Chapter 413: Even a King Can Quit If He Doesn't Like the Job
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 413: Even a King Can Quit If He Doesn't Like the Job
Even though I had read her thoughts, the absurd suggestion was still absurd. Without even needing to act, my voice was filled with disbelief.
“King? Who? Me? Why?”
“Because it's the Military State!”
Hilde said cheerfully.
“The Military State is a nation of the people, without a king. It was founded on the dream that no one could exploit another, a country to be ruled solely by law and order!”
“I guess they achieved their dream. In that goddamn country, no single person exploits or rules over others. Because everyone is exploited.”
“Ahaha~. As expected of someone who’s lived there. You know it well~. That’s right. It’s a regrettable state of affairs~.”
Regrettable, my ass. She helped make it that way. Hilde avoided my gaze and said nonchalantly.
“But even if there’s no one to rule, you still need someone to give orders, you know~? We’ve been feeling that need lately, and what do you know, you showed up just in time, Father!”
“Are you planning to use me as another component? I’m not interested. What kind of king holes up in a rat’s nest just to receive transmissions? Go find the King of Rats instead of me.”
As I answered bluntly, Tyr smiled and said.
“Hilde. It seems the ‘King of the Military State’ you speak of has yet to even appear at the negotiating table.”
‘Trying to negotiate with Hu as if he’s already hers. She’s a sly one. Now that Hu has taken refuge in my Duchy, he is as good as mine…’
The hell I am! I belong to myself, not anyone else.
Still, being the King of the Military State sounded better than being a vampire’s favorite doll. I decided to give her an opening.
“There’s nothing for me to gain by becoming the King of the Military State. A citizen of the Duchy who can at least eat all the meat they want seems much better off than a State signaller who can’t live in luxury, eat good food, or even meet anyone.”
Hilde’s eyes widened as she asked, “You’re not seriously worried about that, are you?”
“After what I’ve seen and heard in the Military State, how could I not be?”
“There’s no way you’d be treated so poorly, Father! You’re the very Arcane that ‘I’ and the Military State have been desperately searching for, one befitting our nation!”
Hilde’s eyes, fixed on me, sparkled with a vibrant, full spectrum of color. Whenever she was acting, they were a single hue, but now they seemed to hold every color at once.
“The Military State is on very bad terms with the Sanctum. You could say we’re your allies! Our systems, including the signallers, are systematic and our intelligence network is superb. Even the Divine you’re looking for could be found much more easily with the State’s organizational power! Are you really going to refuse all of that?”
“No matter how useful it is, the quality of life is completely different. If I remain Tyr’s guest here, I can live a life as good as any level 5 citizen’s.”
“Oh, come on. Would ‘I’ dare treat the King of Humans to a mere level 5 lifestyle? If you come to the Military State, Father…”
Hilde smiled sweetly, crossed the carriage, and sat down to my right. Tyr was clearly growing displeased, but Hilde pretended not to notice, pressing right up against me as she spoke.
“I’ll give you everything in the Military State.”
“Everything? Be a little more specific.”
Hilde leaned over and glanced at Tyr on the opposite side. When their eyes met and Tyr’s expression hardened, Hilde just smiled as if delighted before turning back to whisper in my ear.
“Literally, everything. The resources, the power, the knowledge, the systems. And… all the people there. All of it.”
“It’s a tempting offer, but are you even capable of giving it? They might refuse to become mine.”
“Such insincere words~.”
Still grinning, Hilde scooted even closer and playfully nipped my earlobe. I yelped at the unexpected action, and Hilde blew a breath of air into my ear along with her words.
“…Besides, Abbey and Historia… their hearts already belong to you, don’t they, Father~? Both of them are already deeply involved with the Military State and have become inseparable from it. You would simply be reaping the seeds you’ve already sown~. And on top of that, I’ll throw ‘myself’ into the bargain.”
Whose hearts? She talked as if she had them in safekeeping. Just as I belong to myself, so does everyone else.
Still, the offer itself was quite intriguing. Being Tyr’s guest was nice, but in the land of vampires, a human is always in a passive position.
“And did you get permission?”
My question was aimed at Yuel. A Saintess through and through, she might have turned her back on the Sanctum, but she would never hand over the country to me.
From a sentence with no subject, Hilde shrewdly understood and gave a bewitching smile.
“Permission isn’t necessary. ‘I’ will make it so.”
‘Yuel, I’m sorry in advance~. But you know by now that your power isn’t enough, don’t you? You’ll understand ‘my’ choice, won’t you, my poor Saintess?’
Even Saintess Yuel, with her Clairvoyance, couldn’t peer into the mist-shrouded Duchy. There could be no better place to plot a rebellion. Not that Hilde had calculated that far when she followed me here.
In any case, the offer was tempting. I unfolded my arms to show a more positive stance.
“It might be good. But I’m a little scared to do it all by myself, weak as I am. If Tyr could lend me just one Elder, I think I could take control of the Military State perfectly.”
“A perfect plan! What do you say, Tyrkanzyaka? Feel like sitting down at the negotiating table now~?”
Objectively speaking, I wasn’t the King of the Military State. Hilde’s words were no different from a promissory note, paying a debt with money she planned to borrow.
But such worries aside, promissory notes are traded briskly in the world. What matters is the ability to pay, and even more important is whether the one receiving the note believes in that ability.
“…”
Tyr was deep in thought, maintaining her silence.
“Now that’s a welcome story!”
Support came from a completely unexpected quarter. Kavila, who had been listening to the whole conversation, clasped her hands and spoke in an excited voice.
“It’s about time the Duchy of Mist made an outside ally. It sounds like the empty boast of a silver-tongued loafer, but if even a quarter of it is true, then strategically and politically…”
The sharp glare she shot me was a little scary, but Kavila quickly put on a cute smile and said something that was hard to tell if it was a criticism or a compliment.
“It wouldn’t do for Sis’s consort to just loaf around, would it? But if he had the title of King of the Military State, he’d be much more interesting to look at! A fancy title makes even a mangy dog look respectable!”
“There is no need to look at him differently. Hu is my guest.”
Tyr, who had been listening quietly, warned in a low voice.
“That alone is reason enough for you to respect him.”
It was a short, intense warning. Kavila immediately went pale and dropped to her knees. Heedless of her dress wrinkling or getting dusty, Kavila bowed her head toward Tyr and pleaded.
“I-I’m sorry, Sis. I was just… speaking of public perception. I never meant to ignore or look down on him!”
One word from Tyr and I went from ‘loafer’ straight to ‘him.’ That’s a social climb on the level of a grand revolution. Seeing this, maybe being the Progenitor’s guest wasn’t so bad after all.
When Tyr didn’t respond to her repentance, Kavila, on the verge of tears, clung to Tyr’s feet.
“I’m truly sorry. I’ll atone for this sin in any way. I’ll do anything. If he goes to the Military State, I will help him solidify his throne. Lord Hu, please entrust me with anything. I’ll let you work me like a subordinate… no, like a slave!”
Now I was ‘Lord Hu.’ I was touched. Just as I was about to take her up on that offer and work her like a slave, Tyr spoke first.
“I understand your intent. I am no longer displeased, so you do not need to grovel before Hu.”
“…! Yes! Thank you, Sis! I will be sure to repay you for your gracious forgiveness!”
Tch. I was about to make use of her, and she cut it off at the source. Kavila was only ever seeking Tyr’s forgiveness. Once Tyr relented, she didn’t pay me the slightest bit of attention.
Tyr seemed slightly relieved at Kavila’s behavior and thought.
‘I cannot bear to see any more wenches hovering around Hu. Kavila is my Elder, but now that I’ve lost my dominion, I don’t know what she might do.’
In any case, Tyr, now completely appeased, calmly mulled over Hilde’s proposal. Kavila’s words kept echoing in her mind.
‘…Perhaps it would be better to empower Hu. It’s a beneficial proposal for both me and him. Here, he is merely my consort, but if Hu were the King of Humans and the King of the Military State… we could enter into a political marriage as equals. A husband ought to have proper authority, should he not?’
Setting aside how we jumped to a political marriage, this ancient girl was trapped in some old-fashioned prejudices. Why does a husband need to have proper authority? Can’t I just play around and be a kept man? Guarantee my freedom to marry into wealth!
‘However, I don’t want to let Hu leave my side just yet. I don’t know what might happen if he’s out of my sight… I shall accept, but with conditions.'
“So~? Tyrkanzyaka. Do you need more time~? Don’t take too long. ‘We’ humans don’t have much time, you know~.”
“No. I am finished.”
Having finished her thoughts, Tyr lifted her head and straightened her posture. Just that simple adjustment seemed to bring back all the Progenitor’s dignity that had gone astray.
“It is not a bad proposal. However, if I am to lend my strength, it is only right that I gain something in return. I will set my conditions. First.”
Tyr raised her index finger and said.
“Until the trial concerning Luscynia’s death is concluded, you will remain in Plenilune Castle and assist me. The Duchy is currently in disarray over the death of an Elder, and I will not take a clear stance until the chaos is settled.”
The death of an Elder was a major affair for the Duchy of Mist. It was more than a simple murder; it was a mystery how an immortal Elder could be killed at all. It was only logical to prioritize internal affairs over foreign matters.
“And second.”
Then, Tyr took my hand and stated her second condition.
“With your power, Hu, you will restore my senses. That is my condition for helping you.”