Mohg's Conspiracy

Frieren awoke in a room filled with ancient, elegant books.

It was an attic room in the Magic Academy.

From the window, the distant, hazy edges of the Altus Plateau could be glimpsed, hidden in the mist.

Raya Lucaria itself was built upon a colossal rock, its highest point exceeding three hundred meters.

If one included the gigantic rock base that elevated it, the scale was even more exaggerated, with a spiral structure ascending progressively to overlook the lake region.

"A fine view. Good morning."

"Good morning. You've been asleep for quite some time." Melina inquired with concern, "You were recuperating, weren't you? Have you recovered?"

"Rest assured."

She had occasionally returned during that time.

The crucial part was that she had been busy with Flamme managing the Association's affairs, so she hadn't had a moment to attend to her duties in the Lands Between.

She stretched lazily, then washed up and dressed neatly.

Servants, who had been waiting for a long time, prepared a meal for Frieren, a rare occasion.

Simultaneously, a bell chimed in the attic – the agreed-upon signal signifying the Queen's reawakening, bringing a sense of relief.

I've wanted to complain about this thing for ages.

Why is it set up like a boss battle? So strange.

For the nobles, however, it was just right, as a backlog of matters urgently required the attention of their superior.

A meeting was immediately scheduled, and the entire castle sprang to life.

On a normal day, Frieren might have slacked off or made excuses, but she hadn't paid attention to the state of affairs in the Lands Between for some time.

So, she readily accepted and, after her meal, proceeded to the throne hall with Melina.

This was a room in the Magic Academy's tallest building, temporarily serving as an audience chamber.

It was grand and imposing, with candlelight reflecting like myriad stars.

Moguram, the chief military officer, was the first to report on the matter she cared about most:

"Your Majesty, the Spirit Ash Legion is in excellent condition."

Before her slumber, Frieren had let them roam freely, testing whether they would dissipate while she slept.

As expected, imbuing them with more soul power through her will was sufficient.

As long as she didn't lose consciousness, the Spirit Ash Legion could operate.

The energy consumed during their activities could be replenished by the Runes obtained from defeating monsters.

If she were to lose consciousness, a series of countermeasures would activate, but that was not something the Spirit Ash Legion needed to concern themselves with.

"Very good."

The results were satisfactory.

From now on, they would be a powerful military unit.

Thanks to Frieren and Roderika's enhancements, these spirit ashes had already been thoroughly transformed, not to mention the strengthening they received from hunting monsters and acquiring Runes during their free-roaming period.

Of course, she still needed to ask for an evaluation from her allies – were they capable enough to stand on their own?

Moguram continued, "These spirit ashes performed very well in the clearing battles in Liurnia. They have high endurance and strong defenses, making them excellent vanguards."

"By my estimation, they are capable of resisting Leyndell's regular knights, and the most outstanding among them are comparable to ordinary heroes."

Such an evaluation was undoubtedly high, as not every military unit could be compared to those of the Royal Capital.

Of course, he also pointed out that this was due to the inherent characteristics of spirit ashes – they were quite resilient and needed to be deployed with a larger army.

Expecting them to conquer a region independently as a standalone army was impossible, which was within expectations.

Everyone gradually realized that the mechanism itself was the Spirit Ash Legion's greatest advantage.

After all, they could be continuously revived and strengthened as long as their master supplied mana.

They were not single-use.

Therefore, they had a large margin for error and could still grow.

"Your Majesty, I believe their souls, freed from the shackles of flesh, are drawing closer to the power of the ancient era." Another Carian knight lamented, "In the past, every race was larger in stature, or rather, possessed more Runes. Now, however, the scenes of the Eternal Dynasty, and even earlier times, are no more."

"If it's possible, we should not only restore the Erdtree to its zenith but also create a new peak of civilization." Frieren's tone was solemn as if making a vow.

She was truly fed up with the dilapidated sights of several consecutive worlds; this had to be reversed.

"Continue the training of the Spirit Ash Legion. I will not interfere for the time being."

"As you command."

Already quite satisfied, Frieren moved on to the next topic:

"How is the recovery of the towns? The urgent priority is to restore the people's livelihood. The area where the Village of the Albinaurics was originally located also needs to be reorganized."

The official in charge of this matter immediately gave a detailed report:

Firstly, graves had been set up in the Village of the Albinaurics.

However, considering the Albinaurics were ostracized, that area could remain secluded and undisturbed.

In any case, it wasn't a resource-rich location.

There was no helping it.

The blood of the Albinaurics affected the Erdtree's blessing, and the revulsion based on this was hard to overcome, so Frieren offered no comment.

May they rest in peace.

She, unlike Miquella, did not so strongly advocate for peaceful coexistence among all races.

Her focus was on restoring the general environment.

The subsequent reports mainly concerned the villages and towns around the Academy, which were now brimming with vitality.

A large population was engaged in production and trade, a stark contrast to the lifeless atmosphere of Hollowing.

This was the greatest hallmark of the Soul-Kindling King's rule.

Even during her busiest times in the real world, Frieren would return to cast Soul Healing, almost sitting up in bed, raising her staff to bestow a blessing of grace, and then continuing with her other affairs.

Her diligent efforts had allowed the Liurnia region to recover rapidly.

The noble reporting on this topic was also very pleased.

"We all have traces of Crucible life within us. It is reawakening."

"The creatures of the Lands Between are tenacious. Under Your Majesty's leadership, the Liurnia region is flourishing. This grace will sooner or later spread throughout the world."

Frieren nodded.

Though it was flattery, her goal was indeed so.

She herself was curious about what kind of civilization the Lands Between could produce, one that would befit the power that could create such magnificent wonders.

Perhaps some thought her ambitions were vast, that she considered saving the world her duty.

In reality, she was a player tired of apocalyptic world atmospheres, preparing to create a brand-new world with her exceedingly high degree of freedom.

"Teacher Thops, has your magic progressed?"

"Of course. I've reduced some performance requirements and modified it into an Ash of War for army equipment. The first batch is currently being deployed. With this kind of force field, we can at least hold out for a few more rounds when facing attacks from the Royal Capital's army. It will become stronger in the future, I already have plans..."

On this topic, he spoke endlessly, expounding on a great deal of professional magical theory that very few could understand.

"I will allocate more resources to your classroom." Frieren quickly waved her hand to stop him.

Results were all that mattered.

The balance of income and expenditure wasn't that important.

If they ran out of funds, they could always explore dungeons.

Besides, having conquered the Royal Capital, there were plenty of treasures.

"Teacher Sellen, I need intelligence regarding the sorcerous town of Sellia."

"I will compile it. I still have some understanding of their school of Night Sorcery. However, since you're so interested, are you planning to initiate the Caelid project?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room instantly turned solemn, the atmosphere heavy.

Meddling in an apocalyptic wasteland was troublesome enough, not to mention the rampant corrupted creatures within.

Honestly, the benefits were not high, but for the sake of a Great Rune, a trip had to be made.

Is it coming? The war with Starscourge Radahn?

"Yes, I've found a way to reverse the Scarlet Rot in the soil. I want to put it into practice as soon as possible."

The entire assembly was stunned.

Huh?

The high-ranking officials in the Magic Academy's throne hall couldn't believe their ears.

Was there a solution to the Scarlet Rot?

That shouldn't be possible.

But a ruler does not jest, and everyone knew Frieren would never joke about magical research.

It was most likely true, yet they couldn't fathom how it was done no matter how hard they thought.

If it were an ordinary person or even a demigod, everyone would think it baseless.

But this particular individual wore the Flower of Aeonia on her head all day; that was the best proof.

What expert can compare to you?

The silver-haired girl proactively instructed the apprentices to her left and right.

As creations of life's secret arts, they were more sensitive to healing – in other words, if anything went wrong, they could easily provide aid.

Moreover, they were familiar with the laboratory, so these assistants were tasked with bringing the samples.

For the assembly, the wait was tense, as they vaguely guessed that Her Majesty intended to perform a live demonstration.

She's serious!

Sure enough, the apprentices brought in soil corrupted by Scarlet Rot.

Even through the container, it made one's scalp tingle.

It was too dangerous.

And you actually transported things from Caelid all the way to the lake region!

How many resources were mobilized for this? How perilous.

Indeed, only a monarch could command such resources.

Now, Frieren was a true major figure in the Lands Between; there could be no mistakes in matters under her supervision.

"Your Majesty, we believe you! You don't need to demonstrate."

"I don't quite believe it myself, because I haven't experimented under the possible influence of the God of Rot."

Now, people were even more terrified.

Fortunately, she used a barrier seal to isolate herself.

Even if something went wrong, she alone would bear the full brunt of the Scarlet Rot's bloom.

It shouldn't be too severe, right?

No one dared to imagine a demigod mage going mad after things got out of hand.

If the Magic Academy exploded from its center, everything would be over.

The silver-haired girl removed the Flower of Aeonia from her ponytail.

A simple action, yet it made everyone's hearts pound.

They watched as she carefully placed it into a sealed jar.

The next moment, it indeed bloomed.

Though a tiny flower, it inexplicably drew a mysterious and profound magical power.

A deity?

There was no mistake.

Anyone attempting to use Scarlet Rot on a large scale might attract attention because it was essentially a prayer, and the deity might even respond subconsciously.

It was just that today's prayer user was different, exceptionally strong.

Suddenly, an insane, terrifying, and unseeable magical power emanated from Frieren.

In an instant, the meeting room felt as if it had plunged into an ice cave, rendering everyone immobile.

It was filled with blasphemy, heresy, and even spiritual pollution, giving one a sense of trance.

It vanished in a flash, also dispelling the God of Rot's gaze, as if nothing had happened.

"What happened? What was that!"

While the onlookers were exclaiming, Frieren had already made the Flower of Aeonia actively absorb the corruption, simultaneously and thoroughly suppressing the power of the Old God within her body, sealing it even more profoundly than the First Flame.

One must use magic against magic, an evil god against an evil god.

Though the First Flame was difficult to control, it could at least be of some use.

Being saddled with an Old God was purely a negative asset, only useful for risk hedging.

Fortunately, she had driven away the Will of Rot.

This way, she could concentrate more on controlling the spread of contamination.

Crack!

The powerful magic caused cracks to appear on the surface of the sealed jar.

Some nobles nearly fled in terror, but in the next moment, the Scarlet Rot surprisingly receded into the blooming Flower of Aeonia, and the soil returned to its normal color.

Facts speak louder than words.

In any case, the residual energy in the environment was absorbed.

The question was, what next?

An even more horrifying scene occurred: Frieren took out the flower, now a few shades redder, and casually wore it on her head.

You truly are carefree.

"As you can see, I have mastered the method of using the bloom to reversely absorb Scarlet Rot. What needs to be done next is to head to the Caelid region. Prepare yourselves."

At this point, they looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock, but they still indicated their obedience.

Regardless, the mighty Soul-Kindling King would not fight an unprepared battle.

The specific principles were indeed unclear, but as long as its safety was proven, that was enough.

Moreover, some nobles quite welcomed the departure of this dangerous magic as soon as possible; they would only feel at ease once that place was truly restored.

Since Frieren had decided to take a long trip, the Magic Academy would have to readjust its strategy.

It was going to be a bit busy.

Far away, in the main hall of Stormveil Castle.

A Stormhawk soared, flying directly to a tall tower, then abruptly descended, stirring up a fierce wind.

Surrounding messengers immediately stepped forward to retrieve the sealed letter.

Apart from the Sites of Grace that allowed teleportation, only a few communication methods were fast enough.

And this letter bore Frieren's Black Sunflame insignia, signifying an order that likely required advance deployment for certain matters.

"Her Majesty can teleport but didn't come immediately, choosing to send a letter instead. This likely gives us some reaction time. It's probably a major move."

The officer made his judgment, gazing at the distant fog-enshrouded lake and taking a deep breath.

Peace had reigned for a long time.

He heard that the recovery in the Liurnia region was proceeding smoothly and could provide substantial logistical resources.

That wouldn't be surprising then.

That ambitious Soul-Kindling King was about to launch a new plan.

He wondered what Stormveil Castle would be required to do.

He eagerly ran to deliver the letter.

Passing through the tower stairs, he went all the way down, directly into one of the castle's most spacious rooms, the throne hall.

Even when the master was absent, this remained the central hub.

Out of respect and adherence to longstanding tradition, the nobles still held their meetings here, coordinating all affairs of the south.

Standing at the highest point of the dais was Lord Haight.

He cleared his throat and said, "Currently, the recovery in Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula is far outpacing that of Liurnia. It's time to increase investment in weapons production. Mining, forging, and transportation must all keep up."

"Don't stop the grafting and Dragon Communion efforts that are already showing results. Continue to expand them, the more the better."

"All units must prepare for war. If something like the Battle of the Church of Vows happens again, we can't let the Liurnian nobles steal the show."

Haight's words drew frequent agreement.

Exactly right.

I was here first, whether it was pledging allegiance to Her Majesty or defeating a Shardbearer together, yet we fumbled on the new battlefield.

In the eyes of most, including Commander Edgar, their performance in the battle against the Grace-Given King at the end of the Liurnia highway was abysmal, practically a hindrance.

What if it had ruined Lady Frieren's plans? It could have easily led to a complete loss.

Although they were grateful for the support from the allied noble armies, the south, recognizing its own military deficiencies, was determined to reinforce its troops once more, striving to become the main force in the subsequent offensive on the Royal Capital.

Suddenly, a messenger burst in, waving a letter. "My Lord, a letter from Her Majesty!"

"Quick, give it to me."

Taking it, Haight hurriedly tore it open and read carefully.

The surrounding people instantly held their breath.

After all, Frieren was not one for many words; if she initiated contact, it was highly likely for some crucial arrangement.

"We are to prepare to dispatch troops to Caelid. The objective is to eliminate the corrupted creatures."

"Additionally, Her Majesty has found a way to heal the contaminated soil."

Short words, yet they landed with resounding force, heralding a storm.

Caelid region, Redmane Castle.

A Stormhawk arrived at the castle's central plaza.

A soldier in southern army attire removed the letter and handed it to his commander.

Upon seeing the insignia, he solemnly bowed in the direction of the Queen, then began to read.

Beside him, both southern army soldiers and Redmane soldiers cast their gazes upon him.

Was the new Shardbearer finally going to make a move?

"Lord Commander, thank you for your care during this time. Our unit's support rotation has ended. We will return to Limgrave tomorrow."

"It is we who should be thanking you. Otherwise, we couldn't have dealt with these corrupted creatures."

"They seem to have become even more ferocious in recent years."

Any warrior stationed here would feel the change.

The contamination from the soil was worsening, breeding more corrupted creatures that rapidly multiplied, overwhelming the normal ecosystem.

Not good.

It seemed related to the power of Cursed-Blood; in short, it was the result of more than one type of contamination catalyzing.

It felt like a storm was brewing.

As acting castellan, Jerren observed most carefully.

A large number of corrupted creatures were stirring restlessly, likely related to the influx of soul power from outside the Lands Between...

If the southern army hadn't come to their aid under Frieren's orders years ago, they would probably have suffered heavy losses.

So he quickly asked, "Then will you be returning? Are you going to give up on pacifying the corruption?"

"In your eyes, is our liege the type to retreat in the face of battle? Rest assured, what comes next will be a main force-scale deployment of support. We won't be needed."

"Her Majesty's determination is truly great!"

Even with Jerren's discerning eye, he couldn't help but praise her.

Having witnessed the battle between Starscourge Radahn and the Valkyrie, he also held Frieren in high regard.

He had thought at most she would send other troops, offering some ineffectual support.

And yet, you tell me she's dispatching a large army to sweep away corrupted creatures?

For what purpose?

Could the Soul-Kindling King be interested in Redmane Castle's resources?

She could very well come and plunder; there was no need to proactively take responsibility.

Kingly virtue!

This move struck Jerren with the utmost shock.

Looking across the Lands Between, how many would even consider such a thing?

It indeed aligned with Frieren's consistent modus operandi: conquest must be accompanied by governance, taking the restoration of shattered calamities as her own duty.

She would never turn a blind eye to monsters that destroyed the environment; she hated evil as if it were her personal enemy.

He said sincerely, "Please convey my respect to Her Majesty."

"Certainly. She should also be pleased."

"Additionally, the Combat Festival will be held again. Since Lady Frieren has the will to claim a Great Rune, then let her try. Will a quasi-king emerge?"

Jerren looked deeply at the dunes below the cliffs of Redmane Castle, where the mad demigod was gnawing on corpses.

It's time for release.

As these words were spoken, the surrounding Redmane Knights also nodded with melancholy.

It was indeed a good opportunity.

This Combat Festival was not only for Radahn but also for Frieren's journey, a showdown between Shardbearers.

The southern army officer replied solemnly, "I will deliver the message."

With that, he spurred his horse and departed.

The entire support team mobilized, heading west.

This Combat Festival, unlike the last one which was hindered by the war in Limgrave obstructing traffic, would have more masters participating.

One could imagine how lively it would be.

The southern army certainly couldn't miss such a good opportunity.

The Redmane Knights who remained behind busied themselves under Jerren's command, deploying for the upcoming Combat Festival.

He couldn't help but look up at the stars in the sky.

'Can the Soul-Kindling King make these destinies flow anew?'

Jerren's answer came as a roar from the dunes, echoing for a long time, as if yearning for a slaughter.

Mohgwyn Dynasty, Blood-Pool Plain.

Blood-fiends continuously emerged from it, including a large number of Albinaurics, multiplying under the magic of the Blood Nobles.

In the subterranean sky, Blood Crows circled, letting out triumphant cries.

Ever since the Battle of the Church of Vows ended in victory for the southern army, the great Blood Lord had realized he must take action to curb the Soul-Kindling King.

Therefore, he had continued to expand his army.

Now, the forces accumulated within the dynasty numbered in the tens of thousands.

Yet, they were still not satisfied, continuing to use various methods to increase their monster count, even extending their claws towards the corrupted creatures.

"Very good. Use the Cursed-Blood to make them berserk."

Simply strengthening individuals was not enough; the number of corrupted creatures needed to be further increased, the more the better.

"Give the Caelid region a big one. Sooner or later, it will spread to Limgrave."

The Blood Nobles roared with laughter, and the blood pool boiled along with them.

They just had to cause trouble for the south.

To issue an order to the Tarnished guilds to crusade against the Bloody Fingers and jointly attack the forces of the Mohgwyn Dynasty – then they can't blame us for retaliating.

We must get our own back.

Far away in the temple palace atop a tall rock, a bored Mohg gazed at the movements below.

The numerous monsters, empowered by an Outer God, were high-spirited, roaring at the sky, eager to break through this towering, false starry sky and wreak havoc on the surface world, barely able to contain their thirst for slaughter.

Regardless, they all wanted to fight, whether to destroy themselves or their enemies.

Suddenly, a Blood Noble reported, "Your Majesty, intelligence confirms the Soul-Kindling King is about to launch a large-scale offensive against the Caelid region."

He detailed the ins and outs and some inferences.

For example, Frieren had likely mastered a technique to purify the Scarlet Rot from the soil, which was why she dared to make such a big move.

Moreover, she probably wasn't just eyeing the Great Rune but also intended to annex Caelid's resources, completely consolidating the south to form a secure base of operations.

Mohg stroked his chin and murmured, "With Frieren's penchant for delving into holes and exploring, she can't be allowed to succeed."

Sooner or later, she'll dig up the location of the Mohgwyn Dynasty.

"What should we do?"

"Of course, stop her on the surface. It's a perfect opportunity for a grand Combat Festival, to send two Shardbearers off at once!"

"Could it be Your Majesty already has a plan! As expected of the mastermind behind the blood-soaked conspiracy."

"This will require Leyndell's cooperation. Contact my pedantic brother, have them provide support, at least to tie down a portion of the southern army."

The strategy in Mohg's mind gradually became clear.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Hearing the arrangements, the Blood Noble was almost trembling with excitement.

Back then, they had overturned the momentum of the allied lords, resulting in no victor in the War of the Shards.

Now, they were about to topple another powerful monarch.

What boldness!

Even the Soul-Kindling King wouldn't expect a hidden hand lurking in the shadows.

Therefore, victory would ultimately belong to them.

If everything went smoothly, couldn't they annex Frieren's original territory and complete their own consolidation?

They too could launch a war for Leyndell.

Let Morgott see clearly who was truly fit to be Elden Lord.

At this moment, the more Mohg thought about it, the more pleased he became.

Obtaining two Great Runes at once – what a delightful surprise.

"However, we still need more preparations. We must ensure it's foolproof."

With this thought, he summoned other confidants to make further arrangements.

_____

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