Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Heading North
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The Spring Festival came to a triumphant close.
In the monster hunt, without Victor's participation, Saladin claimed victory with ease.
He was the same Saladin who had once made a spectacle of Count Poltus's young heir Guren, announcing his presence to the world. Unlike that time, no one here could stand in his way, so the outcome had been all but predictable.
Having received my title, I no longer fit the event's purpose of heirs competing, so I naturally sat it out.
Not that I had any interest in playing around with the kids anymore, anyway.
In the debate arena, Dwayne utterly dominated the bureaucratic nobles. Without pressure on Victor's level, there was no way to rattle Dwayne's iron nerves.
With me solidly backing him up from the shadows, he swam through those heirs like a fish in water, stripping them all bare.
...Though in the process, he did happen to fleece some eastern and northern nobles too.
But the real talk of the Spring Festival was me.
On the day I received my title, communication orbs belonging to the noble heirs had lit up like fireworks.
They were no doubt scrambling to discuss the unexpected ripple effects across their territories.
The southern seven domains and the western nobles loyal to the Sword Family were especially rattled.
To them, it must have felt like the Shield Family had officially declared its push into the south.
'Must be frustrating. Nothing they can do about it.'
With Victor having summoned Drake already, opposition wasn't straightforward to begin with. Even without that, the justification was squarely on our side now.
My achievements more than warranted the territory. And geographically, it wasn't prime land anyway.
*Clap.*
With the grand cause of wiping out the island chain pirates on top, all they could do was suck their thumbs and watch.
Of course, they'd try to check us somehow. But that was a problem for after Olivia.
*Clap.*
'Everything's going according to plan. Now, head back, hop on the ship Beskin prepared, and we're off...'
*Clap!*
...I'd been ignoring it, but staying still much longer felt like it'd burn a hole in the back of my head.
"Hey, that's gonna drill right through. Why do you keep glaring?"
As if he never imagined I'd call him out, Saladin's mouth gaped wide open, his glare fixed on the back of my head.
"Why, why I'm glaring? Are you even human? You seriously don't know?"
*Whoosh!*
"Because of Princess Seira? I told you, she's the perfect pick for the royal dispatch. This isn't just about Olivia—it's the whole southern region at stake. You gonna keep acting like a kid about it?"
What were these grown adults making such a fuss about?
"When a man and woman travel together, a few swats in the woods might happen..."
"Gah! No, no way!!"
Fearful someone might overhear, Saladin's voice pitched high.
"Tch, who doesn't get that? Fine, like you said, our Mano territory's on the line too. Huge deal affecting the whole south. The royals might even send someone!"
His emotions swelled as he spoke.
Finally, froth flecking his lips, his finger jabbed forcefully at the carriage behind us.
"But why! Why is Princess Seira riding with us right now!! We're heading to Banten!!"
Indeed.
With the Spring Festival over, there was no reason to linger in Edirne any longer.
Prince Julius urged me to stay a bit since it had been so long, but sadly, time was short.
I needed to reach Olivia ASAP and clear out the piled-up problems.
'Rescue Paeonia from the islands, stop the civil war brewing in Osiris Kingdom. Mountains of work.'
That said, I had no intention of abandoning the Olivia region.
On the contrary, I planned to turn it into the south's premier domain.
A solid rear supply line was essential for the wars ahead.
Still, our reason for heading to Banten now was to take the sea route instead of land.
Jean-Paul's Cimerria, docked on Elunheim's western coast, plus four new ships. The cargo volume was hefty, but with Jean-Paul's sailing skills, we'd arrive far faster than overland.
'Plus, skipping all those noble welcome parties on the way? Perfect.'
Anyway, Saladin's freakout stemmed from Princess Seira riding along in the carriage.
Defying Prince Julius's orders to travel with the future royal dispatch, she'd inexplicably declared she'd head to Banten with our group.
Of course, no one was fooled about what—or who—prompted her choice.
"What can we do? If that's what the princess wants, you just gotta deal."
"Damn it, why ditch the easy route to bounce around on a ship with us... Momma!"
Suddenly!
The carriage window slid open quietly beside us, Princess Seira's head popping out, startling Saladin into a shrill scream.
"I was quietly listening, and it sounded like it was about me. Young Master Saladin, you hate me tagging along that much? That's so hurtful."
"Ah, ahaha! What are you talking about, Princess! I was just thanking Young Master Jerome for letting me sail with you!"
Put some spit on those lies, man. It's obvious.
"Oh, really? How wonderful."
Of course. No three-year-old skipping rope in the capital would buy that stiff act.
Still, she played along because it was fun. Her eyes said it all: 'This is hilarious.'
"Y-yeah! Ah, ahaha!"
"Mmm, since Young Master Saladin's so thrilled, I'm happy too. As thanks, maybe a gift like old times..."
"Eek!"
Before Princess Seira finished, Saladin spasmed and bolted like he was having a fit.
And watching him flee, the princess covered her mouth, chuckling softly.
...Curious. So damn curious.
'Guess I'll hear the story someday.'
Carrying that lingering, nagging curiosity—trivial yet huge—we slowly headed north.
May these peaceful scenes continue forever.
The Carviot Count House is a count house.
An utterly obvious truth—even a passing neighborhood kid would know it.
Yet across the continent, from the Ikenia Kingdom to any other nation, no one views the Carviot Counts as a mere ordinary count family.
Not even the Holy Empire, that superpower dominating the entire northern continent save the Dragon Mountains.
To put it bluntly, the fact that a single count house single-handedly guards Ballista Fortress—one of the empire's key war bastions—speaks volumes.
It was a power that could ascend to dukedom at any moment without surprise.
Banten territory alone rivaled a small kingdom in scale, after all—far too grand for a mere count's hat.
Yet the Carviot Counts maintained their rank to avoid needless friction with the Sword Family that might arise from promotion to duke.
The Ikenia royals respected the Shield Family's stance, leaving them as counts.
A title was just a title; the Shield Family was the Shield Family.
In essence: Though ranked as counts, the Carviot Count House held sway as the hegemon of Ikenia's north and a force rivaling the Five Nations Alliance kingdoms.
Thus, news of the count house's third son receiving his own territory and striking out independently spread like wildfire through neighboring domains.
They naturally sought to celebrate this joyous event and strengthen ties with the Shield Family.
"Here come more."
In the Shield Family's inner keep office.
Bacchus, his transcendent realm letting him spot carriages at the gates even from here, scowled.
"These fine neighbors traveling far to congratulate the esteemed Third Young Master—why the grim face, my lord?"
Curious at Bacchus's displeasure, Arandal tilted his head.
"Tch. Lately, the territory's been too rowdy. Trouble in a borderland like Banten is never good. Incidents scatter focus, and scattered focus breeds gaps in defense. You know that well enough."
Arandal's face turned grave at Bacchus's retort, saluting crisply.
"Quite right, my lord. Especially after nearly clashing head-on with Ballista Fortress just recently... Not the time. I'll turn back those envoys from other domains entering Banten immediately."
As Arandal rose seriously, intent on leaving, Bacchus's eyes twitched faintly.
"...Ahem! No need for that. I just meant tighten security a bit more..."
"Oh, sure you did."
Arandal chuckled knowingly, and Bacchus's scabbard clicked softly.
*Shing!*
"Whoa, lots of guests. Guess I'll handle it personally. Later!"
Fearing Bacchus might draw, Arandal dashed out.
"...Tch! That guy—I thought age had sobered him up. Instead, he's getting more reckless. Banten's top sword, my foot."
"Hahaha, isn't that good? Seems to me you're far softer than the rumors, my lord."
Karma, quietly sipping tea while watching the duo's skit, smiled.
"Embarrassing in front of company. How's your health these days, Azure Wing?"
"Not bad, thanks to the famous third son of the Patriarch. Heh heh heh."
"Grr, even you teasing me, Azure Wing?"
"Heh heh heh."
Dismissing Bacchus's glare with laughter, Karma stroked his hair.
Still as thick and lush as years ago, tickling his fingertips.
"Not teasing—the Patriarch truly is far more lenient than rumored."
"What do the rumors say?"
"Hm. Iron-fisted lord with no room for a needle, ruthless father pitting his kids in endless rivalry. That sort. Heh heh heh."
Stingingly brutal assessments.
"...Ugh. Can't refute that."
*Slurp!*
"Heh heh heh. I get it. Bearing such heavy burdens, you had to push to your limits. That's the secret to your supreme martial prowess today."
Karma nailed it. Even with Banten's Blade Arandal, the true deterrent keeping this vast land from war's whirlpool stemmed from Bacchus.
In other words, if Bacchus fell, so would the Shield Family.
Thus, from youth, he could never crumble. No matter what.
"But the Patriarch I saw differed from rumors. Softer, more at ease. Delegating to the eldest, trusting others. Seems that elevated your realm further. And I'd wager the Third Young Master prompted this change too... right?"
Now just a grumbling old mentor to his disciple, Karma was still Azure Wing.
A man at heights none could rival.
Aware of that, Bacchus conceded the guess.
"Can't fool Azure Wing's eyes. Yes, all thanks to that boy."
Bacchus gazed at the outer walls visible through the window, as if seeking Jerome marching north from Edirne.
"Shameful to admit, but as a kid, he was such a hopeless mess I doubted he carried my blood. Even I gave up. 'This one's done for,' I thought."
"Heh heh! Is that so?"
Karma nodded calmly, sensing Bacchus needed a sounding board now.
"Then one day, he transformed. Not just pulling himself together—he changed utterly, body and soul. Watching him reshape Banten and the world bit by bit, I realized: Not as my son, but as an equal adult, I could entrust him with my back."
"Children grow into adults. What kind depends on the parents. You raised him well."
Bacchus slowly shook his head at Karma's words.
"I'm no parent deserving such praise, Azure Wing. But from then, I think... I vowed to lean on my children where needed, while standing as their unshakable shadow, shielding them from the blazing sun."
*Hummm!*
A majestic aura surged from Bacchus. No longer the rigid rock of old.
It overwhelmed like the Dragon Mountains looming over Banten.
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