Chapter 141
Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Use of a Treacherous Subject - Part 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Count Valderian, you must be under great strain in the current state of war. But do you know how the war situation is progressing?"
"Haha, I know. I hear the Garccan Republic has intervened in a despicable manner? Well, I'm sure Duke Kmel, the Empire's sole Special-Class Knight, will manage to pull through. We're barely managing just to pin down these fifty thousand troops here, you see. Hahaha."
"Still, wouldn't it be better to end the war quickly before winter arrives?"
"That may be true, but can I make things go as I please? Hahaha."
The exchange of light banter was a way for both sides to sound each other out, and the Emperor's messenger confirmed, as expected, that Count Valderian had no intention of engaging in the war proactively.
From the moment he arrived here, the soldiers seemed more relaxed—threshing grain, baking bread to eat—than prepared for battle or tense, so he had a feeling this was the case. Seeing it confirmed firsthand, he could understand why the Emperor was frustrated.
"Given that the Valderian family's army was prepared to crush the Dyna Kingdom, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect you to defeat or break through those fifty thousand scarecrows and join the main force?"
"One shouldn't easily judge the course of war. What was originally a short-term battle has now dragged on, and with the Garccan Republic's intervention to boot. How many variables are there?"
"So, you have no intention of fighting aggressively?"
"We're already doing the work of pinning down fifty thousand troops, which is worth twice our number. What more 'aggressive' action do you want from us here? If we push ourselves recklessly and only deplete our family's military strength, that would be utterly absurd."
Though the Valderian family head appeared hot-blooded on the surface, when it came to war and the fate of his family, he could become a slick, cunning fox like no other.
While they had many traits uncharacteristic of a noble family, this single trait proved they were indeed a proper noble house.
"Still, the fact that you've come all this way means you must have some bone to throw to this hunting dog, right? Haha."
"...There is, but in truth, His Majesty wishes to hear your terms first."
"Huh~ Wishes to hear our terms first. So... you want us to state what we desire first, is that it?"
In modern terms, one could call this a 'bid-first' negotiation process.
The Imperial side, lacking any suitable effective cards at the moment, had decided on a direction of first hearing and accommodating the Valderian family's demands.
The fundamental problem was that due to differing factions and political lines, there were few things they could offer, like blood ties or other merits.
"Hmm, even if you ask me to state our desires... A promise is something that can only be made when there is a basic 'guarantee' that it can be fulfilled. In the affairs of the world, a contract isn't completed just by stamping a seal; the matters within the contract must be exchanged, and corresponding guarantees must exist."
"Ah, I understand, Count Valderian. The Imperial family wishes to assist as much as possible. First, please state your terms, and we can find a compromise from there."
"Then let me say something. Recently... we unsealed an artifact that had been sealed within our family. According to the materials that emerged from it, there's a possibility that another legacy of our family lies within that so-called 'holy site' or whatever it is located in our family's territory."
"Ah, the one managed by the religious order?"
"Yes, the area managed by that order is correct. As you know, historically... hundreds of years ago, our family served under 'that person who must not be named,' who once ruled the Unified Empire."
"Ahh... Hmmm......"
"Well, you told me to say something, so I did. Ahem! I didn't expect anything anyway. Now, I must gather my generals for a strategy meeting, so I'll take my leave. Ahem!"
Having said that much, Count Valderian stood up first, indirectly expressing his intent that 'this is all I have to say.'
By dismissing anything else as not even worth negotiating, he had effectively concluded his statement.
The messenger, pondering what to do, quickly sent a carrier pigeon with a message detailing Count Valderian's demand to consult the Emperor's will.
Day 25 of the war.
At last, the long-awaited relief forces from the Valderian family arrived.
A force of ten thousand troops had finally arrived, primarily to relieve the wounded and soldiers exhausted from fighting on the front lines, while also transporting supplies such as food and equipment.
Seeing the relief troops arrive faster than expected, Count Valderian let out an admiring sigh.
"Huh, they came quite hastily. No matter how urgent, I hate the idea of the troops arriving only to collapse without even fighting properly."
"We hurried somewhat because the situation was said to be unfavorable."
"Tsk... It's not that unfavorable, but. Ahem! Anyway, let the troops rest, and please take good care of escorting the returning soldiers."
"Yes, understood, Count. Ah, and Sir Beonald, who deciphered the family artifact, has come along."
"What? That friend who was making some magic tool or something... Where is he now?"
Surprised by the knight's words, Count Valderian immediately headed towards Beonald.
He wondered why he had come to this battlefield, and there were so many things to ask about, from the artifact issue to capturing the Black Drake.
"You, what on earth are you doing here?"
"Ah, Count, it's truly been a long time."
"I'm very grateful you unsealed the artifact. But I heard you were making some magic tool or something... Why have you suddenly come to the battlefield?"
"You heard the news about capturing the Black Drake, right? It's reached a certain level of completion, and I came to see if it's effective in actual warfare. And this is... the meat of that creature. Naturally, I brought it to present to you, the master of the Valderian family. It's preserved with magic, so you can eat it right away. Also, this is a tobacco pouch made from its hide. I used rubies and gold on the black leather to make the decoration stand out more. The achievements of a subordinate are also the achievements of their superior, and rumors have likely already spread. It would be problematic if the family head didn't possess the proof."
"Uh, hmmm... That's right. Good."
Presenting appropriate reasons along with gifts quickly softened the Valderian family head's expression.
He seemed particularly fond of the tobacco pouch. The glossy pattern of the Black Drake's scales was alive on the leather, adorned with gold and rubies, creating a lavish yet wild aesthetic that perfectly suited his taste.
'Seeing his face soften, it seems he likes it very much.'
Catering to the tastes of superiors was something Beonald was very familiar with since his past life.
A treacherous subject ultimately broadened the scope of their impudence or power by winning the other party's favor through flattery and appropriate gifts apart from ability.
And the Valderian family head, having received Beonald's gift, wore an extremely pleased expression and could now engage in a proper conversation with Beonald.
"Hmm... I see. So this is that 'Magic Armor'? But it looks different from what I heard?"
"Ah, this is the 'frame.' You can think of it as the skeleton of the armor. We attach the armor plates you see here to complete it."
"Hmm... I see. So it'll become quite large then?"
"It has to envelop a person, so it's larger than a person. And with the armor plates attached, the size increases a bit more. Anyway, thanks to using many materials from the Black Drake, we've managed to produce more units now. First, we covered parts that should be steel with leather to reduce armor thickness and weight, secured flexibility between frames using high-quality oil and tendons to reduce wear, and embedded fragments of the Black Drake's magic stone into the frame to reduce Aura consumption for each spell formula... and then......"
"W-wait! Even if you explain it like that, I can't understand most of it! Ah, anyway, you're saying it's something for a knight to wear, right?"
Beonald's explanation came like rapid-fire, but the Valderian family head, unable to understand most of it, waved his hands, wanting to confirm only the key points.
"Yes, that's correct. Simply put, it's armor enchanted with magic. It can hold more spell formulas, and through that, it's a concept that can make a more powerful 'knight' safer and more effective in battle."
"Hmmmm......"
"As you know, cultivating a single talented knight requires enormous cost and time. So, if they die on the battlefield, it's fatal. Of course, it's nonsense to question a knight honed for combat dying in war, but what if we can make them die less and become stronger than the enemy? Wouldn't that ultimately become the family's strength?"
"Indeed, if we reduce our losses to one knight for every three enemy knights that die, it's clearly a gain."
The cold law of exchange. It was logic simple enough for the Valderian family head to understand.
Beonald wanted to talk about more additional values, but they were beyond the Count's imagination and comprehension, so he regretted not being able to mention them.
Then, after hearing about the war situation from the Valderian family head, he understood very quickly.
"...I see. There's certainly no merit in fighting aggressively."
"That's right. Now that we've entered negotiations, we can get better terms......"
"But since I'm here, we now have merit. There's no place better than this to use as a testing ground."
Having no merit conversely meant there was no burden of victory or defeat.
Win or lose, the only thing that would affect the Valderian family was the food issue.
Of course, the food issue couldn't be taken lightly, but Beonald had a plan to solve it.
"An experiment. Using our troops as experimental tools doesn't sit well with me......"
"Of course, the troops are the people who will return home. But ultimately, this era is the 'age of knights.' The side that can save even one more 'knight' within the war and advance is the one that will win."
"Then... what about the negotiations? We just raised the stakes considerably."
"We can postpone it for post-war negotiation. They'll surely say something different later, but that also becomes a significant justification."
"Hmmmm... Good. Anyway, we owe you for unsealing the family legacy, so I'll follow your lead this time."
After brief consideration, Count Valderian decided to follow Beonald's lead.
As he said, an opportunity for a war as comfortable as this battlefield didn't come easily, and ignoring this card now would give them an even better card to pressure the Imperial family later, etc... Beonald's opinion was simply too reasonable.
"But while you decide what to deploy, don't forget to follow the overall strategy and tactics."
"A very obvious point, sir."
"Then I must go see His Majesty's messenger first. Ahem!"
Saying so, Count Valderian immediately went to the Emperor's messenger, stating that now was a perfect time to attack and suggesting they postpone negotiations until after the war, then summoned the knights and nobles.
He ordered Beonald to immediately don the Magic Armor and attend the meeting. Beonald assembled the parts prepared via Heidi and Selina to complete one set of 'Magic Armor,' had Heidi wear it, and then formally participated in the combat meeting.
"Now, now, everyone, look carefully. Originally, we intended to wage war leisurely... but the knight who captured the Black Drake has come to support us, and with His Majesty the Emperor's command, we intend to go on a proper rampage. You've all received the meat, so you should know, and as you can see, this armor... is covered with the Black Drake's scales."
It was still too early to publicly announce the magic tool, so hiding it, Count Valderian pointed to Heidi standing beside Beonald and began to bluff.
Slightly larger than a human, encased in massive armor covered with black scales, creating a formidable appearance that seemed sturdy and wild. The knights who had continued in this war saw it and realized the rumors from the Valderian territory were true.
"It's really from that Black Drake. Wow... Now we can go into that forest, then."
"Right. For your information, let me add that the Black Drake was captured by just three people. This friend here."
"Three? That's impossible! To catch a Black Drake, you need at least over ten knights! Plus, you have to hire troops and adventurers to form a subjugation party! Wow... unbelievable!"
"Think of them as knights that strong. Anyway~ With such a hero here, can we just sit still? Let's go on a rampage. Understood? Then we'll begin the meeting in earnest."
With Count Valderian's declaration, maps were spread out, and the strategy meeting began.
Though ten thousand troops had arrived, the wounded and unit members who had fought on the front lines were returning, and they had now replenished their forces to a full twenty-five thousand. The enemy was roughly fifty thousand. They might have decreased somewhat after several engagements, but the enemy still held a numerical advantage close to double.