Chapter 164 The Scheming Woman
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Princess Viorga. The Heroes have successfully captured Egrest¹.”
”Oh… that was much swifter than I anticipated. As expected of the Great Heroes, desu ne.”
Once it became clear that the chances of the First Queen’s faction holding Liliarette² were slim, I moved forward with my long-standing plan to eliminate Egrest and his conspirators.
I had ensured all preparations were finalized so we could strike at a moment’s notice. I even meticulously manipulated the flow of information to ensure the Heroes held a poor opinion of the First Queen’s faction. Consequently, the moment I provided them with a righteous cause, they took action immediately.
Truly, the Heroes are so effortless to manage. They simply haven’t a clue how to doubt anyone. No doubt they were raised in a sheltered environment, much like a curated garden.
”With this, we can finally focus our full attention on the Empire, naa,” Gaitzio remarked, a look of relief washing over him.
Both Gaitzio and Mond wore smiles as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted from their shoulders. I can certainly sympathize with that sentiment, though the nobles belonging to the First Queen’s faction count many feudal lords among their number.
Dealing with the administration of the now-vacant territories means Gaitzio won’t have a moment’s rest for quite some time. His unsightly, protruding belly will likely swell even further due to his lack of self-care.
He seemed to realize this himself, as he made a hasty exit the moment his report was concluded. Watching him leave, Mond turned his gaze toward me.
”Well then… Princess. While the Kingdom is effectively yours now…”
”The head of state remains Her Majesty to the very end, you know.”
”Haha, my apologies. So… how far do you intend to push against the Empire?”
As the Commander of the First Knight Order, I suppose he would be naturally curious.
I have already coordinated these details with Gaitzio, but Mond has spent most of his time lately looking after the Heroes.
”I intend to reclaim every inch of the territories that remain stolen. Once the restoration of our national borders is complete, I plan to march directly into the heart of the Empire.”
”Ho… you intend to launch a full-scale invasion of the Empire itself? That would be a monumental feat that no nation has achieved in history, desu na.”
Mond was careful with his phrasing, but his tone carried a distinct nuance of, “Are you actually serious?”
I cannot fault him for the skepticism. After all, the disparity in national power between the Kingdom and the Empire—in terms of both population and military might—is staggering.
In a conventional head-on collision, they are not an opponent we could ever hope to defeat. Reclaiming the stolen fortresses alone is a task no other nation has managed. The ‘wise’ path would be to seek a ceasefire agreement at this stage.
However, doing so would only marginally delay the inevitable day the Kingdom is occupied. The ultimate conclusion would remain unchanged.
Furthermore, I have already set several stratagems in motion against the Empire. The Heroes’ achievement in annihilating the continent’s strongest Beastman Knight Order has proven immensely useful.
Thanks to that victory, those who were previously content to sit on the fence have begun to lean in our direction.
One of them acted foolishly and moved too early, resulting in their immediate destruction—but it is for the best to be rid of incompetent allies.
I haven’t disclosed this to Mond yet, however. It isn’t a topic I can easily broach until the proper time arrives.
(If I could only secure military support from the Republic or the Holy City, matters would progress much faster…)
They surely understand that if the Kingdom falls, the Empire’s fangs will target them next. Even so, they refrain from any open declaration of hostility.
The Republic is leveraging its vast financial power as a weapon, strengthening economic ties with the Empire. Meanwhile, the Empire seeks to maintain friendly relations with the Holy City to ensure a steady trade for healing sorcery and the Secret Treasure Orb³.
Neither nation has a compelling reason to aid the Kingdom at the cost of severing ties with the Empire. Setting the Holy City aside, I doubt the Republic truly believes the Empire won’t eventually turn its blade toward them… or so one would hope.
Regardless, a unified front against the Empire between the Kingdom, Republic, and Holy City remains impossible.
It feels as though we are being forced to pay for the Kingdom’s past failures in politics and diplomacy. Truly… Her Majesty is utterly useless.
Perhaps noticing my silence, Mond shifted the conversation to a new topic.
”By the way, Princess. Was it truly wise to send the White Lily Knight order away?”
”…Has something occurred to trouble you?” Viorga asked.
”No, it’s just… I heard you dispatched them to the furthest reaches of the Demon Forest. And with Guru Esrein and four high-ranking sorcerers in tow, no less. I simply didn’t think they would be able to make it back alive.”
I did indeed send them toward the heart of the Demon Forest. There were certain matters I felt the need to verify.
”I have no intention of treating them as disposable assets. Alvia is quite clever in her own way. Once she judges that reaching the King of the Magic Labyrinth is an impossible task, she will likely lead a retreat.”
”So the primary objective is to forge a path into the interior?” Mond inquired.
”Precisely. The Guru is there merely as insurance.”
Since the Heroes’ arrival, relations have been somewhat strained, so I have removed them from the capital for the time being. However, I do not at all disparage their capabilities.
They won’t reach the King of the Magic Labyrinth in a single expedition, but that serves my purposes perfectly.
The longer the mission takes, the longer I can keep them away from the capital, all while the route to the interior is established bit by bit.
Ideally, it would be faster to have Barnail fly there directly… but he reported being intercepted by someone who appeared to be a subordinate of the King of the Magic Labyrinth.
There are very few individuals who could make Barnail feel threatened while he is mid-flight. That fact alone indicates an opponent we must approach with extreme caution.
On the other hand, the existence of the so-called ‘King of the Magic Labyrinth’ has been confirmed. According to Barnail’s observations, a vast area resembling a large plantation was sighted.
(The possibility that the depths of the Demon Forest consist of fertile, arable land is certainly high…)
It is a land untrodden by man, completely untouched. The idea that the King of the Magic Labyrinth is cultivating rare crops there is hardly a far-fetched fantasy.
However, the Empire must have caught wind of this information as well. And the Empire never ignores a source of fertile land; they will plot every possible way to seize it.
That nation is driven by an archaic philosophy where the strong simply take everything from the weak. Though, in truth, that is the way of the world.
(I am curious to see how the Empire intends to approach the King of the Magic Labyrinth…)
The Republic’s Council Member Lambdaine, who was first to successfully establish contact with the King, is now reaping massive profits. He is currently exerting a profound influence on our very food culture.
The Kingdom cannot afford to ignore the King of the Magic Labyrinth, and the same is true for the Empire—though unlike us, their first instinct will be to plunder.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom maintains the official stance that ‘Liliarette was kidnapped’ by the King of the Magic Labyrinth.
Seeking her return is a natural duty for the Kingdom, providing us with a perfectly valid justification to attempt contact.
(First, we will take our time to firmly establish a route to the depths of the Demon Forest. Then, once contact is feasible, we shall use Barnail as our primary envoy for negotiations. If possible, the Kingdom will then annex the territory. That would be the ideal outcome.)
My main concern is that the Empire might act first. It is entirely possible they could snatch the depths of the forest from the King of the Magic Labyrinth before the Kingdom can even make contact.
Should that happen, Lambdaine will find himself in a difficult position as well. He has been selling goods to the Empire at a premium under the guise of them being ‘Demon Forest products,’ only for the Empire to potentially seize the production site itself.
(At any rate, regarding the King of the Magic Labyrinth, the situation remains unpredictable… Honestly, a most troublesome variable has appeared.)
Depending on how things develop, a major conflict involving all three nations could emerge around the King. I also wonder if the Holy City will choose to intervene.
While my top priority remains the Empire, now that the First Queen’s faction has been neutralized, I suppose I could elevate the Demon Forest to my second priority.
* * *
Just as I was mulling over these thoughts, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
”Pardon the intrusion! It is Barnail! An urgent report has arrived from the north!”
”You may enter,” Viorga replied.
I had dispatched Barnail today to the northern fortress we recently reclaimed from the Empire. He was meant to meet a spy embedded within the Empire and bring their report directly to me.
He bursts into the room with a look of pure panic. Ah… this will not be a pleasant report, will it?
Barnail flicked a glance toward Mond, but I gestured for him to proceed with his report regardless of the audience.
”T-then… A new Beastman Knight Order has departed from the Imperial Capital. Their destination is the Emmeld Kingdom.”
”……!”
”Ho…” Mond let out a low, grim whistle.
The Beastman Knight Orders are renowned as the most formidable on the continent, but they are not a single entity; several such orders exist. The one defeated by Mond’s First Knight Order and the Heroes was merely one of many.
I assumed the Empire would take a defensive stance for a while… but to think they would deploy a fresh Beastman Knight Order at this exact moment…
If not for Barnail, this report would have taken several more days to reach the capital. As it stands, we have more than enough time to prepare our interception.
”Mond. Summon the Heroes and every Knight Order Commander immediately.”
”A war council, then.”
”Yes. The First Knight Order performed brilliantly last time. If the other Commanders hear that the Heroes will be taking the field again, they will be falling over themselves to prove their own worth.”
If we can repel the Beastmen not once, but twice, my grand design will finally move toward absolute certainty.
—
Summary:
Viorga utilizes the Heroes to dismantle the First Queen’s domestic opposition and consolidate her influence over the Kingdom. She reveals her long-term ambition to invade the Empire, while also keeping a wary eye on the economic and territorial potential of the Demon Forest. The conversation is interrupted by Barnail, who reports that a new Imperial Beastman Knight Order is marching on the Kingdom. Viorga immediately shifts into war footing, planning to use the Heroes once more to cement her political power through a second military victory.
—
Character Insight:
Viorga’s cold, calculating nature is on full display as she dismisses both the King and the Heroes as mere tools for her grander design. She demonstrates a deep understanding of international relations, acknowledging the precarious balance between the Kingdom, the Republic, and the Holy City. Her shift in priorities toward the ‘King of the Magic Labyrinth’ shows she is a proactive strategist who recognizes new power centers before they fully emerge.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter sets the stage for a massive escalation in the conflict, moving from internal political maneuvering to a direct military confrontation with the Empire’s elite forces.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Gaitzio – The Prime Minister who runs the country alongside Viorga. He is aware of the political complexity of Viorga’s schemes. Despite his genuine concerns about the aristocracy’s reaction (specifically Egrest’s), he remains Viorga’s trusted—if slightly surprised—advisor. Obese, always rubbing it, and smiling broadly.
• Mond – The grizzled, mature Commander of the First Knight Order. He has a thick, streaked beard and a powerful, armored build. He is utterly loyal to the Emmeld royal family, specifically the Princess Viorga, and handles the practical military matters of the court. Looks like Doranbolt from certain series.
• Alvia – A Captain in the White Lily Knights, a private military force loyal only to Princess Viorga. White haired, long hair. She is deeply devoted to Viorga and views all others, especially the exiled Cleonora and the incompetent Heroes, with disdain and suspicion. She is on a mission to verify Cleonora’s safety and the progress of the exile camp.The protagonist’s classmate and long-time crush since middle school. She is charismatic, a bit strong-willed, and has strong leadership qualities.
• Barnail – The only man in the kingdom capable of riding the Skygoon magical bird. He is a crucial asset for fast information delivery between the capital and the frontiers.
• Lambdaine – A powerful Councilor of the Shital Republic and a successful merchant who built his fortune from nothing. He is the grandfather of Iris and Aris.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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