Dungeon Defense (WN)

Chapter 187: Path of Pilgrimage (2)

Chapter 187: Path of Pilgrimage (2)

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How could it be possible for a certain country to never receive the resentment of another nation?

How could it be possible for a certain country to have never despised another country’s emperor, aristocrats, or even their people? Favor and spite are not new concepts on a continent where several nations were already tearing each other apart.

The Empire of Frankia and the Kingdom of Brittany did not simply hold grudges against one another. They had built up a history of resentment which resulted in them becoming bitter enemies. Whenever Frankia got in a fight with another country, Brittany would always be scheming a war behind them. Frankia despised Brittany.

Therefore.

“Look at this, Saintess Jacqueline. The Emperor sent me a love letter.”

The Queen of Brittany, Henrietta, could only laugh.

She burst out into laughter as she read the letter from on top of her horse. Her hair which was as red as blood fluttered. As the queen, she was very honest about her emotions, and her vassals considered this to be one of Henrietta’s charm points.

“Oh? That is interesting.”

Jacqueline Longwy, a saintess of the Goddess Athena, received the letter.

“Let this humble one read the love letter of His Excellency the Emperor…….”

The Saintess read the letter out loud while fiddling with her splendidly curled side bangs. In other words, Saintess Jacqueline was impertinently holding a letter sent by the emperor of an empire with her left hand and reading it out loud. There were twelve high-ranking nobles around her, but no one pointed out the Saintess’ rude behavior.

“O Queen! Recently, while outrageous hooligans have been starting riots throughout my empire and your kingdom……. Oh dear. Outrageous hooligans, is it? Fufu, a certain someone would be quite sad if they heard this.”

“Hahaha!”

People laughed. The person who the Emperor of Frankia was referring to as an outrageous hooligan was none other than his own mother. Even though this was an official letter with a diplomatic purpose, it was actually riddled with slander.

Saintess Jacqueline cleared her throat before she continued reading.

“……throughout my empire and your kingdom, you once sent me a letter. At that time, you firmly took my side. Even though the hooligans went on about all sorts of causes, in the end, not only were these hooligans undermining my vassals and my royal authority, but they were stealing from my wealth and using it as their own.”

The Emperor’s tone made his opinion about republicans as clear as day. In short, republicans were absolutely useless when it came to strengthening his power and were nothing more than thugs who stole from the empire’s funds.

“Now that these hooligans are showing their true faces as they try to take over the empire, this is truly comparable to a hedgehog stealing from a cave of snakes or a robber acting like the owner of the house they are robbing from. I look around and all I see are rebels and disloyal subjects. This has added a shadow to my already dark mind.”

“Hmm, His Majesty the Emperor is definitely not a literary person.”

Queen Henrietta snickered. Saintess Jacqueline nodded her head. The two women were childhood friends and would occasionally put their status and duties aside to have fun with men. They’ve probably gone through more than 400 love letters now.

“……Therefore, you and I are the only friends underneath the sky. Although it is said that the Goddesses have made my empire and your kingdom rivals throughout history, how could the heavens possibly go against us finally coming together to cooperate? I hope for a helping hand from my friend…….”

Saintess Jacqueline tossed the letter.

Queen Henrietta grabbed it out of the air and put it away. She steered her horse around. There was a total of 12 high-ranking nobles wearing light armor around the queen. In terms of ramparts, this was like the inner city.

Around those nobles were the knights under their command. The knights were holding tall spears with the respective banners of each household flapping valiantly in the wind at the ends of their spears. This was the Queen’s second rampart.

Around those knights, spread across a vast plain?were approximately 10,000 soldiers. They were following their general’s order and standing in perfect formation. As the Queen’s third rampart, this was the outer city that was capable of mercilessly destroying any external threat.

“Sons and daughters of Brittany!”

Queen Henrietta de Brittany looked down at the three ramparts. The mages that had been waiting beforehand were prepared to amplify the queen’s voice. Henrietta’s powerful voice echoed far throughout the plains.

“Today we will be entering the empire. Not as invaders, pillagers, or even traitors. Here is a letter from the leader of Frankia who has approved of our march!”

The scarlet-haired queen raised her hand firmly.

“There is nothing under the sky that can stand in your way. Your occasional hesitation will release your rough hands. Temptation will discourage your powerful cries. Nonetheless, sons and daughters of Brittany! I, Henrietta, guarantee that you are justice! Devastate the enemy without any hesitation. Do not allow yourself to fall into temptation and listen to your commander’s every order. The only thing we require is unity! Brittany?unite!”

The soldiers responded to their beautiful and powerful queen with their cheer.

Henrietta de Brittany had to cooperate with numerous nobles for the sake of ascending the throne. However, she brought her blade down upon the nobles who refused to cooperate with her.

A significant proportion of the 10,000 soldiers had personally witnessed how merciless the Queen was when it came to stamping out her enemies. There were some soldiers who believed that Henrietta was the living embodiment of the Goddess of War. They respected the queen with burning red hair.

“Unite! Unite!”

“Glory to Brittany!”

“Glory to Her Highness the Queen?!”

There was no need to say anything more. 

Henrietta de Brittany steered her horse back around.

Clack, Henrietta’s warhorse had taken a step forward. The Queen had crossed the border between the Kingdom of Brittany and the Empire of Frankia. There was no line drawn on the ground, but the Queen had definitely stepped into the empire. Everyone was aware of this.

Soon after, the twelve high-ranking nobles, the knights, and then thousands of soldiers crossed the border. Saintess Jacqueline Longwy sang.

“Aah?.”

A beautiful melody flowed out from the saintess’ lips. It was sacred and elegant, but also upright. It had the air of a female warrior.

The song to the Goddess Athena was also their anthem. The power of magic was borrowed as the singing resonated above the heads of every soldier. The Goddess was blessing them…….

The royal army of Brittany with a total of 9,000 soldiers.

Advanced under Henrietta de Brittany’s leadership.

* * *

I immediately went to sleep as soon as I returned from my long battle of wits with Leraje.

It seems I was a lot more tired than I thought. I ended up taking a nap. I was alone in the carriage by the time I opened my eyes. No one had woken me up. Were they being considerate……?

New information had arrived as I awkwardly exited the carriage.

“The royal army of Brittany has crossed the border.”

Jacquerie reported with an incredibly serious look on his face that approximately 10,000 Breton soldiers had begun their march.

“It seems a saintess has also joined their ranks. Jacqueline Longwy, a worshipper of Athena.”

“She is not a normal saintess to get involved in such a political mire…….”

Saintess Longwy appeared as an enemy in <Dungeon Attack>. It was obvious since the nation the hero belonged to, the Empire of Habsburg, fought against Brittany. It was already difficult to deal with Laura’s forces, but Saintess Longwy would also cast buffs constantly and make it even more annoying.

She would use her healing magic to restore the enemy units I had desperately struggled to bring to the brink of death……. Healer units are always the number one target to tear apart first in RPGs. It wasn’t very different here either. No, I’m certain that she’ll be an even bigger nuisance here.

“Hoo.”

I rubbed my face with my palm. I was able to rub away a bit of my drowsiness with this.

“They are basically shouting to the world that they have a just cause by having a saintess move with them.”

“According to the information I received, the Emperor of Frankia personally sent them a letter.”

“What a fool. What kind of emperor would voluntarily call for his enemy?”

He only had to acknowledge the republic. The Emperor’s pride was bringing the downfall of a great nation.

I smirked as I drank some vinegar water that was contained in a leather canteen. 

“Even if he manages to overwhelm the republicans by borrowing the strength of Brittany, what would he be gaining? His authority would be established after having relied on a foreign power. No one would genuinely respect him. The Emperor is wringing his own neck…….”

To make matters worse, the person who was protecting the republicans was the Empress Dowager, his mother. Not only was he ruining his own country, but he was also committing an immoral sin. As expected of an emperor, his buy-one-get-one-free ability is on a different level. In any case, the emperor’s name will be recorded in the history books as a narrow-minded and foolish king.

“As we discussed beforehand, we will be going on a pilgrimage to the northern region of Frankia.”

“Understood.”

Queen Henrietta most likely does not want the war to get prolonged.

She probably wants to reap all of the benefits she can get before slipping out slyly. If the royalists win and the republicans fall, then as a reward for their efforts, they could take a portion of Frankia’s land. This could easily be Queen Henrietta’s aim.

Nonetheless, even if she can enter however she pleases, she won’t be able to do the same when leaving……. I intend to turn Frankia into a mire. Let us roll in the mud together, Henrietta de Brittany.

“Also, Your Highness, he isn’t normal.”

“Who isn’t?”

“The boy Your Highness left in my care.”

Ah, I forgot about Luke.

I had been too focused on the matter with Leraje. I was probably still feeling a little sleepy. I shook my head in order to chase away any bit of drowsiness that still remained. This probably wasn’t going to help, but it’s the thought that matters. I had to slowly take care of Brittany, the civil war, and the hero one at a time.

“What is Luke doing right now?”

“My subordinates are teaching him swordsmanship right now.”

“Hm.”

I stroked my cheek.

“Jacquerie, boys are usually overflowing with libido at eleven years old, right?”

“Pardon me?”

Jacquerie blinked in surprise.

“……Of course. Even oak trees will look like female bodies to him.”

“Very well, then. Call Jeremi here.”

Jeremi arrived at my carriage shortly after Jacquerie left. Daisy was right next to her. Ever since they adopted a teacher-disciple relationship, Daisy had become Jeremi’s attendant. Daisy was looking at me impassively. I’m curious to see how long she can keep that up.

Jeremi spoke.

“Your Highness, I heard that you called for me.”

“Indeed, I did. Proceed with the plan I told you yesterday.”

“Oh dear, Your Highness is being hasty.”

She smiled widely. It probably wasn’t my imagination when I felt something sinister in that bright smile of hers.

“Then I should take my leave now. Should I carry it out today?”

“Naturally. Tell Jacquerie that this is my order and do whatever you want.”

“Fufu, it seems I will be able to invigorate myself for the first time in a while thanks to Your Highness.”

Jeremi turned away with a laugh. Once Daisy turned around to follow her teacher, Jeremi waved her hand at her.

“Ah, you don’t have to follow me. Stick with His Highness for today. He is going to need you.”

“……Understood.”

Daisy furrowed her brows a bit, but she must’ve taken it as an order as she nodded her head obediently. Daisy and I were the only ones remaining once Jeremi left with light steps.

I stroked Daisy’s head. Slowly. As if I were basking in the sensation of her hair. Daisy made her expression look even more emotionless since she probably thought that I would be pleased to see her react even slightly. What a disappointing child.

“I told you that I would not forgive you, right?”

“…….”

“Just wait. Something rather interesting is going to happen.”

I smiled gently.

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TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. Nothing much to say this time around. Summer heat is still a pain. This really is the longest heatwave ever. Climate change is cool. 

Uh, in any case, I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.