[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 160

    The capital of the Lahendra Kingdom, Lahendra Castle.

    Originally, the capital was located on the coast, but due to a monster invasion, it had to be relocated in haste.

    As a result, the castle was much smaller in scale compared to the estates of other noble families.

    For a royal palace meant to house the rulers of a kingdom, it was far too cramped.

    The nobles of Lahendra Kingdom sneered at the sight.

    — The royal castle is more pathetic than a marquis’s estate.

    — In truth, doesn’t the marquis hold just as much power as the king? Haha.

    After the capital was moved, the kingdom’s nobles gradually stopped obeying the king’s commands, and the royal family’s authority declined significantly.

    It reached the point where some nobles didn’t even bother attending the coronation of a new king.

    "Hmm... The castle is still as small as ever."

    "It has been a while."

    But today—

    The most influential figures in the kingdom, who usually scoffed at the royal family, had gathered in this humble capital castle.

    These were the same individuals who hadn’t even bothered to attend the king’s coronation, sending proxies instead.

    "We are about to commence the meeting of the Council of Fifteen... but it seems four members have yet to arrive."

    "According to urgent reports, their territories have already been reduced to ashes."

    "Who was responsible for that?"

    "The exact identity of the beast is unknown, but... ahem."

    The true ruling power of the Lahendra Kingdom lay with the fifteen high-ranking nobles.

    Eleven of them were now gathered in Lahendra Castle’s conference hall, engaged in discussion.

    Among them, four individuals stood out for one obvious reason.

    "Even Marquis Alcid... fell to that ‘king’?"

    "Ahem! It seems Count Ainz suffered the same fate."

    They were all bald.

    "The rulers of the western region... have all, as if by some agreement, shaved their heads clean."

    A grand noble of the eastern kingdom—

    Marquis Ksanta, whose hair had been thinning in the center for years, glanced at their gleaming heads with a smirk.

    Even in this serious meeting, the sight of four perfectly bald heads lifted his mood.

    ‘Those bastards. They used to mock my hair loss... serves them right.’

    The western nobles had once snickered at Marquis Ksanta, who had been losing his hair in his forties.

    But now, seeing them arrive with their scalps completely exposed, he curled one side of his lips in amusement.

    "Refreshing, isn’t it? You used to tell me to just shave it all off instead of leaving it half-done. Why don’t you share your thoughts now?"

    "Grr... Marquis Ksanta, this is no time for jokes."

    "A joke? I was simply stating a fact."

    "Damn it... To think we’d be mocked by a bald man because of that wretched king..."

    Marquis Ksanta’s eyebrow twitched.

    He wasn’t bald yet—so why were they speaking as if it were a certainty?

    "Who exactly is this ‘king’ you speak of?"

    "The King of Starn Kingdom."

    "Starn Kingdom... You mean the former ruler of the Meier Kingdom?"

    "You know of him?"

    "Yes. The rumors about the newly crowned king were so absurd that I still remember them."

    Marquis Ksanta, who held power in the eastern region of Lahendra Kingdom, was familiar with King Kaylen.

    A Swordmaster emerging after centuries—

    When he drew his sword, the royal capital was split in half, and the demonic forces were crushed.

    A tale so absurd, it seemed like something out of an ancient legend.

    When Marquis Ksanta brought it up, the now-bald nobles scowled.

    “That... seems to be true.”

    “Hahaha! Splitting a royal palace in half and cutting down demons? Do you even hear yourself?”

    “When he reached out his hand, the swords of all the knights in the palace unsheathed themselves.”

    “The Drakes that stormed the castle were torn apart.”

    “The Meister’s magic was blocked by his sword, and mana suits vanished without a trace.”

    “He is... a transcendent.”

    As four nobles spoke in unison, the others grew grim.

    That ridiculous story was real?

    “But no matter how much of a legendary Swordmaster he may be, that level of power is impossible.”

    “Indeed. I am a knight myself, and I know that while a Swordmaster can dominate space with their Sword Area, even that has its limits. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

    "But I don’t have time for niceties."

    Sizzle—!

    Thin wisps of smoke curled from Ksanta Marquess’s bald head.

    A symbol was being etched onto his scalp at an alarming speed.

    "Urgh... Ughhh...!"

    It was the emblem of the Kingdom of Starn—a dragon’s head impaled by six swords.

    "Ah... Aaaagh... My head...!"

    "Let’s go."

    Tears streamed down Ksanta Marquess’s face as the burning pain consumed him.

    Yet, despite his agony, his body moved against his will.

    He was sprinting toward the audience chamber.

    The other nobles followed in silence, a chill creeping down their spines.

    Even as they passed through the halls, it was the same everywhere.

    The knights and magisters they encountered merely stood frozen in place, eyes shifting nervously but otherwise motionless.

    The signs of total subjugation under King Kaylen were painfully evident.

    ''Has he already taken control of the entire palace...?''

    ''If I had known this would happen, I would’ve ignored the Dungeon Guild’s summons and stayed in my domain...''

    The Dungeon Guild held significant influence in their lands, so they had complied with its request.

    But now, standing here, completely at Kaylen’s mercy, they deeply regretted that decision.

    And then, as they finally reached the audience chamber—

    "...You’ve arrived."

    The king sat upon the throne, his expression utterly despondent.

    "So, everyone is here."

    Saintess Theresia stood alongside the Holy Knights.

    “They... seem to be from the Sanctuary.”

    “Ah. I recognize that face. It’s the Saintess.”

    “You mean... Saintess Theresia?”

    Saintess Theresia—an existence akin to a living legend, having lived for a thousand years.

    Though the great nobles'' limbs were still under Kaylen’s control, their faces could move freely. Even in such a state, they did their best to bow respectfully toward the Saintess.

    “Theresia. Have you explained the situation to the king?”

    “Yes, Lord Kaylen. He has agreed to cooperate.”

    “It must not have been an easy decision. I appreciate it.”

    And when such a legendary figure lowered her head before Kaylen, the great nobles’ eyes widened in shock.

    How could this young king possibly receive such deference from the Saintess? It defied common sense.

    “Let me explain it simply.”

    Kaylen then spoke about the crisis involving the Geysir Empire.

    He explained how the Empire’s Order of Dragon Knights was invading from the east, concentrating their forces particularly on this kingdom due to its shared border with the Kingdom of Starn.

    And to avoid destruction, they would need to become part of Starn.

    “...That’s an unbelievable story.”

    “I, as the Saintess, will vouch for its truth. Haven’t the great nobles of the western territories already suffered an invasion by the Dragon Knights?”

    “Yes... When they were about to unleash their breath attacks on our walls, it was King Kaylen who saved us.”

    The now-bald western great nobles nodded in agreement.

    When the drakes attacked, their castles had been thrown into chaos.

    But thanks to Kaylen’s sudden arrival, they had avoided catastrophe.

    ''This wasn’t some staged incident... The Order of Dragon Knights holds far greater value than our territories ever could.''

    At first, the nobles had their doubts.

    But they quickly dismissed the idea.

    A force of 500 Dragon Knights was far more valuable than their lands.

    There was no reason for Kaylen to go through the trouble of staging something so elaborate.

    “What I want is simple.”

    Kaylen swept his gaze over the great nobles before continuing.

    “Swear loyalty to me and raise Starn’s flag.”

    “There will be no additional taxes, nor will there be conscription. Even if your loyalty is in name only, that is enough. All you must do is become part of the Kingdom of Starn—no, of the Empire that it will become—and raise its banner. Your lives will remain largely unchanged.”

    “Hmm...”

    Just... raise the flag?

    Having already taken control of both the royal family and the great nobles, was that truly all he wanted?

    One of the great nobles hesitantly spoke up.

    “...Has His Majesty the King agreed to this?”

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]