Northern Region. Duchy of Lemea.
The Karun Mountain Range, which created a massive wall crossing between the Closed Sector and the duchy, is currently shrouded in darkness.
The darkness that formed the wall seemed intent on preventing entry and could not be pierced by simple force.
This darkness had no shape; it was composed solely of smoke.
“The family’s mages and alchemists have researched it, but we have not obtained any useful information to dispel the darkness.”
The effects of the darkness include mental disturbance and nightmares.
Though simple, the traps that exist within the darkness are exceptions to this effect.
“While we could resolve the mental disturbance and nightmares with magic, visibility is the issue. Even if we operate machines or light fires in the darkness, their light disappears.”
Simon, the head of the Lemea family, was struggling to eradicate the monsters coming from beyond the mountains due to this darkness.
The Karun Mountain Range, which is supposed to deal with the monsters crossing from the Closed Sector, was enveloped in darkness. Consequently, they had no choice but to confront the monsters at the duchy below the mountains, leading to damage to nearby villages as well.
Widening the defense perimeter caused the forces to be dispersed, increasing the damage to their soldiers.
“We’ve lost contact with the forward base set up to monitor the movements of the monsters. It’s practically fallen.”
Thus, a countermeasure is needed.
“Please, make a decision.”
Simon humbly knelt and showed respect to the woman.
“…”
Epherna gazed at the immense darkness enveloping the Karun Mountain Range.
According to Simon’s report, the darkness had been treated with a special magical process, and its effects were not significant.
However, the vast expanse of seemingly endless darkness was a major threat purely from a visual standpoint.
Epherna approached the darkness and scattered her mana like threads.
The smoke-like darkness could not resist the physical force of the mana threads, which discerned the magical formula inscribed within the darkness.
“It’s a structure that can’t be solved with just the Empire’s magic formula.”
“Indeed.”
“I can understand why the mages of the north haven’t found a proper solution. This is a shaman’s magical formula.”
The Empire’s magical formula and the shaman’s magical formula are similar yet different.
The Empire’s magical formula must be continually improved and refined, while shamans have adhered to traditional formulas passed down through the ages.
Because the fundamental meanings differ, it is naturally difficult for humans to grasp the shaman’s magic formulas.
“I have brought shaman mages with me. They are the most competent talents chosen by the Forest Elder. So, can you hold out for two more days?”
“Yes—!!”
But weren’t they brought for this very purpose?
Not humans, but shamans, the elite of the elite.
Among those she brought was even the master alchemist Belladriel.
Epherna began a meeting with the shaman mages to devise a plan to repel the darkness.
*****
A Month Ago.
Epherna determined there was no need to delay the extermination of the Evergreen.
She predicted when the heroes of the expeditionary force would all gather and set a departure date.
Soon, her coming of age ceremony would approach.
Epherna hurried to clear away anything that could become an obstacle before that.
Some may wonder if it wouldn’t be better to prepare slowly, even with the coming of age ceremony.
While one could argue that being cautious and conducting a more thorough operation is acceptable, Epherna had two additional reasons to hurry even without considering her coming of age.
First, there was the uncertainty of what threat the Second Prince, who had not yet awakened, might pose.
Epherna thought it very likely that the second prince was colluding with the Evergreen, so she wanted to act before he awoke.
The second reason, albeit a bit greedy, was to achieve as many accomplishments as possible before becoming an adult.
It was to ensure that when she ascended to the throne, there would be no one to cough in discontent, but rather to praise her.
Gathering the elites listed in the expeditionary force quickly, Epherna explained the missions they needed to accomplish over the course of a week and established a plan.
The guidelines for operations in the northern closed sector, where monsters were rampant, were led by Ern, who had temporarily assumed the role of supreme commander.
Ern was able to become the temporary supreme commander with the Empire’s strong support; however, the elite shamans, who were brought to the Empire, showed signs of discontent.
The person who diligently worked to resolve this was Meriel. Meriel was one of those dispatched to the Empire along with the elite shamans, and it was said that Achaz sent her as a mediator, having predicted this situation.
Though Meriel’s efforts would likely yield only temporary effects, it didn’t matter.
The operation they would undertake together was only once.
As time flowed, the day of the operation arrived.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
Ern, standing beside Epherna, spoke.
“What do you expect to happen if the one with the Summer Sun comes? Everyone else is in the imperial palace.”
To prepare for Evergreen seizing the essences of the new kings, Achaz and Temur had hidden them within the imperial palace.
Surrounding the imperial palace, Schneider led the 1st Corps, ensuring that not even an ant could infiltrate, with Darion, one of the seven heroes of the Empire, and Temur also present.
Considering the total strength, even the expeditionary force assembled to seize the Winter Blizzard surpassed it.
‘You went through all the trouble of concentrating your forces in the imperial palace.’
Epherna had indeed followed them here.
Although Bergamot had made excuses about the shortage of mages while recovering after childbirth, no one would be unaware of the burden she felt as the top authority.
“If you were coming, you should have brought Lord Darion with you.”
Even objectively, there were not enough troops to escort Epherna in this place.
I would soon have to enter the Northern Closed Sector, and the well-known, highly skilled elite soldiers would be away for several days on their missions.
In such circumstances, the remaining forces for her would be the northern Lemea duke and his warriors.
If Evergreen were to launch a surprise attack in this situation, I couldn’t even predict the outcome.
“By the way, who are you talking to right now?”
“…”
Valtean held out his palm in front of my face and waved it.
Having lost my focus, I sighed.
“Hah… No, it’s not that. Our princess is far too soft-hearted.”
“…The princess? Isn’t she bold?”
“Of course, she can be considered bold.”
“Then isn’t that a good thing?”
“It is good. I’m proud of her, too. But shouldn’t a ruler take care of their own safety? She knows she’s the most important person, yet she acts like this? What on earth is she thinking?”
“…”
Valtean blinked in surprise.
“Do you really not understand that?”
“…What?”
“You’ve been with the princess the longest, yet you still don’t know her? Who do you think she learned the most from over the past four years?”
“Are you suggesting it’s me?”
“Of course, you idiot! It’s because she resembles you! Don’t you see how much the princess has changed from the past?”
“Changed…?”
“Ah! You blind fool!”
Epherna has changed? Isn’t she the same as before?
If I had to pinpoint a few changes, I could, but the kind of change Valtean was referring to likely isn’t something so subtle.
“The princess used to see only you. You were her only protector, so it couldn’t be helped.”
“Right…?”
But why was that?
“Do you remember the princess back then? She had built a solid wall against everyone except for you. Even my wife found it difficult to become friends with her!”
Merien said that. If that’s true, it’s not something I could dismiss lightly just because Valtean was making a fuss.
“She only started to loosen up recently; in the past, she was no different from the second prince. The fact that you started to act like a person after the war is what made the princess change. Otherwise, she would have become like the current emperor!”
Thinking about it, that does seem plausible…
But why hadn’t I realized that until now?
While I was lost in thought, a voice called out.
“Mister.”
It was Epherna.
“I’ve almost finished assessing the darkness. I’ll be briefing the operation soon.”
Nodding and turning my body, Valtean whispered.
“Anyway, think carefully about why the princess could change like that.”
“Take care.”
Valtean, having already been declared retired, wouldn’t be entering the Closed Sector with us.
Though he had come to the north with the elite shamans at Merien’s request, his role was not to enter the Closed Sector to track Evergreen and seize the Winter Blizzard.
Valtean was assigned to guard Epherna.
Initially, I had considered handing this over to Lea, the commander of the Triaina Special Forces, but since she wasn’t present, it would be difficult to operate the Triaina Special Forces, leading to this decision.
“I hope nothing happens to the captain.”
