This time, all the nobles of the kingdom reacted with surprising speed and remarkable efficiency.
Because whether it was the pressure from the [Army-Breaking King] or the situation in the northeast that could no longer be ignored… both could immediately affect their status and interests.
So these nobles, who usually cared only for pleasure, rarely transformed into the gears and bearings driving the kingdom’s massive machine.
In just two weeks, not counting the troops in the East Capital and North Capital that didn’t need to move, nor the civilian laborers accompanying the army…
A full seventy thousand troops from various noble lords had already gathered.
Of course, what was proclaimed to the kingdom’s people was the “two hundred thousand strong army” of the nobles and royal family.
And before this gathered army set out, Count [Lansifude] of the North Capital and Marquis [Grosset] of the East Capital both needed to rush back to their territories first, organize their troops, and prepare to march with the royal army.
Of course, this war wasn’t just about soldiers heading to the front lines to fight.
As mentioned before, since the [Army-Breaking King] himself would personally appear on the front lines, the nobles couldn’t exactly cower in the rear either.
This not only prevented cunning nobles from sending only the old and weak to pad their numbers…
But also maximized their effort, forcing them to bring out the Transcendents they supported or kept as retainers and subordinates.
After all, personal safety was absolutely the top priority. Even if they wanted to go through the motions, they had to consider their own safety.
Keeping their strongest subordinates close, at critical moments… those Transcendents might prove more useful than a hundred thousand troops.
And besides the royal army and noble forces, the Holy See, as a member of the Human Kingdom, also sent its own contingent.
It was a Priest Team of six hundred people.
Officially, they claimed to be accompanying the army merely to spread their faith, but anyone with even a bit of access to higher-level information knew…
These six hundred people… were nearly all of the Holy See’s Transcendents in the Royal Capital and surrounding counties.
And the one leading the team was someone the royal family and nobles found both unexpected yet entirely reasonable.
An existence that made most Transcendents tremble at the mere mention of her name.
[Heretic Inquisition Captain] Bellelily.
During this period, a few incidents occurred…
Because of her fearsome reputation, some Transcendents in noble households had already promised their masters they would follow the army.
But upon hearing that the legendary “Flame of Divine Punishment” Bellelily would also be participating… many Transcendents fled in the middle of the night.
Only after the Holy See issued a statement declaring that during the Foreign Race war, and even for half a year afterward, they would not persecute wild Transcendents… did the matter finally settle down somewhat.
And now… aboard the carriage heading to the East Capital, Oz let out a long breath.
Finally able to escape that First Prince who was always making snide remarks in front of him…
But… ah~
Since the [Army-Breaking King] would personally fight in this war, he, as the crown prince who would one day inherit the title “Gilgamesh,” naturally had to go along as well, to show courage no less than the old king’s.
It would also pave the way for his own “path of kingship” in the future.
This prince was a clever man. Playing his petty schemes was one thing, but he just hoped that on the front lines… the man wouldn’t be foolish enough to create obstacles for him and his family.
At the thought, Oz’s eyes dimmed slightly.
“Big brother…” Just as Oz was deep in thought, his younger brother’s voice suddenly came from ahead.
Looking up, he saw Shire staring at him with a worried expression.
Somewhat disheveled hair, loosely hanging shirt, and those big eyes that looked pitifully endearing even without any particular emotion…
He had to admit, although this younger brother of his was a boy, for some reason he was more charming and alluring than girls his age.
If those young masters saw him… it would definitely set their hearts racing and faces blushing.
“What’s wrong with you?” Seeing the other’s worried expression, Oz softened his tone and asked.
“I heard them say… the front lines are under pressure lately, and the northeast has completely fallen. You think… Mother and little sister will be alright?”
Shire usually preferred staying cooped up at home, indifferent to worldly affairs.
This time, he’d only come out because his big brother and father had dragged him to the Royal Capital with the excuse that “a man needs to go out and experience the world.”
But… when it came to matters concerning his family… this second young master, who seemed indifferent to everything, couldn’t help but feel worried.
“Don’t worry. The reason the northeast of the kingdom was never incorporated into the East Capital or North Capital is precisely because the Green Ridge blocks it…”
Oz slowly shook his head.
“And even if those Foreign Races crossed the Green Ridge, the Crystal Capital’s position wouldn’t come under attack too early…”
He wasn’t just comforting his younger brother; it was the truth.
Although the northeast was being flattened with devastating momentum, humans who were prepared weren’t that fragile.
Especially the East Capital and Crystal Capital, which their father had managed for so long…
“Alright…” Hearing his big brother’s analysis, Shire slowly nodded.
Although his heart still felt strangely hollow for some reason, perhaps… it really was just him worrying too much.
…
As for the situation back in the Royal Capital, the Marquis Castle hadn’t received the news right away.
Everyone was still busy with their own tasks.
But today… Ileya noticed something unusual about one person.
That was the catgirl they’d brought from Gilliris to the Crystal Capital, Mierpasi.
Previously, because demi-humans were rare in the Crystal Capital, the way passersby looked at Mierpasi made the catgirl feel uncomfortable.
After hiding in the Marquis Castle for a few days, the girl was finally dragged out by Holly, who had been worried about her all along, to “patrol the streets” with the Young Lady.
With a demi-human maid following behind the Young Lady, she didn’t stand out as much.
And the current street patrol was basically the same as walking a dog before… except that after so many acts of “standing up for justice,” Ileya had managed to leave an impression on some of the bolder commoners’ hearts.
The biggest change was that some people no longer deliberately avoided the Young Lady.
Especially some snack vendors, who would smile and greet her whenever they saw that little maid with black hair and a single white lock in her bangs following the Young Lady.
Because that little maid was quite the eater, always patronizing their shops.
Pat! Clatter…
Just walking normally, head bowed normally, and another pouch of coins appeared in Mierpasi’s hands.
That’s right, another one!
Walking down three streets this time, the catgirl had bowed her head seven times total, picking up five gold coins, eleven gemstone rings, and one silver necklace.
The frequency of this was bizarre.
Ileya frowned deeply.
In the time since she’d returned, she’d come strolling down the streets almost every day, and she hadn’t picked up a single copper coin!
Was this girl… a lucky cat?!
Everyone else, even Mierpasi herself, was bewildered.
“Maybe it’s because I used to be in the City Guard, so I pay more attention to things on the ground…”
That was her explanation.
And from her words, Ileya drew a conclusion.
“Did you… always pick up things like this before too?”
“Mhm… but not this frequently. About… on a day of patrolling, I’d find two or three items… maybe?”
Seeing the people around her staring as if she were some kind of monster, Mierpasi unconsciously blinked, and her cat tail began swishing nervously behind her.
“Is… there a problem?”
There was a problem! A big problem…
While everyone was still stunned, Holly had already walked up to the catgirl, pressed her palms together, and bowed three times!
“Bless me with riches~”
“Meow?”
And according to Ileya’s understanding…
This girl was originally supposed to be Franlot’s Destined Companion, but her power wasn’t strong.
Besides being a demi-human and very cute… there wasn’t anything particularly special about her.
But a “Fated One’s” Destined Companion, and the first Destined Companion at that… how could she possibly be ordinary?
Perhaps… “lucky” was the physique or… aura she possessed?
This aura could even “accumulate,” like how this girl hadn’t gone out for over ten days, and suddenly today she goes out and starts crazily picking up money.
If that was the case… maybe “lucky” wasn’t quite the right word. It should be called fortune… or even destiny itself, to be more accurate?
Originally, this fortune should have been brought to Franlot.
But now… it was all being given to her instead.
She wondered what kind of expression that kid would have when he found out about this~
At the thought, the Young Lady unconsciously curled her lips and patted the catgirl’s head beside her.
“Meow~?”
And the texture felt so nice too…
“Youuung Laaady~”
Just as Ileya was privately reveling in satisfaction, she heard a familiar call from beside her.
Turning her head, she saw the Hive’s [Queen Bee] lady, dressed in an elegant long gown, running toward her.
Three meters… two meters! Now!
“Oh dear~” The little green tea expertly tripped her left foot over her right, executing a flawless, undetectable flat fall, lunging straight into Ileya’s arms!
Whoosh!
But the next second, someone grabbed her by the back of the collar!
“Ah?!” Her temple veins bulged instantly, and she turned her eyes with a rather “kind” look toward the certain mute girl who was holding her up, preventing her from falling.
“Th… thanks…”
Reliel gave no response, merely nodding before releasing her hand once the other was steady.
Damn it!! You little mercenary…
A soft, charming smile stayed on her face, but Jenny’s heart was grinding her teeth, wishing she could erase this meddling little mercenary from existence right now!
“Are you alright?”
“Of course I’m fine!” Hearing Ileya’s concern, the little green tea’s mood brightened again, her eyes becoming three shades more clear than just moments ago.
“Oh right~ Young Lady, the task you arranged is just about done!”
What Jenny referred to was the matter Ileya had arranged for the Hive to rush-harvest grain.
Following Jenny’s instructions, the Hive members went beyond the villages and towns around the Crystal Capital, deliberately pushing further northeast.
Sure enough, the further they went, the more desolate the scenes became, but the more grain they were able to obtain…
“However…” Speaking of this, Jenny’s expression shifted from a light smile to gradually turning serious.
“Our people, near the Green Ridge mountains in the northeast… discovered traces of Foreign Races, and even found holes in a village halfway up the Green Ridge that looked like they were dug by Wyverns…”
Which meant… the Foreign Races were about to cross the Green Ridge mountains.
And out there now, towns without walls… were the truly unsafe ones… huh?
Ileya frowned slightly, lifting her head… looking at the streets that seemed normal on the surface, but were noticeably more crowded than usual.
She hadn’t felt anything before, but now… there was an ominous sense of a storm brewing.
“Phew… we’ll have to face it eventually.” The Young Lady let out a deep breath.
“Jenny… organize the collected grain. Don’t worry about taste, trade it for black bread with long shelf life, cheap and filling.”
In this situation, whether or not the army arrived in time, food would become a hot commodity.
Refugees would keep flooding into the city, and at the same time, rumors that the Foreign Races might have already entered the East Capital would spread…
That was unavoidable.
And when that happened, even if they had food, these refugees with nothing to rely on and no sense of security would do irrational things. Civil unrest… might become the main theme of the Crystal Capital.
At that point… those humble black breads would be the vital items for her and the Marquis Castle to stabilize the city’s situation.
Whether for guarding the common folk or for these refugees…
Food… would be the bargaining chip that gave them more peace of mind than gold and silver.