Chapter 95
Chapter 95
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Successor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The scales between the Strange and Glazer Families, which had begun to tip slightly, now swung decisively to one side.
This had become a grave matter that even the imperial family could not simply overlook.
"Father, why aren't we declaring war on the Strange Family?"
Edward von Glazer.
The future of the Glazer Family, who would succeed Hagen alongside Berddin, called a supernova.
He glared with dissatisfaction at his right arm, now transformed into a steel prosthetic.
"This is the perfect opportunity to get revenge on that bastard. Without Roys, there's no one to stop us."
If they waged war now, they could seize half of the Strange Family's territory.
However, Hagen, deep in thought about the matter, ordered caution and restraint.
"Our opponent is the Strange Family. Even without Roys, we can't act rashly."
"Why not? With Gunter in the east, Valentine in the west, and Hysteria in the north—all away from their posts—this is our chance to strike them down."
"I think so too. No, anyone on the continent would give the same answer."
"Then why—"
Hagen snapped his fingers in the air.
Snap!
A large scroll unfurled before the round table, displaying a map of the continent.
"There are four problems with attacking the Strange Family right now."
"Four?"
"The first issue is Roys's survival. According to the reports from the spy we planted in Strange Castle, there's talk that he might still be alive."
Edward raised an eyebrow with intrigued curiosity.
"Is that true?"
"It's a hypothesis. Our spy never encountered Roys directly, so it's just speculation."
"Ah...."
"It's a very low probability, but if it's correct, acting hastily could backfire on us."
Hagen shrugged.
"After all, the Strange Family's forces outnumber ours overwhelmingly."
"Father, but if Roys really is alive, wouldn't there have been a reaction when we encroached on their territory a few days ago? Instead, it was eerily quiet."
"Exactly. So if Roys is truly dead, that brings us to the second problem."
Hagen picked up a pen and drew a line across the Strange Family's territory near the east on the map.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Strange Family's territory is far larger than ours, and their numbers are greater than expected. That's inevitable—there are at least ten times more knights than mages on the continent, aren't there?"
"...Yes."
"Even if we seize their territories excluding the south, we'll need people to manage them."
Hagen pointed to each castle on their own territory marked on the map as he continued.
"We don't have enough vassals for that. Otherwise, we'd end up placing incompetents who can't even manage a fief properly."
"Ah...."
"We might grab the land now, but in time, it'll slip back to them. The emperor would welcome that outcome too."
The absence of capable administrators.
This was a problem even the mythical knights who once conquered the continent had faced.
No matter how exceptional they were, they couldn't patrol the entire continent daily. They had to delegate, but capable individuals were scarce.
In the end, brute force alone couldn't solve everything. Knowing this, Hagen refrained from rash territorial wars.
"That's why we shouldn't act impulsively. The Strange Family knows this too. If we move, they'll counter accordingly."
Edward clenched his fists tightly.
"Father, if we don't seize it now, we'll be the ones losing ground. Once a new family head takes the reins in the Strange Family, we won't even be able to fight. You know that too, don't you?"
Hagen clamped his mouth shut and exhaled a long breath through his nose.
Huff—
"Then let me explain the third problem."
"The third?"
"Have you ever heard the name Valentine?"
"...Of course. The judge of the Strange Family—the Red Raven, the Red Filial Bird knight."
"Right. Then you know about her."
"Who wouldn't? The one who destroyed a western kingdom at just ten years old. I don't know if the rumors are true, but that's what I've heard."
There was no need to explain her.
Her fame was so widespread across the continent that only newborns and speechless beasts were unaware of Valentine.
"I don't know what you've heard, but most rumors about her are true."
Edward averted his gaze in denial.
"Is that so."
"Yes, and I've fought her once myself. As you know, my missing left index finger—she took it ten years ago."
"?!"
"Of course, I didn't lose the duel. In exchange for this finger, I left an indelible burn scar on her back. I could have killed her if I'd pushed a bit more, but Roys showed up...."
He rolled his eyes as if recalling the memory, then clicked his tongue and continued.
"Anyway, Valentine's presence in the west is the third problem."
"Her presence in the west?"
"Yes. The kingdom she destroyed has a massive divine beast called 'Fenrir.' If she leaves the west, it'll rampage across the continent."
"Can't we handle it?"
"Impossible. It's a disaster-class entity immune to magic."
Hagen snapped his fingers in the air again.
Snap!
A book flew over and opened to information on Fenrir.
Flutter.
"Only knights can stop it. That's why the imperial army calls Valentine, who holds back Fenrir, the 'Western Breakwater.'"
Edward dropped his head in disappointment.
"Does that mean we'll never be able to fight them?"
Hagen pointed to the north of the continent on the map.
"No, there's a solution. I have an old friend up there who can deal with Fenrir."
"The north... You don't mean 'Vidar,' the son of a god?"
Vidar, son of a god.
The last remaining giant in the continent.
"Exactly. That's why I'm suggesting we delay declaring war. I understand your desire for revenge, so I want to proceed cautiously and decisively."
"...I understand."
"Moreover, there's one final problem."
"The final one?"
The scroll rustled as it folded and unfolded, erasing the continent map and revealing a familiar golden-haired man.
"The Strange Family's youngest, Berddin de Strange. He's the biggest problem."
Matteo Ricci wielded his brush across a massive sheet of paper.
His movements were as graceful as a seasoned dancer's performance.
How could such emotion emanate from an elderly man?
Swish!
As his brush tip halted, Saintess Maria Theresa clapped and sprang to her feet.
Haah—
"Matteo Ricci, I don't know what years you've lived, but the brush dance you've shown us is beautiful enough to present to the gods!"
It was high praise.
For the saintess to voice such words was exceedingly rare.
Matteo Ricci bowed stiffly without showing emotion.
"I'm honored by your words, Saintess Theresa."
I nodded vigorously between them and extended my hand.
"Bring it."
Rox shoved Matteo Ricci back a step from his chest.
Then he lifted the paper, as large as himself, and showed it to me.
"Like this?"
"Yes."
Matteo Ricci remembered.
The appearance of my mother, whom I'd said had died.
'She said she was definitely alive.'
If I knew what she looked like, I could find her.
"Hm?"
A face I felt I'd seen before.
Her build matched the one I knew too.
No, it was identical enough to call them the same.
I turned to Cynthia, standing blankly nearby.
'No way?'
Impossible.
Cynthia was born in the south, and Mother's hometown was the east.
Besides, her age didn't match for her to have borne me.
I had no choice but to assume it was just a resemblance.
"...Matteo Ricci."
"Speak."
I mimed tearing the paper and said to him,
"Are you joking right now?"
"W-what?!"
"You draw this woman and call her my mother? I told you I hate jokes."
He glanced between Cynthia and me in panic, furrowing his brow deeply.
"It's not that your mother resembles that woman. That woman resembles your mother."
"What?"
"I don't remember clearly, but she was a famous mage from the east. So her family must be there too, right? There'd be others who look similar."
It wasn't an impossible notion.
Even on battlefields, encountering similar faces wasn't rare.
"Her parents might be from the same region, or she inherited that bloodline, making her look alike."
"...Wait. Did you just say mage?"
"Yes, a mage. Your mother wielded fire magic. I'm no expert in that field, so I don't know her spells."
My mother resembled Cynthia, and she was a fire mage.
This was all the information I could get from Matteo Ricci.
But it was enough to use in searching for her.