Sheraf says "All of my stats went up by a couple of points."

"So, it looks like it isn't a huge buff."

Lin says "Even if it isn't, if it is permanent it is still a good thing. Free stats are not something to turn your nose up at."

"True. It is a decent reward just for swearing loyalty."

A few minutes later Athena informs me that all of the elves are gathered. When I walk out wearing the crown, all the elves take a knee and swear their loyalty. This time, there are so many beams that they blend together and turn the sky golden.

At the same time, I can feel the power in the crown growing stronger. Several options that weren't available before show up in my mind when I focus on the crown. The crown can now give me general information on the elves and their attitudes towards me.

Since it gives things like loyalty and happiness numbers, it makes me think of some kingdom building games. It is the kind of thing that would be a huge help for any ruler. It makes me think that whoever made the crown definitely had experience with ruling over people.

It is a great relief to me that all of the stats it shows me are all really high. Despite having been trapped on the ship all this time, the elves are all healthy and happy. Although, considering their situations before I came along, that isn't too surprising.

Anyway, I now have the ability to give the elves who have sworn loyalty to me a buff. I don't know the exact effect of the buff, but I am betting that it will be decent. I guess I will find out once the battle starts, but as an added bonus, morale among the elves seems to have improved.

All the elves on the main deck are currently happily cheering the fact that they now have a king. Honestly, it makes me feel really embarrassed, but I still smile and wave in response. It also makes me realize that I haven't paid enough attention to the feelings of the elves.

I wanted to keep them from getting attached to me since I am going to die soon. However, in keeping my distance I have also left them hanging and unsure of their place. I was hoping that reclaiming their ancestral city would take care of that for me.

The problem is that I can't just ask them to fight for me and not take care of them in return. I already made the mistake, now I just need to face up to it and fix it. Luckily, it looks like this has gone a long way towards fixing my mistake.

I just wanted to help them in the battle, but this is probably even more important. I should probably talk with Stillwater about it later, after the battle is over. We are really close to the peninsula now, it is time I stop trying to avoid my responsibilities.

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As the rest of the elves go back to whatever they were doing, Brightfire gathers her soldiers. I would assume that she is going to start briefing them on the plan. My guess is confirmed when I see my kids join them and sit down to listen.

It feels weird to still be wearing the crown, but I have to have it on to activate the buff. Besides, I can't take the risk of having it force all the elves to kneel again if I put it away. Although, I will need to test that later, I don't want to have to wear it all the time.

Lin says "You look like something is bothering you?"

"Just thinking about my responsibilities."

Lin says "Oh, come on. It's not that bad!"

"Not yet, but it will be soon. If it was just the elves, I could probably handle it. But when you add all of the tribes of beastmen it becomes a lot more complicated. I just hope nothing else gets added."

Lin says "Like what?"

"Like the empire. We are probably going to have to fight them. If we do, I will make sure that we win, but then what do we do with the empire?"

Lin says "You claim it and rule it until the war with the demons is over."

"If I do that, then I will control over half of the peninsula. I doubt the other kingdoms would be happy with that."

Lin says "Maybe so, but would they dare to do anything at that point?"

"Even if they don't, I doubt they will contribute fully to the war against the demons. Besides, I have another concern now."

Lin says "Oh? What new concern?"

"Making sure that you, Myria, and the kids have a safe place after I am gone. If I make everyone hate me, they may target you once I am gone."

Lin says "If they dare to, I will obliterate them!"

"I believe you, but I would still prefer it if it didn't happen."

Lin says "You really like worrying about things, don't you? That is in the future, you should only worry about now."

"I can't do that. If I don't plan things out, my odds of affecting the course of events will be next to nothing."

Lin says "From what I have been told, leaving things to chance is better than you making plans."

"Come on now! Has a single one of my plans gone wrong since we met?"

Lin says "Uh, no, not that I can think of."

"See? Stop listening to others and trust your own judgment!"

Lin says "All those stories can't be wrong. Have you been lucky? Or have you been less insane since you met me?"

"Uh, that is a possibility."

I am saved from continuing the conversation by the elves taking their battle stations. The ship is approaching the harbor and the battle will be beginning soon. However, I don't plan to activate the crown's buff until the elves get into melee combat.

I am not sure what the buff will do and I also don't know how long it will last. So to get the best effect from it I will activate it once the elves are fighting the cultists directly. Considering how powerful the crown is, I have high expectations for the buff.

The siege weapons on the ship begin firing as soon as we enter their maximum range. At this range the shots aren't all that accurate, but it is still a good move on Brightfire's part. The harbor also has siege weapons that return fire, but their shots all fall short.

Being higher quality and being enchanted, the ship's weapons have better range. Our weapons are targeting the harbor's weapons to try and take them out first. I can feel the ship's speed dropping to keep us out of range of the enemy weapons for longer.

This allows us to give the enemy a one-sided beating and is a good start to the battle. By the time we enter into the enemy's range, almost half of their siege weapons have already been destroyed. Despite us now being within their range, the cultists are still unable to do any damage to the ship.