Volume 7 Chapter 6 The Strongest Vs The Fiercest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Guided by the cheering crowd, we arrived at the acquired Noble mansion, with Porcha tagging along.
Once we were the only 3 left in the reception room, Porcha turned to me and began to speak.
”Did it go well? Alonsa Dory… or should I say, the Killing Strategist?”
”Yes, I didn’t expect you to be the leader of the anti-Gertroud resistance. From my subordinates’ reports, I had heard the leader was a man. But your speech earlier really struck a chord.”
Porcha, with her gentle smile, was the one who had reined in the myriad resistance groups that had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain under Gertroud’s rule.
That speech was also believed to be an intention to break away from Gertroud’s dominance.
”My, you’re quite the impressive figure for someone so young.”
”Leading the resistance is just a side gig. My real job, as I mentioned before, is carriage trading. Gertroud’s fools have ruined our sales network in the east.”
Porcha pretended to be nothing more than a carriage trader, but it seemed like even that was just a disguise.
A mysterious figure with an unseen depth, but for now, she was cooperative with us, and there was no need to force an enemy out of her.
”With this, Sir Nokin’s selection as the next Garuda clan leader is certain. Once we have Lady Elkisa’s approval, it will be a seamless transition.”
”However, I hear Lady Elkisa has fled to the South District, and I have no connections there.”
As Nokin said, the only connections to the South District were through the anti-Gertroud organizations that had evacuated there; there were no proper channels to be had.
”…The Lord family of Fenrir territory, who were the lifeline of Lady Elkisa’s clan, have already been killed.”
Porcha spoke of the extinction of Lady Elkisa’s clan with a completely unapologetic expression.
”I’ve heard that story. Fenrir territory has been thoroughly destroyed as well…”
”That means we’ve lost our card to urge the return of Lady Elkisa.”
After reclaiming the eastern territories, I had intended to use the return of the Fenrir lands as leverage to gain acceptance for Nokin’s appointment as chief.
However, the Fenrir territory, now in a state of ruin with my kin slain and the land utterly devastated, was not a viable negotiating card.
”It seems Sir Nokin is in a bit of a predicament. Shall I utilize my connections in the South District to obtain the chief’s approval from High Priestess Elkisa?”
Porcha whispered, a sly smile playing on her lips.
”What connections does Lady Porcha have?”
”One of my trader allies is running an extensive operation in the South District, and he is quite familiar with me. This person also serves as an economic bureaucrat for Lord Blackdagger. I plan to have him reach out to High Priestess Elkisa. After all, I hear that High Priestess Elkisa has received generous donations from Lord Blackdagger.”
Porcha’s mention of connections revealed that she had ties to a powerful associate of Lord Blackdagger, who had rapidly risen to influence in the South District over the past year.
It was clear that Porcha was no ordinary individual.
”So, what kind of compensation do you expect from us?”
”The restoration of peace and order. The east is plagued by the armies of the Demon God Emperor and remnants of the defeated Lord armies, leading to rampant banditry. Traders are struggling to conduct safe commerce. I need Sir Nokin to address this immediately. Additionally, I require defense against Gertroud. These are the two conditions I seek as compensation.”
Porcha’s plea was a reasonable proposal.
The security situation in the east had deteriorated more than ever, with many territories ravaged by Gertroud.
The very forces meant to protect the region──the Demon God Emperor’s army──were instead leading the way in the looting.
Amid this chaos, the remnants of the Lord army and the displaced had emerged as bandits, attacking nearby villages and towns, further displaying the lawlessness of the land.
Porcha had played her hand to Nokin, wanting him to improve the lawlessness in this land by offering to take on the position of chief elder and act as a liaison with the South District.
”Peace and order, huh? I plan to restore it at once. I won’t allow the Demon God Emperor’s army or bandits to run rampant any longer. Once we take the inner castle of Vildestia, we will swiftly begin to assert control in the surrounding areas. For now, I’ve already cleaned up most of the East Town Street.”
Porcha seemed confident she had extracted a promise from Nokin, and a sly smile crept across her lips once more.
”Sir Nokin, the inner castle of Vildestia has already fallen. The organization’s men should be opening the castle gates by now.”
Knock, knock.
Clatter.
A subordinate officer burst into the room, flinging the knocked door open with a violent swing.
”Sir Nokin, Lady Alonsa. I report to you! Just now, the gates of the inner castle were opened and the enemy forces have surrendered! How shall we handle them?”
Nokin looked at me in surprise, as if to seek confirmation.
Just as Porcha claimed, the inner castle had indeed fallen.
”…It would be best to capture them as prisoners. Those who have kept their heads down should be spared and judged by the citizens.”
I gave Nokin the instructions on how to proceed.
”Very well. Follow Alonsa’s instructions!”
”Understood! We will detain them!”
The officer who had come to report dashed out of the room.
”Sir Nokin is decisive in his judgments. No, you trust Lady Alonsa’s wisdom, don’t you? With Lady Alonsa’s deep insight and Sir Nokin’s valor, conquering the eastern region won’t be a difficult task.”
Porcha throws words at me that sound like flattery.
”However, I may not be able to defeat you. I’ll save making you an enemy for the very last. For now, I’d appreciate it if you could work towards the reconstruction of the Eastern region.”
”As a trader, I’ll ally with you if there’s profit to be made, and become your enemy if there’s a loss. I hope to maintain a good relationship with both of you.”
”It seems I’ll need to rely on Lady Porcha for a while. As long as it’s beneficial, you’re declared yourself our ally, so we should create a good nation to keep her with us as long as possible.”
Nokin appeared quite taken with Porcha.
However, even I couldn’t gauge her abilities well enough to involve her in the heart of Nokin’s kingdom, so it seemed wise to keep a bit of distance for now.
”Then I’ll take action once Sir Nokin moves in to subdue the surrounding regions.”
After saying that, Porcha slowly exited the reception room.
* * *
A week later, fueled by the momentum from conquering Vildestia, I led 2 thousand soldiers, one by one liberating the territories of the Demon God Emperor.
It was then that I received a letter from Porcha, who had been dispatched to the South District.
The content of the letter detailed the approval of Nokin’s appointment as Garuda’s Clan Leader by High Priestess Elkisa, along with a proposal for a non-aggression pact with the South District.
Porcha… Does she have the connections to even secure a non-aggression pact…?
”That girl is impressive. She got me appointed as Clan Leader and even pulled a non-aggression pact from the South District.”
I felt a twinge of jealousy creeping in as Nokin praised Porcha.
”Of course, we must pay a suitable price for that. She’s got to earn her keep.”
”True enough. We need to establish a nation amidst this chaos. Should we go after the bandits next? Or should we liberate the territories bordering the South District?”
Nokin consulted me about strategy.
I had resolved to manage Nokin’s burgeoning kingdom as a strategist, so I decided to use Porcha as a valuable diplomatic channel.
Hence, to uphold the non-aggression pact she had arranged, I decided to attack the Demon God Emperor territories near the South District and deal with any bandits in the area.
”To ensure Porcha’s efforts are not wasted, I’ll clear out the area close to the South District. I’ll also conquer the territory where Gertroud has been gathering women. Only by liberating that area can we truly become the liberators of the East.”
”Understood. We’ll push along the South District, with our final destination being the Occlair Territory. Leave the fighting to me.”
Nokin readjusted the massive greatsword he carried and began to urge his horse onward.
No one will stand in the way of our nation’s birth.
~New Magic~
- Supernova
Incantation: *”Gathered magic element, hear my call! Shatter the stars and bring forth the curtain of life──’Supernova’!”*
Attribute: Light
Target: Single to Multiple
Range: At the point of impact, unleash a concentrated orb of light with a 500-meter radius, obliterating everything within a 1-kilometer diameter with an explosive surge of superheated energy.
This magic was first developed by Orphée Bleu based on Divine Magic during the age of the Demon Lord.
- Megid Explosion
Incantation: *”Gathered magic element, hear my call! Become the flames that consume all and erase my enemies──’Megid Explosion’!!”*
Attribute: Fire
Target: Single to Multiple
Range: Launch a concentrated orb of light with a 50-meter radius from the point of impact, incinerating all enemies within a 100-meter diameter with intense flames.
- Air Block
Incantation: *”Gathered magic element, hear my call! Become the invisible fist that pierces my foes──’Air Blow’!!”*
Attribute: Wind
Target: Single
Range: Attack from 20 meters away, condensing air into a hardened orb to strike enemies.
Since it blends into the scenery, sight-enhancing skills are required for detection. Without sight-enhancing skills, it will guarantee a hit.
- Palas’s Rod
Incantation: *”Gathered magic element, hear my call! Become the radiant rod of the warrior deity and pierce through my enemies──’Palas Rod’!”*
Attribute: Light
Target: All enemies in a straight line
Range: 50 meters from the caster.
This magic was developed by Demon Lord Orphée Bleu by downscaling Divine Magic.
A laser-like beam of light is released toward the target.
The power depends on the caster’s magic potency.
—
~New Skill~
- Magic Order
A skill that allows the wielder to rewrite the activation rights of magic. The success rate of this takeover varies according to the opponent’s magical resistance.
Requires 30 skill points. Rare Skill Combat Skills.
—
~New Character
Porcha
Garuda Clan, Wolf Species, Age 22
Height: 161 cm, Weight: 49 kg, B: 86, W: 60, H: 86, D Cup
Hair Color: Bronze Red
Ears: Bronze Red
Body Hair: Bronze Red
Self-Dubbed: “Me,” Address: “My Lord Viscount.”
~Description
Porcha is the leader of the traders’ cooperative but keeps her identity hidden. Born into a middle-class trading family in the eastern region, she learned the basics of commerce from her traveling parents as a child. Upon reaching adulthood, she ventured out on her own, following in her parents’ footsteps. However, the costs of goods, travel, and security became a heavy burden, leading to high prices for her wares.
To solve this, Porcha simplified her methods and goals. She teamed up with like-minded individuals to exchange information, identify goods in short supply, and prioritize purchasing them from multiple sources. By organizing joint transportation, hiring guards together, and even acquiring combat skills herself, she was able to reduce costs significantly. She also hired adventurers for security and avoided extra fees like guild charges.
She formed a network with individual shops across various regions, making it easier for traders to find buyers. Traders shared their cargo, creating a relay system with designated areas for delivery. They even found strategies to bypass city gate taxes through transactions at the gates. Their informational network, built on trust and credibility, became highly effective, and the group flourished. This success helped her gather more supporters, allowing her to avoid excess inventory and minimize the time spent looking for negotiation partners.
For traders, the ability to liquidate cash quickly allowed them to transition from sales to purchases and even transportation within the same day. Porcha, influenced by her Gift Skill, understood the importance of information and used her connections and resources to forge card information while operating undercover as just another trader.
When the eastern headquarters of the traders’ mutual aid association was attacked by Gertroud, it left gaps in their information network. Despite this, Porcha helped organize evacuations, provide supplies, and maintain communication with Alonsa, eventually uniting the anti-Gertroud resistance. She began preparations for the Nokin rebellion.
## Traders’ Mutual Aid Association
The officially recognized leader of the Traders’ Mutual Aid Association is Porcha’s paternal grandfather’s elder brother, due to his commanding presence in the family. The association is not a guild but a network of individuals. Each local merchant and traders’ guild has members registered by their names or store names, and transactions often cross guild boundaries.
Currently, about 20,000 individuals participate in the association, primarily from the east, capital city, and central regions. The breakdown is roughly 8,000 traders who are also combatants, 5,000 traders who are also spies, 5,000 traders, 1,000 combatants, and 1,000 spies. Including those who engage with the traders from the association, the total number rises to around 50,000 people, all contributing to an extensive network of transportation, sales, and information.
This network operates based on trust and credibility, with strict punishments for acts that betray that trust. While personal vendettas don’t affect the entire association, if a threat arises that jeopardizes its survival, members will act to defend or cleanse it.
The association doesn’t just remove or eliminate threats; if an opponent is an individual, the mutual aid society will cease to sell to them, buy from them, or teach them. They use their network to spread rumors and make sure the opponent can’t function as a trader—though their life may not end, their business will.
If the opponent is a Lord or Noble, the association employs tactics such as flooding them with both true and false information to confuse them, disrupt their networks, and manipulate the market to cause shortages or oversupplies. They try to keep the involvement of the general populace minimal.
## Classification of Traders by the Mutual Aid Society
- Carriage Traders: They purchase goods, hire guards, and transport them. Sometimes, traders on the same route will form caravans.
- Horseback Traders: These traders carry lightweight items and make short trips. They’re sometimes referred to as Travel Traders.
- Wholesale Traders: They buy goods from traders and sell them to other traders or large clients. They often maintain a warehouse for their goods.
- Retail Traders: They own shops where citizens can purchase goods.
—
Fortesia
The first clan leader of the True Demon Clan, Fortesia was once engaged to Orphée Bleu, but after her fall from grace, she lost her place as his wife to Virsina. Despite this, she remained second only to Orphée Bleu in strength and served as his chief vassal, using the magic he developed in many fierce battles.
Though she was his concubine, Orphée Bleu regarded her as a serious, no-nonsense woman with no sense of humor. Fortesia was skilled in fire magic, earning great distinction in monster and Beast Monster hunts, as well as the battle against the Garuda Clan. Her strength and prowess led to her being awarded the title of True Demon Marquis and the ownership of a northern territory. She was also named the first Duchess of the True Demon Dukedom.
Fortesia bore Orphée Bleu a son and a daughter, though she was rarely called to his bed. With her black hair, black eyes, and pale skin, there were whispers that Orphée Bleu found her unappealing, further adding to the tension between them. Despite her personal struggles, Fortesia remained a formidable figure in the Demon Realm, her loyalty and strength undeniable.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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