"So that's what happened. But as long as Lady Frieren is alright, that's all that matters."
Rya nodded in relief.
This left the two men in front of her at a loss. Wasn't the point whether she was alright or not?
Since the Soul of Cinder King had arrived in person, it meant the southern forces would pass through sooner or later, and things would devolve into chaos. No one could stand idly by; a new super-war was brewing.
"Oh, by the way," the red-backed girl muttered, rubbing her belly, "do you have any boiled prawns here? I'm a bit hungry after such a long journey."
She then began to battle with the food brought by the servants, turning a deaf ear to the world outside. The most important thing was to eat.
The two men simply ignored her and excluded her from the conversation.
"When I went to meet Rya, I took the path through the valley ruins. There are already many signs of development there. With the southern army's capabilities, it wouldn't be hard to build it up; it's probably been designated as a troop transport route. If they continue upward, they'll definitely run into Volcano Manor."
Patches stroked his chin in thought. He'd have to be quick on his feet when the time came.
Bernahl, however, had a different opinion: "I think Frieren going openly to the Royal Capital is also a brilliant, overt strategy. It forces the Grace-Given King to pull back his forces and give up the lift passage."
"She doesn't have the brains for that."
"I'd guess it was the Moon Princess's idea, but the result is the same. The Leyndell Knights are probably running around like headless chickens right now."
"Since the Golden King's authority is crumbling, it's a good time to recruit some renegades."
Many simple-minded renegades with strong limbs had become a source of income for Patches. He certainly didn't mind adding more hands; in these turbulent times, grace was hard currency.
Even if the Volcano was conquered, it wouldn't matter.
As an old friend across several worlds and eras, Frieren was still willing to show him some courtesy. They got along well during their last reunion.
"Speaking of which, if the Ancient Dragons are active again, that means the sky city is still intact. It wasn't just a rumor, it's real. So, is Maliketh, the Black Blade, who holds the seal on Destined Death, also in the sky city?"
"Hey, you're not thinking about something terrifying, are you? That killer is more dreadful than a Demigod."
"It's nothing. For now, we just need to do our own part."
The two ended their conversation and looked over at Rya, who was still elegantly yet rapidly feasting.
Although the flames of war wouldn't reach the manor immediately, the future would not be peaceful. They didn't know where this child would go from here; millions of lives would be affected.
The new district of Caria Manor.
Since her last meeting with Frieren, Ranni had been continuing her secluded training here, studying soul magic while also researching the barrier of the Land of Shadow.
As for her mother, she would sometimes sleep, sometimes cultivate a new body for her daughter, a process that would likely take a very long time.
In the past, she probably couldn't have stayed in the abandoned manor for long, but the restored birthplace of Caria was flourishing once again. It had virtually become the second-largest city in the Liurnia of the Lakes region.
From the tower, one could see the bustling crowds.
Most of them were commoners Frieren had healed from their zombified state. The others were nobles and their subjects who had managed to hide during the Shattering. Now, everyone could finally live in peace.
"Lady Ranni," Blaidd suddenly burst into the tower room, "the Royal Capital army near the lift is retreating!"
"It must be the influence of the battle."
The blue-haired girl was unfazed; it was expected. With Frieren's personality, there was no way she would stay quiet after reaching the Altus Plateau. She just hadn't expected her to run into an Ancient Dragon.
Regardless, the objective was achieved. The pressure on the lift was finally relieved.
At the same time, a projection of Iji appeared and added, "The Volcano has already sent troops to slaughter the villages on the distant outskirts of the Royal Capital. They're constantly absorbing new flesh for supplies. They got a lucky break and will probably be ostentatious for a while."
"There's no need to clash with them head-on. It's fine to let those monsters vent some of their excess energy."
From beginning to end, Ranni remained calm and composed. It was far from time for a large-scale operation. Not to mention the disparity in basic forces compared to the Royal Capital, the current focus was still on dealing with the Land of Shadow.
The stance of the crusade army would influence the overall situation.
Since Frieren had fortunately secured a channel of communication, they should seize it. As for the actions on the Altus Plateau, they were just a smokescreen.
After this incident, the Grace-Given King wouldn't have the energy to pay attention to rumors about the Land of Shadow.
"Your Highness, should we take over the lift?" Blaidd asked eagerly.
Ranni shook her head.
"The time is not yet right. Don't be in a hurry to intervene at the lift's defensive line. I'm sure the Grace-Given King has left some traps as a welcoming gift. It will take time just to clear them. Repairing the lift and clearing the path must be done slowly, and more importantly, carefully."
"However, an investigation is necessary. I'll leave the initial exploration to the Gravitas unit. Blaidd, you take the lead. First, confirm that they have truly withdrawn."
"Any other actions are superfluous. Just keep an eye on them."
"—As you command."
"Iji, you organize the sorcerers and prepare to begin repairing our side of the lift."
As Ranni issued her commands one by one, the Liurnia region began to move in an orderly fashion. Under her precise coordination, they pushed forward on two fronts—the ruins and the lift—both aimed at the Altus Plateau.
Plotting against the Golden Capital once again after so many years made her feel quite emotional.
This was an opportunity Frieren had won for them. They had to seize it. If they missed this chance to ascend to the plateau, it would be even more difficult later.
She hadn't forgotten the rumor of the First King's return. Sooner or later, a battle of kings would break out. Before then, she just needed to handle the detailed deployments for her sworn partner, clearing the obstacles on the path to that decisive war of annihilation.
Northern Altus Plateau.
After the long-distance flight, the meteor's trajectory gradually slowed, and a vast mental force spread out.
Frieren finally locked onto a broken bridge.
The next moment, she held Melina tightly in her arms and warned, "The impact might be a bit rough in a moment, be careful."
The latter gulped softly. She had been keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact, and her heart was beating faster and faster. She was likely quite frightened.
Boom!
Immediately after, a pillar of smoke plunged straight into the area behind the broken bridge. The meteorite instantly disintegrated into rubble, and the shockwave spread flames. A deep crater appeared in the ground, its surface scorched black.
Under the protection of the protective barrier magic, the two of them walked out of the deep crater unharmed.
There were no more enemies around.
It was Frieren's first time performing a long-range gravity magic flight in the Lands Between, so she wasn't certain, but fortunately, everything went smoothly.
She looked out into the distance. The Leyndell ramparts, which had been a battlefield earlier, now looked tiny. She estimated they had traveled several dozen kilometers. Given Morgott's style, he would likely abandon the pursuit and fight the defensive battle he excelled at. So, for now, there should be peace.
Then, the silver-haired girl looked towards the edge of the broken bridge with a puzzled expression.
A withered, gaunt man stood motionless, pointing at the Royal Capital. He wore a disc-shaped golden mask, looking very mysterious.
"Who is he?"
Frieren prepared for battle; the man was simply too strange.
"That should be Goldmask, a master who studies the fundamentalism of the Golden Order. He is highly renowned among the clergy."
Melina quickly made the introduction to prevent Frieren from attacking.
The silver-haired girl nodded, walked forward, looked him over from left to right, and then waved a greeting.
However, the man remained perfectly still, completely ignoring her.
This impolite behavior didn't offend her at all; on the contrary, it piqued her interest.
The direction he was pointing was the Royal Capital, but there was nothing particularly special about it.
Frieren held a degree of respect for researchers, always maintaining a humble heart. If she couldn't understand, it meant there was something she didn't comprehend.
The messages should explain it.
But then she remembered someone else and had a flash of inspiration: "Let's tell Corhyn first. Didn't he ask me for a favor? If his plans went smoothly, he should be on the Altus Plateau by now."
"That's a good idea. Perhaps his research on the Great Runes will be of some help to you."
"I have a feeling this is very important."
In reality, it was because Frieren saw the ground covered in messages. Even without reading them closely, she knew this was a matter of great importance.
Melina said worriedly, "With Mr. Corhyn's skills, could he have made it here safely? It must have been very arduous."
"Found him!"
Her ultra-wide-range perception, combined with the hints from the messages on the ground, allowed her to immediately lock onto a familiar figure. Just as she expected, he too had come from the Roundtable Hold to the Altus Plateau.
Her intuition was correct; reaching this land of golden grace was an important stage.
Various events were progressing, and they were bound to meet again later.
As for whether they could make it, Frieren was never worried. The players' explanation was very apt: 'employee entrances' were nothing surprising.
After a quick journey, the two parties successfully met up.
Seeing a familiar face, Corhyn exclaimed in surprise, "I knew that commotion earlier was unusual, it really was you! Your Majesty fought against an Ancient Dragon and the Royal Capital army and retreated unscathed."
Even from a great distance, he had felt the terrifying aftershocks. A Quasi-King indeed.
However, she changed the subject:
"About Master Goldmask, you told me too little last time. I'd like to know more. Do you have any other information?"
"There's so much! I believe he is currently the most profound researcher of Golden Order fundamentalism in the Lands Between. Perhaps he can find a way to mend the Elden Ring..."
Frieren listened attentively to Corhyn's excited, lengthy explanation, but unfortunately, she couldn't understand it. She was clueless about many of the technical terms and the cause-and-effect relationships. It even felt a bit like theoretical philosophy, which didn't suit her.
Oh well.
It seemed that strange man had some real skills.
She pointed to the broken bridge and said, "Actually, I've found Master Goldmask. He's right over there. I'll escort you. Let's go talk to him and see if there are any other clues."
Hearing this, Corhyn of course set off in a great hurry, practically sprinting the whole way.
In the past, moving about on the Altus Plateau required being constantly vigilant, but not anymore.
A Quasi-King's escort was a guarantee of safety.
Along the way, he thanked her profusely. He never imagined that the renowned Frieren would still remember this matter. He was finally going to meet the teacher he revered.
The three of them soon returned to the edge of the broken bridge. As expected, Goldmask was still motionless.
"Please accept this Rings of Light incantation as payment for Your Majesty."
With that, Corhyn walked up and began to communicate with Goldmask in a low voice. On the surface, the entire exchange was encrypted.
The latter didn't say a word, yet the two seemed to share a unique understanding that didn't hinder their communication at all, leaving onlookers utterly confused.
Melina and Frieren, standing where they were, looked at each other and shook their heads. They couldn't understand it at all. What was happening?
A moment later.
Corhyn, who had been immersed in knowledge for a long while, finally came to his senses and turned to explain, "The master has allowed me to stay by his side. He wants me to be his scribe."
"What information did you record?"
"I can only understand a small part—but I understood at once that this is the sacred duty heaven has bestowed upon me. The Golden Order has granted me, a man of no talent, the task of being a scribe. May the Order be with you."
With that, he returned to his prayer research, becoming just as motionless.
The master and disciple duo left Frieren at a loss. She couldn't get any answers from asking, so she gave up.
In truth, the people of the Lands Between spoke with sufficient clarity, far better than the many riddle-speakers she had met before.
She had anticipated this. Given the complexity of the Golden Order, it was normal not to understand. Even when Melina explained it, she herself didn't quite get it. So, the hints from the player messages were more suitable.
[Riddle-speakers, get out of the Lands Between!]
[We finally found the guy and then nothing happens? What are they even talking about?]
[What exactly is the Golden Order? Marika spent years on it and never fully understood it. Now Goldmask is trying, but it'll probably just end up stagnating.]
[What you guys are saying... I don't understand any of it.]
[The point isn't all that weird description. The Tarnished just needs to see the result, who cares about the rest.]
[Goldmask, like Ranni, Fia, the Dung Eater, and Shabriri, has the ability to determine an ending. It's best to pay attention, it would be a shame to miss it. In short, when you meet them, interact with them and slowly advance the plot.]
[Not understanding is normal. Just like 'employee entrances,' this is called an 'employee private chat.']
[I don't care about the Golden Order. I chose the Law of Stars long ago. I nominate Ranni to be the new leader of the Lands Between.]
[The King is the one.]
[We can't let the new god have the same kind of prestige and power as Marika to banish kings. I don't care if she and Godfrey have spousal chemistry, it's just not acceptable.]
[Although by the time the ending comes, you can't decide the details anyway.]
[Just remember Goldmask. You'll meet him again later anyway.]
[He only gave one Rings of Light incantation? Corhyn, you're an incompetent teacher! I thought there'd be more stuff. Oh well, only the turtle is the Elden Lord's exclusive incantation teacher.]
[Even if Goldmask finds the answer, in the end, it's just patching things up within the Golden Order's system. There's still so much he doesn't know, and he's destined to not be able to fix much.]
[I think his solution is a full stop...]
The messages were varied, but they fundamentally confirmed Goldmask's importance. She hadn't expected him to be so crucial.
Frieren was pleasantly surprised.
She originally thought it would just be some precious incantation, but it turned out to be a clue to one of the endings. The connection from Corhyn to Goldmask, spanning half the Lands Between, was critically important.
She took a deep look in the direction of the Royal Capital and then said, "Corhyn, what you're doing is very important. It might just save everyone."
"Learn well from Mr. Goldmask. We'll meet again."
"Take care, Your Majesty."
The two parties waved goodbye and went their separate ways with ease.
"Did you find some kind of clue?" Melina leaned in and asked curiously. "Could that Goldmask really fix the flaws in the Golden Order? He isn't even a Demigod, yet he can do what even a god cannot?"
"I believe he can. Let's let them continue their research for now. We're going to the Shaded Castle."
_____
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