Chapter 166 ·Count of Mediolanum (1)

Shatien ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍knew well from his long combat experience.

To ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍truly eliminate the seeds of a counterattack, one had to crush the enemy thoroughly when the opportunity arose.

That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was why Shatien ran wild more fiercely than ever before.

“Aaaargh!” ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍

“B-Block ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍him! We must block him!”

“Keugh.” ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍

“You damn bastards! How are we supposed to block that! You try blocking him!”

The elf knights did not stay still either.

Normally, if a commander ran wild in the front like that, ordinary knights would try to restrain them, but the elf knights were different.

“Ooh, behold! The greatness of His Excellency!”

“Let us follow! You idiots! Grab your swords quickly! We are going to smash the skulls of those filthy peninsula bastards! Kiiyooooo!”

They were out of their minds, slaughtering enemies in every direction, whipped into a frenzy by the sight of the blood soaked Shatien.

Warriors driven mad, drenched in blood.

“Ugh…. Ugh…….”

The sight was truly grotesque and horrific.

“God’s judgment has fallen! Ahhh!”

“Run away!”

The defensive will of the Mediolanum garrison collapsed in an instant.

When Shatien turned to charge again with the elf knights, the defenders all threw down their weapons and busied themselves fleeing in the opposite direction.

The Doge of Mediolanum shouted for them to return somehow, but no one listened.

Instead.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

The sound of an orderly army’s footsteps was heard along with the beating of drums.

“Forward!”

“Do not break the formation!”

Through the flickering flames, the army of the Holy See led by Miles could be seen surging in like a tidal wave.

“Ah…!”

Only then did the Doge of Mediolanum let out a gasp.

It was over.

Everything was finished.

Now only one thing remained.

To preserve his own life as much as possible, take his wealth, and flee.

Once his judgment was made, the Doge, fitting of one who had survived the complex city politics, immediately turned around and began to flee quickly.

“Wh-Where are you going! Doge, Doge! Your Excellency!”

“…….”

“Dammit!”

The commander spat out a curse at the sight of the Doge fleeing without even attempting to settle the collapsing front.

“…Send a herald. We will surrender. Everyone, lay down your weapons and stop the resistance.”

* * *

The battle did not last very much longer.

As the garrison forces resisting at the gate surrendered, the path into Mediolanum opened, and as soon as the large scale army entered along that road, the citizens abandoned all will to resist.

Everyone simply surrendered wherever the army advanced.

A few pro Imperial council members or city nobles led their retainers in resistance, but that was purely local and did not affect the overall situation.

“They say they have just occupied the city hall! Commander!”

Thus, Shatien was already receiving reports in a temporary tent pitched in Mediolanum’s city square.

“Oh! Did they say they caught the Imperial knights and the mage?”

“Huh? Do you mean the Doge?”

“Ah, yes. I was asking if they caught the Doge.”

“Ahh. Regrettably, it seems the Doge has fled. They said they could not stop him because of the Imperial knights you mentioned. My apologies.”

“Hmm….”

It made sense.

It would be impossible for ordinary soldiers to catch the Doge’s party when guarded by Imperial knights.

Although the elf knights made an effort to disparage them, the skill of the Imperial knights was at a level that could not be ignored.

Still, hearing that they missed him was a bit regrettable.

If it was going to be like this, Shatien felt he should have gone and handled it directly himself.

“Tsk, tsk. Why are you so obsessed with them?”

Then his master, Joachim, clicked his tongue as if it was pathetic.

“The tide has already turned and the city has fallen into your hands. A few guys fleeing is nothing to worry about.”

“Haha. It seems the shock of the magic our young knight experienced last time was quite severe.”

“Magic?”

“There was a mage who used lightning magic, Sir Joachim. Unfortunately, he took that magic spell head on. Hehe.”

At the words of the mage Agphiel, Joachim furrowed his brows.

“If it was lightning magic…. It must have been that court mage bastard. Libetraum. If you took a hit from him, it is certainly worth being cautious.”

“Do you know him?”

“He is one of the Emperor’s advisors. One of the few trusted advisors. He often steps forward personally to use magic when force is needed like this…. You did well to endure. Even for me, his lightning magic would not have been easy.”

Joachim scanned Shatien while marveling as if it was surprising.

He wondered if his disciple had already reached a realm where he could resist such magic.

Of course, it was purely thanks to the protective charm Agphiel had given him.

“If he is an individual even you are cautious of, Master, would it not be better to pursue and handle him even now?”

“No, if you did that, it would only provoke the Emperor further. He would lead an army and turn the peninsula into a wasteland immediately.”

“Hmm….”

That was also a problem.

The Great Anti Imperial Alliance was not yet firmly prepared.

The power of the Holy See alone was insufficient to protect the peninsula.

“Hehe. Focus on what is more important, young knight.”

“What is more important?”

“Yes. Was not the Doge, who was the goal of the war, just for the sake of justification anyway? What matters now is subjugating the anti Holy See forces and bringing Mediolanum into the Holy See’s sphere of influence.”

“Well. You are right, Mage Agphiel.”

It was certainly true.

Since things had turned out this way, it was right to report to the Holy See and focus on normalizing Mediolanum.

“And well…. Do not worry too much about the Doge.”

“?”

“Did you not say he fled with the people from the Empire? If it is the temperament of the court mage I know, he will likely trade the Doge to you. Especially if he considers the trickery you pulled last time, he might do so even more. Hohoho. Is that not right, Sir Joachim?”

“Hehe. Thinking about it, that might indeed be the case, Sage.”

“……?”

Shatien thought those two were particularly in sync for some reason.

And not long after.

“How is it? Was I not right?”

Shatien could see what Mage Agphiel meant.

While they were busy taking care of the aftermath in the chaotic Mediolanum, a herald arrived from the Imperial knights and the mage who had fled.

And they had the Doge of Mediolanum tied up tightly with them.

“We will hand over the Doge. In exchange, guarantee our safe retreat.”

“…….”

* * *

There was no reason to refuse their proposal. Shatien accepted their offer and immediately reported to the Holy See that he had captured the Doge.

And soon, the Holy See sent an envoy, expressing great joy.

“Indeed! Sir Shatien! The performer of miracles! Did they not say you manifested another miracle in the midst of battle? It is clear that God bestows special love upon you.”

“Ahahaha….”

He wondered how the commotion about the miracle during the last battle had reached the Holy See’s ears again.

Shatien gave a slight glare to Mage Agphiel, who was grinning mischievously, and turned his gaze back to the envoy.

“The Doge has been captured, and once the heresy trial for the Doge is finally concluded, I intend to step down from the position of Commander in Chief and return to my original place. Envoy, please coordinate the relevant schedule. Until then, I will do my best to stabilize Mediolanum.”

“Hrmmmmm.”

Then, the envoy of the Holy See looked at Shatien with a strange gaze.

“You truly seem to have no greed, Sir. Considering the number of mercenaries you mobilized and the military merit you established, would it not be fitting to ask for Mediolanum as a fief? The Holy See is more than willing to grant such a request from you.”

“How could I harbor such greed, Envoy. Originally, was this city not a fief given to the Holy See after the collapse of the ancient empire? I believe it is right for it to fall into the hands of its rightful owner.”

“Hohohoho.”

The envoy of the Holy See stroked his lush beard as if he was pleased by those words.

He liked this young knight who displayed the virtue of humility.

Of course, Shatien was sincere.

Why would he greedily desire Mediolanum?

It was a city that had gained its freedom a long time ago.

If Shatien, who had a weak foundation, greedily took this city, he would fail to control it and there would be trouble later.

‘Well, a title or monetary compensation is better for the time being. So I can build a larger mercenary company.’

Shatien thought so.

And he believed he had given a sufficient answer that would satisfy the Holy See.

But…….

“We bestow the title of Count of Mediolanum upon Commander in Chief Shatien! Shatien de Mediolanum! His fief shall include the city of Mediolanum and its nearby satellite cities. This is performed in the name of the Pope, who represents the sacred authority of God under heaven. Everyone, bless the new Count Shatien!”

“Waaaaaa!”

“Long live His Excellency Count Shatien!”

It seemed the thoughts of the Holy See and the envoy were a bit different.

“…….”

* * *

“Ohohoho! Congratulations, Shatien de Mediolanum, Count of Mediolanum!!”

“…Please don't tease me, Mage Agphiel. My head is already throbbing.”

Shatien let out a sigh.

It was because the Holy See had revived a stale peerage from the ancient imperial days and bestowed it upon him.

It was called a countship, but in reality, the satellite cities were all devastated by his orders, and the core city, Mediolanum, was quite hostile toward him as the invader.

He had to rule in such a situation.

Would it not be much more profitable for the Holy See to rule directly?

Operating it as a directly managed free city and expanding their influence.

If they annexed a free city and gave it as a fief in this manner, the hostility of the surrounding cities toward the Holy See would only increase.

Even more, if Shatien did not follow the Holy See’s orders, it would be an even greater loss.

“Hehe. Is it not all because such things don't matter from the Holy See’s perspective?”

Mage Agphiel said so while laughing as if it was amusing.

“After all, are you not the one who has to fight to survive in this vicinity? And you are already a key member of the anti Imperial faction. When war breaks out, you will have to go to the Empire, so it will be even harder to control the city. Therefore, you will have no choice but to receive more help from the Holy See to rule your fief.”

“Hmm….”

Shatien swallowed a groan at the cold explanation from Mage Agphiel.

Certainly, the structure was such that he could not help but depend on the Holy See, as Agphiel said, and Shatien would have to take the insults intended for the Holy See instead.

From the Holy See’s perspective, it was a fairly decent way to divert the burden of pressure from surrounding cities and sweetly take the fruits.

In fact, this title was like a poisoned chalice.

“Why? Do you hate the Holy See now?”

“No. Well…. Still, there is nothing bad about it, is there?”

But that was only the case when everything flowed according to the Holy See’s intentions.

“Oho…. Nothing bad you say?”

“Yes. Conversely, can I not carry the prestige of the Holy See on my back for every action? Haha. From a mere country bumpkin mercenary to a Count trusted by the Holy See. What a magnificent and overbearing power this is.”

“Hrmmmm…. The Holy See will not be that easy to deal with, you know?”

Shatien laughed at Mage Agphiel’s words.

“Hehe…. I am not easy to deal with either, Mage Agphiel.”

If Shatien had been born of ordinary nobility, he would not have been able to escape the structure the current Holy See had laid out, but Shatien was different.

“I have no intention of dancing to the direction the Holy See intends. Just watch, Mage Agphiel.”

“…I am quite worried about what kind of sinister scheme you will pull again.”

“Ahem. Sinister? On the contrary, it will be very good from the city’s perspective.”

Indeed.

It certainly would.

It was so good that perhaps the Holy See would be startled.

Truly.