Volume 3 Chapter 40 Frontier Count
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I was standing in the hall of Frontier Count Pugachev’s castle, having just handed over Duke Igor’s letter, when I realized my true identity had been exposed. I had no idea what route they had used to gather information on me, but this was incredibly bad. A Frontier Count of Rus could decide whether to start a war, but he did not have the authority to conduct diplomacy on his own. Personally, I would call war another kind of diplomacy, but apparently, Rus drew that line somewhere else.
Since no one was allowed to bypass the Emperor in foreign talks, my presence here—as the head of state—was being treated as a clear overstep of my authority. To avoid even the chance of a misunderstanding, they looked ready to kill me on the spot. So, even here, I was facing the death penalty for “overstepping,” just in a different sense.
To make matters worse, the military officers in the hall had already drawn their swords, leaving no room for excuses or quiet retreat. At my sides, Kenze, a warrior of the Amazoness tribe, and Sergei, an old master instructor of martial arts, settled into fighting stances. Few fighters in Schweilitz could match either of them.
”Frontier Count,” I said, keeping my voice steady, “would you be willing to spare these two?”
”Hoh, quite gallant of you,” the Count replied in a slow rasp. “Reckon I’ve seen many a man in my time, but standin’ tall when the blade’s at your throat? That’s a rare sight.”
”I came here prepared to hand over my rank to my son,” I lied, careful to keep my tone even.
”I see.” The Count shook his head. “But I cannot listen to that story.”
”Is there really nothing we can do?” I asked, feeling for any gap in his stance.
The Count chuckled deep in his throat. “Hmm. I don’t care for the man who impregnated my granddaughter, but it’s not entirely impossible. But tell me, Grand Duke—why are you so calm?”
”I’ve simply given up,” I replied. “I don’t think I stand a chance against you all.”
”I don’t think so,” the Count said. “You have the face of a man who thinks he can at least suppress this hall, Grand Duke.”
”Well, even if I could suppress this hall,” I said, “I’m thinking about what comes after.”
”What was that!”
General Yakov stepped forward, his grip white around his sword hilt. “Sir, I shall handle this insubordinate fool!”
”Wait, General Yakov,” the Count commanded.1 Then he turned his gaze toward my companion. “Is that tanned woman an Amazoness?”
”Yes, you know them well,” I said.
”I’ve met them before,” the Count murmured, his voice drifting toward old memories. “Though the ones I met were white-skinned and yellow-skinned. That time, too, they were carrying a letter from the Chancellor of Turku. It gave me quite a headache.”
”So, did you behead those Amazonesses?” I asked.
”Certainly not.” The Count scoffed. “I could never bring myself to behead women with such voluptuous bodies.”
”Well, fair enough,” I muttered.
”So, Grand Duke.” The Count leaned forward, mischief glinting in his old eyes. “Did you sleep with that Amazoness over there?”
”Yes, well,” I said, caught off guard.
”Is she still as tight as a virgin?”
”Frontier Count, surely you know,” I said, letting myself fall into the rhythm of the conversation. “Mage women can repair their muscles down there themselves, can’t they? But you see, the Amazoness down there isn’t so fragile.”
”Is that so?”
”Yes. And you know, even if a virgin has heard all the stories, it’s still their first time. Some might like that, but it’s high-maintenance, isn’t it? But an Amazoness—she’s fully matured in both mind and body, and yet, down there, she’s just like a virgin.”
”Hoh, how interesting.” The Count grinned.
”She tightens up, as if to squeeze the very life out of you.”
”Oh, that is…”
Ahem. General Yakov cleared his throat, his discomfort plain on his face. “Frontier Count, and Grand Duke… you should not be saying such shameful things.”
The civil official standing nearby sighed. “Frontier Count, have you forgotten?”
The Count straightened his posture. “Grand Duke, you have been traveling through our country, haven’t you? The farmland has been devastated, the food stockpiled by the villages and towns has been looted, and the livestock has been led away.”
”It is difficult to say,” I replied, returning to a formal tone, “but our Grand Principality is still developing. We don’t have enough reserves to share with other countries, and we are currently at war with the Proton Order, so it is impossible for us to assist.”
”I have heard as much from my second son, Igor,” the Count said. “I would like to ask Schweilitz, which had a bumper crop this year, for help. Would you be able to act as an intermediary?”
”I don’t think I have that kind of influence,” I said.
”That is not true. I hear that you are the leading candidate for the husband of the second princess of Schweilitz.”
”If you tell me to write it, I’ll write it,” I conceded, “but Heinrich, His Majesty, is a stingy man, so it will be difficult.”
”Value in investing in me, eh?” The Count looked up at the ceiling. “I had asked Chancellor Nizar of the Turkic Empire for help this time. Without the Emperor’s knowledge. He told me that if I were to become independent from the Empire of Rus, he would consider it. He said providing aid to the current Empire of Rus is like throwing money into the sewer.”
”For the Turkic Empire, that’s a narrow-minded perspective,” I noted.
”Over there,” the Count continued, “if the ethnicity is different, they incorporate them as a vassal state, and eventually make them a province directly under the central government. It’s like a country of nothing but Frontier Counts.”
”So, Frontier Count, what will you do from here on?”
”I will support His Majesty the Emperor as much as I can.”
”I think it would be better to become independent,” I suggested.
”Grand Duke, why do you think my son’s Polotsk Principality couldn’t grow larger and was absorbed into your country? It’s because the people of Schweilitz—that is, you and most of the people who live in the Fee Grand Principality—are almost the same ethnicity. To me, I cannot tell the difference. I feel they are the same.”
”Long ago, the Caucasus region was originally home to our ancestors. Now, a different people, having come from the south, have settled there. If they continue to erode a weakened Rus after gaining their independence, more blood will be spilled than the number of souls lost to a harsh winter,” the Frontier Count said, his voice measured and grave.
”So, if you remain in the Empire of Rus, you become a threat to them, and that serves as a deterrent?” I asked, making sure I understood.
”Likely so. Though I cannot say for certain how effective such a bluff might be,” he replied with a weary sigh.
That might have been true, or it might not. To someone from another world, the fine details of this place were hard to read. Still, I had given my word.
”I have promised to draft the request for food aid from the Rus to King Heinrich IV of Schweilitz,” I stated.
He looked at me, amusement flickering in his eyes. “You may well be dismissed as naive for your trouble.”
”Perhaps,” I conceded, “but I will add that so long as the Emperor of Rus and the Frontier Count remain allied, the eastern reaches of Larland will stay stable. There is value in the support.”
Once the subject changed, I could not help but marvel at the man. This old fox had calmed a furious subordinate by dragging me into filthy talk, shown me the inner shape of his diplomacy, and still managed to push me into mediating food aid. He was frighteningly good at this.
While we were being served a meal in a private chamber, I decided to ask about the mystery of the Boltechino.
”What exactly is a ‘Red Flame Ball’?”2
When I had observed the battlefield from above, I had often seen crater-like rings about twenty meters across. Looking closer, though, I found no real hole, only a ring of soil raised about ten centimeters high.
Judging by the marks, they did not look like the result of a normal explosion. When I questioned the locals, they insisted those rings were where Red Flame Balls used by the Boltechino had landed.
”Do they explode?” I asked. Even then, I had to struggle to explain the very idea of an explosion to them. From what the residents told me, a sphere about ten meters wide and glowing like red flame would fly in, land, and then burst. Any man or beast nearby died at once, and the terrifying part was that they died without a single wound on them.
The stories were muddled. One elderly man claimed they were launched by a massive catapult, but the idea of hurling a ten-meter object like that made no sense at all.
”I do not possess the full truth as of yet,” the Frontier Count said before he began to explain.
The Red Flame Ball, according to him, was a magical weapon made on an island far east of the continent. It was made with Mana at the Tetramer level or higher, woven into a single thread.
”It is a spherical object, about a meter in diameter, encased in thread,” he continued, his tone turning clinical. “When one pulls the attached cord, it ignites with a yellow flame after a few seconds. When launched by a catapult, it grows in size and turns a deep red. Upon impact, it bursts and vanishes. Any living thing within a twenty-meter radius—human or horse—dies. Those within twenty to thirty meters might survive, but it often leaves Mages with lasting disabilities, such as blindness or impaired mobility. Furthermore, even Golems within that range are rendered inert.”
”Here in Rus, we are near the kingdom of the Elf Mages. This was the first nation where Golem technology was imparted to humanity. We have a culture built upon the use of fine Golems, and while not to the scale of Schweilitz, they had become quite advanced as weapons of war. However, because of these Red Flame Balls, not only are our Golems useless, but we have reached a point where we cannot even deploy Mages, Elf Mages, or Dwarves to the field.”
That was a grim prospect. It was not just Rus’s problem; if a Red Flame Ball came flying toward Schweilitz, someone like me would have to run for his life. But why had such a terrible weapon remained unknown until now?
And an island to the east? Could there be a place like Japan in this world? I badly wanted to see it for myself.
However, with the Boltechino still wrapped in mystery and the land itself so dangerous, setting out to explore would be a fool’s errand. If I could capture that black ship, perhaps I could make the journey.
”Is there anything else you wish to know?” the Frontier Count asked, as if sensing my hesitation.
”There is,” I replied. “It concerns those who are accompanying the Boltechino.”
”You possess a keen eye. Are you familiar with the Battle at the Tarta River?”
The Boltechino’s force had been less than a third the size of the Rus aristocratic coalition. After the war broke out near the Imperial Capital, they had been outnumbered and had immediately begun to retreat. They fled for hundreds of kilometers, only to turn at the Tarta River and face the Rus army, which had been stretched thin by the chase. There, they dismantled their pursuers piece by piece.
”When the Boltechino finally turned to fight, I received reports that their support personnel had already gathered ten kilometers south of the Tarta River,” I noted.
”Are you suggesting their retreat was planned from the very beginning?”
”That is the only logical conclusion. The support staff were moving while leading livestock and carrying the plundered gold, silver, and women on carriages, all while managing the main army’s spare horses. They could not have possibly kept pace unless they knew the route in advance.”
Now that he mentioned it, he was right. I had assumed they had simply retreated alongside the main army.
”Did no one attempt to raid their support column?”
”When they neared the decisive battlefield, the Emperor ordered a detachment of five thousand to intercept them. Only a few dozen lightly armed cavalry returned. Even though the support column consisted of only a few hundred infantry and five hundred light cavalry, they were all but annihilated.”
It was a terrifying thought. I had no idea how we would fare when they returned.
”When do you think they will return?”
”Who can say? It might be next year, or perhaps not for an eternity.”
I see. The Boltechino’s base lay in a grassland far beyond the deserts and mountains.
”Tell me,” I ventured, “were there any survivors of the Red Flame Ball who suffered lasting injuries?”
”Hmm, my own territory has seen no such casualties.”
The Maids behind him whispered something into his ear.
”Very well. Bring her here. Right here is fine.” The Frontier Count turned his gaze back to me. “I am told there is a Mage currently serving in the heating staff who was injured in the Caucasus. She is being brought in now. Please, wait a moment.”
While we discussed his son, Minister of Justice Igor, his granddaughter Ellie, and the delicacies of whales caught near the Grand Principality, a woman in tattered work clothes and a robe was escorted into the room. Her gait was uneven in a familiar way.
”I am Iressa, the Mage in charge of heating,” she murmured.
Her robe was pulled low, and her hair hung forward, hiding her face.
”May I see your face?” I asked gently.
After a moment of hesitation, she used stiff, trembling fingers to push back her robe and lift her hair. Her facial muscles were unnaturally tense, her lips pulled to the right, and one eye fixed in a strange upward gaze.
It was identical to Yutia. Did this mean the nerve damage started in the head?
”May I touch your head?”
She was in her late twenties. Standing close, I could see the curve of her chest, but I pushed those thoughts aside. Focusing on the Mana Control technique that had worked best with Yutia, I traced my fingers from the nape of her neck to her hairline.
”Oh!”
The Frontier Count and his Maids gasped. The tension in her face had clearly loosened. But as soon as I pulled my hand away, her muscles slowly returned to their strained state, and the light faded from the observers’ faces.
”If you can learn to do what I just did yourself, you should practice it little by little every day. That will be all.”
”Tha… nk… you,” she stammered, before limping out of the room as if she wanted to escape as quickly as possible.
”What is the meaning of this?” the Count demanded.
”I cannot be certain from a single case, but it is highly likely the Red Flame Ball attacks the brain. If we can find a way to shield the head, we might be able to reduce its effects to some extent.”
”I see. That would mean if Golems also had their nerve plexuses protected, they might continue to function after an attack. I shall consult the Elder of the Elf Mages immediately.”
I, too, would consult Pamela upon my return.
As the night grew late, I prepared to retire, but a servant arrived with a wax-sealed letter from the Emperor. The pudgy official broke the seal and scanned the contents.
”Ho. It seems the Kingdom of Larland has been revived,” the Frontier Count remarked, reading the text with a bored expression.
”What was that?”
”Are you interested? Well, it is close to the Grand Duke’s domain, is it not?” He began to read aloud. “A secret messenger has arrived claiming they have crowned Thiele von Yoghess—the daughter of the former King’s eighth princess and Rolandas von Yoghess—as Queen, and have restored the Kingdom of Larland.”
He shifted his gaze to me. “What is this? Is the Grand Duke’s faction behind this?”
”Eh? Ah, yes. It would appear so.”
”It says here that while the land was supposedly ceded to Schweilitz, the Fee Grand Principality is pulling the strings. But, as it is effectively a vassal state of Schweilitz, they see no issue in leaving it be for now.”
”Hahaha,” I laughed, realizing the truth. Thomas had done it. But the idea of that muscle-head sending secret envoys to various nations seemed unlikely, so someone must have been advising him.
Two months prior, the day before we raided the Proton Order:
”Larry,” Thomas had said while we were relieving ourselves. “We have Golems and the like, so we’re strong, but our numbers are few.”
”I suppose that’s true.”
”The Proton Order is on former Larland territory, right? The granddaughter of the late Old Man Yoghess is the daughter of a Larland princess. If we put that girl on the throne and declare the revival of the Kingdom of Larland in the town where the Bishop resides, people will flock to us.”
”But we already told Helbert’s Middle-aged man and the Fourth Sage to try that in Schweilitz before. It was purely for our own self-preservation.” That had been when we sent back the gifts meant for Thiele and Sanna, using the plan to avoid a death sentence and secure aid from the Grand Principality.
”So what? Just tell them you had no other choice.” Thomas truly had no regard for the trouble he caused.
”However,” I remembered saying, “that was only Plan B.”
But because the Bishop was not in Twangste—the first town of the Proton Order—Thomas had decided to occupy the place. He must have activated Plan B, crowning the Queen to gather manpower and turn the tables. Before he could make things worse, we had left Twangste and washed our hands of the responsibility.
Sergei-shihan was glaring at me, his face twisted in a way that screamed he knew I had been aware of it all along. Then, his expression faltered.
”Don’t tell me… that girl in the white vestments was chosen as the princess?”
Man, so close.
She’s a body double3. She was one of three girls sent as a tribute the day before the ceremony, the one with a build closest to Thiele’s. If I remember correctly, she was sent by the Finnic Chieftain.
The real Thiele, assuming nothing had happened, was probably living without a care in the world in that crooked little house in Cain.
”Not Larry, Grand Duke. We must head to Larland immediately.” Shihan shouted this with deadly seriousness on his face.
”There’s no need to rush. You should stay the night.”
It sounded like he was looking out for us, but the way he had been eyeing the Frontier Count’s Kenze the whole time was unmistakable. If we agreed to stay, there was no doubt he would demand a favor.
”I’m afraid not. This is a matter of great urgency. For our country, at least. I will leave behind the letters for the mediation of aid; could you provide us with travel permits and fresh horses?”
After talking down the persistent Frontier Count, we left the fortress city of Tsaritsyn behind before the day had turned, with snow already beginning to flurry through the air.
—
Summary:
The protagonist faces a precarious diplomatic standoff at the castle of Frontier Count Pugachev, where his secret identity is exposed and weapons are drawn. The tension is diffused through unexpected, lewd, and humorous banter between the men, leading to a discussion on geopolitical aid. The chapter concludes with a reflection on ethnic and structural similarities between regional powers as the Count explains his reluctance to seek independence.
The protagonist discusses geopolitical tensions and the devastating nature of the Red Flame Ball weapon with the Frontier Count. After investigating a victim of the weapon, they hypothesize about potential counter-measures involving neural protection. The scene concludes with news of the Larland Kingdom’s restoration, orchestrated by the protagonist’s acquaintance Thomas, leaving the protagonist to grapple with his past schemes.
The protagonist faces a confrontation with Sergei-shihan regarding the true identity of the “princess” stand-in. They discuss the necessity of departing for Larland to avoid the complications posed by the persistent Frontier Count. The party successfully secures passage and flees the fortress city of Tsaritsyn before the weather worsens.
—
Trivia:
The coilgun is concealed within the protagonist’s coat and remains undetected by guards.
The Frontier Count has met Amazonesses before, specifically those acting as messengers for the Chancellor of Turku.
The Turkic Empire integrates territories by turning them into vassal states that eventually become administrative provinces.
The protagonist has been tracing the Boltechino’s movements, which caused his journey to take a month instead of ten days.
The Red Flame Ball is an imported magical weapon from an eastern island.
Golems in Rus were the first technology of its kind imparted to humans.
The protagonist previously used Thiele and Sanna as a diplomatic tool to gain favor from the Grand Principality.
The support staff accompanying the Boltechino are crucial for their logistics, carrying plundered loot and supplies.
Iressa’s nerve damage was caused by a Red Flame Ball and was temporarily relieved by the protagonist’s Mana Control.
The stand-in girl was one of three sent as tribute on the day before the ceremony.
Thiele is currently safely located in a house in Cain.
The Frontier Count has an ulterior motive for wanting the protagonist to stay, hinted at by his interest in Kenze.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Frontier – A local noble who governs a territory in the Empire of Rus, possessing sharp diplomatic instincts and a cautious approach to the magical weaponry of his enemies.
• Pugachev – The aging, short, and chubby Frontier Count of Rus manages the fortress city of Tsaritsyn with a pragmatic, unrefined demeanor. Often seen in an oversized crown, this powerful, deceitful figure oversees a massive military force, fathered Igor, and is Ellie’s grandfather. Fiercely prioritizing imperial protection, he remains loyal to the Emperor and is not currently seeking independence.
• Igor – A composed, multilingual Duke of the Bryachislavichi line, son of the Frontier Count, and father of Sergei, this former imperial hostage rules Polotsk as a high-ranking diplomat and Minister of Justice. Calmly manipulative, he oversees political intrigues and funeral arrangements. Wary of Schweilitz, he serves as the protagonist’s mentor, orchestrating their future alongside his trusted butler.
• Rus – A neighboring power deeply involved in regional politics and mediation, best known for annexing the Kingdom of Larland.
• Schweilitz – The nation to which the protagonist is being coerced to return, a kingdom possessing an advanced magic academy and military arsenal. The protagonist fears the execution of a specific person or entity currently trapped there in an unfavorable situation.
• Sergei – The second son of Duke Igor and Finance Minister of the provisional Kingdom Office, this aged, disciplined martial arts master serves as a principled instructor, bodyguard, and advisor. Outwardly blunt yet protective, he is often stressed by his charges’ recklessness. Known to Chulpan from a past encounter, he now accompanies the group to manage Thomas’s wife, balancing his noble identity with their safety.
• Kenze – A blunt, muscular, dark-skinned Amazonian warrior and former Tashkurgan agent travels as a Frontier Count’s subordinate and the Grand Duke’s protector. Wearing a niqab and slave crest, this fierce guardian speaks casually with the protagonist and travels with Earnest’s group to manage Thomas’s wife. Oblivious to social shifts after sleeping, she fiercely protects allies like Teressa and Larry.
• Ho – Ho, a comrade of the protagonist. A member of the military unit that defended Garao Village and was slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Yakov – A general serving under the Frontier Count. He is a pragmatic military man with little patience for political frivolity.
• Principal – The mother of Line and the administrative head of the institution. She exercises authoritative control over research assignments and seeks to trade Larry for Ilse Klein due to interpersonal conflicts in her laboratories. The mother of Sabrina and Rhein who intervenes during Rhein’s violent corridor assault to break up the confrontation.
• His Majesty – The King of the realm possesses an expressionless, Noh mask-like face, rarely showing emotion except for brief amusement during trials. He holds absolute authority over the kingdom, presiding over high-level deliberations, giving the final word on legal transitions like duels, and maintaining supreme command over all military missions and strategic troop deployments.
• Heinrich – The Fourth King of Schweilitz, a former mercenary turned monk and Proton Order leader, is a ruthless ruler known for executing his own sons. While he gifts formal coats and Golems to allies and displays contradictory military tactics, he maintains a cold, calculating approach to governance. He currently holds power over the Schweilitz Kingdom, the domain to which the protagonist writes for food aid.
• Nizar – A Chancellor of the Turkic Empire known for his shrewd geopolitical analysis and interest in regional independence.
• Fee – Larry Fee Getys, a fifteen-year-old reincarnated youth and titular Duke, heads the Getys household governing Strock Village alongside Hans and Iffens. This pragmatic, telepathic protagonist navigates feudal intrigue and founds a new nation. Supported by family, including Teressa and maid Nico, his high status earns prime whale meat. Connected to Adolf and underworld structures, his lineage name aligns with the protagonist.
• Heinrich IV – The King of the Kingdom of Schuberitz. He shows a degree of mercy and personal interest in the condemned, personally addressing Alec Reinisch and granting a commutation to Okama-san.
• Larland – A fallen kingdom with a royal lineage of eight princesses.
• Boltechino – A group or entity that has departed from Rus.
• Mana – A non-commissioned officer and liaison who previously had their mana drained by Larry.
• Ellie – The youngest daughter of Duke Igor of Bryachislavichi and granddaughter of the Frontier Count, she is a refined, composed, and assertive noblewoman. Currently with child by the protagonist, she holds significant influence over political favors. A highly attentive figure, she maintains a clear romantic attachment to the protagonist and possesses high social status confirmed by royal gifts.
• Iressa – A woman in her late twenties with a limping gait who serves as a Mage in charge of heating. She bears visible nerve damage from a Red Flame Ball attack.
• Yutia – A slender, quietly observant associate in the Getys household, she bears fever-scarred skin and distorted muscle tension—nerve-related symptoms similar to Iressa’s. Though she remains isolated, intimidated by Hans, and focused on tending livestock, she shares a deep, tender bond with Larry, having recently provided him with a unique mana-based treatment and a symbolic hair charm.
• Pamela – A petite, arrogant Elf mage and logistics head at the field hospital, she wears white Gothic Lolita fashion to hide her slave crest. As Larry’s possessive wife, she acts as pragmatic healer, leader, and protective mother. An amber-charging specialist who can suppress consciousness and strip mana, she recently returned from Cain and consults on the Red Flame Ball. She accompanies Thomas, provides logistical support, and navigates ties to Earnest as one of his former women, inherited from his fourth wife. An ally who sleeps near the protagonist after intimacy, she disappears during the Major’s visit before joining him at the lodging.
• Pam – An escort to the protagonist who is observant and loyal.
• Rolandas – The high steward of Yoghess and eldest son of Al Gildas, now Minister of Revenue in the Fee Grand Principality, is an articulate, cautious elderly bureaucrat who manages regional trade, industry, and frontier diplomacy. Driven by political ambition, he seeks to secure his family’s legacy by marrying off his daughter, Thiele von Yoghess. Though visibly exhausted after the ordeal, he previously guided the protagonist and mobilized town guards to rescue Thiele following her abduction.
• Yoghess – A frontier town of about one thousand residents, named after its ruling lineage. Its current lord, who shares the family name with his third son Darius, is a local ruler in the region. He maintains a strained relationship and is currently on bad terms with both Cresare and Mustobe.
• Roland – Heir to the Canaria throne and Queen Cecile’s younger brother, this dwarf serves as a ship captain. They possess clean, golden-blonde hair identical to the Queen’s, alongside an innocent, beautiful face easily mistaken for a girl, yet they dress in a boy’s formal wear.
• Thiele – The nine-year-old Queen of the restored Kingdom of Larland and genuine bloodline of the former dynasty, she is the eighth princess and granddaughter of Rolandas von Yoghess. A crucial political asset whose build is mimicked by a body double, she acts as a figurehead promoted by Thomas. She resides in Cain, pressured by her grandfather to wed the protagonist and secure her coveted lineage.
• Yoghes – An aged figure who acts as a martyr by taking a fatal blow intended for the protagonist.
• von – The noble particle ‘von’ indicates high social standing and ancestral roots connected to territorial estates within the Sabaski lineage. It marks the noble bloodline and full names of Annerose von Bülow, Walter von Riedel, and Marc von Harritz, establishing their shared aristocratic identity and familial relationship within the Kingdom.
• Thomas – Thomas Bauer is a hulking, middle-aged former General of the Fee Grand Principality with a wrestler build, red face, and scalp burns. A pragmatic, blunt leader with tactical aggression and a stubborn nature, he orchestrated the revival of the Larland Kingdom as the Queen’s Commander and was a reliable, impulsive confidant to the protagonist, Fee, and Earnest. Now performing administrative desk work in Twanste, he shows signs of fatigue. He is married to Maria, daughter of a former Bishop, and displays emotional vulnerability and attachment to her despite recently engaging in a deadly encounter with her father. With Maria now taken into custody by the Magic Armored Division, he seeks advice regarding future duties and military administration while remaining a contact of the protagonist, currently located at the hospital.
• Larry – A dark-haired, 16-year-old Grand Duke, Mage, and field agent, he secretly rules the Fee Grand Principality and leads a golem party. Pragmatic yet confused, he is entangled in regional geopolitical, military, and religious conflicts. Despite craving a simple life, he navigates political and sexual affairs, balancing power struggles, military reform, and the demands of his four wives and children.
• Fourth Sage – A wise, enigmatic, and manipulative elderly figure from Schweilitz known as the Fourth Sage. Serving as a highly perceptive political and magical advisor, they orchestrate the protagonist’s life and residential arrangements. They actively seek advice from Larry while simultaneously insisting on Larry’s crucial participation in the upcoming New Continent mission.
• Helbert – Lt. Col. Helbert Ougen-Sigmund is a short, stout, middle-aged Chief of Staff and Royal Army Intelligence official. Often with the Major, he advises the protagonist and orchestrates military strategy alongside Marshal Yan. A pragmatic Schweilitz strategist and jovial tribunal moderator, he manipulates Larland’s politics for stability, acts as Robert’s stern father, and protects the protagonist.
• Fourth – An enigmatic and cunning figure also known as the Fourth Sage. This mysterious entity actively seeks advice from Larry while simultaneously insisting on Larry’s crucial participation in the upcoming New Continent mission.
• Sanna – The youngest daughter of the late Lord of Cain and an associate of Thiele von Yoghess, she inherited her father’s estate and receives gifts from the King. Though she maintains a composed, cheerful facade at diplomatic functions, she holds authority over Katri—whose expedition she denied—and is betrothed to the protagonist as his future wife.
• Sage – An elderly instructor and mentor who acts as a schemer behind the scenes. He is responsible for recommending Larry for various academic and safety-related positions.
• Cain – A remote town serves as the home base for a Grand Duke—the protagonist concerned for his son and world politics—and his loyal Minister of State, a revered former town guard commander. Once a stronghold for Marque’s supporters, this settlement is now centered around the Duke’s estate, acting as a crucial hub for the enemy, geopolitical mapping operations, and intense political negotiations.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply