Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Hawk is the Medicine (4)
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I stared fixedly at Mikel, who was smiling amiably beside me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
He acted as if he hadn't done anything at all, utterly shameless. But I had a rough idea of what had happened after I left yesterday.
"Thank you, Lord Mikel."
A soft tone slipped out naturally.
"Didn't you already thank me earlier?"
"This is for something else."
"Oh, you're quick on the uptake."
Mikel cleared his throat awkwardly and turned away.
"Since this is the last meeting, let's wrap it up properly to the end."
"Understood."
I bowed politely and sent Mikel back to his seat. As I made my way to mine, I felt an intense gaze from the observers' seats on the second floor.
"......"
The source was Cain. He turned his head away just before our eyes met.
'He must be pretty upset.'
I'd taken all the attention and focus he was supposed to get at this noble conference. On top of that, there was the duel with Mikel that Cain hadn't achieved in the original story.
As much as I'd gained a lot from this trip to the capital, Cain had lost just as much in reverse.
But.
'I can't let my guard down.'
There were far too many obstacles placed in Abel's path in life.
Besides, Cain was the original story's certified overpowered lucky charm. No matter how much I widened the gap, some unexpected coincidence would pop up to help him.
'To counter that, then...'
I sat quietly in my seat, waiting for Emperor Theodore to enter.
"His Majesty the Emperor arrives!"
With the attendant's guidance, the meeting began.
Today's session was a bit different from the previous two days. It summarized the agreements so far and addressed additional agenda items beyond the main ones.
"-I hope we proceed in that direction."
As usual, Carlo took the lead in guiding the meeting.
He frequently glanced my way with wary eyes. I ignored him and simply observed the proceedings.
'Again, wasting energy on pointless things.'
I'd already secured everything I needed from this meeting. All that remained was one big final blow at the end.
"If the temperatures continue to drop, the Nord Territory will need additional support."
Lord Benifer spoke in a calm tone. It was now time to discuss the final additional agenda item.
"I'm aware the Nord Territory relies mostly on grain imports. This year, the Est Territory will provide grain aid."
"That eases my mind. Thank you, Lord Benifer."
"No need to mention it."
A warm atmosphere flowed between the two lords. Carlo snorted quietly to himself as he watched them.
Seizing the moment, I slowly raised my hand.
"I have one proposal regarding that 'support.'"
All eyes turned to my hand, the first time I'd raised it today.
"A proposal?"
Carlo smirked faintly.
"Does the Ovest Territory have the spare capacity for that?"
Ignoring Carlo's jab, I looked straight at the attendant.
"May I speak?"
Reminding everyone that the final authority here wasn't Carlo, but the emperor beside the attendant.
"......"
Carlo glared at me, his lips tightening.
"Of course."
The attendant nodded with his usual businesslike demeanor. But I could see the corner of his mouth twitch upward slightly.
"Lord Mikel mentioned that monsters are increasingly encroaching on villages. Is that correct?"
"That's right."
After securing Lord Mikel's agreement, I continued smoothly.
"Of course, Lord Benifer's proposal will greatly help the suffering villagers."
Lord Benifer's red lips curved into a smile as she listened.
"But I believe the root problem lies elsewhere. With the monsters themselves."
I addressed all the nobles listening intently, as well as the emperor.
"I propose a full-scale northern monster subjugation campaign before the harsh cold truly sets in."
The moment I finished, the nobles buzzed in low voices. They seemed quite surprised by the unexpected proposal.
It was a stark contrast to when I'd first suggested the ratio system.
Back then, most reactions were 'What is that kid babbling about?' But now, more were seriously pondering my words.
'Just two days, and the treatment has completely changed.'
I leisurely savored the shift while gauging the room.
'In the original, it was Cain who proposed the subjugation.'
In the original story, Cain soon returned to his territory and became the master of the Sword of Summer, Cadenza. Meanwhile, Aria descends on the north, kills Mikel, and imprisons his daughter Lea in her grasp.
[I will go.]
Cain shines in the northern subjugation with Cadenza in hand. With his fire manipulation ability, it was all too easy for him.
...or so the plot went.
'But things have already gone awry in many ways.'
Cain would struggle quite a bit to obtain Cadenza.
However, Aria's descent on the north was inevitable. Mikel mentioning the dropping temperatures was the precursor.
'This time, I'll be the one to save Lea.'
In the original, the scene where Cain rescues Lea trapped in an ice crystal was an iconic moment talked about endlessly.
Of course, without Cadenza, it'd be trickier for me. But I already had a solution in mind.
Finishing my brief thoughts, I glanced at Mikel. He was lost in deep thought, hand cupping his chin.
"What insolence is this!"
The person concerned was calm, but someone else voiced displeasure. Carlo, frowning openly.
"Lord Mikel has steadfastly guarded the northern snow mountains for decades. Proposing a subjugation implies doubting Lord Mikel's capabilities, does it not?"
I gazed steadily at Carlo without a hint of agitation.
At that moment, not just me, but everyone in the meeting hall likely thought the same.
'Since when did you care so much about Mikel?'
Of course, Carlo's remark wasn't out of genuine concern for Mikel. He was wary of the rapport I'd built with Lord Mikel.
'Sowing discord like this.'
Didn't it make it look like I was proposing this out of disdain for Mikel?
"I wouldn't dare."
I opened my mouth and responded smoothly.
"It just came to me while thinking of ways to help the Nord Territory."
I indirectly asked why he was so twisted up inside, and veins bulged on Carlo's forehead.
"Our territory isn't as grain-rich as the Est Territory."
I added with a sigh, as if regretful.
"So I thought, what if we provide manpower instead of grain?"
"......Ahem."
Carlo skillfully masked his expression. After a moment's thought, he asked in a more cautious tone.
"If that's the case, shouldn't the Ovest Territory provide support first?"
His long experience in politics was no joke.
He was being careful not to let me attack him, especially avoiding the logic I'd used last time—that this was all for the empire.
"Of course, the Ovest Territory could use more hands, that's true."
I replied, hiding a wry smile.
"But winters there are far more manageable. Most monsters hibernate."
Carlo's red eyes glared at me with suspicion.
'What scheme is he plotting now?'
His gaze seemed to ask.
From just a few days' experience, he seemed to have realized I never stepped forward without reason.
'Well, it is partly for my own benefit.'
I blinked innocently and said,
"Am I being too simplistic?"
I shrugged and raised my voice for all to hear.
"I thought we could simply draw a few personnel from each territory. The Nord Territory gets its headache solved, and the other territories contribute to the empire's safety. Isn't that good for everyone?"
In that instant, the lords' eyes changed. They were quickly calculating the pros and cons.
'Yes, just as I expected.'
With Emperor Theodore halting wars and resting, each family's knight order had no chance to show their strength.
But.
If they earned merits in this subjugation? They'd gain influence over the Nord Territory and elevate their family name.
Armies prove their worth through war, after all.
Carlo glanced upward briefly. There was Cain, pressed close to the observers' railing.
The father and son's eyes met.
Cain shot Carlo an eager look, conveying his strong desire to join the subjugation.
"......"
Carlo nodded as if understanding, then fell into thought.
'I can read his mind perfectly.'
Right now, he was probably picturing Cain grandly leading a victory parade.
"...If it's a subjugation with that intent, it seems acceptable."
Carlo finally spoke slowly.
"The Sud Territory will assist as well. We can't hold back for the Nord Territory, or the empire at large."
His tone brimmed with solemn resolve. Anyone might think the Ardante family of the Sud Territory were the only true patriots.
'Saying that without even wetting his lips.'
Knowing Carlo's ulterior motives, I found it amusing.
'If only he'd wipe away that greed hanging from his eyes.'
Carlo was surely thinking of Cain's rising fame and the influence he'd wield over the Nord Territory.
'He wants to saddle Mikel with a debt somehow.'
Mikel couldn't be unaware of Carlo's schemes. His glance toward Carlo was icily hardened.
"If that's the case, our territory too..."
"We lack suitable forces. We'll just provide grain."
The other lords chimed in one by one.
"Not a bad proposal."
Emperor Theodore slowly spoke.
"Since ancient times, when borders faced peril, forces from other territories gathered as reinforcements."
His red eyes turned to Mikel.
"But the most important is Lord Mikel's own will."
Every eye in the meeting hall turned to Mikel.
"......"
Mikel slowly stroked his beard with his scarred hand. A deliberate, thoughtful motion.
He was surely agonizing over what choice served his territory best.
"Very well."
Mikel finally spoke.
"I'll gladly accept the aid from each lord."
A smile flickered on Carlo's lips, and the other lords nodded.
"But one thing must not be forgotten."
Mikel nailed it down firmly as he looked at them.
"I'll ensure my hospitality is impeccable, but I won't extend tolerance to guests ignorant of propriety."
In short, a warning not to covet anything beyond subjugating monsters. Especially a jab at Carlo and his shady intentions.
"Oh, of course."
Carlo replied with a gentle smile.
"But I trust the Nord Territory won't ignore guests who provide aid."
"If those guests don't overreach, naturally not."
Crackle!
Sparks flew between the two lords.
'Those two haven't changed.'
The rest proceeded swiftly.
"Then, for the subjugation schedule..."
"A week after the harvest festival should work. The other lords will need prep time too."
At Mikel's response, the attendant wrapped it up.
"Very well. The northern monster subjugation will commence in early December, after the harvest festival."
Mikel's expression turned complicated for a moment, but he soon shook it off.
"Understood."
Borrowing hands from other territories must chafe, but the unnatural cold seemed to tip the scales.