Chapter 130: Stepping into the Light - 2
Chapter 130: Stepping into the Light - 2
Jiha's plan to seize control of Waris was nearly complete.
Now, one more display of power would bring the city's citizens under his rule.
'The real problem is what comes after.'
Seizing Waris itself was something he could do even now.
If Jiha set his mind to it, he could crown himself ruler of this city within a week.
'Maintaining it is the problem.'
But if he did that, Blue Seal and Purple Liberation would never stand idly by.
They'd crush his suddenly emerged force and try to claim the city for themselves.
They'd come at him from both sides at once.
Raising the flag is easy; defending it is hard.
'So I need to shape the overall landscape of Warsland, the big picture, as much in my favor as possible before declaring independence.'
That meant he needed to weaken both factions as much as possible.
Pulling any Unique he could persuade or collect under his banner.
Subjugating their forces, stockpiling massive supplies, and winning over the surrounding cities.
The work ahead was mountainous.
'I've already secured Blue Seal's Uniques, Enril and Yura. Asira can't become my enemy either. If I can get my hands on this Dirga who's coming and the escort guards following her, I'll be on solid ground.'
Blue Seal was effectively about to lose the majority of its power to Jiha while it could only stand by and watch.
The real problem was Purple.
Strangely, the only Purple Unique currently in Waris was Leticia.
"I want to request reinforcements too. But..."
Leticia hesitated before speaking quietly.
"The elves are against it."
"..."
That was a reason he hadn't even considered.
Here he was, preparing a plan to turn the entire world upside down, and he felt like he was listening to a local street gang turf war.
Jiha was dumbfounded.
"Handle something like that yourself."
"But..."
Leticia's voice came out unusually weak, even for her.
She was a Unique, but among the elves, she wasn't treated properly.
"If someone won't listen, just beat them into line. Simple, right?"
"...Then the Council will get involved. The ones opposing me now are practically acting on the Council's orders."
Leticia shook her head, lacking confidence.
Jiha's words amounted to a denial of everything she'd built up over the years.
"What's their justification for opposing you?"
"...They say the elves must restore their prestige this time."
In other words, this difficult situation where Blue Seal's Uniques were gathering.
Was the idea that if Leticia fought valiantly against them alone, the elves' standing in Purple would rise?
So that's why they weren't calling reinforcements?
Anyone could hear how absurd that sounded, but Leticia explained it as if she had no choice.
"...A lot of elves died. They're getting desperate, looking for any chance to make up for it."
"Should I kill a few more?"
"Ah, no. If you do that..."
Leticia quickly shook her head.
She knew all too well that Jiha wasn't making idle talk.
"If you don't like that, then crush them yourself and request reinforcements."
He wanted to break Purple's strength before declaring independence.
Either gather more Purple Uniques under him, or kill them off.
"That's..."
As Leticia let out another sigh, Jiha summed up the situation.
"So these elf bastards are going to pretend they don't know you when things actually go down, but they're pushing you to face four other Uniques alone? Putting aside that they're insane, are you their doormat? Are you really going to fight all four when it comes to that?"
If a real war broke out, or even just a proper skirmish, Leticia was as good as dead.
She might be a Unique, but what could she do if four of the same rank jumped her?
"But..."
As Jiha pressed her, Leticia's words trailed off, on the verge of tears.
'Ah, her mental strength is surprisingly weak...'
She usually had a fierce temper, and the blonde elf's words and actions were sharp, but if Jiha got angry, she'd immediately shrink back and watch his every reaction.
Beneath that prickly exterior was something girlish and fragile.
Tears were already welling up slightly in her eyes.
"..."
Under Jiha's gaze, Leticia quickly wiped the corners of her eyes.
"...The Council says I have to take responsibility. Since a large number of my kin died and I recklessly signed that agreement. They say the elves' prestige has fallen, so I have to prove something to make up for it."
"Should I kill them all?"
"Ah, no. I'll manage somehow if it comes to that, so please don't..."
Leticia shook her head frantically and grabbed his arm.
Jiha was dead serious.
He was carefully advancing his work to overturn Warsland, and if idiots who didn't know their place got in his way, he'd have to sweep them all aside.
Leticia knew that, which was why she was trying to stop him.
"They're doing nothing but pushing you forward. What's so precious about them that you're covering for them?"
"...I'm angry too, but those bastards have the Council behind them."
Leticia shook her head with an air of resignation.
"Then what are you going to do? Are you asking me to help you so a four-against-one situation never happens?"
"..."
Leticia hesitated, her face showing she had something she wanted to say.
So the Blue Seal Uniques were coming, and he'd thought Purple was being quiet. There was this whole story behind the scenes.
His bad feelings toward elves were deepening.
They really were useless idiots who only got in the way.
Jiha spoke calmly.
"Is that the end of the story? Or is there more?"
Leticia hesitated, her voice trailing off.
"...I told them I'm not getting engaged."
"..."
Leticia studied Jiha's expression as she spoke.
"The engagement with Pamin was already broken off. The Rosen family put forward another man, and I refused him... So all the male elves of marriageable age are swarming me with proposals."
"..."
"Even when I refuse, they pressure me, telling me I have to choose one of them."
"Then..."
Jiha, who had been about to speak, hardened his expression.
A surge of displeasure rose up.
This was a different anger from the irritation of worthless, reckless idiots blocking his work.
Wasn't Leticia already his woman?
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"S-sorry. D-don't be angry."
Leticia fumbled over her apology.
Contrary to what you might expect, Jiha didn't get angry easily.
He deliberately pissed people off, mocked them, and kicked their asses, but he rarely showed his own emotions.
He only loosened up a bit when he was alone with a woman who had completely submitted.
Jiha's self-control was absolute.
So when he did show his emotions, those who followed him couldn't help but shrink back.
And Leticia was especially frightened of it.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I'm sorry..."
Leticia bowed her head.
Jiha sorted through his thoughts.
'So, when Leticia refused the engagement, every last one of them saw their chance and started buzzing around her. Even when she refuses, they push in with numbers...'
The justification of restoring elven honor sounded plausible to them.
Even Leticia herself seemed unable to argue against it.
"In the end, they're trying to break you in because you won't obey. And they're blocking you from calling other Uniques, to make things hard for you unless you get engaged to one of them?"
"Yeah, so..."
Leticia was in a position where she knew what was happening but had to endure it.
If it were purely a matter of force, she could beat them all bloody by herself and still have energy to spare.
But having grown up in elf society, that was utterly beyond her.
It wasn't just one or two of them. They were men from families of considerable standing. Beat them all up?
She wouldn't be able to live in elf society after that.
And for Leticia, born and raised in that society, that was something she couldn't bear.
In fact, if Jiha tried to wipe them out, she seemed ready to beg him desperately not to.
'She's twisted in her own way too.'
It was just a fresh confirmation of something he already knew.
Jiha asked to make sure.
"Do you want to get engaged?"
"..."
Leticia stared blankly at Jiha, then...
Drip.
Tears suddenly spilled over and ran down her jawline.
The blonde elf looked lost, blinking her green eyes as if in disbelief.
Her face was like a child watching her parents abandon her.
Leticia herself seemed startled by her own reaction and quickly wiped at her eyes.
"Ah, i-it's nothing. I'm fine... I think something got in my eye."
"..."
It was a ridiculous excuse.
Even as Leticia hurriedly wiped at them, the tears wouldn't stop.
Jiha softened his expression and spoke gently.
"Sorry. I was just checking, but my words came out rough. Don't misunderstand."
"Yeah, ah, okay. S-sorry..."
Leticia tried to suppress her tearful voice, but a hint of grief still seeped through each syllable.
Jiha deliberately spread his arms wide.
"Don't cry alone. Come here."
"..."
"I said come here."
When Jiha repeated himself, Leticia hesitantly approached.
Thump.
She hesitated on the first step, but then quickly closed the distance and fell into Jiha's arms.
"..."
Held in the man's embrace, Leticia trembled.
She understood Jiha's belated explanation, but she couldn't suppress the sorrow that had welled up.
Jiha stroked Leticia's back as if handling a small child.
"Good girl. Good girl."
"...Y-yeah."
Leticia usually acted sharp, like an angry wildcat, but held in Jiha's arms, she only nodded tearfully like a docile kitten.
Jiha sighed and whispered into Leticia's ear.
"I'll fix it. Set up a meeting with the elves for tomorrow."
"...N-no. I'll sort it out. I can do it."
"I'll have to burn up everything that clings to my woman."
Jiha whispered sweetly into Leticia's ear.
He'd use this chance to sweep away the trash.
And pull Leticia firmly to his side.
Make her prioritize Jiha's words over those other worthless elves.