Gathered around the once ordinary magnolia, Grandpa Bo and Grandma Im couldn't hide their surprise at the sight. From his magical tower, Evan dashed out, toothbrush still in hand, and came face to face with the awe-inspiring tree. He muttered in disbelief, "What in the world..." As he confronted the awe-inspiring tree, he glanced over at me, his toothbrush hanging loosely in his hand. "Amy, did you have anything to do with this?" he asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

I shook my head, a bemused smile playing on my lips. "Not me," I answered, motioning to Princess Astrid who was still fainted on my lap. "It's Princess Astrid... or should I say Queen Astrid?" As the realization of the situation settled in, he turned back to me with a wry grin. "And here I thought I'd seen all the magical surprises this world had to offer. Clearly, I was wrong." We shared a chuckle, the absurdity of the situation not lost on us.

Lord Vane's expression was a mix of reverence and intrigue. "This is unlike anything I've ever seen," he mused, his voice carrying a note of awe.Lord Vane, Elara, Eowyn, Alex, Marcus, and the rest of the people who had just become subjects of the Magnolia Kingdom, captivated by the stone tablet's message, again paid their respects to me as if I were a king. I quickly tried to downplay the formality, telling them that such gestures weren't necessary. I stammered slightly, "Oh, come on, you guys, no need for—" But Lord Vane's voice was firm. He explained that it was a mark of respect for the King and Queen of this land.Lord Vane's voice cut through my protest; his tone gentle yet firm. "Your Majesty King Amy and Queen Astrid, it's only right that we show our respect. You are, after all, the King of this Land." I sighed, realizing that their respect was genuine and heartfelt. "Alright, I get it... but just know that I'm still the same Amy." Lord Vane chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Beneath the towering magnolia, the weight of impending challenges hung in the air. I spoke up, my voice laced with a mixture of determination and concern. "Well, it looks like we've got a bigger issue on our hands now... a war quest."Grandpa Bo chimed in with a hint of mock worry, "War is coming to us now, huh?" Grandma Im added her own teasing remark, "Dear, are you enjoying your day of surprises?" Grandpa Bo chuckled, his demeanor light despite the gravity of the situation. "Life's too short, isn't it?"

Grandma Im glinted mischievously, "So, this girl name Astrid, aah she is our granddaughter-in-law?" Her eyes twinkled warmly. "Well, she's undeniably beautiful; we should think about holding a King and Queen ceremony?" I couldn't help but interject, a touch of urgency in my voice, "Grandma, there's a war looming..."

Neko approached, gently taking Princess Astrid from my lap. The rest of our group settled on the massive roots of the Magnolia.

Evan, with a half-finished tooth-brushing, jumped into the conversation. "I think you can come up with something," he offered optimistically, his voice muffled by his toothbrush.

From beside me, Mr. Fenrir padded forward, his presence commanding and regal. "I will lend my power to you, King Amy," he declared. I met Mr. Fenrir's gaze, a mixture of gratitude and determination reflecting at him. "That assures me," I replied with a nod, my heart steadied by his unwavering support.

The military progress indicator taunted me with its frustrating 55% mark. The sheer might our kingdom could marshal remained hidden in the fog of uncertainty, filling me with a sense of contemplative unease. My thoughts delved deep, searching for a glimmer of insight amidst the uncertainty.

In the midst of this cerebral maze, a straightforward and practical approach emerged, cutting through the mental clutter. It became clear that mastering the art of proper positioning was paramount. As the pieces fell into place, a renewed determination welled up within me. I was resolute in my commitment to craft tactical solutions that maximized our chances for success, ensuring that we would be in control of the battlefield's rhythm and flow.

"Alright, everyone," I directed, using my finger to sketch lines and shapes in the dirt. "We've got to take our positions around the Aether Shield – it's shaped like this. Grandpa Bo and Jack, you'll be stationed at point one. Grandma Im, along with Clucky and her chicks, point two. Evan and Eowyn, you're up for point three. Alex, Marcus, and our Goose, you're on point four. Mr. Fenrir and Elara, point five is yours. And Midnight and I will hold down point six."

"Given the unpredictable nature of the goblin army's approach, we must be prepared for various scenarios. Here's the plan: if the goblins attack from a single direction, point 1 defense and point 2 will launch a coordinated counterattack against them. However, in the event of a dual-sided assault, each point will need to hold the line and fend off the attack." I paused momentarily to let the implications sink in before continuing. "Furthermore, if the goblin forces attack from three or more sides, we will have to allocate our forces accordingly to prevent being overwhelmed."

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As I explained the plan, Java and Linux seemed eager to join the fight. I chuckled and held up a hand. "Hold on there, you two. You're a bit too young for the front lines. You'll stay with Neko, Lord Vane, and, uh, Queen Astrid, as their protective escorts, alright?"

I noticed Alex and Marcus, both looking at me with an unmistakable sense of reverence. As I locked eyes with them, a surge of curiosity compelled me to employ my unique ability, the Monarch Insight, to delve into their thoughts. It was an innate skill that granted me a glimpse into the hearts and minds of those around me.

The insights came swiftly, confirming my initial impression – their loyalty to the kingdom was unwavering, a steadfast devotion that stood at an impressive 100%. My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I processed this information. It was rare to encounter such steadfast allegiance, particularly from teenagers. Their loyalty resonated deep within me, stirring a profound sense of pride and gratitude.

Summoning my HUD interface, I navigated to the section labeled "Weapons and Artifacts." A sense of anticipation filled me as I observed the list of items that had become accessible due to the completion of the mining quest. The screen displayed an array of options, among them, a selection of weaponry – spears, swords, and bows – all waiting to be claimed.

With a determined nod, I made my choices. "Alright, let's acquire these weapons," I murmured to myself, a sense of purpose guiding my actions. Additionally, I remembered the promise I had made to Grandpa Bo about a weapon. Scrolling further, I found the desired item, and with a thought, I initiated the purchase.

As if materializing from thin air, the weapons appeared before me, an assortment of gleaming arms that shimmered with potential. I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction as I beheld them.

Distributing the weapons among my companions, I extended the bow to Elara and Eowyn, the spear to Alex, and the short sword to Marcus. Their expressions turned to astonishment as they took hold of their respective weapons. Elara's voice held a hint of disbelief as she exclaimed, "This... This is a mithril-grade weapon!" Beside her, Alex and Marcus wore expressions of pure delight, their eyes shining with appreciation.

Encouragingly, I nodded to them, my tone resolute. "Use these weapons to defend the kingdom."

Eowyn, who had been observing the scene, couldn't contain her amazement. "A mithril-grade weapon – and you give two?"

I offered a wry smile in response. "Well, I've learned that preparing for the worst often pays off, Eowyn."

The choices were limited to silver and mithril, and naturally, I opted for the mithril option. But as Elara and Eowyn expressed their astonishment at the mithril-grade weapon, a realization hit me – though I had heard about mithril in RPG games, I had never encountered it in real life. The idea that it was considered rare and precious began to sink in, leaving me both intrigued and slightly bewildered. A thought crossed my mind – what if I mentioned the existence of other grades, like Titanium and Starsteel, which were currently locked.

Moving on to fulfill my promise, I approached Grandpa Bo, my demeanor earnest. "Here you go, Grandpa Bo," I said as I handed over a twin sickle dagger crafted from mithril. A grin of childlike excitement broke across his face as he accepted the weapon, his eyes gleaming with gratitude and a touch of mischief.

Soon after, the scene unfolded as two animal forms drew near, and it became apparent that they were none other than Grandpa Bo's cows. I couldn't help but blurt out, "Doosy and Bossie?" Both cows inclined their heads in a bow-like manner to me, an oddly regal gesture from these bovine creatures. With a breathtaking shift, they transformed into towering, two-meter-tall creature with the head of a bull and the body of a human. Evan and I exchanged astonished glances, completely taken aback by the sudden transformation.

Amid the surprise, Grandpa Bo's laughter rang out. "Welcome to the club – it's a Bathomet," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "Is this one of the evolved forms, like what happened with Jack?"

Grandpa Bo confirmed my suspicions with a nod, "Indeed it is."

Amid the revelations, Grandma Im's voice chimed in, a mix of jest and endearment, "Your grandpa's been busy leveling up while you were off on your mining quest."

"Alright, let's unveil my new power," Grandma Im announced determinedly. 'Planxent’, a verdant radiance emanated from the ground beneath her. As her energy surged, the very earth responded, causing ripples and vibrations that escalated into a substantial tremor. Beyond the protective barrier, an incredible transformation unfolded – spikes of roots erupted from the ground, weaving a second layer around the existing hexagonal defense. This intricate web of natural fortifications added an extra dimension to our protection.

I couldn't help but chuckle heartily. "Hahaha, it's no surprise you two were so relaxed amid the impending war."

Grandma Im's eyes twinkled with a knowing look. "Be cautious, though; the thorns carry a toxic sting," she cautioned, her voice laced with concern.

"With only three hours remaining, it's time to allocate our positions," I announced, the urgency palpable in my voice. "Please take these resources." I motioned toward the carefully prepared supplies nearby. "Neko has ensured that each team has battle rations ready."

Turning to Neko, I couldn't help but express my gratitude. "Neko, you're a true savior in times like these," I said.

"So, how's the Princ.... I mean Queen Astrid doing?" I inquired, my curiosity getting the better of me. Neko responded that she was currently resting.

As I mulled over the situation, a thought crossed my mind. Could Queen Astrid be just an NPC character? An extra set-in place to aid me in this fantasy realm?

Evan's playful voice laced with a teasing edge reached my ears, "So, Astrid's your better half now? You're damn lucky..."