Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 29 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Nelcius’s Proposal

The Kingdom of Xarooda was one of the participating nations in the war, occupying a corner of the eastern region of the continent. In the royal capital Peripheria, the door of a room in the royal castle was flung open with great force. A giant man, easily surpassing two meters in height, stood there. Moreover, he was not just any large man. His weight must have easily exceeded a hundred kilograms, yet he was not merely fat. Muscles honed like steel covered his body, forming a suit of armor around him. His arms were as thick as the waist of a slender woman. It was a body that could only belong to someone who lived for battle. The large man stepped through the doorway and casually surveyed his surroundings. Upon spotting the person he had been looking for, he let out a booming voice that matched his massive frame.

“It’s been a while, freeloader! You look well, and that’s good to see! Since you’ve been holed up in the royal capital playing nursemaid to those spineless nobles under the lioness’s orders, I was worried your skills might have rusted. But it looks like that was just an unnecessary worry!”

Robert Bertrand struck the chest of his longtime friend, whom he was seeing again after so long, with his massive fist. In that instant, a loud thud echoed throughout the room.

Judging by the sheer volume of the sound, an ordinary person would not have merely staggered; they would have been sent sprawling on their backside. And landing on their backside would have been getting off easy. There was a real chance that their sternum would crack under the impact. After all, Robert’s fists were quite literally deadly weapons. On the battlefield, Robert had killed multiple enemies with nothing but his bare fists. He didn’t bear his friend any ill will, so he held back considerably, but what counted as “holding back” for Robert was hardly within the realm of restraint for ordinary people. Robert Bertrand was one of the strongest warriors anywhere, even among the many formidable fighters of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy—an elite duchy known for its martial prowess.

No matter how much one held back, the strong remained strong, and the weak remained weak. The same applied to when a human picked up an ant. Even if they were careful, humans were a threat to the bug because they could easily crush it with just the slightest misjudgment in pressure. However, a monster’s friend was also a monster. Despite Signus Galveria taking such an impact, the supposed victim did not so much as sway. Perhaps his core strength had been trained to an exceptional degree. Nonetheless, he could have at least shown some reaction to being struck by Robert’s fist. Yet Signus remained completely unfazed and returned Robert’s greeting with his usual demeanor.

“It’s been a long time, Robert. I see you’re still the same as ever. Good to know.”

Signus extended his fist toward Robert, who struck it with his own fist. It was a gesture commonly known as a fist bump. Perhaps it was a display of male camaraderie, a silent celebration of their reunion.

However, not everyone was moved by such displays of male camaraderie.

“Tch... Honestly, what are you two doing getting all cozy like that? It’s not like this is some grand reunion after years apart,” muttered Lione, sitting by the window and watching the scene unfold. Was that exasperation laced in her tone? She smirked, then focused on Robert and Signus. “All right, Twin Blades. That’s enough of your tearful reunion. How about you take your seats already?”

Lione’s teasing remark had a playful edge. It might have been a retort to the lioness comment Robert had made earlier. Of course, there was no malice in her words. It was merely the kind of banter exchanged among comrades. Judging by their reactions, they understood that well enough. Robert, in turn, responded with his own usual sharp-tongued retort, just as he always did.

“Tsk, women with no room in their hearts are such a pain... Seriously, for a so-called lioness who acts more like a man, you sure don’t understand male camaraderie. What a shame.”

Robert shook his head with an exaggerated sigh and shrugged his shoulders, as if lamenting the situation. In some ways, it was a remark that could easily be taken as an insult—and a rather bold one at that. Depending on the recipient, it could very well lead to bloodshed. In modern society, saying something like that would undoubtedly spark outrage, with accusations of sexism and male chauvinism leading to a full-blown scandal. Of course, there were no such things as politically incorrect words in the world of Earth. That didn’t mean his words would always be laughed off without consequence. And yet, the one on the receiving end of that remark remained completely unbothered.

“Well, that can’t be helped. Believe it or not, I am a woman. There’s no way I could understand all that sweaty male camaraderie, right?”

Lione smirked. As someone who had spent many years in the mercenary trade, Robert and Signus’s verbal exchange was not unusual to her. In a sense, it was akin to a casual greeting. Among mercenaries, it was common to exchange even harsher and more vulgar jabs. Getting angry over something as trivial as this would make being a mercenary unsuitable.

One of the main reasons Lione remained unfazed was that she had a strong sense of self. She was a mercenary known as the Crimson Lioness, a name earned from the way she fought, her fiery red hair whipping around her in battle. Moreover, she was the leader of a mercenary group with the same name as her title. Their battle record and the scale of their operations ranked among the top mercenary groups active on the western continent. Their reputation was so great that employers who hired them often attempted to recruit them into formal service.

For someone as skilled as Lione, getting mocked for being a woman was nothing worth worrying about. She had the composure to laugh off Robert’s words. If his words had been meant as a genuine insult, Lione had the resolve and confidence to make sure he would not get away with it unscathed, even if he was one of the Twin Blades. That confidence gave her the composure to dismiss Robert’s words with a laugh. On top of that, Lione and Robert were comrades who had survived countless life-and-death battles together. They would never seriously clash at this point.

The man sitting beside Lione slowly opened his mouth to speak.

“Now then, why don’t you both wrap up the jokes and take your seats? The tea I went through the trouble of preparing will get cold otherwise,” he said, smiling.

He was an imposing figure with silver hair and dark skin. His body was a fortress of steel, rivaling even Robert and Signus in sheer physical strength. That strength was not just for show or a hollow façade, as the man must have accumulated an extensive battle history. The aura he exuded carried a sharpness and warrior’s presence that could stand on equal footing with the Twin Blades, having survived the harshest battlefields. Yet, more than anything else, the man’s striking features caught the attention because they were the pinnacle of beauty.

Whether the word “beautiful” was appropriate for a man was another matter. But with his distinctly pointed ears—something no human could possess—his appearance was undeniably otherworldly.

That presentation, however, was only natural for Nelcius. He was the chieftain of the dark elves who lived on the Wortenia Peninsula, a warrior so renowned that he was feared as the Mad Demon. Among those present, Nelcius had lived the longest. Given that the dark elves were one of the demi-human races with the longest lifespans, it was hardly surprising. Still, age alone was enough to grant a certain level of inherent dignity. In this world, there were elderly people who had done nothing to earn respect. Those who had simply accumulated years without wisdom existed as nothing more than a burden.

While such individuals were whispered about behind their backs as mere dead weight, there were also those whose mere words could command the entire atmosphere of a room.

It wouldn’t be fair to compare Nelcius, who had lived for over six hundred years, to humans who could only reach around a hundred. His words had an undeniable, irresistible weight. After Nelcius spoke, Lione and Robert exchanged a brief nod. Watching them, Signus gave a small shrug.

“Well then, before we get to the main topic, let’s take a moment to relax.”

Once all three had taken their seats, Nelcius snapped his fingers toward the dark elves standing along the wall. At his signal, dark elf maids swiftly began preparing tea and sweets.

“Now then, enjoy yourselves first,” Nelcius said with a smile.

Lione tilted her head in curiosity. “Nelcius, sir... You said tea, so I assumed it’d be the usual black tea, but what’s this?”

She tilted her head slightly. Seated beside her, Robert and Signus did the same. It was a perfectly reasonable question. The cups placed before them did not have the handles they were accustomed to seeing. They were white porcelain teacups used for Chinese tea. Moreover, the teacup was deliberately covered with a matching white porcelain lid.

“This seems to be a common style in the eastern continent. I can’t say for sure how authentic it is, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to change things up once in a while, so I had this prepared,” Nelcius explained.

When Lione heard this, her eyes widened slightly.

For those associated with the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, luxury goods like tea were far more familiar than they were to the average noble family in the western continent. A major reason for this was that Sirius, the stronghold of the grand duchy, served as a crucial hub on the northern trade route of the continent. It was a key point for trade goods flowing from the Kingdom of Helnesgoula and the Kingdom of Myest.

Tobacco, alcohol, handicrafts, tea, and swords crafted in the Kingdom of Xarooda, along with textiles imported from Helnesgoula, were just a few of the countless items traded there. The variety of goods easily numbered in the hundreds. Tea, in particular, was common in the daily lives of Ryoma and Koichiro. As a result, different varieties from all over the world were brought to the markets of Sirius, enriching the trade scene. Due to this environment, Lione had naturally acquired a fair amount of knowledge about tea. But information about the eastern continent, which lay beyond even the central continent, had not yet reached her. That, of course, was understandable. Goods from the eastern continent had only recently begun arriving in Sirius via the central continent.

I had heard that trading ships were coming into Sirius nonstop lately, and now I see why...

The Wortenia Peninsula was once known as a forsaken land, a demonic frontier. But now, it had become a source of great wealth. This transformation was due to Sirius developing as a resupply port along the northern trade route and a thriving hub for commerce. In fact, more and more ships from the northern and central continents were choosing to dock in Sirius instead of Pherzaad. The wealth generated from this shift would likely rival an entire year’s worth of tax revenue for the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. Considering Sirius was still expanding, the city’s wealth might surpass that of Rhoadseria itself and match the combined economies of the entire eastern continent. This immense economic power had played a crucial role in strengthening the military forces of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy. Without this financial strength, establishing a powerful force capable of controlling the northern regions of Rhoadseria while using the Wortenia Peninsula—a land with almost no population and little tax revenue—as its base would have been impossible.

However, that didn’t mean all efforts had been focused solely on military expansion. If anything, it would be more accurate to say that Ryoma Mikoshiba had prioritized cultural development and technological advancement over sheer military might. Thus, an incredible variety of cultures had begun flowing into Sirius from all corners of Earth.

Lione, Nelcius, and the others had also benefited from this progress. In fact, it seemed that the dark elves under Nelcius had gained even more from this prosperity than Lione and Robert.

“I see... So this is eastern continent-style tea,” Lione mused. “Nelcius, sir... You sure have a taste for the finer things, don’t you?”

Lione smiled at Nelcius, but her tone carried a hint of reproach that was certainly no illusion. Though a smile graced her lips, her eyes remained cold and sharp, gleaming like those of a lion poised to strike. She would naturally make a remark like this. While she and her comrades had been struggling on the front lines, Nelcius had been leisurely enjoying tea in the rear. Anyone in her position would feel inclined to throw a jab or two.

She had no real intention of reprimanding Nelcius. As the chieftain of the dark elves, Nelcius was more of a trusted ally to Ryoma Mikoshiba than a mere subordinate. Although he now technically held the same rank as the other vassals of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, even Lione and the other earliest retainers weren’t in a position to lecture him too much. Besides, Nelcius was over six hundred years old—a true elder by any standard. Humans and dark elves had vastly different lifespans, so their perception of age differed. But by human reckoning, he was undoubtedly an ancient figure.

The dark elves had greatly contributed to the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, from resource procurement in the Wortenia Peninsula to their expertise in imbuing thaumaturgy into objects. Given all this, Nelcius had the right to enjoy his tea freely. Nonetheless, Lione was only human. When someone flaunted their leisurely pleasures so openly, one would feel slightly irritated and want to throw in a sarcastic remark. It was half in jest, half out of envy. Despite Lione’s piercing gaze, Nelcius simply took it in stride, brushing it off with complete composure.

“Well, don’t be so harsh, Lione,” Nelcius said, grinning. “For nearly six hundred years, I never had the luxury of enjoying fine indulgences like this. But now, Sirius continues to develop, bringing in goods from all over the world. I find it difficult to resist temptation. As a chieftain, I know I should set an example for my people, but...when it comes to tobacco and tea, I just can’t help myself.”

Nelcius chuckled and scratched his head in embarrassment.

Lione sighed, then shrugged with a weary smile. Seeing Nelcius’s innocent smile left her with no choice but to swallow the biting remark that had been sitting on the tip of her tongue. She felt as though all her irritation had vanished. If this was part of Nelcius’s plan, he had hit the mark perfectly. Whether she realized his intentions, Lione turned back to the tea set before her and lifted the lid from the porcelain cup. A faint smile crossed her lips when she saw the unfamiliar color of the liquid inside.

In the western continent, the word “tea” generally referred to black tea. But the liquid in her cup was a pale, almost translucent shade of green. This would have been a perfectly familiar sight to a Japanese person, but it was entirely novel to someone born in the western continent like Lione.

“This pale green color... So this is the eastern continent’s tea?”

She brought the steaming cup close to her face and carefully sniffed. While she didn’t actually suspect poison, of course, her hesitance was clear. She was intrigued by the unfamiliar sight yet slightly apprehensive about trying it. Meanwhile, Robert stared intently at the sweets arranged on the plate before him. Perhaps influenced by his curiosity, Signus also approached the unfamiliar confections. They were small, delicate, dry sweets shaped like flowers crafted for effortless enjoyment.

The sweet was like a delicate flower, yet about ten were neatly arranged on a single plate. At first glance, they looked so intricate that one might mistake them for real flowers. In fact, they were crafted so beautifully that one might hesitate to eat them.

“These sweets sure are tiny...”

“But, Robert... Look at the craftsmanship. They really put a lot of effort into shaping them like flowers.”

“You’re right. They even re-created the veins on the leaves.”

“This is completely different from the kind of tea and sweets we’re used to. The last tea party we attended served whole cakes, sliced and covered in cream and chocolate,” Robert muttered as he eyed the sweets.

“Huh? You’re telling me you get invited to tea parties?” Lione teased. “I thought you were a hardcore drinker who couldn’t stand sweets, but you sure seem to know a lot about them.”

Her words carried an unmistakable tone of amusement. Judging by her smirk, she clearly saw this as excellent teasing material. Who could blame her? Robert Bertrand was known as one of the Twin Blades, an unwavering warrior. He was considered one of the greatest symbols of martial strength in the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy alongside his partner, Signus.

When she heard that a man like him attended tea parties and ate chocolate cake, who wouldn’t want to tease him a little? As a noble, it wasn’t surprising that Robert knew proper tea party etiquette or that he had plenty of opportunities to attend such gatherings. Having been born into a noble house, he needed to have at least a basic understanding of such social customs. And yet, no matter how logical it was, something about it still felt off. If he were attending a banquet, that would make perfect sense. But an elegant tea party? That just didn’t fit. Of course, that was nothing more than a preconceived notion. From Robert’s perspective, this was probably just another case of unfair assumptions.

“Well, yeah... It’s not like I want to go,” Robert admitted with a smirk. “But at those evening parties, noble ladies and well-to-do women keep inviting me to tea. And, well... It’d be rude to turn them down too harshly. All I gotta do is show my face, keep them entertained for a bit, and they’re happy. And who knows? Maybe one of them will keep me company for the night. If you wanna be popular, the key is attentiveness.”

For better or worse, Robert was a social man. He wasn’t obsessed with etiquette and formalities, yet he never came across as crude. If anything, his demeanor had a certain refined charm. Despite his rough exterior, he was surprisingly well-spoken. Though he never took up the brush, he was knowledgeable about calligraphy and antiques. He also had a deep appreciation for music, which naturally made him quite the favorite among women.

As such, Robert never had trouble with women. Even when a relationship ran its course, he always knew how to part ways gracefully. He never left his partners with lingering resentment. In that sense, he was the complete opposite of Signus. Because of this, Robert had naturally picked up a fair amount of knowledge about the noble tea parties that were regularly held in high society. This setup might have seemed rather plain to those used to the typical tea parties of the western continent, where whole cakes rich with cream, butter, and milk were the norm.

Well, as long as it’s not overly sweet, I don’t care whether it’s Western or Eastern style. But let’s see how this goes, mused Robert.

Robert didn’t dislike the thick layers of cream often found in noble confections, but the sheer sweetness could be overwhelming. After all, sugar was a rare and valuable commodity in this world. That was precisely why the wealthiest noble houses tended to use it excessively in their desserts. In short, it was an absurd status symbol. Nobles sacrificed taste just to show off their financial power.

Well... Knowing Lord Nelcius, I doubt he’d serve anything ridiculous.

Even so, Robert found himself hesitating to reach for the unfamiliar confection. Making the first move changed the atmosphere, but it was difficult for that first person to step forward. On the battlefield, even a fierce general who led the charge might have found things a bit different in this situation. That was the case with Lione and Signus as well. While the three of them were interested, none of them reached for the treats. As Nelcius saw them hesitate, he let out a cheerful laugh.

“Lately, I’ve been indulging in tea and sweets,” Nelcius said. “I had asked Lady Samejima and Lord Zheng for advice and enjoyed their knowledge. By the way, today’s tea is a variety called Tenpoumouzan tea from the eastern continent. It is renowned as quite a fine tea over there. For the sweets, I prepared Rakugan, a less sweet type of dry confection. It paired quite well, so do give it a try.”

Nelcius had picked up one of the flower-shaped sweets and popped it into his mouth. After chewing a few times, he reached for the steaming tea bowl.

“Hmm... The simple sweetness is nicely washed down with the tea. I do enjoy my alcohol, but this kind of thing is also quite delightful.”

After Lione saw Nelcius smile, she and the others reached for the sweets as well. It had truly been a blissful moment. Although they were supposed to be starting a strategic meeting regarding the O’ltormea Empire, the atmosphere in the room had already transformed into something resembling a peaceful afternoon tea gathering. It seemed that good food had a way of making people happy. Food was the way to a person’s heart, after all. Even Robert and Signus, who usually preferred alcohol and weren’t keen on sweets, enjoyed pairing the relatively mild, sweet, dry confections and the tea.

“Hmm, not bad... What do you think, Signus?”

“I’d prefer it if the sweetness was a bit more restrained, but I don’t think it’s bad either.”

Robert and Signus were both towering men, so seeing them interested in flower-shaped dry confections was comical and endearing.

“Has the mighty Signus developed a bit of a sweet tooth?” Lione asked.

At this, Signus shrugged. “I still enjoy my alcohol, and I’m not fond of overly sweet cakes. This one is simple, yet it has a balanced sweetness... Hmm, sweets like these aren’t bad at all.”

Hearing those words, Nelcius smiled with pleasure.

“That’s good to hear. I was a bit worried about pushing my tastes on you, but if you’re enjoying it, that’s all that matters,” Nelcius responded, sipping his tea with relish.

The image he presented was almost like that of a kindly old man. He looked like a retired elder enjoying his tea while basking in the sun on his home’s porch. Nelcius was a member of the dark elf race, and they were known for their extraordinary longevity and immortality, far surpassing that of humans. If one were to judge by his physical appearance alone, few would call Nelcius an old man, though in truth he was nearly seven hundred years old. At first glance, he looked to be in his early thirties, even to someone trying to offer a high estimate of his age.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if some less attentive observers even thought he was in his late twenties. Apart from his physical appearance, he did not emanate the vibrancy of youth but rather the calmness of age—an air of maturity and experience that came with time.

At least he didn’t fit the stereotypical description of the ominous title of Mad Demon. Despite his peaceful demeanor, no one in the room was so naive and simpleminded that they could be fooled. Everyone present was a battle-hardened warrior. And not just any warriors; they were leaders of armies, commanders with the ability to lead large forces. For better or worse, one could describe them as a group of formidable individuals who were far from simple.

“So, Nelcius, what exactly did the young master order you to do? Sending a dark elf to the Kingdom of Xarooda... I must say, that seems like quite a bold decision. Surely you didn’t come here just to spread your master’s personal hobbies, did you?” asked Lione, casting a probing glance.

Her tone remained light, as usual. Yet Lione’s eyes had a sharp, cold gleam, unlike those filled with playful banter with Robert only moments ago. The impression was so different that it was hard to believe this was the same woman.

The intensity befitted her moniker, the Crimson Lioness.

So they’re actually sending Nelcius to the Kingdom of Xarooda... Considering how others view the dark elves, I have a bad feeling about this...

None of the people in this room held any prejudice or discriminatory views against the dark elves. A group of them regularly visited the city of Sirius, the stronghold of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, in search of trade goods. During the northern subjugation Lupis Rhoadserians initiated, they had fought alongside the elite dark elves in battle. In that sense, Lione and the others viewed the dark elves under Nelcius as their allies. This shared perception was common among many of the people belonging to the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy.

Additionally, it was worth noting that most of the people in the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy were former slaves, which made it easier for them to avoid holding any prejudices or discriminatory attitudes. Slaves were people who had no homes or property and were at the very bottom of society. In fact, they didn’t even have the right to live by their own will. Their fate was in the hands of slave traders and buyers, making it a living hell. But amid such despair, Ryoma Mikoshiba had given these people hope by offering them freedom from slavery. This was not an act of pure goodwill but the result of a cold and calculated strategy backed by meticulous planning.

However, Ryoma wasn’t a selfish villain because his actions were based on practical calculations.

Lupis had forced the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy to take control of the cursed, desolate, and demon-infested Wortenia Peninsula. Ryoma had come up with this desperate measure in order to survive. Regardless of Ryoma’s true intentions, he had given the hopeless slaves a path to tomorrow and the means to live.

Therefore, Ryoma was undeniably the benefactor of the slaves in an environment where their lives were not guaranteed. That was why none of them ever considered actively opposing Ryoma.

If any individuals within the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy harbored discriminatory feelings toward the dark elves, I’m sure that child would never let them live.

That scenario was probably as certain as the fact that the sun rose in the east and set in the west. Lione and Ryoma had a long-standing relationship that dated back to the civil war in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. She knew there was no need to say more.

Well, the boy believes that reconciliation with nonhumans is essential for the development and survival of the grand duchy.

Ryoma Mikoshiba had been friendly toward the dark elves from the beginning. However, Lione fully understood that this friendliness was not just out of goodwill. He was friendly toward them for multiple reasons, but the most important reason was from a security standpoint. Although the Wortenia Peninsula was Ryoma Mikoshiba’s territory, it had been uncertain whether the locals, like Nelcius, would recognize him as their lord.

The Wortenia Peninsula was land that the Kingdom of Rhoadseria had long neglected. If an unknown lord appeared and claimed dominion, there was no way Nelcius and his people would simply comply. However, that didn’t mean they could just expel Nelcius and his people.

For the demi-humans who survived the holy war, the Wortenia Peninsula was their last sanctuary.

Should the demi-humans lose that, they would resist desperately. Moreover, Nelcius and his people had the advantage of knowing the land after living there for nearly six hundred years. If Ryoma were to try to expel the dark elves by force, Nelcius and his people would surely choose to fight to the last person, regardless of the cost. One could draw a parallel with the creation of guerrilla or terrorist organizations. Alternatively, it might be better to describe it as a case of partisans fighting against oppression. Regardless of what happened, the end result would be a brutal war between humans and demi-humans.

Ryoma Mikoshiba knew this and was not foolish enough to intentionally step on a land mine. From a security standpoint, he had no choice but to adopt a policy of reconciliation. In addition, ignoring the dark elves’ high level of ability as thaumaturgists was impossible.

The dark elves’ thaumaturgy skills are far superior to those of human thaumaturgists.

After all, the lifespan of dark elves was more than ten times that of humans. Of course, simply living longer wasn’t the only benefit. Some human thaumaturgists were just as skilled as dark elves of the same age, but the longer lifespan of the latter gave them more time to acquire and refine their skills.

Many of the dark elves on the Wortenia Peninsula can mix highly effective potions using the unique plants and minerals found there. On top of that, they’re also skilled hunters, so there’s no choice but to form an alliance with them, Lione thought, knowing dark elves were an extremely valuable group. Discrimination or anything similar would completely destroy any chance of reconciliation. So, it’s only natural that the boy would be cautious.

However, that approach was only true within the limited organization of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy.

Most humans living on the western continent don’t have a favorable view of demi-humans. It’s the same as when you don’t notice something as long as it’s not in your line of sight.

Compared to the time of the Holy War about six hundred years ago, when there was an actual war between humans and demi-humans, it wasn’t as clear that they saw each other as enemies anymore. That was merely the result of the sharp reduction in encounters with demi-humans within human territory.

Many people felt disgusted by cockroaches or spiders, but no one tried to eradicate those pests from the entire world. Trouble only arose when they appeared behind the furniture in one’s home and entered their field of vision. The human dislike or discrimination toward demi-humans on the western continent was something similar. Those who followed the Church of Meneos still viewed demi-humans as enemies, preaching their extermination for the survival and prosperity of humanity. Since the teachings of the Church of Meneos had not changed, this was to be expected. Conversely, unless one was a devout follower of the Church of Meneos, it was not common to harbor ingrained animosity toward demi-humans. Fortunately, the eastern region of the continent was far from the headquarters of the Church of the Meneos in Menestia.

As a result, the influence of the Church of the Meneos was not particularly strong in that region. The number of fanatical followers who would inevitably try to bring about the extermination of demi-humans in the Kingdom of Xarooda would be quite limited. Still, when one looked at the larger picture, the reality was that humanity wasn’t particularly favorable toward demi-humans.

Well, that belief was probably the same in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria.

Because he understood this, Ryoma Mikoshiba had not actively sought to use the warriors of the dark elves. That was a wise decision made to avoid unnecessary friction. But this time, Ryoma had discarded that wisdom, which was a sign that there was some significant reason behind this action.

“There must be something... Some clear reason you all were sent out here?” asked Lione.

Signus crossed his arms and nodded deeply.

“That’s right... Of course, I have no intention of disagreeing with the lord’s decision. But if possible, could you explain it to us?”

Nelcius also nodded and replied, “I was sent to the Kingdom of Xarooda to provide reinforcements to the front lines against the O’ltormea Empire and transport supplies. The rescue of the Myest Kingdom by Lord Mikoshiba ended up failing in a way we hadn’t foreseen. Despite that, abandoning the Kingdom of Xarooda was not an option at this point. And so, we decided that reinforcements were needed, even if it meant taking some risks.”

The situation that Nelcius spoke of almost completely matched the understanding of Lione and the others. Originally, the strategy Ryoma had conceived was quite simple. He intended to send his main generals like Lione and Robert to the Kingdom of Xarooda to buy time. Meanwhile, he would engage the joint forces of Brittantia and Tarja, who had invaded the Kingdom of Myest.

Facing both the joint forces of Brittantia and Tarja as well as the O’ltormea Empire’s forces all at once was, logically speaking, incredibly difficult.

Holding multiple fronts simultaneously, commonly referred to as a two-front war, was never considered a favorable one in military strategy. This was in line with the views of Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz, a Prussian military theorist, and the famous Chinese military treatise The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Dispersing one’s forces was generally viewed as a risky move because it increased the likelihood of being defeated in detail, making it commonly recognized as a bad strategy.

There were instances where one might strategically or tactically choose to disperse one’s forces, but that wasn’t the norm.

During her mercenary days, Lione had excelled in leading small units, which was a form of disruptive warfare that was traditionally seen as a poor tactical choice. Guerrilla warfare, for instance, was the complete opposite of concentrating forces for a decisive confrontation. Instead, it involved splitting units into small groups and launching ambushes or surprise attacks to wear down the enemy. The weak used this tactic when opposing the strong, yet it was precisely because of this that it was effective. The strategy was akin to a swarm of bees attacking a bear. While that was still a valid and effective tactic, it didn’t change the fact that dividing one’s forces was fundamentally a poor choice. Even if doing so was tactically acceptable, it was only under specific conditions where one’s own side held the initiative.

The key point here was who controlled the initiative.

To hold the initiative meant being able to choose when and where to strike, according to one’s will. If the enemy held the initiative, one could never know when they would strike, requiring constant vigilance. This would inevitably lower the morale of the troops and wear them down. One could argue that securing the initiative played a crucial role in determining the outcome of a battle. However, in situations like the current one, where an invasion from another country was taking place, the attacking enemy force could take control of the initiative.

That’s precisely why he tried to regain the initiative by aiding the Kingdom of Myest. 

Lione realized Ryoma’s plan was to defeat the Brittantia-Tarja alliance army early, along with Myest’s forces, and move to aid Xarooda.

Prioritizing the aid to the Kingdom of Myest makes sense because the O’ltormea Empire has an army said to be over two hundred thousand or even three hundred thousand strong. In contrast, the initially expected force of the Brittantia-Tarja alliance army was only around sixty thousand. While not a small force, compared to the O’ltormea army, the decision to focus on defeating the weaker of the two was not wrong. If I were in that kid’s position, I’d have done the same.

No matter how much one tried their best, the results didn’t always follow, as was the way of the world.

“Well, I knew that already... Since it has become difficult to quickly put out the fire in the Kingdom of Myest, handling the Kingdom of Xarooda is now an urgent issue,” remarked Lione.

“Alexis Duran, huh? He should be quite old by now and was said to be retired, but he has returned to active duty. If the opportunity arises, I’d love to spar with him. While the O’ltormea forces are large in number, fighters with real substance are few. My partner also took Rolfe Estherkent out of the picture,” Robert said.

Robert grinned ferociously like a wild carnivorous beast that had found its prey and was licking its lips in anticipation. For someone strong as himself, it was probably like finding a good playmate. Fighting a weak enemy would only bore someone like Robert, which resembled how a professional baseball player couldn’t treat a match with a little league team as a serious competition. He wasn’t being unserious or mocking the opponent. If it were to be criticized as the arrogance of the strong, then that would be true. However, the truth was that he simply couldn’t get fully invested in it. In such a situation, Robert couldn’t help but feel excited when he heard about an opportunity to fight against a renowned general who led the military of a nation.

“Putting aside this fool’s words, he’s one of the three generals of the Kingdom of Myest and is considered the strongest warrior. Certainly, if a monster like that appears, a reset will be necessary,” Lione said.

“Tch, even you want to fight, don’t you? Acting all innocent! Traitor!” Robert shot back.

Signus shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated manner. “I am also a warrior, to some extent. If I’m told there might be a chance to face such a general, I won’t deny that my heart would race. In order for us to fight Alexis Duran, we’ll have to first deal with our current situation, won’t we? At the very least, it’ll be quite a while before the political situation in the Kingdom of Myest stabilizes. Naturally, sending reinforcements to the Kingdom of Xarooda will be difficult.”

Robert crossed his arms and snorted loudly in response.

“As Signus said, it’s probably true. The original strategy has already been derailed, and it’s better to consider it a failure. Well, I’m sure our lord understands this as well. He’s quick when it comes to recognizing such situations. He’ll surely come up with another plan soon. However, it’s undeniable that creating an alternative strategy will take time. Given that, it’s easy to understand why Sir Nelcius came to offer reinforcements,” Robert said sarcastically, to which Nelcius nodded deeply in agreement.

“Well, in general, that’s true.”

But a sinister smile appeared on Nelcius’s face.

Lione had noticed the implication in Nelcius’s expression. She tilted her head and asked, “In general?”

“Yes. Our lord specifically ordered me to prevent the O’ltormea Empire from invading the Kingdom of Xarooda. However, I was also ordered to reclaim the occupied territories of the nation.”

A look of surprise crossed Lione’s face. It wasn’t just her; Robert and Signus shared the same reaction.

“Reclaim the territory? Are you serious?” murmured Lione.

Stopping the invasion of the O’ltormea Empire could be considered a very reasonable strategic goal. That was exactly why Nelcius had arrived with nearly ten thousand dark elves in tow. It would be illogical to send such a large force and suddenly claim they were not reinforcements. Therefore, Lione wouldn’t have been surprised if the reinforcements were merely meant to hold off the O’ltormea Empire’s invasion. The preparations necessary to make that possible had already been completed.

If it came to reclaiming the territory occupied by the O’ltormea Empire, the situation would change drastically. While the ultimate goal of reclaiming the territory was understandable, it was safe to say that the task was nearly impossible.

At this stage, the only thing left to do was to hinder the O’ltormea Empire’s invasion, even if just a little. This fact wouldn’t change, no matter how skilled the dark elves led by Nelcius were as warriors or thaumaturgists. Robert, who had been fighting against the O’ltormea Empire, as well Lione and Signus, who had been dealing with the demoralized nobles in the royal capital of Peripheria, had known this for months. Of course, taking a great gamble was not entirely out of the question strategically. But that would truly be a last resort, which was far too dangerous.

Even if the combined forces of the Kingdom of Xarooda and the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy gathered, their total numbers wouldn’t reach one hundred thousand. In this situation, the only option would be to buy time by fortifying a defensive line at the stronghold.

“Reclaiming the territory is certainly the ultimate goal of this war. But given the current situation, it’s far too reckless. We simply don’t have enough troops. At least, it would be impossible unless Xarooda’s army can move together as one,” Lione said.

She offered an extremely reasonable judgment. When Robert heard those words, he nodded while crossing his arms.

“Well, that’s true. Logically, it would be impossible. What do you think, Signus?”

Said belief was common among the warriors of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, who took great pride in their martial prowess. However, Signus felt a sense of discomfort about the obvious situation that everyone was accepting. Anyone could conclude that attempting to reclaim the territory was impossible, but there must have been some reason for it to be brought up. Thus, Signus focused on Nelcius and spoke up.

“I also think it’s difficult given the current situation. But I can’t imagine that Lord Mikoshiba or Lord Nelcius don’t understand this. This means there must be a reason Lord Nelcius was sent as reinforcements, right?”

Signus had an intuition—a hunch. And that hunch turned out to be correct. Reclaiming the territory occupied by the O’ltormea Empire was nothing more than a pipe dream under the current circumstances. Nelcius and Ryoma were already fully aware of this fact. Still, there was a way to change the situation by solving a complicated problem.

And the preparations to solve that problem had already been made.

With a voice full of confidence, Nelcius asked everyone, “What if we could treat the condition of Julianus I? Do you think there’s any possibility of that?”

A look of surprise crossed the faces of the three warriors. Most residents of the Kingdom of Xarooda had considered that possibility at one point, only to give up on it. But if it was possible, the situation would change drastically. The king’s illness prevented him from leading and had caused many of the kingdom’s problems.

Therefore, Nelcius’s proposal could be said to be nothing short of a lifeline, as if it had descended from the heavens.

“Healing? Are you saying that you and your companions will treat His Majesty Julianus I? This isn’t some joke that can be brushed off, right?” Lione asked with intense curiosity.

Nelcius nodded deeply in response. His confident expression made it clear that this was neither a lie nor a joke.

“You seem pretty confident about this...”

“Of course. If I weren’t confident, I wouldn’t be bringing up such a proposal, would I?”

In fact, it was impossible to make such a proposal lightly. Treating the king of a nation was no simple task. A doctor had the power to decide their patient’s fate. One could argue they had ultimate authority over life and death. Because of that, a doctor who treated someone of high rank needed not only great skill but an even greater degree of trust.

“So, do you think we can get approval for this?”

Lione pondered that question and responded, “If I talk to Joshua, I don’t think it would be a problem. But honestly, I can’t make any promises.”

It was extremely unusual for Nelcius, a demi-human, to be the one to treat Julianus I. If Lione talked to Joshua about this, he could hope for a swift grant of permission. On the other hand, there was a real possibility that the fact that Nelcius was a demi-human might complicate matters and make the situation more difficult. As expected, Lione didn’t think Joshua or Grahart would say something like that.

As far as Lione knew, both Joshua and Grahart had deep loyalty to Julianus. If their precious lord could be saved, they would likely accept Nelcius’s treatment without hesitation.

Unfortunately, not everyone is like that. Among the nobility, some actually wish for Julianus to die sooner. If any of them heard about this, they would never approve of the treatment.

Furthermore, considerable backlash could be expected if the story leaked. While most of the people living in the Kingdom of Xarooda weren’t extremely devout, most were still followers of the Church of Meneos. It was unlikely that the citizens would use the teachings of the god of light to reject the king’s treatment, but it certainly wasn’t impossible.

“Then, I’ll start the diagnosis tomorrow. If we drag our feet too long, we might miss the opportunity.”

Lione couldn’t help but shout, “Tomorrow?!”

Seeing Lione’s reaction, Nelcius chuckled with amusement.

“Have someone from the Kingdom of Xarooda arrange for the examination. If my prediction is correct, I think I can show you something interesting.”

With that, Nelcius reached for his teacup. Once he slowly brought it to his mouth, he drank the remaining slightly warm tea with a satisfied look.