The Archdemon's Machinations - 7
After sending Dane and Eri off on their respective missions, Nahen reached a hand into the empty air, intending to head for the Northern Coalition.
“Gate.”
"Gate"
⟨ Līmen ⟩
Nahen’s mighty mana crushed the space itself. He stepped through to the back alley of Delos Castle—the same place he had once gone to find Veronika.
The reason for his visit was simple. The lord of Delos Castle was the current leader of the Northern Coalition. Previously the lord of Keln Castle had held the position, but had stepped down to take responsibility for their crushing defeat against the Empire.
Nahen first made use of the priest’s identity and robes that Dane had secured for him earlier. With a touch of magic he changed his clothes and instantly became Priest Antonio. He swept his bangs back and fixed them in place to alter his appearance, then left the alley.
As he walked the streets, people’s eyes turned toward him from time to time. A priest of the Heavenly God Church appearing in town was certainly eye-catching, yet Nahen paid the stares no mind and continued straight toward Delos Castle.
All the while, he deliberately let a portion of his mana leak outward. Then he began to do something rather clever.
“Property Transformation.”
"Property Transformation"
⟨ Constĭtútĭo immutátĭo ⟩
Ancient runes rose into the air and spread outward. The mana Nahen had scattered began to change. The power that could oppress an entire area simply by existing shifted its nature and started to radiate a sacred aura. He was imitating the holy power he had seen the angel Dobiel use before throwing him as food to Leviathan.
It was so perfectly replicated that no one could tell whether it was genuine holy power or not. A true priest who wielded real holy power would have seen through it instantly, of course.
The gazes around him changed at once. The citizens of Delos Castle looked at him as if they were beholding a living saint. Having drawn every eye on the street, Nahen slowly approached the entrance to the inner citadel.
The gate guards swallowed hard the moment they saw him, visibly tense. Nahen offered a warm, benevolent smile.
“Greetings, brothers. I am Antonio, a faithful servant of the Heavenly God who has come from the Holy Kingdom.”
He presented his identification. The guard who saw the seal of the central temple flinched in surprise and answered respectfully.
“Ah—greetings to you, sir.”
The guard himself was a follower of the Heavenly God Church. The sight of Nahen filled him with overwhelming reverence. So this is what a priest from the Holy Kingdom feels like? The thought had barely formed when Nahen spoke again.
“Is the lord inside at the moment?”
“Um… did you not have an appointment with the lord?”
“No, I came on urgent business and was unable to send word ahead. I’m not certain whether he is available.”
“The lord is inside, but… please wait a moment.”
“Of course.”
When Nahen smiled gently, the devout guard saw it as the smile of a saint. The man hurried into the inner citadel. A short while later he returned, and he was not alone. Beside him stood a kindly-looking elderly gentleman.
The old man offered a courteous greeting.
“Welcome, Priest. I am Kayler, head butler of Delos Castle.”
“Thank you for receiving me. May the Heavenly God’s blessing be upon you.”
“Please, come inside.”
Kayler led Nahen toward the mansion at the heart of the inner citadel. All seven northern castles, including Delos, followed the same layout: the area between the outer and inner walls contained the city proper, residential districts, and farmland, while the inner citadel housed military facilities and the lord’s residence. The Delos lord’s mansion stood at the very center.
Only after they reached the mansion did Kayler finally introduce himself properly.
“Oh, forgive me—I neglected to give my name earlier. I am Kayler, head butler of Delos Castle.”
“A pleasure, Brother Kayler.”
“The lord is waiting in the reception room. Please follow me.”
Kayler guided him all the way to the reception room doors.
“My lord, it is Kayler. I have brought the guest.”
“Enter.”
A clear, bell-like woman’s voice answered from within. It reminded Nahen of a bluebird’s song. He recalled her name at once. In Evil Queen Maker she had been little more than a footnote.
So this is what she sounds like.
Kayler opened the door. Nahen stepped inside and came face to face with the owner of that lovely voice—the leader of the Northern Coalition.
She was a striking woman with black hair that brought to mind his own homeland. The dark-crimson eyes peering through her bangs only deepened the mysterious aura that surrounded her.
Nahen bowed first.
“I am Antonio, a faithful believer who serves the Heavenly God. It is an honor to meet you, Lord Isabella.”
“The pleasure is mine, Priest Antonio. Please, don’t stand on ceremony—sit here.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Nahen took the sofa to Isabella’s left. Kayler offered a polite bow and quietly withdrew from the room.
“So… what business brings a representative of the central temple all the way to me?”
“I have come on behalf of the Holy Kingdom to offer a single proposal to you, Lord Isabella, leader of the Northern Coalition.”
Representing the Holy Kingdom. A proposal for the leader of the Northern Coalition. At those two points, Isabella’s eyes sharpened.
“A proposal? Is the Holy Kingdom looking to join hands with us?”
“You are aware of the recent turmoil within the Empire, yes?”
“Of course. Who would have imagined that the princess who crushed our north would personally drive her own father from the throne and install her younger brother in his place? What a pathetic farce.”
“Then you also know that Emperor Leonardo is merely a puppet.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t? We may have lost the war, but our information network still moves quickly.”
Which meant the Coalition had many spies planted inside the Empire. Nahen filed the fact away and continued.
“That is precisely why I bring this proposal. Help Emperor Leonardo and remove Charlotte von Bismarck from power.”
“…Pardon?”
“If Princess Charlotte seizes true authority and rules the Empire, we will no longer be able to contain them. The Empire has already grown fat on the spoils of war. His Holiness the Pope has declared that the Empire must be checked before it is too late, and instructed me to deliver this proposal to you.”
It was an outright lie. Yet Nahen had solid grounds for telling it. If the Northern Coalition truly sided with Leonardo, the Holy Kingdom’s response was painfully obvious. Having already expanded its influence through the Emperor’s excommunication, the Church had tasted the sweet nectar of pressuring the Empire. Given another chance, they would gladly do so again.
The Northern Coalition would create that chance. If they supported Leonardo and a genuine civil war erupted inside the Empire, the Holy Kingdom’s only logical move would be to strike while the Empire was distracted. There was no reason they wouldn’t.
Of course, that outcome would hand imperial hegemony to the Holy Kingdom, forcing the Northern Coalition to face a new enemy. However—
“…I agree that the Empire must be checked.”
The Northern Coalition had already suffered a humiliating defeat at the Empire’s hands. Before worrying about a new foe called the Holy Kingdom, they were more than willing to land a solid blow against their old enemy.
“Then…”
“But can you guarantee that Emperor Leonardo will ally with us? He must know that inviting outside forces to spark a civil war will cost him the trust of his own people.”
“There is no need for concern on that front.”
Nahen had prepared for this exact objection.
“One of our brothers has already made contact with His Majesty. The Emperor has promised he will accept an alliance with the Northern Coalition.”
He had sent Dane to the Emperor in advance. He had instructed Dane to use any means necessary to persuade him. If words failed, threats would do. And even if Dane somehow failed after trying both, it wouldn’t matter. Nahen would simply step in himself.
“……”
When Isabella fell silent, Nahen struck first—before she could think too deeply, before she could grow cautious.
“If you cannot trust us, we will simply seek another path besides the Northern Coalition.”
“…What? Wait a moment.”
“It’s quite all right, my lord. In truth, it seems we failed to show proper consideration. After your previous crushing defeat against the Empire, it was thoughtless of us to assume you would be eager to fight them again.”
“What did you just say?!”
Isabella’s temper flared exactly as expected. Nahen had essentially accused her of being afraid. By framing the entire Northern Coalition—including Isabella—as hesitating out of fear of another loss to the Bismarck Empire, he had guaranteed her defiant response.
She vehemently denied it.
“We are not afraid! The wolves of the north fight bravely against any foe!”
“Then you will accept the proposal?”
“…Fine! In three days I will lead our army to the northern border of the Empire. If the border gates do not open by then, we will consider the plan a failure and withdraw!”
“Three days,” Nahen repeated with a bright smile. “Two days will be more than enough.”
“Your Majesty.”
Rin El Laza, commander of the strongest legion under Seere von Devata and the greatest warrior among her forces, stood in full armor. She entered Seere’s office and bowed deeply.
“All legions stand ready.”
“Good.”
The floors Gremory had granted Seere ran from the fifty-sixth to the sixtieth. The sixty-first through sixty-sixth floors were still held by their respective Demon Kings.
Seere wore the bracelet Nahen had given her, the cloak he had gifted her, and the Blood Tears sword he had presented at her hip. She turned to Rin.
“While Teacher is away, we will conquer up to the sixtieth floor. Afterward we will join forces with Lady Gremory and Lady Sitri to strike the fifty-fourth floor.”
“Understood.”
“We will move extremely quickly. Can you keep up, Commander?”
At Seere’s question, Rin offered a faint, confident smile. Her eyes shone with absolute certainty.
“The path Your Majesty walks becomes law. We shall pave it perfectly in advance.”
“…Excellent.”
While Nahen was gone, Seere intended to conquer the Demon Realm in his stead, gather the Moonblood, and raise her rank—all at once. It was what Nahen desired, and…
…it will let me look better in Teacher’s eyes.
My teacher. My one and only teacher. For your sake, I will accomplish anything.
Though still young, the Demon King who was more Demon King than any other fluttered her cloak and strode past Rin.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”