Volume 5 Chapter 4 Your Highness
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After finishing training, I made my way to the castle.
As I was putting on the white gakuran that had become my formal attire for audiences, Milly brought in information regarding the purpose of the Black Dragon clan’s visit, which she had gathered from Nikka and Sebastian.
”Kent… it seems the Black Dragon clan’s visit is as the vanguard of the second southern region monster extermination expedition army, ordered by the Demon Lord, with Gwain designating Estfort as the base. Just now, a swift messenger from the capital arrived with news for my father.”
”Second southern region monster extermination expedition army? What’s that?”
I asked Milly back, having never heard of such a military name before.
”You could say it’s the secondary expedition army that Karvai fabricated in the southern garrison… They seem to be gathering an army of 50 thousand and conducting comprehensive drills to prepare for the expedition. They might be trying to divert dissatisfaction with their economic policies by focusing on monster extermination.”
According to Milly’s report, Gwain seems intent on sending a massive army of 50 thousand to the south.
With the total population of the south being only about 70 thousand, sending such a large force there would clearly require transporting supplies and food from the capital, leading to enormous military expenses.
”There’s no way they actually plan to send 50 thousand troops, right?”
”Hehe, as expected of you, Kent. It seems the comprehensive drills with the 50 thousand troops are for a different purpose.”
”Different purpose?”
”According to the information Nikka and the others gathered from the Gwain faction’s executives in the capital, it seems there’s a movement to either take over the Black Dragon Dukedom or annex it to the True Demon Kingdom. The troops from the capital might be for the occupation of the Black Dragon Dukedom.”
Annex the Black Dragon Dukedom?
Has Gwain lost his mind?
The Black Dragon Dukedom is an autonomous nation boasting tremendous military strength within the True Demon Kingdom, and although few in number, the Dragonewt race is said to be able to fight a hundred soldiers on their own.
Furthermore, it is rumored that if a Dragonia, who possesses an even more robust body than the Dragonewt, transforms, they could battle a thousand men alone.
”Annex the Black Dragon Dukedom? In that case, wouldn’t 50 thousand be way too few? We’d barely manage if we mobilized the entire kingdom’s army, right?”
”That’s true. If the Black Dragons unite under Fabulanova, they’ll handle it easily. However, it seems the Dukedom is split right down the middle.”
”Split? I’ve heard that Princess Fabulanova has had quite a long reign, though?”
The Black Dragon Dukedom has been ruled by Fabulanova for a long time, and I heard from Nannie’s educational lecture that there hadn’t been any political turmoil until now.
”Ugno, Fabulanova’s real brother, has gained supporters from half of the Dukedom by advocating for the elevation of the Black Dragon race’s status within the True Demon Kingdom.”
”Is Ugno trying to shift the Black Dragon Dukedom’s stance from neutral to pro-kingdom? I’ve heard that the nation thrives on mineral resources extracted from the Roshitan Mountains found in its territory.”
The Black Dragon Dukedom is ruled by the Black Dragons, but even including the Dragonewts, they number only around 2 thousand, while a diverse collection of races amounts to several hundred thousand residents living within the nation.
The main industries prospering here are the mining of mineral resources and the export of metal goods.
”Until now, yes. But recently, it seems like the mineral resources have started to dwindle. It’s been noted that they’ve even begun to import raw materials for goods that can no longer be mined. This crisis seems to be behind the rapid increase of Ugno’s faction.”
”It sounds like Fabulanova is unable to take effective measures in this situation.”
”Yeah, it seems that there’s a concern that they can’t just kill a rare royal heir just because they oppose their policies. After all, there are only about 50 of the Dragonia species in the Black Dragon clan. Ugno seems to be angry about being treated as a purebred stallion.”
I had heard that the long-lived Black Dragon clan is indifferent to reproduction, but it seems they’re taking steps to avoid extinction as a species.
Still, looking at Dee, she doesn’t seem like a reluctant member of a race when it comes to making babies.
Rather, it feels like they’re a bit too eager…
”A stallion, huh… so envious… cough, cough.”
”Come on, Kent, isn’t that enough?”
Milly peeked at my face for a moment.
”That’s not what I mean… I got the general situation of the Black Dragon Dukedom, but did the Ugno faction come to see me?”
”No, this time, the expedition was likely a move by Fabulanova to create achievements and gain an upper hand, intervening to shift half the troops to the royal faction to keep Ugno’s faction in check.”
”Two factions, huh…”
It seems that Clayd didn’t leave Dee at their family home in the Black Dragon Dukedom, considering the potential for internal strife.
Ugno likely wasn’t informed that his sister Fabulanova had given birth to a daughter either.
Here.
Publicizing Dee’s existence could drag her into this internal conflict, so it seems wise to keep it a secret.
”For now, it looks like we’re meeting the Ugno faction’s daughter, Ludmila, and the royal faction’s aide, Rosvita. Both sides have some big players coming.”
”Going by their names, are they both women?”
”Yes, both are beauties who match Kent’s tastes. I’ve heard that since the Black Dragon clan is long-lived and immortal, their appearances don’t change much. By the way, Ludmila is 152 years old, and Rosvita is 829.”
Super mature ladies, here we go──!
But will they look like they’re in their twenties or thirties?
Milly’s aesthetic sense understands my taste well, and she has never been wrong.
When Milly says someone is my type, it’s been proven to be a perfect match.
”Oh? You look like Dee isn’t enough for you? You’re making a face like Ludmila and Rosvita are mine!”
Milly gave a small, mischievous smile.
My legitimate wife is more eager to expand her harem than I am as her husband.
Milly has been adding loyal harem members who won’t betray me as the danger to my life increases.
”…I’m not making that face…”
”Oh really? Well, if you ever want to claim them, just let me know. I’ll make the arrangements.”
”Ah, uh, yeah…”
”Well then, it looks like we’re ready. Shall we meet with them?”
”Yeah. Let’s do that.”
I tidied myself up and started walking towards the meeting room.
* * *
Arriving in the meeting chamber, I saw Ludmila and Rosvita’s figures through the Magic Mirror.
Ludmila had a tanned complexion like Dee, with black eyes and hair styled in golden curls, or rather, golden drills, which led me to imagine a haughty princess laughing.
In reality, Ludmila holds the rank of the second in line for the Dukedom, thus carrying the title of a princess.
Meanwhile, Rosvita had white skin with silver eyes, her hair almost a pure silver tied up, and wore a monocle over her left eye, presenting an intellectual image with a curvaceous form.
Both were beautiful women that fit my tastes, as Milly mentioned, but I didn’t want to get tangled in the annoying infighting of the Dukedom that would arise from getting involved with them, so I adjusted my Illusion Glasses and prepared to meet them.
”I am Kent Blackdagger, the Lord of this land. I have been tasked by the kingdom to host the visiting Black Dragon Dukedom expedition forces, so please do not hesitate to let me know if you encounter any difficulties.”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply