Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 884: His Return

When the boarding process first started, the boarding party, including Regalia, Reina, and numerous others, did not expect it to get so... peculiar. A gathering of angels had descended on them a while ago, as well as the angel of life, Evangaline, had decided to leave her duty to protect Lantherem behind and join the conquest of the world alongside Athenia’s chosen heroes.

The valkyrian angel did not speak even a word, she only did as she pleased and anointed herself a sector in the Iron trident that would soon lead the offensive charge against the enemies. While she remained holed up in her chosen room, the rest of the angels–that of the Prince of Nile–scattered throughout the many ships of the fleet and sang a hymn of courage and strength to elevate the soldiers’ morale and abilities.

Already, their music was having a positive effect on those already on board. Their veins felt as steel, and their conviction grew more fervent. What happened back at Mansion ’Phordite felt like a fleeting nightmare. One that shall soon be replaced in memory as the day the goddess of calamity challenged them before their defeat.

What struck Regalia and the others even more odd, however, was the gathering of birds atop the iron vessels. Mostly Crows and Ravens, as Elenaris had long been a home to these dark-feathered birds. Soldiers and aides from other kingdoms, at times, tried to shoo them off, only to be scolded by the people of Elenaris, including Regalia, for even daring to raise their voice against the late king’s familiars.

’But why gather here now?’ Regalia pondered, her eyes shifting to the dark castle.

The birds were known to gather at the dark castle’s spires, but today they’ve changed their location–a surprising switch as they’d never done so for as long as anyone could remember. Boarding the leading vessel with Shamisha, Lutz, and Reina, the wolf girl pondered the question. What was different today that the dark flock has decided to flock above the vessels? The Iron Tridents had been by the spire for a while for their construction, so why only now?

”People are seeing it as a dark omen,” Reina spoke up, snapping Regalia out of her stupor.

”Nonsense!” Gritting her teeth, she glared sideways at the smith as they walked in the direction of the control panels. The ship was long, and their walk was about to take a few minutes at the very least, but even in that time, she couldn’t allow for the scared birds to be blasphemed. ”They are a gift from the centuries-long conquest led by our late king! They feast on the fallen bodies of our enemies, and the goddess Elenaria then raises their skeletons by infusing the leftover bones with the spirits of long-dead champions! Yes! That is why they are here, nothing else!”

The sound of silence carried as nobody else dared to speak up. For Reina, the matter was simply too trivial to quarrel over, while the other two were in agreement with the late king’s general.

”In any case,” breaking the lingering tension, Shamisha gestured for the two to catch up with her and walk side by side. ”We need to familiarize you with the console one last time. Any mistakes could spell danger, so pay close attention–apart from the warping jumps through space, the ships themselves act no differently than the sand ships the two of you have already helmed.”

”Fucking flying piece of metal ass, I doubt it’s anything like steering a wooden ship.” Reina’s curses were heard and swiftly ignored like her many other complaints in what could only be considered virile, pirate speech.

Walking up to the console, Shamisha flicked a few switches while the two watched carefully. A thumping of hearts suddenly erupted throughout the Iron Trident, almost as if the vessel itself was breathing. And in a sense it was, for many hearts and souls were instilled in its mechanisms. Ironcores, beating hearts taken from criminals, and their countless souls to filter the mana that would soon be drawn in from the surroundings, that was how the ship would power itself. As for the rest, it was pure mechanics.

However, one part that even Shamisha was unsure of was a strange suggestion by Mono. After firing up the ship’s ironcore engine, she took a step away from the console and watched in silence as the lights all around the ship blinked for a few seconds. The vessel reverberated with the hum of a hungry beast for a spell, and as the vibrations settled, everything appeared to be in order, except...

”About your doubts in steering this ship,” taking a deep breath, Shamisha turned her head and looked at Reina. ”Goddess Elenaria apparently has a plan. A spirit of a champion that will serve as both a warrior and the automation system for the entire fleet.”

”What?” Regalia muttered, unsure of what to expect next.

Simply shrugging her shoulders, however, Shamisha shook her head and took yet another step away from the console. Sticking close, Lutz remained by her while the girls were motioned to approach the vessel’s console.

Strange lights were flashing across their faces; even so, both Reina and Regalia steeled their hearts and approached the helm. A plethora of switches and steers were staring right back at them; each one of them was vibrating under the hum of the ships. However, this beast of burden had to be reined in and controlled with steady hands.

”Is it alive, this thing?” Reina asked, her mouth feeling dry.

But before Shamisha could offer a response, a voice came through the voice-carrying channels fitted throughout the ship.

”Conquest awaits us, people of my kingdom.” A throaty and rugged male voice echoed through the ship. It carried a rumble much like the vessel itself, and yet somehow, the voice had managed to overpower the ship’s gruntings. Setting down under the weight of its master, the vessel grew quiet in a matter of seconds, and the only thing that was heard was silence and his voice. ”Our goddess hath chosen us for this immense undertaking. But fear not, for I will shoulder the burdens most cumbersome, and under my wing and the guidance of the mother star, we shall conquer the world itself! FOR SUCH IS OUR RIGHT! FOR SUCH IS OUR DESTINY!”

As the zealous voice of the man erupted into a triumphant speech reverberating throughout the kingdom, Regalia, and the people of Elenairs, all fell to their knees. Their eyes gazed skywards, some staring at the dome of safety overhead, some at the ceilings of their home, and even the inside of the flying vessels.

”I-is that...” Regalia’s lips quivered, and a well of tears muddied her vision. But she did not have to come to the final conclusion herself, for the man himself declared his authority.

”I, Klaus Victor Hammack, swear on the name of my celestial mother! My body may have perished, but my soul shall carry the will of his eternal mother! For my duty to her and my people–even in death–has not yet concluded, and never will! For all who die for her are made eternal!”

Under the weight of the late king’s voice, Regalia’s dam of tears crumbled in an instant–as it did for countless others all over the kingdom. And as word spread of the king’s return, the citizens gathered by the spire to look upon the vessel atop it. All the while chanting to themselves...

”The eternal king lives!”