This Time, It's a Temporary Alliance!
“Your Majesty.”
The banquet hall the next day was just as lively and cheerful as ever.
“Do you truly wish to see blood with me?”
“Hoho. You still haven't shed that temper of yours, Arctic?”
Everywhere except right beside the emperor.
Arctic Volkov had suddenly appeared next to the emperor, who had been chatting with the nobles, and demanded a private audience in the most rude manner imaginable.
Of course, the emperor magnanimously forgave him and was now speaking with him aside.
“You'll end up committing treason at this rate.”
The nobles, unaware of the situation, flinched at the occasional harsh words leaking out.
The two involved parties, however, didn't make an issue of it.
“If you wish, I'll come down for a small bout. It's been a while since I traded punches with that guy from the Imperial Knights. Ki-hi-hi…!”
“The vice-captain still says the spot where you hit him aches to this day. Keh-heh!”
It was because the two had been thick as thieves since their days at the Imperial Academy.
Back then, they were the academy's notorious troublemakers.
That's why rumors persisted that the previous emperor despised Arctic Volkov.
“I chased off those pesky nobles bothering you again. You owe me one this time too?”
“My thanks, you troublesome old friend.”
Whenever they reunited at banquets like this, Arctic would drag the emperor away under some pretext or another.
Those in the know were all heavyweights from various factions… so their underlings must have had headaches trying to stir up division between the emperor and Arctic. Anyway.
“Your Majesty.”
“Arctic.”
Even for those two, there were topics that sharpened tempers.
In the past, it had been border issues or budget allocations…
“Akion Energies. Do you truly intend to take him in?”
This time, it concerned Akion Energies.
“He's engaged to my daughter. Do you really have to do this?”
The Energies family had arranged the engagement first, so why was the emperor butting in?
They appreciated the high evaluation of their prospective son-in-law's potential, but did it really warrant taking him away?
“I understand your concerns, Arctic. However, I have high expectations for the Energies family's potential once more.”
“You mean magitech engineering?”
“Precisely. My focus is more on magitech engineering than on Akion Energies himself.”
The emperor drove the point home: not Akion, but magitech.
Still, Arctic couldn't quite comprehend.
“Then what was your intention in seemingly approving Marquis Yurinchev's war?”
Why hadn't he stopped Marquis Yurinchev from attacking the Energies family?
Gossipmongers and politically savvy nobles alike couldn't fathom the emperor's motives.
Wasn't it meant to check the Energies through Yurinchev?
And now trying to claim him as a son-in-law? Wasn't that too brazen?
“Arctic.”
And the emperor—
—Rriip…!
“If Energies were mere vermin unable to withstand even that, I wouldn't have entertained Yurinchev's opinion in the first place.”
—revealed the visage of a dragon, its vertical pupils ripping wide, lording over all.
Arctic felt a chill down his spine every time this happened.
The emperor might be weaker in raw martial prowess, but as a ruler, he was a born monster.
“So it was a test.”
“Yurinchev needed disciplining anyway. Why should I tolerate a noble growing fat enough to eye neighboring imperial territories?”
The emperor's intentions had been the opposite from the start.
He planned to use Energies as a pretext to rein in Yurinchev.
Nobles who got too powerful needed a trimming now and then.
“You're as ferocious as ever.”
—Tsss…
“Tsk tsk. I only want the common folk to live in peace.”
Arctic understood why this emperor, Theodore Pandragon, was hailed as a sage king by the masses.
He also understood why the intermediary ruling class—the nobles—called him a tyrant.
As the emperor's eyes returned to a more human shape, he realized it was time to lighten the mood.
“And Arctic, my comrade in joy and sorrow. I'm not trying to steal your daughter's husband. We're just deciding who marries first.”
“You're planning to use imperial authority to go first anyway.”
“Come now. It's not about order. A harmonious, joyful family is what matters.”
As the two bickered, a knight at the banquet hall entrance stirred.
—Boom boom!!
“—Lord Akion Energies enters!!”
“Hm. Right on time.”
They hadn't caught the earlier commotion, but the man at the center of the debate had just arrived.
Thinking back to what they missed, there must be an escort.
The emperor and Arctic watched the entrance, one with anticipation, the other with unease—
“Hm. Upon reflection, it's less flowers in both hands and more dragons in both.”
“D-does that mean I'm a dragon too…?”
“Eum. Not quite on this lady's level, but the blood in your veins is closer to dragon than human. You can take a bit of pride in that.”
Akion appeared, not with flowers on both arms, but dragons.
“Hah?”
“Huh?!”
Both Arctic Volkov and the emperor's eyes bulged.
“Isn't that the Ridaside Tower Master? His Majesty's… that distant…”
“Ancestor, indeed. And for her to… hoho, ho…! Goodness…”
They had expected only the princess, but this new player's arrival shocked them.
The great black dragon who had upheld the empire for a millennium and even given a speech today…
“Hee hee hee, Akion. Cat got your tongue? Can't believe it?”
“Words fail me, yeah.”
“So thrilled? Hee hee hee, to think you'd be this delighted at the chance to escort this lady.”
…was entering arm-in-arm with Akion, her cheeks flushed like a lovestruck maiden!!!
“Arctic.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
What were dragons, after all?
Proper enough in daily life, but once smitten, they'd do anything to claim their prize.
Not a few had turned evil that way.
And each time, nations vanished from maps, leaving only traces in continental histories.
The two fathers, both eyeing Akion as a son-in-law…
“How about forming an alliance?”
“I fully agree.”
…clasped hands immediately.
To achieve their plans without rousing the sleeping(?) dragon's ire, they needed an alliance this time!
* * *
“Ughhh.”
And so two days, three, four, five passed.
The five-day Millennium Founding Festival banquets came to an end.
Of course, the festival itself continued for a full month across the empire, accounting for travelers flocking to the capital.
“You look quite worn out.”
Akion had been dragged to the banquets for all five days.
To feed him connections, courtesy of Delpord.
Unable to endure any longer, Akion had fled home early, leaving his father behind.
Now, sprawled in the carriage using the Tower Master's lap as a pillow, he lay limp.
“I wish Father would just handle all the politics…”
“Akion. These experiences build character and flesh. Even if you leave Energies someday, today's connections will surely help.”
Delpord was making up for past shortcomings by aiding him,
but honestly, it had been torture for Akion.
Choosing every word and action meticulously to avoid offense—how exhausting.
Akion had even witnessed real-time duels sparked by the slightest slip.
“Couldn't Brother or Sister handle it? They're both capable…”
Of course, he'd seen Huan and Hermione's formidable political skills too.
That was Energies for you. They'd scooped up contracts, deals, and collaborations galore at the banquets and bragged about them.
“Delpord said finding multiple sons-in-law is a hassle.”
“As expected, my laziness is hereditary—wait, multiple sons-in-law? What about Brother?”
“Ahem.”
A heavy silence fell between the Tower Master—who had turned Delpord into a father-in-law maker—and Akion, the unwitting enabler. Anyway.
“W-well… since Brother shows signs of remorse, I'll help him advance his circles with all my might.”
“Eum. If that's your view, this lady shall assist as well.”
—Hii-hiing!!
“We've arrived!”
Thankfully, the coachman's call ended the awkward moment.
—Clack!
“Haa. This fresh air…”
Akion felt an indescribable comfort at the sight of Energies territory unfolding as the carriage door opened.
Since regaining his past-life memories, he prioritized those values,
but over a decade in the Energies barony wasn't so easily forgotten. Nostalgia hit hard.
“Akion. Off to the workshop?”
“Sis and I will unpack first, so meet us there!”
“Yeah, see you there. Tower Master, let's go!”
“Hee hee, indeed.”
Akion headed straight for the workshop.
He was curious what research had progressed in his absence. Without him, the folks here always dove into wildly inventive projects.
The Tower Master followed, gazing fondly at the endearing Akion…
—Kagagak!
—Boom!!
“Kyaha hahaha!! This is incredible, Sir Clad!”
…only to witness a scene at the workshop entrance: a massively thick iron plate riddled with holes.
—Bang bang bang!!!
An immense torrent of mana and aura.
A spear with a wildly spinning screw blade at its tip tore through the iron plate—thick enough to halt a colossal golem's charge…
“My masterpiece… as expected, it shines brightest in a master's hands!”
“Ahh… with this Spiral Spear, I can shred those iron-like ice beasts of the north to bits!”
…ripping it to shreds.
For Isirel Volkov, who had been up north.
Clad Steelbern watched delightedly from the side, raving about it.
“Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing Lady Isirel's spearmanship… but that swing earlier felt like witnessing an entirely new technique.”
“Hee hee hee! Your insight is spot on. It was a brand-new spearmanship inspired by this spiral-powered spear!”
“Ehyat ha ha ha!! As expected of Lady Isirel!!!”
“As expected of Sir Clad!! You made the Spiral Spear we couldn't! I'm in awe!!!”
“And what of Lady Isirel! I thought my spearwork proficient enough, but that penetration power is awe-inspiring!!”
Iron plates lay scattered everywhere in tatters.
Blacksmiths, knights, and guards alike crowded around, making a huge racket.
“What the fuck is this.”
Akion's head throbbed from the Holy Light Sword business.
That's why he'd rushed home early upon hearing the Saintess wanted to meet him on the festival's final day…
“Ah, Workshop Master Akion?!”
“Akion?! Th-this! This is, well…!”
What the hell had these people done now?
Akion's head already pounded.