Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Side Effects (2)
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The Labyrinth City that Kim Hyunwoo had devised was drawing tremendous attention, as it was a territory unlike any that had ever existed on this continent before.
Thanks to that, Lartania currently had far more mercenaries than residents, and the resulting positive effects were creating a virtuous cycle that kept growing.
However, as there are always drawbacks to every advantage.
Right away, the sight of Lartania opening its Labyrinth City and circulating magic stones—something that was practically the exclusive domain of lords in this world—was unlikely to sit well with the other lords.
But even so, the reason Kim Hyunwoo had prepared only the bare minimum and immediately unveiled the Labyrinth City plan was simple: confidence.
Confidence that he could grow this Lartania territory amid the jostling of those other lords.
Of course, Lartania itself wasn't in a particularly favorable position for territorial growth.
There were no notable resources around it that could be turned into specialty products, and above all, a nation had already formed centered on Lartania.
In fact, Lartania was practically smack in the middle of the Kalan Kingdom, the Norba Kingdom, and the Eastern Alliance clan.
Yet despite knowing this, Kim Hyunwoo remained confident—and even thought the current situation wasn't half bad.
After all, to grow Lartania according to his plan, he clearly needed those three surrounding nations.
In any case, to sum it up, Kim Hyunwoo had fully anticipated that diplomatic headaches would arise sooner or later after creating the Labyrinth City.
"I am Kutra, the envoy directly dispatched by Duke Randaron."
"...Ah, yes."
"Let's cut to the chase. Duke Randaron wishes for you to become his vassal."
"...His vassal?"
"Indeed. You may continue operating your territory, but as part of the honorable Duke Randaron's household."
"..."
Truth be told, he hadn't anticipated this situation at all.
Kim Hyunwoo stared at the greedy-looking envoy, whose belly fat bulged noticeably, feeling a genuine sense of absurdity.
Of course, he hadn't failed to foresee something like this.
On the contrary, this was one of the first scenarios he'd considered.
After all, what the Duke of Randaron was doing here was the most obvious method that would come to mind if someone pondered the best way to swallow Lartania for free from the opponent's perspective.
"If Lartania comes under Duke Randaron, it will be as sturdy as having a million heavenly troops. Naturally, you'll have to pay a modest price for the duke's gracious mercy."
"..."
At the envoy's final words, with his rolls of fat jiggling, Kim Hyunwoo became convinced the man was manufacturing a pretext.
Lartania was a territory unaligned with any nation, so in the current situation, he was spouting nonsense on purpose to create a justification for 'war' and devour it.
The moment Kim Hyunwoo realized his hunch was correct, he couldn't help letting out a scoff.
Of course, he'd easily predicted such an offer would come.
"What do you say? It's a splendid proposal—"
No matter what, Kim Hyunwoo had expected the man to probe subtly while dragging things out, but instead, he was blatantly going berserk to build his pretext.
Which was why.
"Do you really think that's a good proposal?"
"Obviously."
"Bullshit."
"...What?"
"Cut the bullshit."
Kim Hyunwoo wiped the smirk from his face, furrowing his brow as he spoke. The envoy from Randaron, stunned into gaping blankly, finally processed the words and replied in a trembling voice.
"What did you just say?"
"Are you deaf? I said cut the bullshit. Want me to spell it out more? How about I strangle you right now and bury you next to your parents' graves~ like this?"
The envoy's face flushed beet red in an instant at Kim Hyunwoo's padlip.
"You'll regret those words."
Even so, he twisted his lips upward as if achieving his goal and spoke, but Kim Hyunwoo just snorted.
"If you're done talking, get lost, you pig bastard."
A clean send-off.
The envoy stormed out of the office, face red and seething once more.
"Phew—"
Elena, standing beside the sighing Kim Hyunwoo, watched him go and spoke up.
"...I hate to keep saying this, but is that okay? That envoy's from Randaron territory."
"I know. One of Norba Kingdom's three dukes, right?"
"Yes. From what I know, he commands the largest forces in the kingdom."
Elena nodded, her face tinged with worry.
But Kim Hyunwoo, who had been scowling as if venting all his frustration just moments ago, quickly returned to normal and waved it off.
"It's fine. Plus, the fact that he came spouting nonsense means he was here to manufacture a pretext anyway. No matter how I dodged, it would've ended up like this."
"Ah..."
"So instead, I just gave him what he deserved and cussed him out. No need to worry too much."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The guy's picking a fight, and he's a duke to boot... But of course, I've already planned for this."
With that, Kim Hyunwoo pulled paper and a pen from his drawer, smiling.
Kirral—one of Red Eyes' Four Heavenly Kings and arguably second in rank among them—began relocating with the beastkin from Red Eyes to near Lartania territory.
Red Eyes had formed around Merrillda in the first place, so without her, it was as good as gone.
Unlike the beastkin starting the move, however, Kirral was traveling separately, due to two of the Four Heavenly Kings.
A rabbit beastkin named 'Riyu,' somewhat unusual among Red Eyes' beastkin but undeniably one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
And 'Gram,' the wolf beastkin with a long scar across his face.
They had shown immense interest in the story Kirral first told about Merrillda.
Leaving the last remaining Heavenly King to lead the beastkin, the three were heading to see her first.
At least, Kirral's tale of Merrillda had thoroughly piqued their curiosity.
Which was why.
"The boss really did that? Laughed 'hehe'?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, I gotta see that face."
"Hmph, so the boss is just a female after all."
"Try saying that to her face—you'll end up with your arms torn off and turned into ornaments."
"Don't bullshit me, you crazy rabbit bitch."
"Both of you, shut it. And one more time: never badmouth that human in front of the boss. You might vanish on the spot."
The three of Red Eyes' Four Heavenly Kings bantered as they made their way to Merrillda.
And soon enough, they met her.
"...Long time no see."
Merrillda's greeting carried a hint of melancholy.
"“Hah...””
Riyu and Gram couldn't help gasping at her words.
They'd rarely spoken with her directly—could count the times on one hand—and she'd never greeted them first.
Shocked, the Heavenly Kings exchanged glances, then noticed her downcast expression and grew puzzled.
"B-Boss. Something wrong?"
Riyu asked slyly, eyes gleaming with curiosity at the change.
"...Is there a way to erase infamy?"
Merrillda replied.
"...Infamy?"
The Heavenly Kings looked baffled, but Gram answered first.
"...If you want to erase infamy, there's a clean way."
"What?"
"Just kill 'em all. If you wipe out everyone who hates you, the infamy piling up vanishes, right?"
Gram's suggestion.
But Merrillda remained glum.
"I thought of that too, but..."
"But?"
"...Too many to handle."
"Ah... We've got dozens ourselves, but same for you, right?"
"...Hundreds."
"...Hundreds?"
"...Around a few hundred places."
"...Yeah, that's a lot."
Gram conceded neatly, followed by silence.
Then Riyu spoke up.
"Hmm... Realistically, to erase infamy, maybe just lay low and mend ties with enemies while stacking good deeds?"
"...Good deeds?"
"Yeah. Infamy fades naturally if you don't cause big incidents... And good deeds speed it up."
Riyu's advice.
Merrillda pondered it, then nodded.
"...Yeah, better than doing nothing."
But a few minutes later.
A carriage heading out of Lartania territory.
"That arrogant bastard!! I'll make you regret it! I'll throw you in the dungeon and turn you into a male whore someday!"
And from inside, the seething voice.
"...Riyu."
"...Yeah?"
"I really want to kill someone, but killing stacks infamy, right?"
"...Yeah?"
"So if I don't kill 'em, no infamy?"
Riyu met her boss's eyes, gleaming with murderous intent.
"Still feels like it would."
"One arm then?"
"That too, probably."
"One leg?"
"...That too."
"Head?"
"..."
That's just killing... Riyu thought but held her tongue, eyeing her oddly.
"Hmm... Boss, if it's that, I've got a great method."
Kirral, the smartest of Red Eyes' Heavenly Kings who'd been silent, finally spoke.