Kenneth: I Will Pledge Allegiance to You (Bonus chapter)

The group of nobles traveling felt anxious. The wind carried a radiating heat and a cutting edge, as if the battlefield hadn't yet settled.

It was comparable to the remnants of a legendary demigod war!

Why did the battle between the Farron Undead Legion and the Funeral Spellblade reach such a scale? It surpassed the performance of typical heroes; the destructive power had already exceeded that of a single city and could potentially destroy an entire region.

If not for Kenneth, their leader, insisting they come, they wouldn't have taken the risk, likely staying far away.

"Why must we make this trip? Can't we just wait for that Tarnished to report back?"

"Are you stupid?"

Kenneth glared at the minor noble and spoke earnestly, "We cannot appear too arrogant. I admit I misjudged Frieren's strength before. Thankfully, I didn't say anything negative about her. We might need to cooperate in the future; building a good relationship is essential."

"Cooperate with a Tarnished on what? If it's just accepting commissions, this trouble is all we have."

"No, I mean offering sanctuary."

This blunt statement made several of them immediately rein in their horses, halting. Out of respect for the majesty of the Golden Lineage, they wanted to object, but the words caught in their throats. Who didn't know the current situation? It was Godrick's inaction that was to blame.

Limgrave was nominally peaceful, but in reality, Misbegotten were rampant, flying dragons roamed freely, and the consequences of the Dragon Communion rituals – born from the combination of the ancient dragon cult and the Storm Lord – were manifesting.

Add to that the spread of Those Who Live in Death and the activities of the Tarnished, and troubles piled up, urgently requiring support from Stormveil Castle.

But Godrick became increasingly obsessed with grafting various things onto himself.

Someone chimed in, "Remember Summonwater Village and the Deathbird? I sent people to investigate – Lady Frieren eliminated them. The road to Stormveil Castle is mostly cleared, and thanks to her, Mistwood also has fewer monsters."

"Heh, ironic isn't it? Problems Godrick failed to solve for years, even letting them worsen, were handled by a Tarnished."

"Have we gathered any intel on her hobbies? A person's hobbies relate to their character."

"Likes exploring dungeons, collecting magic, killing monsters... No direct conflict with us, nor will she worsen the situation."

"That's true!"

The nobles conferred and indeed found no conflict of interest with Frieren. On the contrary, their interests aligned. For instance, if she liked dungeons, let her explore them; monsters escaping from those places caused chaos anyway, so better to deal with them decisively.

Similarly, monsters like the Deathbirds wandering at night and the pollution of Those Who Live in Death were on her kill list. If powerful monsters appeared, she would rush over upon hearing the news to slay them.

Turns out the Tarnished's way of doing things was highly suitable, almost perfect.

They hadn't realized it before simply because previous Tarnished weren't strong enough. But when the Funeral Spellblade swept through everything, the nobles understood how reliable she was – truly a godsend opportunity.

Seeing the time was ripe, Kenneth said seriously:

"We should consider letting Frieren lead some soldiers to Castle Morne to support our colleague, Edgar."

Hearing this, the nobles exchanged glances. No one was playing dumb; they clearly understood the meaning – placing their bets. Giving military power to a Tarnished meant tying their fate to her war chariot, didn't it? Fortunately, the proposer didn't demand an immediate stance.

Wait and see.

This matter was too significant. On a smaller scale, it was changing allegiance; on a larger scale, it was raising a banner of resistance against the entire Golden Dynasty.

But, to put it bluntly, how much of the Golden Lineage was even left?

The mysterious Lord of Grace barely counted as one feudal lord with complete combat readiness and the will to fight enemies. He held the Royal Capital but was effectively trapped on the Altus Plateau, his influence unable to reach the south...

Just as they were racking their brains, weighing the pros and cons, they arrived at Fort Haight.

Before them lay scorched earth. The forest was burning, the ground fractured and covered in ravines. The only good news was that the main structure of the fort remained intact. Sitting on the steps was a silver-haired girl with twintails. A Black Knife Assassin stood guard to her left, and over a dozen figures in pointed helmets stood to her right.

"You've subdued the Farron Undead Legion?"

"More or less."

As Frieren replied, she glanced at the Legion members, who nodded. Rather than wandering aimlessly in the unfamiliar Lands Between, they preferred to follow their old adversary who had defeated them.

Hearing this, the nobles were dumbfounded. They had envisioned mutual destruction, with neither side gaining an advantage, even preparing to collect corpses. Instead, after a great battle, the Funeral Spellblade had won a complete victory, and the worst-case scenario – the two forces joining – had occurred.

With this group's strength, letting them roam freely would be too destructive. They had to find a way to keep her stable and aligned with their interests.

"Milady, what are your thoughts on Limgrave?" Kenneth asked smilingly. "Is it worth developing?"

"Before coming to the Lands Between, I expected utter devastation. But upon truly understanding it, I found people living tenaciously. You surely hold hope, don't you? Then continue to maintain it. If there's anything I can help with, feel free to ask, especially regarding eliminating monsters."

"With such intentions, you are surely a suitable leader."

After he spoke these words, the accompanying nobles nodded like chickens pecking rice, as if receiving a signal.

Regardless, the Tarnished hadn't yet grasped a shard of the Elden Ring. Placing bets prematurely made them apprehensive, so they could only hint indirectly. Awkward as it was, that was the reality.

Frieren understood the unspoken message.

"...After resolving the rebellion at Castle Morne, I will head north to Stormveil Castle and take Godrick's Great Rune. What are your thoughts?"

Setting her sights directly on the Shardbearer without concealment, full of boldness – this straightforward statement actually left the nobles at a loss. Based on their position, should they object? Should they risk enraging the Funeral Spellblade?

The experienced Kenneth remained calm, looking at Fort Haight with a long sigh.

"You see... a land without a king is truly too tragic to behold..."

"I must find a king, but certainly not the likes of Godrick. Someone worthy of being entrusted with the legitimate rule of Limgrave, a powerful monarch walking the righteous path."

He looked directly into Frieren's eyes.

"Isn't the legitimacy you all speak of supposed to belong to the bloodline of the Golden Lineage or the local Storm lineage?"

"The sanctity of bloodline has long faded during the wars. To speak disrespectfully, even the First King, the source of the Golden Lineage's bloodline, rose from humble beginnings. Ultimately, the legitimacy recognized in the Lands Between comes from the Great Runes, from strength. Lady Frieren, you possess the qualifications to be king."

The words were laid bare. Limgrave would choose its own ruler. This stubborn land, which held out the longest during the Golden Wars, had finally ignited a spark, ready to resonate with ancient legends.

Kenneth stepped forward and bowed slightly before the steps.

"Twice before, Tarnished have risen to contend for the throne, leaving an indelible impact on the Lands Between. You will be the third... No, the third Elden Lord of the Erdtree's era. Whether you save the dynasty from collapse or establish a new era, regardless, we choose, at this moment, to pledge allegiance to Frieren. Will you accept?"

"I accept."

The silver-haired girl stood up and extended her hand. One by one, the nobles ascended the steps and performed their salutes. A unique ceremony unfolded at Fort Haight.

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