Chapter 134
Right after Bahamut returned to the Balhut Cult, Alicia tried to follow his advice and step away from being a puppet Queen, acting as an individual in her own right…
“Nothing has changed after all!”
Rather than making progress, she still had no idea what to do.
To be honest, even as a Queen, her position in the current situation was closer to that of a figurehead. She had no real power, and there wasn’t much she could do.
[Is that so.]
Far from restoring her authority, the Lord Protector and the Cabinet acted as if the Queen didn’t even exist. Not a single person came to visit her.
Well, except for one person—a nemesis who came to visit every single day.
“Your Majesty, I will be stepping out for a moment.”
“A friend?”
“No. Today, a guest has come to visit. I will speak with them for a moment.”
“…I see. Go ahead.”
Of course, this wasn’t a maid who personally served Alicia all the time.
[So, they’re keeping watch over you.]
“The International Organization has concluded. It’s only natural that they’d resume surveillance.”
Silence… or rather, Alicia was the only one experiencing silence. The Lord Protector would never truly consider a puppet Queen as a real political adversary.
He merely kept her under surveillance, monitoring her in case she acted independently. Every single day, the Lord Protector’s subordinates visited Alicia’s palace.
With the International Organization Reconstruction Conference now over and the Lord Protector’s surveillance becoming more intense, what could Alicia even do?
Her only option was to quietly stay in her room and study to pass the time.
However, there was one notable difference since that day.
“By the way, is it really okay? Me talking like this—are you sure they can’t hear?”
[Even the United States’ elite agents couldn’t detect this method, so don’t worry.]
“Oh, that’s a relief!”
Thanks to receiving the Mirror of Perspective from Bahamut, she could secretly communicate with him even after he returned to the Balhut Cult.
This meant that she could consult with him and carefully think through possible solutions to this crisis.
Of course, there was always a risk that the Lord Protector’s agents might discover she was communicating with Bahamut, but he had assured her that not even the United States’ elite operatives had been able to detect it.
Seeing Bahamut smile in his dragon form, Alicia felt an urge to complain—at the very least, she wished he would appear in his human form when talking to her.
‘…But considering he gave me armor that could save me from assassins’ attacks and is lending me his wisdom, I can’t really complain about something so trivial.’
Still, Bahamut was thorough with his assistance.
The armor he had given her before leaving had even been assessed by U.S. intelligence agents as a national treasure-tier item in this Apocalypse era.
Even now, Bahamut was continuing to provide her with advice through the Mirror of Perspective.
This left Alicia with no room for complaints.
At the very least, Bahamut had provided her with the means she needed for now.
‘To be honest, I wish he would do more! If only he could just blast the Lord Protector’s face with a Dragon Breath, that would be fantastic!’
Even as a Dragon God, she secretly wished he would just burn the Lord Protector’s annoying face with Dragon Breath.
[Has anything happened since we left?]
“The Lord Protector’s obnoxious face has become even more unbearable! He declared at the International Organization Reconstruction Conference that he was the real protagonist of the event!”
[Hmm… I expected as much. He’s acting arrogant.]
That was precisely why Alicia needed to borrow Bahamut’s wisdom to navigate through this crisis.
Without hesitation, she reported the Lord Protector’s latest actions.
During a Cabinet meeting, in front of the Queen and other government officials, he had declared himself the sole reason for the success of the International Organization Reconstruction Conference, as if to show off to the public.
Alicia found his shameless attitude truly unbearable.
It was as if he was announcing to the world, “Look at the great achievements I have built! Who dares to judge me?”
The Queen, as well as the Cabinet members, simply stared at him with serious expressions.
No one praised or admired his so-called achievements—only his subordinates cheered for him.
Everyone knew that his success was a personal victory, not something that truly benefited Britain.
“Is there no way to stop him? I don’t want to see his disgusting face!”
[Did you investigate what I suggested?]
“I asked Mary to find a way for me to gain public achievements.”
Realizing that the Lord Protector would likely spend the next month boasting about his accomplishments, Alicia sighed and asked Bahamut if there was any way to counter him.
In response, Bahamut asked if she had completed the task he had assigned, and Alicia replied that she had entrusted it to Mary.
[That maid, huh.]
“Yes. Mary will find a way.”
[You trust her, I see.]
The only person Alicia could truly rely on.
Bahamut had met Mary before and had seen her loyalty firsthand, so he nodded in approval.
“Of course.”
To Alicia, Mary was the only one she could trust in the Royal Palace.
If someone asked her if there was anyone else she could rely on in this place, she would confidently answer, “No.”
“Your Majesty, I have returned.”
“Mary!”
“Just as you requested, I have found a way for Your Majesty to earn a significant public achievement.”
Not long after, Mary, who had gone to meet a visitor, returned with exciting news.
A public achievement that no one could dispute—one that would establish the Queen’s presence among the Lord Protector, the public, and the Cabinet.
Since Bahamut had told her that she needed to prove herself in order to gain more power, Alicia’s eyes lit up with anticipation.
“Really? What is it?”
“Well…”
“Tell me quickly!”
The problem was that Mary hesitated for a moment.
She seemed to be contemplating whether she should reveal the information.
‘Judging by her hesitation, this must be something difficult. Good.’
Bahamut instantly realized that it must be an issue that neither the Lord Protector nor the British Cabinet had been able to solve.
That was a good sign.
The greater the difficulty, the more prestige Alicia would gain, and by extension, Bahamut’s reputation overseas would also improve.
“It’s… a monster that even the Lord Protector failed to defeat.”
“Huh? W-wait… A monster that even the Lord Protector couldn’t slay? That kind of creature exists in this country?!”
A monster that even the Lord Protector failed to slay.
Hearing that phrase, Alicia was dumbfounded.
She couldn’t believe that such a terrifying creature existed within their nation.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, the Lord Protector was the strongest Awakener in the nation.
Even after his failed coup, he was still able to wield power without issue because his immense strength allowed him to ignore his opponents.
But now, a monster that even the Lord Protector had failed to slay?
Could Alicia really deal with such a thing?
‘…It’s not a bad idea, is it?’
On her own, Alicia would undoubtedly be defeated.
That was an undeniable fact.
However, she was the Contractor of the Dragon God Bahamut.
Just like Yuna, who had summoned Bahamut in her moment of greatest peril to claim victory, Alicia too could call upon Bahamut to overcome her greatest challenge.
That was precisely why Bahamut actually considered it a good opportunity—because the Lord Protector had failed.
“Yes. To be precise, he charged in confidently… only to be utterly humiliated in defeat. Back then, the Lord Protector wasn’t a Transcendent, so I’m not sure how things would go now.”
“That’s the same thing! Either way, he failed to slay it! What even is this monster?! I don’t know, but it sounds terrifying!”
However, Alicia felt fear before even facing the monster.
The Lord Protector was the strongest Awakener in the country, after all. If even he couldn’t defeat this creature, how was she supposed to?
Rather than thinking about winning, she was more worried about failing miserably and barely escaping.
“If the Lord Protector couldn’t defeat it… how could I possibly—”
[You could. After all, you won’t be the one fighting.]
At that moment, Bahamut intervened.
He pointed out that Alicia wouldn’t be the one fighting.
“T-that’s fine and all, but even getting there is too much for my heart to handle!”
Alicia shrank back, trembling in fear.
Yes, if she summoned Bahamut, victory would be assured.
But wasn’t actually reaching the battlefield a problem in itself?
She was about to reject the idea altogether.
However—
“I will summon the Royal Guard. If the Queen, as an Awakener, declares that she will slay the monster to protect the citizens, many in the Royal Guard will rally to her side.”
“Mary!?”
For once, her loyal maid wasn’t on her side!
As if she couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away, Mary declared that she would summon the Royal Guard.
Her justification? The Queen would be saving Britain herself.
[Is that feasible?]
“It is. Protecting the Queen and defending the citizens is the Royal Guard’s duty.”
Mary firmly believed that just the idea of the Queen saving citizens was enough to rally the Royal Guard to their side.
It was a compelling and noble cause.
Even if it lacked financial incentives, it carried honor—and as soldiers tasked with protecting the nation, it was a cause worth supporting.
[Then, if Alicia has the Royal Guard protecting her, things should be simple.]
“N-no, shouldn’t my first battle be against goblins instead?! I’m level 1! One!”
Even if the Royal Guard was there, Alicia was still only level 1.
Wouldn’t it be better to start small by hunting goblins?
[No, your first battle should be grand.]
“Are you telling me I have to fight it myself!?”
[You have the Royal Guard, don’t you?]
As if he wouldn’t accept any argument, Bahamut insisted that her first battle needed to be significant.
When Alicia protested, he simply dismissed it, reminding her that the Royal Guard would be there.
“They’ll really protect me, right? Right?”
“Yes, for Your Majesty’s sake, they will give their all. Probably.”
With an uneasy expression, Alicia asked Mary if the Royal Guard would truly protect her.
But Mary couldn’t give a definitive answer.
Before the Apocalypse, the Royal Guard would have undoubtedly given their lives for the Queen.
But now? Could their loyalty really be trusted?
After all, weren’t there some who had sided with the Lord Protector instead of standing by the Queen?
“You didn’t have to add ‘probably’ to that sentence!!”
Gripping her head in despair, Alicia groaned.
“This is it. I’m doomed! There’s no way I can defeat the Lord Protector.”
[Pull yourself together, Alicia. The battle hasn’t even begun.]
“But still!”
She was already despairing, looking ready to give up before the fight had even started.
Seeing this, Bahamut gently reassured her.
[Besides, you haven’t even fully realized my power yet. How about you see for yourself—what the power of a Dragon God is truly like? And…]
And then, he continued.
[You already have the strength to fight.]
“I can fight? Me? I’m level 1! Are you joking?”
Alicia scoffed.
She could believe in Bahamut’s power, but the idea that she herself could fight was laughable.
Seeing this, Bahamut let out a quiet chuckle before turning to Mary.
[By the way, you’re an Awakener too, aren’t you?]
“Yes. I awakened at the start of the Apocalypse. My level is 16.”
[That’s higher than I expected. Even by our standards, that’s officer-level.]
She was a capable Awakener in her own right.
If she raised her level just a little more, she would reach level 20, entering the ranks of the Transcendents.
Considering that, Bahamut felt that the example he was about to give would be very effective.
[Then, tell her your stats.]
“Ah, right. Let’s see… Strength is 18, Stamina is 19, Agility is 24, Wisdom is 22, Magic Power is 112, and Luck is 152?”
Without hesitation, Alicia listed her stats.
“…Your Majesty, I mean this with all due respect, but your overall stats are higher than mine.”
“Huh? No way?! I’m stronger than Mary?”
With a stunned expression, Mary admitted the truth—Alicia was stronger.
Yes, stronger.
As a Priestess of the Dragon, she had already surpassed the level of an average Awakener.
While her physical stats were lacking, her magic power was overwhelming.
If she used magic properly, she would be incredibly powerful in combat.
“Normally, an average person’s stats hover around 10. But despite being only level 1, Your Majesty’s stats are already on par with a level 20 or even level 30 Awakener.”
Mary explained that, in terms of total stats, Alicia had already surpassed level 20.
“Huh? So… I’m already a Transcendent? Like the Lord Protector?”
“Yes. Even if we ignore Luck, your stats alone are comparable to a level 20 Mage. I don’t know what the Lord Protector’s current stats are, but… at this rate, Your Majesty might surpass him.”
If Alicia continued leveling up and reached level 20, she could surpass the Lord Protector.
It was true that leveling became much harder after level 10, but until then, gaining experience through hunting was relatively simple.
“But… I don’t know how to fight…”
That was the real issue.
While her stats were excellent, she lacked combat experience.
[There are ways to fight. Your main combat style should rely on magic. Yuna learned Elemental Magic, and Seolhwa mastered Holy Magic. What magic did you acquire?]
“I—I have Elemental Magic… and Holy Magic too. Plus… Summoning Magic.”
[So, you’re similar to Seolhwa. You were naturally gifted in magic.]
“Wait, I was talented?!”
It seemed Alicia was inherently suited for magic.
Upon Awakening, she had instantly gained Elemental Magic, while her contract with Bahamut had granted her Holy Magic and Summoning Magic.
In other words, she already had the tools to fight.
[Then, all you need to do is use magic to defeat your enemies—with the Royal Guard protecting you.]
“So I still have to fight myself!?”
[Isn’t that enough?]
Despite Bahamut’s reassurance, Alicia still looked on the verge of tears.
“It’s scary!”
[Ah. My apologies.]
After all, it was indeed cruel to expect a 10-year-old child to face such a battle.
—
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