Chapter 234
(Kyle Calendar Year 513: Age 20)
A Tearful Request
Translator : PolterGlast
The final regular meeting before the decisive battle had
ended. As everyone stood up and left the conference room, only Duke Klein
and I remained.
"My apologies for keeping you every time, Demon
Territory Count. What did you sense regarding the Fearalt King's
scheme this time?"
"Compassion for his younger brother and sister, and
political strategy—it is likely these two points. I do not believe there is any
falsehood in his care for his kin, but on the other hand, as a King trying to
unite his country, he is thinking of advancing this war to his advantage."
"Meaning?"
"He expects—no, he assumes—that he will borrow our
strength, effectively gaining reinforcements through a fait accompli. If it
becomes known that the 'figureheads' are here, the forces of the disgruntled
nobles will inevitably be divided and directed toward us as well. After all, we
have people within the Kyle Kingdom inciting them to do just that."
"Water and fire... troublesome fellows indeed."
"Most likely, under normal circumstances, the rebel
elements within the Principality would not attack us. However, once hostilities
open with the Empire or the Imperial Kingdom, they will likely advance,
aiming to fish in troubled waters."
"Hmm, it seems your opinion aligns with His Majesty's.
Well then, that concludes the preamble. Shall we get to the main topic? I heard
you are gathering Thunder Mages?"
That is true. But does he know about that already? I thought
I was moving with a degree of secrecy...
"I received a request from Lord Gorman via the
Academy as well. He asked to be accommodated with trustworthy Thunder Mages.
That brings us to this discussion. Now, show him in!"
When the Old Raccoon raised his voice, the door to a
conference room that was not usually used slowly opened.
"!!!"
I stood up involuntarily, surprised by the person who
entered. I knew the man who entered and bowed. No, why is he here?
"Marquis Torhast, this is not your first time
meeting the Demon Territory Count. Let him hear your thoughts."
"Yes. Until now, we have stood in opposing camps
regarding who controls the heart of this nation. However, political strife only
matters as long as there is a Kingdom to govern. To me, the recent movements of
my compatriots seem nothing short of madness. To think they are dreaming such
naive dreams—plotting a rebellion with the aid of a foreign power to seize
control of this country... "
"That is how it is. The Marquis seems to have grown
disgusted with the recent movements of the heads of the Water, Fire, and Ice
clans. He came to me in the Royal Capital secretly to inform me of their
movements. That is the situation."
"Um... Since we have the Marquis's testimony, couldn't
we just arrest them before they make a move?"
"They may be fools, but in that regard, they have been
careful not to leave behind any solid evidence. Therefore, we have arranged for
the Marquis to coordinate with us secretly. I intend to have him lend you his
strength as well. I realize you may still harbor some past grudges, Demon Territory Count... but the fate of the Kingdom is
at stake."
"I myself have been confined to my territory since that
time, and I have come to see things I could not see before. And I pride myself
on still inheriting the blood and feelings of my ancestors who founded this
country alongside the first King Kyle."
No... considering everything up until now. I can't just
accept those words so easily. I was at a loss for an answer.
"Marquis, as a sign of trust, would you entrust about
ten of your subordinate Thunder Mages to the Demon Territory Count?"
"Understood. I shall arrange it immediately."
"Today was a private introduction. Since our business
is concluded, Marquis, could you withdraw and wait for a moment? There are
still matters I must discuss."
At the Old Raccoon's words, Marquis Torhast
bowed and exited the room. As if waiting for that moment, I turned on the Old
Raccoon.
"I still cannot understand your thinking, Excellency.
You tell me to trust him? I do not believe people can change that
easily..."
"Fufufu, trusting someone and keeping them close at
hand are two completely different things. But at least there are unchangeable
facts.
First, compared to the other three Marquises, he is late to
the party. Even if he were to join their camp now, he would only be following
in their dust. Second, at this rate, even if we win, he will never be able to
rise again in the future.
Regarding these two points, he likely made his decision
after being driven into a corner. If we were to turn him away now, he would
surely run back to the Three. That is an outcome I would very much like to
avoid."
"However... is there not a possibility he is a 'sacrificial
pawn'? Aiming for mutual destruction with us?"
"If he is a spy sent by the three Marquises, we simply
use him for counter-intelligence. However, having held the position of Minister
of Commerce for many years, he sees the world a little better than the other
three. Well, that is not the only reason. Since the previous rebellion, there
are still those who have not been caught in our net."
"If you have thought it through that far, I have
nothing more to say."
"Besides, regarding the Thunder Mages, one or
two might be manageable, but gathering a decent number is quite difficult. The
decent children of noble families all belong to the Magic Knights. The
rest are those with no resolve to step onto a battlefield; even if you gathered
them, they would be of no use to you."
"Use those ten men while considering where to deploy
them. That is what you mean, correct?"
Indeed, the Thunder Mages required for the newly
devised Aegis defense are intended to work as parts within the
tactic—essentially as generators. Even if something were to happen, the damage
would not be enough to alter the tide of battle. It will be fine if I operate
them under surveillance.
"Understood. I will gratefully accept them."
"With this, he will think we have trusted him somewhat.
Once that happens, his movements will become visible."
Well, I am not in a position to view the entire war
situation; strictly speaking, I am just one piece positioned in the South. I
suppose I am seeing something different from His Majesty and the Old Raccoon,
who are looking at all the pieces on the board.
And there is one anxiety that neither the Old Raccoon
nor I have dared to voice: the movements of Lugner, the eldest brother
of the Hiyorimi family, the mastermind behind the previous civil war who
continues to evade capture.
Considering those factors, does this mean he intends to
embrace a man who might become a parasite in the lion's body?
"You heard Margrave Hamish's report in the
earlier meeting, did you not? It seems the Istoria Imperial Kingdom has
already made its next move. Barely any time has passed since we refused their
demand to return the prisoners, yet I hear they have already dispatched missives
to the neighboring nations: the Griffonia Empire, the Piett Trade
Confederation, and the Fearalt Principality."
"Do you know the reactions of each country?"
When I asked that, the Old Raccoon smiled bitterly
and answered.
"The Empire has said nothing. They are likely already
proceeding with their actions as planned. The Piett Trade Confederation
seems to be split in its reaction. For now, there are no noticeable movements
there either. As for the Principality... the King's faction apparently laughed
it off. The opposition faction seems to be making quite a noise about it,
however."
"I see, the foundation for the encirclement is being
steadily laid. Is that it? It is quite a forced argument, but it means
preparations for the 'justification'—or
rather, the false accusation—for
invasion are complete."
"Indeed. We, too, shall begin to mobilize openly in the
South and East to counter these moves. However, regarding the forces in the
West and North... we must make a show of moving them—ostensibly to serve as a
rearguard for those other fronts."
"And that is why you are using that Marquis? Is that
the reason?"
"Setting aside the Marquis's own thoughts for now, the
Thunder Clan is likely not a united front either. It will naturally convey that
our attention is directed toward the South and East. We will utilize that as
well."
"Understood. Regarding the Magic Knights and the
2,000 archers, preparations to receive them in Gaia are complete.
However, frankly speaking, the new 3,000 troops exceed our reception
capacity."
"Regarding them, they will likely be entrusted to the
former Count Goyoku territory, which is now land under direct Royal
control. The Minister of Military Affairs' army will likely depart and
set up camp facing East—towards the North—the moment hostilities open on the
eastern front."
"That makes sense. The Imperial Kingdom will
likely create a slight time lag to draw our army to the East."
"Precisely. Little do they know we have a wise man here
who has seen through their intentions."
"Indeed. And they do not know there is a raccoon in the
Royal Capital pretending to have fallen completely for their trap."
"Then, I leave the right wing of the South to you. If
that collapses, everything ends. I will send reports sequentially regarding the
West, East, and North, so please help us out in various ways."
"Excellency, ever since I was a student at the Academy,
you have always assigned me homework that is too large. It is hard work for a
poor student to always be clearing up homework."
"I am truly sorry. And, I am grateful to you beyond
words."
"..."
I had never seen the Old Raccoon apologize so
earnestly. He had apologized before, during the time of the special envoy and
before that. But this time was completely different; he kept his head bowed
low.
"Just for this time, His Majesty and I intended to go
to the front lines and fight together. His Majesty and I have fought on the
front lines against the Imperial Army in the past. It was the very battle where
your father achieved military exploits and became a Baron. But this time, there
are battlefronts in four directions. We need someone to maintain the chain of
command in the center and oversee the deployment and command of the Royal
Capital Knights. Because of that, we cannot go to the front lines. It is a
source of great shame."
"Everyone understands that. Even pieces on a board
cannot move forward if they are worried about what lies behind them. We are
relying on your command."
"In that past battle, His Majesty, myself, and Margrave
Hastburg lost young men who would have shouldered the future of this
country, heads of excellent noble families, and men we could call friends. This
time, we intend to support from the rear with all our might so that we do not
experience such feelings again, and so that we do not lose this country. I know
that, in the end, this becomes a weight upon you. But..."
Tears spilled endlessly from the Old Raccoon's eyes.
Honestly speaking, I don't know much about the history
before I was born or the circumstances of how my father became Baron Solis.
There were too many other things to do than investigate such things.
But I have heard that Baron Abert, the former Lord of
Estol, the eldest brother of Count Gorman, and Count Farmus—whose
line is now extinguished—were sworn allies of the Margrave Hastburg of
that time, and were young heads of families supporting the southern frontier.
And I learned as history that with their loss, the defense
of the Kingdom's southern frontier suffered immeasurable damage and took a
considerable time to rebuild, and that my father, having achieved military
exploits, was promoted in rank with the expectation that he would bear a part
of that burden.
Perhaps the Old Raccoon had some relationship or
karma with them as well. And I could understand that he regretted what happened
then and was superimposing his feelings onto this situation.
That is why we will definitely survive and win the war! I thought so once again.
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