The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 189

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 189

Barely suppressing her overflowing emotions, she began walking again. Her steps became just a little lighter. As she started running, she replied to the artificial spirit in her hand.

“That was good advice, Gnyug. Thank you.”

[Satisfied: I’m happy to have been of help to the user!]

[Charming: Gnyug is a kind, clever, and adorable baby who is always on the user’s side. Please feel free to consult baby angel Gnyug about anything.]

She could feel Grace trying to comfort her. Though she couldn’t bring herself to smile right now, she gently stroked the butterfly pattern on the handle.

“Yes, let’s discuss it in more detail once this situation is resolved.”

* * *

At the Royal Guard Training Grounds, Lavinia felt both inspiration and disillusionment simultaneously.

She was moved when she saw people standing up to follow her, but what happened next was disillusioning.

“Fight those monsters? Are you insane? You’ll just increase the number of monsters!”

“Even experienced royal guards are being cautious, so do you think you can win against such creatures when you haven’t even done much monster subjugation? You might just provoke the monsters unnecessarily.”

“What if you carelessly open the door and even one of those things gets inside? How will you take responsibility!”

“What if the defensive magic circle gets damaged while you’re rampaging around? Do you have a way to fix that?”

“Look at the clothes worn by those creatures, not just the card-like ones! They were all originally human! They became like that after trying to fight recklessly like you!”

“Don’t act up unnecessarily and just wait quietly for rescue!”

Some cursed and blocked those trying to make oaths, while others tried to persuade them with logic. And many trembled while just watching nervously.

As the situation became chaotic, Lavinia looked around helplessly.

Duke Duilebog gestured to her with an anxious face. It meant to stop being reckless and return to mother’s embrace. It also meant that mother would somehow protect her.

She felt the urge to hide in that embrace and cover her eyes and ears. She also felt doubt and worry that she might really be trying to do something useless or futile.

Then, a calm and dignified voice cut across the crowd.

“Everyone be quiet. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this.”

It was Empress Ophelia, dressed in a black dress and ornate amber decorations for the succession ceremony.

She stood on a platform on one side of the Royal Guard Training Grounds, probably a space for instructors, and calmly looked down at the panicking nobles.

“Is there anyone here who anticipated such a situation might occur and prepared for it?”

Richard had been warned by Lillieta and prepared accordingly. However, he didn’t bother to respond to the Empress here.

The nobles fell silent and looked at each other. Most of them were half out of their minds with fear from this disaster and terror they were experiencing for the first time in their lives.

As if understanding such feelings well, the Empress continued.

“Most wouldn’t have known. Who could have imagined encountering such a thing while attending a banquet. Everyone must be confused and frightened.”

She placed her hand on her chest and added.

“I am too.”

Anxious gazes converged on her. The Empress straightened her back.

“But will you lose your reason by being consumed by fear? That won’t help at all. Neither in ending this situation nor in our surviving safely.”

Her olive-colored eyes sternly swept over the nobles.

“Everyone, maintain dignity befitting your status. What we should be doing now is not shouting and arguing, but calmly discussing what we can do and how we should proceed.”

Those who had been screaming blushed or quietly turned their heads away. In this place without the Emperor or Crown Prince, the Empress, who held the highest status, had such authority.

Ophelia looked at the oath volunteers standing near Richard and added.

“Instead of criticizing those who willingly showed courage, be grateful to them and think of ways to overcome this situation together.”

Then she turned her gaze to the one guarding the door.

“Captain of the Guard.”

“…Yes, yes! Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Do you know how long the defensive magic circle installed here can hold?”

“I’m not really sure. However…”

The Captain of the Guard swallowed nervously under the burden of everyone’s converging gazes and answered.

“His Highness the Crown Prince said… it could easily hold for three to four hours even if dozens of monsters swarmed it.”

People all turned to look at the windows or pulled out their pocket watches.

“How long has it been since we came in here?”

“About three hours.”

“The number of monsters outside…”

“Damn, it’s hard to gauge from here.”

The Empress, who had been quietly watching the murmuring crowd, spoke again.

“If the condition is holding for three to four hours against dozens of monsters, the defensive magic circle might collapse soon.”

The room became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it. The Captain of the Guard hastily spoke up.

“B-but His Highness the Crown Prince also said that His Highness and the Special Knight Order would resolve the situation within that time!”

“Of course I trust the Crown Prince too. However, now that the situation has worsened beyond expectations, we can’t just wait complacently for rescue. As the Duirebourg Noblewoman said, we can’t just tremble and do nothing like this.”

Lavinia was startled when she was mentioned, her shoulders jumping before she quickly lowered her head.

The Empress calmly organized the situation and assigned tasks to people.

“First… mages, please gather over here. Captain of the Guard, tell them everything you know about this magic circle. So that the mages here can assess and analyze the state of the magic circle.”

“Ah, understood, Your Majesty the Empress!”

“Sir Richard.”

Richard responded politely to the Empress’s call.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“You said they would be Oathbinders who can fight magical beasts. If you teach the volunteers how to make oaths and about Oathbinder combat methods, can they immediately become fighting forces?”

“I honestly can’t guarantee it, Your Majesty. There are types of Oathbinders, and one doesn’t know what type they’ll awaken as until they make their oath. Certain types can immediately become fighting forces, but some types require training before being deployed in actual combat.”

He recited exactly what he had learned from Lillieta. The Empress pondered briefly then nodded.

“You mean there are cases where they can immediately become fighting forces? Then please help the volunteers with their oaths and type classification for now. Please select those who can immediately become fighting forces and prepare them for combat.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

“Those who will attempt to make oaths, please go to Sir Richard. It would be better for the Royal Guard to also plan tactics to face the magical beasts together with them. And the rest of you…”

After surveying the trembling people and the glass windows covered with magical beasts, the rattling doors, the Empress assigned tasks to them as well.

“In preparation for when the defensive magic circle collapses, let’s block the doors and windows. Look for useful furniture or tools.”

The situation quickly calmed down.

While people brought items from inside to block the windows one by one, the mages surrounded the Captain of the Guard and bombarded him with questions.

And Richard found himself surrounded by even more volunteers than before, giving an unexpected lecture on elemental oaths.

Though oaths were important matters involving one’s entire life, given the circumstances, there wasn’t time for lengthy deliberation. The volunteers listened to examples of other Oathbinders’ oaths that Richard provided and chose their own oaths.

Soon they began making oaths one by one, chanting incantations. Wind stirred and light burst forth here and there.

Richard brought lit candles as Lillieta had done with Hanna, identifying and classifying the Oathbinders’ types. Those who could fight immediately, those too dangerous to deploy in actual combat right away, and those capable of combat support.

As he moved busily, he stiffened when he saw the face of the next person approaching.

“Brother.”

“Why do you look surprised.”

Leonhardt smiled quietly. Richard gestured at his clothes that completely covered his neck despite it being summer.

“You’re asking because you don’t know? How long has it been since your neck almost got cut off and you want to fight? Are you crazy?”

“It’s almost completely healed.”

“Do you really want to see Rita faint?”

“I think our youngest has shown more fainting-worthy sights.”

“That’s true, but… What about our parents?”

“Are they the type to stop something like this?”

At the nonchalant answer, Richard glanced toward the Raskail Count and Countess. The Duke looked anxious, but the Countess smiled at her second son. As if saying she trusted them.

Richard suddenly realized that he had never once beaten his brother in words or logic.

“Damn, fine. What’s your oath?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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