Chapter 838

The grand audience hall, adorned with magnificent curtains, was the first space completed within the expanded royal palace, befitting the majesty of the queen. The large arched windows, installed between the reliefs lining the walls, let in sunlight that sparkled like a summer river, while a deep crimson carpet, as if dyed with blood, stretched from the entrance to the dais where the throne stood.

Behind the throne, two massive curtains embroidered with the crests of Landenburg and the Median family hung, and in the center of the wall, a relief of a scale symbolizing Astraea was carved. The sunlight streaming through the windows made the golden inlaid scales shimmer brilliantly, as if the goddess’s divine aura was descending upon the one seated on the throne.

The space was both splendid and solemn, exuding an inexplicable sense of divinity. It was hard to believe it had been completed in just a month.

Honestly, before seeing it in person, I had wondered why so much money was being poured into a space that would rarely be used. But now, standing here, I felt more satisfied than I had expected. The authority of a king, something I hadn’t fully realized while holed up in my private office, now felt palpable.

“Listen,” I said, leaning casually on the golden and leather-adorned throne, looking down at the assembled officials and knights. From Eleonora, the regent, to Joshua and the other military leaders, all the key figures of Hestela had gathered at my call.

It felt like being a division commander reviewing troops. The sight of so many people looking up at me in obedience was strangely gratifying. My usual informal speech gave way to a tone befitting a queen.

Suppressing a laugh at my own words, I addressed the officials, who seemed to be asking with their eyes why they had been summoned. “Prepare for war. As soon as the forces we left in Exra-shapel return, Hestela will attack Ordos, the capital of Ai-shan.”

It was time to set aside the peace we had enjoyed.

—

Of course, Eleonora and the other officials were not pleased with the sudden declaration of war. Even during the Empire’s heyday, defending against the Ka`har had been challenging. Now, with the Empire’s support uncertain, attacking Ai-shan’s capital with Hestela’s forces alone seemed like a surefire way to ruin the kingdom we had just built.

Even the knights of Landenburg, who had every reason to hate the Ka`har, thought it wasn’t the right time. Most of the budget was tied up in expanding the capital, leaving no resources to recruit and maintain an expeditionary force. Training heavy cavalry would take more time. How would we handle camping and supplies in the plains filled with enemy cavalry? Was there even a reason to attack those who would tear themselves apart in civil war if left alone?

A flood of questions, all implying that this was madness, came my way, begging me to reconsider the attack on Ordos.

Of course, I had no intention of listening. They were worrying over nothing.

“Calm down, everyone. Who said we were going to fight the entire Ai-shan Jin-guk? Our goal is only Ordos. We don’t need to assemble a massive army.”

Budget and supply issues only mattered when leading thousands into war. If we were to mobilize all of Hestela’s forces to annihilate the Ka`har, that would be one thing. But for a swift strike on Ordos to eliminate Mei-harin and the other sorcerers, we didn’t need a large army.

In fact, a large army would only slow us down and draw unnecessary attention from the Easterners. Our strategic goal was to infiltrate the enemy capital and assassinate their commander, so a small elite force was far more efficient.

Like in any RPG, where a hero’s party sneaks into the demon king’s castle instead of marching with an army.

“So, only those at the level of masters and above will cross the barrier with me—the Sword of Landenburg and the Épée de Ciel (Heaven’s Sword Order). That way, we won’t have to worry about supplies or war expenses.”

A swift infiltration with only the strongest. That was the only way to take down Mei-harin at this point.

“Attacking Ordos with just over ten people…” The officials didn’t seem convinced.

Even with five heroes and seven masters, the faces in the room were dark, like Hersh’s skin, and they let out faint sighs. They thought it was impossible.

I understood. Even heroes and masters, while powerful, weren’t invincible. Once their Power of Feats ran out, they were no different from ordinary knights. And even if it didn’t, a blind strike to the head or heart could kill them easily.

The Empire’s rule was to always send masters into battle with escort troops. A master with a hundred knights could slaughter two hundred, but alone, they couldn’t take down even fifty.

Heroes, thanks to their “Heroic Tale,” could fight hundreds alone, but even they had to flee if the enemy numbered in the thousands. The Heroic Tale consumed too much Power of Feats, and it would run out quickly against such numbers.

In short, taking Ordos with five heroes and seven masters seemed like a pipe dream.

At least, to the knights and officials gathered below the throne.

But to me, it was a feasible plan.

The idea that five heroes and seven masters weren’t enough was based on ordinary heroes.

But was I an ordinary hero?

There was one exception to the rule that even heroes couldn’t fight thousands.

“Ten people are enough. I’m here, aren’t I?”

That exception was me.

—

Truthfully, even I would run out of Power of Feats fighting thousands. Hersela’s techniques were overwhelmingly powerful, but they consumed Power of Feats in large chunks, making them unsuitable for prolonged battles.

But running out of Power of Feats didn’t mean I’d drop dead like other heroes. Unlike the original Hersela, who relied solely on Life Force Techniques, I had many other tools.

Rune Engravings that used ambient mana, stamina supplied by Durandal, the Blessing of Invulnerability that protected me from most attacks, and my increasingly strong physical abilities.

I couldn’t take down heroes with just that, but I could handle hundreds, even thousands, of ordinary knights and warriors. Blind strikes wouldn’t hurt me, and even without Power of Feats, I could tear apart ordinary knights barehanded.

As long as Durandal replenished my vitality, it was nearly impossible to defeat me through sheer numbers.

Of course, I wasn’t the type to boast about my strength, so my officials had no way of knowing I could fight even after running out of Power of Feats.

“But…” They still looked uneasy, despite my declaration.

“But? My word isn’t enough to convince you? I’m disappointed. I didn’t realize my own officials had so little faith in me.”

“It’s not that we doubt Your Majesty’s strength, but… isn’t this strategy too reckless?”

Reckless? That’s Leopold’s head.

“That’s what doubt is. Don’t doubt me. Have I ever lost?”

I smirked, exuding confidence, like an undefeated hero.

[You did. You were utterly defeated by that wretched old Ghost Sword. How shameless. You would have died if it weren’t for me.]

‘…Don’t ruin the moment.’

[And that’s not all. When you faced the Blue Army and Or-han alone, you would have been captured if not for Ludwig’s reinforcements.]

…Well, honestly, that had happened.

When I faced the Ghost Sword, Hersela had stepped in and made it look like I won. And when I ran out of strength fighting Or-han, the Blue Army retreated upon seeing Ludwig’s reinforcements, resulting in a draw.

But still.

‘What matters is the result, right? Both the Ghost Sword and Or-han ended up dead by my hand. So, I won.’

The one who survives to the end is the true winner.

Even if the Ghost Sword and Or-han had pushed me to the brink, they hadn’t killed me, and I had killed them in the end. So, they were the losers.

Yes, that’s right. I’ve never lost. I’m truly the undefeated Ha-shar-leur.

[Have some conscience.]

Hersela, lacking in logic, refused to admit it.