Chapter 790

The council meeting was not only rich in discussions about the treatment of the war veterans and wounded soldiers, but it also covered the overall state of the kingdom’s military.

Siegfried was willing to consider each and every submitted proposal, encouraging the ministers to present the well-crafted policies that they had prepared beforehand.

[Alert: Quest progress has reached 56.6%!]

[Alert: Quest progress has reached 77%!]

The progress of his quest, the Path of Wise King (4), climbed steadily, but the most pressing issue still remained—the treatment of soldiers who had suffered grievous injuries while in active service.

“Your Majesty.”

Regarding this matter, Schmidt’s proposal stood out as particularly proactive.

“Instead of discharging soldiers who have lost limbs, what if we allowed them to continue serving? It would be more beneficial than simply offering compensation along with honorably discharging them.”

“And why is that?” Siegfried asked.

“For soldiers whose bodies are no longer whole, being discharged does not really provide them with many alternative options.”

“That’s true...”

“So rather than granting large sums as severance, why not reassign the wounded soldiers to administrative or non-combat roles?”

“That’s an excellent suggestion. We can’t abandon them just because they’ve been injured—especially in the line of duty.”

“Yes, sire.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Your Majesty,” someone spoke up just then.

It was Quandt, who had recently been appointed as Minister of Science and Weapons Development due to his contributions in the previous battles.

“I would like to develop prosthetic limbs, artificial arms and legs.”

“

Oh?

”

“As Your Majesty might be aware, the crafting of artifacts involves the combined efforts of metallurgy, magic, and alchemy, among other disciplines.”

“Yes, I am aware of that.”

“Then why not create prosthetics using the same principles?”

“

Oh?

That sounds intriguing.”

“Should Your Majesty allow me to do so, I will begin crafting basic prosthetics that can assist with daily life. Over time, as we conduct research on the matter and make technological advancements, I will aim to enhance them to the point where high-performance prosthetics suitable for combat can be crafted by our kingdom.”

It was truly an ambitious endeavor—one that required immense resources, time, expertise, and countless trials, but Siegfried was unfazed in the face of it.

Resources? Abundant.

Expertise? Sufficient.

All they needed was time and perseverance...

“I approve. Begin the project immediately.”

“Your Majesty’s wisdom and generosity is truly as vast as the oceans! Truly, you are a wise and benevolent ruler!” Quandt exclaimed, prostrating himself before the throne.

“Long live the king!”

The other ministers followed suit, kneeling in unison and praising Siegfried for his wisdom and compassion.

“Well then, it’s getting late, so let’s conclude today’s meeting here.”

Just then, before Siegfried could even finish speaking.

Ding!

System messages informing him that he had completed the quest appeared, and it was followed by the rewards he obtained from the quest.

[Alert: Quest Progress has reached 100%!]

[Alert: You have completed the Quest – Path of Wise King (4)!]

[Alert: The Proatine Kingdom’s military strength has increased by 50%!]

[Alert: Patriotism in the kingdom’s military has increased by 150%!]

[Alert: The probability of producing war heroes with exceptional combat skills has increased by 250%!]

And then—

A new quest immediately appeared.

[Path of Wise King (5)]

Siegfried waved his hand at the message, clicking the "Skip" button.

‘

Not tonight. I’m too tired.’

He was too tired to even read the quest details, so he logged out.

***

The next morning, Siegfried logged into the game first thing in the morning and headed to the Royal Military Hospital to meet Lieutenant Thompson. He wanted to share the news about the newly initiated national project to develop prosthetic limbs, hoping to inspire a sense of hope in the injured lieutenant.

‘

Oh right, I wonder what the new quest was about,’

Siegfried wondered.

Curious, he opened the quest window to check the follow-up quest he was too exhausted to review last night.

[Path of Wise King (5)]

[Hold a memorial service for the soldiers who perished in the recent war, followed by an award ceremony and a morale-boosting performance for those who managed to distinguish themselves.]

[Type: Chain Quest]

[Progress: 0% (0/2)]

[Rewards: +200% National Patriotism, +1,000 Divine Power, Epic Quest Unlocked]

“

Eh?

An Epic quest?”

Siegfried couldn't believe his eyes. Epic quests in BNW were extremely important and were deeply related to the game’s overall storyline.

“What kind of quest could this be?”

Although puzzled by the rewards, Siegfried accepted the quest without hesitation.

[Alert: You have accepted the Quest - Path of Wise King (5)!]

With that done, he set off to meet Lieutenant Thompson.

‘

I guess I’ll figure it out as I go,’

he thought with a shrug.

He knew from experience that in such moments, following the quest blindly would often prove to be the best strategy.

***

“Y-Your Majesty! I did not expect to see you again so soon!”

Lieutenant Thompson was visibly shocked to see the king visiting him—a mere low-ranking officer personally, and not just once but twice, to boot.

“How are you feeling today?”

“I am still in pain, but the painkillers make it manageable.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. By the way, what’s that you’re reading?” Siegfried asked, pointing at the booklet the lieutenant was reading.

“

Oh...

I was job hunting, sire.”

“Job hunting?”

“I thought it would be wise to look ahead for potential work. There aren’t many jobs I can do in my current condition, but a man has to keep going, right?”

“I see...”

Siegfried walked over and gently took the booklet from the lieutenant’s hands and said, “Well, you won’t be needing this anymore.”

“Pardon me? What do you mean by that, sire?”

“I, Siegfried von Proa, King of the Proatine Kingdom, do not permit Lieutenant Thompson to retire.”

“But Y-Your Majesty... I am now disabled... A cripple.”

“You can still serve as an administrative officer, can’t you?”

“W-What?! I... I can still serve?”

Thompson’s shock was palpable, and he almost jumped out of his bed.

“Is a soldier only a soldier if they fight on the frontlines? Cooks, clerks, and even supply officers are soldiers, too.”

“I... I have never thought of it like that...”

Siegfried smiled warmly and said, “We’ve established a new law that will allow injured soldiers to continue serving in non-combat roles.”

“Y-Your Majesty...!”

It was an unprecedented change. The law and culture of the continent dictated that soldiers who lost their combat abilities were automatically discharged from active duty, but to overturn that law was nothing short of revolutionary.

“You’re not considering resigning, are you?” Siegfried teased with a smirk.

“Never! I want to serve until I retire honorably!” Thompson shouted, his voice ringing with renewed vigor and life.

“Good. Keep dedicating yourself to our nation.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Oh, and one more thing,” Siegfried added with a grin. Then, he said, “You might want to enjoy your free time while you can. Soon, we will begin the project to create prosthetic limbs using artifact technology.”

“...!”

“And I’ll need your help with that project.”

“Is that... really true, sire?”

“Yes. It will take time, but the goal is to produce limbs far more comfortable and natural than current prosthetics. Perhaps we could even make ones suitable for combat one day,” Siegfried replied with a shrug.

“Unbelievable...!”

“So don’t lose hope,” Siegfried said, placing a hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder. Then, he added reassuringly, “You are still an officer of the Proatine Kingdom. And you always will be. While you may not regain what you lost, better things are coming. So, be patient.”

At those words, Thompson knelt on the floor with great difficulty and bowed low to the ground with tears streaming down his face.

“Your Majesty...! Your generosity is boundless!”

“Please, don’t bow like that in your current condition,” Siegfried urged, helping him back up.

“

Sob...

I will never forget this kindness, sire.”

“This isn’t just for you. Many other brave men have lost their limbs, too. This is for all of them,” Siegfried explained.

“Yes, Your Majesty...”

“And by the way, I know this is none of my business but... don't you owe Miss Misha an apology?”

“Yes, sire!”

“Rest well.”

With that, Siegfried helped Lieutenant Thompson back into bed and left the room.

Thompson wept tears of joy long even though Siegfried was no longer around.

“I will...

sniff!

I will never forget this... never...!”

***

Siegfried wasted no time in preparing the memorial service to complete the quest, Path of Wise King (5).

The memorial service was grand and dignified.

While it was not a festive celebration, the atmosphere was solemn and reverent. The clothing, decorations, and ceremonial arrangements were all of the finest quality, which showed just how important this event was for the kingdom.

However, Siegfried’s efforts did not stop there.

He reached out to various religious orders across the continent and invited their priests specializing in funeral rites. The continent was a land of countless gods and faiths, a place where polytheism thrived without problems, so Siegfried recognized that the fallen soldiers likely followed different beliefs.

Thus, he made sure to accommodate their diverse religious backgrounds, ensuring that the ceremony respected the deceased and their families.

Finally, the memorial service began.

Dressed in the formal uniform of the Proatine Kingdom’s military, Siegfried personally led the ceremony and fulfilled his role as king.

“Great Sun God, grant peace to these souls.”

“O God of the Sky, lift away the burdens they bore in life and let them soar freely through the heavens.”

“Here lie warriors who perished honorably on the battlefield. They fulfilled their duty as soldiers, so may they find eternal glory and happiness in the land of warriors.”

Priests from various religious orders joined Siegfried and offered prayers for the deceased. They comforted their souls before wishing them peace in their journey to the afterlife.

The family members of the fallen soldiers also participated by offering their heartfelt prayers.

“Dad, rest peacefully. I will protect Mom from now on.”

“Honey, you can finally rest now.”

“My daughter... you’ve done so well. Your mother is so proud of you.”

As the ceremony reached its conclusion, Siegfried approached the altar. He lit the incense and placed a glass of whiskey before the portraits of the fallen soldiers.

“Rest in eternal peace, brave soldiers of the kingdom,” Siegfried whispered.

Just as he descended from the altar, a familiar sound echoed in his ears.

Ding!

A message popped up in front of his eyes.

[Alert: Congratulations!]

[Alert: The event Gratitude of the Fallen Heroes has been triggered!]

This was a completely unexpected event, as it was totally unrelated to the quest, Path of Wise King.