Chapter 324
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
The 1st Royal Capital Tournament ①: The Eve of the
Tournament
Translator : PolterGlast
I had come to Kylar, the Royal Capital of the Kyle
Kingdom, for the first time in about 10 months. The day after arriving in
the Royal Capital, I met up with Yuka, who had accompanied Her Highness Clarice's
party, and the two of us decided to secretly look around Kylar together.
Because I had only
stopped by during my journey north last time, I hadn't paid much attention to
it, but looking at it anew, Kylar
had also undergone a major transformation.
First, the Fourth
District was in a festive uproar with people gathered from all over the Kingdom,
accompanying the economic boom of victory, the celebratory mood welcoming the
King of Fearalt, and the hosting of the Royal Capital Competition. The
expressions of the people in the city were bright, and one could see that
everyone had been eagerly awaiting this unprecedented event.
Next, the Third
District; major land readjustment had been carried out here. The residences of
the middle and lower-ranking nobles who were crushed for participating in the
rebellion had disappeared, and new town divisions had been made. Furthermore,
several shooting ranges—the operation of which was advancing even in the Royal
Capital—were lined up, and many people were still commuting there now.
And in the Second
District, the residences of the high-ranking nobles who sided with the enemy
nation were confiscated, and a dedicated shooting range was newly established
at the Royal Capital Knights' drill ground. That place apparently also served
as the competition venue, and its construction and scale were very magnificent.
Right now at the
shooting range (competition venue), representative players from various places
were conducting test firing and practice with competition crossbows.
「This
cannot be underestimated. A shooting range not only in the Third District but
the Second District as well. Having gone through the previous battle, is the
Royal Capital also increasingly turning the territory residents into a military
force and operating shooting ranges in earnest?」
「Yes,
for the territory residents, having their skills recognized in shooting is becoming
a kind of status that goes beyond mere entertainment. The path to becoming an
officer in the knighthood has opened up, and there are also rumors that large
amounts of rewards were given out in the previous battle.」
「So
that's why they're so desperate?」
「Well,
that's not the only reason, but... it's also because the people who served in
the army loudly spread the word that they were able to fight under the wing of
Her Highness Clarice, the second most popular hero in the Royal
Capital...」
「Heeh,
as expected of the Princess effect, I guess? By the way, Yuka, who is
the most popular one suppressing Her Highness?」
「Eh?」
At this point, Yuka,
whose eyes turned into dots for a moment, then started laughing.
「Of
course, it's my husband! The hero of national salvation who foresaw the
invasion of four countries and repelled them all. The person who climbed all
the way from an ever-victorious general to His Majesty the King entrusted with
a nation; it's a heroic tale known by any territory resident in the Royal
Capital.」
「!!!」
「Isn't
that a rumor His Majesty and the Old Raccoon spread while harboring some wicked
scheme!」
「But a
fact is a fact. Everyone living in the Royal Capital knows that His Majesty
praised Takuhir-sama as
an unparalleled individual during the rewards for merits.」
Tch, those
embarrassing words of killing with praise... I myself didn't want that
overestimation to be exaggeratedly blown out of proportion.
I merely wanted to
protect my family, my companions, and myself. Because everything I did was an
extension of that.
「Ahem!
By the way, Yuka, is the matter of the embassy progressing?」
「Yes,
the four Marquis houses that went extinct in this rebellion, not only their
territories but their residences in the Royal Capital were all confiscated as
well. Right now, under direct orders from His Majesty, renovations are
advancing... but I heard from Her Highness Clarice that there are plans
to place Takuhir-sama's
and the Fearalt Principality's embassies and residences in the Royal
Capital there.」
How troublesome...
Embassies aside, I don't need a residence in the Royal Capital. I don't want to
live a three-base lifestyle between Teigoon, Kusanagi, and Kylar. Besides... well, I guess I don't
need to say that right now.
「Also,
have you heard anything about the tournament briefing taking place in the Royal
Palace before dinner?」
「No...
just that they will establish unique rules unlike previous tournaments.」
「I see,
that's troublesome (something to look forward to). Well, it's probably nothing
major. Probably... Even so, if I have to participate in the briefing, we should
be wrapping this up soon.」
「I
would be happy if we could go out together just the two of us a little longer,
but I can't be the only one acting selfishly.」
Saying so, Yuka
was reluctant to part, but that was a very small selfishness, and rather a
natural feeling to have. Because among my wives, she was the only one who
remained separated even after the war ended.
But following this
visit to the Royal Capital, she too will formally move her seat to the Westlights
Dukedom. Because after the tournament ends, Her Highness Clarice's
attendants will be replaced by those who will move to the Principality in the future, freeing both
Yuka and Chrisia from their roles as close attendants.
「Once
the tournament is over, we can return to the Dukedom together. I have a
mountain of things I want to ask of you too, Yuka.」
「My, is
it 『I
have a mountain of things I want to ask of you』
instead of 『I want to live together』?」
At her reaction
saying so, I turned pale for a moment. I had forgotten that I was constantly
warned by my brother as being an 『inconsiderate, careless person』.
I unintentionally
treated her the same way as Claire, Miseri, and the others. The way words are
received is completely different from them, who were originally my subordinates
and were always with me daily.
「Ah,
no... that's...」
「Fufufu,
I'm looking forward to it. Or rather, I'm sorry. I sulked a little bit and was
being mean.」
Saying so, Yuka
smiled and then bowed her head properly.
「I
understand too. That there are many jobs that only those trusted by Takuhir-sama can do. And that you are being
considerate of me serving Her Highness in the Royal Capital, treating me
specially in various ways. Of course, when I return to the country, I will
follow everyone's example and serve with all my heart and soul. So... only when
you are in the Royal Capital... please let me be an ignorant, selfish daughter
of a noble.」
Right... The
upbringing her father-in-law confided to me was a strict one where selfishness
was never permitted. And she had diligently worked through it. Without relying
on anyone... There was no way she was a selfish noble's daughter.
Even after that,
from entering the academy to forming the Magic Knights, serving as Her
Highness's close attendant, she probably had no time to rest her mind. Her eyes
were filled with some kind of determination. It was only after I returned from
the Royal Capital that I learned the true meaning behind it, though...
※
That evening, for
the tournament briefing held before the welcoming banquet, I headed to a
certain room in the Royal Palace. Even so, this direction... isn't this the
closed room where we had those endless regular meetings until last year?
Thinking so, I was
invited in, entered the room, and took a seat.
Huh? I'm the very
last? Everyone is gathered...
Lined up there were
His Majesty the King of Kylar,
Foreign Minister Klein (the Old
Raccoon), the Minister of Internal Affairs, Marquis Tolhast of the former
restoration faction who returned as the Minister of Commerce, Count Clay
who took over as the Minister of Military Affairs, the Minister of Finance, and
Royal Capital Knight Commander Gouras. Facing them, centered around me,
were the four Frontier Dukes.
『What's
with this heavy atmosphere?』 I, who had been carefree thinking it was
a tournament briefing, was greatly bewildered.
「Now
then, all the Frontier Dukes and His Majesty the Archduke from the Westlights
Demon Territory Dukedom are present, so let us begin the Frontier Duke Council
as the Royal Capital Supreme Council.」
『Huh?
Royal Capital Supreme Council? What is that.』
「Um...
sorry to interrupt, but isn't this a tournament briefing?」 (I
mean, you Old Raccoon, you set me up.)
「That
is merely a pretext; it's like a bonus at the end of our talk. Since the Archduke
went out of his way to come all the way to the Royal Capital. There are matters
we should discuss taking this opportunity, you see.」 (That
is why I always tell you your guard is too loose. Even if you graduate, my tests
are not over.)
「I see,
so if it's a tournament briefing, you can hold it casually without going
through troublesome procedures... right?」 (Does this mean that, even if I am
formally a subject, there is hesitation in summoning the King of a nation to a
meeting? I don't mind such things at all, though.)
「Something
like that. Could you share the matter mentioned in the previous notice with
everyone here?」
『That
matter, huh. I certainly sent the initial report to various places, but there
hadn't been a follow-up report yet.』
「There
are two points I wish to share with everyone, but ultimately they consolidate
into the final point. It seems we cannot spend our days in peace just yet.」
「Are
you saying there is something else besides the Istoria Imperial Kingdom?」
「Yes,
exactly as Frontier Duke Hamish says. The situation in the Imperial Kingdom is merely the
beginning. First, allow me to report the current situation from there.」
Saying so, I shared
the report from Handler, who had infiltrated the Imperial Kingdom. He has entered the Imperial Kingdom once again, bringing follow-up reports timed with
the harvest festival.
·
That Archbishop Castro was alive.
·
That the faction looking up to him had occupied
the Imperial Kingdom territory near
the border with the Empire, and is
expanding its influence.
「Up to
here is exactly as previously reported. To add to this, there exists a faction
within the Empire acting as their
backing, and it is not the Third Prince's faction.」
「In
that case, it's the guys from the other side, huh. They are people who don't know when to give up.」
「Yes,
exactly as Frontier Duke Hastburg (Brother) says, they are not checkmated yet. Rather,
from here on, they will probably launch counterattacks disregarding
appearances.」
「That
is a troublesome matter for them, and for us as well. As for our mental
preparedness, how does the Archduke
predict things will go?」
「Frontier
Duke Hamish, this is a matter of the circumstances of countries even
further beyond the Empire. We cannot
possibly fathom it either. However, those guys made one blunder. Giving us the 『time』.」
「Meaning?」
「The
trends in the Imperial Kingdom are a
mirror reflecting the time. When Castro's faction seizes the Imperial Kingdom to a certain extent
and the system to dispatch soldiers to other countries is ready, they will make
the first move. When the eyes of the Third Prince and the others are drawn
north, their traps will trigger one after another. Well, this is strictly
nothing more than my prediction, though.」
Fortunately, I was
able to slowly discuss these matters with the Empire parties involved during the
harvest festival. That is precisely why I can say it with confidence.
「Incidentally,
a request for troop dispatch in the event of an emergency has come to the
eastern frontier from the Imperial
Kingdom side, but what do you think about that?」
「What
are your thoughts, Foreign Minister?」
「Hmm...
I've told them that food aid is the most we can do.」
「I
think that is fine. However, I think it would be better to provide that food in
exchange for compensation.」
「May I
ask the reason for that?」
「Yes,
according to what I've heard, the Imperial
Kingdom will eventually perish or be divided into an overwhelming force and
a minor force. There is no story more foolish than accepting empty promises from
the losing side. That being said, it would be troublesome if they collapsed too
quickly. I believe we should extend a hand to the extent of prolonging their
life.」
「What
is the basis for declaring that they will lose?」
「It is
an inference from the stories of merchants going in and out of the Imperial Kingdom and those called Divine Messengers who
defected to us. The church in that country is completely corrupt, and the
people are forced into a painful life under tyranny. For the people living
there, Castro is not a rebel, but a savior.」
「I see.
Ironically, we are the ones who created that soil...」
Frontier Duke Hamish
smiled bitterly and self-deprecatingly.
The Imperial Kingdom became impoverished to
pay the massive reparations. And, to acquire foreign currency, they scraped
together domestic crops and sold them off to the Kyle Kingdom. Because
that ended up squeezing the livelihoods of the people living in the Imperial Kingdom.
「The
merchants and the Divine
Messengers all said the same thing in unison. That despite having
ambitions, the only decent one on the church's side was Archbishop Castro...
Even now, he is procuring massive amounts of food from the Empire side and distributing it to the
impoverished people.」
「I see...
Then, Archduke, how do you think we should respond?」
「Let's
see... I don't think there is any need to give even the people of the Imperial Kingdom to the rebel forces.
We have vast frontier ducal territories, after all. As a temporary measure to
accept refugees, we should proceed with settling them in the reclaimed lands.」
「But
the Imperial Kingdom won't stay
quiet about that, will they?」
「Why
not clearly state that we will only take custody of them during the civil war,
and conclude an agreement? We will hold them only while the Imperial Kingdom pacifies its domestic
affairs, and return them after the national land is recovered. If we say we
will take in the starving people free of charge as part of our food aid until
then, the Imperial Kingdom would be
saved as well.」
「Strictly
with the Imperial Kingdom, you say?」
「Yes,
we will provide absolutely no support to the rebels. We just need to stipulate
that clearly in writing. And, as a minimum atonement, we give preferential
treatment to the refugees. If we do that, they themselves will make the choice
of what comes next.」
「Then
we just need to focus on laying a defense line right now where the refugees can
live in peace.」
「Yes,
currently we have infiltrated trustworthy individuals as a second group into
the northern region of the Imperial
Kingdom. We are also at the stage of proceeding with preparations while
keeping an eye on reports from them.」
「So, Archduke,
how do you plan to prepare our turn to act?」
「The
fact that His Majesty Krieger has come this time will likely serve as
one opportunity. Externally, the west is the most stable right now. However...
I think its maturity as a territory still does not allow for optimism, but what do you think?」
「Guh...
certainly.」
It seems Brother Darek also wanted to
participate in the war when battles
started, but that won't do. My brother's territory consists of lands
belonging to those who participated in the rebellion and were crushed; I think
winning the hearts and minds of the people is necessary first.
「In any
case, the south right now is a powder keg that will eventually ignite.
Carefully monitor the situation and prepare...」
「「「「Powder
keg?」」」」
I realized it as I
was speaking. In a world where gunpowder itself does not exist, this expression
was bad. Well... I have it at my place, but it's a top-secret matter... The
only outsider who knows about this, Her Highness Clarice, would probably
be smirking, though.
「Anyway,
that's how it is!」
I forcefully cut off
the explanation. Well, it was something on my mind, so it couldn't be helped
that I unintentionally used it as a metaphor.
After that, we
shared the predictions I heard from Sieghart, our responses to them, and
such with the members participating in the meeting, and the meeting ended after
answering questions from everyone.
Wait... huh? What
about the tournament briefing?
I haven't heard
anything about it...
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