Volume 8 Chapter 1 Interlude： Chancellor Lila’s Struggle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He’s going to try to resell the stuff she bought later for a higher price, I bet.
Noble has a knack for finding rare things, so I bet some of them will end up buying back what they sold… The Blackdagger family should probably buy up a few of the Capital City’s buyback shops.
These dirty tricks are probably coming from around Aldo.
”You have 2 weeks to turn your assets to cash. After that, no assets will be allowed out. Those who leave should prepare accordingly.”
Some of the Nobles who had pledged allegiance to the Black Dragon Dukedom left the round table as soon as they heard Shifa’s words.
More than half of the Nobles who had been attending the meeting had already disappeared from the round table.
”Your Majesty Shifa, it seems our demands won’t be met. I’ll return to my homeland now.”
Nord realized that further negotiations were futile and got up to leave the round table.
The remaining Nobles were the powerful Lords who owned land around Capital City, the sensible faction led by Velis, and some smaller Nobles who sided with Aldo.
”By the way, have you heard that Nokin, who became the ruler of the east, was recognized as the Garuda Clan Leader by the high priestess of the Garuda Clan, who is being protected by Lord Blackdagger? Is that true?”
Shifa, unconcerned by the departed Nobles, asked me about Nokin’s activities in the east, where he was expanding his influence.
”Yes, Elkisa, the high priestess of the Garuda Clan, has recognized Nokin as the Garuda Clan Leader. They have also signed a non-aggression pact with our South District.”
”Do you think Nokin wants more land?”
”In my opinion, he wants to rebuild the exhausted east, rather than rule a Garuda Clan nation. Of course, he has many advisors with different views…”
”Do you think it’s possible for the current Kingdom to rebuild the east?”
”It might be more reckless than impossible. I can’t believe funds can be allocated for the eastern reconstruction when even the Capital City is stretched thin.”
It seems Shifa is planning to rebuild the devastated eastern region due to Gertroud’s rebellion, but with the current power of the Kingdom, it appears unattainable.
”Your Majesty, I have a proposal for you.”
Aldo, who was standing next to Shifa, wore a sly smile.
I had received reports that the man had a good relationship with Mr. Kent, but he had a look that suggested he might impose some daunting task if I let my guard down.
”Aldo, if you have a good idea, then speak up.”
”Ha, how about having Nokin develop the eastern land as an officially appointed deputy of the Kingdom through the mediation of the Blackdagger family?”
”Is Nokin really going to take on the role of deputy for the Kingdom?”
”Currently, I believe he would do it if we grant him the territory we’ve seized and grant him autonomous rights.”
The remaining Nobles murmured in surprise at Aldo’s words.
”Nokin is a bandit lord! How can we make a man who rebelled against the Kingdom a deputy of the Kingdom?”
Velis glared at Aldo, his veins bulging.
”So, Lord Velis, will you be the one to conquer the remnants of the Demon God Emperor’s forces rampaging in the east and lead the reconstruction?”
Velis was taken aback, unable to respond to Aldo’s counter-argument.
Alongside the decline of the Gwain faction, a new political strife had begun between the conservative Nobles led by Velis and the reformist smaller Nobles centered around Aldo.
Although Mr. Kent seems to belong to Aldo’s faction, I heard from the 3 bureaucrat daughters residing in the Capital City that he also has an interest in Letticia and Lawrence, who are known as the hidden knives of the Velis faction.
When I see this status, being overly attached to the Kingdom feels a bit risky.
I want to take a different path in the South District, but… if Mr. Kent asks for help, he probably won’t be able to resist lending a hand…
”Lord Aldo, Lord Velis. We are not in a time for bickering. If we don’t respond to the east swiftly, not only will recovery be delayed, but Nokin might end up owing allegiance to the True Demon Dukedom.”
”But! Lady Lila, he rebelled against Youe Majesty! To support a man who has rebelled is to cause chaos!”
”Lord Velis, the Kingdom’s current state is a result of ignoring Gertroud’s rampage. I don’t think it is fair to blame only Nokin.”
My words make both Velis and Shifa look grim and lower their heads.
Even though politics were monopolized by Gwain, as a Demon Lord, Shifa cannot escape responsibility for ignoring Gertroud’s actions.
”As Lila says, I was afraid of Gwain and accepted her opinion. I bear some responsibility. I want to give Nokin the land of Vildestia as a territory and the position of Eastern Regional Governor, and I want them to oversee the reconstruction of the east.”
”Your Majesty!”
”Velis, as Foreign Minister, I will have you negotiate with Nokin. Lila will arrange the messenger, I presume?”
Shifa seems to have grown as a king by personally participating in the recent war and leaving the royal court.
He is aware that his position has weakened compared to the continental ruler, and he senses that a diplomatic blunder could cost him his life.
”If it is Your Majesty’s command, I will prepare a meeting place with Nokin within a few days.”
”Ugh… There’s no other choice…”
Velis, realizing the Kingdom’s current power, is someone who can see the true situation.
Though he feels opposition emotionally, he seems to have made a difficult decision out of necessity.
* * *
Thus, using the organization of Porcha and Milly, who act as Nokin’s liaison, we arrived in Vildestia a few days later as promised and inspected the land alongside Velis.
”I am Nokin.”
Nokin was occupying the estate of a Noble in Vildestia.
The town seemed run-down, yet the soldiers from the former Demon God Emperor’s nation, seemingly well-trained, did not engage in any acts of violence against the residents, following Nokin’s instructions.
Upon asking Milly to investigate, it turned out that traders’ mutual aid association was backing Nokin, apparently providing significant financial support.
It’s rare for the traders’ mutual aid association to take action… Something must have happened for them to step in…
”I have come as a representative of His Majesty. My name is Belt Velis.”
”I am Lila, accompanying as the representative of the South District Margrave. I hope you will remember me.”
Though it was a simple exchange in a modest reception room, an undeniable aura of power emanated from the wolf-man sitting on the sofa before me.
According to Milly’s information, this man named Nokin was engaged in monster hunting as a bodyguard until recently, and no details had been uncovered about how he became a general in the Demon God Emperor’s nation.
Once he became a general, he swiftly rose to prominence after gaining a woman named Alonsa Dory, a relative of Talia, and has now reached his current status.
This man is the complete opposite of Mr. Kent.
He expands the nation by leveraging his own strength…
I assessed the man named Nokin before me in this way.
”So, Lady Lila and Lord Velis… Is your visit from the Kingdom meant to recruit me?”
Nokin had already seen through our intentions for visiting.
I hadn’t intended to leak our purpose to Porcha, but given the timing, it was only natural for him to guess our reason for coming.
Knock, knock.
”Alonsa? You can come in.”
The door at the back opened, revealing a woman of the fox tribe with cold, intelligent eyes behind glasses.
”Nice to meet you, I am Alonsa Dory, serving as Sir Nokin’s advisor.”
”So you are the renowned Killing Strategist, Lady Alonsa?”
Velis looked at Alonsa, his expression unchanged, scanning her from head to toe.
Reports had surfaced that her schemes were behind the rapid expansion of the Demon God Emperor’s realm, but in person, despite her cold demeanor, she didn’t seem the type to plot and scheme.
Appearances can be deceiving, huh?
”Alonsa is my advisor. I’ve entrusted her with this matter. If you agree to the terms she sets, I’m willing to join the Kingdom. Negotiations aren’t my strong suit.”
”I am aware of Sir Nokin’s intentions, and I look forward to a fruitful negotiation.”
Alonsa bowed to Velis, the Kingdom’s envoy.
”So Lady Alonsa is the point of contact for negotiations… understood. I will now convey the proposal from His Majesty Shifa. Firstly, the Kingdom will not question Lord Nokin’s actions during the Gertroud Rebellion. Secondly, Vildestia will be granted to Lord Nokin as a direct fief, with the title of Kingdom Viscount. Thirdly, he will be appointed as the Special Commissioner for Eastern Reconstruction, with discretionary powers for territorial recovery and restoration. This is the proposal from His Majesty Shifa.”
This proposal was crafted despite strong opposition from Aldo, Shifa, and especially Velis himself, but ultimately, it was realized due to the decision of His Majesty.
Aldo had argued for complete autonomy, but respecting Velis’s desire to keep Nokin in check, only the necessary powers for combat and restoration were delegated for territorial recovery.
Alonsa seemed to be pondering the proposal, falling into a deep silence.
”Hmph, the Kingdom is tight-fisted… Gwain offered complete autonomy. But with the condition of aiding in the suppression of the Demon God Emperor’s remnants in the northeast…”
Nokin murmured softly upon hearing this.
Wait, she’s already building a connection with Gwain!
I was astonished to hear Nokin’s murmur.
Gwain had already set his sights on swaying the eastern Nokin.
After the Gwain faction’s uprising in the Capital City failed due to Aldo faction’s resistance, they shifted their focus to acquiring the unstable northeastern territories now devoid of a Lord.
”Sir Nokin, spilling secrets is a bad habit, you know.”
Alonsa was scolding Nokin while wearing a smile.
Perhaps she was intentionally letting Nokin disclose information about Gwain to elevate their conditions.
”Lord Nokin… is it true… that Gwain…”
Velis felt a surge of anxiety upon hearing Gwain’s name.
It was a reaction expected from someone well aware of Gwain’s cunning in political strife.
”Yes, that earlier talk was true. I just met with the envoy from Gwain. Alonsa says to align with the highest bidder, but I can’t fully trust Gwain. At the same time, I don’t want to be bound to the Kingdom’s collar… and I’m also the Great Chief of the Garuda Clan…”
Nokin was also formally recognized as a Great Chief by the Elkisa High Priestess.
Upsetting him could lead to unrest in the populous Garuda Clan, second only to the Majin Clan, so I must proceed cautiously to avoid repercussions on the South District.
”Sir Nokin desires autonomy as the sovereign of the eastern region and the right to appoint Lords. In exchange for the revival of the east and tribute to the Kingdom, could we include the authority to appoint Lords in the previous conditions?”
Alonsa leaned forward as if to voice Nokin’s demands herself.
The envoy, Velis, wore a troubled expression.
The authority to appoint Lords is strictly the prerogative of the Demon Lord.
Yet, discussing this with the Capital City at this moment might drive Nokin to the Gwain side, and the situation was critical with no time to spare.
”Lord Velis, I believe it’s a must-swallow condition. If they get absorbed into the True Demon Dukedom led by Gwain, even maintaining the Kingdom becomes dubious.”
I desperately wanted to incorporate the eastern region into the Kingdom’s side without dragging Mr. Kent and the South District into the war with Gwain.
”Grr… Now, if Lord Nokin runs to Gwain’s side, we’re in trouble… As the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister, I have no choice but to accept the previous conditions and the appointment rights of the Lord as additional terms. I will report this to His Majesty. Is this acceptable, Lord Nokin?”
Velis, fearing Gwain’s shadow, conceded to Nokin.
But, I would have given the same response if I were in his shoes.
The Kingdom’s foundation is that shaky.
Under Gwain’s rule, hearts are chaotic, and the land is ravaged by Gertroud’s rebellion.
To overcome this status, Velis must realize that sticking to old ways won’t cut it.
Hearing Velis’s response, Nokin stood up straight and reached out for a handshake.
”Well then, I’ll live under the Kingdom’s rule. Tell His Majesty Shifa that I, Nokin, would like to share a drink with him next time I visit the Capital City.”
”I will convey that to His Majesty. I will also inform Lord Nokin of the schedule for the investiture and the deputy appointment ceremony in the Capital City.”
Velis shook Nokin’s hand in return.
Now, the eastern region seems to stay with the Kingdom.
But, we need to stay vigilant.
If Alonsa changes her mind, Nokin is likely to follow.
We need to keep an eye on Alonsa’s movements, Milly.
I thought the key figure in the east was Alonsa, not Nokin.
If we can bring her over to our side, it seems unlikely the Kingdom will fall apart.
Thus, the negotiations with Nokin came to a close, and Nokin was appointed to the rank of Kingdom Viscount, renaming his house the Wolffang.
He then took office as the great chieftain of the ‘Eastern Garuda Chiefdom,’ a special autonomous region of the Kingdom, publicly assuming the role of Special Commissioner for Eastern Revival.
Here we have depicted the activities of Ms. Lila.
This is what happened in the world below while Kent was chatting with Sazukrain in the heavens.
It is believed that it was Lila’s will that created the South District Margrave state in Kent’s stead.
If Kent himself had done it, he would have probably just taken the money and called it a hassle.
As depicted in this story, the post-war settlement meeting led to the official dissolution of the Kingdom, with the Black Dragon Dukedom and True Demon Dukedom becoming fully independent nations.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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