Chapter 232: Rebecca’s Specialty
Givia’s speech at the guerrilla camp had been a resounding success. Despite the unexpected interruption, her unwavering composure in the face of the so-called “truth-revealing” Divine Art, and her proud defiance, had further ignited the soldiers’ enthusiasm.
They didn’t understand the intricacies of Divine Arts, but they knew that its power surpassed all magic. Since the enemy’s spell hadn’t affected Givia, it meant she was the real princess. Their courageous leader had risked being attacked by a sinister curse to encourage them. They were deeply moved.
And since it was no longer a secret, Givia had even revealed the truth about their enemy’s alliance with an Outer God. This revelation had initially caused some concern, but she quickly reassured them, explaining that the Restoration Army wasn’t powerless. Their four allies, the heroes she had brought with her, were their weapons against this divine threat. And they had already achieved some success in containing the Outer God’s influence.
Givia was likely the first leader in history to publicly reveal the existence of an Outer God. It was a bold move, but not a reckless one. Firstly, it wouldn’t offend the Church, as long as the people remained loyal to the Nine Gods. And Givia had clearly positioned the Outer God as their enemy. Secondly, since the enemy had chosen open confrontation, it was important for her soldiers to be aware of the threat. Continuing to hide the truth could have disastrous consequences.
She had initially planned to introduce Leona and the others, but seeing them busy below the stage, she had abandoned that idea.
They had a task assigned by Abyss. Flora and Leona were responsible for Givia’s safety, guarding against potential assassins. Rebecca had a more important mission: to identify any Shadowlings or followers of the Lord of Nightmares lurking within the guerrilla ranks. Abyss hadn’t been sure if the Lord of Nightmares had enough followers to pose a threat, but the enemy’s recent actions confirmed that he was now utilizing his human agents.
The small amount of divine power Rebecca had extracted from the mutated apple trees and fruits proved useful. Using it as a catalyst, she created a special potion based on the Divine Grace-storing formula she had acquired from the Alchemy Club. This potion could detect any connection to the Lord of Nightmares.
Flora had provided assistance. The Church’s Divine Arts users possessed a spell that could detect a believer’s loyalty. The more devout a believer was, the more divine favor they received. The difference was subtle, but measurable. Rebecca’s potion worked on the same principle, detecting any traces of the Lord of Nightmares’ favor within the guerrilla ranks.
Their efforts were successful. They identified three individuals with connections to the Lord of Nightmares. With Givia’s approval, the guerrilla commander agreed to let them take these suspicious individuals for questioning.
The guerrillas’ high morale was a welcome sight for Givia. They were not only her bravest soldiers, but also seasoned veterans, their morale crucial for their upcoming campaign.
After her speech, Givia conducted a formal inspection of the troops, finalizing their battle plans, then returned to her base.
…
Shodo Town was still bustling with activity, but the initial excitement had subsided. The farewells between the soldiers and their families had ended, and the army had resumed their training, preparing for war. Givia’s return was met with enthusiastic cheers from the townspeople, their support for the Restoration Army unwavering.
Givia, accompanied by Abyss’s three followers, the “Abyss” imposter, and one of her guards, returned to the headquarters.
Leona, following Givia inside, walked into her room and, with a swift movement, hoisted Givia onto her shoulder, as if she were a sack of potatoes.
If anyone else had witnessed this, they would have been shocked. Such disrespect! To casually carry the leader of the Restoration Army, the rightful heir to the Ossi throne, on her shoulder?
But Givia didn’t react. She seemed dazed, as if nothing had happened.
“Your Highness, you can breathe fresh air now. That inspection tour must have been tiring,” Rebecca said, turning to the guard who was following them.
The guard, her face hidden beneath her helmet, removed it, revealing a beautiful, sweat-streaked face. She took a deep breath, smiling. “I never imagined Mr. Abyss would be so thorough. If I had stayed here, or gone on that tour myself, things would have gone terribly wrong. But now, everything is perfect.”
“Ray’s alchemical golem is truly remarkable. It’s so lifelike, even its breathing and heartbeat are simulated,” Leona said, patting the “Givia” on her shoulder. “Thanks to this, we were able to deceive the enemy completely.”
“I was inspired by the Lord of Nightmares’ Shadowlings,” Rebecca said, smiling. “If he can create puppets, why can’t we create our own protective doubles?”
Yes, the one who had delivered that passionate speech wasn’t the real Givia, but an alchemical golem controlled by her. The imposter Abyss had also been a golem controlled by Rebecca. The inspiration for these golems came from the Shadowlings. And what Rebecca hadn’t revealed to Givia was that her invention also incorporated Flora’s Divine Arts and Abyss’s understanding of necromancy—and her own experience as an inventor of adult novelties.
This was their secret weapon, the key to protecting Givia from the Lord of Nightmares’ followers and successfully rallying the troops!
Leave a Reply