Chapter 256 - Chapter 23 King Seldic
By the time winter came and the year was turning, the villages were fully prepared for wintering, and the excitement of defeating the Demon Lord was fading.
The content of the songs of the wandering bards playing lutes in the taverns had also changed from heroic tales to romance, and to the sea battles fought in the waters near the continent.
In the royal palace of Engrio, a discord was being played between the King and mainly the local nobles of the west. A knight order is not something that can be built overnight. The nobles who had lost many of their personal knights claimed that they had no leeway to send troops to other countries, and that at this rate, they would not even be able to defend themselves if another country attacked.
Their true intention was likely the refusal of military service, but it could not be ignored.
The King, concerned about such a situation, reached a compromise by proposing that they be exempted from military service by paying a certain amount of money. Maintaining a knight order costs a large amount of money on a daily basis, but the amount proposed by the King was far cheaper than that.
No country would attack the great nation of Engrio. The western nobles, who thought so, began to put more effort into the management of their territories than into training knight orders. The King turned a blind eye.
As a result, King Seldic of Engrio, who had been seen as an extremely bellicose king, was rumored among the nobles in the royal palace, not only in the west but also elsewhere, to have had a possession leave him once the Demon Lord was defeated.
On the other hand, the direct army continued training every day, and although they did not speak of it, they were clearly conscious of the start of war in the spring.
In such a situation, Servetus was summoned to the watchtower by King Seldic for the first time in about ten months.
He knows he has been kept at a distance. However, he must not have been abandoned. Servetus thought so.
If such a thing were to happen, the fulfillment of his—no, their—long-cherished wish, the destruction of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church... the former Great Northern Church, and the official revival of their doctrine on this island, would not be expected for a long time. Even for one who lives for an eternity, it is unknown when the strongest king of this island will produce a masterpiece like Seldic.
Having arrived at the watchtower where no one was before the King, he felt relieved by that fact and waited for the King's arrival.
"Servetus. Do you know how I am being spoken of in the royal palace recently?"
Even from the watchtower, only a vast snowy plain stretches out, and it is impossible to even observe the neighboring countries.
Even so, King Seldic often looks toward the north when he is before Servetus. Servetus had predicted that he was conscious of Roberts, the younger brother of the King of Sertoria and renowned as the strongest on the island, but it was not something he could ask aloud.
"That your character has become gentle."
Servetus replied with a slight bow.
"Apparently, a possession has left me."
The King laughed, "Hehehe."
"A clever cat hides its claws. All the more so before it aims for its prey."
"Well said. In that case, your preparations must also be progressing. I hear that Sertoria is forming stronger ties than ever with Medioland and Regnentes."
"It is as you say. However, we too intend to do our humble best to advance Your Majesty's hegemony."
Servetus intended to use the word 'hegemony' here and offer his cooperation in the King's unification of the island. If told to lend his strength, he was prepared to prostrate himself and give his consent at any time.
However, even upon hearing those words, the King did not give him a single glance and continued to stare toward the north.
"Servetus. There are several things I wish to ask you. Speak your thoughts."
"Hah. Anything you wish."
The King's questions were based on information brought by Engrio's scouts. First, that Finis had begun trading with the countries of the west coast; that the scouts sent to the highway rumored to be cursed by the Demon Lord had not yet returned; and the state of preparation of the monster army that Servetus had promised before.
"The work of your subordinates in the Demon Lord subjugation force was magnificent. In five countries, especially in the four countries of Gram, Northern Gram, Medioland, and Septanaquila, they succeeded in assassinating at least one super-high-rank mage. Ah, the main targets in Gram and Northern Gram were confronted by the Demon Race. But it is fine. It is the same thing. I shall praise you. However, the problem is what comes after this."
"I am honored by your praise. Then, I shall state my humble thoughts."
It is a habit of royalty to praise first and disparage later. Servetus was somewhat tense.
"First, regarding Finis. Would the trade that Finis is actively conducting be only with the three countries of the west coast?"
"No. The volume of trade with the east coast countries, including our own, has also increased."
To be precise, the number of items had increased, and the volume of transactions had increased accordingly. Alcohol and dried fish, which had not been seen much before, began to be traded. Alcohol, in particular, is not something that can be made in six months or a year. It takes several years or more. In other words, it could only be thought that they were diverting the portion they used to send to the continent to the various countries on the island, and were systematically increasing production. Originally, due to the cold terrain, it was not suitable for growing wheat, and there was a lot of production of barley and rye, which are also raw materials for alcohol. As a result of recently importing grains from the west coast countries, it could also be interpreted that they were diverting them for brewing. This is because it is hard to believe that food production suddenly became abundant.
"It must be so. The only ones being excluded are Septanaquila, which is constantly exchanging fire, and Primordia, which is the most distant country. And the wife of the current Crown Prince of Finis was the princess of Northern Gram, was she not?"
"In other words, Finis's target remains Septanaquila, is that what you mean?"
"Your insight is correct. And Medioland has an alliance with Septanaquila. Surely they would not do something like breaking it. It remains unchanged that Finis is a shackle for Medioland."
"Hmm," the King turned his gaze toward Servetus.
"Hah," Servetus bowed his head. It was not yet the timing to look directly into the King's eyes.
"Next, regarding that highway, I humbly apologize as we are not in charge of scouting."
"You do not know?"
"Hah. I apologize for being of no use."
"Fine. It is as you say."
"I am grateful for your understanding. And regarding your last question, as for the monsters, I shall say that the land forces are about half of the initial estimate, and the air forces are roughly as estimated. However, please be at ease. Half of the land forces will be more than enough to be of use. As for the Revenants, we have prepared over four thousand soldiers and over five thousand civilians, totaling slightly less than ten thousand. Regarding this, Margrave Mortimer's efforts were great."
"I see. I must thank Mortimer."
Servetus finally raised his face and looked into the King's eyes. As usual, they were eyes that seemed to draw one in, and he had a smile on his lips.
"By the way, Servetus. It seems there is something called Flight Magic in Sertoria."
"Yes. I am aware of it. It is said they use a modified version of the high-rank Wind magic, Wind Barrier."
"I have ordered my magic corps to master it as well. You said that when the war begins, you would serve as the vanguard of my army."
"Indeed, that is so."
"Then, Sertoria's Flight Magic. How will you break it?"
"Presumably, the enemy's tactic will be a surprise attack from the sky. Since it uses magic, it can be canceled with the same magic. There is also Magic Break. Even if they are protected by Magic Reflection, in that case, it would become a battle with bows and arrows. In other words, what decides the victory is numbers. If Your Majesty's forces can gather the numbers, victory should be easy."
"I see," the King said.
"When do you think the war should begin?"
"I would like to say April, when the period of the non-aggression pact ends, but how about May? It would be the time when Finis attacks Septanaquila and Medioland is forced to send reinforcements."
"Hmm, hmm, hmm," the King nodded three times.
"Then, Servetus. I shall convey the details of the operation later."
The King flipped his cloak and left.
Behind him, a single priest in black was left.
The highway with Primordia has not been restored. The vanguard of the march to Sertoria will likely be Margrave Mortimer. Medioland is not worth being wary of. The nobles along the border should strive to restrain Medioland. In that case, the size of the army heading for Regnentes will be about ten thousand, including the direct army and mercenaries. If conscripts are added, it will be fifteen thousand.
Medioland's standing army is sixteen thousand. If the allied forces of Finis and Northern Gram attack Septanaquila, and Medioland deploys troops to the Medioland border, the troops sent from Medioland to Sertoria will be a few thousand at most.
Regnentes has eight thousand direct troops. Since Engrio also has a powerful navy, Regnentes will not leave the Royal Capital empty. That basin, no matter how high the estimate, will be three to five thousand. The rest are just villagers. We will have the monsters attack there. Half of the spiders we had planned died of disease, but with half, it is more than possible to throw the enemy into confusion. Then, we will attack the Sertorian central army's reinforcements and the Royal Capital from the sky, and send Revenants against the Medioland reinforcements. We will break through the Regnentes border and occupy the basin. Without relaxing the vigilance in the basin, if we maintain the momentum and attack all the way to the Royal Capital, Regnentes will fall.
Servetus, after leaving the royal palace and returning to the temple he had established in the Royal Capital, was ruminating in his head the operation plan he had drafted and proposed to the King. He intended to send his own direct subordinates to the Regnentes border. Depending on the situation, he might even take command himself.
Margrave Mortimer will have to work hard again.
Servetus muttered to himself without changing his expression.
When he returned to the temple, one of his subordinates spoke to him.
"Your Eminence. There is something I wish to bring to your ear."
"What is it?"
"The person sent to the mountain in Medioland has not returned. I believe the investigation was supposed to be suspended during the winter."
He had sent the remains of a Vampire to Medioland. It seems they have failed three times. They were full of pride and were of no use except for messaging and scouting. He felt like spitting, but he was before his subordinates. He could not do so.
"You may leave it be. We have received word from the person we have infiltrated into Medioland that the investigation is not progressing and is likely to take until near next autumn. There will be another opportunity."
"Understood," the subordinate said as he stepped back, but Servetus suddenly remembered and called out to him.
"Now that you mention it, there was someone sent to Finis before. What happened to that?"
"That was three or four years ago. They obtained funds as promised when Finis withdrew. The person sent remains in Finis, but those people have been infiltrated for quite some time, aiming for the secret treasure. Naturally, it will take time."
"I see. Then it is fine."
The first place the new heroes visited was Finis. Immediately after that, they announced the start of trade with the various countries of the Finis west coast... No, I am overthinking it. It is impossible for Finis to form a military alliance with Medioland. The Medioland Royal Capital Great Church would not allow such a thing.
Servetus brushed aside the concern that had flashed for a moment as unrealistic.
"Ah, wait."
He stopped the subordinate who was about to leave.
"What is it?"
"Regarding the person sent to Finis, this time there is no need to delay the Finis main army. You understand that, do you not?"
"Please be at ease. That previous time was special. Originally, it is a mission where it is better for the Finis main army to be at the front. There is no need for concern."
"Umu. You may leave."
"Hah."
When sending people to other countries, he does not have them carry teleportation circles for sending letters. This is because if they were caught and it was analyzed, it would leave a trail. Instead, he had been using Vampires with high-speed flight capabilities as messengers, but it seems they have been destroyed. If possible, he wanted to tell those sent to Finis to stop their activities during the battle from spring onward.
"That fool! He is of no use at the crucial moment."
It cannot be helped. For this battle, I have no choice but to communicate with some of my direct subordinates via Teleport.
After confirming that the subordinate was out of sight, Servetus spat on the ground.
Chapter 10: End
Class of 175 Management Scale (Excluding personal assets such as cash and jewels)
・Shops: Main Shop (Nakanohara, Kingdom of Sertoria)
Second Shop (Village near the Sertoria border in eastern Regnentes)
Third Shop (Royal Capital of Sertoria)
・Fields: Four fields (Including buildings with farm functions)
・Livestock: Goats, sheep, pigs, a few
・Contract Animals: Two swarms of honeybees
Chapter 10 has ended.
Thank you very much for reading this far.
That Chapter 10.
Throughout the chapter, there was a climax, or perhaps there wasn't...
It passed in a peaceful state...
Furthermore, I committed a major blunder by missing one episode in Chapter 4.
It seems about thirty people re-downloaded it, and the PV grew abnormally.
I apologize for the great trouble. I sincerely apologize.
As for the content, as I warned in the afterword of the previous chapter, there were almost no stories of monster extermination.
Despite that, I received bookmark registrations and ratings.
Thank you very much.
Not only that, I even received impressions (questions, perhaps?) and reviews.
Thank you truly.
A review! I never thought I would receive one.
Moreover, it was even published in a book review essay of novels posted on 'Shousetsuka ni Narou.'
Persneige-sama (or, Man-nin Doufu-sama), thank you truly.
Thanks to you, the PV grew.
Everyone who is reading this afterword, please take a look. It is an excellent essay that compares novels to bento boxes. Incidentally, this novel is apparently a Nozawana Bento. (T/N: Nozawana is a traditional Japanese pickled vegetable. A Nozawana bento is considered a simple, rustic, and comforting meal.)
I have never eaten one, but I believe it is delicious.
For reference, I'll post the URL.
Not only essays, but they also post interesting novels.
Author: Man-nin Doufu-sama
'Just introducing favorite works by comparing them to "bento"'
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8829gw/
Now, for the future schedule.
On Wednesday, one side story.
On Friday, I will post the first episode of Chapter 11.
This Chapter 11.
I told you there is almost no monster extermination, but more than that, the protagonist hardly even appears...
Is it... unorthodox, I wonder?
Please do not abandon me, and I look forward to your continued support.