Chapter 205
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 3: Assault (1)
Jamie wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke to everyone with a satisfied expression.
"The banquet prepared by the Harmonia side was truly delicious. It was an honor to taste such rare delicacies that are hard to find even in Seldam."
The nobles of Harmonia could only smile awkwardly, none of them daring to respond readily.
It was because they were conscious of Marquis Helm, the real power behind the kingdom, seated at the head of the opposite table.
Regardless, Jamie continued his words.
"In particular, it tasted even better because Viscount Capri here personally served the food. Thank you, Viscount."
"......It was an honor for me."
Viscount Capri's face showed deep offense to his pride, but given who his opponent was, he tried his best not to show it.
Lennon suppressed a laugh that was about to burst out at any moment.
Anne watched her comrade with an expression that said she couldn't stop him, while Hera slowly savored the coffee served as dessert.
"You must be tired from the journey, so please return and rest for today. We'll hold a meeting about the schedule starting tomorrow."
"Shall we?"
Jamie nodded and rose from his seat, then seemed to remember something and turned to Marquis Helm.
"By the way. This just came to mind, but......"
"Please speak."
"I hope that servant is doing well. And the other servants too. They're busy people, unlike some."
Marquis Helm replied in a tone as if it were the most natural thing, without changing his expression.
"Of course. There will be no need for concern."
"As expected of a noble. Noblesse oblige. A fine phrase. Isn't it, Viscount Capri?"
"......Yes."
"Then, since I'm tired, I'll rest a bit. See you tomorrow."
"Since young Lord Welton is heading to his chambers, we will kindly guide you."
"Understood."
A waiting servant answered and took the lead in front of Jamie's group.
The nobles of Harmonia couldn't utter a word until they had left.
"That felt so refreshing."
Lennon exhaled as if all his pent-up indigestion had vanished.
As a high noble of Seldam, he might have tormented his older brother and other nobles, but he had never oppressed commoners.
He might not live up to noblesse oblige, but at the very least, he shouldn't become a noble despised by them.
Not being respected was one thing, but a hated noble wouldn't last long.
Those were words Count Simon always said.
He had a cold disposition and strong individualist tendencies, but when it came to ruling his territory, he strictly adhered to his own principles.
It wasn't for nothing that he had turned Regen into the kingdom's greatest commercial city.
"You're right. I was a bit shocked to see a country with such strong chosen-people mentality."
Anne vented her dissatisfaction, agreeing with Lennon.
Seldam Kingdom had nobles with strong elitism too, but she'd never seen one spew such ignorant remarks openly in front of envoys from another country.
"The other nobles didn't say a word about it either. They've probably been acting like it's the most natural thing."
"That's what pisses me off the most. To think this country is so revolting. Master, do we really have to help this nation?"
Jamie just smiled faintly without giving any answer.
Lennon grumbled in frustration at that sight, muttering, 'I can't figure out what you're thinking.'
It was around the time they arrived at their lodgings.
"Could we talk for a moment?"
Someone called out to Jamie from behind.
When everyone turned around, a handsome young man stood there.
His thick eyebrows and slightly furrowed brow gave the impression of a very stubborn person.
"Who might you be......?"
"I'm Neo Fatal. I'd like to discuss what happened just now. Is that alright?"
"Do you think our master will give you his time just because you ask?"
Lennon stepped forward, blocking him with wary eyes, and Neo smiled as he explained himself in more detail.
"I'm Count Neo Fatal, lord of Abarre in Harmonia, little gentleman."
"L-Little?"
Unlike Anne, who could now pass as an adult woman, Lennon was still short, making 'little' a forbidden word for him.
"I'm not little......!"
"A count, I see."
Before Lennon could cause trouble, Jamie pushed his face back and stepped forward.
He heard a "Master!" from behind, but Anne grabbed his neck and dragged him into the room first.
Hera tactfully vacated the area as well.
"Shall we go somewhere quiet?"
Jamie and Neo moved to another location.
They went to a nearly deserted terrace and began talking while gazing at the moonlight.
"So, what is it?"
"Your demeanor just now was impressive."
"Just now, you mean......"
Neo clenched his fist as if he could never forget and spoke.
"Making Marquis Helm taste such humiliation. I was quite moved."
"Haha. I don't know what gives you the confidence to insult the marquis."
But Jamie didn't accept it easily.
Without knowing the other's intentions, chiming in blindly could lead to unforeseen troubles.
Neo seemed to realize his mistake as well.
"Ah. I got too excited. And we're strangers at that."
"Indeed. If I were to tell Marquis Helm about this, you'd be in quite a bind."
"I couldn't be in more trouble than I already am."
Jamie looked at Neo's unflinching expression with considerable interest.
'So there are already people opposing Marquis Helm.'
He'd thought it was a one-man dictatorship, but apparently not entirely.
Still, given how they manipulated the king like a puppet, this faction probably didn't wield much power.
"Is that why you came?"
"Partly, and I wanted to meet you to see what kind of person you are."
"I see."
"......And I have one request."
"Request?"
Neo asked Jamie with a serious face.
"What did you think of the Harmonia you experienced today?"
"What's the intent behind the question?"
"Just as I said. Please tell me honestly."
Jamie stared at Neo before scratching his chin and answering.
"It was a mess. How is this even a country? More like a pseudo-nation. In normal circumstances, you'd say it's on the path to ruin."
"Haha......"
Neo made a face that could have been laughing or crying from the blunt facts.
But every word was true, leaving him no room for retort.
If his country was being insulted, he had to just listen in silence like now, wearing such a pained expression.
"You didn't come just to confirm that."
"Yes. I needed to check your thoughts before making my request."
"What request?"
"......Please help us bring down Harmonia."
Jamie was so taken aback by the unexpected plea that he couldn't even open his mouth.
He couldn't process what he'd just heard.
"Wait, what did you just say......?"
"More precisely, help us dismantle the current regime. In return, Harmonia will become a vassal state of Seldam."
Jamie didn't know the extent of Neo's influence, but he never expected such words from a mere subject.
This was clear sedition, passing the baton even to him, a foreigner.
After a moment of thought, Jamie said to Neo,
"Pretend I didn't hear that."
As he turned to leave, Neo's voice came from behind.
"Though our countries differ, please help for the sake of the suffering people. Harmonia or Seldam, in the end, they're all worlds where people live."
"......"
"And I think my proposal isn't bad for Seldam Kingdom either. Isn't more power beneficial in Seldam's current situation?"
"That's true, but."
Participating in someone else's rebellion?
Of course, King Friedmoor had granted him full authority to act as he saw fit.
So whatever he did was up to Jamie.
As Jamie hesitated, Neo poured out more words.
"The current king is already corrupted. By Marquis Helm, that bastard. He's constantly indulging in alcohol and drugs, and his dementia has progressed so far he can't even remember what he said. Marquis Helm manipulates such a king at will. It's no exaggeration to say the marquis is practically the king of Harmonia. The nobles are steeped in chosen-people ideology, but it wasn't this bad when his late majesty was alive. Harmonia as it is now should not exist. Please, I beg you, help us."
"Have you discussed this with your side?"
"Yes."
Jamie rubbed his dry face once, then strode quickly to Neo and grabbed him by the collar.
Neo looked startled at the sudden action.
"Pathetic bastards. How pitiful you look, reaching out even to foreigners because of your own incompetence. Hand over Harmonia? Do you think this piss-ant country would help us that much?"
"That's......"
"Have you at least exhausted every option? You're not just begging because a master from Seldam showed up, are you?"
"No!"
"You lot need to live with some shame. Shameless wretches willing to sell out your own country. In my eyes, you don't look much different from Helm. Overthrow a rotten country? What about the assumption that Seldam would commit atrocities here?"
Neo couldn't say a word.
He realized that Helm, who directly controlled the king to rule, and himself, offering the country, weren't all that different.
But there was one thing he couldn't concede.
"But!"
Neo shouted, eyes wide.
"At least it won't be a world where everyone suffers!"
"What?"
"I know. How ridiculous my words sound. But we have no other choice. At this rate, it'll collapse meaninglessly. But if there's a way, we can set aside our pride. If we can hold on, shouldn't we?"
"......"
"Harmonia is the country I belong to, my homeland, my home. I know handing it to another nation is wrong, but...... isn't it still better than this hell, young Lord Welton?"
Jamie saw tears welling in Neo's eyes.
A grown man shedding tears in agony over an unjust reality.
He released the collar.
Then he turned away brusquely and left the place.
Neo stared at Jamie's back with the face of a man resolved.
"Today, I'll show you my determination."
Whatever it was, Jamie just slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.
Riiip-!
"Gahk!"
Viscount Capri screamed in agony.
He was in a dark basement, arms bound, kneeling on his knees. Long gashes were carved across his back.
"......To think I suffered such humiliation because of trash like you?"
Behind him stood Marquis Helm, panting while holding a whip.
He swung the whip with venomous eyes, grinding his teeth.
Crack-!
"Gaaah! S-Sorry! F-Forgive......!"
"Shut up, you worm!"
"Gaaak!"
Marquis Helm mercilessly lashed with bloodshot eyes. Eventually, Viscount Capri breathed his last.
Only then did the marquis stop, tossing the blood-soaked whip to the floor, and recalled what happened earlier.
"......Jamie Welton."
It was the first humiliation of his life.
For someone who was as good as the king of Harmonia to be stared down with such a cold face.
And even giving him the unspoken pressure to relay the message himself because he didn't want to say it directly.
The problem was that he had done it.
"You fucking bastard!!!"
Unable to contain his rage, Helm rushed at Viscount Capri's corpse and stomped on his head repeatedly.
The already dead Capri merely shook like a doll.
"I won't let you get away with this. Never......!"
He always repaid what he received a hundredfold.
At that moment.
"M-Marquis!"
One of his subordinates rushed in frantically and called him.
The marquis turned around with an irritated face.
"What is it?"
"Big trouble, sir!"
"What?"
"The Liberation Army...... they've entered the capital."
The marquis's face twisted horribly.