Chapter 79: Princess Renner's Thoughts

                                    

                                          
"I went to Meyall this time to handle the compensation for the fallen soldiers. According to the Kingdom's laws, when a soldier dies, a certain amount of compensation is given to the soldier's family based on their achievements in battle. Since the compensation isn't very high, this policy has been effectively in place for nearly a hundred years."
EeDeChi nodded. "That's a good system for the benefit of the country and its people."
The person she was speaking with was none other than the kingdom's third princess—Princess Renner. They were in a room on the second floor of a small building, with shutters on all four walls. The bright sunlight streamed through the windows, casting striped patterns on the wooden floor and illuminating Princess Renner's earnest eyes.
Princess Renner paused for a moment, then continued, "However, in the war with the Sorcerer Kingdom years ago, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown slaughtered over a hundred thousand of our soldiers in just one day.
"Fortunately, the Sorcerer Kingdom did not continue its offensive against us, but with the current control that Sorcerer Kingdom has over us, it's almost as if we are already under their rule."
EeDeChi responded, "It's a helpless situation. Humanity is too weak in this world."
Princess Renner let out a bitter smile and said, "The most immediate impact of this war is that the compensation funds are running out. If we were to distribute all the compensation for the fallen soldiers at once, the treasury would be completely drained.
"So, some of the compensation has to be delayed. I often wonder how much better it would have been if the supreme Ainz Ooal Gown hadn't cast that dreadful spell."
In reality, these weren't Princess Renner's true feelings. Though the war with the Sorcerer Kingdom was terrifying and nearly led to the kingdom's destruction, without it, the crown prince wouldn't have died, the second prince would still be the center of the nobles' attention, and the power of the great nobles would still be deeply entrenched.
She would receive a remote fief and, upon reaching a certain age, marry a refined, handsome, and esteemed man amidst the blessings of everyone in the kingdom. Then she would live out a happy and fulfilling life just like the dozens of former princesses recorded in the kingdom's history.
This was not what she wanted.
Fortunately, the Sorcerer Kingdom, also known as the Great Tomb of Nazarick, emerged and changed everything with its unmatched power.
The traditional noble's military and political power was nearly annihilated, the king's sanity was on the brink of collapse, the crown prince was dead, and for the first time, there was a shift in the succession of the throne. With a power vacuum, new nobles and merchants became active.
The new forces introduced their representative, the third princess Renner. Princess Renner, with strategies, intelligence, and skills surpassing her brothers, along with her beauty and wisdom, consolidated and firmly held this newfound power in her hands.
Power was like a fine wine; just a sip was enough to get lost in its exquisite taste, unable to pull away. For her own happiness and to continue savoring the taste of power, she was willing to give up everything except her own and Climb's lives.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, with its supreme power, had recently shown great interest in her hired adventurer, EeDeChi. Princess Renner didn't understand why. To her, EeDeChi was just an adventurer with strong defensive capabilities. Moreover, being only at orichalcum-level, she was far from reaching the highest-level Adamantite.
She was on good terms with the kingdom's adamantite-level adventurer team, the Blue Roses, and she knew very well the capabilities of orichalcum-level adventurers. However, the Great Tomb of Nazarick seemed to place significant importance on EeDeChi, and there must be some hidden reason behind it.
Princess Renner glanced at EeDeChi and said, "If Ainz Ooal Gown hadn't invaded our kingdom, I imagine the common people's living conditions might have been somewhat better."
"Yeah," EeDeChi agreed, "Ainz Ooal Gown is indeed a troublesome figure. He'll do anything to show off. Actually, I'm also looking for some powerful allies to see if we can counter—"
Before the adventurer captain could finish, a series of urgent knocks interrupted her. As soon as the knocking stopped, the door was pushed open to reveal a golden-haired figure in silver full-body armor.
The only person allowed to enter Princess Renner's room without her permission was her personal guard, Climb.
Climb had already drawn his adamantite sword and looked thoroughly alarmed. "It's an emergency! Princess Renner, someone poisoned the lunch today, and all the accompanying knights are poisoned!"
Princess Renner's expression turned serious. She asked, "Where is Lakyus now..."
A sharp, adamantite arrow suddenly shot through the sunlight filtering through the shutters, shattered a white porcelain vase on the table, and lodged into the floor.
Immediately, all four shutters in the room shattered in an instant, and the once-bright sunlight was replaced by a barrage of tightly packed arrows like a swarm of locusts!
Amidst the arrow rain, a golden pendant on Princess Renner's chest began to glow, and magical energy surged, forming an oval shield around her. Climb swung his longsword, pushing through the dense arrows and reaching the princess. Countless sharp arrowheads struck his full-body armor with a clattering sound.
Princess Renner grabbed Climb's wrist and pulled him into the magical shield, their eyes wide with fear.
A tornado was dancing around them.
In the room, more intense than the hail of arrows was the sword wind whipped up by EeDeChi's giant sword. The arrows were swept away by the heavy blade, not a single one coming close to EeDeChi.
The sword shadows were densely woven and bright. Amid them, a colorful magical aura appeared. Runes swirled around EeDeChi's outstretched left hand, slowly rotating as a circular magical seal unfolded before the adventurer captain's palm.
Princess Renner and Climb were completely stunned. Not only was this guy wielding the giant sword with such precision that no one could break through, but she was also casting magic with her other hand!
5th Tier Magic: Earthquake!
Blinding white light erupted from the sword-wielding tornado, like a thunderclap tearing through everything in its path.
After the intense light and scorching wind, Princess Renner forced her eyes open. The clear noon sunlight poured over the three of them without obstruction, as half the small building and its entire roof had been blown away...
There was one last undamaged shutter behind them when a red figure floated in. Taking advantage of Princess Renner's shock, the figure brandished a long blade and thrust it toward her.
...
In the dining hall, Barrett frowned deeply, slowly crouching down as a tearing pain in his abdomen made sweat the size of beans bead all over his body, soaking his hair and eyebrows. He trembled as he reached into his spatial ring with his left hand, pulling out a vial of antidote said to cure all poisons. He bit open the vial and poured the black pill into his mouth.
In the center of the dining hall, a pure white holy light surged like a tide, spreading out in all directions. The immaculate light engulfed Barrett, the intense pain in his abdomen suddenly easing a lot. His twisted intestines felt like they had been untied and relaxed.
Someone had cast a blessing magic field in the dining hall!
Fortunately, the seasoned alchemist didn't boast at this critical moment, and the antidote was working. Barrett's stomach gurgled as if liquid was rolling through, cleansing his digestive system and soothing his cramping intestines.
With the combined effects of the blessing magic and the antidote, the terrifying abdominal pain gradually diminished. Barrett took deep breaths, pulled out his longsword from his spatial ring, and braced himself with one hand on the hilt.
He stood up and looked at the person casting the blessing magic field in the center of the dining hall.