Chapter 223 - Worry About Yourself

Ferda answered his question.

"You have a keen eye. Yes, that is Sir Alberto."

"I can recognize him even without that lumpy armor. What did he do with it?"

"It was melted down to make a weapon."

"A weapon?"

What sort of weapon? The only new addition to his attire was that gleaming golden object. His distinctive, boulder-like armor was gone, but the shield and club he carried still gave him the imposing presence of a fortress.

"How did you coax a wandering knight who would serve no one into joining you?"

"We had a common objective—the Demons. That made the discussion simple."

"I see. The Demons..."

Did he think Ureas had never considered that? Even when he had offered Alberto his full support in killing Demons, the man had given no answer.

Envy kept spilling from Ureas's lips. His own knights were beginning to look like shoddy third-raters. As he gazed at Alberto like a child in the toy section, Olivia stepped forward to greet Ferda.

"You must be tired after such a long journey. Make yourself comfortable and rest, then stop by the command post so we can exchange information."

"Of course, Princess Olivia. But..."

Ferda looked down at her.

"Could we speak privately for a moment?"

"With me?"

"Yes. I have a proposal concerning command of the tactical infantry."

Olivia looked taken aback. Even Ferda, who knew they had already settled everything, was briefly fooled.

"Well, if you insist. If you'll excuse us for a—"

"Wait."

Just as Olivia was about to move, Ureas stepped into her path.

"Whatever you have to discuss, why not do it here? You'll only set tongues wagging again."

"About what, exactly?"

"Wasn't there that scandal? My sister suffered greatly over it."

Olivia answered him.

"Suffered? Such things happen to me so often that I paid it no mind. The Regent was far more concerned."

That was true. Ferda tried to reassure Ureas, who still barred their way.

"She is to become the Saintess of the Arken Empire. How could I possibly make advances toward her?"

"Then surely you can at least tell her brother what you intend to discuss?"

He simply would not let go. Ferda had no choice but to answer.

"Princess Olivia demonstrated excellent command of the tactical infantry during the demonic creature subjugation campaign. I came to ask whether she would be willing to command our force this time as well."

"Why should my sister command your army?"

"Sir William is currently in overall command of the tactical infantry. He once served as Princess Olivia's adjutant. He holds his former comrade's abilities in high regard and hoped to discuss strategy with her again."

Ureas folded his arms and spoke menacingly.

"May I behead this William fellow?"

Ferda frowned.

"Why would you do that?"

"It's an obvious bloody ploy to get his hands on my sister. How could I let that pass?"

Was this bastard serious? Judging by the veins bulging in Ureas's face, he genuinely seemed to believe it. Plenty of men did flirt with her, but William was not that sort of man.

Olivia lightly touched Ureas's arm to get his attention.

"Brother. I think I understand your concerns. Why don't I speak with him first and then tell you—"

"Be quiet, Olivia. Your brother is speaking."

"..."

"Olivia came here as head of the Order of Altes's relief corps to provide support in the rear. My sister knows nothing of the battlefield. Making her a commander because she happened to win one great victory is no different from sending her to her death."

Ferda was beginning to understand how Ureas treated Olivia.

"You sound as though you don't believe the accounts of that campaign."

"I dearly cherish my sister, but war is no game. Use your common sense. How could she possibly have earned such merit? That duke's son admitted he gave her the position to win her favor. In any case, don't use this as an excuse to make advances—"

"Ureas."

Ureas fell silent. The voice was far quieter than his, yet clearer than ever. Gone was its usual cheerful, smiling lilt. It was as cold and chilling as a blade honed for decades. Though it was Olivia's voice, he first wondered whether it could really be her.

Ureas looked down at her. He knew that look well: the hatred and contempt she had only ever shown the First Prince, Alexander.

She said,

"Worry about yourself."

With those words, Olivia walked over to Ferda.

* * *

Before the far eastern alliance had even established its base of operations, Olivia entered Ferda's tent. Some muttered about the impropriety of a man and woman being alone, but one look at the maid Luri's face was enough to stop anyone from daring to barge inside.

And so, all was peaceful within the tent. Even Olivia's icy expression thawed in the warmth of the black tea.

"Ureas has started getting foolish ideas," she said.

After the strange scene Ferda had just witnessed, he wasn't quite sure what she meant.

"What sort of ideas?"

"You know that the king of Heinkel is using his subjects' lives to wield dark magic, don't you?"

So that was what she meant.

"Yes."

"The kings are after that magic."

The utterly feeble king of Heinkel had become a Great Mage. After digging into the state of his kingdom and every possible explanation, they would have deduced that his magic was called Legion. They would also have learned that Legion was a paradise even a Great Demon had failed to achieve, and realized that it had now been brought into being in this world.

That was why they were doing everything they could to seize it. As people in power who had faced countless threats, they craved a path to paradise more than anyone.

"And he's trying to become one of those idiots."

"He won't listen at all?"

"I haven't confronted him directly, but I told him that anything connected to dark magic must never be taken, and that a devil would find some way to draw him into an alliance. Each time, he loudly declared that someone born with Arken blood could never do such a thing."

"And yet..."

"His plans haven't changed. He's after that magic."

Her expression radiated loathing for humanity.

"This is why even obedient dogs irritate me."

No, she apparently didn't see Ureas as human at all.

"No matter how well you train them to obey, dogs are still dogs. They can't suppress their instincts. They just trot after a bigger bone."

"I see."

"There I go, complaining again. I don't know why being with you makes me so vulnerable, Regent."

She cast him a faintly reproachful glance.

Was that his fault?

Olivia idly stirred her tea with a teaspoon.

"I'm only asking just in case, but..."

"I haven't the slightest interest in that magic."

"Oh my. I haven't even asked yet."

"I've already been interrogated about it once. Saying any more would be a waste of breath."

"All right."

Olivia did not press him further.

One scene still replayed vividly in Ferda's mind: Ureas watching Olivia walk away from the base. He had looked as though his world were collapsing.

"Will your relationship with your brother be all right?"

"Taking an interest in someone else's family affairs? That's unlike you, Regent."

"These are political affairs."

"Hehe. So they are."

Olivia smiled in amusement, but her tone quickly soured. Leisurely sipping her tea, she said,

"He won't be able to beat me. He's just a little boy who desperately misses his mommy."

"His... mother?"

"Why do you think that bastard dotes on me so much?"

"Because you're his beautiful sister?"

"That's not enough of an answer. Ureas sees our mother in me. He says I'm coming to resemble the face he remembers from childhood, and obsesses over me."

"..."

"No matter how viciously I hurt him with my words, Ureas won't be able to abandon me. The mommy who's already gone far away isn't coming back."

"I see."

Mommy wasn't coming back. It was terribly cruel, and terribly like Olivia. Plausible as it sounded, part of him wondered whether she was right. But he soon put the thought aside. Olivia had always been perfectly capable of looking after herself.

Yet, just as Ferda feared, Olivia wasn't certain either. This time, she had acted on impulse. Normally, she would certainly have let Ureas's comments slide. Or she might simply have reasoned with him. But things had erupted before she could even consider either option.

Because he had done it in front of Ferda, of all people. He had let Ferda see him clinging to her like a favorite doll.

'My heart belongs to that man.' She could not tolerate Ureas's insolence in declaring her his possession right in front of Ferda. Just thinking about it again made anger boil in her chest.

"I should make Ureas suffer a little longer. May I have another cup?"

"By all means."

And while she was at it, she could enjoy that face a little longer. Olivia smiled.

* * *

Once they had settled in, the far eastern troops were superstars within the imperial forward base. They had brought a host of innovations never before seen in the Empire, and everyone flocked over to spy on them.

"I heard those mana-powered cars got them here from the far east in just a week."

"They rode in those cars, right? And here some bastards throw a fucking fit if you so much as rest a hand on their carriage, saying you're making it heavier."

"I asked, and they said it's easy on the legs but turns your stomach. Worse than a carriage, apparently."

"Like hell walking's any better. I'd rather have an upset stomach than rub salve on blistered feet any day!"

Riding in vehicles was a privilege reserved for nobles. They could scarcely believe that fellow infantrymen had enjoyed it. They seemed far more envious of that than of the magical engineering rifles.

Meanwhile, the knights were also discussing the far eastern equipment as they looked it over.

"The infantry have all sorts of new things, but the knights don't seem any different."

"Not quite. The knights are carrying things too. Something like a short, thick staff, and something that looks like fruit."

"What are they?"

"I asked. They called them shotguns and mana grenades. Said they can use magic too."

"How could cheap tricks performed with such things surpass a mage?"

"Even their infantry are already doing the work of a mage each. Isn't it possible?"

"Hmm..."

Hard to believe, but not entirely unfounded. Not when the far east was involved.

"Still, I suspect these shotguns are all bluster."

"Why?"

"You know the moving fortress?"

"You mean Sir Alberto."

"Yes. His shotgun is a little shorter, and golden."

"A weapon made of gold? Only ceremonial weapons are made that way."

"If Sir Alberto carries a golden version of that weapon, wouldn't that mean it's something he has no use for?"

"Well, it's hardly surprising that country bumpkins would boast."

The knights muttered among themselves and were about to move on. But one knight who knew a little more wasn't ready to let the matter drop.

"Wait. Did you say a golden weapon?"

"Yes."

"A golden weapon... I doubt it's made of gold."

"Then what is it?"

"I heard Phrontesis visited the Grand Duchy of Valdrova."

Every knight started at the name.

"Phrontesis! The Bronze Dragon they call the God of Smiths?"

"Why did he come to the far east?"

"They say he raged about someone mistreating his creation, then left. If something that looks like gold appeared afterward, what would that mean?"

"Don't tell me it's Phrontenium?!"

A unique ore that even the imperial workshops, which supposedly could make anything, could never work. It was a mark of the finest craftsmanship on the continent, making even the title of the Empire's best look paltry.

"It can't be..."

"Even my grandfather only rambled about seeing the stuff when he was going senile..."

But if it really was Phrontenium, they couldn't help wanting a better look. An object made from that ore was here, before their very eyes. Eager to take in as much of it as possible, they kept sneaking glances at Alberto while pretending to walk past.

* * *

Zed, the knight who had been watching it all, nudged the man beside him.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

The man sitting beside him was Arwen.

"What did I tell you back at the Grand Council?"

"I don't remember."

"Sure you don't. You remember well enough to have a fit every time I call you a bumpkin."

"Ah, damn it. Why are you picking a fight?"

"I'm not. I wanted to show you something funny."

Arwen glared at him. Chuckling, Zed jerked his chin toward the imperial knights.

"See their faces?"

Arwen looked over. One far eastern knight was talking with three imperial knights. With a provincial knight and knights from the capital together, he wondered if trouble was brewing, but it wasn't. They were examining a magical engineering shotgun in fascination.

"I see them."

"That's exactly how you looked back then."

Arwen's expression hardened as he studied the imperial knights' eyes.

"... Don't be ridiculous."

"Accept it."

"There's no way I ever looked that pathetic."

"That's reality, bumpkin."

"Oh, for fuck's sake! Stop talking crap, will you! I ought to cut you down!"

"Bwahahaha!"

With Arwen shouting in an uncharacteristic outburst, Zed had achieved his goal and vanished into the distance.

Arwen tried to dismiss it as nonsense and forget it. But the words had already become a curse, circling in his head, and he kept seeing those pathetic expressions superimposed on his own face. In the end, unable to bear the shame, he took it out on the innocent ground with his fist.

* * *

The next morning, Ureas came to see Ferda.

"I was too emotional yesterday. I apologize."

It was a decidedly unfamiliar sight. The great Ureas, apologizing to someone. His little sister really must frighten him.

"Not at all. Given the importance you place on your sister's chastity, I can understand your reaction."

"Thank you for saying so. I went too far, considering you're already betrothed. Let's leave this uncomfortable subject behind us."

Ureas got to the point.

"Now, I intend to speak with the coalition, prepared to give up about half our territorial ambitions. There will be six of us at the table: three of my men, Count Ruster, you, and myself. What do you say?"

"Thank you for the invitation. I will attend."

He had been curious anyway. What did these so-called kings discuss when they all harbored the same sordid ambitions? This was an excellent opportunity to find out.