Chapter 343: A Land That Lost Its Romance (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 343: A Land That Lost Its Romance (1)
Back in Dmitry, Roman Dmitry sat down with Sanchez, just as Count Bragan had anticipated.
"I've heard the rumors," Roman said. "They say you've joined Duke Vieto's faction and are leading the rebellion."
"Yes. And it is all thanks to your advice, Lord Roman Dmitry. To stand against the atrocities of the Emperor of Valhalla, we needed the backing of a giant like Duke Vieto. He gladly accepted my proposal."
"So, what business brings you to me?"
Sanchez smiled.
Roman was exactly the same now as he had been in the past—a man who drew clear boundaries.
Even when Valhalla had openly threatened him, Roman hadn't asked for help. Instead, he had advised Sanchez to seek out Duke Vieto. Because of that advice, Sanchez's future had changed drastically. Once a mere disciple of Morales who pursued nothing but martial strength, he had awakened to the importance of politics, rising to become a core figure in Vieto's rebel faction.
Therefore, this meeting was absolutely crucial. Despite their past connection, Roman was not a man to bestow favors without expecting something in return.
Sanchez spoke.
"...First, let me briefly explain the situation in Valhalla. Currently, the Valhalla Empire is fractured. It's a standoff between the Emperor's forces and the rebel faction following Duke Vieto. What our rebel faction seeks is to reclaim the true essence of Valhalla. As you know, Valhalla was originally a nation of warriors who purely contested strength. By condemning the Emperor's actions—actions that have tarnished our very foundation—we successfully won the support of the people. The problem is, public support alone isn't enough to overthrow the Emperor."
The rebel forces had spread far and wide, raising their voices in defiance.
Watching the cheering populace, they had been confident of victory. But the reality that unfolded before them was pure despair.
The Emperor's soldiers descended upon them. They ruthlessly slaughtered everyone who joined the rebellion. Those who had been shouting for the true essence of Valhalla just moments before collapsed to the ground, their faces painted with terror. There was nothing they could do. Everyone knew the rebels' cause was noble, but there was a grim reason they had remained silent until now: the imperial court's overwhelming military might.
It was a massacre. Everyone died.
Though they called themselves a rebel faction, up until now, they had been unilaterally crushed beneath the Emperor's boot.
"As things stand, we have no chance of winning," Sanchez admitted. "Valhalla's top rankers have followed the Emperor since before he was even considered a successor, and the military shows him blind loyalty. I will speak frankly. We need Dmitry's help. Since the rebel faction alone can never overthrow the Emperor, we are desperate for a solution to bridge that gap in power."
Currently, the power players of Valhalla were paying incredibly close attention to Roman Dmitry. Despite him not being a man of Valhalla, his actions and reputation within the empire were overwhelming.
"The people of Valhalla describe you, Lord Roman Dmitry, as a true warrior. Even knowing that Kronos and Valhalla—the two great pillars of the continent—were targeting your life, you participated in Valhalla's festival. The way you defeated Barbosa in a single blow and safely returned to Dmitry is still on everyone's lips. Your joining the rebel faction wouldn't just be a simple boost in military strength; I am certain its sheer symbolism would have a massive impact. If you help us overthrow the Emperor of Valhalla, Valhalla will become an ally of Dmitry and spare no effort in providing full support."
It was killing two birds with one stone.
Not only would they secure immense symbolic value, but they would also gain a transcendent powerhouse capable of slaughtering Valhalla's top rankers. They had to make this deal happen, no matter what.
Sanchez spoke every single word with desperate sincerity.
However...
"If your proposal is for me to directly participate in Valhalla's rebellion, I cannot accept it."
It was an answer without a shred of hesitation. Roman Dmitry spoke firmly as he looked at the bewildered Sanchez.
"To be precise, it means I cannot be Valhalla's solution."
* * *
It was a baffling response.
Though Sanchez hadn't been absolutely certain Roman would help, he hadn't expected such a flat refusal.
Think about it. The Emperor of Valhalla shared an ill fate with Roman Dmitry. He had invited Roman to the Valhalla festival with the explicit intention of killing him, and when Barbosa was defeated, the Emperor had stood by and watched the Kronos Empire's attack. At that moment, any potential relationship was severed. Given how Roman Dmitry had dealt with hostile forces in the past, he surely wouldn't miss an opportunity to take revenge on the Emperor of Valhalla.
Furthermore, Valhalla had recently shown signs of colluding with Kronos.
It was a simple matter. Since Kronos was openly hostile to Dmitry, there was a clear need to eliminate the Emperor of Valhalla before he could fully ally with them. An alliance with the rebel faction was entirely beneficial to Roman Dmitry. Securing Valhalla as an ally instead of a threat was the best possible outcome.
The puzzling part was Roman Dmitry's nuance. Rather than a complete rejection, he had left room for questioning.
"May I ask what you mean by that?" Sanchez asked.
"Exactly what I just said. If I join Valhalla's civil war and lead the rebellion, the justification you put forward will inevitably lose its power. Valhalla is a nation built on pure-bloodism. No matter how good my reputation is, the moment a non-Valhallan points a sword at the Valhallan Emperor, the people will turn their backs on you. Let me ask you: if the rebel faction loses the support of the populace, do you think you have any chance of winning?"
"...No."
"Indeed. That is why dragging the Emperor down from his throne must be done solely by Valhalla's own strength."
It was a complicated situation.
What the people of Valhalla wanted was not a simple transfer of power, but the restoration of Valhalla's roots. If an outsider led that process, it would make a mockery of their cause.
For the rebel faction, which was already overwhelmingly outmatched in military power, losing the support of the people meant they had virtually no chance of winning. Sanchez fell into a dilemma. He had to secure Roman Dmitry's help somehow to bridge the gap in strength, but having these realistic issues pointed out to him made the future look bleak.
There was no turning back now. If they backed down here, the Emperor of Valhalla would undoubtedly execute every single person who had joined the rebel faction, leaving none alive.
Suddenly, the word directly echoed in his mind.
If Roman couldn't help directly, didn't that mean he could help indirectly?
Right on cue, Roman spoke.
"However, helping indirectly is possible. By making it a matter solely between Dmitry and Valhalla, completely unrelated to your rebellion. Not by lifting you up, but by tearing the opponent down. But to make this deal happen, I must also receive a fitting price. The condition I want is simple."
"...What is it?"
Roman smiled. It was an offer the other party had no choice but to accept. From the moment he met Sanchez, Roman Dmitry had already decided on his answer.
"A temporary alliance that remains valid until Kronos is defeated. I do not want Valhalla to become an obstacle in my path."
* * *
The same words carried vastly different meanings depending on the nuance.
Sanchez. Roman Dmitry.
What they proposed to each other was essentially the same. Both spoke of dragging down the Emperor of Valhalla and forming an alliance between Dmitry and Valhalla. However, while Sanchez desired coexistence, Roman Dmitry demanded a temporary alignment of interests. It was a relationship where they could turn their backs on each other the moment their respective goals were achieved—one that could hardly be called a perfect alliance.
Sanchez pondered for a long time. Though he knew they might become enemies in the future, he had no other choice.
"I accept Dmitry's proposal."
With that, Sanchez departed. They agreed to proceed according to Roman Dmitry's plan, and though temporary, the rebel faction and Dmitry shook hands.
Left alone in the room, Roman Dmitry sipped his tea and envisioned the future.
"Alexander. You must want me to get involved in this civil war."
He recalled the scene he had witnessed through the World Tree. Alexander, who was instigating Valhalla's civil war from the shadows, undoubtedly wanted Roman Dmitry to be swept up in the rebellion as well. For Kronos, it was an incredibly ideal scenario. The Emperor of Valhalla and the rebel faction would clash and grind down Valhalla's military power, while Roman Dmitry would suffer casualties at the same time.
Roman did not hesitate. Stepping back and conserving his strength was an option, but that was far from the path he intended to take.
I will not avoid it.
Bystanding and cowering in safety from afar would not solve the problem.
If the Emperor of Valhalla suppressed the rebellion, Roman would then have to worry about the worst-case scenario: an alliance between Kronos and Valhalla. Roman Dmitry did not leave his future to fate. He would take charge of Valhalla's civil war from the very beginning. Even if it meant making sacrifices, he would seize the ending he desired.
For that reason, he had proposed a temporary alliance to Sanchez.
Roman Dmitry had accepted the Kingdom Alliance. Luna, Cairo, and Hector had declared they would become vassal states, but for the other nations, it was still very much an alliance. However, he had not drawn a clear line with them. Nations accustomed to being ruled by the strong would naturally accept Dmitry's supremacy, but the Valhalla Empire operated on a fundamentally different premise.
They were predators. Beings who did not know how to submit.
Even if Kronos fell, Valhalla might continue to exist as one of the two great pillars alongside Dmitry, but they would never accept bowing their heads as a vassal state. That was why he drew the line. He made it explicitly clear that this was a temporary alliance. While he would join forces with the rebel faction to grind down Valhalla's strength and prepare for the war against Kronos, he didn't bother hiding that his ultimate goal lay far beyond mere cooperation.
This was why Sanchez had been so bewildered. He had been rendered speechless for a moment at such staggering ambition, but from the beginning, it was a proposal he could not refuse.
Roman took control of the situation.
Kronos was instigating war. Valhalla was begging for help. Everyone wished to drag Dmitry into their mess, but in the end, everything moved according to Roman Dmitry's will.
Clack.
He set down his teacup.
"Hans."
"Yes, did you call, Young Master?"
From now on, there was much to be done.
* * *
That evening.
Pacing around the guest room, Count Bragan bit his nails anxiously.
"...Is he refusing to meet me at all?"
After Sanchez left, the Count had immediately requested an audience. He thought Roman would surely meet him now, but the servant attending Roman Dmitry was resolutely firm in his refusal.
"The Young Master is currently attending to personal matters. If you wait in the guest room, we will contact you as soon as he is available."
As he waited, the sky grew dark.
Irritation flared within him. He was well aware that Roman held a grudge against the Emperor of Valhalla, but keeping an imperial envoy waiting like this was incredibly poor etiquette. If Kronos and Valhalla were to join hands, no matter how strong Roman Dmitry was, there was no way he could handle two empires at once. Setting aside personal feelings, a decision-maker carrying the weight of a nation should not react so emotionally.
For now, he endured it. Pressuring Roman might ruin everything. Count Bragan suppressed his boiling anger and waited for Roman Dmitry to seek him out.
One day passed.
Then two.
On the morning of the third day, Count Bragan finally exploded.
"Damn this Dmitry! Just how long do they expect me to wait? Billy!"
"Yes, My Lord."
Billy was his escort knight. As the knight stepped inside, the Count barked at him in an irritated voice.
"It doesn't have to be an immediate meeting, but use whatever means necessary to secure an appointment date. We are not people to be treated with such disrespect. If you make that clear, even Roman Dmitry won't be able to delay our meeting any longer."
"Understood."
Negotiation was not about unconditionally bowing down. If things continued like this, they would inevitably lose the upper hand even if they managed to sit at the negotiating table. He needed to assert his position.
He was the representative of Valhalla. He was not in a position to be ignored. Having the backing of the Emperor of Valhalla carried immense weight.
Thud.
He slumped onto the sofa. From now on, it was a waiting game. Believing that good news would arrive soon, Count Bragan enjoyed the aroma of his tea, his expression slightly softening.
However, thirty minutes later.
Creak.
"...C-Count."
Billy entered. His face, which had been full of confidence when receiving the order, had changed so miserably that he was barely recognizable.
"What on earth happened?!"
The Count sprang up from his seat. What in the world had happened in just thirty minutes?
Billy spoke in a voice drenched in terror.
"...Kevin. Dmitry's Evil Ghost... he did this to me."