Without even needing to use the close-combat units that had been prepared long ago, the goblins that rushed out along with their leader all failed to survive this baptism of arrows.
After watching this battle that could almost be called as spectacular as a performance, Elashia couldn't help but exclaim:
"What a battle even more spectacular than a performance."
Cecilia nodded and said:
"Indeed, but Your Majesty, this battle isn't over yet. Unfortunately, the upcoming battle will take place inside the cave, so we can't go in to watch."
Elashia said nothing, just continued staring at that unit.
After discovering that almost no more goblins were rushing out, Aelia ordered again:
"Confirmed that large-scale goblin activity has ended! All personnel put on face guards!"
The soldiers uniformly put on the face guards of their helmets.
Aelia continued ordering:
"All personnel check equipment!"
The crossbow soldiers began loading arrows into their crossbows, while the close-combat personnel began checking the torches and weapons in their hands.
After a short while, the soldiers had all completed their equipment checks.
Aelia continued ordering:
"All personnel recite the Anti-Goblin Countermeasure Unit precautions!"
The soldiers said in unison:
"We will never miss any corner of the cave! Never spare any goblin! Never accept hostage threats!"
After the soldiers finished reciting the precautions, Aelia continued ordering:
"All personnel enter the cave in an orderly fashion!"
Then, the soldiers proceeded toward the cave with shield-bearing soldiers carrying torches as vanguard, spear-wielding soldiers as middle guard, and crossbow-wielding soldiers as rear guard.
Only then did Elashia notice—these soldiers were all wearing chain mail and face guards.
At this time, Cecilia beside her explained to Elashia:
"Actually, these soldiers' equipment has all been modified by us."
"Among other things, to adapt to combat environments with smoke and dust residue, we added cloth that can block smoke and dust to the face guards. To respond to goblin ambushes, we equipped soldiers with full-body armor like Ms. Aelia's."
"Replicating this equipment nationwide would of course have a significant impact on the budget, but through our calculations we can confirm it definitely won't cost too much of the budget."
Elashia nodded.
"I know, and goblin extermination operations concern the overall situation of all Elasia..."
However, just as Elashia hadn't finished speaking, the system's notification sound suddenly rang in her mind.
[System Task Issued]
[Task One: Ask Cecilia exactly how much money it will cost—"You say it won't cost too much of the budget, but exactly how much will this budget be?" Task Reward: Mage Level +2]
[Task Two: Remind Cecilia—"You must remember that when there are relatively large expenditures, you also need to report to me once." Task Reward: Blood Blade (Equipment)]
[Task Three: Show Cecilia a very serious expression—"You don't need to discuss this kind of thing with me. Just tell Candice, and if she's unwilling, then come find me. After all, no matter what—human lives are more important than equipment and money." Task Reward: Warrior Level +1]
Elashia looked at the three tasks and thought for a moment.
Elashia felt she should still follow her previous habits.
The reason was simple...
Elashia looked at Cecilia seriously and said:
"No matter what, human lives are more important than equipment and money."
"Please remember in your future military operations—our purpose is not to save money, not to consolidate our position and power, but for the people of Elasia!"
"People we can save, we must save! Things that can be solved with money, don't fill with human lives!"
Elashia's words moved Cecilia greatly.
"Your Majesty..."
Elashia's sudden serious demeanor, when she usually wore a smile, touched Cecilia's heart deeply in a way it had never been touched before.
She couldn't help but think again of her naive dreams when she first came to the Imperial Capital, and her expectations for the future Sovereign she would serve.
The Sovereign from her dreams was constantly overlapping with Elashia's image...
While Cecilia was moved, Elashia breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
She had almost forgotten about this matter.
As a Guardian Knight, Cecilia had to center everything around her Sovereign's will.
If in the future there appeared on Cecilia a conflict between her own interests and the people's interests, and she couldn't guide Cecilia who was far away, Cecilia might very well go against her own heart and painfully stand with Elashia.
But Elashia couldn't accept that!
She hadn't forgotten the system's warning from the beginning!
As long as Elasian civilians suffered casualties exceeding ten percent in battle, or half of Elasians genuinely despised her from their hearts, she would be directly eliminated by the system!
Task Two would make Cecilia think—between saving people and saving money, Her Majesty Elashia's intention was to find a balance point, to calculate in detail how to accomplish the greatest things with the least money.
This actually seemed correct to Elashia.
After all, the Undead Calamity would come in a few years, and Elasia was currently facing many extremely dangerous challenges. At this time, money indeed needed to be spent wisely.
But—Elashia didn't know whether Elasian lives were crucial to the world.
But she knew—Elasian lives were crucial to her own life.
So she absolutely couldn't choose Task Two!
And that Task One obviously indirectly told Cecilia—"Remember, my little treasury is much more precious than those soldiers' lives. In the future, spending money must have my approval."
This would definitely cause problems with Cecilia's understanding and actions toward her later!
But Cecilia's thoughts were completely different from what Elashia was thinking.
Having often fought on battlefields, she had true reverence for life.
She had witnessed many times—soldiers dying on battlefields due to poor equipment.
Ordinary people dying in many disasters that could have been avoided due to the royal family's indifference.
And Her Majesty Elashia before her seemed, like herself, to also have that deep reverence for life.
Cecilia recalled many of Elashia's past deeds.
In that coup when she first met Elashia, except for that old perverted emperor, truly not a single person was harmed.
In the previous attack on Yage City, Elashia specifically chose a time when there were no people on the city walls to blast the walls, and after completing the wall demolition, she even sent people to repair Yage City's walls, and even returned the weapons previously deceived from Yage City.
Thinking again of her previous doubts about Elashia, Cecilia couldn't help but feel somewhat ashamed.
Perhaps the Sovereign she dreamed of protecting for life was actually right before her eyes...