179. Duty and Profit (4)
179. Duty and Profit (4)
- 1 -
In the east of the Eastern Continent, nestled between the Kingdom of Rugnisah and the Norn Empire, there was a small nation.
Its territory was small, yet it wielded influence greater than any other power on the Eastern Continent.
It was the direct dominion of the Holy Emperor.
In this place commonly called the Holy See or the Holy Kingdom, a holy knight knelt before the Holy Emperor.
As her silver-white armor emitted a sacred light, the Holy Emperor opened his mouth.
"Saintess. Esther Kantes Orpina. I shall bestow a mission upon you."
"Speak, Your Holiness."
The Holy Emperor, smiling with satisfaction at the loyal knight's demeanor, raised his scepter and brought it to her shoulder.
"You shall proceed west and supervise the peace of the tripartite war between Hysen, Aririt, and Zenota. In the name of the Holy Kingdom, I command you to bestow peace upon them."
The Holy Emperor solemnly issued the command.
By then, the smile had already vanished from his face.
"Their war has produced many casualties and made countless citizens uneasy. The longer a war drags on, the more those who seek to exploit the gaps will emerge. This is something our Holy Kingdom can never overlook."
"Indeed it is, Your Holiness."
Starlight sparkled in Esther's eyes.
It was not mere beauty, but the proof of the divine blessing bestowed upon her.
A grace that only those bearing the title of Saintess or Saint could possess.
"The mediation authority of our Holy See is absolute. Even if the warring parties refuse, I grant you the power to enforce peace in the name of the Holy Kingdom."
"I am deeply honored."
Esther bowed her head even deeper.
The mediation authority of the Holy See was a domain of divine inviolability.
For no monarch could defy the will of the divine.
"I shall await your report."
Bidden farewell by the Holy Emperor, Esther departed the Holy Emperor's Palace.
As she descended the sun-drenched marble steps, her immaculate silver armor radiated a sacred brilliance.
She looked like a heavenly messenger descended to deliver the divine will.
But once she had fully descended the stairs, the massive shadow of the Holy Emperor's Palace enveloped her.
The shade cast by the pure white building could not conceal her sacred dignity, yet the heavenly messenger-like majesty of moments before had softened considerably.
"Saintess. The carriage has been prepared."
"Thank you. For always assisting me."
"Words of such praise! Is this not our duty!"
When the attendant who had come to greet her bowed politely, Esther answered respectfully with a smile.
She was, quite literally, the epitome of a holy knight.
"Mediation of war..."
She murmured over her mission and nodded gravely.
In Esther's eyes dwelled a steadfast divine conviction that would not break before any obstacle.
"It is an honor to serve you. Saintess."
"We hear you have received a mission from His Holiness the Holy Emperor."
The Holy See officials following her greeted her courteously.
At their waists, gold-embellished holy scriptures, and on their wrists and ears, protective sacred artifacts imbued with holy power, emitted a subtle glow.
Cheolkeok. Cheolkeok.
The sound of plate mail ringing against the marble floor echoed rhythmically.
A perfectly straight back, a gait without the slightest disarray, and eyes that stared ahead unwaveringly.
Upon her noble countenance, the gilded decorations of the Holy See's stone walls shone, adding an even more sacred radiance.
- Hee-hee-hing - !
As Esther departed the Holy Emperor's direct dominion to the sound of horse hooves, the long shadow of the colossal Holy Emperor's Palace stretched out behind her.
The walls of the palace, which she turned to look back upon as her long hair fluttered in the wind, still shone with a dazzling light.
Just like the pride that filled her heart.
- 2 -
It took three days to roam the battlefield collecting the lingering grudges and corpses.
Walking among the rotting corpses and grudge-tainted spirits, we could feel firsthand the brutality of the battle that had taken place here.
"Hey! Over there! This is our territory!"
So much so that in the midst of it, there were even skirmishes with bandits who coveted those corpses.
They were lowly enough that I didn't even need to step in; the four, including Sonia, handled them easily.
'My mana has increased, if only slightly.'
I thought, feeling the power the battlefield spirits had held.
Mathepit and Damamolon.
The wreckage left on the battlefield by the armies of the two territories was horrific.
Countless corpses and a proportionate number of vengeful spirits. The number of wraiths was beyond all reckoning.
And I held all those wraiths and corpses.
What came from them was not pure mana, but things twisted and saturated with grudge. Yet the very fact that a Dungeon Lord's mana could be increased in this way meant the amount of grudge accumulated here was immense.
Were it not for the space within the shadow I possessed, in the eyes of other mages I might already have appeared as a demon formed from a mass of countless wraiths.
『Spirit Medium — A developable aptitude. You are capable of communication and communion with spirits.』
For by collecting all those spirits and corpses, the 'Spirit Medium' trait—which raised affinity with spirits—had been generated, despite my already possessing the 'Veilkeeper' trait that communicated with the spirit world.
Although it was a downgraded version of 'Veilkeeper,' it was not a bad trait.
I was a necromancer, and the more my power to handle souls grew, the faster I would be able to grow stronger.
'If I were to convert all these spirits and corpses into an army...'
I could create something akin to a brigade with my army alone, without even needing other demon beasts or humans.
I could likely overrun a sizeable fortress through sheer numbers.
Of course, that would be a matter to decide as I observed the situation.
"Wow..."
On the fifth day, we finally arrived at the frontline fortress where Elena was stationed.
Cheoks Fortress.
Standing in the north with a river wrapped around it, this fortress, being a border margrave's stronghold, was exceedingly large and majestic in appearance.
Its upper sections curved outward, and the menacing spikes for use against demon beasts embedded throughout gave it an impression more like a Demon King's castle than a human fortress.
"Is it true that Lady Elena scaled and entered this place alone?"
Sonia asked, her voice filled with wonderment.
"Yes. They say it took her only two days."
Artemis, who was beside her, also chimed in with a smile.
"I hear that on the first day, she lightly engaged in a preliminary skirmish, and then on the very next day, she climbed up those spikes on the fortress wall."
"That's incredible...!"
Though they were usually quiet, their eyes sparkled with excitement ever since they had heard of their comrade's exploits.
That sight was so endearing that an involuntary smile spread across my lips.
"That is what a hero capable of single combat is."
A knight who stepped on the outer fortress spikes and climbed the ramparts.
On the face of it, it seemed impossible, but back on Earth I had encountered stories several times of those who had accomplished such feats.
Though admittedly, those were tales from history books.
Those whom descendants jokingly called 'masters.'
The most famous of their renown was always feats like 'overthrew an enemy fortress with a small force' or 'swept away a great army with a small force.'
It eerily resembled the current assessment of Elena.
"I did not know she possessed such incredible ability."
"It is strange for you to say that now. It is also something possible for Maria beside you."
"Is that true?"
"Huh? Master. I am not that..."
Surprised by my words, Maria frantically waved her hands, her healthy-colored cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.
She too had just been gazing at the fortress with curious eyes moments before.
The fortress that Elena had seized by climbing its walls with a handful of knights.
"Of course, it would be a truly splendid thing if I could, but..."
"Do not doubt. Even if you truly find it impossible, I shall make it so."
Maria and her younger sister Artemis were special existences to me.
I was genuinely looking forward to the kind of strength they would display when they reached their peak.
Under my hand, they would never remain in a weak state.
"... Yes. Master."
Maria bowed her head deeply. Her face remained flushed, but in her eyes dwelled a resolute will of fate.
Together with her and my other subordinates, I walked slowly toward the fortress.
Peolleok!
Above the fortress, Elena's banner was fluttering.
A majestic banner depicting a single spear, a steel shield as its backdrop, and an ash-gray lion.
In truth, Elena had wished to fly my dungeon's emblem instead of that, but for me, this was sufficient.
Because whatever banner hung there, the fact that this fortress was now mine remained unchanged.
Though according to my predictions, I would likely have to return it in the near future.
"Welcome, Lady Libertas."
Before the firmly shut gates, Elena and the knights of Hysen were already standing outside with Ran.
From the mana I could sense from the knights, it was clear they had already been completely subdued by the two.
On their faces was only curiosity toward me; none appeared to be pondering what this situation meant.
"Elena."
"It has been a while."
When I extended my hand, she respectfully took it, kissed the back of it, and then began guiding me herself.
Considering her status as the daughter of a border margrave, it was a courteous act befitting the treatment of royalty.
In her eyes dwelled deep loyalty.
"It is remarkably stable."
The atmosphere inside the fortress was so calm it was hard to believe the place had been occupied by an enemy army.
It was partly thanks to Elena's occupation and governance being unoppressive, but the eerie atmosphere of the army entrusted to Yuran likely played a role as well.
For the aura of the dead inherently overwhelmed the living.
"It is all thanks to my lord husband."
Yuran whispered with a secretive smile.
The corners of her eyes curved seductively, giving her the air of a schemer, but the way her tail couldn't stay still clearly showed she was merely holding back the urge to throw herself into my arms.
I slightly quickened my pace. Her patience would not last long.
"I have done nothing, so why do you praise me with such words? This is all what you have accomplished."
"Had it not been for Lady Libertas's help, how could I have ever achieved all this alone?"
It was Elena's humility, conscious of the gazes of the surrounding soldiers and passing citizens.
They could not take their eyes off us.
They were watching with curious eyes, wondering who this personage was, being greeted with such a deep bow by the one called the hero, or the occupier, of Hysen.
In their gazes, wonderment rather than fear could be felt.
"Let us go inside and talk."
"Yes."
The inner keep gradually drew nearer before our eyes.
This inner keep, owned by the border margrave of the Zenota United Kingdom, was larger and more beautiful than any fortress I had ever seen with my own eyes.
"It is magnificent."
"The interior is also decent."
The towering spires and intricate stone decorations were like artworks.
Its appearance alone made it clear at a glance that this place was not only a strategic point but also a location symbolizing the authority of the border margrave.
Thinking of the moment when it would become fully mine, I smiled once again.
- 3 -
The Kingdom of Buran, a small and narrow land that sat astride the border between the Western and Eastern Continents.
"Keok...! Damn... bitch...!"
"..."
Kkwaaak...
"Keok!"
A body collapsed with a wretched groan. The shadow standing before it silently gazed eastward.
Through the hair covering her eyes, a single tear mole revealed her presence.
'This is...'
A faint 'premonition' being transmitted from beyond the mountain range.
It was an intuition that had been with her since birth and had kept her alive until now.
That power was now whispering from deep within her.
That she must go.
'But how...?'
Yet she could not help but hesitate.
For as someone's shadow warrior, she was not permitted the freedom to decide her own destiny.
A shadow warrior was ultimately nothing more than a blade bound at the master's feet.
"It seems I must head east."
Thus, her master's words were like fate itself to her.
At that single remark, heard upon her return from completing a mission, she could not help but feel the 'flow of fate' stir within her and widen her eyes.
"What is it? You are agitated."
She hurriedly bowed her head.
She must not reveal emotion.
She had to be a will-less blade.
- No, my lord. I merely recalled that you need to return quickly.
"I did speak of that. But what can be done? His Majesty the Emperor wishes to trade for the specialties of Hysen, it seems."
Her master answered with a wry smile.
Her master was one of the many princes of the Han Nation.
Because the current emperor had too many children, princes and princesses with thin claims to succession mostly took up administrative posts.
Among them, he was a particularly special existence.
He was a heretic who, despite being in a position to challenge the imperial authority, abandoned that path and threw himself into the commercial world.
But even he could not be completely free from the shackles of the imperial family.
For the status of a prince was a fetter that could never be cast off.
- However, did you not say that the Han Nation cannot trade with other countries of the Eastern Continent? Especially such military supplies...
"Yes. Originally, it was impossible. But I hear it will soon be possible."
All strategic materials heading to the Western Continent were under the control of the Zenota United Kingdom. Trade was likewise the same.
This iron rule had been an unbroken, unwritten law for hundreds of years.
- What do you mean by that?
At those words, she tried to hide her surprise, but could not refrain from asking further.
It was something the Han Nation had attempted several times and failed at.
The Demon Archduke Gaph, who ruled the seas, and the presence of Zenota, which directly controlled trade, were barriers too great.
"The border margrave of Hysen struck northern Zenota."
- How could that...?
Her master spoke as if muttering with a scoff, and to that she voiced something akin to a lament.
Her master shook his head and continued, maintaining his chuckle.
"They say it was because of a preemptive attack by Zenota. We'll learn the details as we go."
Her eyes narrowed. It was a situation hard to comprehend.
- ... To launch a preemptive attack from the north while having the demon tribe's land to the south. They are people without sense.
"That's what I mean. But human foolishness is hardly a matter of a day or two, is it?"
She silently nodded.
Her master was right.
The foolishness of humans was eternal.
That was why dungeons were still running rampant across the continent, and paradoxically, humans were profiting from those dungeons.
'Desire.'
Recalling the grand, blood-soaked history of desire intertwined with human history, she swallowed a sigh.
'Then...'
And at the same time, she hoped.
That at the place where this guiding 'premonition' pointed, she might find a clue to escape the confines of her stifling destiny.
Thus, she prayed.