Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Treacherous Subject Has Its Uses
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Meanwhile, to obtain permission to use the magical artifacts and secure the cooperation of the Valderian family, Beonald immediately met with Cedron and Oswald to explain his plan regarding the creation of this 'Magical Armor'.
"...Hmm, normally something like this would require the Family Head's permission, but having the ability to secure and produce magical artifacts can't be a bad thing... Young Master, what do you think?"
"I see it as absolutely positive. Securing magical artifacts directly translates to the family's strength. Moreover, if we gain a means to counter magic... we can also exact our family's revenge."
A typical martial family would likely view relying on such magical artifacts negatively, but the Valderian family, having suffered terribly at the hands of 'mages' and harboring a desire to one day strike back at them, decided to permit Beonald's 'Magical Armor Project'.
"Thank you. However, to do that, I'll likely need to use the other magical artifacts stored in that sealed location as well..."
"Permission granted unconditionally. You are already in a position where it's hard to consider you an outsider to our family, and if you show results, I will allow you to continue using them. Also, if you need anything else, just say the word. I'll procure it for you."
'It's good that communication is smooth. Well, it's not like I've spent just a day or two with that senior.'
Cedron had already experienced many things with Beonald in the capital and knew that once trust was exchanged, Beonald was someone who would deliver accordingly, so he gave approval on behalf of the current Family Head. With permission granted, Beonald immediately began moving to set up a workshop for 'Runic Engraving' and 'Armor Crafting'.
"La la la la~"
"Oh... You've picked a good spot. A place within the mansion grounds that hardly intersects with people's movement. Good. Your skill in selecting land and your work ethic... I absolutely cannot believe you were a princess."
Beonald had immediately sought out Veshia after receiving permission. She had chosen a suitable plot of land and was in the middle of compacting the earth with a shovel and pickaxe.
Following the orders relayed through Selina, she was diligently working up a sweat, preparing the ground for the forge and furnace. Her beautiful form, hard at work, flared up again at Beonald's princess remark.
"Ah~ I said I've abandoned that status, but again~ And what if someone finds out?"
"I already scouted for any presence in the surroundings. Anyway... I'll need to build a temporary workshop here too, so please make the site a bit wider. As for the estimate of required materials... can you provide it now?"
"Hmm~ A workshop too? How big?"
"Just a place that can function as a blacksmith's forge, with space for a desk and to stand up one suit of armor? Since we only need to do 'Runic Engraving'..."
"That size should be finished quickly without any special attention. Materials... stone tiles, the stones to lay beneath them, processed lumber for construction... and there's no sewer here, right? Then we'll probably need to install a separate drainage ditch. And you'd know better than me the materials needed for the forge and furnace."
"Then I'll relay that to the Valderian family as is. If you need more manpower, please request support through Selina. Well then, I'll go get what's needed for engraving... I'll take my leave~"
After that, Beonald continued to move busily.
Next, he returned with Oswald to the place where the family's artifacts were sealed, gathered the necessary magical artifacts from inside, and then returned to his room with Sein.
There, he placed all the other currently unused magical artifacts into the well-hidden 'Unfinished Dimensional Storage Backpack', leaving only the 'Staff of Teleportation' out.
"Let's see, charging mana with this... how was it done again. Anyway... Sein."
"Yes! Lord Beonald."
"Watch carefully what I'm doing now. If necessary, you'll need to act as my hands and feet. This magical artifact can be used by anyone who knows how to charge it with mana and its operation method. As you can see, you just need to input the correct activation phrase from the various buttons on this cube-shaped device."
"Why are you entrusting something so important to me...?"
"Because you are the most trustworthy person around me right now. Of course, Heidi is the same, but she has many duties to fulfill as my sword and spear. Veshia and Selina are still outsiders. Therefore, the only one who can become my hands and feet is you, Sein. So I ask this of you."
"Ah... Yes!"
The sincere words "I ask this of you" coming from the usually aloof Beonald's mouth resonated deeply with Sein's heart. Holding her pounding chest, she resolved to live up to Beonald's expectations.
Truthfully, unlike the other genius women, she was just a maid and still a student, which secretly gave her a complex about not being able to provide any special help to Beonald. So Beonald asking a favor of her now made her incredibly happy.
'...Lord Beonald is relying on me!'
'She's in the safest position, after all.'
Selina and Heidi each had clear specialties and even their background statuses were splendid, making it obvious they handled important matters by Beonald's side.
And since Veshia was, in fact, a princess, deeply involving her was unreasonable, so Sein was the only talent to entrust with secret tasks.
Beonald spent his time teaching Sein the usage methods of various magical artifacts and how to charge them with mana.
'Anyway, the work can only start once Heidi returns. The prototype of the Magical Armor... should be made for Heidi...'
Beonald planned for the first proper 'Magical Armor' to be made for Heidi.
While Beonald was busily running around everywhere, Heidi, aside from taking care of Alterio, could focus entirely on her training. Thanks to her innate talent, combined with the Imperial Knight Order's mana breathing technique and martial arts of the Unified Empire's Imperial Knight Order that Beonald had taught her, she grew stronger rapidly and had already surpassed Beonald's martial prowess.
'Tch, my lack of training time... Well, it couldn't be helped, but... saying that, Heidi became stronger faster than I did, even though I've trained since birth. Hoo~'
In the end, talent is something bestowed by heaven, and the world is originally structured unfairly. Denying it or making excuses changes nothing; it's merely a moral victory.
Since Heidi was currently the strongest and her loyalty was beyond doubt, Beonald, thinking he could entrust her with the Magical Armor, eagerly awaited her return and continued Sein's magical artifact education.
Banilo Earldom, Audience Chamber.
The audience chamber, where the Banilo Count and his retainers should be holding meetings and discussions, was currently proceeding without the Count present.
The Banilo Count, who was only an earl by bloodline, had no particular talent and had simply grown old, and since he mostly went along with whatever the majority of his retainers wanted, he was essentially a figurehead. Still, he attended meetings and signed off on important matters of the earldom.
"Hmm... I've heard the report well~ As expected, the Empire isn't staying still."
However, sitting arrogantly on the main seat where the Banilo Count should be, legs crossed, was the Neumel Prime Minister with her sharp eyes and blue-black hair, who was not human.
For a half-elf like her to dare sit in the Count's seat was an unacceptable act, and normally someone among the retainers should have protested. But since she was currently exercising legitimate authority, they couldn't.
"Y-yes, Count... Acting Lord."
Acting Count. A representative appointed by the Count.
Currently, the Banilo Count was busy enjoying his newlywed life with his elf bride, so the person he chose to handle his affairs on his behalf was none other than this Neumel Prime Minister.
Even if they wanted to oppose, he had just married and had no children, and any relatives were people from other families, which would only add to the retainers' discomfort. Therefore, the only remaining option was the Neumel Prime Minister, a relative of the Banilo Count's 'wife' and a representative of the Garccan Republic.
"If the title still doesn't sit well on your tongues, you may just call me Prime Minister Neumel. Anyway, as expected of the Emperor of the Callem Empire, he's quick-witted. The response is very fast. Mobilizing the army and all... Nobles will start defecting from the Banilo Earldom's sphere of influence."
"They already... have. Prime Minister, what will you do about this? Even if you act on the Count's behalf... We are all nobles of the Callem Empire, and we have no particular desire for war..."
"War~ Is it something one does because they want to? From the moment we got involved, the existence of this Banilo Earldom has become unacceptable to the Callem Empire. Yet, I don't see anyone among you who could replace the Count."
If someone could have replaced the Banilo Count and seized power, the owner of this earldom would have changed long ago.
The position of a High Noble isn't always good, and the previous Banilo Count's abilities and reputation were also outstanding. In fact, the current Banilo Count is merely incompetent, not a tyrant or someone causing trouble for other nobles, so there was no justification to take his place.
"Now then~ So, what are your thoughts? I am, strictly speaking, a foreigner, so I'm like a decoration in this seat. Come on, come on~ You must decide quickly. Will you abandon the Banilo Earldom and side with the Imperial Family? Or will you push through your opinion, gather troops, prepare to fight and make them back down? If not that, you could formally request military intervention from our Garccan Republic."
'Damn cunning vixen!'
'Even if we betray the Banilo Earldom like this... our base is ultimately here, so we can't abandon it.'
'On the other hand, siding with the Emperor is the same. This southern strategic point is ultimately the Banilo Count's, which is why its influence is so great... Ugh! And the problem is the lack of justification. Marrying an elf isn't an issue...'
Isn't an elf a wife that every hero in countless tales and legends inevitably has? Naturally, it can't be made an issue, and regarding an heir, since one hasn't even been born yet, it can't be used as a justification.
'Anyway, that damned Emperor! Couldn't even keep watch over a princess... Haa~ Well, what was bound to happen has happened.'
The biggest cause was the Banilo Count's baselessly high standards and stubbornness regarding women, but the responsibility ultimately fell on the betraying Emperor's side for the effort put into it. The justification became that no one could stop him from marrying an elf from the Garccan Republic.
At this point, they had a sense this development would occur, but the Emperor's actions were too swift, making the situation difficult to handle.
'...In the end, there's only one choice, I suppose. Hehe.'
Prime Minister Neumel watched the flustered nobles with delight.
The sight of them flailing about pathetically was her favorite thing. Furthermore, her wish was none other than the disappearance of all humans on this continent, no, in this world. The reason she had lived fiercely for over 500 years was precisely that.
"Hmm~ Everyone, shall I tell you one good method? This is merely advice, you see."
"...A method?"
"Yes. The reason the Imperial Family is targeting the Banilo Earldom's territory is simply due to food supply issues. The southern golden plains, the granary region, the blessed land, and the abundant water source from the great river allow for the production of the most grain on the continent, and the harvest season is approaching soon."
"So... you don't mean?"
Perhaps having caught on to Prime Minister Neumel's implication, one noble widened his eyes and stared at her.
It was a look questioning her sanity, but Prime Minister Neumel paid no heed and continued speaking.
"If you know your own value and what the other side is after, you can now threaten them with it. For instance~ What would happen if half of the grain awaiting harvest now were to burn? Surely the reason they're coming to wage war now is because of food. If that disappears? Then would there be even more reason to wage war...?"
"Then how are we supposed to live?"
"If you do that, the Garccan Republic will provide an amount of food equal to what was burned, free of charge."
"...What? F-free of charge?"
"Yes. As a sort of dowry, you could say. I swear in the name of the Goddess. Ah~ However, I'd appreciate it if you could bear just a little of the transportation costs. Hehehe, anyway, now that you have backing, isn't it worth trying to threaten them? If it works, good. If it doesn't, you can nullify the meaning behind the Emperor's side raising an army, increasing the possibility of protecting the family. What do you think?"
At Prime Minister Neumel's advice, the retainers and nobles of the Banilo Earldom began to stir and murmur restlessly.
As she said, the reason the Emperor's side was mobilizing troops and moving south now was concern over the Banilo Earldom becoming subordinate to the Garccan Republic, and the reason for that concern was the granary region surrounding the Banilo Earldom.
In strategy, there is something called a scorched earth tactic, and threatening the opponent in reverse with what they are targeting is sufficiently persuasive strategically and tactically. Since there was also a possibility, with really good luck, to avoid war altogether this way, everyone's opinion naturally began to flow in line with Prime Minister Neumel's thinking.