Chapter 215

-ting-a-ling.

[You ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍have defended the Elang Kingdom from the invasion of the Holy Empire’s Emperor. The nobles of the Elang Kingdom’s eastern region will praise you.]

[Notification: ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Your influence within the Elang Kingdom increases. Across the eastern region, most nobles will always lend an ear to your words.]

[Notification: ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍You have obtained ‘Guardian of the Elang Kingdom’.]

[Guardian ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of the Elang Kingdom: During a kingdom defense war, the nobles’ ability to mobilize is strengthened.]

[Notification: ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Fame increases.]

[Notification: Prestige increases.]

[Notification: Your achievements spread across the continent. The continent’s nobles will recognize you as a new powerhouse, a ruler who influences the continent.]

A dazzling window of notifications rose before me for the first time in a while—messages proclaiming that the war had been won, and that it had finally ended.

And it was not only the System window that announced it.

“Congratulations! At last, the end is in sight!”

“Congratulations, human lord. It was truly a brutal battle.”

“That is right, Your Grace. It was an honor to fight alongside you. Look at those insolent Holy Empire bastards—running so fast you cannot even see the soles of their feet.”

Magician Agpiel, Captain Konrad, and my vassals and knights all offered their congratulations.

Driving off the Holy Empire’s Emperor’s army—whose name alone carried dread—with a single force was an achievement worth boasting of.

And at last, unrest in the eastern region had been swept away. For a time, the eastern region would find it hard to escape my influence.

“Everyone, stay calm. The enemy has not fled that far yet, so we cannot rule anything out.”

“After suffering such losses, would they dare to attack again?”

“Something always comes back to bite you when you say ‘surely not,’ Magician Agpiel. At times like this, we must not loosen our vigilance.”

“Hm. That meticulousness is one of your strengths, but…”

Magician Agpiel briefly thought, Is this not being overly cautious? Of course, he did not say it aloud.

“So… where is Count Steffen coming from? We should prepare to receive him.”

“Hm, he said he would come disarmed, so he should arrive soon. Ah! There—he is coming now.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Count Steffen and several of his vassals approached my tent with empty hands.

They all wore deeply gloomy expressions.

It was only natural. They had lost the battle regardless of their own will. And Count Steffen, after successive defeats, was in a position where he could lose his standing within the Holy Empire altogether.

“…What can the defeated have to say? I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”

Perhaps that was why.

Count Steffen stood before me looking as though he had resigned himself to everything.

His lands.

His army.

Even the Emperor’s favor.

With all of it slipping away, there was no future left that resembled the one he had once had.

“Whatever punishment? Naturally, I will treat you as a noble according to custom. I will assign attendants to you and return your weapons as well.”

“…?”

Count Steffen was baffled.

Return his weapons?

What if he tried to assassinate me the moment he received them?

“Are you laying a trap, waiting for me to make a mistake?”

“What are you talking about? Do you think I am that underhanded?”

“Hm. A little.”

This man.

A flicker of anger rose in me, but I forced it down and replied calmly.

“…When you have lost everything, honor is all you have left. There is no reason I cannot at least let you keep that. You are, one way or another, an excellent commander.”

“Oh…!”

“Indeed!”

At my words, Count Steffen’s vassals all looked moved.

Even if their lord was a defeated commander, no vassal would dislike seeing him acknowledged with such respect.

“Unexpected…”

Count Steffen, however, was more than a little flustered.

When he surrendered and came here, he had braced himself for ridicule. Mocking, humiliating, and jeering at a hard-fought enemy commander was hardly uncommon.

Yet even after such an overwhelming victory, I did not preen, and instead showed him magnanimity.

So the rumors of my piety were not lies. I was acting with the lofty honor of a clergyman.

Of course, Magician Agpiel, watching beside me, jabbed my side and whispered low.

“Hm, what is your scheme this time?”

“A scheme? I simply wish to preserve the honor of a capable general.”

“Oh, please.”

Magician Agpiel’s expression turned flat.

“It is obvious you are already plotting like a fox.”

“A-ahem. Magician Agpiel. They are still right in front of us.”

Truly, that old man was sharp. I hurriedly cut him off.

Then, to Count Steffen and his vassals—who were tilting their heads at our whispering—I quickly spoke.

“In any case, your rights as nobles will be guaranteed. I will assign attendants to you, so request whatever you need at any time. And if an appropriate ransom is paid, I will recognize your freedom as a noble’s right.”

It was enough to show clearly that I was not like the Emperor. A gentle embrace left a deeper impression than harsh whipping.

Look at them.

“Thank you for your lenient treatment, Margrave of Bellua.”

“We also offer our sincere gratitude, Your Grace.”

They spoke to me with eyes full of emotion, as if they had already forgotten I was their enemy.

Heh.

Words truly were the cheapest way to buy goodwill.

The moment the meeting ended, Magician Agpiel—who had been twitching at the lips—blurted out:

“What are you really thinking? Are you planning to recruit Count Steffen?”

“Yes. Why not? Count Steffen is an exceptionally skilled general. If we bring him over, he will become an enormous asset, Magician Agpiel.”

“Hah… that is true, but is he not the Emperor’s confidant? It is not as though he would switch sides just because you say a few pleasant words.”

“Which is why we have to work at it, Magician Agpiel.”

It was not a bond formed in a day or two. He would not yield easily.

But had the bond between the Holy Empire’s Emperor and Count Steffen not already begun to waver?

Through the captured knights, I had already learned of the inspector the Emperor had sent.

That inspector had openly invoked the Emperor’s favor and pressured Count Steffen, did he not?

Surely resentment still remained.

And if I continued to meet Count Steffen and win his goodwill…

“Heh heh heh.”

Even Count Steffen—who seemed so resolute—would eventually waver and come to me.

A four-star general, one of the very few in the world of Pangea Universalise.

“Tsk, tsk. You are thinking something underhanded again.”

“Ahem. Underhanded? Do not say such things, Magician Agpiel.”

“Such things? Wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth before you speak.”

“Hm?”

Had my expression given me away that badly? Embarrassed, I wiped at my mouth and quickly changed the subject.

“In any case, once this place is secured, we must prepare to depart at once.”

“For the Duchy of Aquitaine?”

“Yes. Since the news of their being besieged, we have heard little else, so I am concerned.”

“Hm. They must have held. Azuela is not entirely reliable, but Sir Biden is the sort who fortifies a defense as solid as a rock.”

“You think so?”

“I do. Trust your own judgment. Unless an unavoidable variable erupts, the Duchy of Aquitaine will not fall easily. So set your worries aside for now and deal with what is in front of you.”

Yes.

Magician Agpiel was likely right.

I had stationed a sizable force there. It would not collapse easily. And even if some variable erupted, I would still have to finish here before moving the army.

“That is right. We should wrap this up as quickly as possible and prepare to support Aquitaine.”

I nodded as I answered.

Surely nothing strange would happen.

Not unless God truly wished to torment me.

……

……

……

That was what I thought.

But of course, God always seemed to enjoy throwing me into hardship.

Damn it.

The capital court of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Deep within the inner palace office, Sir Biden and Magician Azuela wore grim expressions unlike any before.

“N-no, really? This is not some prank meant to startle me?”

“…No one would dare play such a prank, Magician.”

“Ohoho. That is true, but… it is just so absurd…”

Rebuked by the stern Sir Biden, Magician Azuela laughed awkwardly and scratched her head.

“The situation is urgent, Magician Azuela. If this is revealed outside, something terrible may happen.”

“Yes… especially if Her Grace, Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine, was attacked.”

“Fortunately, we used the potion you gave us, and we have taken an initial measure. You said it was a terrible poison, but thankfully, she seems to have regained stability.”

It was truly a stroke of luck.

If not for the potion Magician Azuela had gifted to the Duchess, the Duchess would already be dead.

“Then you want me to treat Her Grace?”

“That is right, Magician. I will assign you an escort, so I ask that you remain by the Duchess of Aquitaine’s side for the time being and treat her.”

“Fwooooom.”

At Sir Biden’s words, Magician Azuela realized she had been exposed to a profoundly dangerous situation.

If those bold enough to attempt an assassination learned that the Duchess had survived, would they remain still?

They would attempt another assassination at once.

But she could not withdraw now. Magician Azuela was already involved far too deeply.

And this was the middle of a war. With the fortress under siege, there was no way to go outside.

If Azuela wanted to live, she had no choice but to keep Duchess Maceania of Aquitaine alive.

“Ehh… all right. I will treat her. If the potion has eased it, I should be able to neutralize the remaining poison quickly. It will not take long, so please take care of everything.”

With a sigh, Magician Azuela had no choice but to accept.

Sir Biden offered his thanks and rose briskly from his seat.

“Hm, where are you going?”

“You once gave me advice, did you not, Magician?”

“Uh… to recall how you served His Grace before?”

“Yes. That is right. I intend to resolve this matter by recalling what I learned while serving the Margrave of Bellua.”

“Eeeeh?”

Unable to understand, Magician Azuela tilted her head.

But Sir Biden only told her to take good care of the Duchess of Aquitaine and left.

One could not wage war with a traitor gnawing at the inside.

So Sir Biden decided to rely on experience.

On what he had done with his former lord—

The Margrave of Bellua.

“First… we spread rumors.”

Then, in the single instant they lowered their guard, he would sweep them all away like a typhoon.