Chapter 120

Melissa Arendriks.

Though of common birth, she had risen to the rank of Royal Guard Captain through sheer ability.

Handpicked by the King himself, her skill was unquestionable, but her values posed a significant problem.

She was fiercely loyal to the King, who had taken her in when she was on the brink of starvation.

The problem was that her loyalty was excessive, bordering on fanatical.

Demanding loyalty to the Human King from other races, not just humans, naturally didn’t endear her to them.

The King, aware of this, usually kept Melissa away when meeting with other races.

Unfortunately, this time, he hadn’t managed to prevent her involvement.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the guests.”

“Captain Melissa? You greeted them personally?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

So, it wasn’t surprising that the King was taken aback when Melissa entered his office with the Royal Knights.

He clicked his tongue.

“Captain Melissa, I hope there weren’t any…misunderstandings.”

“I would never be disrespectful to Your Majesty’s guests.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but…”

“There was absolutely no incident.”

“Thank you for your service, Captain Melissa. You are dismissed.”

Melissa’s eyes narrowed at Hans’s casual tone, but the King, quickly noticing, dismissed her before things escalated.

She saluted and left.

“A truly loyal knight.”

“It seems she was a bit…overzealous. I apologize on her behalf.”

“No, it’s fine. It wasn’t anything to apologize for.”

From a human perspective, it was a strange sight.

Regardless of Hans’s ability and achievements, it was the King who had appointed him Commander of the Royal Knights.

Yet, the King seemed almost subservient to Hans.

But it was all a matter of appearances. The King remembered how Hans had initially refused the position. If Hans hadn’t accepted, the King’s plans would have crumbled. ṛ

He had no choice but to treat Hans with the utmost respect.

What about his pride as King?

He had abandoned it the day his predecessor died helplessly, having accomplished nothing.

‘I will not be an incompetent king like my predecessor. My name will be etched in history.’

His desire bordered on ambition. But it wasn’t driven by a desire to sacrifice others for his own gain.

He genuinely strived to govern wisely and revive his kingdom.

Indeed, under his rule, the Human Kingdom had held its ground on the front lines for thirty years. Even the canned food distributed to the people was something he had developed.

Moreover, Hans’s success in reviving the Royal Knights had significantly elevated the King’s standing.

He had secured treaties with the Beastmen and Dwarves, and even races they had rarely interacted with were now seeking them out.

All of this stemmed from the King’s foresight in recognizing Hans’s value and entrusting him with the task.

“So, you intend to launch another expedition?”

“Yes.”

“Are you confident of success?”

“Absolutely.”

“Tell me more.”

No matter how much he trusted Hans’s abilities, it didn’t mean blind faith. He would listen, and if it was plausible, he would act.

That was the King’s way.

The King listened attentively. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Leaving aside the basic information and strategy, maintaining the status quo was currently the most advantageous course of action.

The kingdom had secured numerous treaties and was on the cusp of unprecedented prosperity since the demon invasion.

Was there any reason to take such a risk? The answer was obviously no.

If the King’s goal had ended with the kingdom’s revival, this conversation wouldn’t have even begun.

However, his aim was to etch his name in history.

‘This is an opportunity to gain an advantage over the other races.’

Since the demon invasion, the people of the continent had only lost territory.

Instances of reclaiming land were few and far between, practically non-existent in the last hundred years.

If the Human Kingdom, in cooperation with the Royal Knights, were to succeed in an expedition?

The prestige aside, the achievement alone would give them leverage in negotiations with other races.

However, launching an expedition carried significant risks. Even excluding the manpower involved, the resources required were immense.

The first expedition had been funded by the Multi-Racial Alliance, mitigating the damage.

But if this expedition failed, the consequences for the kingdom would be catastrophic.

‘The people will be apprehensive. That’s only natural, given the failure of the first expedition.’

During the first expedition, the people had unwavering faith in the Royal Knights. But after their defeat, the atmosphere had shifted.

Despite his best efforts to control information, news of the Royal Knights’ devastating loss had spread. Despair and fear had gripped the people, driving them to extremes.

From those who turned to absurd religions to cope with their fear, to those who fought over dwindling resources, it had been a living hell.

But the King had managed to quell the unrest. It was thanks to Hans’s appointment as Commander of the Royal Knights.

While the position held little real power at the time…

Even a fallen giant cast a long shadow.

The fact that a human had become the Commander of the Royal Knights, once hailed as the continent’s only hope, had been enough to temporarily assuage the people’s anxieties.

But now, another expedition? The people would undoubtedly be uneasy.

If it failed, they would truly feel like they had nothing left to lose.

“I assume we needn’t discuss the resources and manpower required for the expedition.”

“Indeed.”

“Is there any benefit that outweighs such a risk?”

“Of course. For example… a royal treasure?”

“…I’m surprised. You know about the royal treasures.”

Royal treasures.

Powerful artifacts created by the first King of the Human Kingdom to protect his people.

Humans, once the dominant force on the continent, had fallen from grace due to the demon invasion.

Having held the largest territory, their fall was almost inevitable. The land they had lost was, for the most part, where humans had resided.

The first King had welcomed all the refugees. He had even sacrificed his life to create the royal treasures and repel the demon invasion.

But that was the extent of their glory.

‘As the demons intensified their attacks, the Human Kingdom lost much of its territory, and even the royal treasures were lost. In the end, only about thirty percent of our territory remained.’

“A tragic piece of history.”

“But you’re saying you know the location of one of these treasures?”

“Indeed. One of them is relatively close.”

Recovering a royal treasure was a significant advantage for the Human Kingdom.

Even if its power was only half of what legends claimed, it would give them the strength to surpass other races.

“Tell me more.”

For the first time, the King spoke with genuine interest.

The negotiations concluded successfully.

It was high risk, high reward, but the potential gains of reclaiming a royal treasure and expanding their territory outweighed the risks.

Moreover, they had Hans, the Commander who had proven his abilities time and again.

After careful consideration, the King accepted the proposal.

With the Human Kingdom’s support, the Royal Knights would embark on another expedition.

Their first target was two territories right on the kingdom’s border.

The key to this operation was Ares’ Bridge.

Calling it a bridge was generous, it was practically a fortress. Spanning the river and connecting the territories, it was the only path forward.

🚨 Important Notice 🚨

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Securing Ares’ Bridge was crucial for further expansion. It would serve as a forward operating base for the kingdom.

‘Not bad.’

Hans, leaving the King’s office, breathed a sigh of relief.

Adapting his knowledge of the original story to the current situation had been challenging, but he had managed.

With the expeditionary force secured, he felt one step closer to his goal.

Just then, a commotion caught his attention. It seemed something was happening at the training grounds.

Hans looked around.

Helia and Bayard were nowhere to be seen.

A wide grin spread across his face.

‘Just as I thought. They wouldn’t be the Royal Knights if they stayed quiet.’

‘You two again?’

[Translator Notes]

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