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Chapter 246: The Encounter with the Queen of the North
“Must we go today?”
“Yes, unfortunately. It’s quite frustrating… I have to wrap up the meeting quickly and leave immediately. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have pretended to be so agreeable yesterday. Was yesterday a good day for you?”
Choi Seulgi’s expression contorted with anger as she spoke. Even I would have been irritated if I were in her position, seeing her brows furrowed like that.
The unexpected arrival of a messenger from the east, calling for an emergency meeting, was the reason for Choi Seulgi’s frustration. As a result, an unplanned meeting had to take place, causing inconvenience not just to the North but also to the East. Although the meeting had not yet begun, Choi Seulgi already displayed her usual eloquence, but it was evident that her anger hadn’t subsided.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
“That useless Sword Saint Lady is of no help.”
The West and the South were causing unrest with their actions. That was the reason behind the emergency summons. From Choi Seulgi’s perspective, this might be classified information, but she casually mentioned the reason for the summons to me, demonstrating how much she trusted me.
“It’s truly frustrating. Really…”
I wanted to say, “Just wait one more day,” but naturally, I refrained from such naive remarks. I knew she would react that way.
Choi Seulgi could be considered the second-in-command in the North, and her influence was strong. It was inappropriate for someone of her position to be absent or late for a summons. Given her strong sense of responsibility, she would undoubtedly do her best to fulfill her duties. Fortunately, her teleportation ability provided some flexibility, which came in handy, as there were limits to her range of action.
“Do you think it will escalate soon?”
“Probably… the timing is less than ideal. The Queen of the East is reported to be pregnant…”
“Yes, for now, only we know about that.”
Stability was crucial. Both the Green Skins and the Queen of the North desired a war between the West and the South, but the timing was not favorable. Powerful figures like Chang Je-ri and the Queen of the North couldn’t directly join the frontline battle, placing a considerable burden on our side.
While contemplating various thoughts, Chang Je-ri entered the meeting room. She probably had matters to discuss with Choi Seulgi as well. Park Han-chul, who was now her right-hand man, also took his place, with a less-than-happy expression. Several other officials, including members of the Green Belt Clan, also revealed themselves.
Only a few individuals knew about the alliance between Gara and the Land of the Brothers. Revealing their partnership with the Green Skins was sensitive and could be used against Chang Je-ri by those who opposed her rule. Among those present, Park Han-chul was one of the few who knew about this alliance. Even I had not expected our relationship to develop in this way when he took my weapon. It seemed that had become a driving force, and recently, we had achieved quite a bit.
Casually, Chang Je-ri and Park Han-chul took their seats on one side of the meeting room, and Park Han-chul, her right-hand man, bowed his head and exchanged greetings with Choi Seulgi and me. Many familiar faces were there, and they seemed welcoming.
Chang Je-ri, with a composed expression, spoke as she glanced at us.
“Hmm… your expressions don’t look good.”
She seemed confident, speaking without paying much attention to her own situation, but it was also concerning. Even Park Han-chul was muttering to himself in bewilderment, and he was right.
The West was in no position to make such claims. If it had been the East of the past, then, of course, the situation would have been different, but the current West had deteriorated considerably. Only those in the West were unaware of this fact.
It was unbelievable, and I couldn’t find the words to express it. The officials of Gara also seemed bewildered by this reaction. Seeing that, Choi Seulgi spoke up again.
“The North is currently fortifying its defenses along the frontline. They are preparing for possible battles, but it’s challenging to face the forces of both the West and the South simultaneously. The South’s troops reaching the North so quickly is not reasonable. It’s as if they had planned this in advance and were one step ahead of us.”
“Indeed, the timing is strange. If the South’s troops were not waiting in the West in advance, it’s inexplicable how fast they arrived in the North. The time it takes for Eastern troops to reach the North is at least several months. With Choi Eun-joo’s help, we can move troops a little faster, but it’s still not enough.”
Choi Eun-joo’s teleportation ability had limitations on the number of people she could move at once. After a large-scale troop movement, there was also a penalty for using the ability for a certain period. Having a spatial teleportation ability had advantages in a fight, but it did not mean it was the answer to all battles.
Originally, the Spider Clan had operated as a small elite force for a reason. They were able to handle the Japanese because the numbers were manageable. The humans on this continent were by no means weak.
“So, how did the Queen of the North decide to respond?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but she seems to be considering abandoning the major city. More accurately, it would be the will of her subordinates rather than the Queen’s own intention. If it were me, I would recommend abandoning the major city as well.”
“I see.”
If what Choi Seulgi said was true, it was an extremely bold decision. They believed that as long as they maintained their forces, they could always reclaim the city at any time. From the enemies’ perspective, it was as if they were giving away one major city from the start, but it was much better than stubbornly defending and losing their forces.
Of course, the Queen of the North might also tremble with fear. It would probably be humiliating, similar to how the Green Skins were leaving their brethren’s land.
“There is a high possibility that they will lead all their forces and civilians to establish a temporary base. The smaller city closer to the East could probably become a forward operating base for future battles. Of course, it’s not yet a fully decided matter.”
“If your opinion aligns with the Queen’s will, it’s not a bad thing. We’ll support the Eastern forces as well to maintain the frontlines.”
Choi Seulgi nodded.
I may not be an expert in tactics, but in my humble opinion, this seems to be the best course of action.
Chang Je-ri nodded slightly, and Park Han-chul took out a large map in response to Chang Je-ri’s gesture. As soon as Chang Je-ri gestured, the map was split in half.
Seeing how the continent was now clearly divided between the Western and Eastern Alliances, it was impossible not to realize what Chang Je-ri was thinking.
“If the North abandons the castle, this would be the most ideal route to take. Perhaps the Sword Saint and the Southern King are also thinking along the same lines as us.”
The Western side would be taken by the Western Alliance,
while the Eastern side would be claimed by the Northeast Alliance.
“But it’s not just them who are prepared. Both the North and the East are ready.”
Although the battle had not yet begun, the atmosphere felt as if the war had already started. If the Northern Queen had truly noticed that the Sword Saint faction was eyeing the abandonment of the major city, they might also be thinking about dividing the continent from the beginning.
“Hmm…”
If the goal of the Sword Saint and the Southern King was merely to divide the continent in half, it occurred to me that the stalemate could last for quite some time.
Thinking of Chang Je-ri brought a smile to my face, but it seemed she wasn’t too keen on leaving her post. Her reaction was quite different from when she was with Mev.
“Even on the Eastern Front, we will push forward. I’ll show those arrogant bastards my true power. Striking first is to our advantage.”
“Your Majesty…”
Even at a glance, it was clear how taken aback Park Han-chul was. It wasn’t just him who was bewildered; I too looked at Chang Je-ri with a puzzled expression, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was pregnant.
I sighed and gazed at Chang Je-ri, and she met my eyes directly.
“Our child, and you, are strong. There’s no need to worry.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“W-What do you mean?”
The sudden bombshell declaration from Chang Je-ri left the officers seated beside her, including Gara, in a state of shock. Since the people here already knew that Chang Je-ri was a demon, they were well aware that our relationship was not ordinary. However, they didn’t expect news of her pregnancy. Everyone’s bewildered expressions were evident.
“………..”
Glancing at the surprised audience, Chang Je-ri subtly opened her mouth.
“Well… I forgot to mention it. The child in my womb is the future king. The child of Chang Je-ri and Blood Dagger sitting there. There’s no problem. It will be a good experience for this child, who will become the king of the continent someday.”
If it were the baby in my womb, they would never want such an experience. War might end quickly, but it could also drag on endlessly. Just imagining wielding a sickle in my pregnant state made me feel dizzy.
Amidst the shocking news, the officers of Gara were gaping, and I opened my mouth to address the Eastern greetings. Park Han-chul shot me a glare that seemed to say, “What have you done in this situation?” but I carefully avoided his gaze.
“You won’t be on the battlefield. For the sake of our child and you, it’s best for you to stay quietly in your position. Don’t ever ignore the advice of your subordinates.”
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