"Stormveil Castle".
Having seamlessly switched back to the Lands Between just after concluding the Elf conference, Frieren rubbed her cheeks. As she shook her head, she instantaneously spread her mana perception to its maximum range.
She always performed this scan subconsciously; everything was normal.
Incidentally, this also served to notify her subordinates. As such colossal mana swept through without concealment, everyone understood that Her Majesty had awakened. Consequently, bells began to toll, echoing throughout the entire Stormhill region.
Dong~
Amidst the melodious reverberations, a set of footsteps approached. Ranni and Melina knocked on the door.
Only after Frieren, now neatly dressed, gave a response did they walk in. Sure enough, they saw the silver-haired girl with a weary, yawning expression.
This slumber had not been short.
However, after washing up, she clearly regained her spirit. She even exuded an atmosphere of radiant high spirits and high morale, as if looking forward to the grand campaign that was bound to ensue; the Soul Cinder King was jumping for joy.
"Did anything unrestful happen while I was sleeping?"
"Quite a lot." Melina, as the one acting as proxy for government affairs, had the most right to speak: "Please move to the office; we will speak in detail there."
As expected, what awaited Frieren was a large pile of decisions requiring signatures, though naturally, it was much more convenient with Ranni's assistance.
"Shouldn't there usually be a meeting?"
"Correct, but everyone is busy dealing with the offensive from the "Volcano Manor" army. You can summon them."
"No need. Don't make them run errands in vain; we will go to them. In short, tell me the current situation."
Frieren pricked up her ears to listen while processing the backlog of information on the desk.
True to his reputation as the maddest Shardbearer, ever since the end of the previous war in the Land of Shadow, "Rykard" had been ceaselessly ordering massive numbers of monsters to clear the Ancient Ruins defense line, turning the valley bottom into a sea of fire.
He had personally taken action.
The God-Devouring Serpent channeled tens of thousands of tons of volcanic magma into the precipice area, completely burying that passage and causing significant losses to the stationed troops.
Coupled with Aldrich creating monsters alongside him, the frontal pressure was not insignificant.
Currently, the defense was mainly the responsibility of the Undead Legion of Farron and Florisaxx. After all, both had high fire resistance or even used fire. Compared to Rellana and Messmer, who had to return to recuperate, they retained more combat power.
So, on the surface, the situation was a bit critical.
But the forces under the Soul Cinder Army were far from using their full strength; it could not be mentioned in the same breath as the battle in the Land of Shadow.
The South was using local forces to confront the total power of "Volcano Manor", with ample room for rotation and rest. This was the posture of a long-term war. In contrast, "Rykard" was clearly putting all his eggs in one basket.
He was going all out.
Who wouldn't be anxious upon learning that Frieren had completed the battle to crown the God-King? That's right—in the eyes of many, she and Ranni, having defeated the King of Promise and the Ascended Miquella, were the contemporary God-Kings, lacking only the control of the "Elden Ring".
That was merely a procedure. And now, their strategy was easy to understand.
Leaving the Royal Capital alone for now—turning a blind eye even as rumors of the First Lord's return ran rampant—the focus was on unifying the various factions of the Lands Between.
Then, concentrate military force on "Leyndell, Royal Capital".
"Volcano Manor" happened to be stuck in a critical position. War would start sooner or later, so "Rykard" thought it better to strike first.
He was just a bit crazy.
Frieren frowned slightly as she looked at the damage report. The small unit maintaining the precipice passage was naturally lost, but more importantly, there was a strategic loss: one less road for the grand army to access the volcano.
"We only have one choice left now: an elite infiltration, a decapitation strike."
Ranni answered with a decisive tone. There were some declarations that indeed required her to speak. The opponent was, after all, a member of the "Carian Royal Family", a blood relative; making the decision was not easy.
The struggle for kingship in the Lands Between was just that cruel.
Moreover, Melina was watching from the side. If she wasn't decisive enough, she would certainly be criticized.
At present, the various departments of the Soul Cinder Army were in a stage of recuperation. Furthermore, there were still some follow-up deployments to be completed in the Land of Shadow. Rotation and rest were also part of guaranteeing combat effectiveness. So, it was better to hand the task over to a few Demigods. In that case, there was one and only one choice:
The Soul Cinder King.
In the Lands Between, a King leading a campaign personally was almost regarded as an obligation. Others could choose not to go, but Frieren absolutely had to trample "Volcano Manor" flat personally.
She nodded without hesitation: "Ready to set off at any time."
Then she summoned the Mimic Tear and instructed: "If we are all away, the defense of "Stormveil Castle" will be too thin. We can't have Demigod garrisons all around but none at the main base, so I'll leave it to you."
"Mother, rest assured."
There was no need to keep her by her side all the time; leaving her to handle some government affairs appropriately was also important.
With fewer people, decisions were easier to make. After a few sentences of simple small talk, the lineup was confirmed: a three-person squad of Frieren, Melina, and Ranni. This was already paying enough respect to "Volcano Manor".
Considering the immortality of the God-Devouring Serpent, Destined Death was essential.
And as his sister, it was impossible for Ranni not to see him off. Whether she held hope or not, she had to see the so-called Lord devoured by the serpent with her own eyes.
"Don't forget your Ash of War teacher, "Bernahl"."
Melina reminded them.
Only after possessing such a large intelligence network did they realize this man had quite the background; he was a Would-be Lord.
He, too, had once been on the verge of obtaining the supreme throne, but became disheartened after the death of his Maiden. He then threw himself into the Recusant faction to take revenge on the "Erdtree". It was like a facet of the most excellent Tarnished of this generation, echoing "Vyke"'s choice.
One went mad becoming the kindling himself to replace his Maiden; one gritted his teeth and accepted his Maiden's willing sacrifice but failed to burn the tree. Both failed.
"Bernahl" was a strong enemy that had to be considered.
Frieren, however, held no hostility. Instead, she asked about another matter: "Just relying on special fire isn't enough to burn the "Erdtree", right? Are other elements required?"
"Correct. Unleashing Destined Death is also a necessary link. We must defeat "Maliketh"."
"But he is in the Sky City."
"As long as we reach the "Forge of the Giants" guarded by the Fire Giant, igniting it will allow us to teleport to the Sky City. But that is rather far off."
"It's not far. I will solve it during this period of awakening."
Frieren gave a clear deadline. Against the background of the Lands Between lacking a sense of time, using one slumber to measure duration was already a clear boundary. Obviously, she was determined to clean up everything with lightning speed.
Hearing this, both Melina and Ranni felt roused in their hearts.
Since Her Majesty had given the objective, how could they shrink back? Cutting the knot with a sharp knife was for the best.
"So, how do we get to the volcano?" Frieren asked. "I need a route that allows for as complete an exploration as possible."
"Follow me. I once built a secret passage with Brother Rykard."
After confirming the route, the silver-haired girl set off with vigorous strides. The Storm Knights at the side opened the doors in sequence. Amidst the clattering sounds, the path was unimpeded; the city gates were thrown open, and the horns were blown.
The Soul Cinder King set out on campaign once more.
This time, Her Majesty took very few people, yet they were enough to equal an army of thousands.
...
Magic Academy, a classroom within the schoolhouse.
Ranni, acting as the guide, led her two companions to a massive rotating machine that dragged long chains reaching directly below.
Mist lingered, and the dim light of glintstone refracted within it, revealing an abyss before their eyes.
Melina stuck her head out to gaze into the distance. The wind howled, mixed with the friction of chains. But relying on a Demigod's perception, she could still faintly detect a free-flowing breeze, and it came from the underground below.
"There is a road leading to the volcano down there."
"But as you can see, it is unsuitable for large-scale troop transport. It can only be used for small-unit offensives. I once relied on this place to conspire and plan with Rykard."
The rest went unsaid.
The conspiracy of the Night of the Black Knives was once criticized and attacked by people, who believed the Lunar Princess had brought chaos to the Lands Between.
It was different now. Everyone only felt that Ranni possessed both wisdom and courage and was a lucky general. By hugging Frieren's thigh, she had soared straight up; now she was proclaimed a God of the Stars, controlling more than half of the Lands Between alongside the Soul Cinder King.
In ancient times when a so-called apotheosis procedure was lacking, many creatures could claim to be gods. By that standard, Ranni was sufficient to be called a god.
"Grab my hands. I will handle the rapid descent."
Frieren grabbed both of their hands and took a step forward, allowing them to fall.
She didn't immediately activate Gravity Magic but maintained their current posture, precisely closing in on the ground. Under such acceleration, even a Demigod's body might be heavily injured.
But Melina and Ranni trusted her absolutely, maintaining a balanced fall.
Sorcery: Gravity Well.
When they had descended halfway, Frieren finally activated the magic. While correcting their trajectory, she slowed everyone's speed, drifting lightly toward the depths of the mist. The ground below became clearer and clearer; unexpectedly, several Abductor Virgin wardens appeared.
However, recognizing the familiar magic power, they took no superfluous action, completely ignoring the group.
"Actually, short-distance teleporters are installed inside the Abductor Virgins. If you aren't willing, we can walk this distance on foot..."
"Let's use our legs."
Ranni saw that of the two, one was curious and the other repulsed, so she cast the deciding vote.
They rushed toward the secret passage at full speed. For the leg power of three Demigods, this distance was not worth mentioning. According to Ranni's underground map, it wouldn't take long to arrive at the foot of "Volcano Manor".
Meanwhile, in the loft of the "Grand Library".
Rennala, seeming to sense something, held the amber of the Great Rune and sighed.
Leaning against the bookshelf nearby, Rellana said: "They have set off. The goal of this trip is to liberate Rykard. There should be a great battle."
"Yes. Letting Ranni witness such a thing is too cruel. She is the only one left of the new generation of the Carian Royal Family."
"At least we have hope for revitalization."
The inarticulate younger sister didn't know what to say to comfort her. She couldn't very well say that Gods and Kings could just have more children to become a newer generation of Caria, right? Procreation wasn't such a difficult thing in the Lands Between, especially for Gods and Kings; it was even part of maintaining rule.
Just as she was pondering, she felt Rennala's gaze. Her elder sister had already seen through her.
"My Great Rune is prepared precisely for this purpose. However, everything must wait until the Lands Between is truly stable..."
Underground Magma Lake.
The heat rushing to her face made Frieren sweat all over. She remembered her experience in the Iron Keep back then—why was there always a large furnace waiting to be explored? It was truly stiflingly hot.
Even an elf who lived in regions with long summers felt unaccustomed to it.
"This indicates we are almost there."
As a doll, Ranni would not sweat. Familiar with the terrain, she pointed from afar at the magma cave ahead. Sure enough, a platform appeared, with floor tiles arranged neatly. There were iron cages and weapon racks around, and even no shortage of torture devices.
She led her two companions to formally step into the range of "Volcano Manor". The temperature here finally dropped.
Of course, it was still scorching. Melina put away her cloak and wore only light travel attire, which made it slightly cooler.
Frieren performed a covert range detection as usual.
"Only some victims remain here; there is no military force. Just continue upward." The subsequent path was left to Frieren's judgment; after all, everyone knew Her Majesty liked exploration and adventure.
Lighting the Grace displayed "Subterranean Inquisition Chamber". Sure enough, it was the depths of "Volcano Manor".
However, after looking at Ranni's map, she realized it didn't lead straight into the interior of the "Volcano Manor" building as imagined. Accurately speaking, they had entered the Volcano area. The building was counted separately; that was another dungeon.
Very good.
Securing the surrounding situation before attacking the boss room fit her style.
Full of enthusiasm, Frieren advanced with vigorous strides. Along the way, she passed water pools filled with cave moss buds and incidentally kicked two Abductor Virgins to death.
She no longer looked highly upon small mobs.
For an Astrologer account grown to the level of a true Demigod, fighting ordinary enemies yielded very little return.
Moreover, with Ranni and Melina assisting, dealing with monsters of this level was a matter of a quick battle, finishing them in one round. Moments later, the squad left the deep and serene magma cave, and the view suddenly opened up.
The sound of rushing water came, and steam filled the air. Looking down, there was impressively a turbulent river:
"Seethewater River".
True to its name, it was clearly flowing boiling water. Heated by the volcano, it became super-high temperature flowing water, scalding everything around it.
Looking out, the "Seethewater River" encircling the volcano had also become part of a natural moat. Any attacker would have a headache. Thinking of this, Frieren felt her decision was correct. Then, they crossed the river and began to climb the mountain.
Although they met a Fallingstar Beast on the way, they couldn't attend to it for the time being.
It was right there and wouldn't run away. But startling "Volcano Manor" too early would easily cause the battle to occur outside.
Frieren came to tear down Rykard's house, not to tear down the volcano. Her strength should be applied inside the building; outside, priority was given to stealth. Thus, the group easily bypassed the Volcano army.
They were indeed mobilizing troops on a large scale.
However, it was entirely a group of grotesque goods, mighty and vast, yet baring fangs and brandishing claws, their target pointing directly at the southern region.
While rushing, Frieren saw a string of glowing gemstones laid out right on the ground. For someone who liked collecting, it was unmissable; she would definitely take a look.
Her eyes lit up first, then she smiled and actively deactivated her invisibility.
"Patches, is that you here?"
As soon as her voice fell, sure enough, a bald man walked out with a smile, followed by the hunchbacked Rya as always.
"Your Majesty, long time no see." He wore a fawning expression: "I originally wanted to resell some goods to you, but the war situation developed too fast. The volcano is in turmoil everywhere; I didn't make it in time."
"It must have frightened Rya. Otherwise, with your nature, you should have stayed inside the Manor."
Frieren didn't continue following Patches' topic. Although the two were old acquaintances and old friends, it was mostly a relationship of mutually pitting against and guarding against each other.
He was reliable in big matters, but in small matters, he would play you without negotiation.
Hearing this, the green-clothed girl nodded, murmuring: "I just felt the Manor was very terrifying, so I came out to walk around, and then I met Patches and you all..."
When speaking of meeting Patches, Rya glanced at him meaningfully.
Even the girl, who was often muddled and confused, knew that wandering around like this carried the suspicion of being a deserter. Anyway, it wasn't glorious.
Feeling the gaze, Patches coughed once. However, Rya, whose mind was cluttered with thoughts, had no mood to care about details. She still had a large pile of unresolved matters and remained lost.
"You didn't hurt her, right?"
"Your Majesty, how would I dare? The war has nothing to do with us. As fellow innocent people, we should look after each other."
"How is it unrelated to you? Aren't you a mercenary of "Volcano Manor"?"
"Of course, I can also be Her Majesty's mercenary."
The two looked at each other and smiled, leaving things unsaid. Anyway, Patches had always been of a chaotic stance. He engaged in a little slippery cheating, but not to the extent that Frieren would eliminate him. Having a pleasant familiar face wasn't bad.
He might have brought a new side quest. The two, who had cooperated many times, shared a mutual understanding.
The silver-haired girl looked at the girl in long green robes and warned: "No matter what matters you can't let go of, it is best to leave the volcano first. It will be very dangerous here next."
"I can hire Patches to protect you. This guy looks sinister and cunning, but when it comes to the ability to escape from danger, he is very amazing."
"Look at what you're saying; I just understand strategic retreat."
"Your Majesty Frieren, you are here to conquer the volcano, right?"
"Correct."
Times had changed. When they met back then, although Frieren had the name of a King, there weren't so many entanglements of interest behind her. Now it was different; the general trend was pushing her forward. She had to trample the volcano flat to take the next step.
Everyone had their own stance. Rya, who looked seemingly frail, was also involved and could hardly stay out of it.
At this moment, her advice was more of a warning: do not get mixed up in danger.
Since the strongest Would-be Lord was setting out on a campaign, she certainly had to achieve something. Once a great war unfolded, no one could guarantee Rya's safety; she could only leave this place of trouble.
The farther the better.
"Actually, there is one thing I haven't said all along..." Rya hesitated to speak. "This is not my true face."
"I know. I have known all along."
Frieren's answer was within expectations. It wasn't that she didn't believe in the Would-be Lord's vision, but that saying it out loud was easier. This person possessed the gentleness of a listener and could hold any confidence.
Originally traveling in a rush, upon seeing an acquaintance, they stopped and shifted to a slow pace.
Little did anyone know that Frieren just loved side quests and never feared trouble. Seeing the chat begin, the familiar Patches, Melina, and Ranni all exchanged glances, knowing the situation clearly.
"I am doubting my background. Was I really born from the grace my mother received?"
The silver-haired girl didn't answer but looked at her fiancé.
"Yes."
"—I sensed a wisp of faint bloodline from you. Rya, you indeed have Rykard's blood flowing in you."
"So she is your niece?"
"Sort of."
The sudden family recognition scene surprised everyone slightly, but thinking about it carefully, it was reasonable. After all, Rykard marrying Tanith was known to all under heaven; the disparity in their status was a natural topic.
However, the knowledgeable elders immediately associated it with something strange. Since she had a serpentine body, it meant the birth process was not quite normal.
Of course, these were not words that could be said in front of the child.
Regardless of what defects or difficulties existed in her birth, everyone had the confidence to solve them. It was a trivial matter.
With the combination of Frieren plus Rennala, mere healing was not worth mentioning.
"Won't you give your niece a hug?"
Hearing the silver-haired girl's slightly joking words, Ranni dazedly opened her four arms. However, Rya turned her head away in embarrassment; she was rejected with full wariness.
She could only spread her hands and say: "Rya, I welcome you at any time. The Academy can also be your home."
Regardless, seeing her brother's descendant, Ranni was still happy.
Hearing this, the girl nodded slightly. From the vigilance just now to relaxation, that atmosphere of connected bloodlines didn't lie. Furthermore, Frieren's attitude was friendly; this King had a reputation for good conduct.
"Thank you."
"I will investigate your origins at "Volcano Manor", but you must also be mentally prepared. Before that, just wait properly. Leave this place."
"I only want an answer. Your Majesty, take care."
Immediately, Frieren handed a large sum of Runes to Patches and instructed: "This is the deposit. There will be more when I see Rya again."
"I'm on the job; rest assured."
"I don't feel assured at all. I am only assured about your ability to run away and incidentally take care of Rya."
Patches coughed once and didn't deepen the topic; the fate of the two pitting against each other was too long to finish telling. He looked at the hunchbacked girl beside him and said: "You don't need to be confused. Isn't the recognition of the God and King of the Lands Between authoritative enough? Believe in their blessing."
Rya nodded ignorantly, then followed his footsteps.
The two had gone on long journeys together more than once. It was a familiar road. Although she turned her head back every three steps in reluctance, they still drifted further and further away.
Actually, she was very sharp and faintly had a premonition of the madness of "Volcano Manor".
The two sides bid farewell.
Having resolved the small interlude, Frieren and her two companions continued forward, climbing constantly. The complex terrain of Mt. Gelmir didn't stop their footsteps in the slightest; for Demigods, it was like walking on flat ground.
After a while, the squad arrived at the front gate.
In the broad area before the mansion, heavy troops gathered. A mass of darkness rubbed their fists and wiped their palms, ready to set out at any moment.
Frieren didn't intend to waste time on these monsters. Moreover, her perception hadn't discovered any strong individuals in the mansion's outer perimeter, so she maintained her invisibility buff and easily flew over the outer building complex.
Only after truly entering did she realize that "Volcano Manor" was actually sparsely populated.
It was too empty.
It was far inferior to the dense defenses of other castles. Some positions that clearly should have had guards were completely empty.
Melina actively spoke: "According to our intelligence, many original Volcano soldiers were fed to the monsters, becoming rations used to strengthen them."
"That is truly frenzied enough."
Frieren clicked her tongue in wonder. Such atrocious conduct ranked among the top even across the many places she had experienced.
Fortunately, with part of the military force eaten and part sent out, "Volcano Manor" became increasingly silent. It was a normal silence, not a concealed murderous intent.
Because she was scanning with perception at all times, she could always discover danger in advance and incidentally collect items.
At the same time, Melina and Ranni were not idle. They helped clear the way along the path. Any monster that dared to jump out on its own initiative was instantly killed, without even the opportunity to sound an alarm. The whole process was clean and efficient.
They were also gradually becoming proficient in stealth under Frieren's influence.
"Prison Town Church"!
After lighting the new Grace point, the group gazed ahead. Red magma like blood was boiling, swallowing all who dared to invade.
Melina spread out the map to confirm: "Ahead counts as entering the depths of the Manor."
"I can already sense Aldrich's aura."
____
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