The dawn comes, a new beginning rises.
Albert woke up and walked outside his room, rubbing his eyes.
He made his way to the King's Chamber located at the topmost part of the castle. He stopped in front of the door, thinking of the fight between him and Zoey.
"Should I open it without her consent?... No, I should knock. She is now the new King."
He thought, hesitating, unsure of what manner he should show.
He knocked twice.
There was no response inside.
He knocked again.
Still, there was no response.
"Should I open it?"
He thought to himself.
"Oh? What is your business with the King, handsome man?"
A woman in a maid's clothing spoke from the corner to his left, seeing him standing in front of the King's room.
Albert turned left to face her.
"Great! I am Albert, a humble servant of the King... May I know the whereabouts of our King?"
He asked in a polite tone.
"I think she is not inside her room... More importantly, it looks like all the workers of the castle have returned, which means..."
He thought.
The maid didn't speak but gestured for him to follow.
She guided him.
Albert then noticed that their destination was the King's Hall, shrouded with a loud noise of voices mumbling inside, loud enough for Albert to hear from afar.
"Looks like it's my time to execute my side quest of revenge."
Albert muttered to himself as they got closer to the big door of the King's Hall.
In front of the door, two soldiers stood with long silver spears, guarding.
The maid leading Albert stood in front of the door but was blocked by the crossed spears of both guards. Then she turned to him.
"Sir Albert, Lady Lina has asked me to guide you... But may I have your scroll of contract as a loyal servant of the former and present King?"
The maid asked, because the guards demanded proof that he was allowed to enter.
"As expected... Lina has already announced Zoey to the citizens as their new King... But why would they do it so early? It hasn't even been a couple of months."
Albert was lost in thought, worried that Zoey's disguise as a man holding the role of King might be exposed, causing unimaginable turmoil.
"Can you hear me, Sir Albert? Can you show it now?"
She asked, wondering if Albert had heard her.
Albert reached into his pocket and pulled out the scroll of contract.
When he showed it to the guards and the maid, their reactions suddenly changed.
They kneeled before him.
"O great Sir, we humbly apologize for our actions."
The right guard said.
His position was now equal to that of a King, as the contract specified that he could do anything inside the Kingdom as long as it didn't violate any law, and he must prioritize his mission to annihilate Abaddon.
Such a position was called Sovran, meaning a sovereign person who is independent and almost free from control.
When he entered, he saw many new faces, some familiar, most of them nobles and knights with brilliant histories and titles earned through strength and charisma as knights.
Albert looked left and right, hoping that Madam Merry was around, as she was one of the most powerful knights known as the Maiden of War.
After he had completely scanned the crowd, Lina called out his name loudly.
"Albert, the Sole Sovran with the task of eliminating the threat to the world!! Come forth and stand beside our King!!"
Lina shouted, startling the crowd below.
She was standing on the right side of Zoey, who was disguised as a man. They didn't struggle much to make her look convincing, since her short black hair and boyish nature already helped.
The crowd, consisting of high-level officials, turned their eyes to him, as he was the only one they didn't know.
Their gazes were enough to make Albert nervous. He even recalled the time when he was tied above their village statue and tormented to death by his fellow villagers.
"Why would she shout my name?"
He thought nervously.
They cleared a path for him to the throne.
Murmurs spread as they questioned Albert's identity.
Albert walked, staring at Zoey's appearance. She looked like a completely different person compared to her usual messy way of talking and her always-angry expression.
"Woah, I can't believe my eyes..."
He thought.
As he stood still on her left side, Lina stepped forward carrying a long and rough scroll.
When Lina began to read, the crowd instantly fell silent.
"We don't have enough time to spare for a banquet celebrating the arrival of our new ruler.
Our enemy, the world's threat that has caused the deaths of many of our brave soldiers, men who fought with pride for their families.
Yesterday, a soldier ran into the King's Chamber relaying unprecedented news.
The Abaddon!! They have invaded our land. They are outside the walls, waiting for us like rats hiding in their nest from a snake.
I hereby declare, in the name of our King... Albert!! The one who defeated two hundred soldiers of Abaddon, whom we once thought immortal and perished in his own hands. Not only that, he also killed a powerful general known to us as Swan, the Raging Storm.
Albert, the title of High Sovran is given unto you at the request of our King.
You shall fight alone."
Lina finished reading the scroll.
There were three levels of Sovran.
First was Low Sovran, whose position was only temporary. Their authority was limited to certain places inside the Kingdom during their active time, until their title expired in due time.
Second was Middle Sovran. They had no time limits, and their authority was executable anywhere within the King's domain. Their position would only be revoked after their assigned mission was completed, whether in success or failure.
Lastly was High Sovran, a position only one in history had ever achieved, and that was Victor Quasinto, the first hero. This position was equal to that of a King. They had broader control, even outside the Kingdom, and could show their authority as long as they carried their badge. This position was lifelong and passed to heirs. Such families sometimes became a source of conflict inside the Kingdom.
The crowd was in disbelief and disagreement over the decision.
Some muttered:
"Our King is foolish to put his trust in a brat with a false feat... We must have been struck by the fury above."
"Maybe I should turn myself..."
"Unbelievable!! A young man should not fight alone!! Even with his..."
"O great guardian!! Guide our blind King."
"Heavenly deities, let this be a dream!!"
They couldn't accept the declaration, but in this world, whatever was written in a royal scroll was unchangeable. No one could object to what was inscribed within it.
"What in the vast land?! Are they throwing this title like a piece of cheese?"
Albert thought in shock, staring at Zoey with a gulp of disbelief.
"SILENCE!!"
Zoey shouted, then stood from her throne and walked forward, facing the noisy crowd.
They silently stared at her.
Albert's eyes widened and he gasped nervously, unsure if she could do her job properly as the new King.
"Please don't throw a tantrum now."
Albert thought to himself.
"My... Fu... Ahem, I will assure you all that this man will bring victory to our kingdom!!"
She declared in a manly voice. Then she used her mind control to make them believe her words without doubt.
Her mind control was beyond normal. It didn't only manipulate the mind of a person but could also make them unconsciously obey, even while their sanity and self-consciousness remained intact.
She could add false memories or delete them easily, just like she did to the Chiefs when she made them flee and forget that she had threatened them.
Only two people were unaffected by her mind control: Lina, with her artifact that protected her identity and memories, and Albert, with his inhuman nature due to his fusion with his artifact.
"Grace to our King!!"
The crowd shouted in harmony.
Albert stared at them with pity.
"How cruel... then why would we struggle to disguise if she can do that?"
He thought.
And then all who attended returned to their houses with their knights.
Only Lina, Albert, and Zoey remained inside.
Then Lina began to explain the plan for what Albert must do alone.
"First of all, you must know who your enemies are and what they are capable of."
Lina said.
Meanwhile, Zoey's face looked happy and arrogant, proud of being above Albert.
"Hoho, you are now my pet, crazy sh*t."
She said, laughing while patting Albert's head.
Albert grew irritated.
"May you mind your mannerism, my King?"
Albert asked, his voice displeased.
"Oho, what a bastard you are... You dare talk back to me?!"
She said, raising her voice and staring at Albert, expecting him to apologize.
But then Lina stepped in and stopped them.