Chapter 466
(Kyle Calendar Year 516:
Age 23)
The Rise of the
Ist-Harias Holy State
While Takuhir and the others were visiting the new eastern
territory, two men were receiving a report from a returned messenger in the
royal palace of the occupied Uros Kingdom.
「I have just returned bearing the reply from Margrave Model, who
oversees the new territory of the Kyle Kingdom.」
「And... was there anyone in the Kyle Kingdom who could understand
my true intentions?」
The man who asked this magnanimously was none other than the former
First Prince of the Empire, who had now changed his name to Harias.
However, it wasn't just his name that had changed. Having learned the secret of
his birth, he discarded his name, the status and pride of being the First
Prince of the Empire, and above all, his lingering attachment to
succeeding the imperial throne. Not only that, freed from the grudge-like
shackles that had bound him for many years, his very mindset had changed so
greatly it was as if he had been reborn. As part of that, his clothing had
completely changed from his previous luxurious attire; he now wore extremely
practical garments that maintained only a minimum level of dignity.
「Yes, Margrave Model said, 『Due to
various circumstances, the former Uros Kingdom territory managed by the
Trade Union has been ceded to the Kyle Kingdom. We have understood the sincerity
of the Holy State and accepted the gift, therefore we expect the agreement to
be upheld just as before from now on.』」
「「!!!」」
The reactions of the two men who received this report were contrasting.
One man was astonished and lost his words, but the other man, after being
surprised for a moment, laughed pleasantly.
「Hahaha, it is a bit regrettable, but it means there is a shrewd person
on the Kyle Kingdom side who can accurately read the situation and not
make a mistake in judgment. For now, we will halt our advance to the west,
leave a minimum number of soldiers, and turn to the east.」
「Is that alright? Given that we have come this far, is it not a somewhat
vexing story? Furthermore, are you sure leaving a minimum number of soldiers is
sufficient?」
Hearing Harias's words, Castro couldn't help but
interject. Even if it was according to the scenario Harias had
envisioned.
「If they were fools unable to fathom our true intentions, we might gain
some territory, but worries for the future would remain. However, they accepted
the gift knowing my intentions. In other words, they are not fools, and it is
equivalent to obtaining a tacit understanding. Therefore, we can vacate the
national border with peace of mind.」
「I understand what you want to say, but you trust that Kyle Kingdom?」
Even hearing this answer, Castro was still not convinced.
However, at the same time, he understood from past achievements that the man
who had changed his name to Harias was someone worthy of trust in terms
of strategy and tactics.
「Hahaha, even the excellent you seems to have your eyes clouded when the
opponent is the Kyle Kingdom. Just like I once was...」
「......」
Having a sore spot pointed out, Castro fell silent, but it was
something Castro himself was aware of. Because he was once burning with
revenge, and viewed the Kyle Kingdom and the Demon Border
Principality as irreconcilable enemies just like him. Although he is
finally breaking away from those feelings, there are still smoldering feelings
in the depths of his heart. Because of that, it is a fact that he still cannot
fully trust the Kingdom.
「Their national policy is exclusively defensive defense, and they have
stubbornly continued to protect that until now. As long as the opponent
declares non-aggression and does not invade, they will not attack us.」
「Umu...」
「Moreover, we are neither the Istria Imperial Kingdom nor the Orthodox
Theocracy that once fought the Kingdom. Therefore, if they attack, it will be
an invasion. In that sense, they are people who can be trusted.」
「If you say so, I have no choice but to agree.」
Trusting the Kingdom and abandoning defense. From his past self's
perspective, that's a story like heaven and earth flipping upside down.
However, even so, the one who provided the trigger for Castro himself to
change his thinking was this man laughing pleasantly right before his eyes. The
beginning of that was nearly half a year ago...
◇◇◇ Kyle Calendar Year 516, Beginning of the Year, Isra
One day after the new year had dawned, Castro received a sudden
visit from the First Prince of the Griffonia Empire, whom he had
welcomed as a guest general. Meeting him, what surprised him was that his
attitude and expression had completely changed from when they had previously
met.
「Glorious-dono, what is the matter? You look a
bit pale and seem tired?」
「Oh, it's nothing; it's merely because I have renewed my 『resolve』 anew. My resolve for the path we must take
from here on out, that is.」
Seeing Glorious laugh somewhat lonely while saying so, Castro
felt increasingly suspicious. Because his words and actions were far too
different from before. To begin with, even though he was a guest general, he
was originally the First Prince of the Empire, and although inferior to
the total military strength Castro led, Castro had welcomed Glorious,
who had sought refuge leading four thousand elite regular soldiers, with open
arms and gave him preferential treatment. In contrast, Glorious always
behaved with a somewhat arrogant and insufferable attitude, and even though
there were circumstances where he couldn't choose his means, it was also a fact
that he was somewhat difficult to handle.
「The path we must take, you say? What is this resolve?」
「We were foolish existences who were merely used, riding on the grudge
built up by others. But I'm sick of that already! Believing in me, I am
grateful to those who have followed me this far and will reward them; I am also
grateful to you who accepted us, and I have merely made my resolve to return
the favor.」
「!!!」
The very fact that those words came from Glorious was a great
surprise to Castro. Because these were the kind of words that would
absolutely never come out of the previous Glorious.
「As a lord, I lacked caliber, I lacked the resolve to take charge of a
country, and I lacked true pride. That is exactly why I lacked ability and
continued to lose. Now, I cannot even forgive my past self.」
This was exactly the words of evaluation given by Grat, who was
once his competitor. Aware of this, he indifferently spoke of the truth he had
learned, disregarding the surprised Castro.
·
The 500-year-long grudge of the 『Clan of Darkness』 and their objective.
·
That the Empire and the Imperial
Kingdom, and now the Orthodox Theocracy, are being used as vessels for that
purpose.
·
That the turmoil over the past
decade was all because they were pulling the strings behind the scenes,
involving the neighboring countries.
Castro himself was a party concerned, and
there were many stories he recognized. Of course, he was also aware that he had
moved at their will, believing that it would aid the advancement of his fallen
self, but...
「I will cut ties with them completely. Even if I am dyed in their grudge
and burn myself out in revenge, my fate is predetermined. If you think my story
is worth believing, won't you join hands with me and create a new future
together?」
If it were the previous Castro, he might not have been able to
believe this story immediately. But now, because of their writhing, the Istria
Imperial Kingdom is in its final stages, and the Orthodox Theocracy, which
newly became their vessel, is also trying to walk the same path.
「In regards to that, what are Glorious-dono's thoughts?」
Anyone can boast. First, what specifically was he trying to do? Castro
couldn't help but confirm that.
「Let's see, first, the foolish First Prince of the Empire will
die. Taking along those dragging the grudge with him. Once the internal 『cleaning』 is finished, the path leading to our future
should also become visible.」
「Oh, what kind of future is that?」
Here, Castro dared not to mention one thing. Partly because he
was interested in his words, and flipping it around, he understood that he
intended to die as the First Prince, but proceed to the future in a different
position.
「A future leading to a new country governed by two monarchs: you, who
unites the church and handles domestic administration, and me, who unites the
soldiers and handles foreign expeditions.」
「However, isn't that a somewhat steep path for us right now?」
Yes, even if they rallied the soldiers dispersed in various places, the
soldiers Castro currently leads are at most around five to seven
thousand, and even adding Glorious's soldiers, it is barely around ten
thousand... With this, it's out of the question to even talk about foreign
expeditions.
「Fufufu, for us up until now, that is. First, we will lay out good
governance in the four central counties and establish a foundation for
governance. Meanwhile, a man named Harias, leading a unit centered
around former Imperial soldiers, will suppress the three northern counties.
That is the first stage.」
「But we have enemies on three sides: the Lute-Vile-Cain Kingdom
to the south, the Kyle Kingdom to the east, and the Istria Imperial
Kingdom to the north. It will not go easily, will it?」
Looking at it from a different perspective, the Orthodox Theocracy was
surrounded on three sides, and it was in a situation where it wouldn't be an
exaggeration to say it was on the verge of destruction. In such a situation,
achieving victory over the Imperial Kingdom, which held at least five thousand
and at most close to ten thousand soldiers, was an extremely difficult task.
「We are blessed with luck; you can think of it that way.」
「In this situation, you mean?」
Castro completely failed to understand what Glorious
was trying to say. The only thing he could do was express his doubts and
confirm the intention behind the story. At Castro's doubt, Glorious
laughed. With a refreshing smile he had never seen before...
「It is exactly because of this situation. The Kyle Kingdom to the
east will never invade another country. As for the three southern countries, a
unified nation has just arisen, they lack soldiers, and their domestic
administration is unstable. In such a situation, their eyes are directed
internally rather than towards invasion, and protecting their national borders
is probably all they can manage right now.」
「Don't tell me you can turn the entire army north?」
「We will turn them, but we will use some cheap tricks to do so. Even in
the north, we won't fight; we'll merely let the Imperial Kingdom self-destruct.」
「Such a convenient...」
「It will be. I would appreciate it if you could leave military strategy
to me. Also, as another cheap trick, as a public stance towards foreign
countries, could you agree to have the Orthodox Theocracy be destroyed once? Of
course, the contents will not change, but...」
Castro understood the meaning of those words.
Domestically, the Orthodox Theocracy had a good reputation as liberators from
the misrule laid out by the church, but outwardly, their reputation was
extremely bad. After all, Lugner, Azel, and the others instigated
the various countries, invaded the Empire, and ultimately even betrayed
and destroyed their allied nations...
「It was those fools acting on their own, but now it is unavoidable.」
After pondering several times and letting out a big breath, Castro
also made his decision. There were calculations involved, but as the best move
possible right now, it was above all because there was 『something』 fascinating about the
First Prince, who had changed as if reborn.
「Then from today, we head towards a new future.」
「Umu, also to return the glory of God to the righteous path.」
Thus, the two men shook hands, and from this day, the Ist-Harias Holy State was born. Before long, this change would quickly manifest as a major result.
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