Chapter 428
by post_apiChapter 428: The Onslaught of War
Upon understanding his current predicament, Merleau, the former Chief Mage of the kingdom, naturally remained in the Granville Monster Forest.
After all, he could no longer live as a member of the human race within their kingdom. Moreover, despite lacking malicious intent, he had committed heinous atrocities during his brainwashing.
Gone were the days when he would be celebrated as a legendary figure by the human race… For years, even decades to come, he would likely be reviled as the kingdom’s traitor by countless humans.
Regarding his settlement…
Lin Yu and Magic Rainbow deliberated and decided to assign him the role of instructing the colony’s Demonic Ants in magical arts.
Thus, he would henceforth reside in this Monster Forest as a magic instructor.
Though Merleau’s magical aptitude and power paled beside Magic Rainbow’s, his mastery of magical theory and certain practical experiences was not inferior to hers. This made him exceptionally suited to educate the Demonic Ants.
It must be remembered that before orchestrating the king’s assassination, Merleau was a legendary icon throughout the kingdom. Nearly all mages regarded him as their aspiration, many yearning to become his disciples.
For Merleau himself, becoming an instructor for ant monsters initially baffled him and proved psychologically unacceptable… Yet after commencing actual lessons with the Demonic Ants, his perspective gradually shifted.
Their magical aptitude astonished him. While not matching Magic Rainbow, their talent for mastering specific elemental magics—even multiple attributes—proved remarkably high, rivaling the finest students at Rollo Magic Academy in the royal capital…
…
Just as Merleau settled into colony life, elsewhere…
The palace assault, the king’s murder, and the deaths of numerous princes and princesses—all perpetrated by former Chief Mage Merleau—could not be concealed. Swiftly, these events reverberated across the kingdom.
However, a kingdom cannot endure without a sovereign. On the third day following the tragedy, while citizens still reeled, the palace proclaimed that Third Princess Silvia would ascend as queen of Rollo Kingdom.
With the First, Second, and Fourth Princes deceased, and remaining royals either too young or incompetent, Magic Rainbow facilitated Third Princess Silvia’s seamless coronation.
Yet matters were far from smooth.
Immediately after the Third Princess assumed the throne, unrest erupted in the royal capital. Grand Aristocrats and ministers voiced protests.
Their grievances varied: some demanded succession by princes following the Fourth Prince; others declared Silvia unfit for queenship; the boldest even mobilized troops against the palace under the banner of “purging treacherous courtiers,” targeting Magic Rainbow as the “treacherous minister.”
After all, the regicide and palace devastation were wrought by none other than Magic Rainbow’s nominal teacher… Thus, their military action carried conviction.
Rumors spread like wildfire: “The Third Princess is Magic Rainbow’s puppet,” “The regicide’s disciple controls the palace,” “Merleau conspired with his student to murder the king.” Many capital citizens, ignorant of truth, believed these tales. Witnessing events unfold as predicted bolstered their resolve for military intervention.
Yet conviction alone proved insufficient against strength.
Over three years, Magic Rainbow had cultivated alliances not only with most princes and princesses but also with kingdom generals, Grand Aristocrats, and influential ministers in the capital.
To quell protests, Magic Rainbow united supportive generals and ministers behind Third Princess Silvia, gradually silencing dissent.
Forces marching on the palace were shattered and scattered by a single royal army charge. Fleeing survivors faced arrest for rebellion and imprisonment.
Resistance voices and damaging rumors targeting Magic Rainbow and the Third Princess were drowned by favorable narratives.
Containing the capital proved manageable—it lay directly under their watch.
But Merleau’s treason and the Third Princess’s ascension resonated kingdom-wide… indeed, continent-wide.
Beyond the capital, cities and towns experienced varying degrees of turmoil. Across the realm, only the Duchy of Ma’ika—home to Granville Monster Forest—remained stable, while the Duchy of Donelas and Principality of Reba grew restive.
Amid this chaos, the empire mobilized its armies.
…
…
Eastern Continent, an estate in Deta Empire.
“It finally begins…”
A somber male voice resonated from within a chamber.
“Indeed. Victory or defeat matters little—our scheme succeeds regardless. Eldest Brother shall emerge as the supreme reincarnator, hehe…”
A silver-bell feminine voice answered the gloom.
“How splendid war is! Whichever side prevails, multitudes shall perish. Far swifter than acting ourselves… and no lingering concerns.”
The woman’s voice chattered incessantly.
“I anticipated delays! Yet that kingdom mage actually accepted our invitation to the empire—and fell perfectly into my trap! Hehe, who’d suspect a seven-year-old girl? Especially a close friend’s niece.”
“The man proved annoyingly resilient. Over a month just to barely rewrite his mind.”
“But he executed flawlessly! Succeeded in regicide, slaughtered most royals, and plunged the kingdom into chaos. Without this, we’d never have persuaded the empire’s old guard.”
“Honestly! Waiting for kingdom turmoil to act… Those imperial fools witnessed Eldest Brother’s power firsthand. With his ‘undead legion’ and two rebellious duchies, what remained to fear?”
Her tone brimmed with discontent.
“Simplistic perspective.”
The male voice reemerged.
“My creations aren’t immortal—merely granted second life. Furthermore… though we never revealed ourselves as reincarnators, the empire isn’t witless. Suspicion surrounds us. Without the kingdom’s chaos igniting their avarice, they’d never have moved.”
He paused, then continued with sudden fervor, edges laced with madness:
“Regardless… War! Heh heh heh… This harvest shall be bountiful indeed.”