Book 7: Chapter 39


    I was sitting on the gunpowder barrel. I looked at the three before me and seriously asked, Thats the current situation. The problem were faced with now is very serious. And that is, what are we going to do? Were just one step away from our dream, but its one very hard step to take.


    This decision affects the lives of our entire team, yet we were discussing it while sitting on a few old-broken barrels of gunpowder, dressed in filthy clothing stained with blood.


    It didnt look formal in the slightest.


    Lorana wiped her long-sword. I got a glimpse of what it meant to hold the title of the continents number-one Sword Saint. She didnt use any enchantments or even mana. She relied purely on her sword skills to defeat an entire toon of enemies, ughtering all of them without letting her clothes get damaged.


    She narrowed her eyes after hearing my question and asked, That, Your Majesty, depends on how youre thinking about it Let me reword that. When faced with this question, are you considering it as the Prince or the future Emperor?


    I hesitated for a moment and then asked her, Is that somehow rted?


    Lorana snickered and replied, Of course it is. If youre considering it as the prince, then you can leave now, since its not absolutely necessary for you toplete this task. Leaving wont affect your identity or status as the Prince, as you can leave it to Her Majesty. You just need to return to the city. If you are considering it as an Emperor, then you mustplete this task. I believe that if it was Elizabeth, who was in your shoes, shed surely continue. She definitely wouldnt leave this ce.


    I dont think that our soldiers have the strength to continue, though


    I looked at my soldiers around me, who were exhausted and lying scattered all around. Those who could still move looked white as a sheet. I looked at them and couldnt imagine how they could continue advancing in their state.


    <em>I do want to advance but can my men?</em>


    Lorana looked at me and firmly replied, Your Majesty, whether soldiers can advance or not lies with whether their leader has what it takes to make them advance or not. What you need isnt power as a leader nor is it a question of how much prestige you have, but your will to advance as a King. If you hesitate in front of your soldiers, they wont have any desire to advance. You must stand in front of them. They will have the strength to advance. Elizabeth would never leave. She would definitely stand at the front of her soldiers. Your Majesty, if you stand at the front as the leader, your soldiers will not feel lost. As long as you have hope in your heart to advance, you wont fall here.


    I nodded. Philes looked at us and hesitated for a moment before wiping the sweat on his face. He asked, Our men might be able to advance, but we do not have weapons to defeat the enemy. We virtually have no weapons anymore and we have used up all of our bullets. If we go to their rescue now, are we confident that we can rescue them?


    Tarak nodded and added, We are indeed very close to our destination, but we will not gain anything out of rescuing them. When that happens, it will end the same way as leaving. If we leave, we will definitely make it out alive. However, if we fail to rescue them, we will not be able to return. This is a gamble. Your Majesty, we may not be able to rescue them, so I do not rmend rescuing them.


    I nodded. He was right. Maybe I could get my soldiers on their feet to advance, but they cant defeat enemies with their teeth or fists. Weve killed a good number of people here, so who knows how many people are still there. We dont have many usable weapons left. Were here to search for the metal, precisely because our gun barrels cant be used. The only useable weapons we have left are the elven swords.


    <em>So what will we use to defeat our enemies?</em>


    Our soldiers are technically the exact same as other human soldiers. My soldiers are so formidable thanks to our more advanced weapons. But we dont have our weapons anymore. I believe that soldiers Nier personally trained are very strong, but I cant let my exhausted soldiers fight with just their swords.


    The enemy has guns, after all. I cant let them charge at enemies armed with guns using their bodies as shields.


    Lorana chuckled in a weird tone then pointed at the Earth Dragon lying on the ground. She suggested, We arentpletely unarmed. Isnt that a perfect weapon? Do you think theres anyone who could defend against five massive beasts charging at them? We just need to charge into the enemy and then our foot soldiers can close the gap and begin to cut the enemies down, right?


    I stood up and looked at the Earth Dragon. I suddenly realised that I wasntpletely unarmed. I still have the weapons Mommy Vyvyan gave me, and they were numbers and tens of ignite and explosive potions. I can charge into the enemy, then throw them into the enemy formation to disintegrate their formation. My men will then be able to attack them from another side. I can rescue them using a diversion tactic.


    I looked at Lorana andmanded, Kill one Earth Dragon.


    What?


    Lorana hesitated.


    Kill one Earth Dragon and feed its flesh to our soldiers. Use the remaining water to brew a pot of Earth Dragon Stew and give our men a sumptuous meal. Were going on the attack next.


    I looked up to the sky and continued, If we move fast enough, well reach our destination tonight. We dont have many more resources anymore, so we dont require so many Earth Dragons anymore. We just need one Earth Dragon to guard our remaining resources and two to send our wounded men back. Leave behind half of our men to protect our wounded. Well pick them up when wee back.


    I touched the ne at my chest and clenched my teeth. I can call Mommy Vyvyan with this ne. I can seed for sure if Mommy Vyvyanes, but I know that I cant depend on moms strength anymore. If I still need to rely on Mom toe help me, then thered be no point in meing here.


    I must end this with my own effort. I must aplish my goal with my own strength. I must personally locate the mine. Ive worked hard up until now. If I quit now, I wont have the right to talk about being a qualified King in the future.


    I mustplete this task. I wont give up aftering all the way here. No. Way, Im just one step away from achieving the future I want. I dont want to quit now.


    Call all our men here. Call all our men who can still move here. Kill an Earth Dragon and feed it to them. Next, well break through the enemysst siege. I wont back down! Ill bite them and use my fists if I must! Were right in front of our dream! I wont give up!!