Chapter 26

"Is there anyone who thinks that way?"

At the king's question, the people raised their faces as if they had been startled. Most of them, to varying degrees, displayed expressions of surprise, as if they had been caught off guard.

"Is there any need to think that way?"

The question was asked again. The people, who had no words to answer, instinctively exchanged glances with those standing beside them.

"Alkymira is a multi-racial nation. At the same time, it is also the 'master of the world' that has overcome numerous trials through the combined strength of all. There has never been a trial that our country could not overcome. Wars, natural disasters, trials from the gods, disaster deities... we have broken through all these difficulties with our own strength."

This is a fact proven by history. The very existence of Alkymira, which continues to this day, is the best evidence.

"We have been forcibly transferred to a dangerous area and left in a state of isolation.

--So what? Here, the elite forces of the Eight Great Armies are gathered. We still have enough strength to fight.

The cause of the transfer is unknown, and there is no prospect of a solution.

--Then we should continue the investigation and find a clue to solve it. Alkymira's investigative capabilities, which transcend military boundaries, are not for nothing. We will surely return one day.

Our industries have fallen into dysfunction, and the food we have stored will run out after a year.

--Then we should just develop the land and produce food. The surrounding area is full of nature, and prey lives there. Although it is said to be a somewhat dangerous area, there is no reason why we cannot open it up with our strength.

Our country's overall strength is probably less than one percent of what it was before the transfer.

--So what? It's just that we are down to one percent. What is there to despair over with such a loss of national strength? We were once on the brink of extinction during the turmoil, but Alkymira still exists today."

Therefore, there is no reason to give up. There is no reason to despair. The king was saying this implicitly.

"Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.

After all, we have been forcibly transferred along with the capital.

It can be said to be an extremely critical situation.

But is this an insurmountable wall?

Does this mean the end of us?

Is this the end of Alkymira?"

This time, the question received an answer. However, the people did not want to interrupt the king's words with their own voices. Therefore, they shouted in their hearts. No, they shouted.

"No, it is not.

Absolutely not.

How can such a thing be allowed...!

How can we end up here!!"

Their tone was strong. The people clenched their fists unconsciously, as if to speak for the king, and something inside their chests began to rise.

"Indeed, it is an unprecedented crisis. Let's admit it. But what of it? We have overcome many such hardships. Is there any reason why we cannot overcome this one? Is there any such reason? Can it even exist!!"

The king's shout, as if it were being thrown, was powerful. The words he released were a declaration of certainty.

"The extremely difficult path that stands before us is not something that cannot be traversed.

Think of the rough paths we walked in the early days. What is this obstacle compared to that!?"

Ah, yes. The people recalled that it was indeed so. Alkymira had cut through paths that no one had walked before with its own strength.

"Of course, I cannot do anything alone. Because I am weak. I am the weakest of all. I do not know how to fight, and these chicken-like thin arms of mine cannot even hold a sword. Moreover, I would probably lose even to a baby goblin. But why am I standing here now? Why have I been able to come this far as the king of Alkymira, the weakest of all?"

He paused, as if to say that it was unnecessary to ask. The king opened his arms as if to welcome someone, and his gaze swept over the audience.

"It is because of you all."

He addressed the people.

"It is because you all have supported me.

Because you recognized me, a weakling, as your king and followed me.

Because you all took each other's hands and worked together, and saw it as a good thing.

Therefore, there is only one thing we should do in this crisis—!"

The king raised his right hand high so that all the people could see.

"We must fight!

We must fight and face this crisis! Just by doing that, we can overcome this crisis. You, the strong ones, can do it. Alkymira can do it!!"

Ah, it's the limit. Everyone thought so. Hot breath escaped from their lips. Their bodies felt as if they were burning with a fever. The fire that had been lit deep in their chests was exploding. The impulse that had risen to their throats could no longer be contained. The heat seeking an outlet was raging in their bodies and was about to overflow.

"Therefore, my people!

Proud citizens of Alkymira!

If you are to cast aside resignation and despair and fight this crisis!

If you are to follow me, a weak king, and face this crisis!

--Then answer with a roar!!"

And with the king's words, the heat in everyone's bodies exploded. All the monsters, regardless of race, gender, inorganic or organic, screamed with all their souls, filled with overwhelming determination.

"Oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh