Re-Estize Kingdom — Royal Capital
At the deepest heart of the Royal Capital stood Royal Castle Laurenti.
Twelve towering bastions and layered defensive walls surrounded the outer ring, housing the Royal Guard and elite direct units. Within them rose three square palace complexes, the central one reserved for the royal family—the symbol of authority over a Kingdom already riddled with cracks.
After finishing his daily training, Gazef Stronoff received a summons.
Not from the court.
But from the King himself.
Royal Audience Chamber
Gazef knocked once.
"Come in."
He entered.
By the tall window stood an elderly man wearing a crown—his back slightly bent, his hands clasped behind him. Outside, in the courtyard below, a golden-haired young woman laughed softly as she walked among the flowers.
Affection filled the old man's eyes.
"Your Majesty."
"My Warrior Captain… you've come."
The man turned.
This was King Ramposa III, ruler of Re-Estize.
"May I ask the reason for Your Majesty's summons?" Gazef asked.
Ramposa smiled gently and gestured toward the desk.
"I wish to ask your thoughts on a certain man."
Gazef paused.
"…Who?"
"Lock Kote Albert."
Gazef's brow furrowed slightly.
"Forgive my frankness, Your Majesty. Why would you suddenly ask about Baron Lock?"
Ramposa slid a sealed letter across the desk.
"Read."
Gazef did.
As his eyes moved across the page, Ramposa spoke quietly.
"The Albert Family has sent a formal visiting letter. Catherine Cort Albert—the Starlight Witch—will soon arrive in the capital to discuss her appointment as Chief Court Magician."
Gazef's eyes widened slightly.
"That alone would be a blessing to the Kingdom."
"Yes," Ramposa agreed softly.
"But she added a condition."
Gazef read on.
"…Marriage?"
Ramposa nodded, his smile bitter.
"She requests that my daughter—Princess Renner—be wed to her brother, Baron Lock Kote Albert."
Gazef slowly lowered the letter.
"And Baron Lock himself is already en route," Ramposa continued. "He will arrive within two days."
"What was Your Majesty's response?"
"I refused," Ramposa said immediately.
"No crown is worth sacrificing my child's happiness."
Gazef felt relief—but it was short-lived.
Ramposa sighed and handed him another document.
"However… this arrived from Mayor Panasolei of E-Rantel."
Gazef read.
His expression darkened.
"…Adamantite-class combat power?"
"Suspected," Ramposa corrected.
"And that is the least troubling part."
Gazef raised his head.
"Then… what is Your Majesty's concern?"
Ramposa leaned back, exhaustion etched into his face.
"Tell me honestly, Gazef. What is your impression of Baron Lock?"
Gazef answered without hesitation.
"When I met him, he showed no martial ability. I believed him to be a frail noble."
Ramposa nodded slowly.
"But," Gazef continued, "his Tiger Knight Order is extraordinary."
Ramposa closed his eyes.
"They command Magic Beasts," Gazef said.
"They wield equipment far beyond standard military issue. Each knight possesses physical strength and martial techniques I have never seen before."
According to Panasolei's intelligence—
Over three thousand Tiger Knights now existed.
Recruitment was accelerating.
Six neighboring noble territories had effectively fallen under Lock's influence.
A baron in title alone.
In truth, a power rivaling the Six Great Nobles.
Ramposa spoke quietly.
"If I ordered you to confront them… could you win?"
Gazef hesitated.
Then spoke honestly.
"I do not know."
Ramposa stiffened.
"I have observed their training," Gazef continued.
"Even fully armored, I am not confident in defeating one. To defeat one hundred Tiger Knights, at least six thousand soldiers would be required—and that assumes no regard for casualties."
Silence.
Ramposa turned back toward the window.
In the courtyard below, Renner smiled innocently, unaware of the storm gathering around her.
"…Lana," the King whispered.
On the Road to the Royal Capital
Inside a luxurious carriage, Lock leaned back comfortably.
"Fallen!!!"
A colossal pillar of annihilation descended upon the battlefield.
The image floated clearly before him—captured through the Demon God's Eye.
Lock applauded lightly.
"Magnificent. Truly magnificent."
Vier, Clementine, and Brain exchanged looks.
This was… unsettling.
"Using positioning, attrition, cash items, and psychological manipulation," Lock said happily.
"He turned a losing matchup into a flawless execution."
He removed the monocle and handed it to Clementine.
"Watch carefully. These are the enemies you will face in the future."
Clementine scoffed and put it on.
Seconds passed.
Her expression changed.
"…What is this?" she muttered.
Brain frowned. "What's wrong?"
Clementine removed the monocle slowly, her usual twisted grin absent.
She handed it to Brian.
"See for yourself."
As Brain looked—
His pupils shrank.
"…So that's the level we're aiming for."
Lock smiled faintly.
"Welcome to the real battlefield."
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