Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor's Dispatch Duty Comes to an End
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To cut to the chase, the assault on Norton ended in failure.
The Steel Scale Tribe alliance, having lost nearly thirty wyverns, withdrew from Norton.
Any further losses would have weakened their tribe beyond recovery, amounting to nothing short of suicide.
Not long after the Steel Scale Tribe's raid, the barbarians scattered across the northern regions began vanishing one by one.
Daniel's relentless subjugations, combined with the alliance's failed siege of Norton, had completely shattered the barbarians' will for a large-scale offensive.
In the end, they decided to scavenge the shortfall in provisions for the long winter ahead from the highlands rather than the north.
There were plenty of tribes weakened by this year's failed campaign.
The highlands' winter this year would likely be incomparably harsher than any in the past.
The northern conflict, later known as the Northern Wyvern War, came to an abrupt close just like that.
By the results alone, the north had won.
But the cost was far too steep.
Norton lay half in ruins.
Collapsed walls, charred districts, plazas blanketed in corpses.
The bloodstained streets echoed with the cries and groans of the survivors.
The Magic Tower's losses were no less severe.
All the regular mages Leona had brought with her had perished.
Leona herself had lost an arm, suffered severe damage to her mana circle, and fallen into a coma.
From a conventional standpoint, Leona had hit rock bottom with this incident.
Yet things weren't quite that straightforward—the situation took a peculiar turn.
"Lady Leona and the mages risked their lives to protect Norton."
"Without them, Norton would have vanished from the north."
"She's the true hero."
The survivors of Norton began praising her.
The truth was that Leona and her mages had desperately unleashed magic on the wyverns out of sheer desperation for survival, with no path of escape. That's all it was.
But to the eyes of Norton's survivors, it looked entirely different.
Like heroes who staked their lives to defend Norton in a fierce battle.
It didn't take long for the moniker "Norton's Saint" to stick to Leona.
A few days after the Norton assault.
Cartago Grand Duke's residence.
Northern Archduke Edgar downed his wine, lost in deep thought.
Once war ends, politics begins.
And that was precisely his current dilemma.
'Who should I credit with the achievements?'
The post-war accolades.
A pivotal matter that could shift noble hierarchies and determine family futures.
Even for Archduke Edgar, seasoned by decades in politics, it wasn't a decision to make lightly.
His contemplation deepened.
'Pure merit alone? Daniel dominates.'
Daniel was the hero who annihilated the wyvern unit without a single casualty and defended Kazan.
And that wasn't all.
Dispatched to the Cartu region, he crushed eight barbarian tribes and held the line there.
By any reasonable measure, Daniel deserved to be the foremost hero of this war.
But politics told a different story.
'Public attention is fixed on Leona, who barely saved Norton amid heavy sacrifices. The focus is on the tragic hero.'
Daniel's gift of victory to the north was common knowledge.
But Leona delivered感動.
Not the kind of tale that fired up only knights or soldiers, but a moving story anyone could empathize with, pity, and pour their hearts into.
That was Leona now.
'And she's from the Eos family.'
One of the empire's premier noble houses, the Eos Count family.
What if he elevated her to foremost hero?
The shrewd politician's mind arrived at the answer swiftly.
He could expect massive propaganda benefits and political ripple effects, plus bind the Eos family with obligation.
Edgar couldn't let this opportunity slip.
'I can saddle the Magic Tower with debt too. They'd prefer promoting their 5th Circle regular over some indefinite contractor.'
Weighing it purely on political calculus, ignoring emotion or morality, Edgar made his decision.
A choice that would be the worst news for one man, the best for one woman.
Edgar issued a summons.
To inform his vassals and son before the official announcement, minimizing backlash.
No sooner had the order gone out than lords and nobles from across the north converged on Cartago.
The conference room in the Cartago Grand Duke's residence.
Dozens filled the space, yet a silence colder than the northern chill prevailed.
All awaited the archduke's words. At last, he spoke.
"For this northern defense war, Leona of the Magic Tower shall be the foremost hero, Sir Daniel the second. Note that."
"Pardon?"
"What?"
The room erupted in clamor.
Nobles and vassals buzzed.
Shock, confusion, understanding, outrage—eyes brimming with emotions poured toward the archduke, who didn't so much as blink.
"Father!"
Rainer shot to his feet, eyes full of discontent, protesting.
"Why? By merit alone, the foremost hero is undeniably Sir Daniel! His feats have no precedent in imperial history. Why...!"
"Enough."
Edgar cut Rainer off.
"Foolish boy. Calm yourself."
Rainer fell silent under the archduke's icy gaze.
"Politics isn't about righteousness or logic. It's about maximizing gains for as many as possible while minimizing losses. Didn't I teach you that?"
"Is this what you call politics?"
"Yes. If I ruled as you wish, Daniel would become a northerner."
"Then why...!"
"But my decision benefits the entire north."
"......?!"
Rainer's lips quivered.
The archduke continued, arms crossed.
"You're right. Sir Daniel earned immense merit. Nothing like Leona."
"Then...!"
"But the people remember and care about Leona now."
"......!"
"Do you know why?"
Rainer had no answer.
"Impact."
"..."
"She lost all her subordinates and an arm. The result? People see her as the tragic hero who staked her life for Norton."
"......"
"A hero without sacrifice pales next to one who paid dearly in the public's eye."
"Are you saying you made this call for political influence?"
"Exactly."
Edgar admitted coolly.
"Moreover, she's from a prestigious house. Elevate her name, and she'll repay us. Honor, supplies, manpower—whatever the north needs."
"No guarantee she'll..."
"Negotiations are already underway behind the scenes."
"Kuh!"
Rainer bit his lip.
His eyes swirled with uncontainable rage and reluctant comprehension.
He hated himself for having no rebuttal.
Silence returned to the room.
Dozens of eyes watched breathlessly as the archduke's verbal sparring with his heir turned into a political lesson.
"Sir Daniel... won't accept this."
"That's why you're still green, Rainer."
"Pardon?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
The archduke asked calmly.
"Isn't he a knight of our Carta?"
"...!?"
Rainer's eyes widened.
"As a knight, he'll understand for the family's future and step back. Don't you think?"
"Th-that..."
He trailed off.
Rainer realized the bitter truth.
The honorable title he'd proudly bestowed as a reward now shackled his actions.
Watching his son gain insight from the gentle lesson, Edgar leaned back in his chair.
"I'm not dismissing or erasing his merits. He'll get proper rewards. I'll apologize in person, and if he wants specific honors, I'm open to negotiation. Even as second hero, such sincerity is due. Agree?"
"......"
Rainer glared resentfully at his father.
Edgar's gaze held steady.
"This... is unfair."
"Drop the misunderstanding, Rainer. I'll treat this war's heroes equally. Just... some heroes a bit more equally."
Edgar smiled.
The sly fox's grin that had made countless imperial nobles weep and laugh over the years.
"Will... Sir Daniel accept it?"
"Still on that, Rainer? Making him accept is a politician's duty."
"......!"
The archduke rose and approached Rainer.
His footsteps echoed through the room.
"The north will birth male and female heroes. From one, we'll gain much; from the other, goodwill instead of enmity."
He stopped before Rainer.
"Because... I'll make it so."
The archduke's sharp gaze pierced Rainer.
"This is the politics you must learn, Rainer. Watch and learn if you aim to succeed me."
Rainer was speechless.
His father's will was ironclad, the logic impeccable.
He had no counterargument, no alternative.
'Sorry, Sir Daniel.'
Rainer apologized in his heart to the absent mage-knight.
Something crumbled within him.
It was his dream and desire to recruit Sir Daniel.
Rainer bowed his head.
Today, the word "politics" filled him with utter loathing.