Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 26 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Lurking Danger

Endesia, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Myest, occupied a corner of the western continent. At Baron Duran’s manor on a piece of land tucked away in Endesia, a horse-drawn cart made its way through the gates of the property.

A butler wearing a tailcoat and a group of maids welcomed the guests to the manor.

“Welcome, Your Excellency. The master is waiting in his office.”

A man nodded in response to the butler’s greeting.

“He’s always in that room, eh? Thanks,” said the man before going through the house and up the stairs to the second floor without needing anyone to guide him.

The man was around fifty years old and 170 centimeters in height. Despite his slim build, he didn’t appear overly skinny. He also didn’t seem too familiar with the battlefield, yet he seemed to work out and take good care of himself. His hands were white with hardly any marks on them, showing he mostly lived a life indoors.

He gave off the air of a civil official or a bureaucrat more than a warrior.

Moreover, he was a middle-aged man with a well-toned body, dressed in fine noble silk clothes, and had his gold hair combed back. Above his top lip was a well-groomed mustache. His face was refined and masculine, with a look of strong will that was common among nobles.

While his expression might have looked arrogant to others, it was evidence that he held a position where he was responsible for ordering others all day. But at the same time, the man possessed another quality equal to his haughtiness. Perhaps one could say he exuded confidence and dignity.

As a man of high standing, it was a little unusual for him to walk around a stranger’s mansion with no attendants. Usually, the maids or butlers would guide him through the mansion, but not this time. It wasn’t the best behavior for a guest, and yet the man seemed entirely confident, proving he had visited this mansion several times before.

He leisurely strolled on the crimson carpet along the hallways until he finally stopped in front of a door and extended his hand toward it. Before the man could knock, a voice called from within.

“Is that you, Prime Minister? The door’s open. Come on in.” The master of the mansion had noticed the man’s arrival.

I often hear that soldiers who spend many years on battlefields have heightened senses. As usual, this is beyond mere mortals, thought the man.

After all, the carpet running through the hallways would have muted the man’s footsteps. The room beyond the door served as the master’s main office as well as a space for greeting guests. Naturally, it was a rather large room.

If the furniture remained as it was when the man visited the other day, the master of the mansion’s desk and chair would be at the back of the room near the window. It was quite a distance from the door. No matter how battle-hardened a soldier was, there should have been no way for him to sense anything.

Moreover, I’m not even here with malicious intentions.

Those who had walked between life and death often had very sharp senses, honed to help them survive perilous battlefields. This usually meant they became accustomed to sensing hostile intent. However, the man visiting Alexis Duran’s manor had no intention of harming him.

Regardless, Alexis had sensed his arrival. His ability had long surpassed others after a lifetime of many wars. It explained why he had no need for guards outside his room. Even in his own manor, one might regard the lack of guards as carelessness. But the master of the manor had reached such a high level of ability that it didn’t feel like he was doing it to show off.

It could just be a trap and not a show of skill.

The visitor felt a sense of uncertainty flutter through him. Even so, the master of the manor had given him permission to enter. The visitor had no plans to remain standing at the door.

“Excuse me,” said the man, turning the door handle.

Suddenly, the man felt his blood run cold. An older man was sitting at a desk. It was Alexis Duran, the master of the manor, who seemed to be in his late eighties or early nineties. He was also the source of the office’s suffocating, intimidating atmosphere.

I’m always taken aback by his presence, no matter how many times I meet with him... No ordinary human is capable of such raw energy.

That put Alexis a league above other people. It might have been more accurate to say it was a difference in power so great as to render him a different sort of life-form. Of course, that wasn’t visible to the naked eye. But one would instinctively pick up on Alexis’s raw power. The older man would have brought most people to their knees.

The same went for Owen Spiegel, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Myest, who was considered the king’s right-hand man.

Rather pitiful of me as a prime minister, but...

It was rather unusual in the first place for a prime minister to make such a visit without their attendants. Moreover, the host was too busy to personally welcome Prime Minister Spiegel. While the house staff had greeted the prime minister, Alexis’s failure to appear at the door would have been considered a social faux pas among the nobles of the western continent.

Depending on the situation, one could even interpret it as a declaration of war. However, Prime Minister Spiegel held no grudges in the face of such ill manners.

Prime Minister Spiegel then thought, I mean, it makes sense... I’m nothing like him...

In the Kingdom of Myest, Prime Minister Spiegel held a higher social rank than the old man before him. Although the prime minister of a country and a general were both incredibly important figures, there was still a clear hierarchy between the two. When thinking about it normally, the prime minister who managed the country’s politics had a higher position than that of a general. However, this hierarchy only applied to their official positions. The real issue was the difference in their abilities and rank as humans.

This old man has more power and prestige than I could ever hope to have...

Alexis Duran was one of the three generals of the Kingdom of Myest and was known as the strongest among them. Four words could summarize his military feats and achievements over the years: always victorious, always undefeated. His achievements shone brightly like a sky of stars.

No other general in the Kingdom of Myest could boast military achievements comparable to Alexis Duran. It was fair to say that he was unrivaled. Or better yet, he could be referred to as a god of war. It would have been more accurate if he were known as a monster, though.

This man is far removed from humans...

General Duran was a veteran army general who began working for the Kingdom of Myest in his twenties and spent nearly sixty years on battlefields. However, he still looked as if he were in his late sixties. That was one of the traits of a warrior who had mastered martial thaumaturgy at a high level.

He was just over 180 centimeters in height. While Duran didn’t have a small frame, neither did he have a giant one. At the very least, he didn’t use his size as an advantage, intimidating his enemies with it. He was bigger than average, and his body had undoubtedly served him well as a warrior.

His hair had begun to recede on top of his head, leaving only white hair on either side. He had trimmed his white beard short. Looking at that alone, it would be fair to say he had aged appropriately. But his muscular build, medium-sized frame, and taut skin—none of which seemed to have deteriorated with age—contradicted that.

In fact, it was less his appearance and more the prana that emanated from him that made him seem younger. His problem-solving skills, knowledge, and decision-making were sharp as ever.

That much is obvious from the huge pile of documents on his desk... Even Prime Minister Spiegel felt tired from looking at them. Just organizing the documents alone would take a lot of willpower and stamina. You wouldn’t think he’d been holed up in here for years...

Alexis was in good condition despite not having left his mansion in years. Seeing him as he was, no one would believe he had been staying in his manor on bed rest until around ten days ago.

“I must apologize. Even though I invited you here, I must finish reviewing these documents. Would you mind taking a seat on the sofa over there?” said Alexis.

Prime Minister Spiegel nodded. “That’s fine. I am well aware of how busy you are... So I don’t mind you seeing to your urgent work first.”

“Apologies,” replied General Duran before returning his gaze to his desk.

If one were to ask who the busiest person in the Kingdom of Myest was at that moment, it would be no mistake to name Alexis Durand. Of course, Ecclesia Marinelle was also deadly busy organizing the army. However, that was due to the nobles refusing to hand over their troops to help with the reinforcements, so she had to spend some time persuading them and making adjustments to plans and schedules.

General Duran was well-regarded among the kingdom’s southern nobles, meaning they had become more cooperative since he returned to duty. Considering his age and experience, few people would have the resolve to reject General Duran’s words. Even with the southern nobles listening to his requests, his workload remained undiminished.

If anything, it’s more accurate to say that while he’s overwhelmed with work. Ecclesia’s situation is completely different, thought Prime Minister Spiegel as he sat on the sofa near the window, moving his gaze to General Duran at his desk. As I thought, he doesn’t look like he’s been ill at all. Him being on “bedrest” was just an excuse for him to turn down royal court duties...

Naturally, serious illness could afflict even people who appeared healthy on the outside. Prime Minister Spiegel was aware of that, yet he didn’t think that the old man before him was ill enough to reject the king’s requests.

I don’t think I’m the only one who realizes that. Judging from Ecclesia Marinelle’s expression that one time, she no doubt thinks the same thing.

Prime Minister Spiegel reminisced about his presence at the meeting between Ecclesia and Duran, which had occurred after a few years of not seeing each other. After all, a former senior colleague who she had not seen for many years because he was on bedrest had turned up at her office to discuss taking over work as if nothing had happened.

No wonder she couldn’t hide how shocked she was. It was an unusual look for the strong woman known as the Whirlwind...

But Prime Minister Spiegel had brought orders from King Phillip, asking that General Duran take over Ecclesia’s work. She had no choice but to agree.

Well, Lady Ecclesia was struggling with the southern nobles... She probably considered it a blessing.

Ecclesia Marinelle was the youngest of the three generals in Myest. However, she was just as strong as the other two generals in war. Ecclesia, being in her thirties, was considerably younger than the other two. Alexis Duran was approaching his nineties, and the other general, Cassandra Hellner—while considered young for an admiral leading a large fleet—was already in her late forties.

General Duran had a profound, deep maturity about him, while Cassandra was at the peak of her career as a general; her experience and youth were in perfect balance.

Compared to that, Lady Ecclesia is still evolving. She has room to grow, but it could be seen as immaturity too.

The age gap between General Duran and Ecclesia was close to that of a grandfather and his granddaughter. Although Cassandra was closer in age, the age gap between her and Ecclesia was still close to a decade, making Cassandra more like an older sister.

Even though they were all considered strong generals, there was a hierarchy. Those around them who knew that found it difficult for them to treat the generals equally.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While those who encounter Ecclesia Marinelle tend to take her lightly, being able to dismiss one person’s opinions often helps make decision-making quicker.

When everyone was on an equal footing, making decisions usually took longer. Of course, exchanging opinions often led to better ideas, but that also took time. In most cases, time was of the essence.

This is especially true in urgent situations like this one. Decisions can be expedited when there is an established hierarchy, thought Prime Minister Spiegel, while also admitting that it was not without its own problems. In such a situation, the disadvantages become more apparent than the advantages.

The problem lay in Ecclesia Marinelle’s achievements and the significance she held as a unique individual. That was not to say Ecclesia was inferior. She simply had yet to develop the ability to make those who opposed her fall silent and in line.

To put it simply, the people don’t take her seriously. That is to be expected. They still see her as a young girl, after all, thought Prime Minister Spiegel.

The southern nobles had clearly demonstrated by their actions and words that they didn’t take her seriously. Besides her age, it was also a huge issue that House Marinelle’s territory was based in the north of the Kingdom of Myest.

Ambascia, House Marinelle’s territory, is northwest of the merchant city Pherzaad. It’s a relatively developed territory that also serves as a stopover point for trade routes between Rhoadseria and Pherzaad. Groups of merchants travel back and forth, spending a lot of money in the city.

The Marinelles were incredibly well-off. In fact, it was safe to say they were one of the main financial powers within the Kingdom of Myest.

I’ve also heard that trading with the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy has proved profitable in recent years...

In other words, they were one of the richest families in the Kingdom of Myest. This meant the southern lords viewed them as their enemy.

Although they sometimes met at soirees in Endesia, they only exchanged perfunctory greetings. They weren’t friendly with one another at all.

House Marinelle, with their northern territory, rarely ever interacts with the southern nobles. Something like that can have a huge impact on negotiations.

How long two parties had known one another was one of the factors in a relationship that could affect a negotiation. An easy comparison would be lending and borrowing money. If the one asking were a blood relative or a close friend, someone might go out of their way to get the money together for them. When it was someone they hadn’t met before, there weren’t many people who would simply give them money.

Humans were led by profit, or they wouldn’t act. In the case of soldiers, the responsibility was even greater. If one was going to put so much burden on them, there also needed to be a corresponding level of relationship.

However, Ecclesia Marinelle has had no time to build those connections.

The formidable woman, who had inherited both the family estate and the title of general from the previous General Marinelle, displayed outstanding skill on the battlefield. However, she was very likely overwhelmed just upholding her parents’ connections to other nobles. She’d had no time to forge new connections of her own. Trying to create new ones of the spur of the moment was hardly practical either.

Ordinarily, the appropriate course of action would be to put aside differences and conflicts of interest to instead prioritize the main threat. Even if they didn’t like it, no one could deny that it was the right choice.

Still, humans are foolish creatures... Even though their own nation is under attack, they can’t put aside their selfish needs and unite to defend it.

There were people who knew it was the right thing to do but didn’t choose it. Many would likely struggle to make the right choice. It stemmed from their human desires, which was a source of strength for humans as well as something that limited them.

But that’s why humans could become stronger. They’re able to survive because they have such greed.

Prime Minister Spiegel felt it was foolish. He had witnessed far too many people driven by their desires, straying from the path of human decency. In fact, he had witnessed houses that had lasted for a hundred years fall and passed judgment on them with his own hands. Yet that foolishness was proof that they were merely human. As much as it couldn’t be helped, it was the source of their strength too. Sometimes, people’s greed and desires were so strong that they disregarded their own lives and those of people around them.

Plus, I’m equally foolish.

If enough people knew Prime Minister Spiegel’s choice, around half of them would laugh it off, calling it stupid. They might wonder why anyone would willingly take such a gamble. After all, Owen Spiegel was one of the most influential people in the Kingdom of Myest after the king.

As prime minister of the Kingdom of Myest, Spiegel held most of the responsibilities regarding government affairs and diplomacy. It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say he wielded more power than King Phillip. Even though Spiegel understood that, he couldn’t give up on his dreams and ambitions.

This is a one-in-a-lifetime chance... thought Prime Minister Spiegel as he silently waited for General Duran to finish his work. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Perhaps twenty minutes. Around the time Prime Minister Spiegel finished the drink the maids brought him, the sound of General Duran’s pen running across the paper finally came to an end.

“Ahem... Apologies for making you wait a while,” said General Duran, rising from his seat. He then sat in front of Prime Minister Spiegel.

“Ah, it’s fine...” Spiegel responded. That wasn’t what he truly wanted to say, though. Prime Minister Spiegel was one of the busiest people within the Kingdom of Myest. He felt like every minute and second mattered; he was a very meticulous man. From the minute he woke up until he went to bed, he paid great attention to his watch as he lived his day-to-day life and requested the same from those around him.

Saying the prime minister lived life by the second was an exaggeration, but he certainly lived by the minute. General Duran had wasted twenty minutes of his precious time. It made sense why he would have opted for something less friendly than pleasantries. Considering the circumstances, he couldn’t complain.

Alexis is the one who will make my dream come true, after all.

Spiegel’d had a certain dream for a long time, yet had repressed it. His ambition began when he received land in the kingdom’s southern region and was burdened with the title of Duke Spiegel, even though his younger brother was the king. Yet it was an ambition he had given up on.

Prime Minister Spiegel was lost in thought when General Duran began speaking.

“The previous Marinelle general was rather talented, yet you believe Lady Ecclesia has already exceeded that. She showed me her plans for mobilizing the troops. They were perfect. This lessened my workload, making things a little easier for me. Her work is incredible. If I didn’t have those plans of hers, organizing the army would have taken much longer.” That was a sincere compliment. Or rather, it would have been more accurate to say it was high praise.

Prime Minister Spiegel was shocked at General Duran’s words. Oh, to think such an esteemed person is talking so highly of her.

Someone as experienced as General Duran could have done nearly all of the work himself—and probably would have done an above-average job of it too. Thus, General Duran wasn’t in the habit of bestowing compliments. When dealing with a subordinate’s flawed work, he wasn’t the type to use violence or violent words to rebuke them. Instead, he would simply correct the parts that needed improvement himself. While he was a talented and reliable person, from the perspective of his subordinates, he was a boss that made them nervous. It was incredibly rare for General Duran to give an off-the-cuff compliment like that.

That was slightly surprising... Although Prime Minister Spiegel was surprised, he deeply nodded in response to General Duran.

Prime Minister Spiegel responded, “That’s right... She showed me her plans the other day, and I found no flaws. The delay in her plan was not due to the plan itself, but rather that we could not decide who would carry it out, you see...”

Ecclesia was undoubtedly a victim of this deep-rooted structural issue within the Kingdom of Myest. General Duran was well aware of it.

“Precisely... While she is from House Marinelle, a noble house that is very well-off among the northern nobles, her being the daughter of King Phillip’s sister makes it unavoidable that the nobles from the southern region of the kingdom are against her. They’ll do anything to hold her back.”

“Indeed. Although Lady Ecclesia seemed to have successfully negotiated with them, the process didn’t come without hardships,” said Prime Minister Spiegel.

General Duran snorted in response. “That’s only natural. It doesn’t matter how much time she spends trying to persuade them... They weren’t interested in negotiating or cooperating in the first place. Thinking such antipathy can be solved with a conversation is nothing short of mad.”

People often misunderstood this, but negotiation was only one of many options for problem-solving. The gods never ordained negotiation as the sole method, nor did they ever decree it was the best. Negotiation was fairly effective, as long as both sides could find common ground, assuring mutual benefit. But this wasn’t always possible; there were serious downsides to compromising too much.

Putting aside the question of whether it was even possible to come to a solution, negotiations often took a lot of time. This was especially true when the problem itself stemmed from various historical conflicts and was a part of a highly charged situation. Solving such an issue would be considered a fool’s errand. It was obvious that it would require a considerable amount of time and patience, and it was a very similar situation to untying a very complicated knot.

“Based on how urgent the situation is, letting them take their time and leisurely reach an agreement will prove fatal. We might miss our chance to win... Of course, I don’t doubt any decision Lady Ecclesia wants to take. As a general who is uniting the entire nation’s armed forces, I can’t help but say she’s going about it naively.”

Prime Minister Spiegel felt a pang of doubt. He asked, “Does that mean you don’t think Lady Ecclesia is fit as a general, your Excellency?”

However, General Duran shook his head and replied, “No, I can’t say that for sure. There is no doubt that she’s a skilled fighter. She is known as the ‘Whirlwind,’ after all. I emphasize that her combat proficiency doesn’t make her fit to be a general who is in charge of the whole nation’s affairs. Her youth instills a sense of naivety—something that can’t be helped. I wonder if she will lose her innocence after another decade of serving as a general.”

This concept applied to wine and whiskey. Both were alcohol, and they benefited from aging in barrels to further deepen the flavor. As time passed, Lady Ecclesia’s body would age, but her mind would further mature and ripen.

Upon hearing General Duran’s words, Prime Minister Spiegel put his hand on his chin as he pondered deeply. He then cocked his head in confusion.

“I understand and agree that Lady Ecclesia is young... It’s also true that she hasn’t had much time. However, what specific measures should she have taken instead?” Such was a genuine doubt of his.

General Duran slowly closed his eyes in response. He then shrugged as he said, “Good question... If it were me, I would spread rumors in order to dampen the spirits of the opposing nobles.”

“Hm... What kind of rumors...?” Prime minister Spiegel wasn’t expecting that kind of suggestion.

He undoubtedly thought that General Duran would meet with the southern nobles directly and persuade them with his military strength. But Prime minister Spiegel struggled to hide his confusion as General Duran described his plans.

“Well, the quickest, most effective option would be to start a rumor that the nobles are colluding with the enemy nation and plotting a rebellion. Though it’s clearly a rumor, it would pressure them to change their tune and be more cooperative to prove their loyalty. While we could get rid of two to three noble houses, they are still part of the kingdom—even if our opinions and standpoints differ. We needn’t rely on such strong-arm methods. Plus, the southern nobles are mostly acting out of emotion, so making them run with their tails between their legs won’t be hard.”

Prime Minister Spiegel immediately picked up on General Duran’s intentions. He also realized that the old man sitting before him wasn’t simply a soldier; he was a monster who knew nobles all too well and had years of war experience.

I see... That will be effective just like he said...

It wasn’t that important whether the rumor was true. Simply spreading a rumor like that would be enough to inflict a fatal wound on the nobles.

There is a small amount of truth in the rumors, since the nobles are impeding the mustering of armies and are holding everyone back... But the truthfulness of the rumor is not that important, mused Prime Minister Spiegel, knowing the nobles would be more focused on proving that they were not planning a revolt.

Of course, the nobles were not doing that at all, but they could not merely deny the rumors. They understood that if all they offered was words, it would amount to nothing. In a worst-case scenario, their protestation of innocence would simply make the situation worse. Even if their claim had validity or truth, they knew that no one would believe it.

No matter the explanation they provided, their refusal to dispatch their own soldiers made them lose all credibility. The more they tried to deny it, the more guilty they would look. People judged others based on their past actions. There was no denying that the longer they continued to refuse the nation’s requests, the more people would see them as untrustworthy.

Even if some people believed them, they wouldn’t openly support them and would reasonably believe that they were unable to do so. People who defended the southern nobles would endanger their own noble houses and families.

Spreading a rumor was a dangerous option to consider. If the other nobles supported the openly rebellious nobles, there was a chance that they would become the target of everyone’s ire in Myest. Despite this, the nobles had no choice but to address the rumor. If they did nothing, people would assume the rumor was true.

It’d all end the same way... The only way for them to avoid it would be to proactively help and show they’re sincere.

The only way they would survive would be to actively show their loyalty to the nation.

“So, we’re essentially threatening them?” asked Spiegel.

“I guess... Ideally, a mere threat would suffice. In reality, most nobles would lay down their swords in order to preserve their family names.” General Duran then paused and looked toward Prime Minister Spiegel with a ferocious smile. The smile resembled that of a predator out for blood. “However, there will be some who continue to bitch and howl. Such naive people won’t do us much good on the battlefield... In that case, we’ll make that rumor come true.”

The prime minister couldn’t help but be taken aback that such a scenario was actually happening. Of course, the last-ditch measures General Duran spoke about were within the realms of Prime Minister Spiegel’s expectations. The Kingdom of Myest had entered a period of relative stability characterized by minimal bloodshed between nobles, and Owen Spiegel was still prime minister. He knew all too well the challenges of managing a country.

While he wasn’t fond of schemes and deceit, he didn’t lack knowledge of both. However, if a man of General Duran’s caliber were to say he would cast aside allies, then the situation changed drastically.

“Extreme situations call for extreme measures. You would show no mercy, even if they were nobles from your own country?” The words fell from Prime Minister Spiegel’s lips with a tone of hesitancy and doubt. In fact, he was relatively shocked when he heard what General Duran said.

General Duran paid it no mind and went on.

“Of course, it’s not my preferred method. But sometimes drastic measures are required. That is what it means to protect your country... It’s imperative that one does not hesitate. If one hesitates, they might miss their chance. Getting the timing wrong will make this plan of slandering the nobles ineffective, but it will also tighten the noose around my own neck. It’s important to ascertain the right moment and prepare to act on it. Without that, one will never gain anything.”

That was when Prime Minister Spiegel realized that while General Duran was talking about Ecclesia on the surface, he was also hinting at something else entirely.

“Are you saying I’m hesitating?” asked Prime Minister Spiegel.

“Yes... At least from my point of view, you are, a little. While you’re aware of it, you’re trying to ignore the issue, aren’t you?”

Prime Minister Spiegel fell silent. Although he had made up his mind, that didn’t mean he was without doubts. He had recognized that and intentionally tried to turn a blind eye to it. But now General Duran had pointed it out, making Prime Minister Spiegel feel shocked and conflicted.

He remained silent for a while. His mind was fragmented, and he had nothing to respond with.

General Duran must have sensed as such, as he was the one who finally spoke.

“You can always turn back, you know?”

Prime Minister Spiegel, who had been looking down at the floor while he remained silent, hurriedly looked up at General Duran. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders at the surprising revelation. He had thought he wouldn’t be able to stop the plan.

“Really?”

“Yes. Nothing has been made public yet, after all. We are gathering troops under the guise that we’re sending reinforcements to Jermuk. All we have to do is continue sending reinforcements there as originally intended. If we frame the secret pact between Brittantia and Tarja as a scheme to prevent the southern kingdoms from intervening, that could still serve as a plausible justification. Both countries will probably resent us more, and we’ll need to modify our foreign policy. King Phillip may start questioning things, but it would be possible to stop the plan now.”

Prime Minister Spiegel’s face lit up with joy, equivalent to someone burning in the fires of hell seeing a rope dangle in front of them. Even if they didn’t cancel the plan, there was a stark difference between being unable to do so and not choosing that option. It felt as if General Duran had brought Prime Minister Spiegel a lifeboat. However, that was not particularly General Duran’s intention.

The real question was this: what really were his intentions?

The next words to come out of General Duran’s voice smashed the small glimmer of hope Prime Minister Spiegel held in his heart.

“But are you really okay with that, Prime Minister? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We won’t have another chance like this again. It means giving up on your wish, the one you’ve harbored for so long. Do you really not mind?” The devil himself was tempting Spiegel.

Prime Minister Spiegel went pale with anguish. As if able to read the politician’s mind, the devil—General Duran—continued to entice him.

“Do you want to become king of this nation? Wasn’t that your mother’s dearest wish? To then give up on that... If things continue as they are, you will soon have a crown upon your head, Prime Minister.”

Spiegel’s expression changed as General Duran spoke. No longer was it the expression of a handsome, wise man. Instead, he resembled a demon possessed by a deep desire. The devil then pressed the demon to come to a final decision.

“You should make a choice now. Will you become a magnificent leader who will reign supreme over the other kingdoms? Or will you succumb to your sympathy for your blood relative and live the rest of your life serving King Phillip as prime minister—just a simple handy tool?”

“You are correct, Your Excellency... I do wish to avenge my mother and become king of this nation. I can’t simply give up on that dream...”

The devil Duran nodded with satisfaction, resisting the urge to laugh scornfully.

Around an hour later, Prime Minister Spiegel left General Duran’s office. The general’s plan had more or less gone ahead, but he had noticed that Prime Minister Spiegel’s gait wasn’t all that confident when he left the office. Spiegel didn’t seem ready for rebellion; his heart and mind didn’t agree. It was evidence that he was still ambivalent. On the one hand, he was elated that he would soon hold the highest position in the country as king, but on the other hand, he felt guilty that he would have to rebel against his half brother, Phillip.

To those who lived on Earth, the existence of a monarch was important.

General Duran let out a small sigh as he watched Prime Minister Spiegel leave the room.

“Ah, well... He’ll eventually go for it, even if he doesn’t want to. If he doesn’t, then it’s simply a case of finding a different candidate,” mumbled General Duran with a hint of sorrow. He didn’t enjoy seeing people he had known for many years suddenly plunged into despair. Although he didn’t particularly wish to throw people into that situation, he would do so without hesitation. Besides, he wasn’t in a position to concern himself with Prime Minister Spiegel’s feelings for long. All right... Best move on to other tasks. No doubt he is also becoming impatient.

Only Alexis Duran remained in the rather large office. Most of the furniture was placed up against the wall, making it difficult for anyone to hide anywhere—undoubtedly a tactic to deter assassins.

Once the door to the office had closed and Prime Minister Spiegel had been gone a while, General Duran began to speak.

“The coast is clear. You can come out now, Mr. Kusuda.” His voice reverberated around the room. Suddenly, the bookcase leaning against the wall to his left began to spin silently, revealing a dark entrance that looked like an emergency exit.

A man walked out of it and entered the room. He was an Asian man in his thirties with black hair and rather masculine facial features.

“I see, so that’s Owen Spiegel... Although he’s the prime minister of a nation, he doesn’t have much presence... Are you sure he’s fit for the job?” remarked the man, shrugging his shoulders. He seemed exasperated and disdainful, yet he had toned down his reaction, aware that Spiegel was a prime minister.

It was plain to see what Kusuda really thought from his voice and expression. When referring to a person like Prime Minister Spiegel, such words and behavior were rather blunt and could easily be condemned as disrespectful. Kusuda, who was forcibly summoned to Earth from the parallel world known as Rearth, viewed everyone on Earth as barbaric primitives. From a psychological standpoint, he felt like a victim, and those on Earth were his kidnappers.

Naturally, there was no psychological phenomenon known as Stockholm syndrome—where a victim began to feel friendly toward or have deep affection for their kidnapper—on Earth. But that was merely such exceptions existing and couldn’t always be applied to such a situation. In most cases, it was difficult for a victim to respect or harbor any positive feelings toward a kidnapper and their accomplices.

Owen Spiegel was still the prime minister of a country, and he was also someone from the Kingdom of Myest—the very same country that General Duran was from. No one would be happy to hear someone insult a compatriot. Normally, they would raise their voice and get angry. However, General Duran simply smiled wryly in response to what Kusuda said. He either agreed with Kusuda, or he had no intentions of finding fault with the comment.

“Well, he has served as our nation’s prime minister for a very long time. If push comes to shove, he’ll bend... After all, he is expendable. If he can’t be used, we’ll simply get another.”

“That’s right... The royals in this world are all talentless imbeciles. However, they have plenty of children and relatives. We need only search among them to find a more suitable substitute, right?”

“Well, I would say that’s one of the few benefits this utterly savage, barbaric world offers. Those who lack culture and education have few pleasures outside of making more children. This is beyond their control,” said General Duran, letting out a roar of laughter.

His laugh conveyed a sense of disdain and ridicule toward uncivilized commoners who covered themselves with basic loincloths. He viewed himself as a man of culture, although his hatred for commoners knew no end as he looked down on them from his towering position. It was something that could not be helped. Alexis Duran was also a victim who had been forcibly summoned from Rearth to Earth.

“I heard that ‘poor households have many children’ was a proverb in your native country of Japan, Mr. Kusuda. That mirrors the situation here exactly.”

While General Duran was correct, his statement didn’t accurately depict the situation. Those suffering from financial hardship weren’t the only ones with many children. If anything, families doing exceptionally well financially tended to have more children.

This could have been because Earth still had underdeveloped medical practices as well as many monster threats that were beyond basic human understanding. Plenty of perils could result in death. Hence, the people of Earth experienced death a lot more than those living in a modern-day society, meaning they followed their instinct of producing more offspring—all in order to ensure the continuation of the human race.

Thus, saying that people reproduced because they were poor or had nothing better to do was not an accurate statement. While it wasn’t correct, it wasn’t entirely incorrect either. However, Kusuda simply responded with a smirk.

“Mr. Duran, I see you know my native country well. But the saying ‘poor households have many children’ is used more positively, meaning that households that have more children will be happier. I believe it’s a little different from what you meant to say.”

The meaning of the same words could change over time. In the past, children were a sign of happiness; however, those in modern society viewed them as a heavy burden. The phrase’s differing meaning in each situation made sense due to the context. It was a discrepancy that most people wouldn’t notice. Even if they had realized that the meaning of the words had changed, they’d pay it no mind, and that would be it. There was no need for Kusuda to meticulously explain the difference as there was a high chance it would cause discord between him and Duran.

This reflected Kusuda’s attitude and fixation on superiority quite well. Most people might not have looked too kindly on how Kusuda flaunted his knowledge. He didn’t mean any harm, but he got on people’s nerves.

However, Alexis Duran shrugged off the juvenile fault-finding.

“Hm, is that so? Well, I learned something new. I’m just repeating what I heard from the people in the Organization... So really, it’s just superficial knowledge,” responded General Duran with a lighthearted smile, befitting a great commander of a nation’s army. He exuded the confidence of a man accustomed to dominating others. That aura did more to make people realize their mistakes than him shouting or reprimanding them. In fact, Kusuda then apologized to General Duran.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to interject with such an insignificant matter.” Although Kusuda was a confident man who wanted to climb the social ladder and liked to flaunt his knowledge, he was not foolish enough not to notice his own faults. General Duran returned a gentle smile.

“I don’t mind. We’re two warriors with the same ideals fighting for the same goal. You didn’t point out my error, so there is no need to worry about it. But there are some more difficult people within the Organization, so you might need to be more careful around them. It is wise to avoid making enemies over trivial things. The Organization has high expectations of you, Mr. Kusuda, as a new recruit. Mr. Sudou has nothing but good things to say about you. I look forward to hearing what you have in mind next time,” said General Duran, winking playfully. Even such a calm and majestic general had a more lighthearted side.

He appeared considerate toward Kusuda, choosing not to worry him more than needed. While he was both laid-back and friendly, he had still communicated what he wanted to say. His subordinates would have likely considered him an ideal boss if he were leading them in a modern society. It was a completely different attitude to the cold and overwhelming one he previously had projected. Kusuda didn’t seem surprised by it; in other words, he was aware that the side General Duran was currently showing was his real, usual self.

Kusuda deeply bowed his head and earnestly said, “It is an honor receiving so much unmerited recognition. I will never forget what the Organization did for me when they took me in. I was simply a man loitering around with no real place to go.” He owed the Organization his life. He wasn’t foolish or ungrateful enough to simply forget what they had done for him.

While I can’t say he’s without his faults, such as his overconfidence and pride, he is as Mr. Sudou described. He has a strong sense of duty and a good head on his shoulders. As expected, all we need to do is leave him with the next plans for battle, thought General Duran as he smiled with satisfaction. The young man before him reminded him of his own younger days.

After Tatsuhiro Kusuda met with General Duran, he made his way through the back alleys of the royal capital of Endesia alone. A thick cloud obscured the sparkle of the stars in the night sky. It felt like the perfect backdrop for a tragic event to take place.

Kusuda looked up at the overcast sky and let out a small sigh at the impermanence of the world.

To think that I, a former police officer, would be caught up in terrorism... What irony, mused Kusuda.

Kusuda had spent most of his life as a police officer, so a plan that entailed assassinating the king of Myest and then supporting the usurper was nothing short of a criminal offense. From a modern point of view, it was rather difficult to defend such a plan. He would be subject to much criticism, and no one would dare celebrate him for such a deed.

However, in this crazy world, such modern values aren’t worth a damn. They’d do more harm than good.

As someone from a modern society that valued human rights and respected people’s lives, Kusuda found Earth’s disregard for human life equivalent to hell. With no way to reverse the summoning or return to Rearth, there was nothing for Kusuda to do but try to live in this world of madness.

He had to understand the rules and values of this world, as well as respect them, in order to survive. The law of the jungle was one of the fundamental rules on Earth.

According to that law, there’s no right or wrong, which is probably unnecessary to even mention... The real issue is whether I can follow that law.

For example, chess and its Japanese counterpart, shogi, were incredibly similar games despite not sharing a single rule. In shogi, once a player had successfully taken an enemy’s piece, one could use it as their own, whereas that wasn’t the case in chess. Likewise, in chess, there was a rule that allowed the player to swap the position of the king and a rook under certain conditions. This was known as castling; however, no such rule existed in shogi. If a professional shogi player participated in an official chess championship and his opponent used castling to gain an advantage and win the game, the professional shogi player wouldn’t be able to complain that a difference in the rules of the games led to his loss. Such a complaint would fall on deaf ears.

The same would happen if a professional chess player entered a shogi championship. They would likely hear, “They are different games, so the rules are different. You should have read up on the rules before participating.” People around them would give them cold stares if they complained like that at a championship. Acting in such a way in a public place could also mean the end of their career.

One could also draw a comparison to how cannabis was treated in different parts of Rearth. Japan strictly prohibited the use, possession, sale, or purchase of cannabis; any of those acts could result in criminal punishment. But around the world, such as in the Netherlands and some parts of America, cannabis was legal for personal or medical use. Some parts of the world had no restrictions on its use.

Putting aside its legality or criminality, the use of cannabis in nations where it was illegal would lead to criminal prosecution—a logical outcome. In a place like America, where laws would differ from state to state, whether it was legal could change as soon as one crossed a state line. If a cancer patient wanted to use cannabis as a method of alleviating their pain, they would first have to confirm the local laws. Failure to do so could result in them facing immediate criminal prosecution. If the criminal complained about it, the authorities would tell them, “It’s illegal in our state,” which would be the end of it.

Bringing modern-day values to this world was very similar to that. It wasn’t about whether those values were good or bad, but more about what made up a society and how one dealt with that in particular.

If I were in power, I could probably change the rules...

The laws in human society weren’t orders ordained by the gods themselves. It would prove difficult but not impossible to change them. Military might, political authority, and financial power could change laws and rules. In modern society, even people could use their power to change things. Realistically, it was easier to adjust oneself to their surroundings than to push through changes. If one were to break the law or the rules before they were changed, they would naturally face the associated penalties. That was true in offices, schools, and nations.

And if I can’t follow the rules or adapt to my surroundings here on Earth, it’ll mean my own death.

Ever since Kusuda was summoned to Earth, he had witnessed and heard of the tragedies that fell upon people living here. Many fixated on the notion of human rights and cared too much about the lives of others, which resulted in them or their friends and acquaintances dying.

Kusuda recalled everything that happened in the few years he had been here. He was summoned to Earth, and Koichiro Mikoshiba had helped him successfully escape from the Kingdom of Beldzevia’s royal palace. But Tachibana suffered an injury that left him immobile, so Kusuda searched for water in a forest. There, he found Rodney McKenna and others tending to the unconscious Asuka Kiryu. Kusuda decided to flee the area entirely. It was a bitter, painful memory for Kusuda.

I ran away leaving that girl and Mr. Tachibana. That’s the reality of it...

It was a difficult decision for him to make. He could devise many excuses for his actions, but they wouldn’t be simple lies or attempts to protect himself. If he could have saved someone, it would have been Asuka Kiryu. Although he had been summoned to Earth and knew nothing, he maintained his sense of duty as a police officer and gratitude toward Koichiro Mikoshiba, who had stayed behind to ensure they could escape the palace.

Still, Kusuda was smart and knew he couldn’t rescue Asuka. He would have to get past a unit of knights wearing armor. Even though he was a police officer and had received ample training, Kusuda wasn’t so delusional that he thought he could take on a group of knights with a single extendable police baton.

If I had a gun, it would’ve been a different story...

That was why Kusuda chose to flee the area, while praying to the gods he would get another attempt to rescue Asuka.

Of course, Rodney McKenna and the knights looking after Asuka had only good intentions. Had Kusuda made himself known, they would have helped him along with Tachibana and Asuka. However, Kusuda only learned this after he joined the Organization. It was something he couldn’t have known at the time. If Liu Daijin hadn’t gathered information on Asuka Kiryu at Koichiro Mikoshiba’s request, Kusuda would never have found out what happened to her and Tachibana.

So, I ended up fleeing and spending a few days wandering around the forest...

Kusuda had nowhere to go after he was summoned to Earth. He feared being captured by the locals and chose to avoid towns and villages, feeling that the monster-ridden forests were safer.

But the cost was a lot greater than expected, which was only natural.

He had been summoned right after visiting the Mikoshiba household as a police officer investigating Ryoma’s disappearance. The jacket, white button-up shirt, and leather shoes he’d been wearing were suitable attire for an investigation as a police officer, but not for traversing a forest. In just a few hours, the leather of his shoes had been shredded and blood seeped out from various cuts on his feet.

Kusuda’s ability to survive the forest and evade monsters in such a condition was probably due to his strong will, as well as blessings from a goddess. He was in a perilous situation when he was found by some Organization members working as adventurers of the guild. Extreme hunger and dehydration plagued him, while cuts and bruises covered his entire body. He also had a large wound on his back he had suffered after running away from a monster. He was in bad shape, with a high fever making him delirious. However, he had been fortunate that the group of adventurers had contained members of the Organization.

They had recognized the clothing of an otherworlder and protected him.

Then the Organization used a very expensive secret remedy to get me back to full health... Because they saw me as one of them, I ended up joining the Organization.

He knew well enough they were doing it for their self-interest. But that didn’t change the fact the Organization had saved him. The ideals and objectives of the Organization appealed to Kusuda, so he had no hesitation joining them.

Besides, Mr. Sudou values me. He ordered one of the Organization’s most valuable undercover agents to go along with my plan.

Alexis Duran was a spy working for the Organization—a hidden poison. When Kusuda heard about it, he couldn’t help but be shocked at how ambitious it was for an undercover operation. After all, General Duran had entered the Kingdom of Myest’s army as a soldier almost sixty years ago. He currently was eighty, bordering on ninety. During that time he had acquired many honors, married into the Duran barony, and risen to the ranks of one of the three most respected generals within the kingdom. It had been a path filled with many dangers and threats to his life.

It mustn’t have been an ordinary level of hardship...

Those summoned from Rearth considered Earth hell. Not only was it inferior in comparison to Rearth, but it was also a foreign land with a harsh culture and customs. When summoned, most people could understand this world’s language because it was embedded into them, meaning they could talk, read, and write without issue. However, that didn’t make living here day-to-day any easier.

In such an environment, it would have been incredibly difficult for Alexis Duran to rise to the rank of general on his ability and strength alone.

While he is closer to a monster than a man, the Organization clearly helped him along the way.

They wouldn’t have only helped with financial affairs. They undoubtedly invested in human resources, probably costing a few people their lives.

And to think they’ve gotten such a valuable undercover agent to work with me...

Akitake Sudou had ordered it, which made Kusuda’s heart roar with flames. In essence, Kusuda was still a rookie who only recently joined the Organization. Yet they had paired him up with one of their most valuable trump cards: this individual who had risen to be one of the most formidable people in the Kingdom of Myest, which was renowned as one of the major powers within the three eastern countries on the western continent.

I don’t know why he’s helping me this much. Is there even a clear reason for it? Or does he simply feel like it?

Kusuda didn’t know Akitake Sudou very well, and he was particularly difficult to figure out as part of the already secretive Organization. From what he knew, Sudou was in the upper echelons of the Organization and influenced the entirety of the western continent at his discretion. He had only met Sudou when they got together to discuss their battle plans.

Even though Kusuda had met and exchanged words with Sudou, he was mystified by the man’s bewitching presence. There was no way he wouldn’t find himself motivated by such a man.

Plus, the way they’re handling that man seems somewhat odd, thought Kusuda. It was clear that Ryoma Mikoshiba was the intended target of their plan.

The plan to lure Ryoma Mikoshiba to Jermuk included everything from Brittantia and Tarja forming an alliance to the attack on the Kingdom of Myest and the triumphant return of Alexis Duran, who had been living outside the public eye.

Given the amount of effort and aces played, there was no denying that the Organization’s goal was to eliminate Ryoma Mikoshiba.

However, Sudou technically never said to kill Ryoma Mikoshiba. 

Only Sudou knew if he didn’t say it because that wasn’t his true objective, or because he felt that it was obvious enough that it went without saying. For some reason, Kusuda got the feeling Sudou didn’t want Ryoma dead.

It’s almost as if Sudou is enjoying seeing if Ryoma will die or if he’ll cut his way through a dangerous situation and live to see another day, mused Kusuda. But he was likely overanalyzing Sudou’s actions. Brittantia and Tarja will reconvene and advance into Jermuk in a few days. Once that happens, the situation will change drastically.

The arrangements had been put in place, and Kusuda had played his part to the best of his ability.

“Well, I’ve done the best I can... I feel bad for Asuka Kiryu. She did so much to protect Tachibana,” mumbled Kusuda. He then looked up at the sky, spotting a sparkling red star as he waited for the curtains to open on the next tragedy.