Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Festival Party and Marching Armies
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This festival included a welcome party for new students, which hadn't been held at the start of the semester.
Parties were held every day from noon until midnight during the festival period.
After the four mock battles of the day concluded, a grand party took place in the main training grounds.
The soldiers who participated in the mock battles received hearty meals, and the students began their own festivities.
“Such brilliant military strategy, Princess Sophia!”
“As expected, you are Bekavia’s hope!”
Those from the Bekavia side swarmed around her, showering her with endless praise.
Sophia looked troubled by their blatant flattery.
“The key operation was carried out by Wade, as I’ve said.”
“Even so, wasn’t it you, Princess, who blocked Cadillac Cornelia?”
Her mouth corners twitched nonetheless, clearly not displeased.
I found myself in an equally annoying situation.
“Impressive. That flashy yet substantive tactic. Wade’s reputation is well-earned.”
“Mind if we talk for a moment?”
Various prominent figures—nobles and merchants alike—approached me.
‘Some rather suspicious ones are mixed in.’
Prime examples were Vurang’s Grand General Jin Haisak and Prince Eldric.
He claimed to have come in place of Vurang’s first prince, Oscar, to celebrate the festival, but given the timing, I couldn’t help suspecting ulterior motives.
Other key diplomats from various nations appeared as well.
As if they already knew a massive diplomatic clash was brewing in Ballast.
‘Something’s up. Well, I’ll find out when I get there.’
For now, I decided to fill my empty stomach.
With Eo by my side, I wandered the party venue.
As I sampled the foods bit by bit, a familiar face approached.
“Hey, Als.”
“Ash?”
Ash glanced around wildly before whispering to me.
“Lisitea’s here too, right?”
“She probably is. Estelle seems to be at the party, so she’s likely waiting outside. But why?”
“Phew! So she’s not in the party hall.”
Ash let out a sigh of relief and continued.
“Today’s a good opportunity, you know. How about picking up where we left off last time?”
“Are you insane…?”
The guy was hopeless.
“L-Look, I’ve said it a million times—this is just performative acting! That’s why it has to be in a crowded place!”
“I’m sitting this one out.”
“Fine. Guess I’ll have to try with Gunther alone. But…”
Ash shuddered as he looked at Eo standing beside me.
“T-That lady… is she Eonia Mirabel?”
“Yeah?”
Ash swallowed hard. He’d seen Eo when he was captured, but this was his first time seeing her bare face, so it hit him differently.
He stared at her, entranced. Feeling a bit annoyed, I poked his eyes lightly.
“Ow! What the hell, man!”
“Lecherous eyes. Don’t you dare look at my Eonia like that.”
“Urk! I-I was just going to say hello. Since Lisitea owes her…”
“If that’s the case, say it to me.”
“Tch!”
Right on cue, Gunther joined us.
Gunther gaped at Eo too. Being tall himself, he seemed to have a type for tall women like her, freezing solid like a statue.
“I-Ilrain. T-That person is…”
His eyes pleaded for an introduction, intensifying my irritation.
‘Am I… feeling jealous?’
I barely felt jealousy over Erina or Estelle. But with Eo, an odd possessiveness surged.
“Everyone, stop paying attention to Eo.”
Leaving the two idiots behind, I grabbed Eo’s hand and forcibly moved to another spot.
For some reason, Eo wore an incredibly happy expression then.
As we wandered aimlessly through the party, I bumped into an unwelcome group.
“Wade…!”
Prince Eldric scowled arrogantly.
Beside him were Tena Woodmore and the protagonist, Cassius.
Tena glared at me murderously in particular. With nothing to say, I ignored them to pass by, but Cassius suddenly spoke up.
“I watched today’s battle. Impressive as always.”
“…?”
When I raised a questioning look, Cassius laughed heartily.
“Just calling good work good. Even if you’re my rival, I can’t call black white. It was a splendid battle, Als Ilrain.”
Was this the protagonist’s social charisma? But Estelle’s words suddenly came to mind.
‘The protagonist holds goodwill toward me…’
I still didn’t understand why she felt that way, but I sensed a strange incongruity in his attitude too.
Suppose the protagonist truly harbored goodwill toward me.
What if he knew my identity—his half-brother from another mother?
‘He’s trying to help me…?’
That would explain his words in music class. ‘Things will change soon, Wade. Let’s see if you talk like that then.’ That’s what he’d said.
I’d wondered why he’d been so reckless, but if it was a subtle hint, it made sense.
Even now.
By making me talk to Prince Eldric, he might be conveying something.
Seeing value in probing, I cautiously opened.
“I didn’t expect busy Prince Eldric to come all this way. Grand General Haisak from Vurang should’ve sufficed. Surely there’s another purpose?”
Eldric didn’t deem it worth answering, but the protagonist spoke again.
“His Highness visits the Pensilon Festival every year. Same this time.”
“…”
That could be a hint depending on interpretation.
Prince Eldric visited this festival annually. Meaning he’d long shown interest in Ballast.
‘Is this for real…?’
Then Tena cautioned Cassius.
“Cassius! What good does telling him do!”
“Tena, His Highness visited this festival openly. No need to hide it.”
“W-Well, true, but…”
“Right, Your Highness?”
Eldric nodded and addressed me.
“You asked if there’s another purpose? There is. A very important one.”
“A plot to overthrow Ballast?”
Like with the Saintess, I probed for a reaction, but it didn’t faze Eldric. Or rather, he didn’t deny it.
“Even if that happened, it wouldn’t be strange. Ballast has become a thorn in the continent’s geopolitics.”
“What I’m asking is if you’re involved.”
“Who knows? What do you think?”
“…”
Meaningful silence.
Eldric snorted, uninterested in engaging further, and turned away.
“Hmph. Cassius, Tena. Let’s go.”
I watched their backs for a while.
*
*
*
The party peaked at 8 p.m.
The dance proper began, and pairs who clicked slipped away for intimate moments.
Having danced with Erina and Estelle, I slumped exhausted at a table.
They’d suggested going together, but with business left, I sent them ahead.
The business was simple.
Juras had appeared at the party.
Whenever he showed, trouble followed, so I expected the same now.
He was greeting others first, so I had time.
After some thought, I cautiously asked Eo.
“Eo, want to dance?”
“…Yes!?”
Eonia startled, letting out a squeak.
“Well, security’s loosened up now. Thought dancing wouldn’t hurt.”
“W-With me?”
“Problem?”
“N-No problem.”
“Then do you hate dancing with me?”
“Not at all! It’s an honor!”
Eo blushed, flustered.
I took her hand and headed to the dance area.
She followed shyly. It felt more embarrassing than dancing with Erina or Estelle.
Only then did I clearly realize my feelings for her.
‘To think I’m this lacking in self-control.’
Not surprising, though.
We’d been stuck together like glue for nearly three years. Such feelings were natural.
Still, I had no intention of confessing yet.
If anything, wait until after the baby’s born.
After the dance, I thought of chatting privately, but Eo, seemingly overwhelmed, fled to switch with waiting Anton.
Smiling at her retreating figure, resentful voices rose around me.
“You player!”
“How many girls do you have to dance with!”
Ash and Gunther. The idiot duo.
Gunther trembled with clenched fists.
“Erina Salleon, the jewel of Gransel, and even famed Estelle Dianté! Dancing with your own retainer too. Lucky bastard!”
“Gunther senior, I heard he even has a pregnant wife!”
“What!?”
The two exploded.
Dorothy, approaching me, looked puzzled.
“What’s with them? Als, your friends?”
“Nah, strangers.”
“I see.”
Dorothy pitied them.
Then Ash’s eyes lit up.
“You’re Dorothy Grimwood!”
“Yeah?”
“I heard you get along with lots of girls.”
“Yeah… I have many friends. Why?”
“Great, you’re our ally now!”
Dragging Dorothy, Ash aimed for a trio.
Too nice to refuse, she got swept away.
‘Even at a glance, Dorothy’s popular too.’
She wouldn’t join them, though.
“Sir Als. I’ve come in Lady Mirabel’s stead.”
“Perfect timing.”
Time to meet Juras.
With Anton, I headed to him.
His presence here meant things were imminent.
Sure enough, he cut to the chase.
“Als, the armies are moving.”
“Scale?”
“Albad with 30,000. The West with 70,000.”
“100,000 total…”
Ballast’s standing army was 80,000. Large for a neutral nation, but hollow.
No real combat experience for regulars or officers meant subpar fighting strength.
“But Ballast has diplomatic skills.”
“True. That’s kept them safe until now. But the situation’s changed.”
Vurang, key to diplomacy, had signed non-aggression pacts with all and exited the stage.
“International dynamics simplified without Vurang.”
Juras explained the background.
It stemmed from the recent Tail War.
The temporary truce ended, reigniting war.
Svenner decided to invade Euurope first, partly to block Euurope from Ballast.
Tunkai deployed to Bekavia’s border, tying them down too.
That left no immediate protectors for Ballast except Caliper and Crossing.
To aid Ballast, they’d pass through Albad.
Thus, Albad focused eastern defenses with fortresses beyond their 30,000 to Ballast, buying time.
“Albad’s prepared well. Unseen military fortresses dot the east. Sieging them delays greatly. To help Ballast, must go via Bekavia or Euurope. Inefficient, and supply lines problematic.”
“Via Vurang?”
“Non-aggression pact bars foreign armies from Vurang. No go.”
“Shooting themselves in the foot.”
I’d inserted that clause for future conquest, but now it bound them.
“What’s the plan?”
Ballast’s fall didn’t hugely matter to us.
Hence our casual stance.
Juras held decision rights anyway.
He smiled faintly.
“I pondered this too… Als, can you play along in the drama I’ve scripted?”