Golden Mage - Chapter 42
Volume 2, Episode 12
She looked at El and said, “I have a favor to ask too. Even though I’ve become a 6th Class Master, there’s still a higher level to reach.”
El grinned and nodded, “I understand. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll gladly lend a hand.”
“Thank you. Then let’s follow Ellie’s suggestion and head to the Tollian Kingdom. Ellie’s opinion sounds the most reasonable. What do you all think?”
Cilfir asked Serena and Kaina, and both women nodded in agreement. They had no objections to Ellie’s well-founded opinion.
“I think that’s a good idea too, Mother.”
“Me too.”
“Is everyone in favor, then?”
Cilfir turned her gaze towards El, and he responded with a cheerful smile, “Yep, let’s go! For our bright future!”
“For our future!”
With their plans set for the future, they wore hopeful expressions, facing what lay ahead.
Chapter 5: Seeking the King of the Tollian Kingdom
The well-trained regular army of the Tollian Kingdom, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, was a formidable force in the western continent.
Especially when compared to the neighboring countries, all of them possessed far less power than the Tollian Kingdom, which could rightfully be called the dominant kingdom in the western continent.
However, the Tollian Kingdom was not without its challenges.
This was primarily due to its location, as it bordered the Monster Land, one of the three places of death on the Seldian Continent.
Every winter, more than 100,000 orcs and over 10,000 trolls poured out like a torrent, depleting their food supplies.
To counter this, the Tollian Kingdom had to mobilize massive armies every year to fend off the monsters.
While they could manage relatively well when facing less than 10,000 casualties, there were occasions when the damages exceeded 20,000 or 30,000, leading the kingdom’s strength to stagnate against this colossal threat.
The help of magicians would have been invaluable, but most magic towers were located in the Odai Empire, and even the few that existed in other places were part of kingdoms that ranked among the strongest in the western continent.
However, recruiting magicians from these powerful kingdoms proved to be challenging, as they already had their own affiliations.
Thus, despite their efforts to enlist magicians, the highest-class mage available in the Tollian Kingdom was a 6th Class Expert Mage.
As they struggled to fend off the monsters, the Tollian Kingdom faced increasing internal conflicts due to the intensifying power struggles within the royal family.
The First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince, born to different queens, were divided into factions and engaged in fierce political maneuvers.
Noble families were also split into three factions, and lately, wrinkles had been appearing on the face of the Tollian King due to the ongoing complexities.
“It’s becoming increasingly intense with the royal succession dispute. I wonder what I should do.”
King Redolf, the ruler of the Tollian Kingdom, pondered as he thought about the escalating power struggles among the princes.
Originally, he had intended to appoint his surviving third prince, Yudmion, as the Crown Prince, as it was the most legitimate and expected choice that the nobles would support.
However, his plan backfired. Ambitious Prince Maxel and the ninth prince, Kran, had gradually expanded their influence behind his back.
By the time he realized it, Prince Maxel already had the support of half of the nobles involved in the Tollian politics, while Prince Kran garnered support from the majority of the remaining nobles.
King Redolf’s attempt to push Yudmion aside was met with resistance from the only trustworthy figures in the kingdom – the Grand Sword Master and Commander of the Royal Guards, Duke Lyerse, and the High Sword Master and Commander of the Central Knights, Count Lumil.
The two men had control over the soldiers in the capital, and both of them sided with Prince Yudmion’s faction. With both sides holding a delicate balance, the three factions had been able to endure until now.
However, it seemed like that balance was about to tip as hidden attacks from both sides increased.
King Redolf’s concern deepened as he realized that even with the hidden power he had gathered, he couldn’t overturn the situation with ease. To overpower the entire nobility, he would need far more significant strength.
However, there was a grain of truth in the rumors circulating recently. The kings of the Tollian Kingdom’s past had prepared a hidden power to choose the next king in the event of a succession dispute.
If such a power existed, the royal succession dispute could be resolved instantly.
Because of this, the nobles had all been on high alert.
“Well….”
With Lyerse and Lumil at his side, King Redolf stood up and quietly left the palace.
Wide conference room.
The space was so vast and the ceiling so high that it overwhelmed anyone who entered, exuding an intense aura.
In the center of the room stood a large round table.
Seven individuals were seated around it.
To say the least, each person emitted an extraordinary aura, and every aspect of their appearance was astonishing.
Three middle-aged men exuding a sharp and sword-like aura were among the elite Grand Masters on the continent. The other four were elderly men who were top-tier 8th Class mages.
They were all the pinnacle figures in the continent, so why were they gathered here?
Everyone maintained silence as one man in a red robe, resembling a sharp sword, stood up.
He was none other than Karosman, the Top Knight of the Seldian Continent’s preeminent magic tower, Jiktap’s Tower.
Even a glance was enough to feel his strength, and he began to speak confidently.
“Long time no see, everyone. Today, I will lead this meeting in place of the Master since he couldn’t attend.”
“To hold a meeting when the Master is absent… There must be something important.”
The middle-aged man, Truel, who led the True Lion Knights of the Belozec Empire, inquired, and the others nodded in agreement. There was no need to listen to Karosman’s words; they were all here to follow the Master’s orders. There was no reason to question that.
With a slight smile, Karosman began his address, “Then, may I proceed as I wish? The Master informed me about a crucial matter for which we must convene.”
“What is it? We are all quite busy, you know?”
Truel’s remark was echoed by the expressions of the others. Every one of them had reached the pinnacle of strength in the continent.
Karosman nodded, acknowledging Truel’s statement, and then began to convey the information he had received from the Master.