Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Alliance
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“A token of your sincerity, you say.”
“Indeed.”
To Dale's question, Mikhail Lancaster offered a calm smile.
“This place, the Northern Demonic Territory leading to the Dark Land, has long been a thorn in the side of House Sachsen.”
“……”
“Which is why you, Lord Dale, are transforming this demonic territory into a ‘Land of Opportunity,’ gathering the Empire's most capable individuals.”
He precisely gauged the ‘Artifact Rush’ frenzy that Dale, as Viscount Sachsen, was aiming for in this new era of northern pioneering.
“As you said, Lord Mikhail, there is always a give and take.”
But Dale remained unconcerned, smiling calmly. Adventurers seize the chance for a fortune here in the demonic territory, and in doing so, they serve to deter the threats originating from this land of darkness. That was the unspoken deal struck between Viscount Sachsen and the adventurers.
“Should my House Sachsen become an ally to you, Lord Mikhail, and House Lancaster.”
Dale continued.
“What can the Archduchy of Lancaster offer us?”
The sincerity Mikhail Lancaster intended to show for an alliance with Dale.
A brief silence fell.
“We will give you what you desire, Viscount Sachsen.”
Mikhail Lancaster replied. What Viscount Sachsen, Dale, desired.
“—A Coalition Against the Demonic.”
“……!”
“That will be the ‘form of the alliance’ officially forged between our House Lancaster and House Sachsen.”
Mikhail Lancaster said.
“An alliance between lords, to defend the Empire against the threat of the ‘Dark Land’ that lies beyond the Northern Demonic Territory.”
“A truly plausible justification.”
Dale replied, feigning interest.
A coalition against the demonic to counter the threat from the territory. With the grand cause of ‘defending the Empire’ against a common enemy, not even the Imperial Family could openly dispute an alliance between the two ducal houses.
Furthermore, from Dale's perspective, he would gain an incomparable military asset for his pioneering efforts in the demonic territory. After all, the Archduchy of Lancaster was one of the foremost great houses of the Empire.
Just as Dale and Mikhail had said, it was a deal with a give and take, and an offer with no particular reason to refuse.
And yet.
“It seems the situation for House Lancaster is worse than I thought.”
Having assessed the situation, Dale spoke coolly. He was not so foolish as to be blinded by immediate gain and sign away.
“Joining hands with House Sachsen of the north... with a family of darkness. The Archduke Lancaster cannot be ignorant of how that will be perceived by the Empire and the Imperial Family.”
Yet, they were willing to take that political risk to borrow Sachsen's strength.
“How serious is the situation?”
“……”
It was a direct question, delivered without a hint of hesitation. But Mikhail Lancaster merely gave a wry, calm smile, as if he had expected it.
“After becoming engaged to a daughter of House York, my elder brother officially married into their family. Furthermore, ‘Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword,’ who is from a branch family of House York, is personally pressuring my father.”
Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword. At that name, a flicker of agitation crossed Dale's face for a moment.
“The Vice-Commander of the Iron Cross Knights…”
House Sachsen's Night Raven Knights, Count Brandenburg's Order of Saint Magdalena, and the Archduchy of Lancaster's Rose Cross Knights.
The lords of the Empire each commanded an organization that inherited their way of the sword, and the Imperial Family at the pinnacle of the Empire was no exception.
The Order of the Iron Cross.
The Imperial Family's personal guard and, along with the Red Magic Tower, the strongest knightly order that executed the ‘will of the Empire.’
“The Imperial Family is drawing a line, claiming it is purely ‘Lady Sephylia's personal will,’ but they are implicitly siding with House York.”
Hearing this, Dale replied.
“Then the Holy Sword must have sided with House York as well.”
“……!”
It was a bullseye that not even Mikhail Lancaster had anticipated.
Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword, and Count Brandenburg, the Holy Sword. Two of the Seven Swords of the Continent were supporting ‘House York’ and pressuring the Archduchy of Lancaster. All under the pretext of upholding the rule of primogeniture—in other words, ‘the Empire's tradition.’
A situation where the Seven Swords of the Continent, each with their own justification, were siding with House York. It was not a situation that even the Archduchy of Lancaster could handle alone. Even if the head of House Lancaster, Archduke Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword, was a powerhouse holding the title of the Empire's greatest sword.
“Which is why you seek an alliance with House Sachsen, who are at odds with the Holy Sword, is it not?”
“...As expected, I am no match for your insight, Lord Dale.”
Mikhail Lancaster replied.
“It is as you say. The second daughter of House York, ‘Catherine,’ became engaged to the eldest son of Count Brandenburg in exchange for an alliance.”
“...The eldest son of Count Brandenburg, you say?”
For a moment, an unexpected name had come up.
“That is correct.”
“Then if the succession dispute escalates into war, we cannot rule out the possibility of the Count's eldest son participating on the battlefield.”
“As long as the Holy Sword is with them, I believe that is highly likely.”
Mikhail, failing to grasp Dale's intention, tilted his head for a moment. The war between House York and House Lancaster escalating, with the father and son of House Brandenburg participating. It was a perfectly natural conclusion.
But the moment he heard those words, Dale smiled without a shred of hesitation.
“Deal.”
“Deal…?”
“Ah, it means I accept your offer, Lord Mikhail.”
Dale replied.
As long as the ‘genius of defeat,’ whom even the great Dale could not hope to match, was active in the enemy camp... And furthermore, in a situation where he could ‘legally’ confront the Holy Sword Master, Count Brandenburg, what was there to hesitate about?
He recalled the life-binding oath that must be etched upon the Holy Sword Master's heart even now.
The ‘indefinite armistice’ signed with Charles VII in the Kingdom of Britannia had not yet been nullified and remained in Dale's possession. Strictly speaking, the ‘war with the Kingdom of Britannia’ was not legally over.
And as long as the war was not over, Count Brandenburg had no choice but to absolutely obey Dale's commands. That was the content of the geas: to obey the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army.
“He who desires peace, prepare for war.”
After finishing the calculations in his head, Dale smiled.
In a situation that was truly a windfall, he struggled to maintain his composure.
It was then.
*Thud!*
A chilling presence approached the place where the two were talking.
A monster that dwelled in the depths of the labyrinth.
Master Baro, the Killing Sword, and the other assassins of the ‘Shadow Court’ turned their heads, but Dale extended an arm. As Viscount Sachsen, the ruler of the demonic territory.
“Everyone, stand down.”
“By your command.”
At his words, the assassins in their bird-beak masks vanished all at once. Melting into the shadows throughout the labyrinth.
Like knights or mages who had reached a state of mastery, the assassins were no different.
“Then, to commemorate the alliance between our two ducal houses…”
The assassins of the Shadow Court withdrew, leaving Mikhail and Dale there.
And watching the monster approach, targeting the two of them, the S-rank adventurer "Faceless" spoke.
His shadow cloak, camouflaged as a black robe, fluttered as he moved behind the ‘Peacemaker’ in Mikhail's hand.
“Shall we seize the fortune of the ‘Artifact Rush’ together?”
“That is what I desire as well.”
Dale spoke, and Mikhail smiled without a word.
An apostle of fire and light. Mikhail Lancaster's ideology was dangerous. And one could not rule out the possibility that he might stand in Dale's way in the future.
Nevertheless, in this world, there are no eternal enemies or friends.
And at least for now, Mikhail Lancaster was not an enemy to be defeated.
They were comrades, seeking to obtain what they each desired through their aligned interests.
* * *
The pale blue rose, a symbol of wise nobility.
The crest symbolizing one of the Empire's great houses, House York.
House York had no ‘transcendent powerhouses’ like the Seven Swords of the Continent or the Masters of the Five-Colored Magic Towers.
Nevertheless, the reason they could solidify their position as one of the Empire's great houses was thanks to the ‘wisdom’ symbolized by the pale blue rose.
The castle of Marquis York.
There, in that very place, were two powerhouses known as the Seven Swords of the Continent.
Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword, Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guard's Iron Cross Knights. And the Holy Sword Master, war hero of the Empire and head of House Brandenburg.
Finally, there was the Holy Sword Master's son, Phillip, a scoundrel who, in a sense, was not unworthy of the name ‘the Empire's greatest genius.’
“Thank you all for taking the trouble to come.”
In that place, where an unusual atmosphere lingered, Marquis York spoke.
And the young ladies of House York stood beside the gathered powerhouses, smiling.
Catherine, the second daughter of House York, engaged to the eldest son of Count Brandenburg. At her innocent smile, ‘Phillip the lecher’ was suppressing a joy so great his mouth threatened to split.
Furthermore, the eldest son of the Archduchy of Lancaster, Richard Lancaster, was also there. Smiling lovingly at the eldest daughter of House York, Margaret.
A scene unfolded before them, like men floundering in the thrall of a succubus.
“……”
Watching the scene, Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword, turned her head away in disgust.
House York lacked the transcendent powerhouses that other great houses of the Empire possessed.
But the members of House York possessed a ‘wisdom’ that the others did not.
From birth, the ladies of House York were thoroughly taught the family's ‘wisdom,’ and through that wisdom, they built an unshakable position, embracing the continent's most powerful figures.
Just like the ‘Marchioness of York,’ who was at this very moment affectionately whispering in the Marquis's ear.
“You have all gathered here for one reason and one reason only.”
Marquis York spoke.
“Archduke Lancaster's decision to bequeath the family to his second son is a clear act of defiance against the ‘traditions of the Empire.’”
“It would be wise not to underestimate the Heavenly Sword.”
After a silence, the Vice-Commander of the Iron Cross Knights, ‘Lady Sephylia, the Demon Sword,’ spoke.
As a woman, she was the only one who remained free from the bewitchment of the York clan, maintaining her composure.
But to the ‘Marquis of York,’ who was nothing more than a puppet, her warning meant nothing.
“Are you, the honorable Vice-Commander of the Iron Cross Knights, attempting to deny the traditions of the Empire?”
“……”
Lady Sephylia did not answer.
She merely bit her lip in silence, recalling the true nature of this nation called the Empire.
House Yuriseu of the Red Magic Tower, the women of House York, and the members of the Imperial Family. And the true forms of countless other families hiding beneath the surface, observing in silence.
Vampires, succubi—the existence of ‘non-humans’ who ruled the nation of the Empire.
Before their system, there were not many decisions a mere female knight from a knightly house could make.
She could only bow her head and obey in silence, as she always had.