[: Daniel POV :]
“It’s a bit regrettable, there’s nothing more I can do when they’ve made their choice”
“All I can do is respond to their decisions,”
Bella lamented, shaking her head at how they had misconstrued the potential outcome.
“Yeah, I suppose it’s regrettable,”
John concurred, unable to envision what the future might hold.
“But, Princess, if you manage to convince the last perpetual ruler, who will ascend to the throne?” He inquired.
Currently, there exist a total of 10 Factions and 5 Perpetual Rulers.
If Bella could successfully sway the last perpetual ruler to her cause, her alliance would comprise 6 Factions and 2 Perpetual Rulers, forming a formidable coalition.
On the opposing side, Jake would only have 4 Factions, with the support of 3 Perpetual Rulers.
“If I can indeed win over the Last Perpetual Ruler to my side, then the odds of both Uncle Jake and me ascending to the throne would be equalized”
“And in that scenario…there would only be…”
Bella contemplated the possibilities unfolding before her as the delicate balance of power hung in the balance.
“War…”
John finished her sentence, the word hanging heavy in the air as he muttered it while swallowing hard and breaking into a nervous sweat.
The reason behind the gathering and support of Factions and Perpetual Rulers was to establish a peaceful means.
It was a way to determine their chances of ascending to the throne, without resorting to bloodshed.
However, once those chances were balanced and equalized, there remained only one path.
An all-out war between each side.
The victor would be the candidate whose faction and supporters outlasted the others.
It was a brutal and unforgiving battle, where defeat was never an option.
This is an outcome that has never happened in the alternate future. In the alternate future, Jake had ascended to the throne and Bella didn’t even exist at this point. For the first time, this is an outcome where I don’t know how it’ll go. “War is unavoidable at this point, John”
Bella declared and her eyes expressed that she was ready for this. “But it doesn’t mean that I will allow any one of my people to suffer” She affirmed.
“It’s something that I promise as future Empress,” She smiled with confidence.
Her recent ascent to level 999 had increased her confidence in herself and it was not arrogance but a genuine belief that she had the means to uphold her assurance.
“Then I will help the Princess relay the message to the factions that have pledged their loyalty to you and assist in preparing for war”
“It’s the least I can do as one of your factions,”
John suggested with evident enthusiasm and It was clear that he was fully loyal towards Bella.
“I will trust you on this, and I’ll head to the South District where the Perpetual Ruler is,” Bella said.
I guess it’s time to move on to the last visit. “Then I will escort you outside,” John offered graciously.
He guided them both out of his household, ensuring they were ready for their journey.
“Have a safe journey, Princess,” he wished Bella sincerely.
As they exchanged parting words, both of them suddenly disappeared, leaving John in mild astonishment at their mysterious departure.
“How mysterious she has become”
“Well, this makes it more interesting than it should be. Sigh, I guess my life from now on will be busy,”
John mused, looking forward to the future and the changes that Bella’s rule would bring to the continent.
Meanwhile, Bella and I had arrived at the South District, a region covered in snow, where the Perpetual Ruler resided.
“We’ve arrived at the Ruler’s household. Should we go in?” I inquired.
“You don’t have to. I’m already here,”
All of a sudden, a voice called out as though the person had been expecting our presence from the beginning. As Bella turned around, she greeted the person. “Aunt Serza, it’s been a long time since we met,” It seems as though she was familiar with her, which she was.
Unlike the previous faction, where it was all men, this time, the Perpetual Ruler who governed the South District was a mature woman.
“Cut it out, Bella. Don’t call me Aunt; I’m not even old yet. I’m still in my mid-thirties, so I’m not that old,”
Serza, the Perpetual Ruler, fussed about being called an Aunt, and Elsa chuckled in response.
“Sigh, still, I never thought that there would be a day when I’d be supporting the faction of my best friend’s daughter, who would become the Empress,”
Serza reminisced, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she thought back to the times with her best friend, the late wife of the former Emperor.
For a moment, Bella felt a pang of sadness at Serza’s words.
But she quickly regained her composure, a skill she had honed over the years.
“Your mother would have been proud to see her daughter grow into such a splendid woman,” She said. “Now, let’s get in and fill in me with your stories”
She invited both of us into her mansion. We settled in the guest room, where we were served the finest desserts and drinks.
“So, I understand that both of you have come here to persuade me to join your side”
“Although I’m your mother’s closest friend, don’t think that I’ll be an easy ally,”
Serza stated with a sly smirk, hinting at the challenges ahead.
“Of course. I’ll prove to you that I’m no longer the small child you always see’
“‘ll show you how strong I’ve become,”
Bella declared with confidence, eager to demonstrate her growth to her Aunt.
“Then we’ll see how much you’ve changed with this quest,”
Serza smirked, her expression revealing a hint of challenge.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before us.
[: You have received an Ex Rank Quest: Defeat the Ice Saint. Reward: 1 Unique Class Selection Ticket and 1 Ice Empress Unique Class Ticket :]
Both Bella and I were taken aback, but it was Bella who seemed most surprised.
Her eyes widened at the unexpected nature of the quest.
“Defeat…the Ice Saint…?”
She murmured in disbelief, never having guessed that the quest would involve confronting her late mother.
“I know you have lots of questions, Bella,”
Serza began, her tone softening, “but your mother predicted that one day, you would be ready to descend to the throne”
“She left one final gift for her daughter, which explains why she was called the Ice Saint”
“She left a piece of her soul for her child to overcome and become her class successor.”
Serza’s explanation continued, and I couldn’t help but notice the struggle in Bella’s eyes.
It was evident that anything related to her mother was a sensitive topic.
But she managed to hold back her tears.
“Then, let me face this quest,”
Bella declared.
Without further ado, Serza guided us to her basement, revealing a futuristic training ground.
“As I mentioned earlier, your mother left her daughter a gift as a means of helping her daughter,”
Serza explained further. “So, she left behind a piece of her soul to test your resolve”
“She had prepared that if you couldn’t pass this test, you would no longer be bound to this continent and would be taken to another land where you would be protected for the rest of your life.”
“Another land?”
Bella had questions swirling in her mind at those words.
However, even Serza didn’t possess the answers.
“If you’re asking me what it meant, I have no idea,” Serza confessed.
“If I’m really honest, Bella, your mother’s origin was mysterious, and she never even told me a single thing about it.”
“Well, you could only find the answers when confronting her remaining soul,” Serza added.
“Then let Daniel and me enter the training ground,”
Bella declared, clenching her fist in overflowing emotions. But throughout this conversation, my gaze had remained fixed on Serza.
“Oh? So his name is Daniel. He’s quite capable, isn’t he?”
Serza flirted, but I wasn’t swayed by her flirtatious acts.
Instead, I was deeply concerned about the strange feeling that enveloped me while Bella was conversing with her.
Serza was someone that I knew less about but I don’t feel any malicious intentions from her. “Of course he is!”
Bella loudly claimed with a proud expression.
“Well, aren’t you a little bit excited?” Serza chuckled at Bella’s excitement and Bella couldn’t find the words to continue. “Still, if you’re ready, we can start immediately”
Since both of us were ready, Serza suggested entering the training ground.
We agreed and stepped inside, finding ourselves surrounded by white tiles on the floor, walls, and ceiling.
The room was equipped with machines and automatic robots, clearly designed for hunter training.
“I will immediately start the quest, and both of you should prepare yourselves. You’ll be facing the Ice Saint,”
Serza’s voice echoed throughout the training ground.
Bella braced braced for the upcoming challenge.
From the centre of the training ground, a manifestation of a spirit began to take form, slowly coalescing into a human figure with the aid of Mana.
“Mother…”
Bella whispered as she watched the soul transform into the Ice Saint.
There was no doubt in her mind that this was indeed her mother.
Their resemblance was uncanny.