Chapter 417
Chapter 417
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 417
>Chapter Title: In the Name of the Duchy
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A few days later.
……Hand over the Young Patriarch.
It was a rather bold opening, but fortunately, the moonlight in my heart didn't waver.
What does that mean?
'It worked out fine.'
To explain how it worked out: first, I needed to understand the literal meaning of Senior Brother's death sentence-like demand.
……We'll take the Young Patriarch as a hostage.
In other words, grab the Young Patriarch by the leash to control Urbona...
"Honestly... I didn't think it would actually work."
I let out a quiet sigh of admiration as I looked at Senior Brother, who had returned after finalizing the armistice negotiations.
Did my reaction please him?
As he brought out some tea, Senior Brother rarely cracked a smile.
"Didn't I tell you to trust me?"
"You did."
Still, I never imagined Urbona would hand over their Young Patriarch just to save the previous Patriarch.
"Well, it wasn't easy. And officially, it's not like we took the Young Patriarch as a 'hostage' either."
That was true.
'We're sending the Young Patriarch to the duchy... but the public excuse is "exchange studies for harmony," right?'
Of course, it was just wordplay.
A hostage was still a hostage.
But why package a hostage as "exchange studies for harmony"...? The reason was simple.
'It feels completely different.'
Think about it.
- The duchy has taken Urbona's Young Patriarch hostage!
If word like that leaked to the north, what would the northern nobles think?
'Those bastards! Isn't Urbona's Young Patriarch just too pitiful?!'
No.
More like...
'The Ramburk Duchy has completely dominated the north. Urbona is totally done for.'
Then what happens?
The long-standing dual-power structure crumbles, and the Ramburk Duchy's single-power era begins.
Then.
'...Those who maintained good relations with the Ramburk Duchy early on get a free pass, while those tied to Urbona suffer.'
And those who stayed neutral between the two factions?
'They all side with the duchy.'
That way, the north revolves around the duchy.
It would only be a matter of time before those aligned with Urbona switched sides.
In the worst case, a new kingdom centered on the duchy could emerge!
That's why they packaged the 'hostage' as 'exchange studies for harmony.'
'On the surface, we have to maintain the dual-power structure to prevent all power from concentrating on the duchy.'
Of course, that wasn't the Grand Duchess's idea.
The one who packaged the 'hostage' as 'exchange studies'...
Was the imperial mediator.
It was their clever scheme to prevent the duchy's unchecked dominance.
Of course...
'...It just avoided the worst outcome.'
By now, they were probably cursing the previous Patriarch Heoorn as a dog bastard and pig bastard.
If he hadn't failed his plan, they wouldn't have had to hand over the Young Patriarch.
"Otto and the mediator twisted and turned right up to the end, refusing to yield the Young Patriarch... It was quite the spectacle. Haha! But what to do? The previous Patriarch undeniably violated the code."
"Even so, it must not have been easy for you."
"One word was enough."
"One word?"
At my question, Senior Brother nodded with a smile spreading across his face. That's when she haughtily lifted her chin and spoke.
"I told them this."
- The imperial mediation seems unfair. I'll submit a direct petition to His Imperial Majesty. And...
"...we will not accept Urbona's surrender."
"..."
"What's with that look?"
"No, nothing."
It just seemed too extreme.
Even if the previous Patriarch had royally screwed up, rejecting imperial mediation and refusing to accept surrender?
It could easily be seen as a challenge to imperial authority.
But perhaps sensing my thoughts, Senior Brother arrogantly shook his head and continued.
"Look. These are the guys who set a trap even after surrendering. Is there any guarantee they'll behave after the armistice?"
"There isn't?"
"Exactly. Trust is broken. And this mess happened right under the imperial mediator's watch, so even the imperial guarantee means nothing now."
"So..."
"Yeah, they had no choice. If the war dragged on like this, Urbona's downfall was inevitable. They had to offer some 'collateral.'"
"Ah."
Honestly, I thought it was just trading the 'previous Patriarch' for the 'Young Patriarch.'
But no.
'It was trading trust for the Young Patriarch.'
Anyway.
"Is that okay? We didn't get the symbolic value of a 'hostage' in the end."
"It's fine. The sharp nobles will figure it out anyway. We can still reap the benefits. And..."
"And?"
"...Environment influences so much. The Urbona Young Patriarch will see, hear, and learn many things in the duchy... All of it will shape his thinking. The impact will be greater than you think."
I stared blankly at Senior Brother. Her face looked quite bitter, and sensing my gaze, she gave a faint smile.
"That's how I met Master."
"You mean..."
"'Exchange studies for harmony' is a time-honored excuse."
That meant... Senior Brother herself had been a hostage studying under the academy head.
I wanted to ask more, but I closed my mouth at the sight of her somewhat bitter expression.
Come to think of it, I'd heard something like that before.
'The academy used to be a great excuse for holding hostages.'
Jenion Academy had a different founding purpose, but politically, it was used that way.
Anyway.
'So... everything's settled then.'
For now, I'd cleared my bad blood with Urbona. With Senior Brother holding the Young Patriarch, she could control Otto.
That said, Senior Brother didn't acquire the Young Patriarch solely for me. It aligned with the duchy's interests too.
So...
"You'll be leaving now, right? When do you plan to depart?"
"As soon as possible."
I'd resolved everything that needed resolving.
The Pushk tribe had also recovered somewhat from the journey's fatigue.
Above all, there was work to do.
'...Decullan.'
Once Pahren von Decullan passed through the sanctuary, the Decullan family's prestige would become unstoppable.
Before that, I needed to build an anti-Decullan alliance and prepare.
It wouldn't fully curb Decullan's rise, but I had to avoid the worst case.
With that thought, I tidied up and stood.
I was about to tell Yurbuke to prepare to leave when Senior Brother called me back.
"If ever..."
"..."
"...you need the duchy's help, just say the word anytime. As you helped the duchy, the duchy will help you."
It was a declaration that made my heart feel secure just hearing it.
But I shook my head.
"What's the point of senior-junior bonds? I didn't do it expecting payment. Let's just call favors favors."
"Fine... What's that paper then?"
Senior Brother took the paper I casually held out. Her eyes scanned the text on it.
"...Skilled craftsmen with experience building towers... Large quantities of Tolc stone, assorted books including magic tomes, 1,000 volumes regardless of type... And gold coins..."
"Ahem. I said let's call favors favors?"
"...Is this all your demands?"
"Ahem."
At my cough, Senior Brother narrowed her eyes. She alternated cold stares between me and the paper.
Her mouth opened soon after.
"I'll... prepare it."
"Hey, no need to go that far..."
"No. I... I want to do it myself. Out of pure... favor."
"Right? Senior Brother isn't some shameless rogue. It's just the bond between senior and junior, right?"
"..."
Senior Brother didn't reply. She just reread the demands with complicated eyes.
Watching her, I cautiously spoke up.
"Um, by any chance."
"...Speak."
"Could you swear on the duchy's name..."
"Shut up and get out."
Tsk.
It was a joke, but she was so frosty.
* * *
The far western edge of the continent.
The demonic realm of the Mar region.
From the center of the largest existing demonic realm, a bizarre incantation echoed.
With each repetition, the thick demonic energy of the realm rippled.
The 4th Elder stared piercingly at one spot amid the rippling energy.
The golden demon mages were arrayed in a circle. At its center stood a crumbling temple.
...Horizon of the Abyss.
The temple Salvatium called by that name was utterly shabby.
No structure remained intact, and even intact pillars were rare. Only the 'altar' in the center proved it had once been a temple.
But despite its wretched appearance, it held symbolic meaning for Salvatium.
Why wouldn't it?
A world beyond the Abyss.
The temple was the only space touching the 'Abyss,' where the 'existence' they so desperately desired slumbered. The sole passage connecting to that space.
Thus.
"..."
It wasn't hard to understand the indescribable emotion rippling in the 4th Elder's eyes.
But.
'How truly, truly regrettable.'
The 4th Elder's eyes filled with sorrow.
Why?
This was the only space touching the 'Abyss'...
But at the same time, far too narrow for the 'existence' to pass through.
'Too narrow' didn't mean physical size. Rather... yes, a dimensional rift. If only they could widen that rift.
Salvatium collected Destrow and excavated ancient relics to stockpile the power to expand the dimensional rift.
But how much wider did it need to be for the 'existence' to emerge...?
It was unfathomable.
But.
'...Perhaps Reverse Heaven could do it.'
Yes, that grimoire defying the natural order might widen the rift.
That's why the 4th Elder decided to use the power stockpiled over nearly a millennium to expand the rift.
'Reverse Heaven.'
To obtain it.
He'd promised Decullan to gather its fragments, but he had no intention of keeping it. Decullan knew that too.
Gather the fragments first...
'...And the victor takes all.'
Salvatium and Decullan's partnership was that shallow.
Anyway.
"...Still far off?"
The 4th Elder took in the haggard golden demon mages.
They'd chanted nonstop for dozens of days, their cheeks sunken, but the 4th Elder worried more about the unresponsive rift than them.
Fearing the millennium of devoted power would go to waste.
'We've even prepared Decullan's bloodline for once.'
Decullan bloodline might not withstand the 'existence' itself, but it could contain its 'minions.'
Though even that wouldn't last long.
A larger rift could summon the true form, but with the current small rift allowing only 'consciousness' descent, pure Decullan blood was considerable help.
"Child, don't be so scared."
"..."
The 4th Elder glanced at the pale Salieri, then turned back to the center.
But then.
Kku, kkugrrrk—
The rippling demonic energy. Space wavered. An unknown rift appeared above the altar right after.
"Oooh..."
The 4th Elder let out a gasp at the sight.
Finally...
The rift had opened.