The Lands Between.
Within "Stormveil Castle", the bells tolled long and deep, their resonant sound carried afar by the currents of Stormhill.
Inside the castle, whether soldier, artisan, merchant, or commoner, all knew that the Soul Cinder King had awakened, her long slumber concluded.
The period had not been short. Of course, this was by the standards of Her Majesty Frieren's sleeping habits; for The Lands Between, it was but the blink of an eye.
A vast power of Runes suddenly surged forth.
It seemed the newly awakened Quasi-King was stretching her limbs and acclimating to her magic, as the tide of energy that nearly formed a tempest quickly receded, returning to tranquility.
She always took pleasure in meticulously taming her magical reactions.
Such a soaring aura meant that the wounds she sustained in the Land of Shadow had healed. This was undoubtedly good news, especially for the anxious and vigilant Stormveil Knights, who could now breathe a little easier.
By the bedroom window.
Stretching languidly, Frieren scratched her head. Her long hair unfurled in the wind, which blew away the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes.
She hadn't entered The Lands Between directly from her reality, but had taken a nap in between to face it at her full strength. The reason she could enjoy this rare sleep was that the Old Gods, severely weakened from their thrashing, lacked the strength to interfere, granting her a perfect opportunity to rest.
"Good morning, Melina. You've had a difficult time while I was away."
"Protecting the Tarnished is a maiden's duty."
The one-eyed maiden replied nonchalantly, taking the opportunity to comb Frieren's hair. Otherwise, given her casual disposition, she would likely have let the wind or magic style it for her.
It had been some time, but the other still exuded a lazy, relaxed feeling. That in itself was good news.
"Is Miquella's charm dispelled?"
"Yes. It triggered some chain reactions, but I've handled them. If his charm is limited to this level, then I am now immune."
"So you believe Miquella must have other cards up his sleeve?"
Melina caught the implication. Thinking about it, it made sense. How could a demigod as dangerous as one who planned to ascend to godhood rely solely on the power of charm? He was likely plotting something else.
Neither side gained an advantage in the last long-distance confrontation. The outcome of a second round is far from certain.
"You've only just awakened. It would be best not to venture into the Land of Shadow. How about leaving them be for a while to see how things develop?"
"Alright."
Frieren nodded in agreement.
The simultaneous eruption of Miquella's charm and a host of other misfortunes was truly perilous. A long-term strategy is needed; she can't just charge in headfirst. For now, the Land of Shadow has Rellana as an ally, and with the Mimic Tear holding the fort, the situation is stable enough.
As for the treatment of the afflicted, it will proceed gradually. Castle Ensis can be responsible for the initial stages, which will take a great deal of time.
Since Her Majesty agreed, Melina was relieved. Caution was for the best; the consequences of another charm were unforeseeable, and the tension was too great. It was rare for her to heed advice, but it didn't necessarily mean she had given up on adventuring—more likely, she would just change her direction.
Just as the two were pondering, a knock came from the door.
"Your Majesty, the lords and knights are all prepared for an audience."
"I'll be there shortly."
Frieren, who had been sitting by the window, began to gather her things. Melina rang a small bell, and a retinue of servants hurried in to help her don her armor and cloak with great ceremony.
Although it was a hassle every time, she had grown accustomed to it and cooperated, quickly attiring herself in the cumbersome armor.
Speaking of which, she used to just loot items and use them directly, regardless of the fit. In The Lands Between, however, she finally had armor of the proper size. Both its defense and comfort were satisfactory—one of the perks of being a monarch, she supposed.
In the audience hall, everyone took their seats at the long conference table.
They saw relief on each other's faces; knowing Frieren was alright was good news enough.
Only this time, her slumber seemed more passive. The official story was that she had been 'injured in the Land of Shadow and required recuperation,' hence her seclusion.
But her confidants knew this was false. No injury in the world would require a Quasi-King to slumber for so long, especially not the Soul Cinder King, who was renowned for her healing magic. There was no wound she couldn't heal.
Was it the charm, then?
Combining this with the news of their encounter with Miquella's schemes, they could guess.
Moreover, they had discreetly questioned Melina, who had revealed some information to stabilize morale.
"I've been on edge these past days." Haight took out a gold-trimmed handkerchief and dabbed his forehead, murmuring, "Her Majesty has finally awakened."
"Don't relax just yet. There's trouble again at the Ruin-Strewn Precipice," Edgar said.
The others looked at each other and frowned.
It has always been on the frontline of friction and conflict with the Volcano, and the battle is at a stalemate. Although the Farron Undead Legion is guarding it, they are adequate in defense but lack the kind of overwhelming, line-breaking power that a true Shardbearer possesses. As a result, they are locked in a deadlock.
"I suspect the Capital is pulling strings from the shadows. Some Leyndell Knights are simply herding monsters towards the precipice."
"That has been happening. The nobles of the Golden Lineage have always been wary of us."
"A bunch of decaying fools who've lost their Grace. In an age where the Tears no longer descend, they're relying on the afterglow of Grace. How are they any different from the rest of us?"
"Her Majesty is now the Quasi-King who can bestow the Tears."
"We can't let the Capital's army continue to harass us, or the Ruin-Strewn Precipice will become a constant drain on our resources."
"Let's attack."
"Too risky. That place is easy to defend and hard to attack. Besides, we haven't ruled out deploying troops to the Land of Shadow. We must reconsider."
"...I will go there myself."
Following the voice, they saw Frieren approaching in full armor. She wore a crown, her red cloak and pauldrons billowing in the wind, and her silver armor reflected the light. The sharpness between her brows had gained a hint of greater refinement.
In the short time since they last saw her, she seemed to have grown even stronger. Her magical power was deeper than ever, unfathomable.
They immediately bowed in greeting.
"Your Majesty, it has been too long. It is wonderful to see you unharmed."
"It was nothing serious. Tell me about the situation at the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. I intend to ascend to the Altus Plateau from there."
Her words were startling.
Although years of working together had accustomed them to Frieren's way of thinking, their expressions remained grave. The implications of a Quasi-King traveling to the Altus Plateau were too immense. It was tantamount to a full declaration of war. For the sake of appearances alone, the Capital's army would be forced to respond, and a great battle would surely ensue.
Of course, they had prepared thoroughly for this day, even if their various military branches had not yet reached their ideal state. War does not wait until you are ready; it can come at any time.
Edgar replied, "Your Majesty, we can dispatch troops to the Altus Plateau at any time."
However, Haight immediately asked the crucial question:
"Do you intend to lead the army and attack openly? Or will you scout ahead alone, as you've done before? If you choose the former, the Volcano cannot be bypassed. You must first defeat the God-Devouring Serpent, Rykard."
"When the time comes, perhaps we should occupy the Volcano and use its treacherous terrain to hold the Capital's army at a stalemate."
"What are Your Majesty's thoughts?"
Haight's follow-up question also sketched out the details.
For the southern army, strategy was paramount. Seizing the hegemony of the Golden Dynasty was not something Frieren could accomplish by simply storming in alone; she would need to raise a great army to break through the city gates.
The ideal scenario would be to deal with Godfrey as well, a battle to mark the transition from one Lord to another.
Unfortunately, news of the First Lord is always speculative, so he cannot be factored into our plans. We can only consider the order of priorities.
What to choose?
All eyes fell upon Frieren. The silver-haired girl propped her chin in thought, simultaneously accepting a map from Melina to study it closely. After a moment, she spoke:
"I will first clear out the monsters at the Ruin-Strewn Precipice to secure the passage."
"Considering the long term, we do need a stronghold in the Volcano... At the very least, Rykard's forces must be eliminated. But that's still a long way off, a prelude to total war."
"As for the Capital, when the time is right, it would be quite nice for me to go in and explore alone."
The silver-haired girl's eyes lit up.
She made no secret of her anticipation for an adventure in the Golden Capital. What others saw as a heavily fortified and strictly guarded fortress, she saw as a playground. In any case, her subordinates shouldn't even think about getting ahead of her; she would definitely be the first to loot the place.
One could imagine the commotion would not be small, likely shaking the very heavens and earth.
Frieren asked curiously, "Isn't it against the proper procedure for becoming Lord to not march a grand army into Leyndell?"
Melina was the first to answer: "There was no such procedure to begin with; it's just conventional thinking. Besides, there is the example of the great ancient dragon who broke through the city walls alone. Even Gransax paid for it with his life, so people came to believe that going alone was an impossible fantasy."
Her tone was clearly cautionary.
"Let's consider that later. Perhaps there are more ways into the Capital than meet the eye."
The player advice mentioned the existence of the Deeproot Depths, which might lead to the Capital. Could it be a vast, hollow place like the Great Hollow?
Of course, a frontal assault was not without its own domineering appeal.
She could even try breaking in several times using different methods. Frieren had great patience for castle-type maps, especially for what was unquestionably the foremost city in The Lands Between.
"In any case, my next step is to conquer the Ruin-Strewn Precipice."
Melina suggested: "Afterward, you and I can scout ahead first, without fanfare. No one—not our allies, not The Lands Between as a whole—is ready for a final, decisive battle in the war of the Shardbearers. We must at least confirm the situation on the plateau first."
"Mm."
It seems only the maiden could hold Her Majesty back. Judging by her eager expression just now, she was probably already planning the siege.
And she was considering the most shocking option: to breach the high walls of Leyndell alone.
With the most pressing decision made, the atmosphere lightened considerably. There was no point in discussing the Ruin-Strewn Precipice further; once Frieren got started, the outcome was unpredictable. She would surely handle it.
Edgar began to report on the army's expansion.
As the south continued to recover and a large number of the living dead were cured, a great number of new soldiers became available, easily absorbed into the reserve forces. This allowed the battle-hardened regular army to become more elite, receiving more training.
Coupled with the Runes they had acquired in war and Frieren's blessing, their strength grew continuously, enough to form a high-ranking knightly order.
Unfortunately, their current number of around 500 was completely insufficient.
However, as long as the training and selection process continued, they would sooner or later build a force comparable to the Golden army.
"Your Majesty, we've heard that the Carian army from Castle Ensis has sworn fealty to you. Will they participate in future wars?"
"It's hard to say."
Speaking to her confidant, Frieren was candid about her concerns: "Strictly speaking, they have been commanded by Messmer and are jointly loyal to the dynasty of the Golden Order. Their position is naturally opposed to mine. We have only temporarily set aside our disputes; it doesn't mean this account won't be settled in the future..."
As she spoke, she looked at Melina, who replied with conviction:
"What we need is a Land of Shadow that will not hold us back. If necessary, Your Majesty, please pacify it completely, so that when the shadow seal is broken, the south will gain a peaceful new territory."
"That would be an ugly scene. I will try to win Messmer's support, but for now, we cannot count them in our forces."
"Understood."
As a vassal, Edgar did not delve deeper into the topic, as the relationships were quite complex.
For reasons both public and private, Frieren was unwilling to fight a war to the death with the crusading army. Yet, the more steadfast their defense, the more it signified their loyalty to the Capital, making them more formidable enemies. It was a troublesome situation to handle. Fortunately, Caria offered a breakthrough.
This would have to be discussed further at the Academy.
Next, it was Haight's turn to report, covering the usual minutiae of mining, training, and forging in the various territories—matters she was not adept at.
Aside from an instruction to "help me collect rock-carving spells and other magic useful for construction," Frieren mostly zoned out, letting Melina discuss the details with him while she listened in to be aware of the proceedings.
Fortunately, the development of the three southern lands was progressing well. The changes in Caelid were a pleasant surprise:
The waters have returned.
For the first time, clear water has appeared in the flower field wetlands. The place once named Lake Melina now shimmers with light, proof that the taint of Scarlet Rot has been cured and has receded.
All their efforts had not been in vain. The most heavily polluted land had been purified, opening up a semi-new, vibrant territory, sufficient to become a reliable rear logistics base.
Haight said, "According to Castellan Jerren's report, they will increase their mining efforts and have trained a new batch of Redmane soldiers."
"A rare infusion of new blood. How is their strength?"
"Your Majesty, they are not what they once were. They still have their training experience, but they are at a reserve level at best."
"It's fine. Just keep it up."
A strong army is forged in war. In the current, relatively balanced situation, there wasn't much Frieren could do. They couldn't rely solely on her blessing for enhancement; they needed to constantly defeat opponents to acquire their Runes, and that was something she couldn't help them with.
Doing it for them would only dull the army's edge. For now, it was best to let them develop naturally.
"One more thing, Your Majesty. Some of Caelid's new population has gathered at Fort Faroth, but there isn't enough space. Should they be relocated, or..."
"Expand the city on site. It's no use letting that area sit idle."
"Should Haight's domain take them in?"
"That's not necessary." This time, it was Melina who supplemented the answer: "They should be settled according to the principle of proximity. Moreover, Her Majesty wishes for the towns to be evenly distributed and interconnected. A town based on Fort Faroth would facilitate communication within Caelid and allow for better resource mobilization."
She would not allow one territory to expand excessively and immediately vetoed the idea, reminding Frieren, who couldn't be bothered to think on that level.
Hearing this, Haight glanced at the silver-haired girl with a look of regret, and she nodded in return. Although she didn't quite understand, she supported Melina's clear stance.
The two worked in perfect concert, leading the meeting from start to finish.
Any ulterior motives had no chance to succeed.
____
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