Volume 9 Chapter 2 The Season Of Schemes – Part II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Nokin’s Perspective
”Hmph! Hah!”
Having conquered the Ostenfort territory and added it to my own, I received a missive from Alonsa, instructing my return.
I’d been planning to press our advantage and push further, but after reading the letter, I decided to head back to the capital.
It said that in the northeastern lands, the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’ supported by Gwain and the ‘Kingdom Liberation Front’ supported by Chancellor Aldo were on the verge of a proxy war. It also stated that we, the Garuda Principality, should remain neutral in their conflict.
Since Alonsa, whom I respect as a strategist, had spoken, I didn’t feel the need to argue. So, I returned to the capital, Vildestia, leading Repulus, Geronimo, and the others.
And now, to kill time, I was practicing with my favorite greatsword in the courtyard.
”Sir Nokin. Perhaps you should finish your Forging soon? Mr. Geronimo is quite tired.”
Terry, now my exclusive Maid, pointed at Geronimo, who was accompanying me in my Forging and swinging his own hammer.
”I, I can still go! I think I need more Forging to protect Sir Nokin!”
I lightly pushed the tip of Geronimo’s hammer, which was trembling with exhaustion, with my greatsword.
Just a slight push, and the hammer went THUD! on the ground.
”You’re at your limit, Geronimo. Let’s call it a day… Still, I’m bored. Alonsa says I don’t have to do anything… Eating, Forging, and sleeping every day will make me dull.”
I took a towel from Terry and handed one to Geronimo.
”I’m happy to train with Sir Nokin. I’ve gotten much stronger in this last month!”
”Indeed. Mr. Geronimo has become as powerful as Mr. Repulus. While he may not reach Sir Nokin’s level, he is certainly among the strongest in the Garuda Principality.”
I nodded in agreement with Terry’s words.
Geronimo had begun to master his extraordinary strength, capable of delivering sharp and heavy blows even while armored in heavy metal and wielding a large shield and massive iron hammer.
His growth was astonishing, to the point where he looked up to me as his mentor, and we spent our days diligently forging together.
I had granted Geronimo the status of my personal guard and bestowed upon him the privilege of unrestricted access to my private chambers.
”I also concur with Terry’s opinion. If I had my way, I would prefer to have more warriors like Geronimo… However, there seemed to be a lack of promising candidates willing to volunteer for the close guard.”
”Those who can’t even land a single blow on me cannot become members of the close guard.”
I felt somewhat disheartened by the scarcity of successful candidates from the recent close guard selection.
It may have been a mistake to set the passing criteria as being able to land a strike on Geronimo; out of 2 hundred chosen from the military for the examination, only ten had succeeded.
Many of the young warriors from the Garuda Clan, known for their individual combat prowess, seemed to have gone off to train at the Elkisa Temple, the new sacred ground being established in the South District, leaving mostly down-and-out former farmers and citizens expressing their desire to enlist in the military.
It seems the only way forward is to encourage martial arts and scout for young talents…
”Nokin, are you done with the forging?”
When I heard a voice from behind, I turned to find Alonsa standing there.
Terry and Geronimo promptly knelt in respect.
”Ah, I just finished up. But it’s quite rare to see you here, Alonsa. Is everything alright with work?”
”I came here to discuss some work matters. I thought you might be getting tired of forging by now.”
Alonsa gave a mischievous chuckle, her lips curving up in a sly grin.
I had kept my promise to her by bestowing the status of Queen of the Garuda Principality.
Furthermore, I granted her the position of co-sovereign as Vice-Chief, making her the overseer of all state and military affairs.
In essence, I’ve dumped all the king’s duties on her, which seems pretty imposed since I’m the type who’s more suited to fighting than getting bogged down with paperwork.
Yet, the brilliant woman handled the troublesome governance with ease, solidifying my position as king.
”Indeed, I’m bored. I really am a man of action, after all. I’d rather be on the battlefield, even if it’s just a small skirmish. I was even considering asking Kent Blackdagger if I could join a monster hunt in the South District.”
”Not so fast. Porcha seems to have gathered some intriguing information. There’s a buzz of battle in the air.”
Alonsa, who naturally favored commanding on the battlefield, blushed at the mention of an impending fight.
”What, is it finally time for the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’ and the ‘Kingdom Liberation Front’ to clash? They’ve been evenly matched, so they haven’t directly crossed swords before.”
Both the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’ and the ‘Kingdom Liberation Front’ had grown into significant powers by conquering or bringing smaller warlords and bandits in the northeastern region under their control, both being organizations with sponsors.
After the establishment of the Demon God Emperor nation, the eastern and northeastern regions fell into chaos with warlords and bandits killing lords and establishing independent forces, but now most had aligned themselves with either the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’, the ‘Kingdom Liberation Front’, or the ‘Garuda Principality’.
The moment Alonsa mentioned the scent of war, the names of those 2 organizations immediately came to mind.
”Looks like things are moving on their end, too. Seems the Black Dragon Dukedom is gonna try to take down Gwain. Word is the True Demon Kingdom and the South District Margrave are funding the whole operation. And get this, the True Demon Dukedom is even getting in on the action!”
”Wha──the True Demon Dukedom!? Rashid was a supporter of Gwain, wasn’t he?”
”Seems there’s been a change of leadership, or rather, King Rashid is resting due to illness. Prince Yaalan is acting in his stead. They’re keeping it hush-hush from the surrounding nations, but Porcha managed to piece it together from information gathered by the traders.”
”Wait, then Gwain is toast. They’re gonna get crushed between the True Demon Dukedom and the Black Dragon Dukedom! Are we going to crush the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’?”
If Gwain is surrounded, then the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’ we support will also weaken. The Garuda Principality, in order to expand its territory with saved military power and funds, thought it best to attack the ‘Kingdom Retro Brigade’.
But Alonsa shook her head.
”No. We’re doing something better.”
”Better, you say?”
”Yes. We’re attacking Capital City Eternita.”
Alonsa declared they would attack the Capital City.
”The Capital City!? We’re attacking Shifa!?”
”No. There are whispers of a revolt among the disgruntled Nobles in the Capital City. If we crush them and wring out some benefits from the Kingdom, it will be cheaper and more effective. We’ll leave the Northeast to Gwain and Chancellor Aldo for now. For the time being, we’re going to quickly subdue the discontented Nobles in the Capital City.”
”But there’s no reason for us to march our troops on the Capital City!”
If I, the chieftain of the Garuda Principality, were to lead troops into the Capital City, it would be seen as a rebellion.
”No worries. I’ve already taken care of everything. We have a visit planned to express our thanks for the appointment as the Special Governor of Eastern Reconstruction. Because of that, I’ll be able to take 2 hundred guards with me. If it’s Nokin, that should be enough to suppress the rebellion. This time, I’ll be joining as well.”
Alonsa was using the long-overdue formal visit to Shifa as a pretext to bring troops to the Capital City.
”As expected, Alonsa is amazing… Then my job will just be to deal with the disgruntled nobles. I’ll leave the negotiations to Alonsa. Geronimo, Terry. Hurry and prepare for departure!”
””Yes!””
* * *
*Kent’s Perspective*
Arriving in the Capital City aboard Dragonewt’s special courier service with Milly, Lila, and Miriel, I decided to visit Aldo’s mansion after securing an escort from Kondrad and the others at the palace.
Throughout the journey, I couldn’t shake off my curiosity about the beauty Aldo had mentioned, and by the time we reached the Capital City, my anticipation was nearly at its peak.
”Kent… I know you’re fond of the ladies, but you’re being way too fidgety this time. If stepfather sees you like this, he’ll tease you again!”
Milly smirked as she watched my restless demeanor.
Usually, she’d be on edge here in the Capital City due to the difficulties surrounding my protection, but this time she seemed calm, as if she’d heard something from my mother-in-law.
”But come on! It’s a woman that Aldo thought to summon me! It would be cruel not to be concerned!”
”Oh dear, Mr. Kent has a bevy of beauties around him already, yet he’s still not satisfied?”
My mother-in-law posed that question with a charming smile.
She looked young enough that one could easily believe she was the sister of her daughter, Milly.
”Absolutely! It’s necessary! The very essence of Kent Blackdagger is made up of 100 percent lust, so when I hear there’s a beauty involved, I can’t simply look away!”
Thanks to the Charm-Blocking Glasses that Aldo had gifted me, I could now appreciate a person’s beauty without transforming them into mere carriers, weakening my self-control.
”Elder Brother Kent… such splendid words! Miriel will do her very best to serve you.”
Miriel had tears in her eyes as she listened to me.
Milly’s education had clearly taken root, raising her to be quite the cheeky young lady. Though still underage and not under any ownership contract, she was eager to participate in work and honing her skills.
”Well then, shall we take a quick peek at the beauties and head back to the South District?”
”Sounds good. Let’s hurry to Aldo’s mansion then.”
We decided to head to Aldo’s mansion by carriage.
* * *
Upon our arrival at Aldo’s mansion, the elderly butler greeted us.
”This is the Count Blackdagger. Welcome to our humble abode.”
The butler led us through the halls to the room where Aldo awaited us.
With bated breath, we opened the door.
”Hey! My dear friend Kent. I knew you’d accept my invitation. You wouldn’t miss the chance to see the splendor of the Capital City, would you?”
Aldo waddled over to us, his slightly plump body swaying as he moved away from his chair.
”You think I’d turn down an invite from Aldo? Even if you say I’m intruding, I’d still come!”
”Wait just a moment. Actually, I received an invitation from that very splendor of the Capital City just now. I was planning on going, and of course, Kent, you’re coming with me, right?”
”I’d be happy to join… unless you think I’m intruding,”
Milly and the others chuckled at my words, but Aldo was overjoyed, jumping up and down with excitement.
”As expected of my best friend. I was actually quite nervous about going alone. Despite my appearance, I’m terribly shy, you know.”
”Don’t give me that. All right then, let’s head to the place with the beauty post-haste.”
I urged Aldo on, quickening our pace towards our destination.
* * *
*Ugno’s Perspective
In the territory bordering the True Demon Kingdom, an army consisting of 3 thousand infantry and about 2 hundred airmen had completed their assembly.
We had already notified both Shifa of the True Demon Kingdom and Aldo of our intent to defeat Gwain, securing their promise to support our campaign from the rear.
Therefore, we had minimized the supply train, planning for a swift and sudden assault on Daracallia, Gwain’s stronghold.
We had to end this fight fast. Once we took Daracallia, Nord would send a transport convoy to haul away the treasures.
”General Ugno, there is someone here to see you.”
”Who is it?”
”A succubus woman, sir. She calls herself Yuri.”
My officer clearly didn’t know the name of the Dream Demon Clan’s Black Dagger from the generation before.
Yuri. The very same Yuri who represented the succubus hidden village and held immense influence over the Dream Demon Clan.
I’d even heard rumors that her sway surpassed that of the current chieftain, Miriallia.
”Lady Yuri has come? What could she possibly want…”
”Forgive my intrusion. You must be Ugno Reckmillant. The younger brother of the Duke Black Dragon, known as the Dragon General, Ugno.”
The succubus woman standing at the tent entrance looked to be in her twenties, but the former Black Dagger, Yuri, should have been well over 70 years old.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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