Volume 11 Chapter 15 The Underhanded Activities Of The Black-Bellied Fox Talia
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Alonsa’s perspective
”Lady Alonsa… A messenger from the Dragonewt in the South District has brought a strange letter. What should we do?”
While I was in my office, struggling over the budget for reconstruction, Bartram walked in with a worried look.
”A messenger from the Dragonewt? Who sent it?”
”The letter is from Talia Orancrest.”
A bad feeling washed over me with Bartram’s words.
I snatched the letter from him and tore it open with a sense of urgency.
I read the contents of Talia’s letter carefully.
Waves of anger surged within me as I read what was written.
When my anger reached a boiling point, I ripped the letter into tiny pieces.
”W-What happened, Lady Alonsa? What did it say?”
The letter said that Nokin, who was participating in the beast king tournament in the South District, had fallen for a beautiful swordswoman who was the sister of his fiancée before losing his memory.
He took her as one of his concubines and indulged in debauchery with her.
It also mentioned that he wanted to replace me with her and elevate her to the status of his main wife.
Although the source is Talia, which makes it hard to believe, if any of it is true, my very existence would be at stake.
…I could accept Terry, but this new woman knows about Nokin’s past, something I don’t. Should I really let her get close to him?
”It’s nothing… Bartram. Please call Porcha for me.”
”Y-Yes. Right away.”
Bartram tilted his head but went to summon Porcha.
After a little while, Porcha appeared in my office.
”Did you call for me?”
”Porcha, close the door behind you.”
Porcha, seemingly already aware of the purpose for her summoning, instructed the guards at the entrance to take their seats and then closed the door behind her as she entered the office.
”I hear a letter arrived from Talia Orancrest. Am I right to assume this meeting concerns Sir Nokin’s affairs?”
”Indeed it does. The letter mentioned that Nokin has taken a new concubine in the Margrave South District, but how true is that? You must know, don’t you?”
Porcha utilized her own intelligence network, the Mutual Aid Society, to gather various pieces of information from his organization, aiding in the revival of the east.
The information was terrifyingly accurate and extensive, far surpassing the reliability and quality of any ordinary intelligence organization.
Handling such information, Porcha was increasing her influence within the Eastern Garuda Principality.
Despite feeling a sense of crisis over her expanding influence, she seemed to feel a debt of gratitude towards Nokin for his dedication to the east’s revival.
For now, she hasn’t caused any adverse effects on his power, so she was allowed to act freely.
”I was debating whether to inform Lady Alonsa, but since it’s out now, I should speak up… Sir Nokin seems to have regained his memories in the Margrave South District. This news comes from a member of the Mutual Aid Society in Abyss Vena, so it’s fairly reliable. It appears that a warrior named Hendric, who fought alongside him, made a love confession to Sir Nokin. It’s all the talk in Abyss Vena. Incidentally, Hendric is said to be the adopted child of Belholt Remarque, Sir Nokin’s master.”
”Belholt Remarque… wasn’t he the last direct disciple of Dalmoth? I heard he died in prison, involved in some South District family scandal… but I was told his daughter was a woman named Freyria… How is this Hendric woman related to the Remarque family?”
”Hendric is Belholt Remarque’s adopted son. It seems she used a gender-transforming necklace and lived as a man for some reason. By the way, she’s also the leader of the ‘Golden Apostles,’ a famous hunting group in the South District. Lady Alonsa, you’ve probably heard of the ‘Golden Apostles’?”
”‘Golden Apostles’!?! I remember them being the best hunting group in the South District… Hendric is the leader…”
”They say she’s very skilled with a sword. She even fought Sir Nokin on equal terms.”
If you just look at her as a warrior, Hendric is exactly the kind of person Nokin likes.
That made me think the things in Talia’s letter were true.
Because from how she acted until now, I knew he respected strength and didn’t like tricks.
I’m not a warrior, so I was worried that I couldn’t understand Nokin’s heart.
I was also worried that he might be drawn to Hendric, who has the same warrior’s heart.
”Y-yes… So, what’s Nokin doing?”
I asked Porcha about Nokin to try to get rid of my worries.
”W-well… It’s very hard to say… After the match, Hendric went to the mansion where they were staying and just stayed there. Sir Nokin didn’t treat her badly… She’s been staying there since after the match… Because of this, there are rumors all over Abyss Vena that she’s become a concubine.”
When Porcha told me that, I jumped up in a hurry and flipped over my chair.
”P-Porcha!! I’m going to Margrave South District! The Dragonewt who came as a messenger is still here, right? I’ll go with him! Talia must have planned something like this! It’s frustrating, but I’ve been completely outsmarted!”
I started walking towards the door of the office without even fixing my seat.
”Lady Alonsa! This is a trap from Lady Talia! If you go, Sir Nokin will never sit in the First Fang seat! Please reconsider!”
Porcha tries to stop me with all her might, blocking my way.
But in my mind, I can’t shake the image of Nokin leaning toward Hendric.
”I don’t care if it’s a trap or if he can’t be the First Fang! It’s a hundred times better than Nokin’s heart drifting away from me! While I’m gone, Porcha will handle my duties!”
Talia’s plan is a wicked scheme that takes advantage of my insecurities about my looks.
Yet, even knowing it’s Talia’s scheme, a deep anxiety starts to wrap around my heart.
I want to see Nokin… I was born to make him the king of the Demon Continent… I don’t have time to be fooled by a strange girl obsessed with martial arts…
I leave Porcha behind and prepare for my journey, heading to the garden where the Dragonewt waits.
* * *
*Lakia’s Perspective
After the match with Nokin, Hendric, whose identity as a woman was revealed, threw away her duties as the Hunting Group Leader of the ‘Golden Apostles’ and spent all her time in the mansion on Noble Street where Nokin was staying.
I visited the mansion several times and talked with Hendric, but she chose to stay by Nokin’s side after her secret was out, showing her intention to resign from the Hunting Group Leader position and leave the group.
”Lady Lakia!! Is it true that Hendric is resigning as the Hunting Group Leader!! And to think she hid the fact that she is a woman from us! What is going on?!”
An older Magician, one of the longest-serving members in the Noble Street mansion, was furious.
He had been impressed by Hendric’s skills in his youth and had worked hard for him, earning respect within the Hunting Group.
”First, I am currently trying to keep Hendric, the Hunting Group Leader, from leaving. Please give me some time. Also, I kept the fact that the Hunting Group Leader is a woman a secret because it was her wish. I never intended to deceive any of you.”
After the match, members of the Hunting Group crowded into the office. The ‘Golden Apostles’ is a high-ranking group that only scouts A-rank Hunters or higher.
The members are either from the Remarque dojo or were drawn in by Hendric’s charisma. Most of them joined because of Hendric’s charm.
So, if Hendric leaves, many members are expected to follow.
I felt like the days we spent desperately trying to rebuild the Remarque dojo were crumbling away with a loud crash.
”Please give me time… I will try to change Hendric’s mind…”
”If Hendric leaves, I plan to leave this Hunting Group too…”
The middle-aged Magician left the office, showing no effort to hide his anger.
Just after he left, a new visitor arrived.
The visitor was Talia Orancrest, the king’s concubine, who was in charge of the Beast King Tournament.
”I have something to discuss with Vice Hunting Group Leader Lakia… May I take some of your time?”
Talia approached me with a polite tone, but there was a faint smile on her face.
I felt a strange tension and briefly tensed up, but I couldn’t dismiss her, being the concubine of the strongest in the South District.
So, I decided to arrange a meeting.
”Understood. Let’s talk in the reception room.”
I moved to the reception room with Talia.
* * *
When we arrived and closed the door, Talia suddenly started to speak.
”Lady Lakia… I hear you’ve formed the Hunting Group with Mr. Hendric to rebuild the Remarque Dojo. Am I correct in my understanding?”
Taken aback by the sudden question, I answered honestly.
”Huh!? Y-yes, but… I’m trying to revive the Remarque Dojo with Hendric as the master… “
Talia’s eyes narrowed as she heard my response.
Her thin gaze felt as if she could read my innermost thoughts.
”Then, why not you become the master instead of Ms. Hendric? You have the skill and the business sense. My lord holds your talent in high regard. If you offer to rebuild the dojo, he’s already promised immediate funding and support.”
My heart sank at Talia’s words.
Her lord was Kent Blackdagger, Margrave of the South District, who controlled all permissions in the South District.
If he was offering funding and support, it was as good as having my dream of rebuilding the Remarque Dojo already realized.
”M-me, the dojo master!? That’s not possible. No one would agree if it’s not Hendric… She’s the one properly inheriting the Belholt style… Someone like me as the master… “
”No, we’ve assessed your skill. You even have a recommendation from Sir Arbalest. My lord values your abilities. Considering your swordsmanship, administrative skills, and character, he suggests you establish a new style as the dojo master.”
Talia stepped closer and whispered in my ear.
Could I really start my own style…
”Moreover, my lord isn’t skilled with the sword and is looking for a good swordsman to guide him. I intend to recommend you for the position, would you accept?”
”What? Me, a swordsmanship instructor!? I remember that King Kent had a concubine named Lady Aurelia… She was supposed to have mastered the Dalmoth style of swordsmanship… “
”King Kent is from the Majin Clan… I think the Belholt style, also from the Majin Clan, is a better fit than the Dalmoth style from the Asura Clan. And if you become the King’s swordsmanship instructor, I’m sure the soldiers from my family and the South District’s private troops would follow too, wouldn’t they?”
Talia leaned closer, whispering softly in my ear.
Her words made me picture myself as the dojo master, teaching swordsmanship to the next generation.
If I became the family style’s instructor, I could definitely count on at least King Kent’s female soldiers as my students.
Thinking about their numbers made me smile without realizing it.
”I see you understand.”
”But there must be some catch, right? There’s no way you would offer such good conditions for free.”
My experience managing the Hunting Group warned me that Talia’s proposal was too good to be true.
I knew from experience that tasty deals usually hid something behind them, and I had to consider those hidden terms or I would end up in trouble.
Talia’s mouth curved into a smile, but her pretty face suddenly transformed into something sinister.
”If you want to hear the conditions going forward, you must agree to follow through with them. Is that all right?”
Talia’s offer felt like a whisper from a devil, but the conditions she presented were so tempting that I found myself nodding without thinking.
”First, I want you to immediately remove Hendric, the current Hunting Group Leader, and dissolve the ‘Golden Apostles’. Second, we need to form a private army called ‘King’s Sword’ led by Lady Lakia. Third, gather as many members of the ‘Golden Apostles’ into the ‘King’s Sword’ as you can. If you do these 3 things, my master will definitely fulfill the earlier promise.”
Talia’s conditions almost seemed impossible──they required breaking up the ‘Golden Apostles’, centered around Hendric, and transforming them into the ‘King’s Sword’ under King Kent while keeping as much strength as possible.
The reason was that most of the Hunting Group members were devoted to Hendric, and swaying their loyalty to King Kent was like telling them to fight Beast Monsters with their bare hands.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply