Chapter 9

In the royal palace of Antalya, a shocking announcement was made: "Jinova is not the prince. The true crown prince is Isfaard, who was raised as the son of the Duke of Elbistan. The expeditionary army led by the true crown prince Isfaard will punish the Lostco Empire. Furthermore, Jinova will be exiled for falsely claiming to be the crown prince."

This announcement was also conveyed to Dandelion I, who was busy conquering the dungeon. Upon receiving the report about the announcement and its background, Dandelion clutched his head in anguish.

"What a terrible thing to do..."

"Is this what a king should do!?"

"Even though it concerns another country, it's not a pleasant feeling."

"Disgusting... too disgusting!"

One after another, the staff present began to voice their condemnation. Among them were Ludger, Gamel, and Ethan, who had been conquering the dungeon with Jinova. They, too, felt a sense of righteous indignation and glared angrily.

"So, Your Majesty, what about Prince Jinova...?"

When one of the staff members asked Dandelion this, the tent fell silent. Jinova was indeed a prisoner, but he was also a benefactor and a comrade-in-arms. Was he to be told this harsh truth that negated everything he had known?

"...It cannot be avoided. No matter how much we impose a gag order, it will eventually reach his ears. It would be best for me to tell him now."

With a bitter tone, Dandelion said this, his face twisted. Immediately, a soldier was sent to summon Jinova. During the wait, a heavy silence filled the tent. Soon, Jinova's voice was heard from outside the tent.

"It's Jinova. I have arrived."

"Come in."

Jinova entered the tent. Some of the people present averted their eyes, unable to bear the sight. Jinova tilted his head slightly at their behavior and sat in the seat Dandelion offered. Dandelion then asked him:

"Jinova, you've been busy with the dungeon conquests. Are you not tired?"

"No, I am not tired. I have nothing to do outside, so I have been resting well."

Jinova answered cheerfully. Dandelion smiled slightly and nodded, then continued:

"I have been relying on you. Thanks to you, the conquests have progressed significantly."

Since the start of the conquests, Jinova had defeated over fifty area bosses. While it was the result of the party's efforts, it was undoubtedly a significant achievement. His contribution was undeniably large, and everyone present acknowledged this.

"No, my efforts are insignificant. ...So, why have you called me here?"

Feeling uncomfortable with the praise, Jinova changed the subject and prompted Dandelion to get to the point.

"Actually, well..."

Dandelion spoke these words but then fell silent, his gaze wandering as he struggled to find the right words. But he was soon caught by Jinova's direct gaze and sighed, as if giving up. He then resolved to tell Jinova:

"Actually, Garellan II has issued an announcement. It states that Isfaard, the son of the Duke of Elbistan, is the true prince."

"Huh...?"

Jinova seemed genuinely confused and let out a bewildered voice. He then smiled wryly, though it looked strained. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable.

Seeing Jinova's reaction, Dandelion couldn't help but feel helpless. Why was he, a complete stranger, the one to deliver such a significant piece of news? Shouldn't the responsibility lie with those who were, in name or in convenience, his parents?

But he couldn't avoid telling him. Suppressing his anger towards those not present, Dandelion explained the content of the announcement to Jinova. As the explanation sank in, Jinova's complexion changed.

A feeling of the ground beneath his feet crumbling. His blood drained, and his heart raced. His stomach felt heavy, as if he had swallowed lead. His throat was dry. He couldn't think of anything. The explanation kept circling in his mind.

"...Then, who am I...?"

After a few seconds, Jinova finally asked, his eyes filled with anxiety and despair. The unspoken plea for it to be a lie was clear. But Dandelion could only respond:

"I don't know. The announcement did not mention anything about your birth."

"Is that so..."

Jinova replied in a flat voice, appearing both disappointed and relieved. He lowered his head, and his expression was hidden. He then fell silent. In the painful silence, Dandelion, knowing it was difficult, continued:

"About what will happen next..."

"Next..."

Jinova slowly raised his head. His face was pale, and his expression was weak. Feeling his heart being torn, Dandelion continued:

"Yes, about what will happen next. Do you have any wishes?"

"Please, take my life."

Jinova slowly prostrated himself and said this.

"Why do you wish for such a thing?"

"I don't know how to deal with myself otherwise."

Dandelion's face contorted in pain. He had been trying to remain calm but could no longer hold back. He stood up, walked over to Jinova, and forcefully embraced his shoulder.

"Don't worry. No, don't worry about anything. Leave everything to this Flame Emperor. You are a comrade-in-arms, and I owe you. I will not let anything bad happen to you. Don't act rashly."

Jinova silently nodded once. Then, accompanied by Ludger, he returned to the tent assigned to him.

Inside the tent, Jinova stood alone. The tent, which he had grown accustomed to, now seemed unusually faded. The faded scenery suddenly distorted.

"Ugh... ugh..."

He couldn't understand anything. He couldn't believe anything. The only thing he knew was that he had lost everything.

"Ugh... ugh... ughhhhhhhh!"

Jinova cried. He cried out loud. He had never cried so openly when he was in the royal palace of Antalya. Those who heard his cries pretended not to hear.

On this day, Jinova was officially recognized as Dandelion's guest, though he was not free to act as he pleased. He rarely left his tent.

Three days later, Jinova headed north with the troops returning to the capital, Gargando. The captain leading the troops had a letter from Dandelion, and Jinova was to be welcomed as a guest at the palace.

However, his expression was dark, and his face lacked vitality. His shoulders were slumped, and he looked down, making it hard to believe he was a guest of the emperor. It would be more convincing to call him a prisoner.

"Then, let's depart."

The troops heading north began to move. Since they were returning the injured to the capital, their movement was slow.

The sky was overcast, and under the clouds that seemed ready to cry, Jinova headed north.

□ ■ □ ■

After sending Jinova to the capital, Dandelion moved his headquarters to the former capital of the old Frisia duchy, Stroia. Of course, the dungeon conquests continued. However, these conquests were only temporary measures. To manage the new dungeon stably, regular conquests were necessary, and for that, a base needed to be established nearby. This required a tremendous amount of work.

Additionally, the re-invasion of the Antalya army had been declared. Dandelion needed to address this as well. Whether receiving reports or giving orders, it was more convenient to do so from a city rather than a field camp.

The situation was not so bad. The dungeon was relatively calm, and Dandelion had about 30,000 troops, including 20,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. In the capital, Gargando, Crown Prince Gerald was handling the administration, and there were no reports of major problems.

"I believe Crown Prince Gerald is wishing for Your Majesty's early return..."

"That may be so, but with the re-invasion of the Antalya army imminent, I cannot return to the capital alone. Even bringing a replacement commander will take considerable time."

Dandelion responded with a wry smile to the staff member, who also smiled wryly. Selecting a commander was not particularly difficult. A few names would come up immediately, as the direct command army had a wealth of talent.

However, it would take time for the selected person to arrive, and more time to take command of the entire army. This could provide an opportunity for the Antalya army to exploit. Therefore, it was better for Dandelion to continue leading the troops.

In any case, the Antalya army needed to be repelled, and there would be post-battle cleanup afterward. Dandelion intended to handle these tasks and also establish a management system for the new dungeon.

Thus, Dandelion worked tirelessly every day. Known as the Flame Emperor, he was renowned as an excellent military commander, and this reputation was well-deserved. However, he was also an excellent ruler. His orders were precise, and preparations for the upcoming battle and the construction of a base to manage the dungeon were steadily progressing.

On April 10, 635, after receiving a report that the 40,000-strong Antalya army led by Crown Prince Isfaard had set out, Dandelion also led his troops out of the former capital, Stroia, and headed to the prepared defensive positions. The troops that had been conquering the dungeon temporarily halted their efforts and gathered at the defensive positions.

Compared to a proper fortress, the defensive positions were clearly hastily constructed. However, they were meticulously prepared. The moat was deeper than a person's height, and the earth was piled up on the inside to form a wall. Multiple layers of fences were set up, and several tall watchtowers stood.

That night, a report was brought that the Antalya army had approached near the border. Dandelion nodded upon hearing this. Last time, the invasion army led by Garellan II retreated without much of a fight. However, this time would be different.

The newly appointed Crown Prince Isfaard needed to achieve greater military accomplishments than Jinova. Otherwise, he would be mocked as an inferior prince for the rest of his life.

No matter how much he achieved or how well he governed, he would be compared to Jinova. And if he made a single mistake, he would be criticized as inferior to Jinova. It was unbearable.

However, Dandelion had no intention of letting him win. Of course, the Antalya army would attack with all their might. But Dandelion was confident in victory.

Originally, Dandelion did not like Isfaard. He disapproved of the entire process of deposing Jinova. While he disliked Garellan II the most, he was not on the battlefield this time. Nevertheless, having the opportunity to crush Isfaard, who was the other party involved, with a just cause, Dandelion had no intention of hesitating.

"Is it a bit too harsh to say, 'Live in filth from now on' to a child?"

"That is the result of their own doing. Our only task is to repel the invaders."

"Indeed. It is not even certain whether Crown Prince Isfaard will survive. Our army's morale is very high."

"Hmm, what happened?"

When Dandelion asked with interest, the staff members exchanged glances and smiled. They then explained the reason for the high morale of the troops.

"It is all thanks to Lord Jinova."

Why did Jinova's name come up? It was related to the dungeon conquests that had been ongoing until recently. The soldiers knew about Jinova's contributions during the conquests and that he had lost his position as crown prince to Isfaard. Thus, a sympathetic atmosphere towards their "comrade-in-arms" naturally spread.

Additionally, there was the matter of the drop meat. Many soldiers had been able to eat the drop meat Jinova had stockpiled. Providing them with meat was as important to the soldiers as being a comrade-in-arms. Therefore, the soldiers had conversations like this:

"The Antalya army is attacking again, huh?"

"Yeah. And it seems Crown Prince Isfaard is leading them."

"Crown Prince Isfaard, huh..."

"I don't understand the bloodline stuff, but Lord Jinova was a fine person, wasn't he?"

"Yeah. He helped with the dungeon conquests and provided us with meat. And it was all on his own expense, they say."

"Before that, surviving the stampede was also thanks to Lord Jinova."

"...Hey, we are Dandelion's soldiers and are proud of it. But maybe we can fight for Lord Jinova to repay the meat we ate?"

"Yeah! We can fight for Lord Jinova to repay the meat we ate!"

"YEAH!!!"

This was the essence of how the soldiers' morale was raised. Dandelion laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"Hahaha! To repay the meat we ate! Since I also ate the meat, I should fight for him as well! What do you think!?"

"YES!!!"

The staff members raised their fists in response. It was a trivial reason, but precisely because it was trivial, they found it amusing, and it strengthened their unity. Paradoxically, Dandelion's broad-mindedness in finding it amusing might have led to this result.

On April 15, 635, the Antalya army and the Lostco army finally faced each other. The Battle of Carbro was about to begin.