Despite the Lady of the Lake's warning, Ryan ordered the coalition forces to set up camp and rest. The army was extremely exhausted after prolonged combat, and marching to intercept Mathieubard's forces in this state would be neither rational nor correct, potentially providing the undead with more recruits.
They needed time to rest and replenish their forces before heading north. They had to decide whether to march from the southern part of Lyonesse to Couronne or through the Arden Forest via the former capital of the Duchy of Artois.
The army cleaned up the battlefield, which had little worth salvaging, while Morgiana led a group of the Lady's prophets in chanting spells to purify the chaotic corruption.
Randuin's sacrifice opened a new era for Mousilon. Even the most ignorant serfs could feel the changes happening to the land.
The swamps were gradually receding. Large swamps turned into lakes, and smaller swamps transformed into ponds.
The corruption brought by the undead and chaos was slowly dissipating, a final gift from Randuin, who had burned his soul.
In the afternoon, Ryan, Carad, Morgiana, and several dukes sat together to discuss their next steps.
Large chunks of wild boar meat were skewered and roasted over the fire, seasoned with pepper and honey by the knights' squires. Ryan sat at the center, Morgiana to his left, and Berchmond to his right. They ate and talked, accompanied by wine.
"The casualties this time are relatively low, less than thirty percent," Berchmond began. "Despite the harshness of the war, these losses are acceptable."
Everyone nodded. Although the war was tough, the losses were within the dukes' tolerance. The most intense battles and decisive defeats hadn't occurred, and the coalition had merely engaged Tzeentch's army head-on.
The most grueling battles were borne by Nurgle's forces.
Thus, Ryan and the others didn't quite know how to react to their bizarre victory.
"Now our troops are exhausted and supplies are difficult to procure. If we rush to aid Couronne, we risk being ambushed by the undead," Duke Hagan of Gisoreux, who was badly injured in the battle, said. His helmet was half shattered, though his antlered lance had been recovered. "But we must save Couronne; even in spring, we must mobilize the army."
"Indeed, we must aid the capital," François agreed. "We cannot let that Black Knight occupy our capital. Couronne has never fallen in our thousand-year history."
"Then the question is, what makes the Black Knight Mathieubard think he is fit to be king?" Duke Boderick of Bordeleaux mused. "As I recall, he was merely a wandering knight from Carcassonne. He doesn't even hold a ducal title! Nor is he from the families of the original twelve Holy Grail Knights or their vassals."
"No, he is," Ryan said gravely. "Mathieubard has met the four conditions for kingship. In his youth, he earned the title of Holy Knight through a series of great deeds and noble virtues."
"But his title as Duke of Mousilon is self-proclaimed. We all know you are the true Duke of Mousilon, recognized by Lord Randuin!" Carad, somewhat indignant, argued. "Based on this alone, Mathieubard cannot be king!"
"He can, because even if he isn't the Duke of Mousilon, he meets enough conditions," Ryan replied coldly. "Because he is Duke Louen's son! His illegitimate son! With Louen's fate uncertain, as Louen's illegitimate son, he naturally holds a weak claim."
Ryan's nonchalant revelation stunned everyone present.
"What? Mathieubard is Louen's son?!"
"No wonder this once-virtuous wandering knight fell so thoroughly!"
"What a bastard!"
"Indeed! Louen did have an illegitimate son who was abandoned in the wilderness. If so, everything makes sense."
The murmuring grew, many too shocked to speak. Duke Berchmond shook his head repeatedly. "Family misfortune, family misfortune! I knew about this. When Louis ordered the child to be abandoned, I advised him to send the child to the Empire instead. Better cold and hungry than dead. But Louis insisted."
"Haha, the father abandoned the son, and the son grew up and came back for revenge, not just to kill the father but to inherit everything. You humans really are a loving family," Wood Elf Lord Aralos mocked. He seemed ready to further ridicule human foolishness and backwardness until Ryan gave him a look, signaling that this was none of his business. Aralos shrugged, indicating he'd stay silent.
"If that's the case, Mathieubard does indeed have a claim to the throne," François said, eyes wide open. The wise and strategic father-in-law quickly grasped the issue. "As Duke Louen's illegitimate son, he's naturally a member of the Carcassonne ducal family. He can rightfully claim Louen's ducal title and the regency of the kingdom... The undead have laid a grand plan! I now suspect that Mathieubard's adoption was part of the undead's scheme all along!"
"Thinking too much about it now is pointless," Ryan said, seeing he had achieved his goal. He shook his head. "This can't be entirely blamed on Louen. He was pressured. Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? The undead exploited this abandoned child. At this point, we must expose Mathieubard's plot and save the kingdom."
"Couronne has a substantial garrison and a full squad of Holy Grail Knights. The city has high walls and ample siege weapons. Even though Louen withdrew many troops, Mathieubard won't easily capture Couronne," Morgiana, holding the Holy Grail of Potions, said. Her face was pale, clearly having expended too much magic in the previous battle. "So, everyone, rest well. Once reinforcements arrive, we will march to Couronne and thwart Mathieubard's plot!"
"Yes!" everyone nodded in unison.
"Will the Asrai assist us?" Ryan asked, taking advantage of Aralos' presence.
"The Asrai will assist you until the undead are completely expelled," Aralos the Brave nodded, though he arrogantly added, "But the Asrai also have a condition."
"Speak," Ryan said, unmoved. It was clear the wood elves wouldn't help without reason. Conditions were expected; it was just a matter of negotiation.
"We want to establish a new observation post in Mousilon, near the Arden Forest, covering five hectares. We'll pick a place with no inhabitants," Aralos laid out the wood elves' condition. "We can help you monitor the movements of the beastmen in the Arden Forest and also collect..."
"Collect amber, right?" Ryan interjected. "I can agree to the observation post, but since you'll be living in my territory, you must follow my laws. You cannot abduct children, harm hunters in the forest, or injure passing humans. Can you comply?"
"The Arden Forest is not Athel Loren; it's not our home," Aralos retorted immediately. "We only need to establish a woodland cellar for supplies and a world root exit to quickly deploy an army if the shadow lord Morgur appears."
With that, Aralos proudly added, "You need the Asrai's help, Ryan, my friend. The wood elves can help you accelerate the purification of this land. If we harness the power of the Age Oak to cleanse here, it will take only a few months for Mousilon to return to its former glory a thousand years ago, with the corruption source gone. The Asrai never lie."
"Hmm... If you can follow my rules, then I have no problem granting you a piece of land to establish an observation post." This offer indeed moved Ryan. The Age Oak's purification power was unparalleled, and most importantly, the wood elves' method of cleansing the land was non-destructive. Using amber to harness the Age Oak's power and sow seeds would make Mousilon once again the most fertile and powerful duchy in Bretonnia, as it was in Randuin's era.
If humans were to purify the land, they'd use fire and blessed salt to burn it all, which would purify the land but also destroy it, requiring reconstruction.
"We agree to follow your rules. So... deal." Aralos extended his hand.
"Deal."
...I'm the dividing line for dealing with green chaos...
In late April, Mathieubard led a knightly army toward Couronne.
He proudly held the reins of his warhorse, clad in cursed black armor, and wielded the Serpent Sword. Mathieubard didn't wear a helmet, humming ancient Blood Dragon hymns, feeling extremely pleased.
Nothing could stop him from ascending the throne now.
Louen was gravely injured and missing. The northern knightly army was disbanded.
The Greater Daemon of Tzeentch, Karos, had promised to deal with Ryan. The southern knightly army had suffered setbacks, and Spire Palace was retaken (though reduced to ruins). Ryan, after losing to Tzeentch's forces, retreated to the Forest of Chalons, awaiting reinforcements. Karos, having obtained the Lion Lance, promised to defeat Ryan completely, so there was no worry about southern attacks.
Thus, Mathieubard decided to lead the undead army to Couronne himself, preparing to seize the throne amid the chaos.
He unfurled his banner and revealed his identity, publicly declaring himself the rightful heir of Louen, the legitimate successor to the Duke of Mousilon, entitled to the throne of Bretonnia.
As expected, Mathieubard had no trouble gathering forces.
Disgruntled rogue knights, forest bandits, rebellious serfs, and despicable assassins flocked to his banner. Mathieubard soon raised a large army of both living and undead.
More importantly, he secured the support of several Mousilon nobles and those from southern Lyonesse, former Mousilon territories. He convinced these long-mistreated nobles that their plight was due to the kingdom's unfairness, prompting them to take action for their benefit. Believing Mathieubard was the legitimate Duke of Mousilon and could help their current predicament, these knightly nobles rallied to his call.
They sent troops and cleared the way.
With his forces growing, Mathieubard began his war for the crown.
The early spring sunlight was bright and enchanting. Birds sang, and the landscape was filled with blossoming flowers. Snow melted, heralding another spring. Mathieubard led his troops through the wilderness.
Knights' castles either sent knights to join him or shut their gates in fear. With the northern knightly army in shambles, no knight dared face this army in open battle.
Mathieubard didn't attack these castles, passing by them instead. He aimed to become king, not destroy the kingdom.
Thus, he smoothly crossed Lyonesse and entered the Duchy of Le-Angoulans. This duchy, bearing the "Blue Kraken" crest, trembled before Mathieubard. Only a few brave champion knights or kingdom knights challenged him to duels, which the Serpent of Mousilon accepted.
Having fully mastered the techniques, power, and experience of the Black Grail Knights, Mathieubard was invincible. He killed every Bretonnian knight who challenged him, generously sparing the challengers' families and castles. He declared he wouldn't refuse any challenge.
As Mathieubard claimed, he committed no acts of plunder or arson along the way. He repeatedly issued duel invitations and defeated his opponents, earning recognition.
It seemed Mathieubard truly was a wronged man, simply reclaiming what was his. Under his leadership, Bretonnia could indeed enter a new era.
His army's morale soared, and opportunists were convinced Mathieubard would become the new king of Bretonnia!
After two weeks, Mathieubard and his army neared Couronne. In the ranks, knights sang Mathieubard's newly composed military songs.
"The waves of the Sonnesse River surge, the clouds over the Grey Mountains whirl~"
"In a world of murky times, I stand alone, righteous fury burning hot~"
"The nobles only know pride and status, not a single one truly cares for the nation~"
...
"Knights march under the blue sky, the army united for justice!"
"Within our hearts, we hold a million soldiers, our souls soaring like iris petals!"
"The heavens quake, the earth trembles, with mighty sounds resounding!"
"The eternal sleepers cannot rest, the new king rises today!"
Mathieubard rode his undead warhorse, the afternoon sun glaring. His army covered the entire plain, banners and flags of various family crests and war banners standing tall. All soldiers obeyed his commands, and the gleaming armor reflected the blinding sunlight.
Couronne was not far, and the garrisons of dozens of castles and towns were too terrified to fight. Every knight who dared challenge him was defeated. With tens of thousands of troops at his command, he was just a step away from the throne. The anxiety and frustration from being suppressed by Ryan finally vanished from Mathieubard's heart.
For some reason, Mathieubard felt an overwhelming warmth, a void of satisfaction filling him.
It feels so great! It feels like I've reached the pinnacle of my life!
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