Chapter 147: Orders
“Were you summoned as well, Lord? It was an emergency summons, but I wonder what it could be about?”
“I cannot say. Perhaps the southern tribal confederation has provoked another war?”
“Indeed…”
“An emergency summons is no ordinary matter.”
“I haven’t received any information myself…”
“I heard Pope Johannes visited the Royal Palace a few hours ago.”
“Surely not…”
The audience chamber was filled with many nobles. The lavishness of their attire varied. Likely, the heads of all noble houses who could be contacted were summoned.
“Margrave Baumgarten, it has been a while. Since then, I’ve enjoyed walking on my own feet so much that I find myself walking from my estate to the Royal Palace. I am truly grateful.”
“I’m glad I could be of service. You look very healthy. Your complexion is much brighter, and you seem to have improved considerably.”
I was speaking with a certain nobleman in the area where nobles of Marquis Altmeier’s faction had gathered. He was the noble whose leg I had healed previously. It seems this man was also a noble of the Altmeier faction.
“Margrave Baumgarten, do you have any information? Unfortunately, I have none to speak of… An emergency summons implies a matter of national importance. However, I can’t think of anything. I’m filled with nothing but unease.”
“I’m in much the same situation. I wonder what will be announced…”
Well, I actually have a good idea, though. The resurrection of the Evil God was probably prophesied.
The timing is quite different from the original game, but that’s most likely it.
After a while, the King’s entrance was announced, and the murmuring nobles instantly fell silent and knelt. As expected of well-disciplined heads of noble houses.
“Raise your heads. Be at ease. Everyone, thank you for gathering. I have summoned you all because a matter of great national importance has arisen.”
The King began to speak while still standing, without taking his seat. His expression was grim, convincing everyone that a problem threatening the very survival of the nation had indeed occurred.
“I will be direct. Pope Johannes has reported signs of the Evil God’s resurrection.”
“The Evil God!?”
“How could this be…”
“Surely, such a thing can’t be!?”
“Troublesome…”
Hearing the King’s words about the Evil God’s resurrection, the nobles understandably began to stir. For the people of this world, the threat of the Evil God is not mere mythology but a pressing issue. They are bestowed with mysterious powers called Gifts from the Goddess, and monsters, as servants of the Evil God, run rampant. The influence of gods was too great to dismiss it as mere myth.
“Silence! We must prepare for the Evil God’s resurrection. This is a war for the survival of humanity. Each of you, prepare for war. According to ancient texts, monsters grow stronger in conjunction with the Evil God’s resurrection. Be ever vigilant.”
So, it’s the Evil God’s resurrection, just as I predicted… I wish it hadn’t resurrected, but it’s probably too late to stop it now.
“I intend to solidify our future course of action with those I call next. First, Marquis Altmeier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Then, one after another, the names of nobles were called. They were likely gathering the faction leaders for a meeting.
And then, what is decided in the meeting will be relayed down through the factions, from top to bottom. Well, it’s probably like a communication network.
“That is all. The rest of you, prepare for war. From this moment, we are at war!”
“””””Yes, Your Majesty!”””””
As expected, or perhaps unexpectedly, my name wasn’t called. Well, I’m just a noble belonging to Marquis Altmeier’s faction. Besides, I have no knowledge of national-scale military affairs. It might be natural that I wasn’t called.
Now then, the King said to prepare for war, but my territory is already making preparations for war with the Evil God. What’s needed next is securing and training soldiers. Ah, and I also need to hasten the completion of our defensive facilities.
My territory is constructing its fortifications modeled after the Sōgamae (Total Encirclement) of the Hōjō clan from Japan’s Warring States period. It’s designed so that we can fight self-sufficiently for a while, even if we become isolated.
This is because if the Evil God resurrects, the Baumgarten Territory will become the very front line in the war against it. The Evil God resurrects in the undeveloped eastern region, as seen from the Kingdom.
What an awful place to have a territory. In the game, the eastern half of the Kingdom is overrun by an avalanche of monsters. It gets so bad that even the Royal Capital is on the verge of falling. It will be difficult for the Baumgarten Territory to survive such a situation. But, we must be prepared.
“Haa…”
In the game, this is just the beginning of the success story where the protagonist finally starts to stand out and gain recognition from everyone, but for a mob character like me, it’s nothing but a nuisance.
I don’t need glory. I don’t need honor. I just want to protect the Baumgarten Territory somehow. That’s all I have.
“Perhaps I should take Ria and the others to the church once. Their Gifts might evolve… Strengthening our main forces is essential…”
In this world, combat strength changes drastically depending on Gifts. It’s a world where ‘one warrior worth a thousand’ is a literal reality. I should strengthen those who can become assets before the Evil God resurrects.