268. Foundation Building (2)
268. Foundation Building (2)
- 1 -
I was inspecting the former Serica dungeon, which was in the midst of heavy construction, with Evangeline.
Deep underground, magical light flickered alongside the constant sound of hammering.
The monster laborers dispatched from the Gremlin Construction Company were efficiently carving new corridors and halls.
The sharp sound of rock being cut mingled with the dull rumble echoing through the underground. Construction dust was kept in check by magical barriers, leaving the air clear.
"The speed of progress remains impressive."
Eve said beside me, with admiration in her voice.
Today, instead of her usual blue uniform, she wore a black uniform that looked even more formal.
The collar and sleeves, edged with gold embroidery, added to the inherent dignity of her stillness.
"The Gremlins' construction speed is unrivaled."
I smiled as I looked around the work site.
"In this area, they're far superior even to Dwarves."
The gray-skinned Gremlins would eat soil and rock, then spit out stone that had been condensed inside their bodies and melted like slime, to build forms.
The sound of them chewing rock echoed throughout the dungeon with a crushing 'udeudeuk.'
The brown-skinned Gremlins were showing another talent.
They used the rock as fuel to breathe out a dark blue flame, making the structures even harder.
Wherever the flame touched, the stone seemed to become more solid than steel.
The green-skinned Gremlins were remarkable porters.
They were transporting the rocks and soil dug up from underground to the monsters working on the surface.
It was impressive how they moved loads several times their size with their small bodies.
"At this rate, the entire construction will truly be completed within a month. Though it will take a little more time for the Demon Realm's core to be transferred..."
Eve opened her binder and checked the schedule.
"Scarlet said it would take about another week after the move. Since it's the work of changing the mana flow of this area to that of the demon world."
"During that time, you will be weakened, Master, so you must be even more careful."
I let out a laugh. It wasn't something to worry about.
"What is there to worry about when I have you all."
Eve, who had kissed the back of my hand, gave a playful smile.
"That is true. With the five of us here, Master, you will not face any crisis."
But there was still worry in a corner of her eyes.
I gazed at that for a while, then turned my body and my gaze forward.
We left the work site behind and entered the completed grand corridor.
Amethysts embedded in the walls glowed softly. Even without daylight, the surroundings were clearly visible.
"It's beautiful. It feels like an ancient labyrinth."
Evangeline's eyes sparkled.
Her green eyes held an even more beautiful light, reflecting the purple hue.
"The you of the past would have drawn your sword at the sight of this."
At my words, Evangeline paused her steps for a moment.
And soon, a slightly sulky expression appeared on her face.
"Not to the point of drawing my sword. Even in the past, I had the eyes to call a beautiful thing beautiful."
"Oh my. Is that so. I must have misunderstood."
When I made a playful expression, she let out a chuckle and approached me, taking my hand.
Escorting me with the textbook posture of a knight, she looked around the dungeon.
"As the dungeon's structure was redesigned, it seems your power, Master, will manifest more fully now."
A satisfied look appeared on Evangeline's face.
The sight of her, dressed in her black uniform, walking through the violet corridor was like a painting.
"The dungeon reflects the Lord's will. It means I will be able to reconstruct the space into the form I desire."
When I lightly touched an amethyst on the wall, all the surrounding amethysts glowed in unison.
Just like how the purple daffodils or the black flowers had shown before.
She smiled and nodded.
Those eyes were no longer clouded by the regrets of the past. They only shone with anticipation for the future.
"The world you envision, Master. A world shared by humans and monsters. Now, that image is clearly drawn in my eyes as well."
I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Creating such a world will not be easy."
She looked down at me with eyes full of resolve.
"Of course. Change always invites resistance, but..."
Her other hand caressed the amethyst.
It was fainter than when I had touched it, but the dungeon softly resonated, welcoming her.
"Because you, Master, will be a savior, not an invader. And if there is a role I can play in that process, whatever it may be..."
Continuing our conversation, we reached the end of the construction site.
Before us, the passage leading to the dungeon's core room opened.
I nodded slowly.
"Whatever it may be, just being by my side is enough."
"Yes. Master."
Resolve and affection were imbued in her eyes.
"The future is approaching, Evangeline. And I, and all of you, will stand at the center of that era."
"It is an honor without peer in this world, Master. I shall devote everything I have to make that future a reality."
In the new core room, I smiled as I kissed her lips.
"I'm counting on you."
Her face, too, was bathed in happiness.
"You deserve to say so."
- 2 -
Today was the day the center of power shifted.
In the sky over Leopherum, the capital of the Duchy of Leoper, firework debris fluttered like flower petals, painting flashes of light.
The most important event in recent times, the prelude to a new era, was unfolding.
The coronation hall was adorned with elaborate wreaths and flags.
Crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling emitted a dazzling array of colors, and a red carpet stretched majestically across the floor.
All the major nobles of the duchy were gathered in one place, looking up at the dais.
"Here and now, from this moment!"
Duke Frederic's voice boomed like thunder through the coronation hall.
"I recognize Adelaide Sen Leoper as the heir to the Duchy! She, who holds the reins of the Steel Lions, shall lead this era anew!"
Adelaide carried out the coronation rites with a cold and dignified expression.
In a silence that felt as if time had stopped, only her footsteps echoed on the marble floor.
One step, then another.
The gaze of every noble was fixed upon her. Her grey-blue eyes stared straight at the throne without a single waver.
- Waaaaah!!!
The moment the steel crown was placed upon Adelaide's head, the cheers of the nobles exploded.
Mixed among them were forced applause and expressions of discontent, but they did not particularly stand out.
Adelaide finally turned away from the current king to face the nobles.
No emotion could be found on her pale face, but her cool-headed eyes seemed to be memorizing every single reaction from the nobles.
"I am undeserving of receiving this glorious and noble position. However!..."
Once of Ironfield, now dressed in the black ceremonial robes unique to Leoper's nobility, she looked down upon the nobles and began her speech.
It was when the ceremony had ended and the celebratory speeches had begun.
"Greetings, Your Excellency, Marquis Elena. I am..."
"Greetings. Marquis."
Elena deflected the gazes and greetings of those hoping to catch the eye of one of the coming era's power-brokers, one by one, and slipped away.
As she walked down the corridor to her private office, a subtle smile graced her expression.
'I've climbed another rung.'
Elena thought, raising the corner of her lips slightly.
'Adel unni has become the heir to the duchy, and I will hold the real power as her shadow. But the real preparation for our true Master is only just beginning...'
The two counties that were formerly the Cheoks territory had also completely fallen into her hands.
Elena would become Leoper's one and only border marquis, and she would be the backstage manipulator controlling Adelaide as her connection.
Of course, for that, one more process had to be carried out.
Click.
As soon as she heard the door open, Elena turned her head, saw the owner of the presence, and drew a smile on her face.
"Adel unni. Congratulations."
From within the shadows, Adelaide revealed herself.
Outwardly, with her near-expressionless face, she looked the same as she had with her solemn expression in the coronation hall, but Elena recognized the look of deep affection filling her face.
"It's thanks to you. El."
Adelaide approached Elena and took her hands.
A secret intimacy, unknowable to others, swirled between the two women.
"But we cannot let our guard down yet. A lot of work remains. The dissatisfaction of the former Reinhardt faction nobles still lingers after the civil war..."
Adelaide gently cut off Elena's words.
"Don't worry. We can handle them. With you by my side, I fear nothing."
The affection in Adelaide's eyes surpassed simple sisterly love.
The relationship between them was far deeper than what appeared on the surface.
"There are a few bad practices I need to touch upon as soon as you become heir, unni. It concerns the knight order policies of Leoper."
Elena opened a document box and took out several papers.
The knight orders of Leoper were vast in number and all elite, but because of that, the knights were granted a great deal of authority.
They often abused this to cause expedient but harmful situations for the nation.
"Will you be alright? You, I mean."
Adelaide hugged Elena from behind and looked at the documents together, asking.
"Of course."
Knowing what her question meant, Elena affirmed resolutely.
Deliberately cutting the discretionary power of such knights would result in weakening the authority of Elena herself, who was the current Knight Commander of Leoper.
In exchange, Adelaide, who currently had some difficulty handling the knights, would grow in power.
"Doing this is good for Adel unni."
"...Thank you. El."
Also, Adelaide's trust and faith in her would deepen.
Outwardly, appearances would diminish, but it was a suitable scheme to actually gain more power.
"There is another matter as well. Measures to strengthen cooperation with Hysen and Orbis. In particular, pioneering a trade route through the Orbis Duchy will be greatly profitable for us."
Adelaide skimmed through the documents and nodded.
"As for Hysen... meeting directly with that Countess you mentioned. Philia Elskopf, might also be worth considering."
"That person is..."
Elena pondered inwardly for a moment, then put a slight change into her voice.
"Someone special."
Adelaide keenly caught on.
"She seems to be someone who means something to you."
Elena, sensing the subtle jealousy in that voice, laughed inwardly.
That jealousy would instead lead to covering up any other suspicions.
She hesitated for a moment, then firmly opened her mouth.
"You will understand when you meet her in person. She... could become an important figure for our future."
"Our?"
Curiosity was added to the jealousy in Adelaide's eyes.
"In what sense?"
After confirming the soundproof barrier in the room, Elena moved closer to Adelaide.
"She is a person with strong influence in both Hysen and Orbis. And she is also the benefactor who... helped me during a difficult time."
"Ah..."
Adelaide was silent for a moment. Curiosity and calculation crossed her expression.
"I want to introduce you to her, unni. It seems I could arrange an informal meeting at an appropriate time."
At Elena's words, Adelaide fell into thought.
"Is there really a need to go that far?"
"Meeting her will be an opportunity, unni. Our main enemy is the United Kingdom of Zenota. For that purpose, we must join hands even with Hysen, which has currently raised a banner of rebellion."
The eyes of the two women met. A silent conversation passed between them.
"Very well. Arrange that meeting at the appropriate time."
Elena's expression softened.
"The future of Leoper rests in our hands. Unni."
Adelaide walked to the window and looked down at the full view of Leoper's royal capital.
The sound of celebratory fireworks bursting could be heard in the distance.
"Forming alliances, changing directions... Yes. The future must be met with change."
"We will become a strong nation. Unni."
Elena intertwined her fingers with those of her sister's hand resting on her stomach, embracing her, and kissed her lips.
'In the palm of our Master's hand, that is.'
In the depths of Elena's eyes, looking into the blushing face of Adelaide, her loyalty to her true Master was deeply engraved.
Her soul was already his.
She could only allow a single fragment of it to Adelaide.
- 3 -
My close aides and I gathered in the conference room of the Orbis court.
Outside the window, the late spring afternoon sun beat down hotly.
"The chaos in the Kiza Kingdom is escalating into a more serious crisis."
Evangeline added markers to the map.
Flags with red stripes on a white background and flags with blue stripes were scattered across the entire Kiza Kingdom.
"The civil war is growing in earnest."
I examined the map carefully.
The blue-striped flags concentrated around the capital belonged to the rebel army led by Clayvan, and the others were Hiscliff's expeditionary force.
"It seems the Commander of the General Knights of Kiza ultimately gave up the expedition and chose to recapture the capital..."
Shue continued in a languid voice.
Contrary to her tone, her red eyes were diligently scanning the map, observing the changes.
I realized what element was missing from her words and asked.
"What about Archduke Marcus?"
"The army split in two... the Archduke wanted to keep pushing the expedition."
"So they divided."
Yuran nodded.
Her black tails swayed, subtly scattering violet powders into the air.
"That is correct. The army was split in two, and Marcus decided to advance north with a small force."
"According to Sir Talhan, it seems the other two kingdoms watching this situation have also begun to suspect each other."
Saya added calmly.
Underneath her black traditional robe, the fingers of her hand gripping the sword hilt twitched.
"Both countries are prepared to move to take the land Kiza promised, but they are wary of the other side moving first."
"So they are keeping each other in check and not intervening directly yet."
I smiled naturally.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
"What is the Chancellor doing?"
Evangeline answered my question.
"He is still under house arrest, but he is watching the current situation closely. The people Haley planted are relaying information to him regularly."
Yuran opened her fan, gave it a wave, and continued.
"It seems the time has come for us to make him an attractive offer. Providing an opportunity for him to recover with our support, as a person who can settle the chaos in Kiza."
"But I still don't know... will he accept our offer...?"
It was Shue's question. I answered gently, yet with conviction.
"He is a person who loves Kiza. He is also practical enough to temporarily accept outside help if it means settling his country's chaos."
I placed my hand on the map and drew a circle around the Kiza Kingdom.
"Kiza's division will lay the foundation leading to the formation of the Hysen-Orbis-Leoper union. While Hysen advances north, the Norn Empire will strike, and Zenota will take advantage of this chaos to attack Leoper."
Everyone's gazes were directed at me.
I continued leisurely.
"In that way, they will come and fill the eligibility for my union on their own. The prestige as a mediator, and the union consolidating my rule... all of it will be achieved."
Hysen's northward advance would be a step urging the decisive battle between the two kingdoms, which would also give the Norn Empire the illusion that they had obtained an opportunity.
I tapped my lips with my finger, examining the borders of each nation drawn on the map.
Tok-tok.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the conference room door.
"Come in."
As soon as I gave permission, the maid opened the door, entered, and carefully presented a letter.
"An urgent letter from the Demon Realm. Master."
"Thank you. You may go back to your duties."
"Yes."
After the maid withdrew, I checked the seal stamped on the letter and its contents.
It was from the goblin merchant named Grim, the deputy chief of the Mammon Trading Company, with whom I had connections.
「...Information has come in that Duke of Gluttony Baalzebub has made contact with Archduke of Secrets, Dantalion. Although it is not yet confirmed information, it is certain that Dantalion is actively moving to check the Lady's expanding influence.」
When I shared the contents, I could see the other close aides all stiffen their expressions.
I spoke, still calm.
"It was something to be expected. It's nothing surprising. Even so, the Duke of Gluttony doesn't know much about my affairs anyway."
In the demon realm, they can certainly obtain information on where my dungeon is located.
But the only moves Dantalion can currently make are indirect attacks from the surface and the demon realm.
Unless he intends to risk attacks from other Archdukes and strike me directly himself.
Moreover, I possessed various means to ensure that even if he struck me directly, I would not be easily defeated.
'As expected, the one who leaked this information would be the Duke of Gluttony himself.'
By sending a warning to me through the Mammon Trading Company, he was notifying me of the fact that he is watching.
Telling me not to even think about daring to rebel against him.
It might not be perfectly accurate, but it wouldn't be far off.
Annoyingly, I resembled him quite a bit.
I rose from my seat and walked to the window.
The city of Atrium stretched out below. Humans and monsters were mingling together on the streets.
"There's no need to hide anymore. The tracks we've hidden so well are already serving as their own cover. Let us simply attend to our own work."
All my close aides nodded.
Deep resolve was imbued in their eyes.
"Let's go to Yurena. We must prepare for the northward advance."
"Yes!"
My vision was becoming reality, step by step.