Chapter 218
(Kyle Calendar Year 512: Age 19)
Darkness Stirring in the West
Translator : PolterGlast
Spring arrived across the entire Kingdom of Kyle.
Though flowers were blooming in the fields and gentle sunlight began to shine
down, two men exchanged words in a dimly lit room where all the windows had
been intentionally sealed.
"Now then, I have shifted your placement from the east
to the west and entrusted you with the response on the western frontier, but
how does it feel?"
The old man sitting in the chair spoke to the young man
kneeling beside him.
"Following Milord's orders, I am currently building a
track record as a servant attending Margrave Clantiff. Though I am still
but a mere attendant, I am making arrangements to entrap him slowly and
surely."
"Ho ho ho, how reliable. From the Kingdom's
side, you will incite them, and eventually, that person will go to the Principality's
side to do the same. You will both agitate them from both sides."
"Regarding that... is that guy usable? In the past,
including his father, they devised grand strategies, but all ended in
failure..."
The young man conveyed his thoughts to the old man called 'Milord'
while distorting his expression as if to show disgust.
This man was the one who, in the past, infiltrated the Imperial
Kingdom of Istria following his master's orders, served beside Cardinal
Castro, and incited the Cardinal according to the will of the Clan of
Darkness.
"Hmph, I actually evaluated his strategies reasonably
well. Normally, the Hiyorimi clan's strategies were calculated to be
almost entirely successful. It would have been justifiable to say that losing
would have been more difficult."
"However..."
"Indeed. There were two brats who did unnecessary
things we hadn't anticipated. Because they maneuvered so skillfully, everything
went awry. The east, which you were in charge of, suffered an unexpectedly
disastrous defeat, and the Empire's brat plotted unnecessary schemes.
So, saying everything was his fault might be harsh."
"Ha! I apologize. The disgraceful behavior in the east
is my responsibility. I feel deeply ashamed of my own incompetence."
"No, no, even I didn't think the east would end in such
a way. But next time, we won't let those two brats do as they please. This
time, we have factored even their movements into our plans."
Saying this, the old man laughed with a cruel intensity.
"I am grateful to Milord for giving me the opportunity
to clear my name. So, when will he enter the Principality?"
"Hmm... the current groundwork is already complete.
Therefore, he will likely cross over to the Principality by autumn and
carefully guide those fools. Until then, you just need to thoroughly inflame
the Margrave and the two Marquises. How is the progress on that
front?"
"It seems the four Marquises have realized the
gravity of their punishment only now, as if just waking up. The two Marquises
of the west—Water and Fire—whom I am in charge of, must have felt impatient
seeing their own rapid downfall. They are desperately sending letters through
their daughters and aunts. Messengers disguised as merchants are frequently
flowing toward the Principality via the Margrave."
"Fufufufu, how comical. Without knowing that their
wings have already been plucked and they can no longer fly, they dream of
soaring through the vast sky. Fallen birds can never rise again..."
After those words, the two laughed in low voices, despising
them.
"According to what I've heard, the arrogant brat seems
to have made even more enemies in the Principality. The disgruntled
nobles of both countries hate the brat, King Kyle who stands behind him,
and the King of the Principality who clings to him, viewing them all as
birds of a feather. It seems he has more than sufficiently fulfilled the role
of further fanning hostility within the Principality."
"Ho ho ho, it was my setup that incited the disgruntled
nobles to provoke the brat. As a result of feeding them false information and
only the facts convenient for them, they moved magnificently."
"What! Milord had already gone that far! I feel as if I
have once again touched a glimpse of Milord's thoroughness and deep
foresight."
"We haven't spent these two years idly, after all. That
Clantiff fellow must be seething too, no?"
"Yes. From the beginning, he openly declared that his
duties as the Margrave of the West were being infringed upon. But when
he heard the story of the brat who, as a special envoy, fulfilled his duties
for the time being and received enormous gifts from the Principality, he
was even more enraged. He believes that the gifts he should have rightfully
received were snatched away by an upstart brat."
"Good, good, just as we planned. Even small fires of
envy and hatred toward others, when piled up, become a blaze, and eventually a
conflagration that will burn everything, including oneself and the
surroundings."
"Ha! I will devote myself to it. By the way, is it
alright to leave our puppet in the east as is?"
"Indeed. The current Imperial Kingdom is
useless. The defense of this country's eastern frontier was strengthened
significantly in the previous war, and the arrows the Imperial Kingdom
takes pride in are broken and cannot be rebuilt for the time being. Yes, that
is likely what the world thinks."
"Then... making them think that, what is the
reality?"
"Just as you guessed. The east, which shouldn't be able
to move, will move—and by unexpected means at that. If that happens, even if
they cannot win, it could serve as an opportunity to corner the Kingdom of Kyle
and lead it to destruction. Plots are things where one always prepares two or
three moves ahead."
"Incredible! Then... Master has a plan for that
as well?"
"There are probably those within the Kingdom
wise enough to fear a two-front war from the south and west. But who decided
there are only two fronts? Only when things that shouldn't happen occur will
they be thrown into confusion and lose the opportunity to deal with it
appropriately.
The seeds you continued to sow in the Imperial Kingdom
have borne fruit and are already just waiting for the harvest. If it's just
that, a substitute could serve well enough. Will we be able to harvest that
fruit soon?"
"I am in awe of the stratagem Milord devised yourself.
I shall strive even harder in my mission in the west."
"I have high expectations of you, the one who should
succeed me."
The figures of the two vanished into the darkness, leaving
only the candle flame flickering slightly in the dimly lit room.
Even in a land far from the western frontier, men were
exchanging conversations in a dimly lit room resembling a dungeon.
"Milord, it was perfect timing. The fact that Milord
visited me means your resolve has firmed, yes?"
"Hmph! Such a thing does not firm up so easily. I am
one who pledges loyalty to the Kingdom. I am not one to easily ride on
your invitation."
"That is incorrect. I should have told you many times. Milord's
loyalty is directed toward your family, is it not? toward that which once held
a glorious position in this Kingdom.
If so, I can assert that my thoughts are the same. We too
are merely utilizing the Empire's succession struggle temporarily to
restore our ancestral royal lands, which are now distorted, to their former
state. Afterward, we will kick the Empire's lot aside, and Milord will
have your name roar across this country as a symbol of restored power. And the
revival of your family, which Milord desired, will be achieved."
"..."
"It is natural to be troubled, but as I told you, the
fate of this country is already decided. Please consider what is the path to
repay your ancestors who connected your glorious lineage. Will you share the
fate of the Kingdom that disparaged Milord's house, or will you revive
the Kingdom even if you bear temporary disgrace? The rest depends on Milord's
decision."
"Hmph, I am different from him. There is no
reason for you to remain here anymore. Go wherever you like. Though I doubt
there is anyone who would accept a great sinner like you."
"Then, Milord, I shall take my leave now, but we shall
likely meet during the battle to capture the Royal Capital. For we shall
hasten to join you leading an army from the west."
"Wh-What! From the west? D-Don't tell me, the Principality
too..."
"As I said earlier, the Kingdom is already
checkmated. There is no future for this Kingdom. Also, allow me to
correct just one point of your words. Does the place I go, the place where I
should be accepted, necessarily have to be within the Kingdom? There are
places abroad where I am needed."
"..."
The man who had been conversing with him stared blankly as Lugner
bowed respectfully and left. The hatred he had hidden deep in his heart for so
long began to move in a certain direction, seizing this opportunity.
"There is no room left for me to achieve military merit
and rise in rank; my future has already collapsed—is that it? And the future of
the Kingdom as well..."
After hanging his head and muttering, he raised his face
again.
"There aren't many paths left for my dearest wish...
huh. Well, fine. I may be a clown, but he doesn't seem to know that he
himself is nothing more than a clown. It's just a matter of who can dance madly
until the end."
Muttering this, the man called 'Milord' smiled, as if he had
steeled himself for something.
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