A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

213 – War Is a Business (3)

While preparing for Yeongjijeon, his father’s study became a de facto command center.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since I called you here, Gray.”

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been in the main study. And it’s been a long time since the place changed like this.”

At one time.

“When I was 10 years old, I came to my father’s study. At that time, my father was here preparing for war.”

“You helped me a lot.”

After my mother returned from being molested, my father made various ‘preparations’ in his study to start a real war.

“It is being used like this again. Although it is limited to the Marquis de Barcel.”

“It is the Marquis of Barcel, but in fact it is not the entire group of nobles who follow St. Geo Nostrum.”

A wide table in the study.

“The king is openly intervening in the territorial war. Unofficially.”

As soon as you operate the device with a ‘click’, the wooden device starts to move and the table top begins to change into a ‘map’.

“If you don’t help me, you’re a traitor. If you help Gibraltar, you’re an imperialist. If you join Golden Dawn, you’re a patriot.”

Nostrum Evangelism.

“By forcing patriotism towards Nostrum, he demanded war materials from nobles throughout Nostrum.”

At the end of the table, the canyon extending to the side of Gibraltar is exactly in contact with the wall.

“There is no element of the Empire intervening in this battlefield.”

“Externally, that is.”

“It’s not like the imperial army is going to come through the canyon and be stationed there, right?”

“Hmm. Yes. Whether in the past or present… The ‘main enemy’ is not the Empire.”

As if he didn’t think of the empire as the enemy at all, the only battlefield his father had in mind was the kingdom.

Even if the imperial army had become the enemy in the first place, Gibraltar at the time would not have chosen any tactic other than blocking it in the gorge.

“In the beginning, there was really no need to pay attention to anything else than Barcel and Gunther of Lembourg, but as St. Br＞

As the mana flows, the area corresponding to the Marquis of Barcel begins to glow softly.

“However, since this may be seen as a challenge to the king’s authority, the number of people who are currently flocking to become the Marquis of Barcel is greater than expected.”

And accordingly, a ‘golden’ light begins to sparkle throughout the Kingdom of Nostrum, including several surrounding territories.

“North. Marquis Roland. South. Counts of Sirene. They sided with Marquis Balzac.”

“What is the scale?”

“There are no human resources. The Marquis of Roland sent weapons, and the Count of Sirene sent preserved imperial food.”

“You’re saving face.”

“Yes. They may not want to openly spar with us, but they will not be able to ignore internal public opinion.”

The average public opinion in Nostrum is like that.

“It is said that it was sent out of necessity, but no matter how Gibraltar it is, the thought is, ‘We cannot see the Counts actually pointing their swords at the King.'”

“No matter how wrong the king was, and the commander of the knights who protected the king made a big mistake, are you really going to fight for territory? That Gibraltar.”

My father laughed as if he was reciting someone’s words.

“That’s bullshit.”

“Yes, it’s bullshit. But our enemies are experts in bullshit, and those who cannot overcome the coercion of bullshit are crying and sending resources to the Marquis de Barcel.”

As I spread my magic, golden arrows began to point towards the Marquis de Barcel from all over the country.

“As a result of analyzing intelligence obtained from ‘Children of the Valley’ spread throughout Nostrum through orphanages across the country and employment. In this Territory War, all places except Morgania sent resources towards the Marquis de Barcel. It’s a territory.”

“In Gibraltar?”

“But not one place.”

“Good.”

Not all the power of the kingdom is gathered under the Marquis of Barcel.

“Not everyone supports Barcelona 100%, but if those who support even 1% are considered enemies…”

However, if we consider a family that sent even a grain of flour to be a participating family, the families that should be included in the declaration of war for territory war are all except Morgania.

“We are going to war against the Kingdom of Nostrum.”

“Yes.”

“Against all families except Morgania and Gibraltar.”

“Yes.”

“The same goes for the emperor’s illegitimate sons who closed to them.”

“Yes.”

“This is the enemy we must deal with based on common sense.”

“Yes.”

His father personally approached the battlefield and touched the golden ‘King’ located in the territory of the Marquis of Barcel with his index finger.

“This crazy guy would try to kill the envoy we sent to declare war, right?”

“He is a person who will cut off the head of the messenger and say, ‘The declaration of war was well received.'”

“I see.”

The father flicked the king with his finger and then sent the mint-colored rook near the Marquis de Barcel.

“I’ll have to hear the report after I get back…”

“Probably, it will go as expected.”

I lightly pushed the soldiers in front of the mint-colored rook to the side.

“They told me to do whatever I wanted, whether to kill or live, but there was no order to carry it.”

* * *

The spacious hall of the Marquis de Barcels’ castle.

The regular soldiers and knights all hold swords and point their swords at the woman standing in the middle of the hall.

“You just have to say welcome, really.”

The woman, Lord Mente Lift, neatly pulled her hair up and took out her letter from her her arms her to her her.

“I came to tell you this. I was trying to ride the horse comfortably, but what happened when you shot an arrow at the horse?”

Tuk.

“As expected, it’s a declaration of war.”

“…”

“Why? Captain Zeros. Aren’t you coming to give me the letter?”

Sir Mente pointed to the letter she had dropped on the floor, but no one in the post picked it up.

“As is customary, the envoy personally came and delivered the message. Did I clearly convey the message?”

“Stop, Mente Lift.”

Marquis Zeros Barcel stepped forward with a solemn voice.

“Has the Viscounty of Rift decided to join the Empire?”

“What? It’s not an empire, it’s a county, and the person who made me a viscount in the first place was the Earl of Gibraltar?”

“It’s not too late. For the glory of Nostrum…”

“Hey. You know you’re younger than me, right?”

Sir Mente raised his index finger and pointed at Marquis Zeros.

“You spoke to me with respect, both in private and in public. I guess you don’t know?”

“…”

“Well, I’m not even a party, so who knows.”

As Sir Mente scanned the audience, the knights took a step forward with stern expressions.

“Everyone decided to remain silent? What can I do? Really. It’s because the person who died was wrong. It’s a situation where he died and the rest of the world doesn’t even know he’s dead. It’s so absurd.”

“Shut up. Zeros Barcel is not dead. Here, he is alive like this.”

“Really? Then that means you can at least become a senior knight…”

Sir Mente grinned as he placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

“You can take the blow, right?”

“What… ?!”

When Sir Mente took a step forward, the soldiers instantly stepped back.

“…!!”

Without even realizing it.

The space where Sir Mente was standing widened, and it was only after looking left and right that the knights realized that he had retreated.

“Stop.”

Pair.

“Did you come to declare war, or did you say you would declare war and then immediately go to war?”

“Hey.”

Next to Marquis Zeros, a young man with navy blue hair came down the stairs of the hall and picked up the letter that had fallen on the floor.

“Are you pretty? Are you a master?”

“No way. I’m just the Marquis’ butler.”

The young man raised his glasses and politely placed his letter in his arms.

“But keep one thing in mind. There are many unknown strong people in the world.”

“It seems like you’ve become stronger by using drugs, but you talk a lot?”

“I think it’s better than wasting 40 years trying to overcome the limits of your talent.”

“Ha, haha… You’re talking arrogantly about having your mouth opened.”

Sir Mente extended his index finger precisely towards the butler.

“You. See you next time.”

“Do you think there will be a next time?”

When the butler raised his hand, the front door of the hall opened and new knights appeared.

“Marquis. Order.”

“…Ah, yes! Golden Dawn!”

Knights wearing golden armor.

They frowned for a moment when they saw Captain Zeros, but soon they dug into the siege towards Sir Mente and aimed their swords at the closest person.

“The enemy has declared war! It is war from now on!”

“I came as a messenger, so is it okay to try to kill him like this?”

“They are the ones who waged a war for territory even though His Majesty the King was present! They are traitors!”

“It’s a pain in the ass, but who is really the traitor?”

Click.

“The person who brought in the ‘decayed crown princes’ of the empire and gave them positions in order to protect himself is a traitor-“

Ka-euang!

“…I can’t say anything.”

“Die, Mente Lift!!”

“Die, la?”

Sir Mente parried the sword of the knight who charged at him first, then turned leisurely and headed towards the main gate.

“Young guys are arrogant.”

Ka-ang.

“They won’t even be able to chase me.”

Sir Mente deflected the sword aimed at him and leapt over his encirclement.

“Cowardly scum trying to kill the Reaper! If you’re going to chase me, chase me! Why not chase me all the way to Gibraltar!”

Sir Mente ran across the ground with an excited face.

“Uh, uh…! Chase after me!!”

Leader Zeros shouted, pointing at Lord Mente, who was running wildly.

“…”

No one could keep up with Sir Mente’s speed.

* * *

A situation where all the families in the kingdom have become enemies.

Even if we don’t want to be our enemy, we don’t want to be treated as ‘traitors’ on a wholesale level, so no one can give us any help.

We are preparing for war on our own, but as it happens, we have received unexpected support.

“Vice President Bathory. What brings you here?”

“Oh my, I brought good news, but are we being treated poorly even before we enter the castle?”

Vice President Bathory, who came directly on a horse-drawn carriage, not an automatic magic ship, stood in front of me with his parasol open.

“I came to tell you that the academy is safe, hehe.”

“That’s natural.”

Currently.

The Duke of Winchester is at Orosol Academy.

The full force of Morgania, including the Black Rose Knights, is protecting Orosol Academy, and Orosol will fulfill its role as a ‘hall of education’ even if a territory war breaks out.

Zone 3.

Although we can’t do anything about Orosol Academy, the kingdom’s nobles also can’t send assassins to Orosol Academy.

Even if they send an assassin, Astasia, Noir, and Lord Platinum are staying there to protect them.

So don’t worry.

Rather…

“Why are you looking at me like that? As if my coming itself is a source of anxiety.”

“Well, isn’t Vice-Chancellor Bathory the emperor’s man?”

The very fact that Vice-Chancellor Bathory came is a cause for concern for me.

“If you are touring, please stay quietly at a hotel. If you are returning home, let’s continue to the canyon.”

“That’s too much, Chairman. But I’m the one who came to help.”

“So, what I’m saying is that being there isn’t helpful.”

“Oh my, how cruel. Still, I brought a message and some helpful information.”

“…Message?”

“Yes. Hmm.”

Vice President Bathory clears his throat and his expression his hardens.

“…I’m sorry for not being able to crack down on ‘tax collectors’. That’s what you said.”

“…An apology?”

“Yes. This is what His Majesty said. From the perspective of the person watching from the side…Hohoho.”

Vice-Chancellor Bathory laughed, pointing to his mouth with one hand.

“Because you’ve messed up so much, there are a lot of children who can’t be controlled.”

“…”

“And most of them feel that their place has been taken away by adopted son.”

“Ha…”

“That’s why I came to help. They also receive help from the empire, so there’s no reason why we can’t receive help here too, right?”

“It is still recognized as a proxy war between the kingdom and the empire. Are you asking us to get help from the empire?”

“Oh my. No?”

Vice Chancellor Bathory placed his covered hand on his chest, lowered his upper body, and brought his face closer.

“Wongun is me. Hehe.”

“…”

“Oh my, is it like this?”

“Vice-Chancellor Bathory.”

I pulled the end of Vice-Chancellor Bathory’s parasol, covering her face and cleavage at the same time.

“If you are smaller than Astasia, shut up.”