Chapter 561 Turmoil on the Southern Continent ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Governor had passed away. The news spread through the Aurumcame Governor State and its neighboring countries like a wildfire. The messenger behind the announcement was none other than the Governor’s eldest son, Bal-Sid, who made no secret of his claim as the sole successor.
He demanded the submission of his siblings, who governed various territories, while simultaneously informing the surrounding nations that he was to be treated as the new Governor of Aurumcame from this day forward.
To his siblings, this behavior felt surprisingly restrained. Knowing Bal-Sid—a man who had never hesitated to use any means necessary to secure the governorship—it seemed like an uncharacteristically gentle approach. Some had even expected him to launch surprise attacks before the news of their father’s death had even finished circulating.
’Even my dear brother has been forced to adopt a certain level of decorum when faced with the venerable seat of the Munsabak Empire’s Governor,’ they might have thought.
For an ordinary citizen, such a perspective would be reasonable. But, unfortunately, anyone who thought that way had already perished in the succession struggles leading up to this moment. That left only one possibility.
’He likely had a reason he was forced to act this way.’
That was the conclusion reached by the surviving brothers and sisters. They had begun preparing long before the official news arrived and were already in motion. Some submitted to Bal-Sid, while others reserved their judgment. Some went into hiding, and others declared themselves the true heir.
Yet, all of them stopped in their tracks upon receiving Bal-Sid’s notice. Was it truly wise to proceed as planned? What was the reason that forced Bal-Sid to settle for such a soft hand?
Meryamisha, who managed a harbor town in the northern reaches of Aurumcame, found herself wrestling with the same questions. Serving as her advisor during these sleepless nights was her confidante, Nada-Rume, who had recently returned safely from her travels.
”…I’m grateful he held on longer than expected, but what do you think this means?” Meryamisha asked, her tone lingering with a sharp, standard-neutral clarity.
Meryamisha toyed with the edge of the letter sent by her brother, letting it dangle loosely. Her lack of respect for her father or her brother would have shocked an outsider, but to those in the know, it was nothing new.
”If you ask me, my lady… haven’t you already discussed this matter with the captains?” Nada-Rume replied, her voice dipped in the extreme, practiced deference of a Victorian servant.1
Nada-Rume also appeared unbothered, though she replied with a troubled expression. She was troubled by the question itself. She was happy to be relied upon, but she knew better than anyone that she was ill-suited to be the advisor for a crisis of this magnitude.
Meryamisha’s subordinates included a defense captain for military matters and an assistant for political affairs. While their titles were remnants of the late Munsabak Empire’s low-ranking officials, their current roles were closer to those of generals or Prime Ministers of a small nation.
Though she had been well-educated thanks to Meryamisha, Nada-Rume was a commoner from the streets; she felt it wasn’t her place to offer opinions on matters of state. She was meant to be her mistress’s hands and feet. That was how she viewed her role.
”We talked, but I feel like I’m missing something… I wonder if it’s really okay to just sit and wait…” Meryamisha murmured, the neutral American cadence of her speech softening with genuine worry.
”Lady Mery…” Nada-Rume whispered, her voice an echo of quiet, deferential concern.
Seeing Meryamisha’s anxiety, even Nada-Rume found herself at a loss. This was an expression she only revealed to Nada-Rume, never in front of her other subordinates.
Perhaps it was that “intuition” of hers at work. Meryamisha had survived this long precisely because of that instinct. It wasn’t just about seeing through her siblings’ schemes; her decision to send Nada-Rume to the Northern Continent on a whim had been driven by this same “hunch.”
”…Shall we look over the information one more time?” Nada-Rume suggested with a slight, formal nod.
”…Yes!” Meryamisha agreed, her voice sharpening with renewed resolve.
”First, we must not lose sight of our objective. Needless to say, the priority is your survival, Lady Mery. It would be ideal if you could maintain your current position, but if the worst comes to pass, we intend to ensure you escape to another country and live on,” Nada-Rume stated, her demeanor rigid and procedural.
”That goes for you too, Nada-Rume. Not just you. I have a duty to protect everyone living in this town,” Meryamisha insisted, her tone firm and standard.
”…Yes, I am aware,” Nada-Rume conceded, her tone maintaining its ritualized respect.
On this point, Nada-Rume did not argue. She knew her master’s nature well, just as Meryamisha understood her subordinate.
If the worst-case scenario occurred, Nada-Rume would sacrifice her life to protect Meryamisha, and Meryamisha would never allow it.
But that was fine. They both believed that if that was how their story ended, so be it. Of course, they were racking their brains now specifically to ensure that didn’t happen.
”If that is the case, there are three possible policies. First, to cooperate with the next Governor and secure our current status. This would require us to achieve some notable merit—a feat that the new Governor cannot ignore,” Nada-Rume explained with precise, administrative care.
”…It’s difficult, but the potential rewards are high. We could maintain our current position, and they would be wary of making a move against us for a while,” Meryamisha countered neutrally.
”Indeed. If we choose this path, ‘watching and waiting’ is the best current move. If there is some issue within Bal-Sid’s camp, sticking our necks out carries immense risk. …If we could solve that problem, the merit would be significant, but it could also be a sinking ship. Besides, the assumption that there is even a problem at all is merely speculation,” Nada-Rume added, her voice maintaining its measured, polite cadence.
”It would be betting on a double or triple layer of uncertainty. I don’t want to do that,” Meryamisha said, her voice steady.
This was the first option dismissed during the meeting with the defense captains. Meryamisha didn’t want glory; she only wanted to protect her harbor town.
”The second policy is… let’s call it the ‘look-the-other-way’ approach. It sounds harsh, but in a sense, it is realistic. We endure the turmoil and wait for someone to firmly establish themselves as the Governor,” Nada-Rume suggested.
”To put it more elegantly, ‘exclusive defense.’ Just ensure this town doesn’t fall. Keep our heads down and wait for the storm to pass…” Meryamisha mused, her tone analytical.
”Precisely. Needless to say, for this policy as well, the best move for now is to sit and watch. Getting involved in other factions would bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit. We need only focus on strengthening our defenses,” Nada-Rume replied.
”…Well, I understand why they want to do that,” Meryamisha sighed, the rhythm of her speech remaining standard.
This policy had the overwhelming support of her officials. They argued that it was unthinkable to put Meryamisha at risk by making a move.
However, the risk with this approach was that once the turmoil settled, she might be purged. Even if she possessed the power and the reputation for having survived the chaos, it was unclear if she could truly stand up against a Governor who ruled all of Aurumcame.
”The final policy is our own. In practice, it is a compromise. We focus on ‘exclusive defense’ as our foundation, but we move whenever we see an opening. …To put it bluntly, it’s about aiming to ride the winning horse,” Nada-Rume noted.
”…It’s the smartest path, I suppose. I don’t have to take a gamble like in the first option, and I won’t be underestimated like in the second,” Meryamisha observed.
”Regardless, it remains a difficult path. We must time our moves perfectly, and there is a danger of ending up with nothing. …Lady Mery, do you believe now is the time to act?” Nada-Rume asked, her voice maintaining its deferential precision.
”I don’t know. But, perhaps…” Meryamisha trailed off, her voice soft and uncertain.
To Nada-Rume’s probing, Meryamisha gave an indecisive response. She couldn’t be certain. Yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Wasn’t now the time to act?
But how? And was she truly ready? This was the core of Meryamisha’s distress. At that very moment, Nada-Rume had returned with good news. Shouldn’t she just focus on building strength through trade with the Northern Continent and wait for time to pass? Even as she thought that, the unease in her heart wouldn’t subside.
Nada-Rume knew exactly what to say to her. It was a servant’s duty to clear the master’s worries. To be her hands and feet—that was Nada-Rume’s way of life.
For just a fleeting moment, the face of a man far away in the Canaria Kingdom crossed her mind, but she banished it immediately. Her place was here, and she had left those feelings behind.
”In that case, I will go,” Nada-Rume declared with a bow.
”…N-No, you can’t!” Meryamisha exclaimed, her neutral composure cracking into genuine alarm.
”It will be fine. I am only going to get a glimpse of the capital’s situation. I will notify you if there are any signs of abnormality in the town. I will not stick my neck into dangerous matters,” Nada-Rume replied, her voice calm and dutiful.
”B-but, you only just returned…” Meryamisha protested.
”There is no problem. However, please ensure someone is assigned to take over the trade with the Northern Continent. The ‘concept’ we discussed will surely be of use to you… and I don’t want to be ungrateful to the people there who treated us so well,” Nada-Rume stated respectfully.
”Nada-Rume…” Meryamisha whispered.
Having said her piece, Nada-Rume stood up. If they were to act, sooner was better. She left no more words behind. She didn’t say the things she truly wanted to say, such as:
’If I don’t return, please write a single letter. A letter of gratitude, an apology, and a confession of my feelings.’
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Summary:
The death of the Governor triggers a tense power struggle among his heirs, led by the eldest son, Bal-Sid. Meryamisha and her confidante Nada-Rume analyze their precarious position, weighing risky political maneuvers against defensive survival. Ultimately, Nada-Rume decides to infiltrate the capital to gather intelligence, leaving Meryamisha in a state of unresolved anxiety.
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Trivia:
The succession struggle is so brutal that most who underestimated Bal-Sid’s restraint are already dead.
Meryamisha’s administrative titles are remnants of the Munsabak Empire but hold real-world power equivalent to small-nation rulers.
Nada-Rume was raised from the streets by Meryamisha and views herself strictly as an instrument of her mistress’s will.
Nada-Rume harbors secret, lingering feelings for a man currently in the Canaria Kingdom.
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Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Bal-Sid – The eldest son of the deceased Governor. He is an ambitious and ruthless political strategist who demands submission from his siblings to secure his claim to the governorship.
• Meryamisha – A beautiful, white-haired, dark-skinned young woman, she is the master of Nada and local administrator managing a harbor town in northern Aurumcame. Perceptive and cautious, “That Person” is a key figure in the state’s succession struggle. While navigating intense political power plays to fiercely guard her position, she deeply cares for her people and secretly acts as a compassionate protector for orphans.
• Nada-Rume – A dark-skinned beauty from the Southern Continent with healthy, rounded breasts and athletic thighs. A commoner who rose through the ranks to become Meryamisha’s fiercely loyal, self-effacing confidante and advisor, she acts as the practical hands and feet for her mistress while also serving as a test subject for the shop’s adult goods.
• Nada – A tall, slender Southern Continent merchant and envoy with dark skin, sharp almond eyes, and vulgar slang, this graceful woman is Meryamisha’s right-hand infiltrating the Canaria Kingdom. Embroiled in a succession dispute, she holds a mysterious identity and acts as a key figure in regional trade. She has business with the protagonist’s shop and is in an intimate relationship with Kento.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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