After leaving the Albinauric manufacturing workshop, Frieren went to her room in the Academy, retrieved a notebook, and handed it to Melina. It was filled entirely with notes on soul sorcery.
For Frieren, the most difficult part of this new art wasn't learning it herself. After all, seeing the Tarnished perform it day in and day out, she had already grasped most of it. The crucial part was the willingness.
Neither of them could deny the unidentified seal on Melina. They didn't know what special state it might trigger, so they had always been cautious. But now that they had finally found a method to create a physical body, there was no reason to hesitate.
"Let's try it."
First, she would have Melina learn the most basic soul sorcery; it would only require cooperation with the materials used in creating the Larval Tear in the future.
After completing all this, they headed to the Academy courtyard.
During this time, Frieren was engrossed in studying the small residue left when the Larval Tear shattered. She walked and observed, experimenting with various mana compatibilities as if no one else was around. Onlookers quickly distanced themselves.
It was common knowledge that Her Majesty's research had been quite intense lately, and it was best to steer clear.
She even dared to wear a Scarlet Rot host on her head all day; what wouldn't she dare to do? The boldest scholar in the Lands Between was undoubtedly her.
There was even a rumor circulating:
"The Fell Omen wasn't necessarily scared away by the Scarlet Rot; it's more like he was awed by Her Majesty's death-defying spirit."
Many agreed with this, understanding their Lord too well. She didn't care about the dangers of magic, only its novelty.
Even Starscourge Radahn hadn't taken a blooming Scarlet Aeonia to the face back in the day. You, on the other hand, if something went wrong and the Flower of Aeonia exploded your head first, the consequences would be unimaginable.
In short, everyone both admired and worried about the Lady of Soul Cinders.
At least, until a true method of purifying Scarlet Rot appeared, this unease would persist.
"You were so engrossed you didn't even notice, did you?"
Suddenly, Melina poked Frieren's shoulder and said,
"An acquaintance has arrived."
"Who?"
"Your seamster, Boc, is waiting for you right in front of the Academy gate. I didn't expect him to reach a place like this."
Speaking of the small demi-human seamster, Frieren immediately touched the Gold Sewing Needle on her person. Coincidentally, it indeed needed to be entrusted to the most suitable person. It was a good time to catch up after the great battle. If Melina hadn't sensed him first, Frieren likely would have missed him.
Arriving at the Academy gate, two guards were laughing.
"Hey, little runt, you don't think you can get close to Her Majesty just because you're a demi-human, do you?"
"Just an ugly freak."
Hearing this mockery, Boc shrank his neck and trembled, wanting to speak but hesitating.
He wanted to say something in rebuttal, but the two guards were already brandishing their swords, and the gazes of passersby were sharp. Perhaps he had come at the wrong time, even after all the trouble it took to reach here from the lake region...
Bang!
Suddenly, the guards were sent flying, landing face down in the mud, looking utterly wretched. As they cursed and got up, they turned to see Frieren standing there with her arms crossed, her icy gaze rendering them speechless.
"Boc is indeed my seamster. Your attitude towards my friend is terrible, and it also goes against the way of hospitality."
"Go confine yourselves for two days and receive your punishment. This is your only warning; learn from it."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The guards limped away, clearly in for a period of pain. The poor attitude towards non-human races in the Lands Between was not unfounded; it was mainly to make these individuals behave themselves a little.
The surrounding people clicked their tongues in amazement, not expecting it to be true.
"For Her Majesty to specifically appreciate someone with her eye for talent, he must truly have some skill."
Hearing these voices, Boc let out a simple laugh. It was more important that everyone recognized his skills. As a seamster, it was natural to become famous for his works, which was why he had traveled far and wide to the Academy.
"Long time no see. You look well, without that travel-worn fatigue. Something good must have happened, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I believe my current skills are sufficient to alter your armor."
"I look forward to your work."
Frieren had been using the Dancer's Armor, but it didn't fit well and had already sustained considerable damage, requiring careful repair. Since Boc's skills were so highly acclaimed, he was more than capable of the task.
Next, she led her guest to the reception hall. With so many prying eyes outside, it wasn't appropriate to entrust him with the Gold Sewing Needle, given its extraordinary value.
"Also, I have something for you."
After Boc received the heavy sewing needle, he immediately felt a dense magical power. It was no small thing; if used as a weapon, it could probably harm a divine being. Where did it come from? It was definitely a rare treasure.
"I believe that suitable treasures should be given to suitable people..."
"This is too valuable; I cannot accept it."
"What matters is compatibility."
"Please understand, possessing such an item would bring me no benefit. I am not worthy of such a divine treasure."
"Alright. Then it remains mine, but you will use the Gold Sewing Needle when you work for me. I have a job for you right now: alter my armor."
Frieren took out the Dancer's Set. Although it had been damaged several times, thanks to skilled craftsmen, its basic form hadn't changed much. Unfortunately, they didn't quite understand the finer adjustments. Therefore, for future battles, it was best to create an improved version of the armor.
Afterward, it would be handed over to the weaponsmiths for further enhancement, making it a genuine, unique demigod-tier piece of equipment.
Knowing the significance of this task, Boc nodded solemnly.
"I almost forgot, I also have a gift for Your Majesty. It's a cape."
After receiving it, Frieren discovered it could be folded halfway and draped over the shoulder. In reality, some nomadic peoples wore it this way, keeping their right hand free for activities and unfolding the other half to cover themselves when the weather turned cold. Later, due to its bold style and convenience, it gradually became militarized.
For instance, many Great Demons wore such attire, and it was also popular among the nobility in the Lands Between. Mere sorcerer robes or standard armor could not satisfy them.
"I'll accept it."
"It is my honor."
Boc, beaming, then changed the subject,
"However, modifying it into attire strong enough for demigod warfare will take a lot of time. And you mentioned armorers will be working on it together, so the construction period will be quite long..."
"No matter, take your time and be creative. The next large-scale operation is still a long way off."
After learning that the reconstruction of Liurnia and Limgrave would take years, Frieren was no longer in a hurry. She returned to the familiar slow pace of the long-lived, taking things step by step.
She was also waiting for Flamme to grow up and become capable enough to assist with research.
But unhurried did not mean procrastination. The immediate priority was to determine the general policies for both regions and begin the cleanup work as soon as possible.
Therefore, after a brief chat with Boc, Frieren bid him farewell and headed to the meeting. Boc planned to stay temporarily at the Academy of Magic; according to him, he wanted to pour all his effort into creating demigod armor, thereby refining his craft. They would be spending a lot of time together in the future.
Meeting Hall.
When the heavy, double mahogany doors were pushed open, everyone looked towards the newcomer. It was the fashionably late Frieren, who looked a touch more solemn.
The true demigod war had tempered her, and with the increase in her Astrologer powers, her injuries had healed, and her aura was completely refreshed. However, when the silver-haired girl sat in the main seat, her expression remained languid—a familiar style.
There were many new faces compared to before, among them numerous Liurnian nobles.
After absorbing different factions, the management team had also grown.
"To achieve effective rule over Liurnia, their support is indispensable, but you must be careful not to be completely controlled by them."
Melina, in her soul form invisible to all, reminded her.
"There's a way to counteract the influence of local nobles: clear out habitable lands and then redistribute them. Use this variable to balance the power of your subordinates; it can also serve as a reward."
"So, the next agenda will revolve around troop deployment and benefit distribution. Since you enjoy adventure, don't yield. Keep the most monster-infested areas for yourself."
"Understood."
Hearing Frieren's reply, people assumed she meant to continue, and they began their reports as usual...
As the team became increasingly elite and specialized, it was inevitable that some senior nobles and high-ranking sorcerers would use a plethora of flamboyant rhetoric.
Little did they know, Melina saw through these little tricks to confuse their superior. She explained it to Frieren, who, being even lazier, would occasionally offer a few words of guidance, considering her duties fulfilled.
Always whispering beside the royal throne, Melina was like a court jester.
It couldn't be helped. The Tarnished's brains were all wired for combat; they weren't entirely clueless about governance, but one could say their understanding was superficial.
But Melina didn't mind. Even the first Elden Lord, Godfrey, had his Lion Regent to assist him. She could certainly help her partner solve problems before fulfilling her own mission, sharing some of the burden.
Thanks to the well-informed Finger Maiden's translations and advice, the meeting proceeded smoothly.
Her Majesty has changed!
Those familiar with Frieren noticed that she was finally willing to apply her talents to management. Using her intellect was the first step, which was gratifying.
Such a genius would surely learn by analogy.
However, no one knew she was relying on Melina as her external brain throughout the entire process.
Seeing their new leader so professional, the Liurnian nobles who had initially intended to test her also set aside their schemes. It wasn't about whether they had malicious intent; it was merely about dynamically adjusting their work ethic based on their leader's capabilities.
They were actually quite willing to communicate with a wise ruler. Ultimately, everyone had to conquer the world together; there was no need for scheming over trivial matters in a small lake region.
"Your Majesty, this is a monster distribution map collected by the Carian Knights over many years."
Moongrum presented a parchment scroll.
"How do you intend to deploy your troops?"
Frieren's leisurely tone seemed to be anticipating a dispute.
As expected, everyone began vying for the cleanup and eradication tasks. After all, the more one contributed, the more one received, and it was an easy way to expand influence. However, the silver-haired girl unexpectedly made a sweeping gesture, redrawing different zones on the map.
"I will handle these. You just need to consolidate and govern based on the existing foundation."
"Besides, won't it take time to assimilate the captured equipment from the Royal Capital's army? If we wait for the common soldiers to form new combat strength, we might miss the opportunity."
"Your Majesty is wise. Indeed, there's no better opportunity than now, with the massive reduction in the numbers of the living dead."
Originally, the nobles had planned to argue for increased investment for future land division. However, Frieren suddenly mentioned the spoils of war, implying that they had already received benefits and shouldn't push too hard, lest they incur a reprimand that wouldn't be worth it.
Currently, all spoils were kept in the Raya Lucarian Academy's treasury, with the distribution rights firmly in the Queen's hands. She herself had set up the magic sealing the great doors. If they could obtain some support in the form of equipment from the Royal Capital, it would be excellent.
In practice, this was an exchange of interests: trading the opportunity for territorial expansion for military strengthening. And the armaments would sooner or later be used against the Royal Capital's forces, so it was no loss.
To put it wickedly, if you were given good things, you had to charge to the front. Weakening the nobles in the future would also be a smooth process.
Everyone understood the reasoning; it was merely a question of whether they were willing to accept it.
Melina summarized:
"For you, this avoids interference from other powers during enfeoffment, demonstrates your authority in resource allocation, and leaves room for mobilizing the nobles. For them, although they must bear the cost of future losses, the temptation of strengthening their armaments is irresistible, so they will agree."
"As you command."
After a moment of contemplation, the nobles expressed their agreement. In reality, Frieren could have forced it through with her authority without any exchange of interests, but a balanced approach was more effective in winning hearts.
"Your Majesty, I propose that while you are exploring, headquarters select elite troops for training. The target is the mine tunnel in the depths of the Liurnian valley,"
Edgar volunteered.
"There might be a secret passage preserved there."
"Yes, I've met some of the people who supervised the mines back then. It can lead to the Altus Plateau, but it's not convenient for large-scale troop transport,"
Moongrum immediately added.
"According to the Stormhawk's reconnaissance, Magma Wyrms may be entrenched there."
"The General's reminder is correct. The Ruin-Strewn Precipice was occupied by numerous monsters long ago, constantly attracting Tarnished to hunt them."
"My suggestion is to train troops on the periphery, but actual occupation requires observing the right moment. After all, any major move on the mines might be interpreted as an advance towards the Altus Plateau."
Ultimately, Frieren agreed to select elite troops and begin training.
She knew very well how sensitive her opponent, Margit, was. Learning of her activities in the mines would be seen as a prelude to a siege. A full-scale war with Leyndell would not be worth the losses. It might be better to let the rabble from Volcano Manor exhaust themselves first.
Wait a little longer.
Time was on Frieren's side. The territories under her control would rapidly recover and generate resources under the influence of soul sorcery.
"Also, can Teacher Sellen's soul sorcery briefly heal a few people now?"
"Rest assured, I can handle a portion of that while you are out exploring."
Truly one of the Academy's greatest geniuses, deeply versed in the Primeval Current and able to seamlessly integrate with the soul sorcery school, Sellen could now inhibit the deterioration of some severely afflicted living dead.
With Sellen's help, and Frieren occasionally teleporting via Sites of Grace, it was enough to manage the treatment of the living dead.
What remained were merely some convoluted matters.
Mostly, her subordinates would ask for her instructions, and she, listening to Melina's advice, would make the final decisions. Key steps like expanding the Academy's villages and towns, conscripting soldiers, and training sorcerers were resolved one by one. It wasn't until the end of the meeting that everyone finally had time for casual conversation.
Edgar asked curiously,
"In that case, where does Your Majesty primarily intend to explore?"
"The Albinauric Village."
"I heard assassins were once active there. It's unclear if they were targeting the Albinauric Village, but in any case, they were targeted by a group of mysterious individuals. The reason is unknown."
"Perhaps the assassins were after something else. After all, these individuals of unknown origin are active everywhere,"
a noble said dismissively.
Since that was the case, Edgar didn't press further, leaving the judgment to Frieren.
"I heard that Sir Gideon Ofnir, leader of the Roundtable Hold, has actually amassed a large number of spies under his command, who also function as assassins, active throughout the Lands Between, doing his bidding. However, their specific targets are unclear."
This was actually mentioned in player advice.
From the very beginning, she had never trusted Sir Gideon Ofnir. He was a typical schemer, best dealt with cautiously.
It wasn't strange for there to be traces of spy activity in Liurnia. The key was not to let it affect her plans; she was still counting on the Albinaurics' technology to provide some inspiration for her life-manipulating arts.
"Your Majesty, you actually know such secrets!"
There were indeed many speculations about the spies' origins, with some traces pointing to the Roundtable Hold, but no one dared to be certain. Yet Frieren was so convinced, clearly knowing the answer to the mystery. As a Tarnished, she understood this leader well.
No.
Now possessing the dignity of a queen, she could be considered an equal to the Roundtable veterans. Those orders meant for ordinary Tarnished could not affect her.
"From Her Majesty's words, should we perhaps be wary of the Roundtable's power?"
"It doesn't matter; continue cooperating. If there are any movements, report them to me. I will mainly keep an eye on Sir Gideon Ofnir's side. For now, we are in a period of peace."
Hearing this, the crowd moved on to the next topic.
No one truly cared about the safety of the Albinauric Village; it was merely a small, reclusive settlement.
Melina didn't think her partner could keep an eye on a character like Sir Gideon Ofnir. She estimated that if he offered a few magic books in trade, Frieren would forget her vigilance. Of course, if they did become adversaries, Melina was sure Frieren would emerge victorious. No need to worry.
The aura of a true ruler was nothing a mere schemer could compare to. In the Lands Between, aura sometimes counted as a form of strength; the strong were simply more likely to continuously break their limits.
Countless battles and a strong will would help a person reach the summit.
Next, she gave Frieren a few pieces of advice. The latter was becoming increasingly adept, handling these meetings with ease, growing at a visibly rapid pace. As long as she was willing to learn, she could understand.
Unfortunately, she was lazy.
She was a genius but didn't put her mind to management. Soon, the silver-haired girl waved her hand, indicating they could discuss amongst themselves; she would just watch.
Melina, hating that she had no body, really wanted to take a peek inside Frieren's head.
Couldn't she be a little more proactive? Forget it, trying to change a Tarnished's personality was a lost cause; she was too old to change. She needed someone absolutely trustworthy and exceptionally capable to help her. Theoretically, a Finger Maiden was suitable, but they were destined to part ways sooner or later.
Previously, Melina worried that her sudden sacrificial departure would make her partner reckless, even if this thought was self-indulgent.
Now, she understood another point:
Even if Frieren were so iron-hearted as to not care at all about the eternal farewell of the maiden who had accompanied her all this way, her attitude didn't make her suitable for governance. And to top it off, she couldn't cooperate with the gods.
She had confirmed it before: no matter which Empyrean was chosen, a Tarnished who had witnessed the precedents of two previous Lords would find it difficult to trust the gods.
Had they not seen the cases of Godfrey's exile and Radagon's disappearance?
Therefore, under the rule of the third Elden Lord, there had best be an intermediary role. Not as simple as the First Lord's Lion Regent, but someone possessing strength, wisdom, and important bonds...
Never mind.
She would take it one step at a time. When Frieren truly began to cooperate with Ranni regarding the matter of the Two Fingers, perhaps their relationship would improve. Emotional bonds were hard to count on; she only hoped there would be less vigilance between them, shortening some of the distance.
The meeting drew to a close amidst her thoughts.
"In conclusion, I present the summary report."
Edgar announced loudly,
"The Liurnia Revitalization Plan will now commence. Please remember the key points—"
"Stubborn monster strongholds, roaming monster groups, and small underground labyrinths will be dealt with by the army, as quickly as possible. If universally polluting types like Those Who Live in Death are encountered, they must be reported to Her Majesty."
He looked at Frieren, who nodded. She was quite adept at purifying Deathroot.
"The operational guideline is to expand the purification zone with the Raya Lucaria Academy as the center, first establishing a route connection with Stormveil Castle."
"Actually, we have already made good progress on this point. The key is to be careful of the lobsters active in the lake region at night; they need to be carefully exterminated."
"There are two long-term deployments:"
"First, to re-pave and repair the end of the Liurnian highway, all the way to the garrisoned Grand Lift. This time, it's our turn to occupy it. We must guard against the Royal Capital's army making a comeback."
"Second, to gradually reconnoiter the outskirts of the Ruin-Strewn Precipice."
"So, our goals are to consolidate the control zone, create a purification zone, garrison the Grand Lift, and conduct frontier reconnaissance. By stabilizing these four points, let us make the entire southern region, from Liurnia to the Weeping Peninsula, prosper within ten years!"
Edgar said excitedly.
Everyone's gaze converged on the silver-haired girl. She rose solemnly from her throne.
"We will prove that even in the era of the Shattering of the Elden Ring, civilization can develop tenaciously. This is the greatest legitimacy. Let's act."
"As you command."
Even Frieren's single declaration was inspiring because the results were plain to see. Nothing was more persuasive than the thriving Limgrave region. That prosperity would also belong to Liurnia.
With this assurance, they were much more relieved, as the basic strategy had also been announced during the meeting:
Occupy the Royal Capital first, without rushing to mend the Ring.
Therefore, the great power of the Elden Ring might not manifest immediately. They hadn't expected these Limgrave people to be so confident, but the purification efforts of these past few days spoke volumes.
Even if the Elden Ring wasn't repaired, everyone still received the power of Grace's blessing. Soul healing and purification were no inferior to it. Though smaller in scale, it was more attuned. Thus, repairing the Elden Ring was indeed not urgent. They didn't need to rely on a single law; they had to rely on themselves.
Moongrum agreed:
"I support Her Majesty's strategy of first occupying the Royal Capital and then considering the laws. After all, Leyndell may not be safe."
As a member of the Carian Royal Family, he certainly had the standing to question it.
The nobles concurred:
"That's right. Anyway, the southern army will conquer and restore along the way. We can completely set aside the great power of the Elden Ring for now. The key is to ensure complete control."
"Indeed. The Night of the Black Knives, Marika shattering the Ring, and the exile of the First Lord all prove that the Altus Plateau is full of conspiracies."
"Her Majesty is not a Tarnished tool for mending the Ring. We want to witness the ruler named Frieren govern the Lands Between. Only with you on that throne can a truly new era of abundance be brought forth."
Today's meeting was even more so their declaration.
Our long-historied Carian Royal Family and the surrounding Liurnian nobles do not trust the Golden Lineage. We want to support a great ruler whose journey we have witnessed ourselves.
The bets were placed, all in. Not only to occupy the Royal Capital but also to face the inevitable conspiracies that would arise.
The hearts of the people were aligned. This time, they would absolutely not miss this opportune moment.
______________
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