Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: If You Want Peace, Prepare for War
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94―――――
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”
“...Hah.”
Margrave Lichten’s reaction, after hearing the full story from Sion, was—as expected—a sigh brimming with disbelief and astonishment.
It was common knowledge that elves looked down on humans, refusing even to mix with them, always viewing themselves as superior.
But not only had they attacked the royal castle, they’d driven monsters toward this place—Hispania’s frontline, Klauzen Territory—aiming to isolate it. And worse, they’d even mobilized Nudia to bring it all crashing down!
“This father of yours can’t bring himself to believe any of this.”
“If you’re still doubtful, Your Lordship, just go see the elf scum in the interrogation room.”
“That’s not it.
It’s not that I doubt your words. It’s just... none of it sits right with me.
Haa...
What in the world is going on?”
Sion nodded as if he fully understood Margrave Lichten’s words.
Truth be told, he’d anticipated this reaction from the start.
When continentals heard ‘demons,’ they pictured all sorts of negative stereotypes. ‘Beastkin’ evoked wild savagery.
‘Dwarves’ brought to mind master craftsmen.
None of that was wrong.
They were preconceptions ingrained from childhood tales and teachings—natural fixtures in the human mind.
‘Elves, though, hold a pretty favorable image among humans compared to other races.
Celestials go without saying.’
Sure, they were unlucky, haughty old fogies drunk on their own superiority.
But they were also the noble, dizzyingly alluring, beautiful, and elegant forest folk.
That was the human image of elves.
Who could have predicted they were vile enough to scheme something this ruthless—wiping humans out wholesale—despite viewing them as lowly?
‘That perception just got flipped on its head today. No wonder he’s shocked.
Even Lucia looked a bit rattled.’
Sion let out an internal sigh and fixed his gaze on Margrave Lichten.
The elves were a problem, but a bigger one might be unfolding right in front of them.
“I heard you sent a letter to Count Basura.”
“Yes.”
“What was his reply?”
“He claims he knew nothing about it. Says he never sent any message to the royal castle and that, upon hearing of the frequent monster attacks, he was actually considering sending aid to our territory.”
“...Do you believe that’s true?”
Sion fell silent at the question, lost in thought for a moment.
A ceasefire had been signed, but Nudia and Hispania remained uneasy neighbors.
For Nudia’s Count Basura to offer aid to Klauzen Margrave Territory, under monster siege?
If this had come out of nowhere, Sion would have suspected him immediately.
‘But.’
Count Basura was a fish out of water, gripped by all manner of weaknesses.
Unless he pulled off some monumental feat—no, even then—his political enemies would crush him.
‘Of course, he could risk exposing those weaknesses to strike Klauzen.
It’s the stuff of books or movies, but not entirely impossible.
Still...’
If Basura were a loyal Nudian noble, Sion would have stayed on guard.
But he was like Sion—someone who valued ‘himself’ above all.
From the novel, Basura came off as utterly self-centered, borderline selfish.
A noble who cared only for his own lands, authority, and wealth over his nation.
With such a weakness in their hands—one that could end his noble life in an instant—there was no way he’d act uncooperatively.
“We can’t relax until we get some rough intel on Nudia’s movements.”
Margrave Lichten pressed his temples as if nursing a headache.
In just a few short months: war, negotiations, the royal castle attack, assassination attempts on Sion, the slave market, monster raids on the territory, and now elves behind it all.
It was a miracle he hadn’t collapsed already.
Yet his expression wasn’t all that grim. Sion had neatly resolved the biggest headache: the monster attacks.
“Speaking of which, Sion.
I heard you captured those griffins alive.”
“That’s right, Father.
Only five—not a huge number—but they’re plenty useful.”
“Useful?
Are you planning to tame them?”
“For now, you could say that.”
If he’d expected some grand reaction, he’d be disappointed. None came.
Margrave Lichten simply nodded in agreement, showing no particular surprise.
‘Humans across the continent have tried desperately to tame flying monsters before.
Most gave up because the costs didn’t justify it.’
Flying through the skies—wasn’t it every man’s dream? No, every human’s.
Ground-dwellers had a peculiar fondness for conquering the unreachable.
The author had mirrored that desire in the novel. Long before Sion’s own ideas, many had shown keen interest in aerial transport via flying monsters.
Especially in war, sky dominance meant absolute advantage, drawing massive attention and funding.
But the results? Disastrous.
‘Catching and taming flying monsters, or raising eggs and hatchlings—both near impossible.
They nest on sheer cliffs deep in mountains to evade predators.’
The manpower to breach monster-filled ranges for one flying monster yielded a mind-boggling 1:100 exchange rate!
And that was just for capture—excluding the costs of transport, training, and obedience.
Adults were nearly impossible to catch, and even if caught, their wariness of humans was sky-high. Adults: out.
That left eggs or chicks, but the expenses were astronomical.
‘And that’s not all?
Even if perfectly tamed, landing near the ground meant instant takedown by archers or mages.’
From acquisition to feeding, raising, training—battlefield utility was negligible.
Plus, barring massive specimens, flying monsters needed light bodies, leaving scant room for riders.
At best, two people. Hardly meaningful firepower.
‘So it boiled down to transport or scouting—both dwarfed by maintenance costs.’
Classic case of the remedy worse than the disease.
They looked impressive, intimidating foes, a coveted asset.
But open the lid? “What the hell is this crap?” territory.
“So, what I’m saying is...
Can I handle the management and treatment of the griffins?”
“You slew and captured those monsters. It’s your achievement.
You state the obvious.
If you want, I can even assign soldiers or knights to ride them.”
“I’ve got other plans for that.”
Most had envisioned loading soldiers or knights onto flying monsters—like aerial cavalry.
Flash here, flash there, knights soaring? Style points off the charts, regardless of practicality.
‘Bullshit.
Style doesn’t feed you.
Utility matters more.’
Sion had no intention of squandering those precious five griffins so foolishly.
Few in number, max two riders, insane upkeep costs—but for the future, he’d try.
‘The money I squeezed from Count Basura is still plentiful.’
Money, the biggest hurdle? Skipped, thanks to that generous 4 million dirhams from Basura.
Next: riders for those prickly beasts.
“Father.
Can you issue a proclamation in the Margrave’s name?”
“In my name?
What kind of proclamation?”
“One recruiting those brimming with the dream to freely soar the skies.”
―
After briefing Margrave Lichten, Sion headed to his assigned office.
With the royal castle’s formal approval, he was now officially handling duties as Klauzen Margrave Territory’s heir.
‘First step seems solid.
Damn, a little later and it would’ve gone to hell.
Those damn elves, celestial chicken bastards.’
He gripped his forehead, sank into his chair, and sighed. Lilit, core member of the so-called ‘Sion Squad,’ watched quietly before speaking up.
“What’s the plan now, Sion?”
“Beats me...”
“Master.
Shouldn’t we report everything to the royal castle?”
“Rishi, if that sparks war with all the elves, it’d play right into the hands of those who attacked the castle and our territory.
From what I heard earlier, not every elf is behind this, right?”
“Nyaong.
Most pointy-ears live in the forests.
Humans leave elves alone because storming the woods costs too many lives, yeah?”
Exactly. That was the angle they were exploiting.
The radicals wanted humans suspecting each other, other races—until swords were drawn and war erupted.
‘What if those blades turned on kin?
Then: Oh dear, turns out demons put those scum up to it!
Demons are the bad guys!
Demons, demons, demons!
Toss in some olive branches, play nice, and everyone buys it.
The “demons are evil” frame celestials pinned on them eons ago still holds perfectly.’
That’s why Sion couldn’t speak freely.
Some elves acting up? Humans could swallow that.
But for their schemes to serve celestials?
Worlds apart.
‘Elves are the baddies’ vs. ‘Celestials are the baddies’—night-and-day difference.
‘Damn.
This is tougher than I thought.
Celestials are too deeply idolized.
Push too hard to shatter it, and my own head cracks first.
Shit.’
His goal wasn’t scrapping with jam-slathering pointy-ears.
It was the black-hearted doves lurking behind, smirking benevolently while spitting seeds.
Even if ‘celestial bastards!’ slipped from his lips, he needed enough buy-in that allies thought ‘Really?’ not ‘Nonsense.’
“...”
Kim Yu-hyun leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching.
Sion’s strongest card—the novel’s true protagonist. But would he move as desired? Unknown.
Gazing at him, Sion suddenly recalled the novel and tilted his head.
‘Hold on.
Do I really need to take the risk?’
In the novel, Kim Yu-hyun was first to uncover the celestials’ villainy.
He tried spreading the word, but post-great war, it was far too late. Despite his fame, it birthed enemies everywhere.
‘Boost his fame faster and higher than in the novel, reveal the celestials’ true face sooner, then let him speak first instead of me...’
Not bad.
Sion could play staunch ally supporter.
‘He’s born to suffer hero anyway.
He saves the continent, not me.
A little early hardship? No issue.
Might even be better.
No reason for me to risk it.’
Yu-hyun would scream ‘What bullshit!’, but Sion didn’t care about his feelings.
Even the protagonist was just a lifeline tool to Sion.
Natural outcome.
‘Yeah, Yu-hyun.
Since you’ll suffer anyway, let’s frontload it.
Lucky you?
Unlike the novel, you’ve got a solid backer like me—not soloing every trial.
Your bro’s got you covered, so suffer a bit more!’
Worse than a sergeant guzzling booze to snag NCO recruits.
Oblivious to the devilish thoughts, Kim Yu-hyun eyed Sion, wondering what brilliant scheme brewed.
...Poor guy.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
Seeing comments noting I've shown even a little growth compared to my last work.
Phew, relief!
Even I know the previous one was a mess in so many ways...
I've poured effort into improving bit by bit ㅠ
Here's to becoming an even better author!
A rec for a hack like me would be much appreciated!