When Al arrived in Veling for the second time, he received a much more sincere and enthusiastic welcome than his first arrival as an unknown savior.
The residents had bulldozed the severely damaged buildings and outer walls, using the building materials to construct temporary camps to take in refugees. The north of the city was completely covered in densely packed tent dwellings.
When Al returned, the Expeditionary Force rode at the very front to clear the way. Holding high banners embroidered with the insignia of the Kingdom of Estalia (Al considered changing them to a different flag someday), they rode their horses while shouting loudly:
"We have returned!"
"Our army wins battle after battle!"
"Marching west for ten days, over a hundred battles big and small (this was clearly exaggerated), all victorious, a great victory!"
"Countless Greenskins decapitated, tens of thousands of refugees rescued!"
"Our tribe—is invincible in the world!"
Although the good news had already spread throughout Veling with the continuous stream of groups leading refugees and routed soldiers back, when Al led the return of the main legion—the very legion that had suddenly appeared, smashed the Greenskins like forces descending from heaven, and saved the entire city from the savage butcher's blades—it still caused a sensation among the residents.
The cheers shook the heavens and earth. The people of Veling had picked fresh flowers and buds in advance, scattering them on the road. People held hands with their spouses, carried their children, and brought their whole families to wait by the roadside, cheering and jumping for joy at the return of their allies and protectors.
Al intentionally cultivated an atmosphere of joyful harmony. He arranged for the Beastmen to march in an orderly fashion like a military parade, and strictly ordered them absolutely not to display the slightest hint of ferocity or malice toward the civilians.
The Khorngors, naturally, were not like their close relatives (theoretically), the Bloodkine, whose heads were completely filled with nothing but slaughter.
Their faith and thoughts were not that extreme. Aside from their innate pursuit of battle, glory, and competition, they were ordinary Beastmen who could live normal lives during peacetime.
They also adhered to the rule that even many screenwriters forget, the rule from back when they were still brass-bound dog-heads: "Do not strike the unarmed and defenseless." They would try to avoid making the weak and innocent bleed because of them. The fact that the Blessed Gorebull could stop in time while leading the Vanguard pursuing Al, preventing a little girl from becoming a corpse, was precisely because of this mindset.
Recently, inspired by the Grand Sister, Al was considering whether he should spend some time and energy to seriously do some work for his moms, expanding and refining their doctrines and domains.
Most importantly, this would make it easier to preach and develop within human nations.
He thought of the following points:
The greatest bravery is benevolence!
To possess a sharp weapon and not enact violence upon others is minor benevolence, minor bravery; to possess martial power and use it to defend the nation and protect the people is great benevolence, great bravery!
Martial power must be used to challenge powerful enemies (while also) protecting the weak. If one dies in battle doing so, it is the supreme glory, because the people will forever remember and sing the stories of their protectors and martyrs.
The Bloodmother will also rejoice in her warriors returning to her realm in such a glorious, sacred manner!
The Four Mother Goddesses need you!
Under the banner of the Everchosen!
Defend the mortal realm, defend the motherland, defend the people!
Forward!
A girl emboldened herself, using all her strength to toss a bundle of small white flowers over.
The Blessed Gorebull opened her door-sized second left hand, and the bouquet landed in her palm.
"Give it to me."
Al shouted to her, so she bent down and offered her hand to Al.
The boy pushed himself up, grabbed the tumbling bouquet, and held it in his hand.
It looked almost exactly like the flower he saw outside the city of Samana.
Al smiled, flipped open his visor, and took off his helmet.
A beautiful, delicate, androgynous young man with black hair and red eyes.
Too bad it's not white hair...
Al held up the bouquet, waved it at the girl, and smiled faintly.
The latter's face instantly flushed with that deep red color Al had only ever seen in the bedroom. Then she clutched her chest, panting, and was pushed to the back by the even more frenzied crowd, especially the women.
Before he could fully memorize the little girl's face, he lost sight of her.
Most women clearly hadn't seen Al's face; even when he was wandering blindly around the city on the Griffon before, he was wearing a helmet.
As for the Beastmen's aesthetics mostly... whatever. Just know that their first criteria for judging the opposite sex are hooves, fur, and the shape of their horns. Their affection for Al mostly stemmed from the triple worship of Leader, Blessing, and Chosen, with his charm coming after.
But humans were different.
Most of the time, especially a hundred and fifty years after the End Times, with Chaos receding and the fear of corruption even buried in dusty old tomes, almost all human races naturally carried the trait of being "creatures of aesthetics" (judging by looks).
In the art salons and gatherings of Marienburg, if one had a crude appearance and a completely unremarkable aura, they would be ostracized.
It was said that even the Imperial Court, when assessing bureaucratic performance, gave extra points for appearance and bearing.
Elves went without saying. At the Ulthuan Citizens' Assembly, there were even councilors who openly mocked and attacked the sitting Phoenix King for dressing in a rigid, mean manner like a senile pedant, triggering a massive debate.
To say so much is ultimately to point out just how popular His Highness the Everchosen was.
A charm that transcended race overflowed from Al. The Bloodmother gave him the resolute, stern will of a warrior; the Loving Mother gave him an amiable, approachable aura of tolerance; the All-Knowing Mom gave Al the profound, wise bearing of a scholar. As for the Reveler...
Charm Aura, need I say more?
It was still the highest blessing the Four Gods could bestow, permanent and solidified. As long as Al didn't die, even the Reveler Herself couldn't strip it away or take it back. As long as someone didn't have an extremely high inherent antipathy, and wasn't a First Chosen-level figure constantly watched by deities, they basically couldn't resist the effect of this aura.
Within the defeated crusader order, aside from the Paladin who gave up on herself and chose corruption, the reason the others were so obedient and willing to cooperate—besides Al reasoning with them verbally and physically—was that the powerful affinity radiating from the Everchosen's appearance and aura was a major factor.
The same applied to his contacts and negotiations with the Estalians. Although Al was accustomed to using intimidation and threats via reverse psychology, what he gained was mostly awe rather than hatred.
Al's appearance in this life was based on his original body's foundation mixed with Celestine's maternal genetics, plus the Four Gods' micromanagement during the gestation process. If not "beautiful enough to topple nations," it could at least be called "a dangerously handsome disaster."
It was just that he hadn't fully grown yet, though he estimated that in the future, situations like "I am prettier than my wives" would frequently occur, which was very...
The enthusiastic women, and even men (???), even stepped onto the boulevard where the Beastmen were marching. Having realized that these terrifying-looking beasts were their protectors and worthy of closeness, their fear of the tribe diminished significantly. Many dared to proactively step forward to offer flowers and gifts. Even a group of scantily clad ladies with huge boobs, suspected to be technical workers (prostitutes), lifted their skirts and ran excitedly alongside the column, tears in their eyes, continuously blowing kisses at the boy.
Al turned around and looked, and the enthusiastic young and older ladies immediately let out a chorus of screams. He plucked a single flower from the bouquet, tossed all the rest over, triggering a scramble, and hurriedly ordered the bodyguards to "Gently, do not hurt anyone" separate them, to prevent a stampede and injuries.
The councilors proactively stood in the open space outside the city gates to welcome the return of their tribal allies. The city defenders puffed out their chests, and under the command of the Battle Sisters, stood in formation on both sides as if they were soldiers being reviewed.
For a moment, Al was actually very delighted by the atmosphere.
He felt like Caesar, having won great victory after great victory, returning with his invincible legions to a Rome loyal to him.
But Al realized that right now, to the Senate, he was merely a mercenary grasping at straws, a foreign leader. They needed him, but what they needed more was his martial power.
So he had to make this group of people change their attitude towards him from "ally, battlefield commander" to:
"Leader."
Al brought a few pieces of bad news.
"The Port of Magus is in imminent danger. I will immediately dispatch troops to attempt a rescue and lift the siege within a few days."
"The road north has already been blockaded by the Greenskin pirate fleet. A massive number of enemy troops are landing south of Demontrei via ships. These Greenskins and undead bastards intend to blockade the entire south."
"A massive number of enemies are also gathering in the south. The Greenskins leaving the Miramar Hills (the hills southwest of Estalia) are already planning to head north. There is no time to break through the blockade and evacuate. The entire city, three days, no!"
"In two days, Veling must begin retreating east. I will have my tribesmen receive you. Veling will only leave a small group behind, preparing to receive the residents of the Port of Magus who might arrive."