## C383
“Hahaha-”
Alberu laughed.
“Coff!”
Cale’s indifferent expression, wiping the blood still flowing from his mouth, though in smaller amounts.
……
The virtual world of New World.
Tamahi, the Queen of the Kingdom of Lan, one of the Three Great Powers of this vast world, couldn’t say anything.
She just stared at those two with a vacant look.
“Ha, ha, Cale-”
“What’s up?”
If it was the usual Alberu, he would worry about the gazes around him.
But, for some reason, Alberu was in a good mood, and as in this game, he usually behaves with a little more freedom…
“You’re still the same.”
He said that as he opened his arms and approached.
For the first time.
Yes, when The Indestructible Shield first appeared in the capital of the Roan Kingdom and protected everyone from Arm’s magical bombardment, like then. He did again what he had done after with Cale.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Cale felt a pang of nausea seeing Alberu approaching with open arms. Why?
‘Why is he laughing so much?’
Because Alberu was laughing as if he was truly happy.
Cale, feeling uncomfortable, tried to step back, but unfortunately, since the Young Master Silver Shield first appeared, Cale’s physical abilities had decreased, while Alberu’s had improved even more.
“…What’s going on?”
“Hahaha!”
Alberu and Cale ended up embracing lightly.
Tap, tap.
Alberu's hands, which were hitting Cale's back, trembled slightly.
‘Mmm.’
He knew this, which is why Cale couldn’t push Alberu away.
‘Of course, he pushed himself too hard.’
Although Alberu’s magical abilities are excellent, they were not comparable to Raon, or rather, Rosalyn. Alberu is simply exceptionally talented. He hadn’t surpassed his limits.
If someone like that pushes himself to the limit, trying to release mana like Raon, his body would suffer the consequences. And that’s why his hands were trembling.
‘Tch.’
Cale sighed, separated from the embrace, and despite everything, said with consideration:
“Do you need help?”
At that moment, Cale saw Alberu’s face, which had immediately turned sullen.
“You, me?”
With an expression of disbelief, Cale also felt annoyed. And Queen Tamahi, who was observing all this…
“Your Majesty-”
She rejected the help of the guards who were approaching to help her, and she slowly got up.
Her gaze remained fixed on Cale and Alberu.
"…"
She couldn't hear their conversation. She could hear them using her Inner Energy, but she didn’t want to. Simply, the image of those two embracing affectionately and talking.
The golden and silver light, both gone. Hinpa Gong was also gone. An empty shore. Only the image of those two people standing there captured her attention. The Queen opened her mouth without realizing it.
“…Hero-”
Cale had told the Queen:
‘We are with the Sun Hero who will save New World! And the Kingdom of Darkness has come out to protect this world! Ha, ha!’
Of course, he said he would tell them the details calmly after meeting with the emissary Hinpa Gong. But at this moment, Queen Tamahi realized.
‘One of them…’
One of those two is definitely the hero. And in fairy tales, there is always…
“…A companion.”
An exceptional and righteous companion.
The Three Great Powers.
An adjective referring to the Kingdom of Lan along with the Eastern and Western Empires.
Tamahi had begun to feel shame and hatred for that title.
Wanderers.
When they appeared, she realized that truly powerful beings existed. That powerful beings were hidden in this world, and that their power was trying to devour this land.
“…Only with light can darkness be perceived…”
Yes.
Wanderers.
If they are the darkness of this land, won’t there also be light? How can the order of the world be skewed towards only one side?
‘No.’
The Queen shook her head.
‘The Kingdom of Darkness?’
Tamahi had never heard of the existence of that kingdom.
‘I come from the Kingdom of Darkness.’
‘And this… will become the king of another place.’
Moreover, he said that one of them would soon become king. That would mean that another kingdom also exists. Two kingdoms that had never been recorded in the history of this land are fighting a gigantic force involving the Wanderers and even the gods, to save this world.
“Ah-”
Without realizing it, she let out a sigh. Subtle joy and excitement could be seen in it.
“…It’s not the end, but the beginning.”
Queen Tamahi thought as she looked at Cale and Alberu, who were talking calmly to each other.
“It was insufficient.”
The words Cale had said to Hinpa Gong, who lamented the lack of faith and why he had abandoned him, were now interpreted differently for Tamahi.
The Kingdom of Lan, dominated by the force of the Wanderers.
Because it was weak.
Because it would be difficult to defeat them.
They had lived with bated breath for a long time, and finally, they were looking for an opportunity to strike back with the martial arts tournament for the selection of the crown prince. How much bitterness had accumulated during all this time! She feared that the internal affairs of the Lan palace would leak to the people or to other countries. She couldn’t show the weakness of the Kingdom of Lan, one of the Three Great Powers. But she changed her mind.
The Kingdom of Lan is insufficient to face the Wanderers.
“Simply, it was truly insufficient.”
It was just weak. And that weakness…
“Can be filled.”
Today she had seen a reliable shield that could do that. She slowly approached Cale and Alberu. Although she hadn’t yet heard the full story of Cale, she already had a general idea. At least she could distinguish between friends and enemies. She clearly knew who was beneficial to them and who had a pure heart.
“Ah, are you okay?”
Cale, with blood on his mouth, asked if he was okay. Queen Tamahi opened her mouth at the sight of him.
“Can we join?”
“Excuse me?”
To Cale, who looked surprised, she said what she had to say.
Today, the Kingdom of Lan…
“That alliance that includes the Kingdom of Darkness.”
She must seize the opportunity to embark on a new path.
“The Kingdom of Lan also wants to join.”
With this opportunity, the Kingdom of Lan will become even stronger.
“We will fill the deficiencies. Please, give us the opportunity to strengthen ourselves and face them.”
She will be able to protect this Kingdom of Lan. Although she knew she was weak, the Queen of Lan said proudly:
“Can you give us that opportunity?”
And Cale…
‘Oh.’
What a stroke of luck is this?
“Opportunity is presented to those who seek it.”
He said this with a calm expression, took the hand Tamahi was offering him, and continued:
“If the Kingdom of Lan joins us, it will be a great force.”
Sly smile~
Cale smiled kindly.
Radiant smile~
Alberu also joined the atmosphere with a bright smile.
‘As expected.’
And Queen Tamahi was sure.
‘These two people are incredible.’
A kingdom wants to join an alliance. These two people made the decision without hesitation. What does that mean?
‘The leader.’
The leader of the alliance is here, and that leader…
‘Has absolute decision-making power.’
And that person is…
‘The black-haired man.’
Cale Henituse.
‘Then, this blond man…’
Probably…
‘Is the hero.’
The Sun Hero.
‘He’s definitely related to the Sun God.’
Queen Tamahi’s gaze deepened. She realized she had escaped from the dark swamp of the Wanderers and the god of chaos (god, and finally, she was seeing the clear sky above the surface of the water.
Sly smile~
Tamahi also smiled. Cale and Alberu continued to smile kindly.
-Cale.
Super Rock spoke quietly to Cale.
-But, doesn’t that Queen know that the Kingdom of Darkness comes from the Evils?
-And the crown prince has no land to rule, they just said he will become the future king.
-So, isn’t our alliance something without substance?
Shut up.
Cale ignored Super Rock. And he looked at Alberu. Alberu’s kind gaze told him:
‘Let’s keep it this way for now.’
Why?
Because one of the Three Great Powers has become their ally.
“Ha, ha-”
Cale also.
“Hahaha!”
Alberu also laughed.
“Ha, ha-”
Queen Tamahi also.
The silver shield that appeared in the Kingdom of Lan was only etched in the minds of the king's close associates who were there.
But the impact on the Kingdom of Lan was perhaps greater than the battle between Sohyi, the Wanderer, and the Heavenly Demon.
A few days later.
===================
!<Crazy! Breaking News!>
===================
Information spread throughout the RMPAG user community, causing a great stir.
===================
<Is the Kingdom of Lan closing?>
The content is the same as the title.
-??The kingdom is closing?? What does that mean?
-All diplomatic activities are halted.
The Queen goes into spiritual retreat.
The heir selection is suspended.
-Eh? Suspension of diplomatic relations?
-The Queen is going into retreat? Suddenly? What’s going on? What’s happening to the Kingdom of Lan lately?
===================
If we compare it to the Central Plains of the Murim World, it’s like a sect going into a temporary closure. A temporary closure with no deadline. But that’s not all.
===================
-Not only is the royal palace closed. Now, the Heavenly Sword, the Dark Abyss, etc., the five great organizations (except the Justice Alliance) are all in temporary closure.
-Crazy. Are they all closing? So there will be nothing for users to do in the Kingdom of Lan?
-No, it’s not like that.
The five great organizations say they are recruiting a large number of warriors. Regardless of whether they are foreigners (users), from other countries or not, with experience or without, anyone can apply as a warrior. They say they will provide all the training.
-Oh. So I can become a warrior too? I don’t have a penny, but if it’s free, it’s worth a try, right?
-Hey, hey, but then the four great organizations aren’t in temporary closure, right?
-I don’t know, they say external activities are suspended.
===================
Users were confused. But some of them tried to figure out the reason.
===================
-So.
The royal palace is closed right now.
The four great organizations say they are in temporary closure, but they accept new warriors and support their entire growth process?
-If they are in temporary closure, they won’t have any income from external activities. Are they going to train a large number of new warriors?
===================
And they discovered the reason.
===================
-This is not the intention of the four great organizations one hundred percent.
-Yes. This is definitely the kingdom’s idea.
===================
The Kingdom of Lan is acting with a clear goal in mind. A purpose so great that even the four great organizations would follow it without a murmur.
===================
-So, the Kingdom of Lan is training a large number of warriors? Using the royal palace’s money.
-That’s right.
===================
And the conclusion people reach is usually one.
===================
-…Is the Kingdom of Lan preparing for war?
===================
War.
One of the Three Great Powers of New World is preparing for war. This was enough to cause a great uproar throughout the RMPAG user community.
===================
-It seems that it is a war.
They say they are closing from the outside, but in reality, it seems they are. If they openly increase the number of soldiers at the kingdom level, other countries could start a dispute, so it seems they are doing it this way.
-…Crazy. So finally there will be a war?
===================
People celebrated that with the “The Great First Step” update, major changes would occur in RMPAG. Because there had never been wars between kingdoms before. But some of them raised a doubt again.
===================
-But who is the Kingdom of Lan going to fight against?
===================
It was impossible to know who the enemy of the Kingdom of Lan was. And to that question, most users answered:
===================
-I don’t know. We’ll find out later.
===================
They said they would know in time. When everyone’s attention in the virtual world of RMPAG, including users, focused on the incident that took place in the Kingdom of Lan…
“So, the sacred place of the god of chaos, ‘The Primordial Night’, is in the Demon Kingdom?”
Cale nodded at Alberu’s question. He was currently living in a hideout in the depths of the Lan royal palace.
The guide, Hinpa Gong. In his memories was a map of the sanctuary known as The Primordial Night.
That path led to the Demon Kingdom.
“Yes, Your Highness, you were there, weren’t you?”
“Ah.”
“Then you know it well. Guide us on the path.”
Alberu was speechless for a moment at Cale’s confident request.
“But, what kind of place is the Demon Kingdom?”
Rosalyn answered Choi Han’s question. She repeated the answer Alberu had once given her.
“A place where the weak and the useless gather.”
When Choi Han’s forehead wrinkled slightly…
Rosalyn continued:
“In my opinion, it’s not.”
When a glimmer shone in Choi Han’s eyes, she pointed to Alberu.
“And it’s also the place where Your Highness is trying to establish an empire.”
“Oh.”
The Heavenly Demon showed curiosity, looked at Alberu once, and asked Cale:
“When will we go?”
Cale answered him seriously:
“Well, I’m thinking of going as soon as possible.”
He asked Rosalyn:
“Did you get any news from Raon?”
Eden Miru.
There’s no news about that kid’s hatching.
“We should go.”
Whether it’s The Primordial Night or the God of Chaos. It seems he should first go see Eden Miru, the Dragon Half-Blood, and the average 10-year-old children.
