356. Adversary (1)
356. Adversary (1)
- 1 -
By the time I freed myself from the bed, it was already the dead of night.
The sleeping Serica's face was peaceful.
A look that had shaken off all the worries and bewilderment from just moments before.
Feeling a smile naturally spread across my lips, I brushed her hair up.
A sense of happiness lingered around her lips as she clutched the blanket tightly.
'I can just leave her like this until morning.'
Tomorrow morning, the investiture ceremony for Serica and Evangeline's titles, officiated by Yurena and Amelia, was to be held in Atrium.
The allied banquet to celebrate the victory against Aririt would also be held at the same time.
An event meant to reaffirm the bond of the alliance and simultaneously spread 'trust in the alliance' among the populace.
The protagonists of such an event could not be allowed to doze off.
'It would be nice if this peace would just continue.'
But even now, at this very moment, my enemies were moving.
I rose from my seat and flicked a finger.
Tak.
The tea set moved on its own and began to brew tea.
I had silenced the sound so that Serica would not wake.
Leaning against the window of Narcissus Palace, I recalled the targets I intended to hunt this time.
'Andras and Gaph.'
The Archdukes of the Demon Realm on the western continent.
The ones I had reached out to first, before confronting Dantalion.
Of course, the attempt at contact back then wasn't aimed at interaction itself. It was more like a proposal sent knowing it would be refused.
[I will establish an embassy in your Demon Realm. And marry the bloodkin we send. It would also be beneficial if you could lend us your army.]
I hadn't expected this kind of mockery to come back, though.
Their purpose was clear.
To embrace me but control me thoroughly, to take everything of mine.
If they had accepted my proposal, that would have been a satisfactory situation in its own way, but to them at the time, I was merely an 'insignificant presence.'
In their eyes, I was not an 'ally' but a 'tool.'
It was an understandable attitude.
The two on the eastern continent had already received my 'gifts' in past rounds, but the two on the western continent had little vested interest tied to me.
No human would immediately respond seriously if a rat suddenly shouted at them one day, 'Let's interact!'
Unless they thought it was a monster and called for pest control, that is.
But understanding and acceptance were separate matters.
[In the old days, we would have gone to cut their throats right away. We only held back because accomplishing your work, Master, was more important.]
[Fufu. You are making such adorable sounds.]
[I remember wondering what sort of nonsense it was when I heard that Kal cried. Now, I think I understand.]
The reactions of my close aides upon hearing that story came to mind.
The hostility lacing Eve's gentle voice.
The killing intent that Ran couldn't hide even while covering her mouth.
The sharp spirit Saya harbored as she caressed her blade.
Their gathered and fiercely boiling rage.
'Even without that incident, their stance would have been the same...'
The five, including Shue and Esther, hated all the Archdukes of the Demon Realm.
The most extreme, Shue, basically treated the demons other than me as fundamentally 'scum.'
Though she usually hid it behind a languid attitude.
Their hatred had been there from the beginning.
Because the six Archdukes of the Demon Realm were the targets of their revenge.
'They had staged quite the grand ladder-kicking.'
My defeat in the 1st round was connected to all of them.
An aggressive offensive to prevent the creation of another rival.
Among them, the most active were, apparently, surprisingly, Andras and Gaph.
It was said that Dantalion and Astaroth were the assistants, and they were the main perpetrators.
[If there had been five Eastern Continent archdukes including you, Master, it would have broken the 2:2:2 alliance structure of the Northeast-Southeast-Western Continents... That's probably why.]
According to Shue's testimony, if I were to build an alliance as an Archduke back then, the most likely partners would have been Eligos and Agares of the Southeast.
A situation similar to now.
To them, someone like me would have been a presence difficult to bring in as an ally, but troublesome to make an enemy of.
If four Archdukes allied like that, the other two would have had little reason to oppose it.
'To my current self, it's a memory that doesn't even register...'
But for the five regressor aides, it was different.
And to me, their 'master,' their emotions were vividly felt.
For them, the grudge against those figures was an ongoing, present-tense affair.
The burning rage and boiling hatred would not be satisfied even if it burned away their bodies and evaporated their souls.
The source of the grudge that quenched that fury and hatred... that is, if I had not been beside them, it would not have been strange for them to completely surrender their bodies to those emotions.
Therefore...
Dalkak.
'I need an opportunity to cool them down appropriately.'
I thought this while holding the teacup that had flown over and landed before me on its own.
This was one of the reasons I entrusted my body to them now. About 10% of it.
Of course, the remaining 90%... well, you'd know without me saying. I'm not such a good-natured person as to mix bodies just because it helps someone else.
Anyway, that was why.
'It's good to kill off one of the Demon Realm Archdukes.'
Eliminating a rival. Relieving anger and resentment. And finally, a method to disrupt the fixed current power structure.
It didn't matter who the target was.
Dantalion would have been acceptable, but he chose to send Botis instead.
The next one within my reach was Andras.
So I would kill him. For them. For myself, who loves them.
I touched the glowing communication bead.
「I have returned to Andras's territory. Your Excellency. They do not suspect me.」
The destruction of Andras, or one of the Demon Realm Archdukes.
The first finger to enact it would be that Monstrous Celestial Fox who knew nothing.
- 2 -
The day a large ceremony was held for the first time in the great hall of the Atrium royal palace, after Queen Amelia's coronation.
As if proving the rising status of the new nation, the ceremonial hall was prepared splendidly and magnificently.
Flags of the Grakheisen allied nations hung in rows.
Laurel crowns symbolizing victory and tapestries engraved with swords.
And even a massive round table between the five thrones.
Dalkak.
I was observing the scene from a separately prepared VIP seat.
A place higher than the throne in the hall.
From a terrace that could not be perceived from below, unless one knew it was there beforehand.
"Countess of the Kingdom of Orbis, Serica en Hortus, is entering!!"
The Chief Chamberlain's booming voice echoed through the great hall.
Over her usual red dress, Serica wore a cloak draped with black and purple embroidery, the formal style of Orbis, as she strode in confidently.
The shy appearance she had shown with me yesterday was nowhere to be seen; she had regained her usual noble dignity.
Tokak.
She stood before the queen, then paused briefly in that spot, stiffening up.
Then, she slowly bent her knee and bowed her head.
The people would not know. That this moment was the most difficult point in this ceremony for her.
Serica had strongly insisted that she did not want to kneel to anyone on the surface other than me.
If even that was only possible because Yurena was my 'niece,' then they would have had to choose someone to receive Hysen's title from either Bergrisa or Axe.
"Countess Serica."
Yurena, the Queen of Hysen, smiled softly at the kneeling Serica and opened her mouth.
A clear and authoritative voice, yet filled with an unconcealable purity.
Those unaware of the circumstances might have mistaken both women as successors rather than the 'queen' or 'countess' themselves.
Because both the title granter and the recipient possessed petite figures, and outwardly did not look imposing.
But seeing their expressions and poise, no one would have had such a thought.
"In honor of the outstanding command, composure, and devotion you displayed in the battle against Aririt, the Haisen Kingdom wishes to bestow upon you the title of 'Countess of Ereltelwen.'"
Sighs of admiration flowed from the nobles gathered in the great hall.
While it was common to hold justifications for titles from two different nations, actually receiving titles simultaneously was a very unusual occurrence.
Serica deeply bowed her head.
"I shall receive it with honor. Your Majesty the Queen."
Yurena personally pinned a brooch onto Serica's shoulder.
A brooch engraved with a fortress pattern signifying the rank of count, along with the narcissus symbol of Hysen and a flower signifying the county of Ereltelwen.
- Waaaaaah — !!
- Long live Hysen! Long live Her Majesty Yurena!
- May the Alliance be eternal!!
Ding —
Amidst the erupting cheers and applause.
When the Chief Chamberlain rang the magic bell requesting quiet, a fine sound dug into every corner of the banquet hall.
The ceremony was not yet over.
"Countess of the Haisen Kingdom and Grand General, Evangeline en Gener, is entering!"
The golden hair she usually let down freely was neatly braided up, and over a blue formal suit, she wore a black-gold cloak, the current formal style of Hysen.
Her gait conveyed both the restrained power of a knight and the composure of a seasoned hero.
"Countess Evangeline."
"Yes. Your Majesty Queen Amelia."
At the call of Queen Amelia, the explicit ruler of Orbis, Evangeline slowly placed a hand on one shoulder and knelt.
If Serica displayed a heavenly grace even within awkwardness, Evangeline was different.
A courtesy born from etiquette thoroughly ingrained in her body flowed out naturally.
"To praise the merit of achieving a decisive victory by leading the combined Hysen-Kiza forces in a surprise attack behind enemy lines during this campaign, the Orbis Duchy bestows upon you the title of 'Marquess of Hainnod.'"
"I shall receive it humbly."
Amelia bestowed a ceremonial sword upon Evangeline.
The short sword symbolizing the Marquisate of Hainnod was engraved with the black lily emblem of Orbis and the crest of Evangeline's new family, 'Gener.'
With this, she became Countess Gener and Marquess of Hainnod.
'I hope he reacts properly upon hearing this news.'
Ereltelwen was a city in the northwestern part of the Norn Empire, that is, to the east of Orbis.
Hainnod was currently the capital of Hinnes, a virtual vassal state of Kakia.
Granting the titles of these two territories to our nation's nobles meant preparing to invade those places.
While the two nations bestowed each other's titles upon the other's nobles, they simultaneously prepared for external enemies.
It was a good method for raising the internal sense of closeness within the alliance.
"Today, we have gathered once more to celebrate new achievements as an alliance."
Yurena took Amelia's hand and declared.
"Hysen and Orbis, and Leophere, Kiza, Hilsa as well. Our five nations will continue to move as one will."
Applause poured down like thunder.
Watching Serica and Evangeline stand side by side and receive the salutations, I smiled inwardly.
I was proud of their abilities, and at the same time, a sense of anticipation for the events to come welled up.
Although there were still some concerns, the alliance's bond was now sufficiently solidified.
"Report. Ash. Saya."
""Yes. Master.""
Ester Kantes Orpina. Amatsu Saya.
The two of them, who had been standing quietly behind me, knelt before me with shining eyes.
It was now time to formulate a plan.
A plan to strike the enemy.