Chapter 60

The next morning, Helian sat up in bed in one of the temporary lodgings, gazing out the virtual window.

With his arms crossed, he was deep in thought about the information he had obtained during the meeting with the Margrave.

"Leve. What do you think about the Margrave's response regarding the Blue Knight mentioned in the meeting?"

He asked Leve, who was sitting at a desk, sorting through documents. At the moment, she was the only subordinate present, having temporarily returned to her demon form. Gardy and Ceres were on separate missions and were not in the inn.

Before the battle with the Blue Knight, Helian might have thought, "I have to handle this on my own," or "If I don't solve it myself, no one will follow me," and would have completed all the deliberations and considerations on his own. However, Helian now knew that stubbornly insisting on this was a poor strategy. Therefore, he believed that at the very least, he should consult and exchange opinions with Leve, and thus he asked her the question.

Leve looked up from the documents in front of her, her amber eyes turning to Helian. After a moment of thought, she replied in a clear voice.

"I believe he was not lying. It seems the Margrave did not have any specific information about the Blue Knight."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because there was no reason to hide it. Assuming he knew about the Blue Knight, I can't think of any benefit in withholding that information from us. Additionally, according to Ceres and the others, Shion Gardiner and the guard knights were also taken aback by the manifestation of the transfer phenomenon. The claim that this was an unprecedented event seems to be true."

"…I see."

Leve's response matched Helian's own suspicions. After all, the Blue Knight was a myth-level threat, far surpassing the Margrave's strength, which was considered the pinnacle of human power. Even Leve, one of the Eight Great Legion Commanders of Alkymaira, had struggled against it. If the Margrave had known about such a monster in the city's labyrinth, he would have sealed it immediately, regardless of whether it would have been effective.

"There are also stories about knights who become undead due to strong grudges or resentments, but I don't think that applies here either."

"Agreed."

Even if the Blue Knight had harbored grudges or resentments, if such a creature had been born due to those reasons, the world would have been destroyed long ago. However, the Shield of Humanity, the border city of Seals, has remained intact for centuries. Based on the Margrave's comments, it seems that the strength of the knight in life influenced the outcome, but the Blue Knight does not seem to fit this description.

Furthermore, considering the state of the Blue Knight when they encountered it, it seems unlikely that it was freely roaming the labyrinth. It was bound with chains, and there was a thick layer of dust that suggested a long period of time had passed. From all the circumstantial evidence, it seems they were probably the first visitors in hundreds of years. At the very least, it had been sleeping deep in the labyrinth long before the Margrave was born.

"Moreover, it's also unlikely that it was just a wild monster. After all, even the First Legion Commander, you, was severely injured. You would have been killed for sure without using a Secret Art. It's clearly abnormal."

Thinking back, Helian realized that being transferred with Leve was a stroke of luck. If either of them had been transferred alone, they would have certainly died. Even if only Leve had been transferred, she would have been killed, as the Secret Art can only be activated with the king present. Considering that even with multiple layers of enhancement from the Secret Art, the victory was a close call, the chances of Leve surviving alone were extremely low.

"Perhaps it should be called a unique individual."

The Blue Knight was indeed a unique existence. Compared to the monsters and human forces they had encountered before, and the historical background, it stood out significantly. It needed to be evaluated as a separate category of potential threat, distinct from the conventional forces of this world.

"In any case, if even the Margrave, the lord of Seals, doesn't know, it's unlikely we can uncover its true identity through hearsay."

"Unfortunately, that's the case."

"Well, it's fine. This was something we had already suspected before the meeting. Just confirming this fact is a step forward. …However, there are other concerns that have arisen."

Helian sighed heavily from his bed.

"Of all things, black hair and black eyes being the characteristics of a hero…"

Honestly, he felt like he wanted to be spared. He had asked the question casually, but the Margrave's response was a shocking new fact.

"What do you think about this new information, which I hadn't even imagined?"

"Yes, the term 'valiant one' seems fitting for you, Lord Helian."

"……"

Helian felt that Leve's eyes were sparkling, but her response was not what he had hoped for. This new information was extremely inconvenient for him. Not only did the title of hero seem far from him, but he couldn't afford to take off his hood carelessly now.

After all, he was a hero, a symbol of a heroic lineage. It was no longer a matter of standing out; he had been hiding his black hair and black eyes to avoid unnecessary trouble, but now he would have to be even more careful. The honest truth was that he had one more troublesome issue to deal with.

(…Actually, I'm more of a demon king, if anything.)

He was currently the king leading the demon people. If asked whether he was a hero or a demon king, he would undoubtedly fall into the demon king category. In fact, some of the people in Lastwood had initially feared him as a demon king, though that misunderstanding had been cleared up.

Given this, his decision to keep Alkymaira hidden was a wise one. He felt like patting himself on the back for making such a good judgment.

After all, heroes are meant to defeat demon kings, and the Margrave's lineage is said to be descended from heroes. Helian had no intention of playing the role of a demon king, but if the existence of the demon kingdom were to be revealed, it would immediately lead to hostility. Given his desire to build a good relationship with the Margrave, he wanted to avoid that at all costs.

"One thing is certain. This makes it even more imperative that we keep Alkymaira hidden."

"Yes. However, if the Seventh and Sixth Legion Commanders proceed with the Lastwood plan as scheduled, it shouldn't affect our initial plans."

"Indeed. For the time being, I need to be a bit more cautious."

Despite the aftereffects of the Secret Art, he could still function as a healthy person for about five hours a day. He couldn't afford to indulge in bed rest just because he was feeling weak. Now that he had recovered to this extent, he needed to resume his duties as a leader, working alongside those who were sweating and toiling for him.

Incidentally, he didn't want to recall the first few days when he was completely incapacitated. Those days were the only time he had resented having a female caretaker. He didn't even want to think about the two days he was unconscious, as imagining it made him feel like he wanted to die.

"…Lord Helian?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

As he was deep in thought, Leve spoke up hesitantly. After a moment of hesitation, she seemed to gather her courage and spoke.

"Forgive me, but perhaps it would be better if you took command from the homeland. We can handle the field operations."

Leve's suggestion, with her ears and tail stiff with tension, made Helian cross his arms and think.

"…Are you suggesting that I should take command from a safe castle?"

Under the weight of his question, Leve's face broke into a sweat. A large drop of sweat rolled down her cheek and fell to the floor, creating a small stain. Despite the intense regret she felt, it was too late to take back her words. Moreover, her suggestion was a genuine concern and a heartfelt wish. She steeled herself and nodded in agreement.

In front of her, Helian, still recovering from the aftereffects of the Secret Art, responded with his arms crossed.

"I see. It's understandable that you would say such a thing given my current state… However, I must decline."

Helian continued, speaking with a solemn tone.

"Indeed, I am not in perfect condition. I have not yet fully recovered from the encounter with a myth-level threat. I acknowledge this as a fact. However, that is not a reason to retract the words I spoke in the audience chamber."

Before embarking on his journey to the human domain, Helian had announced his future plans to Leve and the others. He had said that he needed to demonstrate to the people that there was nothing to be worried about by leading by example.

Moreover, the reason he was revered as a king was not due to his strength or beliefs, but because of the 'achievements' he had accumulated by overcoming various hardships. While he had experienced many failures and defeats along the way, he had ultimately achieved victory and success. This was how he saw himself.

In this light, the recent incident could be seen as a stroke of luck. While the encounter itself was unfortunate, he had managed to defeat a myth-level threat early in his journey, demonstrating a new chapter in the story of the king to the people. This would be highly effective in maintaining the people's loyalty to King Helian.

While it might seem like he was caught in a divine prank, he needed to be resourceful to continue leading his people. After the recent incident, he had been reminding himself to stay positive and look at things in a positive light.

"Returning to the homeland over something like this would make me a laughingstock to the people who are working hard. If I were a citizen, I would be disappointed by a cowardly king."

"That… that's not true!"

"It's fine. I don't need a rebuttal. I'm just saying how I would feel. Besides—"

Helian met Leve's eyes and paused before continuing.

"I have reliable subordinates. Despite the lack of proper equipment and the unexpected battle, you protected me admirably. There's no reason for me to retreat to the castle."

Upon hearing this, Leve's wolf ears perked up, and after a few seconds, her silver tail began to wag vigorously, causing some of the documents to scatter on the floor.

…He had tried to sound cool, but her reaction was more than he had expected. He felt like he was starting to understand how to handle her.

"Anyway, that's the situation. The solo defeat of a myth-level threat is a significant achievement. The fact that the cost was this manageable is actually a stroke of luck. Therefore, you have no reason to feel guilty."

"…Ah."

A murmured response escaped Leve's lips. Helian could tell she had been worrying about it. A blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks.

(Even in the game, she rarely requested the activation of a Secret Art…)

The activation of a Secret Art can be requested by a subordinate, or the king can activate it proactively. In Leve's case, it was usually the latter. Even when she did request it, it was usually for low-cost abilities like "Blessing of the Crimson Moon." She had never requested the activation of her ultimate ability, even against strong enemies, unless in a dire situation.

Incidentally, some of the other Legion Commanders, like the Eighth Legion Commander, would casually request the activation of a Secret Art even in non-critical situations. When one of them requested the activation of a Secret Art that drained 70% of their vitality against an enemy that could be defeated by the regular forces, he had been quite exasperated.

"For the time being, I plan to return to the homeland to deal with the Lastwood issue, but until then, we will continue our activities in Seals as scheduled. Now that we have the ability to set up a 'Transfer Gate' and a property to hide it, we need to establish a foothold in a safe area to build our influence. Therefore, we will focus on establishing a base of operations in this city and solidify our position in the human domain. Understood?"

"…Yes, my lord."

Leve's cheeks returned to their normal color, and she respectfully acknowledged the order. She then looked curiously at the documents on the floor and began to gather them up.

As he watched her, Helian unlocked the virtual window with a mental command. The new display showed geographical information about the border city of Seals. The map of Seals, which had been made more detailed over several weeks of exploration by Gardy, was projected in front of him. As he gazed at it, he recalled a sense of déjà vu from the second day he arrived in the city.

(Indeed, this city… it's similar…)

In the center of the screen, a bird's-eye view of Seals, shaped like a long cross, was displayed. The southern part of the city, which faced the border region, was fortified with numerous defensive facilities and multiple layers of sturdy walls, giving it a fortress-like atmosphere. In contrast, the central district was well-organized and convenient. Zooming in on the main street running through the center of the city, a familiar streetscape came into view.

As he looked at the map, he thought of a certain great nation in World No. 3, called "Azumakoku," which had chosen Japan as its primitive civilization.

The king of Azumakoku was an American with a fondness for Japan, more knowledgeable about Japanese culture than many Japanese people. He had created the capital city based on Kyoto in the 16th century, and it bore a resemblance to parts of Seals.

In "Tactics Chronicle," the first city created often becomes the capital. However, the first city tends to become cluttered and expanded as technology and population grow, unlike cities planned from the start. In extreme cases, the map can become as distorted as Kowloon Walled City.

However, the king of Azumakoku had declared, "This is my Tensho-era city plan!" and embarked on a major urban redevelopment project. After demolishing many buildings, including those in the city center, he successfully redeveloped the area into a neat and beautiful streetscape, renaming the capital "True Kyoto" in the process, despite some economic impact.

(Considering this, there are also similarities in terms of military strength.)

The military structures of Alkymaira and Azumakoku, and indeed of the great nations in "Tactics Chronicle," differ from those of real-world armies.

First, there are a few exceptionally powerful monsters, led by the Legion Commanders. Below them, there are several dozen to several hundred monsters that are one or two ranks lower in strength. The rest are the regular forces, consisting of monsters that are three or more ranks lower.

Due to the experience point system, this structure often emerges naturally through regular development.

On the other hand, Seals has the Margrave as the absolute power, followed by a few elite adventurers and a select few knights. The regular forces consist of ordinary adventurers, mercenaries, and common knights, who form the bulk of the military.

Needless to say, there is an absolute gap in strength between Alkymaira and Seals. This is a simple fact. However, if Alkymaira were scaled down, it would share some similarities with the military structure of Seals.

This led to a hypothesis.

(Could the king of Azumakoku have been transferred to this world?)

However, this hypothesis had a significant problem. Seals has a history spanning several centuries, an undeniable fact. If the king had been transferred to this world, and if Seals had evolved from True Kyoto, he would have been transferred several centuries ago.

However, the very concept of being transferred to another world is an inexplicable phenomenon. It's not entirely surprising that there could be differences in the time periods of transfer.

Furthermore, if the Margrave's mention of the hero referred to the king, it would be interesting. The king of Azumakoku, who favored Japan, had black hair and black eyes. If the Gardiner family, said to be descended from the hero, were his—

"…No. That's too much of a stretch."

He muttered, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Everything was based on thin circumstantial evidence and assumptions. At this stage,