guild, Father’s Guild, Dragoner’s Guild, and Soldier’s Guild operate on a six-month rotation, with either the Grand Master or the Associate Master stationed in Float.

Therefore, while the number of Associate Masters has been increased to two, if anything were to happen while the Grand Master is stationed in Float, the Associate Master would become the Guild’s leader and take command.

As a result, a clear hierarchy has been established for Associate Masters, and the Associate Master who can act as a proxy for the Grand Master has come to be called the Conform Master.

The headquarters of the Order’s Guild are in Float, so there are no Conform Masters there. However, they exist in the Father’s, Dragoner’s, Beastar’s, and Soldier’s Guilds. The current Associate Masters of the Father’s and Soldier’s Guilds have been appointed as Conform Masters.

In the recently launched Dragoner’s Guild, the newly appointed Conform Dragoner’s Master was a Royal Dragon Knight recommended by Freyus.

“The Ducal Knights have been integrated with the Valiente Beast Knights and jointly inaugurated as the new Beastar’s Guild. Although its headquarters will be in Float, its de facto main base will be in Glacian. It has already commenced operations not only in the Valiente region but also in our country. I would now like to introduce you all to its leaders: the Grand Beastar’s Master, the Conform Beastar’s Master, and the Associate Beastar’s Master.”

The Grand Beastar’s Master is Charlotte Igreine, a High Human and the commander of the Ducal Knights.

The Conform Beastar’s Master is Aldilee Georg Eichherzen, the commander of the Beast Knights.

The Associate Beastar’s Master is Tormann Bryar, formerly the Grand Order’s Master.

These three individuals are the top leaders of the Beastar’s Guild.

I later heard that Tormann was seconded to the Beastar’s Guild, which made Charlotte and Georg feel so intimidated that they tried to decline their appointments as Grand Beastar’s Master and Conform Beastar’s Master.

Regardless, with the Beastar’s Guild being introduced publicly for the first time, the audience chamber was once again filled with cheers.

This also marked the gathering of the top leadership of the knightly orders of Alegria, Amister, and Valiente, so it was naturally welcomed.

Finally, His Majesty Glisina also appointed the Crown Prince.

The appointed individual is His Majesty Glisina’s son, who is nine years old, His Highness David Alegria, who has become the First Prince.

The next Beast King will be a male monarch for Alegria in several generations.

However, the formal appointment as Crown Prince will not occur until His Highness David reaches adulthood. Therefore, this appointment is provisional. Still, it is a tradition for Alegria to name the successor upon abdication, so His Majesty Glisina followed this tradition.

The coronation ceremony concluded without any issues, and now a banquet is to be held.

We will also be attending, but frankly, it’s becoming difficult after consecutive days.

However, we couldn’t possibly voice any complaints here. Once we get through today, we’ll be done after tomorrow in Lichtenfels, so we won’t have to attend banquets for a while.

“You’re too soft, Yamato.”

“That’s right. We still have something important left.”

“Ah…”

It’s not that I had forgotten, but I had forgotten!

It had been postponed until now, but our wedding reception was still pending!

Moreover, Ed, Rex, Lucas, and Dart are all involved. His Majesty Reinhardt also just got married to Ciel, so it will likely be a joint reception.

And since Rex is involved, Lily Wish will undoubtedly participate, so perhaps Eisen and Wolf will also be added?

If that’s the case, then just the main parties alone will number nearly fifty people, so with invited guests, it’s likely to exceed five hundred?

No, it might even double to a thousand.

“We’ll have to carefully select the guests, you know. After all, both my brother and Rex will have to hold their receptions in Float.”

“Yamato, you too. In your case, you’ll have to hold one in Torencia as well.”

This is unavoidable now that I’m married to Hilde.

So, what should I do?

No, it’s not like it’s happening tomorrow or the day after. Considering the preparations, we should have at least a month.

By then, I have to come up with a solution!