Chapter 59: King's Qualification

It's been a while, Swordbringer.

So you've already recovered your companion. Congratulations.

......

Rowena...!

Calm down, Elizabeth.

Don't let that kind of petty provocation get to you.

Surprisingly composed, aren't you?

I thought you'd charge at me to cut me, right on the spot.

I know that would be your goal.

So what are you scheming this time?

Heh. Sharp as ever.

She's grown exactly as he wished...

Are those your last words?

If you have anything to say, now would be a good time.

Wrap that venomous tongue of yours... today will be the last time you wag it.

It seems even the Fairy Queen wishes to take my life.

What an honor. But...

Morgana, your wish will not be granted.

You're no longer the oh-so-great Fairy Queen, aren't you?

Is it already over?

If you intend to take Bedivere, give it up.

...unless you want the World Tree as your enemy.

You've grown stronger, Swordbringer.

But... still not enough.

Damn... did we just miss our chance again?

Ethan! The wolf is gone!

What...?

Thank you, Swordbringer. You saved me the trouble of searching.

A pity, but let's postpone this match until next time.

We were completely outplayed...

I never expected that wolf to be the objective from the start...

This is bad. If we ignore this...

We might be blamed as the culprits!

We have no choice... we must push through head-on.

What do you intend to do?

Find a Blackwolf who'll listen and come clean to them.

We can't just accept being framed.

First, we need to make it clear that the Tiamat cultists kidnapped Fenrir.

Then promise the Allied Forces will recover the wolf.

If we take Vortigern down, we'll naturally come face-to-face with Rowena.

Lord Fenrir... was kidnapped by the Church of Tiamat?!

Sorry... I never imagined that they were after Fenrir.

So you were protecting Lord Fenrir after all.

Thank you. It's been a long time since we met decent humans.

Those bastards... first our kin, now even Lord Fenrir...!

I won't forgive them! I'm going after them right now!

Calm down! You know what happened to the elder who went to the Titania Empire!

All we can do now... is pray for Lord Fenrir's safety.

...

Then... how about forming a temporary alliance?

Hm?

The one who kidnapped Fenrir is the priestess of the Church of Tiamat, Rowena.

Rowena is the wife of Vortigern, Emperor of the Britannia Empire.

And the Allied Forces... are preparing for war to overthrow Vortigern.

So you're suggesting... we cooperate for our mutual goals?

Yes. Vortigern and Rowena are inseparable, political partners who rely on each other.

If Vortigern is in danger, Rowena will have no choice but to step in.

What do you think?

You don't have to worry about betrayal.

Every faction within the alliance has its own goals, but we all move toward one shared objective.

You will not be discriminated against for being beastfolk.

I swear it on the name of Elizabeth Pendragon, Princess of Britannia.

...

I hate sitting around doing nothing.

We'll go with you, and take Lord Fenrir back!

Yeah. If you your Alliance is as straightforward as you seem... we'll trust you.

Elizabeth, that was incredible.

To win over the Blackwolves, our former enemies... I'm impressed.

It's thanks to you, Ethan. You helped convince them.

If you hadn't managed to reach them first, I wouldn't have had the chance to make that offer.

You were both amazing!

So... shall we return to the abbey now?

Yes! Let's go already.

I'm starving!

Yeah, let's head back and get some rest.

This might be the last chance we have to relax...

How foolish...

To not even recognize such a powerful beast when it's right before them.

Grrrr...

Now then, go, wreak havoc to your heart's content.

Until every last soul in Britannia trembles in fear.

Your Majesty, an urgent report!

What is it, Sir Mordred?

A monster has appeared near the border, it's attacking a city.

The garrison stationed there can't handle it. They're requesting reinforcements.

Allow me to lead the troops myself.

...What information do we have on the creature?

Nothing concrete yet.

But... witnesses say it's a massive wolf, large enough to swallow a man whole.

...

Where is Rowena?

She's been absent since last night.

...

No. This time, I'll go myself.

Your Majesty, personally?!

Yes. My instincts tell me...

This is no ordinary attack.

That's the front line, facing the Allied Forces.

Are you sure it's wise?

I'll be fine.

To catch the hunter who set the trap...

The prey must walk into it himself.

Hyaah!

Begone!

No one sets foot in Britannia without my permission.

...

Go home, and rest.

His Majesty Vortigern has defeated the monster!

We're safe now...!

He's nothing like the rumors said...

He's... actually kindhearted... isn't he?

Of course!

If he personally came all the way out here to this remote village, he must really care about his people!

That can't be right!

If he's so kind, why start a rebellion in the first place?

There could be another reason. I heard a rumor lately...

They say the Holy Sword refused to recognize Princess Elizabeth as its true master.

Heh... Swordbringer. How will you overcome this crisis, I wonder?

Don't disappoint us.

...You've returned.

What's with that face, Guinevere?

Don't tell me... the operation failed?

No. Thanks to the combined effort of all our mages, the bridge has been restored.

But... we have another problem.

The people of Britannia... they're turning against the Allied Forces?

That can't be!

Rumor has it a giant monster appeared near the border.

According to soldiers who fled the scene...

They said it was like facing a dragon, they couldn't do a thing.

And Vortigern himself stepped in and slew the monster.

Since that day, his support has increased tenfold.

"Princess Elizabeth cannot be trusted."

"The true king who will protect us is His Majesty Vortigern." That's what they're saying now.

Talk about convenient timing...

It's suspicious, yes, but we have no proof.

The important thing is that Vortigern has successfully regained his honor.

With things as they are, we can't move our forces right now.

Why not? Can't we just crush them?

Morgana, in human wars, justification is everything.

The Allied Forces gained support because Princess Elizabeth is the rightful heir...

and because Vortigern's rebellion had no cause.

But if the citizens now see him as their protector...

Then any action we take will make us no better than him.

We can't ignore the people's voices.

We need a way to turn the tide.

So... it's my own failure that led to this.

That's not true, Princess!

You've worked harder than anyone!

Thank you, Bedi. But I can understand why they doubt me.

To most of them, my journey has been nothing more than a bard's tale.

That's why now, it's my turn to give them faith.

If Vortigern wants to stall with a cheap performance...

Then I'll answer with a grander stage.

What do you plan to do? Honestly, this won't be easy.

With the Holy Sword's whereabouts unknown, there's only one way left to prove myself.

The Dragon of Calamity, Esteria.

I'll slay it... and recreate the legend.

The Dragon of Calamity?

It's one of Britannia's oldest legends.

Long ago, Esteria shook the world and plunged it into chaos.

And the one who banished it... was the Red Dragon, Karishara.

It's a story still loved by many to this day.

But that's just a legend, isn't it? After all this time, the dragon could've died ages ago.

No. The Dragon of Calamity still lives.

There are records in the royal archives, about the ruins of the dragon's lair.

I used to wonder why my ancestors left those records...

But now I understand.

I'll defeat Esteria...

and prove that I carry the Red Dragon's will!

That's a fine plan.

Then I'll trust you all and prepare for the next phase.

Sounds good. We've got nothing to lose, right?

Let's move out! The longer we wait, the worse it gets!

...

Esteria...

That name feels... strangely familiar. Probably just my imagination.

The forest... it's so quiet.

Could the Imperial troops have passed through here?

No... something's off.

Grrrrr...

Ethan...

That creature... it carries Fenrir's aura.

...

Yeah... so it wasn't just my imagination.

It was all set in motion from the start.

Rowena kidnapping Fenrir... and Vortigern's oh-so-convenient visit to that village...

Everything, every last bit of it, was her plan!

ROOOOAAAR!!!

Haaah!!!

Elizabeth...?

Heh. I've decided to slay the Dragon of Calamity, I can't afford to back down here.

And besides...

I can't just stand by and let a monster that's hurt my people go free.

I am the Princess of Britannia!