The Bait is Swallowed

"What matters right now isn't the personality of that lord—it's for our Valkyrie Federation to crush everyone by winning this event, isn't it?"

Exactly.

Daph had hit the nail on the head.

That was the key point.

And the bait that Brock had wanted was cast.

"Then why don't you go fight that brat lord yourself?"

-What the hell does that mean?

"You've got a bunch of ragtag lords under you, right? Take command of their forces instead and hit that territory."

-Oh.

-Not a bad idea.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Everyone bit the bait.

Even Kyle let out a thoughtful hum.

"Of course, you'll have your abilities restricted—you get that, right? You'll just handle strategy, tactics, and command. And you'll wear the Lord's Shackles."

When equipped, a lord's power is curtailed, and the degree of restriction can be fine-tuned.

Probably, wearing the Lord's Shackles would limit him to the level of a lord still in their protection period.

-Puhaha, that sounds fun.

Daph was all for it.

Wasn't this a chance to smash this muddleheaded Brock lord's nose and that arrogant brat's too?

Even if his own strength dropped to that of a protection-period lord, how could he fail to catch just that one guy?

And as a bonus, it would give even more weight to Alfredo's shoulders.

-Not a bad proposal.

Kyle reacted positively too.

-So, Daph will command ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the forces of a Valkyrie Federation lord still in their protection period to verify this shady figure.

The other lords nodded in agreement.

-Then we'll talk more after the verification. Daph, you've got two weeks. Wrap it up by then.

"Yes, sir!"

Federation Leader Kyle vanished from the hologram.

One by one, the conversations ended, leaving only Daph and Brock.

"Now, you write one of these too."

-A Lord's Oath?

"Swearing not to breathe a word about that lord."

-Sure, whatever. Kuhahaha! In two weeks, I'll get to see your smug face rotting away.

Hearing that, Brock lord grinned.

'He took the bait.'

Would Brock go this far for Arthur?

No, not just for Arthur.

For the entire Valkyrie Federation.

And even further...

'This brings us closer. Someday, you'll join our Troll Federation.'

Brock still believed, all on his own, that it would happen eventually.

Arthur received exactly the news he'd hoped for from Brock lord.

'The one who bit is Daph.'

A lord Arthur knew well.

Back when Arthur started the Monarch Game and was climbing toward the top 101 lords, they'd clashed a few times.

Lords could use virtual war mode.

In this mode, they fought via hologram not with real forces, but simulated ones.

It still cost a hefty chunk of gold to use.

The virtual war started with identical territories and resources.

And in it, Daph had never once beaten Arthur.

'He's a bit standout, but the real terror is God's Shield.'

God's Shield was a ring artifact, but named as such.

Its effect was astonishing.

'In the future, it was upgraded to grant absolute defense to all forces for a full five minutes.'

All forces in absolute defense for five minutes.

Meaning, no matter what damage you dealt in that time, they couldn't be killed.

While they could still attack enemies—that was the biggest merit.

'Not at that level now, probably. Of all people, Daph has to be the one.'

Arthur knew Daph inside out.

Which made him glad—for Arthur himself, not in a good way for Daph.

'A lord allied with demon lords.'

Crunch.

He'd prove his worth through that bastard.

Planned to strip him down to the bone.

Creeeak.

The massive door swung open as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gremori entered. Her face was grim.

Today, she'd led the forces and territory folk to recover everything from Arhan Territory.

The gold haul from there was a whopping 50,000 gold.

It laid bare just how many protection-period lords they'd extorted.

Along with ample supplies and food, it let Arthur raise his territory's total level to 7.

Victories in territory wars usually granted hefty experience.

"Gremori."

"Yes, my lord."

Gremori bowed her head.

It must've started then.

Hearing him dock points from her 80-point proxy score.

She was thrilled and delighted by his victory, but it stung that she'd disappointed him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most of all.

"I'm not trying to embrace the territory folk fanatically, like you think."

To her, it might've looked that way.

Declaring war on another territory over one citizen.

But Arthur wasn't fool enough to throw everything away for a single soul.

War claimed countless lives.

He wouldn't wail over one dead soldier, grovel before the family apologizing.

He'd send others to comfort them in his stead, spare a brief thought, bury the pain in his chest, and press on to survive.

That was a lord.

Tougher than anyone, upholding dignity above all.

Couldn't waver at every death or tragedy.

"We needed enemies to fight for the territory's growth, and they showed up right on time. Then they chucked bread at a citizen's forehead. A small thing, sure."

Gremori agreed.

Way too trivial. She could hardly understand Arthur's excitement over it.

"But someone could make that into a cause. And they were clearly trying to shake down lords. I had the power to protect—and the confidence."

"Confidence to protect... you mean?"

At "confidence," Gremori's head lifted slowly.

Arthur flashed a bright smile.

He was scolding her, but also signaling she didn't need to sulk anymore.

Training couldn't be all stick—no carrot, and the donkey wouldn't learn well.

"Having the power and confidence, but not using it? That'd be the weird part, right?"

In the annihilation subjugation force, Arthur could've dragged Carman down immediately with his troops.

But he chose another path.

Sparing troops out of blind pity?

No.

A better way existed—no need for losses.

Take the superior road if it was there.

"Citizens are precious. But I'm not reckless. And to me, you're more precious than any citizen. If they'd thrown bread at your forehead and I had the confidence..."

Gremori's lips twitched upward.

She shouldn't smile, but it bubbled up. She fought it down.

"I'd have done the exact same."

"Ah...!"

It sounded like equality for all, but singling her out with "even you" made her heart race.

How could this young lord stir a demoness's heart like this?

"So from now on, report every little detail, no matter how small. Whether it's doable? I'll decide."

"Understood, my lord."

She bowed again.

"I've got urgent reality business, so for skipping that minor report, your punishment is patrolling the territory all night."

"Yes!"

He called it punishment, but it was her duty anyway.

She admired his mercy and the deeper lesson.

Arthur thought ahead to tomorrow.

'First day with the territory army.'

Still time before war with Daph.

Thorough was ideal, but Arthur chuckled.

'Against that guy?'

He knew Daph well. A week would suffice for prep.

Arthur left Gremori behind and walked on.

'Territory army. The real start.'

Light enveloped his moving form.

Back to reality.

"Patrol time, patrol! Fun patrol!"

Left alone, Gremori bounded out excitedly.

Rare to see a woman so thrilled heading to work.

Reality.

Back last evening, Arthur had crashed right away.

No major incidents for his real body during the Monarch Game days—it moved fitting his personality on autopilot.

Descending the stairs, Arthur eyed the bustling servants and maids prepping for his first day, puzzled.

"You aren't all coming for my first day, are you?"

Hans shook his head.

"The territory army posted for volunteers. Looks like they need folks for cleanup and heavy lifting a few days."

Arthur gave a wry smile.

'Gotta make money fast.'

Hearing that soured his mood.

Long story short: the household finances were tight, so they were off to the training camp for odd jobs and pay.

His mother Helen probably hated it.

But the servants insisted on going themselves.

Butler Kevin met Arthur's eyes and swallowed a wry smile too.

'That'll end soon.'

Arthur's mind brimmed with money-making knowledge.

Use it, and the Press family wouldn't teeter on bankruptcy anymore.

Arthur opted against the territory army dorms.

It was optional.

He led the servants and maids toward the training camp.

"Isn't the first month intensive training?"

"Yeah."

Entering meant a month of hardcore drills.

"Heard it's basic fitness and dungeon training."

"I have no doubt you'll excel more than anyone, young master."

Arthur swallowed his wry smile.

Hans had dungeoned with him before—had to believe that.

'Better if the first dungeon training has the Plunderer's Ring.'

A big reason Arthur joined the territory army.

Obtained by Thousand-Army Ellas.

This ring held special power.

For instance, reality's Sword Emperor Korco.

It let you command a similar unit in the Monarch Game.

Not identical—personality excluded—but talents were a perfect match.

Grade scaled to the lord's level.

But a unit with Sword Emperor talent stood out.

Rumor was, it auto-quested strong nearby talents.

Clear it, recruit the unit.

Territory army training usually hit dungeons within days.

Passing wasn't the end.

They scored you again in the dungeon—fail, and you were out.