Chapter 131
Chapter 131
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Wade's True Face
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The commotion in the conference hall showed no signs of dying down.
Most were whispering about who this Als Ilrain was.
Those from Caliper who knew the situation were even more flustered.
Duke Regnat Helian scowled, wondering why he'd been exposed, while King Gares narrowed his eyes and stared intently in my direction.
In contrast, Gilbert Salleon stood with his mouth agape, unable to close it.
He reflexively asked,
"Eldric, Your Highness, is that truly the case? Wade's true identity is General Ilrain...?"
"No mistake about it."
Eldric replied with firm conviction.
'So, using Dalmore in that situation ended up being the problem after all.'
I'd considered the possibility of things turning out this way. It was a calculated risk.
That's why I'd prepared insurance in advance.
Even with insurance, though, I had no intention of admitting it easily.
"What's this about my identity?"
I sneered lightly as I spoke.
"Ridiculous. Do you have any proof that I'm this Ilrain or whatever?"
There couldn't possibly be hard evidence.
All he had was circumstantial suspicion.
Yet Eldric brazenly declared,
"There is proof."
"Oh? Now I'm curious. Care to share it? This so-called proof."
"It's that Als Ilrain used Crossing's spy during this war."
"Crossing's spy?"
"It was a man named Dalmore Sting. He was under my command. He betrayed us after receiving a signal from Ilrain! A Crossing spy betraying on the signal of someone from Caliper? That means the Caliper figure must have deep ties to Crossing. And the one person connected to both Caliper and Crossing... that's Wade!"
"And? What's the proof that this Dalmore was a Crossing spy? Proof that Wade's the only one connected to both Caliper and Crossing?"
"That's..."
"It's all based on assumptions, isn't it? And yet you spout it so confidently."
Eldric turned his gaze toward the Caliper delegation.
"This can be confirmed by Caliper. Duke Regnat Helian! I ask you—do you know a spy named Dalmore Sting? Was he a spy Caliper infiltrated?"
"You think I'd reveal state secrets just because you ask?"
Helian's cold retort made Eldric grit his teeth.
"This is a grave matter for your nation as well. If Als Ilrain is Wade, then Caliper has been deceived by Crossing! A grand general with independent operational authority under the royal family! That means he could rebel at any moment! If Als Ilrain incites a revolt on Crossing's orders, seizes Caliper's capital, and topples the regime, Caliper will be swallowed whole by Crossing! Don't you see that?!"
"..."
It seemed even Helian had been worried about that very point.
Gilbert Salleon looked shocked.
"No way... really!?"
Seeing Gilbert's confusion, Eldric pressed on as if spotting an opening.
"Gilbert Salleon. What about you? Do you know anything about a spy named Dalmore Sting?"
"N-No, nothing. I didn't even know such a spy existed..."
"Shut your mouth, Gilbert!" Helian snapped, but Gilbert shook his head and countered.
"Regnat, His Highness Eldric is right. If Ilrain really is Wade, this is a huge problem! It's no different from Crossing holding our military's independent operational authority! Ah... ah!"
Gilbert seemed to realize something then, muttering to himself.
"R-Right! That claim that Crossing instigated this war...!"
Eldric picked up the thread.
"Exactly! With Wade controlling Caliper's operational authority, Crossing could intervene whenever and wherever they pleased! That vile Crossing used your nation that way to profit!"
Juras and I had no such intentions toward Caliper, but it was true that we could have if we'd wanted to.
That's why Eldric's argument carried weight.
Ballast's prime minister, who was facilitating the treaty, spoke cautiously.
"At this point, the cleanest solution would be for Wade to remove his helmet. What do you say?"
No other nation would object to that.
If not for Juras's intimidation, that is.
"Go ahead and try. We have no interest in entertaining Vurang's baseless claims."
As Juras issued his threat, everyone except Svenner backed down.
Even Vurang did.
With a treaty favorable to Vurang on the verge of being signed, antagonizing Juras—the proposer and mediator—would do them no good.
"Eldric! Enough!"
"It's wrong to push with mere suspicion!"
The first and second princes tried to restrain Eldric.
He rebelled even more vehemently.
"We can't let this slide. Juras Pamillion—that man's dangerous! He'll do anything to achieve his goals! For such a man to propose a treaty favorable to us, there must be some scheme behind it!"
Spot on. Eldric seemed to know Juras well.
'Heard they were classmates at Pensilon Academy.'
Whatever their relationship, Eldric was extremely wary of Juras.
But it was just empty shouting.
All nations appeared convinced by Juras's mediation proposal. In that context, Eldric's suspicions only put everyone in an awkward spot.
Things looked like they could be smoothed over.
But then.
"May I have a moment?"
It was Gillias Melbourne.
The man from Albad, who had been silently listening, stepped forward.
"I faced Wade in the Poldic Highland battle when he first appeared. By chance, I glimpsed the face hidden beneath his helmet."
The conference hall buzzed again.
"No one's described Als Ilrain's appearance yet. So I think my words carry weight. He was a boy with deep golden blond hair. He had such refined features that they momentarily stole my gaze. Considering he briefly used a sword in his left hand and was with Illya Anpei, I deduced he used the Chester Style. That matches the Wade I know. Does that align with Als Ilrain in any way?"
All eyes turned to Caliper.
Gilbert's face paled. Even Duke Helian hesitated, lacking a rebuttal, before shouting,
"Such details could have been gathered anytime through informants after Ilrain's appointment as general! It proves nothing!"
But with that, the suspicions solidified.
Everyone began to believe my identity was indeed Als.
Finally, Ballast's king rose.
"Wade! Remove that helmet at once! Refuse, and by the authority of the chair, I'll expel you and the entire Crossing delegation from these proceedings!"
At that.
Juras revealed his true colors.
"You want to try it? You bastards."
A gloomy aura rose around him. Juras menaced them with an expression that could have been a smile or a scowl.
"If you think you'll survive provoking me, you're gravely mistaken. I put the brakes on this just to end the war on my terms. If you want to go all the way, fine. Let's see it through to the end."
Everyone knew it wasn't bravado.
The situation teetered on the brink.
I steeled my resolve and spoke.
"Understood. I'll take it off."
"Wade...!"
Juras tried to stop me, but I signaled it was fine, unfastened the helmet's straps, and revealed my face.
No need to modulate my voice anymore, so I spoke in my natural tone.
"This satisfactory?"
All eyes turned to Caliper. And to Gillias Melbourne.
Their expressions said it all.
"It... it's really...!"
Gilbert seemed shocked that the Wade he'd been dying to meet was right there.
Ballast's King Ulysses nodded.
"It seems His Highness Eldric was correct."
Eldric crowed triumphantly.
"See! What did I say? Crossing planted a spy in Caliper, seized control of the military, and schemed from there. That's what sparked this war!"
But then.
"...Wilfred's child. Are you insulting me now?"
It was King Gares. He glared fiercely at Eldric.
"What... do you mean?"
"Do you truly believe I appointed a Crossing spy as a royal direct general?"
"B-But in reality..."
"Don't make me laugh—!"
His voice boomed through the hall. King Gares bellowed,
"I knew from the start that he was Wade!"
"What!?"
This was the insurance I'd prepared: King Gares's backing.
With this, whether I was Wade or not became irrelevant.
Anticipating someone might uncover my identity, I'd instructed Helian to inform the king. The king had initially been skeptical but seemed convinced by today's events.
"You knew...?"
"Of course. Otherwise, why grant independent operational authority? Do I look that foolish?!"
"B-But...!"
"I won't hear it! Any more will be taken as an insult to Caliper! How can you Vurang bastards be so brazen? Even if Crossing instigated this invasion, it was you who seized the chance to plunder our lands! And you dare wag your tongues? Outrageous!"
He was absolutely right.
"Wade exists for the joint cooperation between Caliper and Crossing. Whether he uses Crossing spies or leads Crossing's army in battle—there's no issue! And yet you make it a problem?!"
"Urk...!"
Eldric glared at Juras, suspecting his manipulation, but even he knew nothing of this.
Juras smirked and muttered softly for my ears only.
"Not bad, Als."
"Well, I've built some support base of my own."
With that, Eldric's accusations completely lost steam.
Vurang sidelined him and repeatedly offered apologies.
Then they scrambled to finalize the treaty.
*
*
*
The armistice proceeded smoothly.
First, the hot potato: Vurang signed non-aggression pacts with all nations for five years.
This put Vurang in the perfect position for civil war. In about two years, major chaos would erupt. Around then, I'd establish my nation, end the civil war, and conquer Vurang's territory.
Next, the standoffs involving Eurobe and the central and northern nations ended in a stopgap.
No war this winter—an interim ceasefire.
It was inevitable.
With Svenner and the western tribes unable to target Vurang, turning to the central regions was natural.
War would likely break out as soon as the ceasefire ended.
The diplomatic landscape might reshape in a new form by then.
'At least it's settled for now.'
I let out a sigh of relief.
Eventful, but a good outcome for me.
My identity as Wade was exposed, but with conditions now allowing me to operate as Als, it wasn't a big deal.
I'd wanted to use the Wade persona longer if possible, but viewing it as the cost of saving Eonia's life made it feel worthwhile.
There were even positives: no more pseudonyms or masks for me or my retainers.
No need to hide for protection anymore.
Of course, the risks had increased accordingly.
After wrapping up with Juras and returning to Reinpol, I summoned my retainers.
They'd already heard about my identity, greeting me with grave expressions.
"No need for such long faces. It's just a bit more hassle."
First, bolster my guard detail.
"Hm... Anton. You'll handle my protection."
"An honor!"
Lesson from last time. No complacency.
If I die, it's all over, so I'd assemble the best guard possible.
"Master too?"
"Of course. I'll guard you with my life."
For my protection, I hired the master couple. Plus the standard ten royal direct general guards and twenty from Juras—thirty in total around me.
They'd monitor the surroundings like a spiderweb, spaced out.
"Lord Als...! I...!"
Eo, my former exclusive guard, looked desperate.
"Sorry. This is the right call."
"I understand..."
She seemed to accept it but couldn't hide her disappointment, looking dejected.
Then, unexpectedly, Anton intervened.
"Lord Als. Iliya and I should command the perimeter guards from a distance. I think Mirabel should handle your close protection. What do you say?"
"Why?"
"Everyone knows who you feel most at ease with. Protection matters, but if you're uncomfortable, it's pointless. Her skills are more than sufficient, so she's the best for close duty."
"Hm... But assigning three to the guard detail..."
"Complacency is poison. I feel it's still too few."
I'd thought I wasn't complacent, but even this was?
"Understood. We'll do that."
Eo's face brightened instantly. She thanked Anton in a voice like an ant crawling.
"Then... Olaf as usual. We'll adjust the rest gradually."
Pensilon Academy enrollment approached soon.
With the main story timeline accelerating, attending properly was questionable, but the talents there were worth the risk.
"That's everything. Dismissed for today."
But Gaspar objected.
"What nonsense, kid? The victory speech isn't over!"
"Victory speech?"
"Yeah, the war's done. Time for it, right? You always did them before—why skip now?"
Not Eonia, but Gaspar insisting so strongly.
He was right; we hadn't done it yet. So I proceeded with a simple merit awards ceremony.