Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Even a Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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The gap between gain and loss was too great. It was not an easy decision for Beonald to make. In the end, if it came to this, the only method left was to proceed cautiously and decide as he went. It was fortunate that this meeting felt like it would drag on for quite a while. It was a war with no clear victor or loser, and the agreement was merely set for a ceasefire. Amidst the fierce back-and-forth as each side tried to gain even a single advantage, so much time had passed that they ultimately had no choice but to adjourn.
“Anyway! That half-breed bitch is insufferably slick. Don’t you agree, Count Valderian?”
“I feel the same. It was so frustrating I nearly went mad. I just wanted to settle it with my sword.”
“Now, now, gentlemen, please calm down. Do you intend to fight again after finally ending the war?”
The day’s talks were finally concluded. As the three—Duke Kmel, Count Valderian, and Sir Ional—emerged from the tent, they ended up bonding over their shared frustration, venting about the impossible-to-reason-with Neumel Chancellor, albeit unintentionally. Historically, haven’t there been cases where factions that fought bitterly amongst themselves united as one against an external invasion? This was that kind of situation.
“Anyway, how about a drink? It’s been a while. We have things to discuss. Ah, of course, I can’t drink. The doctor said… not to drink until this is healed. But I’ll treat you to something delicious instead.”
“Let’s just do it here. It’s not like we have much to discuss. To be blunt, I can’t hand over that ‘friend’.”
“…Huh, did you see through my intentions?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re not exactly on such good terms that we’d share a drink and chat in the first place, are we? You obviously want me to hand over that ‘friend’ you’ve taken a fancy to.”
Though they were both military houses, their factions differed, and their personalities were different. They rarely interacted under normal circumstances. The Kmel family, who joined hands with the Empire to stake their survival, and the Valderian family, who had no choice but to bow their heads and submit to survive—there was no reason for them to get along, so their intentions were all too transparent. The ‘friend’ they were talking about here was, of course, Beonald.
“A good weapon should be in the hands of a person who suits it to be used properly.”
“Do you think I can’t wield it?”
“So, what is that friend’s current position? I’m thinking of giving him the position of Prime Minister of our family.” ‘Prime Minister’. The seat of the official responsible for overseeing state affairs on behalf of the sovereign. In this case, it meant placing him in a position to manage all affairs of the Kmel family on behalf of Duke Kmel. Upon hearing this, Count Valderian was shocked and found it utterly ridiculous. No matter how he thought about it, this was far too excessive.
“A Prime Minister in his teens? Ha! That’s quite the boast. Do you think the other retainers and nobles below would even listen to him?”
“If we pair him with that Lloyd kid and season it by saying we’re nurturing him as the next generation, wouldn’t that be enough? That Lloyd kid is the strongest knight among the current heirs, but he’s weak at internal affairs, so it seems like a perfect combination.”
“…Do you think we would hand over such a valuable item?”
“No, this is just me putting it out there. It’s to give him a merit to choose from next time.”
In truth, Duke Kmel also didn’t think Count Valderian would hand Beonald over. Who in their right mind would just give away something so obviously valuable? Moreover, in this era, talent was more precious than a treasure worth a thousand gold coins. And on top of that, he’s young and competent in various fields? He was nothing less than the ultimate treasure. Knowing full well he wouldn’t be handed over, Duke Kmel’s words were essentially just for the sake of establishing a pretext.
“Anyway, if that friend decides to leave, send him off properly. Well then, I’ll be off~ Unfortunately, I must have a drink with Sir Ional. Hehehe.”
Duke Kmel left with a hearty laugh. Count Valderian pointed after him and spoke to Beonald, who was disguised as a soldier behind him.
“That, that man has lived his whole life thinking he’s the greatest under heaven, so he just doesn’t listen to a word anyone says! Ugh! Should I have just let him die pathetically from that poison? Really!”
“Haha, that’s how all the high and mighty lords of prestigious families are.”
Beonald thought that this was something that wouldn’t change even after five hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand years. In the past, the Neumel family was like that, and the prestigious families on the continent that competed with them were the same. In the end, you could only explain this as human nature.
“So, what are you thinking of doing?”
“Hmm~ To be honest, the position of Prime Minister is a bit tempting. Because there’s so much more I could do. Haha. Let’s see~ I could form an entirely new team for magic armor research, come and go from the Haldeon ruins as I please~ And……”
“You’re being honest about that too? Really!”
“Well, it’s because I officially don’t have any position or title in the Valderian family yet. Hahaha.”
“Ah! Good grief! Fine! Fine! I’ll make a promise right here! Look. The Kmel family offered the Prime Minister position, right? Then I’ll offer the Prime Minister position too! Go ahead and try it! You can start by working under Oswald, and if we say you’re Kedron’s close friend, I can make it happen too! You’ll need a title as well, so I’ll give you a territory! You should at least be a Baron to befit the Prime Minister’s seat!”
Provoked by Duke Kmel’s outrageous offer of making a teenager a Prime Minister, the hot-tempered Count Valderian impulsively declared that he would also give Beonald the position of Prime Minister. Since they were both prestigious sword families, there was a competitive spirit. Thinking that this short-tempered nature of blowing up at the slightest provocation was very much like a descendant of Kerwel, Beonald smiled a knowing smile. ‘Easy, so easy~ The theory of heredity is quite plausible. She has the exact same personality as Kerwel. Hahah. I should be thankful to the Kmel family. Thanks to them raising the betting stakes so high, I’ve essentially skyrocketed to success in an instant.’ “…Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I’m lying? I swear to the Goddess! I will appoint you as Prime Minister! Truly!”
“Haha, thank you, Count. However, there is one urgent matter I need to discuss. Is that alright?”
“What is it? Speak! Prime Minister Beonald!”
“I’d like to find out more about Chancellor Neumel. So, may I go see her for a moment?”
“That’s fine… but your safety must not be endangered. Understood? Prime Minister Beonald.”
Nod. Beonald nodded and answered with a bow. He first went to the Valderian family’s tent to remove his armor and prepare to leave. He had considered sending a letter or messenger to gauge her reaction and bide his time, but that didn’t suit Beonald’s temperament at all. Since this was a gathering for a surrender meeting, the chances of kidnapping or accidents were low. He had also informed the Valderian family, so carefully engaging in direct conversation to gauge her reaction seemed the surest way.
“There’s an old saying. To catch a dragon… you must go to the dragon’s lair.”
Steeling himself, Beonald changed into simpler clothes and headed towards the tents of the Garkan Republic’s camp.
“Gruk! Halt! Who goes there?”
As he approached, the beastman and orc soldiers guarding the front of the tent raised their spears warily. Beonald raised his hands and cautiously spoke.
“Ah, excuse me, I’ve come because I have something to say to the Chancellor. If she refuses to see me, please just relay this message: ‘I will publish a collection of poems titled ‘The Star Blown by the West Wind’.”
“Gruk? What’s that?”
“It’s a valuable code phrase. If you relay it exactly, she will understand.”
The orc soldier tilted his head at Beonald’s words, but upon hearing it was a code, he entered the tent to relay it to Chancellor Neumel. Currently, she was having the bandages, still damp with blood from the wound she had received from Duke Kmel, changed by her elf attendants. Her body was covered in numerous scars from sword cuts and burns.
“What is it?”
“Gruk! A human… has appeared, wishing to see the Chancellor.”
“Who is it?”
“That’s… Gruk! I don’t know. But, Gruk! He said if you won’t see him… he’ll publish a collection of poems called… ‘The Star Blown by the West Wind’. Gruk!”
“Hmph, what nonsense. Tell him to get lost immediately. Where does he get off saying such……!”
Just as she was about to dismiss it as nonsense, something flashed in Lala von Neumel’s mind from a distant memory. ‘The Star Blown by the West Wind’. It was a poem she had written as a child while in Benofis, a sort of impression piece filled with the pure sensibilities of youth. Something written in childhood was essentially a black mark left by a past self. Especially something written with different knowledge, thoughts, and ideologies than now, filled with all sorts of childish expressions and fanciful world peace ideals—it was nothing less than a black mark to her.
“…Bring him.”
“Huh?”
“B, bring him here immediately! You all, finish stitching the wound quickly and hurry out! This is a matter requiring utmost secrecy! I, I, I finally! Remembered. Hahah! There’s just been so much going on! Hahahaha!”
Laughing awkwardly, Chancellor Neumel dismissed the people around her to meet the one who had used her black mark as bait, preparing her sword as she waited. Whoever it was, the fact that they knew her embarrassing black mark meant they were very knowledgeable about the situation in Benofis and the Neumel family. This was not a matter she could ignore. ‘…A young human. But there’s something unusual about his eyes……’ “It’s an honor to meet you, Lala von Neumel.”
“…Seeing that you know my name, you’re no ordinary fellow. So, who are you? What do you want, coming to me while mentioning my black mark?”
“I came to inform you of something important. By any chance, are you aware of a place called the ‘Haldeon Ruins’, discovered in the Kmel family’s territory?”
“Haldeon? No, I don’t know. Is that a changed place name? I’ve only lived in the Garkan Republic for about 400 years since fleeing the central continent. So, what about those ruins?”
“There was… a ‘Grave of Molting’ there. You know of it, right? The place where the experimental creations of the Grand Alchemist, the ruler of the Unified Empire, Beonald von Neumel, were buried.”
The card Beonald played to test her was ‘Haldeon Ruins’. It was a place now known to contain the ‘Grave of Molting’, a place he himself had created in the past, so she would recognize it immediately and react.
“Ah! That place! Right! I know it! I remember Father being asked by the Emperor to move the strange things he made there. That place… was discovered by humans?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Because of that, the Kmel family and the Imperial side got into a dispute trying to excavate it, which eventually led to the Religious Order trying to sanctify it as a holy site……”
“Those Order bastards dare! The ones who erased Father’s legacy from history are now eyeing that legacy too?” ‘…Her hostility towards the Order is a good sign, for now. No, wait, it could conversely be a bad sign. Since I was revived by the Goddess.’ Seeing Lala von Neumel vent her fury with intense anger, Beonald thought it was still premature to judge her and decided to continue dangling bait. Having opened the conversation with the bait about the Haldeon Ruins, continuing the dialogue wouldn’t be difficult.
“It seems you have bad memories of the Order.”
“Of course! They’re the ones who erased the records of Father, who created the greatest era on the continent! They slandered the peaceful and prosperous golden age Father achieved, and after he passed, when the Great Chaos era grew unmanageably large! They joined hands with that bastard Alterio and, as if realizing their own mistakes, erased all records! History flows, people die and change, but to try and cover the sky with their palm…!”
“Ahh… I see.”
Seeing his daughter, eyes bloodshot with indignation, Beonald roughly guessed what had happened after his death. After Alterio became the new Emperor and, joining hands with other nobles and priests, purged him, he took over as the head of the Neumel family. However, failing to resolve internal opposition, a civil war broke out, hastening the Empire’s fragmentation. Amidst the continuing wars and chaos between nations, the Order, unable to let future generations know that this chaos stemmed from their own wrongdoing, embarked on a massive historical distortion.
“It’s utterly unforgivable! Although Father handled the Empire’s state affairs as he wished, he made the Empire peaceful, wealthy, and prosperous for decades! Those useless humans! That great and brilliant achievement…! They deleted it just to hide their own shame! Never! I can never forgive them!”
“…….”
“So I swore! If they wanted to hide it so badly… I would erase human history from this continent! Completely! Utterly! I will obliterate the very history that those monkeys ever lived!”
Seeing his daughter’s endless rage, as if he had touched a true nerve from the past, Beonald felt a bitter taste spread in his mouth. He too had been talented and fond of her, but come to think of it, Lara had been an exceptionally affectionate daughter who adored him. The anger and hatred rooted in her heart were surely engraved as deeply as the love she had for him. Thinking that made Beonald’s chest ache even more.