Chapter 96
(Kyle
Calendar Year 507: Age 14)
The Puppeteers
Translator : PolterGlast
In a room within the
Royal Capital, a private report was being delivered concerning the future of a
certain Viscount family. Present were three individuals: one seated comfortably
on a luxurious chair, one on a sofa, and one standing.
"I have been
awaiting your return. Report to me everything you have seen and heard, without
reservation." The one on the sofa began.
"Yes, sir! To
start with the conclusion, it was beyond our expectations."
"Oh, in what
way?"
"Firstly...
despite being a frontier territory, the land was exceptionally prosperous and
vibrant. The entire territory was booming due to development and mining, and
economically, it can already be said to surpass a Viscountcy. Furthermore, being
a frontier, the territory itself is vast, and apart from its military strength,
it seems to be approaching the scale of a Countship. It is likely that within a
few years, it will truly grow into a Count-class territory in both name and
reality."
"To that extent!
The one who was just a mere Baronial family in the frontier until
recently..."
"Yes, and driving
this boom is that particular town."
"The town he
governs, is it?"
"Yes, that town
is being developed under a design that is beyond our imagination. The town
itself seems to be constructed as a fortress city, highly conscious of defense.
Although it is still just a frontier town, I felt a momentum that suggests it
will expand several times over in five or ten years. This time, even during the
tournament, they were cleverly recruiting citizens, and the population will
undoubtedly continue to increase. From what I observed, that area alone already
possesses power comparable to a regular Barony."
"What! So, it's
like a Barony within a Viscountcy?"
"Precisely so,
Your Majesty. From my perspective, even with its limited area, I felt the
potential for it to eventually grow to be equivalent to a Viscountcy. The only
drawback seems to be the military strength it can muster."
"And what about
its defensive capabilities? Some might dismiss its recent remarkable
performance as mere luck and the enemy's incompetence..."
"That is entirely
incorrect. That entire town is practically a fortress. Firstly, geographically,
it is difficult to attack and easy to defend. And the single accessible
corridor has numerous intricate traps. I believe that its defensive measures
are kept secret, and what I learned is merely a fraction of them. It's
understandable that a detached force alone repelled 3,000 enemy soldiers. It gave
me the impression that if their main force were intact, they could repel even
5,000 enemy troops."
"I see. So, as a
shield for the Kingdom, it can be fully relied upon, is that what you
mean?"
"Yes, exactly.
Although the enemy army's strategy this time ultimately failed, it was a
formidable one. Without that shield, the enemy forces would have ravaged that
land, and there would be no other shield to obstruct the enemy's path to this
Royal Capital. We would have been stabbed in our soft underbelly, and in the
worst case, we would have been forced into a difficult decision."
"Even so, the
fact that the Empire, unfamiliar with the terrain, devised such an invasion
plan is the problem. We must pay attention to those who betrayed the Kingdom.
Is that what you mean?"
"Precisely. We
are also conducting internal investigations, but as of yet..."
"So, it is clear
that it can be relied upon as a shield. What about as a spear?"
"It will fully
demonstrate its power as a spear as well. The concept of operating all military
forces, including cavalry, as archer units—this idea was not present among us.
Reports from subordinates indicate that they used a peculiar type of crossbow
on the battlefield. I believe that was one of the factors contributing to their
outstanding performance in the recent battle. After the battle ended, this
weapon was immediately concealed, and details are still under investigation.
What is particularly noteworthy is that in their territory, many of the
citizens have been militarized as archers. The thought that even women and
children can perform as soldiers is terrifying. In times of emergency, the
citizens can become soldiers, forming thousands of archers to defend the
territory. The groundwork for that is already laid."
"Is that true?
That's hard to believe..."
"Yes, it is true.
In that tournament, over half of the participants from their territory were
citizens not serving in the military, and regrettably, their skill level is
equal to or greater than that of the Knight Order's archers. Furthermore, the
most exceptional individuals were all women residing in that land, one of whom
was still only 17 years old. This fact corroborates my words."
"What?! That
is... something to pay attention to. Whether for good or bad, it requires
thorough scrutiny."
"Yes, I think so
too. And there are still two more things I must report to Your Majesty."
"Two more? No
matter, continue."
"Firstly, the
number of Mages that land possesses, which we obtained from our contacts. They
likely possess over 25 Mages. In terms of Mage count alone, they already exceed
that of a Marquis. The abnormally rapid development is also likely due to the
contribution of Mages. For us, Mages are extremely rare. We cannot simply lose
them on the battlefield, and there are no precedents of a single Mage changing
the course of a battle. However, it seems they are utilizing them in combat;
that's one of the reasons their army is achieving such overwhelming military
successes..."
"Hmm, indeed...
Regarding those Mages, do those others know about them?"
"They are likely
aware of the information. They may even be contemplating plans to seize them
now. Up until now, the Margrave has been protecting them, but their military
achievements this time have undeniably made them stand out..."
"I see. We cannot
simply let them have them..."
"And the most
important thing is this... All of these: the development projects driving the
territory's economy, the creation of a town with new concepts and its
fortification, the establishment of countermeasures and interception methods
against enemy invasion, the policies for militarizing citizens and developing
new weapons, and the discovery and battlefield deployment of Mages—all of these
were conceived and implemented by a mere 13-year-old child."
"Hmm...
indeed."
"By the way, what
are your impressions of the older and younger brother?"
At this point, the man
referred to as "Your Majesty" spoke for the first time.
"The older
brother is blessed with extraordinary martial talent, more than capable as a
general, and will be my right hand in the future. The younger brother, on the
battlefield, would at best be a staff officer; he has many immature aspects and
likely won't achieve great accomplishments. While that would be a reasonable
assessment... honestly, I cannot fully gauge him. As for his strategic
foresight and talent in internal affairs, he can be considered a terrifyingly
capable individual."
"I see. So, the older
brother is exceptionally talented, but you can see his limits, while the
younger brother's limits, you cannot. Is that it? And what do you think should
be done? Should he be 'the nail that sticks out' and be hammered down?"
"The southern
border remains precarious. Furthermore, we face a significant threat in the
east. For the time being, utilizing them as a shield and observing their future
course would contribute to the Kingdom's stability."
"So, my
investment was not entirely wrong, then?"
"Yes, Your
Majesty's wise decision at that point was beyond our imagination. We are deeply
impressed by your discernment."
"I see. For the
time being, we shall watch their future with keen interest. If they become too
prominent, we can simply eliminate them. Is that the gist of it?"
"As you
command."
"Listening to
your report, I too wish to visit that land someday."
"No... that
is..."
They were visibly
flustered by the Majesty's single remark.
"The truth is, I
kept it from you, but that individual faithfully writes to me, detailing how he
plans to use my investment for the future development of his territory, and by
extension, the Kingdom, including a rough outline of current
expenditures."
"What?!"
"Ho ho ho, that
is indeed splendid, isn't it?"
The man standing was
speechless, but the one on the sofa laughed contentedly.
"Hmm, splendid
indeed. And speaking of which, the younger brother will likely come to the
academy next year, replacing the elder brother, won't he? You must keep a close
eye on him. For the time being... support them so that other nobles don't
interfere unnecessarily. Including the matter of the Mages we just
discussed."
"This is... a
formidable task we have been assigned."
"As you
command..."
※
It was unclear whether
it was a coincidence, but in a salon room of a certain large mansion near the
Royal Palace, five men gathered, and a similar conversation was taking place.
There were four men of
Marquis status and one of Count status. They called themselves the
"Restorationist Faction" and were individuals with the power to
influence the internal affairs and future of this kingdom.
"Is this not your
blunder this time? We have been outmaneuvered by them."
"If Your Lordship
thinks so, then our plan is splendid indeed," the accused man chuckled.
"What do you
mean?"
"Our agents are
also embedded within their faction. The details of this visit are within our
grasp."
"So, there are
our spies among the inspection team..."
"Say no more.
That is precisely it."
"And what is
their situation?"
"A mere frontier
turnip Baron, no, a Viscount now. We must change this perception. Reports
indicate that the land boasts an unseemly wealth for a Viscountcy, and its
defenses are not to be underestimated."
"And what will be
our response going forward?"
"Do not rush. We
do not need to seize by force; we can seize their achievements through
political maneuvering."
Saying that, the man
gazed at a potted plant beside the table and continued.
"We merely need
to water the fruit's sprout, let them cultivate it until it grows, blossoms,
and bears fruit. Then, we shall harvest it ourselves. This time, the military
achievements of those brothers are, for good reason, a just outcome.
Understanding that, and not underestimating them, we should slowly press our
advantage."
"Is that so? The
elder brother is an incompetent who lost many of our cavalry with his reckless
command and barely escaped with his life. The younger brother, in his brother's
predicament, couldn't make a calm decision and charged headlong, almost
dying—is he not a reckless brute who lacks foresight?"
Another man joined
their conversation.
"Count, that is
short-sighted. Despite your efforts in this war, regrettably, the Margrave has
prolonged his life."
"It is
regrettable, indeed. The southern frontier, including the Margrave and his
subordinates' territories, is prosperous, and there is much to gain. This time,
we missed the opportunity to seize it all under the pretext of their blunders,
a regrettable loss."
The fourth man also
joined the conversation.
"Waiting is also
a strategy. The day our agents replace the Margrave may not be far off. If they
become an obstacle, a mere Viscount can be crushed, or perhaps we can push for
a change of territory to the eastern front. If they obey, we can incorporate
them into our lowest ranks and work them to death."
"And for the time
being, bringing those brothers into our fold would also be interesting."
The last man, the
fifth, joined the conversation.
"Indeed. And...
how about the older brother?"
"In the Royal
Capital and in his territory, he is a brothel-crazed monkey."
"Heh, if he's a
brothel-crazed monkey, wouldn't it be an idea to assign him a suitable partner
and use him as a watchdog?"
"What if he
doesn't comply?"
"If we deem him
unnecessary, then several noble ladies will accuse the monkey of depriving them
of their chastity and breaking off engagements. What would happen then?"
"Hahaha! So, a
monkey indiscriminate with women would be impeached as unfit for noble
character, is that it?"
"Destroying
himself by his own actions. A fitting end for a low-born upstart."
"How about the
younger brother?"
"He's currently
secluded in his territory. But next year, he'll be forced to come here."
"Indeed. We must
be more wary of him than the monkey. The number of Mages he possesses is on a
different scale. He's not to be underestimated."
"When Mages are
numerous, their power is great. The efforts we, from our ancestors' generation,
have made to prevent lower nobles and commoners from holding excessive power,
to devalue the true worth of Mages, will be in vain. For years, we have kept
Mages as useless ornaments, enclosing them with high salaries as sideshows,
letting them wither away..."
"Precisely.
Magic, for us nobles, bloodline magic is sufficient. It should be the privilege
of chosen nobles only."
"Ah, not only
used against enemies on the battlefield, but there's also the possibility of it
being used against us."
"The thought
alone sends shivers down my spine. And he uses unexpected methods, utilizing
Mages on the battlefield. Our position, we who have always suppressed Mages as
useless eaters on the battlefield, is undermined."
"Since ancient
times, only the Twelve Clans have governed Mages. Is he not acting like the
leader of Mages, usurping us four who inherit the bloodlines of the clan
chiefs?"
"Can we not take
them from him?"
"At this point,
he is under the protection of that Margrave. If only we could remove that
annoying obstruction who feigns loyalty..."
"Well, we also
have our plans. Just as before, let him cultivate them, and we shall harvest
the ripened fruit. We can crush him on suspicion of harboring impertinent
schemes for possessing Mages beyond his station, or, following the precedent of
the Youth Knight Corps this time, send him to the eastern front and work him to
death."
"If so, then the
humiliation we suffered in this war will be avenged, and we shall be satisfied.
We truly wish for that to happen."
"Count, it is
important to bide our time. In any case, their fate is in our hands."
"Until the day we
stand again as the chosen ones, guiding righteous governance!"
"For the
righteous path!"
"To a future
where we, as executors, lay the righteous path!"
They raised their
goblets.
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