Chapter 129
Hearing those words brought hope back into Alicia’s heart.
Alicia lifted her head, which had been lowered in despair, and looked at Yuna.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I was nothing but a fragile healer myself, yet here I am as the leader of the Balhut Cult.”
When Yuna first awakened, she was nothing more than an ordinary Awakener with some potential.
Through her contract with Bahamut, she was able to change her fate as a weak girl, and now she stood here as the leader of the Balhut Cult.
That was why she told Alicia it was too early to despair over something so minor.
‘She’s not wrong. Although this wasn’t my original intention, it’s true that Yuna has achieved great success.’
Bahamut silently nodded in agreement, acknowledging the validity of Yuna’s words.
“Then? Can I really win? Against that monster?”
“Yes, of course you can. But instead of thinking about ways to defeat the Lord Protector, you need to focus on honing your abilities first. Even with the power of the Priestess of the Dragon, an Awakener who has reached level 20 possesses superhuman strength.”
Alicia certainly had the potential to win.
By gaining the class of Priestess of the Dragon early, she had already reached a level far beyond that of ordinary Awakeners.
Although she was only level 1 now, her level would increase as she hunted monsters, and as her level rose, her means of winning would also expand.
However, Yuna warned her that the Lord Protector, having reached level 20, truly embodied the title of a superhuman and should not be underestimated.
“How strong are they?”
“Even if 100 Awakeners who haven’t reached level 20 were to fight, they wouldn’t be able to defeat one superhuman. That is, assuming everyone is equipped with equal gear. Of course, if the 100 strategized well, they might have a chance. But usually, even with a solid plan, the superhuman would still win.”
Yuna explained that under equal conditions, a single level 20 superhuman could defeat 100 lower-leveled Awakeners.
For example, Jina Ahn’s feats on the Ulsan Front far surpassed ordinary Awakeners, and she was even praised for single-handedly dominating the battlefield.
The Lord Protector, being a level 20 superhuman, was on par with Jina Ahn.
Naturally, anyone challenging them would need proper preparation.
“But while most Awakeners need to reach level 20 to gain their advanced class, we already start with ours. That advantage, combined with the potential of this class, is immense—so much so that even I, a Priestess of the Dragon, find it hard to imagine its limits.”
Alicia, unlike ordinary Awakeners, had already gained her advanced class from the beginning, giving her a massive advantage.
The sheer merit of this was beyond even Yuna’s comprehension, who herself was a Priestess of the Dragon.
“So, if I train properly, I’ll have the strength to defeat the Lord Protector on my own?”
“Yes, though talent in combat is necessary. But since the Dragon God has agreed to the contract, you must have some talent.”
As Yuna comforted Alicia,
“By the way, you haven’t tried to stop the contract. At first, I thought you were someone watching over the Queen, but it seems you’re not with the Lord Protector.”
Bahamut, who had been silently observing, turned his gaze to the maid who had remained quiet the entire time.
From the moment she arrived, the maid had been by Alicia’s side, assisting her without a word of protest and agreeing with her decisions.
Initially, Bahamut had assumed the maid was a monitor sent by the Lord Protector due to Alicia’s status.
But if that were the case, the maid would have attempted to prevent the contract with Bahamut, which was unfavorable to the Lord Protector.
Therefore, Bahamut concluded she was not aligned with the Lord Protector.
“I serve only the royal family. Unfortunately, the Lord Protector is not my master.”
The maid was a loyalist to the monarchy.
Specifically, she served the British royal family, openly declaring that the Lord Protector was not her master.
It was possible she was lying, but if that were the case, she would have tried to interfere with Alicia’s actions before the contract was formed.
Thus, Bahamut judged her to be truthful in her claim of loyalty to the monarchy.
“I see. So, your Queen has now formed a contract with me. But isn’t the official religion of this country Anglicanism? I am, after all, a god of a foreign faith.”
“I believe this contract might be the only way to save the royal family.”
“Then, are you one of the key players behind this contract?”
When Bahamut asked if she was one of the instigators behind the contract, she admitted that she saw the contract as a means to save the royal family.
She was, indeed, one of the driving forces behind it.
Of course…
‘There’s no way a child as young as Alicia could have independently decided to form a contract with me. Someone must have advised her.’
Bahamut thought it unlikely that Alicia had reached this point entirely on her own.
Looking at Alicia now, she was very young.
While she had the will to act decisively, her knowledge was still limited.
In such a situation, it was natural for her to rely on someone she trusted, and among her trusted people, the maid seemed the most fitting.
“Yes. Through my connection with Anna, I learned of you, Bahamut, and facilitated Alicia’s meeting with you.”
The maid confirmed that her words were true, revealing that she had obtained information about Bahamut through Steven’s assistant, Anna, which she used as the foundation for orchestrating this contract.
“This was the only chance for Lady Alicia to gain the strength to protect herself.”
It was clear that the Queen having the power to protect herself would be an unwelcome development for the Lord Protector’s cabinet.
From the perspective of the Lord Protector, who had failed in his attempt to seize the throne, the Queen, seated upon the throne, was an obstacle that needed to be removed.
Considering he had failed when she was powerless, it was easy to predict how much of a challenge it would be now that she had gained strength.
Thus, the Lord Protector’s faction had blocked every opportunity for the Queen to awaken as an Awakener.
Despite being the head of state, the Queen had remained an ordinary human without awakening until now.
From the maid’s perspective, for the Queen to survive the Lord Protector’s threats, it was essential for her to awaken as an Awakener.
The result of this determination, pursued by any means necessary, was this contract.
“We were truly fortunate. The Lord Protector’s reckless insistence on restoring the reputation of his regime through the International Organization Reconstruction Conference created this opening.”
This led to the contract with Bahamut, allowing Alicia to become the Priestess of the Dragon.
Coincidentally, there was news that the Dragon God Bahamut would be visiting Britain in person.
Amid preparations for the International Organization Reconstruction Conference and the arrival of numerous heads of state, the Lord Protector’s cabinet was preoccupied, creating an opportunity for swift action.
Normally, even a minor movement by the Queen would be monitored with great vigilance by the Lord Protector’s faction, who would forcibly demand to accompany her.
But today, the Lord Protector’s personnel were fully occupied with conference preparations, leaving them short-staffed.
‘The discord between the Lord Protector’s cabinet and the United States played right into our hands.’
With the cooperation of the United States, it became possible to arrange a meeting between the Queen and Bahamut.
The United States responded appropriately to the request, ensuring the maid’s plan succeeded.
“This was the extent of my plan. If Bahamut had not accepted the contract with Her Majesty, I had even considered capturing a monster from the outskirts during the reconstruction conference and having Her Majesty hunt it.”
“That sounds like a high-risk plan.”
This moment was indeed the perfect opportunity for the Queen to gain the strength to protect herself.
Though the plan had succeeded, enabling the Queen to contract with Bahamut and awaken, the likelihood of failure had been extraordinarily high.
“Yes, but if not now, when? If sacrificing my life could protect Her Majesty, it would be a price worth paying.”
‘This… This is the resolve of someone who has staked their life. How terrifying.’
Bahamut could sense the maid’s determination, seeing her willingness to offer her life for the Queen, even suggesting capturing a monster for the Queen to hunt if the contract had failed.
“Is Alicia truly worth such loyalty?”
“From childhood until now, I have served and observed Her Majesty. If one could spend such time with her and not feel affection, would that not indicate a fundamental flaw as a human?”
At the same time, Bahamut found it hard to believe Alicia was someone deserving of such loyalty.
When asked why she was so devoted to the Queen, the maid simply responded that she had served her since childhood.
It was an emotion stronger than wealth or honor, a feeling that could be considered the most noble—
“Affection, is it? I see. I understand now.”
It was love.
A devoted servant who had loyally followed the princess from her childhood and acted with sincerity for her sake.
With that single statement, Bahamut seemed to understand completely.
Turning his gaze toward Alicia, he observed that her earlier melancholy had given way to her usual expression, thanks to Yuna’s comfort.
Of course, her red and swollen eyes betrayed her recent tears, but there was no helping that.
“In any case, the contract has been completed here. Alicia, you now possess the miracle of summoning, which allows you to borrow my power in proportion to the mana you offer. That alone should provide you with a means to overcome your trials.”
“A means to overcome trials?”
Bahamut confidently assured Alicia that there was a way to overcome her challenges.
“Yes. In these apocalyptic times, the most compelling thing you can demonstrate to others is strength. I’ve heard you have a personal guard?”
Strength naturally attracted followers.
Just as the Balhut Cult had initially drawn people by showcasing its immense power, demonstrating strength even now, when power structures were somewhat established, would lead to respect and recognition.
Such demonstrations of strength could also pave the way for building one’s own power base.
“Umm… Mary, do I really have guards loyal to me?”
“The Coldstream Guards and the Welsh Guards remain loyal to Your Majesty, even in these apocalyptic times. However, the Life Guards have pledged allegiance to the Labour Party, the Grenadier Guards to the Liberal Party, and the Blues and Royals, Scots Guards, and Irish Guards to the Lord Protector.”
As the Queen of this country, Alicia had inherited the legacy left by the former monarch.
Among that legacy were elite guards stationed in London, who had sworn loyalty to her.
Even in the apocalypse, two of the regiments still pledged loyalty to the Queen.
However, the guards’ allegiance had fragmented due to the apocalypse.
Of the seven regiments, only two remained loyal to the Queen, while the rest had pledged their allegiance to various other factions.
The largest faction, of course, was the Lord Protector.
But conversely, this also indicated that the Lord Protector had not succeeded in fully controlling all the guards.
Considering that two regiments had remained loyal to a powerless Queen, Alicia’s starting position was far better than that of the early days of the Balhut Cult.
“Surprisingly, we have followers.”
“I didn’t even know!”
Bahamut considered the situation to be manageable, while Alicia seemed shocked to learn she had loyal guards.
She turned to the maid for confirmation, disbelief in her eyes.
“Due to Your Majesty’s young age, you have been unable to exercise royal duties. Most matters have been handled by the Regent, the Lord Protector, leaving very few documents reaching Your Majesty.”
“So the real military power and authority lie with the Lord Protector?”
“Yes.”
Thus, the real authority rested with the Lord Protector, meaning the Queen could not directly command her guards.
She could not issue orders to summon them, nor could she personally meet the regimental leaders.
The Lord Protector would never allow it.
“In that case, for survival alone, proving the Queen’s strength and reclaiming the loyalty of the scattered guards could suffice.”
“Would that be enough? But… the Labour and Conservative parties… they all look at me with distrust.”
However, if the Queen could prove her strength and reclaim the loyalty of even a fraction of the guards, it would serve as a tool to pressure the Lord Protector.
Bahamut explained this possibility to Alicia, but she only responded with skepticism, expressing doubt that the Labour and Conservative parties, rivals to the Lord Protector, would trust her.
In London’s political sphere, trusting or relying on a ten-year-old Queen was impractical.
Instead, it was more likely that the Queen would have to rely on them.
It was even conceivable that they might be swayed by the Lord Protector’s rhetoric, making it harder for them to trust the Queen.
“That can be resolved with persuasion. Before the apocalypse, convincing them might have been challenging, but now, you have a way to build a record of success.”
“A record of success? Ah…!”
“Yes, that is when you borrow my power. A Queen who has contracted with the Dragon God—just that story alone could ignite the hearts of many people.”
Unlike the Lord Protector, who had failed in his attempt to usurp the throne, the Queen had legitimacy as the direct heir.
Such legitimacy, combined with her contracting with Bahamut, would make it possible to persuade even her skeptics.
“With the power granted by the contract, defeating humanity’s enemies, the monsters, would be no different from the heroic tales in stories. For this country, it would be akin to the story of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone. Similarly, the Queen has contracted with the Dragon God to protect the people of this land.”
The method of persuasion did not require eloquence or charm.
All that was needed was a story compelling enough for people to accept in these apocalyptic times.
Alicia had already laid the groundwork for such a story, and she possessed the miracle to showcase it to the world.
“All that remains is to spread the truth across Britain, before it can be obscured by lies.”
“Yes, with extensive media coverage and a national address, it would be enough to establish her dignity.”
Unlike the Balhut Cult, which suffered penalties for being a cult, Alicia was the Queen of this country.
If the nation’s highest leader declared she had contracted with the Dragon God to protect her people, few would oppose it.
“Yes! I’ll do it! Just watch, Lord Protector, you perverted bastard!”
Thus, the course of action was decided.
‘That’s all well and good, but why do I feel like this will be even more popular in other countries?’
Bahamut couldn’t help but sense an ominous feeling for some reason.
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