Paladin of the Dead God
chapter-169-2

“The vanguard has been entrusted to me. His Majesty has also agreed to take supreme command,” Isaac reported.

“You’ve had a hard time, Holy Grail Knight. The most crucial task has been entrusted to you,” a noble acknowledged.

“It’s a necessary experience for me too,” Isaac replied.

Unifying command was indeed a critical condition in this civil war.

Comparing King Edelred’s and Georg’s forces, while Edelred’s assembled knights outnumbered their opponents, Georg’s troops were superior in quality and morale. Without unified command, Edelred’s forces were likely to crumble instantly in combat.

‘If gaining command through duels is what it takes, it’s a small price to pay.’

In the Gerthonia Empire, achieving such unity would have been much harder, requiring negotiations, threats, bribes, and more, just to fight under a common banner.

In this regard, Elil’s straightforwardness was a relief.

However, not all conflicts had been resolved.

“There are nobles who neither joined the duel nor actively participated in the meetings,” Isaac noted.

Edelred nodded. “I know who they are. They’re mostly nobles from Saltain or the coastal areas, some indebted to the Count of Saltain. And believe it or not, there’s a faction here that supports maintaining the status quo.”

These were ‘Status Quo Supporters’. Some nobles preferred that the Kingdom of Elil remain divided, neither siding with the Aldeon royal family nor the Georg warlords, since both parties left them to their own devices as long as they paid their taxes.

This allowed these nobles to wield greater power within their domains than ever before; effectively, the kingdom was split into hundreds of mini-states.

“And generally, they align with Count Saltain’s faction. Theo Saltain declared independence instead of revenge during his lifetime.”

He didn’t renounce the faith of Elil but declared that he would not accept royal authority.

Isaac estimated that these nobles constituted about a third of the aristocracy,a significant but quiet faction, likely still haunted by the massacre at Saltain.

They merely hoped the war would not end in anyone’s victory, favoring the status quo.

Isaac reconsidered the power dynamics.

King’s faction: Aldeon.

Rebel’s faction: Georg.

Neutral faction: Saltain.

With Saltain at the western end and Georg’s stronghold, the Holy Land of Elion, to the east, abandoning Saltain could mean a stab in the back. Moreover, given Lady Rosalind’s actions, they were unlikely to stay quiet.

Yet, all these queries intensified when Rosalind visited Aldeon.

If she truly wanted to maintain the status quo, a show of force in Saltain would have been better fighting on two fronts is foolish for any kingdom.

Isaac tapped a column thoughtfully.

“Why would Theo Saltain respond to the summons?”

“Hmm, I don’t know either. No one thought he would come…”

“Why did Lady Rosalind come here to expose her hatred?”

Was it just to sabotage the unification? To reveal the Aldeon family’s dark secrets in front of the nobles? To show the victims of Saltain and alert the aristocracy?

All were possible. Rosalind was literally risking her life with these actions.

But Isaac felt there was a more significant reason.

While Rosalind might be motivated by personal reasons, other factions didn’t actively oppose the Aldeon royal family; unlike the islands across the sea, they were on the mainland and could directly confront the royal power.

This meant Rosalind had something more than just ‘returning a sacred relic’ to shatter Aldeon’s unification efforts.

They were waiting for the moment to reveal it.

‘It’s a headache.’

Just figuring out how to deal with Georg and keeping an eye on Saltain was troubling enough. He hadn’t even considered the possibility of Saltain collaborating with Georg to double-cross Aldeon, it seemed unlikely.

His real concern was ‘deliberate incompetence’.

Even agreeing to attack together, a sudden break in the ranks or a retreat could devastate Aldeon’s forces, a passive form of rebellion was very likely.

So, Isaac brought up a contingency plan.

“Will you bring out Kaldbruch?”

Edelred looked at him, surprised.

“The holy sword Kaldbruch? Yes, of course, we must take it.”

Kaldbruch, one of the three remaining swords once wielded by Elil and kept in the royal treasury, was somewhat neglected but protected by its own curse, unbearable pain to any unworthy holder.

It was one reason no one underestimated the kingless Aldeon royal family.

“While I trust the Holy Grail Knight, we can’t rely on him alone. And Lianne will bring her holy sword Lumiarde. We must do our best, even if Kaldbruch is not suited for such a battlefield…”

Edelred pondered the meaning etched in the names of the holy swords, Justice for Kaldbruch, Honor for Lumiarde.

A clash of holy swords. If this were a game, it would be thrilling, but it was a tragedy born from a civil war.

‘Even with Kaldbruch, I’m not sure if Edelred can match Lianne. It looks like I’ll have to face her…’

Holy swords not only had unique powers but also served as powerful catalysts for certain rituals. Kaldbruch could temporarily invoke an angelic presence in its wielder.

Not a sentient archangel, but a mechanical cherub—yet an angel nonetheless.

The extent to which one could harness this power could turn a mere warrior into a divine force. However, unless one was a fitting sovereign, most would perish before reaching that pinnacle.

But that was no small burden even for a king.

‘It was the power to crush bones and organs under enhanced muscular strength, probably.’

At least with that power, there was little risk of Edelred being suddenly assassinated on the battlefield or having the sword stolen, unless by Lianne herself.

Isaac decided to put aside his worries about Aldeon’s weakest link and moved on to the next concern.

‘I need to meet Lady Rosalind.’