Chapter 34
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34
Tristan was left speechless by Lucian’s deduction.
It wasn't a feint; they were actually going to attack Greve City to secure sacrifices? All while keeping the Empire Liberation Front stationed near Bornholm Castle?
“Is such a thing even possible?”
“It is. What do you think the mages’ goal is in the first place? I’m talking about ordinary unauthorized mages, not black mages.”
“To reclaim the ancient glory they enjoyed three hundred years ago, I assume.”
“Yes, usually. That’s why the Empire Liberation Front won’t suspect them. They believe the status the mages desire lies within the new society the Front intends to build.”
If the collaborators were ordinary mages, they would need to elevate the Empire Liberation Front to get what they wanted. If the Empire that ruled the continent wouldn't tolerate them, they would have to establish a new order.
But the story changed if they were black mages who didn't give a damn about status or position. Since they’d be treated the same regardless of who held power, they could just snatch what they wanted and disappear.
“The Empire Liberation Front likely believes wholeheartedly that the mages won’t betray them, and the black mages intend to exploit that perception. Even if the Front realizes they’ve been played later on, it’ll be too late. What could they possibly do then?”
Above all, this incident had been thoroughly covered up in Lucian's past life. To put it another way, the scale of the incident hadn't been large enough to be impossible to hide.
If Bornholm Castle—a strategic stronghold and an iron fortress—had been destroyed, there was no way it could have been kept secret. It was more likely that the event ended as nothing more than a monster raid on Greve City.
“Well, fortunately, it seems we won’t need to request support from the Imperial Family. With a plan of this scale, we can sufficiently respond with our current forces.”
“...That is true.”
Only after hearing that final remark did a faint smile touch Tristan’s lips. He seemed satisfied now that his greatest concern had been resolved.
“Now that the black mages’ objective has been revealed, we must strengthen the guard at Greve City. They might notice if we move openly, so as quietly as possible—”
“No, the troops will not move. Keep this a secret from the others and continue to maintain the watch on the Empire Liberation Front as we have been.”
“...Pardon?”
Lucian asked back before he could help himself.
What on earth was he talking about? Even though the enemy’s objective was known, he intended to maintain the status quo without taking any action?
“Did you actually listen to my explanation just now?”
“Of course I did. Including the fact that those bastards might use magic capable of destroying the walls.”
“Then what does it matter? Their target is Greve anyway, isn't it?”
“If a black mage goes to Greve for sacrifices and finds the defenses are too strong, do you think he will keep targeting that place? I suspect he would instead target Bornholm Castle, which would have fewer troops once the walls are breached.”
A hollow laugh escaped Lucian’s lips. He finally understood what Tristan was saying.
“Are you planning to throw Greve City to them as a sacrifice?”
“Even for black mages, there are only two of them. There is a limit to how many sacrifices they can procure without a proper army. I imagine they will raid with monsters and kidnap a few dozen people in the chaos at most.”
“A ‘mere’ few dozen, you say? If you consider those who will be killed in the process, the number will be much higher.”
“But it is also the method that ensures the least amount of damage overall. Above all, monster raids are not uncommon. Even the Imperial Family won't find it suspicious.”
For Tristan, the worst-case scenario was the Imperial witch hunt sweeping through the area around Bornholm. That in itself would be interference in internal affairs, not to mention it would damage the prestige of House Valdek and cause immense loss of property and life.
In comparison, the black mages’ procurement of sacrifices was within a controllable range. If forced to choose, it was better for Tristan to pick the latter and then cover it up.
“Even if the monsters attack, Greve City won't be annihilated. Of course, it will be a disaster for the commoners, but it will likely end with three or four hundred casualties at most. They can handle it themselves even without support.”
“Are you aware that those three or four hundred are Valdek’s people? You, a man aiming for the position of the next Family Head, are going to hand over your own people as sacrifices?”
“If the existence of mages is revealed to the Imperial Family, those three or four hundred might be burned to death by the Royal Guard. Don't you think it's better to fall to monsters and black mages than to suffer such a fate at the hands of their own monarch?”
The former would be the unjust death of innocents, while the latter would be the honorable death of the unfortunate.
Faced with this appalling logic, Lucian glared at Tristan, gritting his teeth.
“If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll take the mercenaries under my command and stop them myself.”
“You will not.”
“I’m not even asking for the knights. You won't even let me pull a mere group of mercenaries back? Are you that afraid of the Imperial Family?”
“No, I am saying you cannot go. I cannot send you into a dangerous place.”
For a moment, Lucian wondered if he had misheard. Was there actually some kind of brotherly affection between the original Lucian and Tristan?
“You are a Valdek. How can a member of the Grand Ducal bloodline expose his body to danger? Do not forget the blood that flows in your veins, and choose your path forward with caution.”
It didn't take more than a few seconds for that illusion to shatter. Lucian clutched his throbbing head at the absurd response.
This man is an aristocrat to his very marrow.
There were people like this in his past life too. Those who believed that high-born blood should be respected for its own sake, and that even a mortal enemy should be treated accordingly. People who would cut down a commoner just for stepping on their shadow, yet would only sentence a noble to house arrest even if they had laid waste to dozens of territories.
“The weight of the Valdek bloodline is different. Those who rule are always forced to make decisions and must weigh the value of lives on a scale. Do not throw your life away for petty compassion.”
Even though it was advice clearly born of concern, a surge of anger welled up inside him. Tristan was saying that Lucian’s single life was more important than the lives of three or four hundred people.
But that was only the case for the current him. In his past life, Lucian had always been one of those three or four hundred lives being discarded.
Calming his boiling rage, Lucian looked Tristan straight in the eye and spoke.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot follow that advice. I must go.”
“Do you intend to lecture me on the duties of the nobility?”
“No. I couldn't care less about noble duties.”
Taking a breath, Lucian voiced the words he had kept deep in his heart since his reincarnation. A single sentence he had always held from the perspective of a commoner, not a noble.
“If you cannot protect those who have served you in order to be protected, then you have no right to rule anyone in the first place.”
“...!”
Tristan’s face contorted violently. What Lucian had just said was a denial of the very foundation of aristocracy.
Gritting his teeth, Tristan glared at Lucian and shouted, “You’ve clearly read too many hero stories! To think you’ve lost sight of reality, lost in self-indulgence! Do you intend to decide the great affairs of the family based on some pathetic sense of aesthetics?!”
“Yes, that is exactly what I intend to do.”
“What?”
“Brother, you’re being pathetic.”
“...!”
With that single phrase, Tristan’s mind went blank.
There was no legal punishment for this, it wouldn't tarnish the competition for the next Family Head, and there was no practical damage. It was merely a distinction between beauty and ugliness judged by his half-wit younger brother.
It was nothing more than that.
“How dare you...!”
Before he knew it, Tristan’s hand went to the sword at his waist. But before the blade could be drawn, Raymond, who was standing nearby, stepped in front of him.
“Calm yourself, First Young Master.”
“Move! This is none of your business!”
“I am in charge of the Third Young Master’s escort by order of His Grace the Grand Duke. If you lay a hand on the Third Young Master now, it would be a violation of my duty as well as the will of His Grace.”
Tristan gritted his teeth at Raymond’s warning. But in the end, though he trembled with humiliation, he took his hand off his sword. He couldn't possibly defeat a Black Lion, and Raymond’s warning was no empty threat.
“...Fine. The mercenaries are the ones you hired, so take them if you wish! However, you must take responsibility for your choice!”
“I intended to do so anyway.”
Lucian left the office without so much as a blink. Once they were a certain distance away, Lucian glanced at Raymond.
“Why did you stop my brother? I could have handled it myself even if you’d left him alone.”
“Is it not my mission to escort you? Whether it is a matter the Third Young Master can handle or not, failing to prevent a threat is a problem in itself. And...”
Glancing around, Raymond whispered as if sharing a secret.
“...To be honest, I also thought the First Young Master’s logic was a bit pathetic.”
“Pfft!”
Lucian couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. At first, he had thought Raymond was just a man devoted to his duty, but now he saw the man had a rather humorous side.
“By the way, what do you plan to do now, Third Young Master?”
“What else? I told you earlier.”
After a good laugh, Lucian spoke with a deep smile.
“Let’s gather Hugo and the rest of the Black Lions and head to Greve City. And unlike my brother, let’s do it with some style.”
Three days later, at the edge of the Yellow Forest near Greve City.
Two shadows flickered near the boundary of the forest where a faint light filtered through. One shadow wore a tattered black robe, while the other was draped in a faded hood.
From the middle-aged man in the black robe, a sinister voice drifted out.
“Ah, good. Very good. How long has it been since I’ve felt this full of mana? I’m certainly benefiting from those idiots in the Empire Front.”
“...It’s the Empire Liberation Front, Lord Jude. Saying it like that completely changes the meaning.”
“What does the name of the financier matter? Honestly, young mages these days pay attention to the strangest things. Or is that a trait of the Celestial School? I suppose studying every single star in the sky makes one quite obsessive.”
At the middle-aged man’s cackling, the young mage, Colin, felt a chill run down his spine. Just hearing that laughter made him feel as if blood and flesh were stickily clinging to him.
I’ve heard many stories about black mages, but I didn't expect one to be this repulsive.
He had first met this black mage named Jude through an introduction by the Empire Liberation Front. Colin had been flustered by the sudden notification that he had to work with him, but he had no way to refuse. After all, they were the ones protecting him from the Empire’s pursuit.
At the time, I thought I just had to endure it for a few weeks.
Things had started to go wrong when Jude began demanding living sacrifices. Colin knew nothing about the Beast School, but he knew that only black magic required the sacrifice of something living. The actions Jude performed afterward under the guise of rituals were not just differences in schools, but fundamentally twisted.
Unable to bear it any longer, Colin had asked Jude directly.
—Are you a black mage?
—I am.
—Since I’ve already noticed, don't think about hiding... what?
—I said I am. I’m a black mage. Why? Is it strange that I admit it so readily?
Surprisingly, Jude didn't deny being a black mage at all. In fact, he admitted it boldly and even gave a sly smile.
—Now, since you know I’m a black mage, what will you do? Do you plan to tell them?
—Of course! No matter if I’m a fugitive being hunted by the Empire, to partner with a black mage is...!
—That’s troublesome. Then I’ll have no choice but to kill you and run away.
—W-What?!
—It can’t be helped, can it? If I’m caught, it’s obvious they’ll try to kill me first. Fortunately, your direct combat power is weak, so someone like me can kill you easily.
Colin had been terrified by the dark red mana gathering in Jude’s hand. It wasn't the physical enhancement used by knights, but the mana manipulation unique to mages that projected it outward. The moment that surging mana was fired, a fist-sized hole would surely be blown through Colin’s stomach.
As Colin trembled in the fear of death, Jude had whispered with a cold smile.
—Don't be like that. As long as you don't tell them, I have no intention of killing you.
—W-What do you want? What do you want me to do?
—What do I want? I just want us mages to help each other out in this harsh world. Even if our fields of research are different, aren't we of the same kind?
—Stop talking in circles and tell me specifically. I’m not very good with words.
—It’s simple. Just enter into a Pact of Magic with me.
A Pact of Magic. It was a magical contract where the moment one broke a promise with the other, their magical power would be permanently halved. Cornered, Colin had no choice but to enter into the Pact of Magic with Jude.
Fortunately, the content of the pact was extremely simple.
—Just travel with me and use one spell for me when I want.
—...Isn't that too simple? Is that really all?
—Are you complaining even though I’ve made it favorable for you?
—I’m just curious what you’re thinking. Usually, people add all sorts of conditions to prevent the contract from being distorted, yet this is so vague.
—Haha! Do you think you have the confidence to handle the consequences after distorting it?
Colin was left speechless by the sight of the dark red mana surging. Indeed, if he didn't fulfill the request properly, Jude would shoot him dead on the spot. Colin had no choice but to follow the contract, even if it was against his will.
Fortunately, Jude had been moving according to the Empire Liberation Front’s wishes without any major issues so far. If all went well, perhaps he could finish the request successfully and return.
It was at the moment that such hope rose in Colin’s heart.
“Now, shall we begin the attack on Greve? I’ve scraped together every creature I can control, so procuring sacrifices won't be difficult.”
“What? No, Greve City is strictly for a diversion—”
“That’s their business, not mine. I plan to take my sacrifices here and leave. They can handle the rest themselves.”
Colin stared at Jude, his face turning pale. Had he been pretending to follow orders all this time, waiting for this moment? Suddenly, Colin remembered the Pact of Magic.
“Wait, the spell you want from me... could it be?”
“Exactly. If necessary, you’ll have to fire a big one with all the mana you’ve gathered so far. To make it easier for my cute little doggies to enter.”
“You’re insane...!”
His mind went blank at the unexpected words. To help monsters attack a city and kidnap people? And while dealing a massive blow to the Empire Liberation Front in the process? At this rate, he wouldn't just be an enemy of the Empire, but a public enemy.
“Well, don't worry too much. You’re just insurance. Greve is a place with pathetic defenses anyway, so if all goes well, my sweeties alone will be enough.”
Jude’s attempt at comfort did nothing to improve Colin’s mood. If the attack ended without him using magic, Colin would still be bound by the contract. Either way, it was a precipice for Colin.
“Grrr...”
“Kiii!”
“There, there. It seems you’re all hungry for the taste of blood. Just wait a moment. I’ll let you run wild soon enough.”
Jude ignored the despairing Colin and stroked the Gnolls and Kobolds, who were dripping saliva. Even though anyone could see they were mindless puppets, the way he mimicked a bond with them was repulsive.
“Now, go! Enjoy the feast! Just don't forget the sacrifices you must offer in return!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
“Grrr-aaaakh!”
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
No sooner had he finished speaking than the army of Gnolls and Kobolds that had been hiding behind them charged out of the forest. The mindless horde of monsters made the ground tremble as they raced toward Greve City in unison.
The sight was apparently quite satisfying, as Jude burst into laughter and shouted.
“Hahaha! Do you see? Is it not magnificent! An army of monsters stronger than humans! The fruit of my research! My power and my slaves!”
Madness was laced in Jude’s voice as he roared with laughter. Startled by the sound, Colin reflexively took a few steps back.
As the horde of Gnolls and Kobolds reached the outskirts of Greve City, Jude even began to clap in delight.
“Look! Look at that chaos! To see those who swaggered within their flimsy order being ravaged by my sweeties is truly... truly...?”
Intoxicated by his sense of victory, Jude suddenly froze as he sensed something was wrong. Colin also looked toward the place where the monsters were headed, wondering what was happening.
And then, he spoke the sight before his eyes aloud without thinking.
“From where I’m standing, it looks like your ‘sweeties’ are the ones being ravaged...?”
“....”