Randall followed Alfonso back to the expeditionary force's headquarters. Before they even reached the camp gate, they could see signs of battle everywhere around the camp.
Alfonso rode his horse over a church banner with a cross pattern lying in the mud and said in a deep voice, "The Knights of the Church have chosen the wrong opponent."
Walking a short distance further, the corpses of horses and knights were everywhere. The Crusader soldiers who stayed behind at the expeditionary camp were struggling to clean up the battlefield while cursing these mad knights of the church.
Randall looked down and saw a young knight who had been blown in two by spores. His slightly immature face could be vaguely seen through the broken helmet, and the rosary beads of the cross on his chest were scattered on the ground.
Alfonso gazed at the "graveyard of knights" before him and murmured, "About eight hundred men, all elites of the Church Knights."
Controlling his steps and carefully avoiding the piles of corpses, Randall finally stepped through the gates of the expeditionary force camp after some effort.
The snake woman Parly, clad in chainmail, saw Alfonso leading his army back. She swam slowly toward him and said, "My lord, the commander wishes to see you."
Alfonso nodded and said to Ackerman behind him, "Command of the Crusade is now officially transferred to you."
Ackerman blocked Parly's outstretched hand and said solemnly, "I will hold a meeting with the shamans first to take stock of the army's casualties as soon as possible. I will go to see Lord Cumberland later."
Alfonso dismounted, handed the reins to his attendant, and nodded, saying, "A detailed report on everything that has happened here needs to be submitted to His Majesty as soon as possible. Please don't waste too much time."
Turning his gaze to Randall, Alfonso tilted his head: "You're coming with me. Lord Cumberland has something to say about the task His Majesty has given you."
"What about my teammates...?"
"They stayed here."
When Randall followed Alfonso into the commander's tent, the smell of blood in the air momentarily distracted him.
Cumberland, dressed in blood-stained armor, stood motionless before the military sand table, staring at the flags and markings on it.
"Our forces have breached the Far Ember Hills," Alfonso said softly. "The casualty figures are within expectations."
Cumberland asked, "That old guy... have you found him?"
"Before the war began, I met with Lord Bromer Hesmond, and he refused my offer to surrender..."
"I know he won't surrender. I just want to know, did you find him after the battle?"
Alfonso nodded slightly: "We found his body."
"Bring it here."
"My lord, I must warn you beforehand that our army used poisonous lizards to dig tunnels and launched a surprise attack on their camp. Bromo died from the poison, and his death was..."
Cumberland roared, "Stop talking nonsense! Bring him here!"
Alfonso gestured to his attendant, and a few minutes later, a stretcher carrying a body was carried into the tent.
Cumberland strode to the stretcher and yanked off the white sheet covering it.
The body of an elderly man, with bluish skin and covered in blood, appeared before everyone's eyes.
Cumberland swayed a few times, then slowly sat cross-legged on the ground and whispered to Alfonso, "Tell His Majesty that the enemy commander is dead, and the war is over."
Alfonso gave a knightly salute, glanced at Randall, and turned to leave the tent.
Cumberland waved to the guards around him and said, "Randall Quincy, everyone else, leave first, except for you."
A short while later, only the corpses of Cumberland, Randall, and Bromo remained in the huge camp.
Cumberland looked at the corpse in front of him and said calmly, "I owe this man a lot."
Although Randall didn't understand why the other party was saying these things, he chose to remain silent.
“When I was young, I had no distinguished background and no wealthy parents.” Cumberland sighed. “All I could do was forget my fear in the war and risk my life to earn merit and glory time and time again.”
“In this way, I gained the appreciation of my superiors and the admiration of my soldiers, but I could never gain the approval of the nobles.”
"But back then, I was hot-tempered and lacked tact. As a result, when I was at the Military Academy in Teruo City, I offended a bunch of sons of bitches among the nobles."
“I was brought to trial for some fabricated crimes. If it weren’t for this person…” Cumberland paused for a moment, then continued, “So, when I guessed that His Majesty was going to wage war against the Church, I hoped to avoid facing him by retiring…”
Cumberland paused, looked up at the sky and sighed, then said in a deep voice, "Randall Quincy."
Upon hearing Cumberland call his name, Randall immediately straightened up and bowed.
"His Majesty has always valued you highly, but I don't understand this point."
“Your abilities are not outstanding, and your knowledge is not extensive. There are many people in the kingdom who are more capable than you.”
Upon hearing this, Randall couldn't help but say, "I don't understand His Majesty's intentions either."
Cumberland glanced at him sideways: "His Majesty can see into people's hearts. When I mentioned you, he told me that character is more important than strength and wisdom."
"Mental state?"
His Majesty said you are very much like him, always putting the well-being of others before your own.
Cumberland hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Furthermore, His Majesty told me that he hopes to see peaceful coexistence among races, and that the human race, being the most crucial and also the most chaotic branch, needs a suitable leader to guide it..."
Randall quickly interrupted Cumberland: "My lord, I do not have that ability."
"I know you don't!"
Cumberland roared angrily, "What I don't understand is why His Majesty always has to relinquish his power?! He is a wise monarch, and even more so, a perfect god! Why should he place his hopes on us flawed mortals?!"
Randall lowered his head: "I cannot fathom His Majesty's intentions."
Cumberland glared at Randall and roared, “I cannot control His Majesty’s will, nor can I comprehend his profound plans. But for those who have threatened or hindered His Majesty, whether they have ever done me a favor or were once admired heroes, as long as they choose to be His Majesty’s enemy, I will, like a mad dog that has lost its mind, send them and everyone connected to them to the scales of soul judgment!”
The old knight's fury and madness sent a chill down Randall's spine.
He tried to speak, but found his mouth wouldn't obey him; he could only nod repeatedly to express his opinion.
Cumberland closed his eyes and hissed, "Go find Alfonso and complete the task His Majesty has given you as soon as possible! Now, get out of my tent!"
Randall hurriedly stood up, gave Cumberland a hasty bow, and turned to leave the tent.
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