Chapter 130
(Kyle
Calendar Year 508: Age 15)
The First
Arrow: Beginning of the Scheme
Translator : PolterGlast
"Viscount, I
believe I have given you ample time. It's about time you showed us some
results."
At a garden party
hosted by the 【Restorationist Faction】 in the Royal Capital, the key members—four Marquises and one Count—along with an individual bowing to them, were gathered
in a salon room. They calmly checked on progress with voices as cold as ice.
"Yes, Your
Lordship! Three arrows are prepared. The first and second arrows are ready, and
as soon as we receive your approval..."
"Too slow! If it
doesn't implicate us, then proceed as you see fit. What we want isn't reports
or confirmations. It's results!" Another Marquis interjected, accusing in
a furious tone.
"My sincerest
apologies. I will bear that in mind henceforth."
The Viscount bowed
deeply in apology. But his lips, hidden from the others, twisted into a faint,
sneering smile.
『I'll give you the results. And as you wish, I won't
report anything to you. There surely aren't only three arrows. When the fifth
arrow is released, your faces will be a sight to behold.』
They had no way of
knowing the thoughts in Viscount Hiyorimi's heart.
"Marquis, perhaps
you should calm yourself. We, too, are not so idle as to concern ourselves with
a mere frontier boy. Though he is an eyesore, nonetheless." Yet another
joined the conversation, placating his comrade.
"Gentlemen,
recently, those 【Royalist Faction】 fellows have been cunningly plotting something. We,
too, should be vigilant. Their pawns are also participating in this garden
party, so it will be difficult for the Viscount to make any conspicuous moves,
won't it?" One of the four, most adept at intelligence, joined in,
speaking with exasperation as he looked down at the garden party from the
salon.
"That's true,
but... haven't we been constantly outmaneuvered by the King and his cronies
lately? The truce agreement was decided without our knowledge, and we've given
the Margrave unnecessary time. The Viscount's sabotage efforts didn't help at
all!" The one who had shown furious anger earlier still seemed to be
seething, pounding the table and glaring at the Viscount.
"Well, calm down
a bit. It will be a fort that we will protect in the future. It's fine if we
just let them build something sturdy for us. The time we've given them,
conversely, means we now have room to intervene safely in the South. You should
think of it that way, shouldn't you?" The Marquis with the cold voice
sneered, calmly lecturing his comrade. Then, he returned to the conversation.
"Now, Viscount, I
ask you again, what will you do from now on? State your plans, which you were
about to mention."
"Yes, he
possesses Mages disproportionate to his status. My plan is to entangle them, starting
from the now-safe South. We are arranging for this information—that he, a
Baron, commands as many as 26 Mages—to circulate among the noble houses. The
fuse has already been lit, so, once the signal is given..."
"Indeed, those
nobles who proclaim neutrality and sit on the fence will surely now perceive
him as a threat."
"Yes, and if he,
presuming on the King's goodwill, becomes arrogant and engages in treasonous
schemes..."
"Isn't it our
duty as loyal retainers to rectify the corrupt officials on the King's
side?"
"Yes, the main
arrows are aimed at the Knight Commander and the Margrave. The young pup is
merely an add-on, but if we hold them accountable for allowing his arrogance to
go unchecked..."
"I see. However,
I feel it's still not enough to be called the pup's treasonous scheme. What are
your thoughts on this, Viscount?"
"Yes, the point
is to fan the flames based on facts. Firstly, he is concealing the true number
of his Mages from the central government. If it were just one or two, it would
be nothing. But what about 26? This fact alone, I believe, provides grounds for
condemnation. Secondly, he seems to have instructed the Mages attending the
academy to deliberately conceal their power. To conceal their power even from
those who are supposed to be allies. What could be the reason for that?
Thirdly, what can be objectively concluded from these two facts is that he
harbors ill intentions against the Kingdom. That makes sense. Furthermore, from
the perspective of those who view him as a threat, they will expand on this
imagination themselves. Just recently, we obtained confirmation of this, and he
will be away from the Royal Capital, giving us an opening. This plan is now
complete."
"And whether he
knows or not, the Margrave will be questioned about his negligence in
supervision, is that it?"
"Yes, following
noble custom, I believe it is the duty of you, the high-ranking nobles, to
condemn such threats and ensure the Kingdom's peace."
"I see. As a
conclusion to the rumors, we will strip the young pup of his Mages. The border,
now safe due to the truce, will be used as grounds to question the Margrave's
negligence in supervision, dragging him down. And the Knight Commander, despite
visiting him repeatedly, negligently overlooked this treacherous individual and
left a hole in the Kingdom's shield. He will be held accountable for that, is
that it?"
"Yes, rumors tend
to grow wings and spread like wildfire. We plan to take advantage of
that."
At this point, someone
who had not participated in the conversation interjected.
"I have a request
for all of you. In replacing the Margrave and defending the border, there is
something I wish to ask permission for. Could the Mages taken from the young
pup be temporarily entrusted to us? I hear many of the Mages he commands are
young and beautiful. We will deliver all of them to you..."
"Hahaha! Count
Gouyoku, that is rather greedy, wouldn't you say? As for the Mages we shall
grant you, we will personally select the appropriate number and individuals.
Wait for that."
One of the Marquises,
who had previously shown no interest in the disposition of the Mages to be
seized, suddenly changed his policy.
"Th-this is
presumptuous. My apologies."
Count Gouyoku
regretted his careless remark. He inwardly clicked his tongue at his slip of
the tongue, and how the Marquises had strongly reacted and shown interest in
the phrase "young and beautiful," and had begun to assert their
priority.
"If only they
would give me one or two..." he muttered in a low voice, unheard by them.
"I shall proceed
with preparations for the second arrow."
Saying that, the
Viscount left the salon and disappeared.
※
A few days later, a
rumor began to spread among the nobles living in the Royal Capital.
It was said...
"Baron Solis (the
younger brother) is:
Secretly gathering an
unsuitable number of Mages for a Baron.
Hiding ill intentions
and concealing those Mages.
Turning his power
inward now that the border is safe.
Strictly securing his
territory, wary of something.
Fortifying his territory
and steadily advancing his schemes in preparation for an emergency.
Beware of Baron
Solis's (the younger brother's) movements. He has secretly gathered as many as
26 Mages, showing signs of treachery against the Kingdom with his insidious
schemes."
Like wildfire fanned
by the wind, the rumor spread rapidly, becoming the talk of the town among the
nobles. The person in question was taking an unusually timed leave and was away
from the Royal Capital. He had no opportunity to deny the rumor or defend
himself, and his absence only further fueled the rumor's credibility.
※
"Your Excellency!
When will Baron Solis return?" Knight Commander Gouras hastily visited the
Headmaster's room, immediately asking his question.
"He is currently
in his territory due to certain circumstances. He is probably discussing the
future of the Mages now."
"I see... well,
this has become a troublesome situation."
"You mean the
rumors? Indeed... though it's a trivial matter, it means they've seriously
launched an offensive."
"We are also
making moves, but they must have prepared thoroughly. The rumors' momentum is
unstoppable."
"Hmph, they'll
seize his Mages under this pretext and also question your responsibility and
the Margrave's. Well, we foresaw this, so there's no need to panic."
"Then, the matter
of the Royal Command Mages, finally?"
"Yes, their
movements were faster than expected, so we'll have to make some adjustments.
After that... it depends on how much resolve that individual has."
"But... will he
be alright? He's only 15; he seems to lack experience in such matters."
"Ho ho ho, that's
not something I'd expect from you, who's been startled by a mere 15-year-old
pup countless times. That individual is still immature, but he possesses enough
magnanimity to honestly accept advice and enough foresight to plan for the
future."
"Then! May I
leave this matter to Your Grace, Headmaster Klein?"
"Indeed. This
time, I shall once again take on the role of the hated 'tanuki old man.' By the
way, Gouras, can you prepare an fast horse (messenger)? To that individual, to
return to the Royal Capital as quickly and directly as possible, and to visit
me first upon his return."
"Understood, Your
Excellency."
"Now, now, I
suppose I must make one more move. This too will likely be troublesome for that
individual... They don't seem to have realized it yet, but the matter of the
Istoria Imperial Kingdom, I expect it will become public knowledge soon,
perhaps around spring. What do you say?"
"As expected,
Your Grace's intelligence network is unrivaled in the Royal Capital; your
reputation is well-deserved. Reports from our spies indicate that signs of it
will likely become widespread by spring, becoming common knowledge. There's no
doubt they will target the period from spring to summer, when the land turns to
mud due to rain."
"I see... This
will surely make that individual resent me again. Well, it can't be helped. As
a result, it will be a means to save that individual and the Kingdom, and it
will also please His Majesty."
While Takuhir was
temporarily away from the Royal Capital, events rapidly unfolded, and the
situation quickly deteriorated in a direction he had not imagined.
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