Gamble for Victory

"Hilda! What the hell were you thinking!?"

Cain glared at Hilda and questioned her loudly the moment they stepped out of the Temple gates.

Hilda did not seem surprised by Cain’s outburst of rage, she simply looked at him calmly.

"Have you gone mad!? To put Her Highness in such a dangerous position... if something actually happens, how will you make up for it!? With your life? Your honor!?"

Hilda remained silent. Cain, still consumed by his fury, failed to notice the strange aura she was exuding.

"You are playing with fire! You are gambling with the Kingdom of the Moon itself!!"

Cain was fuming. If his knightly code had not kept him rational and poised, he likely would have started cursing.

"Cain."

Hilda finally spoke.

Her voice was as flat as usual, devoid of any emotion.

"We are both Temple knights. Following orders is our duty, and protecting the Saintess is also our duty. For that... I am willing to give my life without hesitation."

Cain froze, his anger vanishing instantly as he fell into a daze.

"Hilda, you don't mean..."

"Cain, come with me."

Hilda turned and walked away. After a brief hesitation, Cain followed her.

The two arrived at a lounge outside the Temple, a place reserved for guests that was rarely opened.

However, Temple knights were an exception.

Men were permitted in the front half of the Temple, including this lounge, though the inner sanctum remained off limits.

"Hilda, what exactly are you planning to do?"

"Cain, do not be impatient. Look at this first."

A map appeared in Hilda’s hand and she placed it on the table.

"This is... the Four-Ring Mountains?"

"Correct. This is the Four-Ring Mountains. Look here."

Hilda pointed to a spot near a plain and some hills.

"What does this mean?"

Cain frowned as he looked at her.

Hilda gave a faint smile, one that seemed to carry a hint of confidence.

"The sand table we saw only shows the general terrain, but it cannot display certain details."

"Cain, remember the patrol routes? I was responsible for the northeast region, so I have been here personally. I know the local geography."

"Among these hills, there is a hidden path. By taking it, one can cross the Moonlight River from these hills and return to the area controlled by Brilliant City."

"This path is only wide enough for seven or eight people. It cannot accommodate a large scale army."

Cain listened intently, his brow furrowed.

"In other words... if an accident occurs, we leave a squad here to hold the pass, and Her Highness can return safely to the territory of Brilliant City?"

"Precisely." Hilda nodded slightly and continued, "I have already informed Yuna to dispatch troops here immediately after we leave. If anything goes wrong, they will take Her Highness away directly."

"But... to resist an attack from the demon elites, we must have sufficient combat power!" Cain expressed his concern.

If the enemy consisted of demon elites, there might even be someone at the demon general rank. The strength of two Guardian Knights and two thousand cavalrymen would not be enough to stop such a demon army.

"Cain, do you remember the skill Her Highness used on me... Hero Creation?"

"I remember! The soul of Sir Julius?"

He looked at Hilda in confusion. All the Guardian Knights knew about that event since it happened on the battlefield in front of most of the knights.

Julius’s final spear throw had severed an arm of the demon general Zuka, forcing him to retreat with heavy injuries. It had also significantly bolstered Hilda’s prestige among the knights.

"Yes. When Sir Julius departed, he passed a skill down to me, allowing me to use it in case of an absolute emergency..."

Cain’s brow knit into a tight knot.

"And the cost?"

He asked without a second of hesitation. It was obvious that a skill meant only for desperate situations would carry a heavy price.

Based on Hilda’s tone, she seemed extremely confident that she could halt the advance of the demon elites.

"It is merely... the life of one knight."

Hilda rested both hands on the hilt of her sword, the scabbard planted on the ground. Her face showed no fear of death, only the serene resolve of one prepared for sacrifice.

"...I see."

Cain took a deep breath and nodded. When he looked at Hilda again, his gaze had changed, reflecting a touch of admiration.

"Since it is a skill left to you by Sir Julius, then I believe protecting Her Highness should be no problem."

"Yes. However... Sir Cain, before that, we must still do our best. We must give everything for Her Highness’s plan. If it truly becomes impossible, then we will escort her back to Brilliant City."

"Indeed. However, Her Highness’s main goal this time is to save these million people. If we take your skill into account..."

Cain’s mind raced as he quickly deduced several possibilities.

"If that is the case, once the situation becomes untenable, Hilda, you will escort Her Highness to that hidden path. The heavy responsibility of holding the rear will be yours."

"Fine. And you?"

"I will escort these million people and evacuate them from the Four-Ring Mountains as quickly as possible. Then, at this spot..."

Cain pointed to the only north-south pass in the Four-Ring Mountains that led back toward Brilliant City.

"I will hold this pass to the death to ensure the people can evacuate safely. If necessary... I do not mind staying behind either, just as you said."

At this point, Cain gave a sudden, dashing smile.

"It is merely... the life of one knight. What is there to fear? This way, I can fulfill Her Highness’s expectations and uphold my duty as a knight!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, their expressions filled with the courage to face death.

"For glory, for the moonlight... and above all, for Her Highness."

"For Her Highness!"

In that moment, a powerful bond of brotherhood formed between the two knights, something they had never shared before.

The two reached a tacit understanding and did not discuss the matter further. As the saying goes, the more said, the more likely a slip-up. If word got out and reached their Saintess's ears...

Given how much she valued her Guardian Knights, she would never allow them to do such a thing.

Above Brilliant City, the bright moon hung high in the sky.

The clear moonlight bathed the ancient city, as if draping it in a layer of silver armor to see them off for the coming battle!

At dawn, Luo Li sat among the sand tables, constantly visualizing possible scenarios in her mind. Having not slept all night, she let out a cute yawn.

"Ah~ mm..."

She stretched, and when she looked up, a faint glimmer of light had begun to appear on the horizon outside the window.

"What time is it?"

Only now did she realize she had been sitting in the Temple until morning, with pieces of the sand table scattered all over the floor.

"Your Highness, it is already past four in the morning. Dawn is breaking."

"Mmm... no wonder I feel so tired."

She stood up and shook her head, her long silver hair swaying with the movement.

She looked down at the sand table of the Four-Ring Mountains.

It was impossible not to be nervous when leading a war for the second time. However, with her first experience under her belt and having spent so much time as the Saintess in a position of authority, her mindset had begun to shift.

She was aware of this change, and she welcomed it.

Transitioning from the mindset of a small clerk to that of a monarch was a good thing. It would have been worse if she hadn't changed.

After all, for the rest of her life, she would have to stand as a ruler over the hundreds of millions of people in the Kingdom of the Moon.

If she couldn't adjust her mentality and kept thinking like a commoner who had just struck it rich, she would only be a burden to herself and the country.

"Your Highness, here is some orange juice."

"Thank you."

She took the silver cup from Nara, took a sip, and placed it back on the tray.

"Have Cain and Hilda not returned yet?"

Ever since the strategy was set last night, Hilda’s behavior had been weighing on her mind.

But the knight hadn't said anything from beginning to end, which only made Luo Li more concerned.

"No. However, both knights have sent word that the two thousand knights have finished assembling outside the city. They are only waiting for Your Highness..."

At this, Nara couldn't help but look worried.

"Your Highness, are you truly going?"

"Of course. As a ruler, my words are law. The die is cast, how could I possibly back out now?"

"...In that case, Your Highness, I am just an ordinary nun with no great strength, but I am still willing to follow you to the front lines. Please allow it."

"No! On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. One mistake and you could die on the spot. You have no combat skills, so why would you go and get in the way? Stay here where it's safe."

"But Your Highness..."

"No buts. My word is the King's command!"

"...Yes."

Nara trembled slightly at those words. Though she was unwilling, she bit her lip and nodded in grievance.

Luo Li understood her worry, but she couldn't bring a defenseless girl to the battlefield.

The battlefield was no joke, it was a literal meat grinder. Any soft flesh would be ruthlessly crushed into powder.

Especially a delicate little girl like her.

"Alright, don't look so sad. When I get back, I'll tell you all about how I single handedly crushed those demon elites!"

It was simple: the little girl should stay home safely and watch her superior conquer the world, then wait for them to come back and brag about it!

"Oh~"

Nara accepted it begrudgingly. After all, her Saintess's word was law.

As she had said, her word was the King's command!

"Now, go wash up. Is there any news from Camilla?"

"Yes. She sent someone with a dozen large wooden barrels. They seem to contain some kind of powder."

"Mm, as expected... the elves have lived for so long, their minds are quite sharp."

This stuff would be useful. After all, it was made from her bathwater in solid form. Even if it didn't kill the demons, it would at least hinder them.

At a time like this, she had to consider every detail. One mistake could mean losing the entire game.

She was gambling with her life, so she couldn't afford any carelessness.

"Good. Have someone take them and deliver them to Hilda outside the city."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Where is Ligeia?"

"Miss Ligeia is still in the display room. Your Highness, if I may be so bold... Miss Ligeia wouldn't... steal anything, would she? There are many treasures in the display room~"

The little girl was truly judging others by her own standards. No matter how greedy Ligeia was, she wouldn't touch those things.

Those were the collective heritage of the Eight Nations of the Holy Church. Who would dare steal them?

Were they not afraid of the combined wrath of the Eight Nations?

"You little girl, badmouthing me behind my back? Aren't you afraid I'll use magic to turn you into a demon?"

Without warning, Ligeia appeared behind Nara, her face almost pressing against the girl’s neck.

Nara jumped as if she had been electrocuted and let out a shrill scream.

"Eek—! Your Highness, save me!!"

She sprinted behind Luo Li, trembling as she peeked out to look at the smiling Ligeia.

One of her hands gripped Luo Li’s waist while the other rubbed her own bottom.

Clearly, she had been teased by Ligeia.

Luo Li had seen it clearly just now; Ligeia had given the girl’s rear a sharp pinch.

"Alright, Ligeia, stop scaring her."

Luo Li shook her head with a wry smile and glanced at Nara. The girl’s face was pale, and she was clinging to Luo Li so tightly that she could feel the girl’s slight trembling.

"It's okay, don't be afraid. Ligeia won't actually do anything to you."

"Your Highness, she... she just popped out of nowhere like a ghost!"

Nara was still complaining. Ligeia, on the other hand, looked a bit embarrassed. She feigned anger and glared at Nara.

"You little brat, who are you calling a ghost!?"

"Your Highness, help me!!!"

"Alright, alright! Both of you, stop it!"

It took a while to calm the terrified Nara and dissuade Ligeia from further teasing.

"Ligeia, is everything settled?"

"Don't worry, everything is handled. But Your Highness... you are truly something else. To use the original contract document tablet to offset a debt of a hundred million gold coins."

"A hundred thousand for one skysoar silver dragon, and you managed to haggle it down to fifty thousand. In all my years, I have never seen anyone dare to bargain with the Dragon King like that."

Luo Li simply offered a smile in response.

"The Dragon King is just another king. It is no big deal. Even with his great strength, he is still a ruler, and one with immense greed at that."

Indeed. Because she had sold the replica tablets, the final amount of cash she received was only two hundred million gold coins.

She couldn't possibly give all the gold to the Dragon King, or how would the Kingdom of the Moon develop?

So, she had used the original contract document tablet to trade for a hundred million gold coins worth of value.

Furthermore... she had reached another agreement with the Dragon King.

Ligeia’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Your Highness, I suppose you have more than a fifty percent chance of success this time?"