Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: One Month, One Year, Ten Years
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Peace had arrived.
Or so it seemed.
On the surface.
But in truth,
the anxiety rooted in my heart only grew day by day.
‘An Apostle…’
At the source of that anxiety was the Apostle.
That thing that was called someone’s ‘finger.’
“Ugh.”
The moment I recalled its overwhelming presence, my fingertips trembled.
Perhaps the reason I’d enjoyed the festival was to forget this anxiety, even for a moment.
I had cut it down, but the terror still hadn't faded.
In the first place, my ability to slay that monster hadn't come from my own pure strength.
It was only by wringing out every last bit of power from the Dragon's Magic Armor, infused with technology from the Age of Myths, and the output of the Dragon Heart that I had managed to cut it down…
‘Even then, what if the Angel of Annihilation hadn't used that “Final Wedge”?’
The slightest change in any other variable might have altered the outcome.
It was that overwhelming.
Thinking about it now, that Book of Fate is one cruel bastard.
How the hell was I supposed to fight something like that? Why send me to the past for this?
But,
the real problem was…
‘That was just an Apostle. Just a finger.’
Does that mean there’s a hand, and a body, too?
Could a human possibly stand against something like that?
*Shudder.*
A chill ran down my spine.
The evil cult.
I honestly hadn’t thought much of it.
I just figured it was a pseudo-religion that dealt with strange powers.
Unlike in ancient times, even true, orthodox religions held little power in the modern era. Why would I care about some measly cult?
That’s what I had thought.
But…
‘It’s more terrifying than I ever imagined.’
Now I understood.
I understood why the ever-so-pragmatic Ksias had suddenly become a religious fanatic.
If you felt even a fragment of that unfathomable power, you couldn’t help but fear and revere it.
That was the source of my impatience.
‘Something is happening.’
The evil cult.
If it had existed only in ancient times, I wouldn’t have been so anxious.
But as seen in the cases of Ksias and Delkashu, it brazenly existed in the present as well.
What’s more, it was almost certain that even the emperor of the Gallotti Empire was a cultist.
If that was the case,
‘It means something like that finger could appear in this era too, right? Maybe even its owner might show up…’
I had to prepare.
To protect my siblings. To protect my people.
Even a moment sooner.
Conquering Ailun,
was, in fact, merely a preparation for the preparation for that preparation.
“Hoo…”
I sighed and tossed the letter in my hand onto the desk.
The desk was piled high with letters of similar content.
The writing styles were all different, and the flowery language was unique to each, but the message was the same.
‘Let’s join forces and tear Ailun apart.’
Just like a bunch of robber barons.
When Harun was alive and well, they were all desperate to protect their own positions…
But as soon as he fell to me, they became hell-bent on ripping his territory to shreds like a pack of wolves or hyenas.
“What a load of crap.”
I had not the slightest intention of joining hands with scum like them.
I didn't even think it was possible in the first place.
Cooperation? When they were all blinded by greed?
What a joke. I’d have to constantly watch my back.
Nevertheless, the reason I read and replied to every letter was simply to placate them.
If I rejected them outright, those bastards would undoubtedly try to interfere with my plans.
So, I was pretending to test the waters.
Pretending to be weak, saying I lacked the strength and might have to join hands with them.
But in reality,
‘I can do it. Alone.’
I had already devised a method.
The reason such letters were coming to me was likely because everyone thought it was impossible.
They thought I couldn't conquer Ailun on my own.
A simple population comparison suggested as much.
The Ailun region had five cities and a population of over 6.3 million.
In contrast, the three cities I currently ruled had a combined population of only 2.7 million.
We were on completely different scales.
‘Still, I can do it.’
They would probably say this.
That my forces were insufficient to cover such a large territory.
That it would be even harder because the people of Ailun were stubborn and looked down on other regions.
That if people started taking up arms and disobeying by refusing to pay taxes, I would be dragged into an endless mire.
But, still,
‘I can do it.’
My conclusion remained unchanged.
In the end, it was all just armchair theorizing.
They’ll rise up? They’ll disobey?
In reality, would they? Really?
Funnily enough,
what flashed through my mind at that moment was… the Apostle.
That overwhelming power and terror.
A power that didn't just break one's stubbornness, but changed one's entire perspective of the world.
Yes.
I had already made up my mind.
***
The eastern continent, Oldland, and the western continent, Gloryland.
Caravans traversed Roverland, connecting the two ends of the world.
They were the very lifeblood of Roverland.
It was because of them that all of Roverland could sustain itself, that its great cities could be maintained.
Among them, Renajora Chemien, leader of the Caravan of a Thousand Faces—said to be one of the top three—was currently heading toward Ilunael City, the capital of the Ailun region.
Ilunael was the most important city to him.
It was the gateway to the trade routes that passed through Ailun.
A port city situated on the massive Lake Naelund.
Unlike other regions with their many rolling hills, Ailun’s trade routes consisted of endless plains, making it easy for carriages to travel.
On top of that, there was a sturdy, massive ancient highway, and the size of the Ashen Lands was significantly smaller than in other regions, meaning monster attacks were rare.
To use that trade route, which was several times faster and safer than any other, one absolutely had to pass through Ilunael.
Moreover, as the final destination of the water trade route that followed the world's largest lake, Naelund, Ilunael City was truly a land flowing with money and honey.
‘That’s why I have to keep a tight grip on Ilunael.’
The very reason Renajora Chemien had earned the title of the Caravan of a Thousand Faces and built a merchant company ranked among the top three in Roverland was Ilunael.
He controlled over 40% of the massive volume of goods that passed through the city.
‘This is why you always have to get friendly with the powerful ahead of time.’
When everyone else had turned their backs on Harun, he had bet everything on him.
Even now, he could cry tears of blood thinking about the treasures he had offered Harun back then… but in the end, look at the result. Hadn't he reaped profits tens, or perhaps even hundreds of times greater?
And now, the moment had come for Renajora to place another bet.
‘There’s no way Harun is dead. But he must be in quite a predicament. So, what should I give him? What can I offer that he won’t be able to refuse?’
He had many cards prepared.
He just hadn’t decided which one to play.
As he was deep in thought, a young merchant approached him. He was a sharp-looking fellow Renajora had been keeping an eye on.
“Excuse me, Guildmaster. Is it really alright to continue like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Shouldn’t we send a gift to Lansen?”
“Hm? Isn’t the manager in charge of that area already handling it?”
“Still, shouldn’t you go see him in person, Guildmaster? There are rumors that Harun suffered a major defeat at Lansen’s hands and is now hovering between life and death… If Ilunael falls into Lansen’s hands at this rate…”
*Pfft.*
Renajora couldn’t help but laugh.
He was sharp, but still so young.
“For the time being, there’s no need. No matter how great that man Lansen may be, he won’t be able to make a move on Ilunael for at least the next ten years.”
“Ah, so you believe Harun is still alive, Guildmaster?”
“Of course, Harun will be alive. But that’s not the issue.”
Renajora turned to the bodyguards on either side of him.
“What do you two think? Will Ilunael fall just because Harun is gone?”
The two men were sublime warriors who had reached the rank of Sword Master.
Even though he had hired them as bodyguards, they were figures he couldn't speak to informally.
In fact, it was they, the hired hands, who spoke casually.
“Impossible.”
“No way.”
Their answers were curt, as if it wasn't even worth considering.
The young merchant’s face flushed as he protested.
“But Lansen is a sword genius, the likes of which are rarely seen…”
The handsome, middle-aged Sword Master on Renajora’s right cut him off.
“Not a chance. In fact, if he and I teamed up, we’re confident we could take down Harun or Lansen. But it won’t happen. Not Ilunael.”
“That’s right.”
“Has a warrior not from Ailun ever taken Ilunael?”
“Never.”
“Right. The Ailun bastards are too exclusive. They can’t stand the thought, so they’d all swarm in to protect Ilunael.”
“With that many Experts, even a Grand Master would get worn down.”
“Besides, there are still two Sword Masters left, aren't there?”
The two went back and forth in perfect sync.
Still, the young merchant didn’t seem convinced.
In the end, Renajora decided to add a kind explanation.
“Think carefully. How can there be so many warriors in this land of Roverland? Where does all that money come from?”
“Well, isn’t it thanks to us?”
“Yes. It’s because of us, the golden caravans. The massive profits we create by connecting the east and west trade routes.”
“Of course.”
“It is precisely because of that wealth that we can support so many warriors, and because of those warriors, we can push back the teeming monsters and build cities.”
“Of course.”
“So think about it. Lansen already has Kashu, Kinalo, and Kushan. What happens if he gets Ilunael as well?”
“Ah!”
The young merchant exclaimed as if he’d finally understood.
“All the trade routes leading to Norverge… Lansen will have them in his grasp!”
“Exactly. If Lansen were to block the trade routes, the entirety of Norverge would wither and starve.”
Renajora gazed at the plains stretching out in the distance and grinned.
“So, even ten years is a rather generous estimate.”
No one wanted Lansen to take Ilunael for himself.
If Lansen showed such ambition, he would have to face not only the warriors gathered from all over Ailun but also those dispatched from every city in Norverge.
Everyone would stand in Lansen’s way.
To prevent him from seizing Ilunael.
“In fact, there’s a high chance he’ll never succeed in his lifetime. It might be a different story if Lansen formed an alliance with the other lords of Norverge, but…”
Renajora scoffed.
“There’s no way those greedy bastards would ever unite.”
As if agreeing with his words, the Sword Masters on either side of him nodded.
By this point, the young merchant could only look at Renajora with eyes full of admiration.
Renajora saw this and smiled calmly.
‘He’s like that because he’s young. So young.’
People are easily swayed by the words of others or by temporary momentum.
That’s why he always followed three ironclad rules.
The third of which was:
‘Prioritize my own judgment over the world’s.’
The world is easily swept up and shaken, so one must always read the situation calmly and realistically to avoid losses.
And his judgment was telling him.
Lansen.
He was not yet a name worth worrying about.
***
Sea grumbled.
Her expression barely changed, but she looked quite displeased.
“Why are we having a meeting in the training yard?”
She had brought another stack of documents today. It was a wonder she never let go of her sword, even while carrying all that.
I asked Sea,
“What are all those documents?”
“The plan I drafted for the subjugation of Ilunael. Assuming Harun is dead, if we’re lucky, it could be done within a year. The core of it is a stratagem of sowing discord…”
As her explanation threatened to get long, I cut her off.
“Sorry. But you’ll have to revise that.”
“Why? Without even looking at it?”
“Because I have a method I want to try. If this goes well… maybe a month? We should be able to subjugate Ilunael within that time.”
Sea’s eyes widened slightly.
“Conquer Ilunael in one month?”
Instead of answering, I looked around.
My siblings and Rivera, all the key officers I had summoned, were already gathered.
“Yeah. I’ll explain as we go. For now…”
I moved past Sea and gestured with an open hand.
“Alright, everyone! Let’s get started. Come up one by one and try these on.”
Where my hand pointed, a line of thirty-one suits of Magic Armor was on display.
Powerful ancient weapons whose very existence was unknown in the current era.
They were the culmination of cutting-edge magitechnology, which had been specially stored in a secret exhibition hall within Lorraine’s moving laboratory.
*Red indicates major trade routes.
*Purple indicates relatively minor trade routes.