Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1839
The largest fleet ever seen in the history of the Five Lands, consisting of tens of thousands of ships and one million soldiers, had been journeying for days to conquer the Sapharos Archipelago.
"Ugh, my stomach..."
Soldiers participating in a naval campaign for the first time were struggling with nausea and vomiting.
"Look at them," Mathew said, looking at the soldiers in a pitiful state with contemptuous eyes.
"Try to understand them, Overlord Mathew. Most of them are boarding ships and joining an overseas campaign for the first time," said Rappa.
Although Mathew found the soldiers' state pitiful, his own first overseas campaign had not been much different.
"I don't even want to remember those days. So embarrassing."
"Did you say something, Overlord Mathew?"
"No."
Mathew gave an evasive answer to Rappa's question. Although Rappa wanted to probe the matter a little, a messenger who approached them interrupted their conversation.
"I greet the Overlords. Our Dynasty Lord summons you to a meeting with the commanders."
"Alright, you may go."
At Mathew's cold response, the messenger soldier stood up, saluted one last time, and walked away.
"I want this war to end quickly," said Mathew, tiredly.
"You seem quite exhausted."
"Did you expect me to be energetic, Overlord Njassar? War after war after war. Forty percent of the population of the Five Lands—perhaps even more—has died due to the wars that have broken out in the last forty years. It's not even certain how long we will live."
Rappa was seeing Mathew in such a deep depression for the first time.
Rappa placed his hand on Mathew's shoulder and wanted to say a few supportive words.
"A voice inside me says that even if this war isn't our last, we will enter a period of peace that will last for many years."
Mathew prayed that Rappa's inner voice would be right.
"Let's hope it turns out as you say."
Mathew stretched his back and took a deep breath.
"Shall we go?"
Rappa replied.
"It's wrong of you to ask. Of course, let's go."
Mathew and Rappa went to the ship's cabin where the meeting would be held. To avoid wasting time, they increased their speed using magic.
In the afternoon, all the commanders gathered on the Kislavein Dynasty Lord's massive ship.
"Since everyone has arrived, I am starting the meeting," said Ricardo.
Throughout the meeting, they exchanged ideas about the first attack to be made and potential events and dangers that might occur later in the war.
After everyone had expressed their opinions, towards the end of the meeting, Ricardo turned to his son-in-law, Rappa.
"Overlord Njassar, after these wars are over, I am thinking of arranging a magnificent coronation ceremony for you in the city of Ashterah."
Rappa had not expected this. After his father was killed in battle, he had been declared Dynasty Lord and Overlord of the Eastern Lands by Ricardo, but an official coronation ceremony had been postponed due to the war.
"Well... I don't know what to say. The war has filled my mind so much that holding an official coronation ceremony had completely slipped my mind."
Ricardo smiled slightly.
"Of course you will have a coronation ceremony."
"On the other hand, I need to touch the last Sarcophagus. That way, I will also learn the secret of the Sarcophagi that grant power and wisdom upon touch. Of course, this is my theory. Even if it doesn't have clear validity, I have a feeling that something big will happen when I touch all the Sarcophagi."
Ricardo kept his thoughts and words separate. It was certain that Rappa was not aware of the existence of the Sarcophagi. If he were, he would have done everything in his power to go to the city of Ashterah as soon as his father died. However, from his demeanor, it was clear he did not know about the Sarcophagi.
"It's impossible that Marco Ashterah did not give his son information about the Sarcophagi. In this case, the knowledge about the Sarcophagi must have ended with the Ashbrum Dynasty. Regardless, this works to my advantage."
"Dynasty Lord, may I ask what you have been thinking about for such a long time?" asked Osiris.
Ricardo answered without losing his composure.
"Nothing important, Lord Osiris. Very well, now return to your places. Tomorrow is our last great battle. Rest well."
The meeting ended, and the commanders dispersed. Ricardo also retired to his own quarters, spending time with his wives Marilin and Meiran.
"Will this truly be our last war, Dynasty Lord?" asked Meiran.
"That is everyone's greatest dream. The countless wars, breaking out one after another for years, have caused too many losses. Half of them were because of a war I started."
Marilin asked, anxious and thoughtful.
"Do you regret it?"
Ricardo answered without a moment's hesitation.
"No. I never have, and I never will. If I hadn't conquered the Five Lands, no one else could have. Wars and genocides would have continued on an increasing scale for centuries. At least I have prevented countless future devastations. Even if history remembers me with terms like 'Bloody Tyrant' or 'Ruthless Bloody Conqueror,' I don't care. I set out on this path. I have no intention of turning back or looking back. I never did, and I never will."
Marilin and Meiran did not know what to say. Accustomed to spending romantic times with Ricardo, they were seeing this side of him for the first time.
They said nothing more. They embraced him and, due to the exhaustion of the days-long naval journey, quickly fell asleep.