NOVPUBTL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Count Francis invited Ian to join the meeting.
"It would be an honor."
Ian discreetly assessed Count Francis's demeanor.
Despite the complications, Ian had been at odds with Duke Roxlan until recently.
Strictly speaking, their conflict couldn't be considered fully resolved yet.
It was more like a temporary lull because the weakened Duke had gone into recovery.
But Count Francis paid no mind to this.
"You and I will be in the same boat. No need to feel too burdened."
"..."
It's plenty burdensome, though.
Ian was Maria's official fiancé.
This meant that Ian, too, would likely become an ally of Count Francis.
The value of an exceptional wizard was always high.
Ian could understand why Count Francis was being so friendly.
"This concerns your future wife. Don't you want to support her?"
"I suppose that's true."
Count Francis whispered secretively.
"Besides... you should see for yourself."
"?"
"I mean the representative Duke Fargar has put forward."
The Count made a slicing gesture with his hand as he spoke.
"That way, if anything happens later, you can 'handle' it."
"..."
I really don't want to do this.
Ian wore a sour expression, but
Count Francis patted his shoulder and said:
"The company of a fine wizard is always welcome."
That was true.
Duke Fargar would certainly bring a wizard with him as well.
That would be necessary to detect any magical tricks from the other side.
Ian accepted the Count's proposal.
"Very well. I'll join you."
"An excellent decision."
Ian strolled along the castle walls with Belenka.
In the distance, Duke Fargar's army could be seen setting up camp.
It was clearly an immense force.
"See how each unit has raised their own banner?"
"Yes. Are those all different flags?"
"They are."
The scene looked strange to Ian.
Thousands of soldiers had gathered, but each unit had a different banner.
Why weren't they all unified under Duke Fargar's banner, which would look more imposing and stylish? Why this patchwork?
The reason was simple.
It was a mixed force cobbled together from various armies.
First, Duke Fargar hadn't distributed banners to the other forces.
Well... that would cost money.
Making banners was labor-intensive work.
And labor? That naturally required wages.
It would be nice if all the armies were uniformly coordinated, but that would require enormous funds.
In ancient armies, the principle was that soldiers paid for everything themselves.
Food, clothing, shelter.
All came out of your own pocket.
Having the state support soldiers was a post-medieval development.
When everything was self-funded, how could you afford matching uniforms?
That's why medieval army equipment varied widely.
Banners were no exception.
"Those are mercenary banners. Those belong to vassals who answered the call."
Belenka gave Ian a crash course in battlefield observation.
"Generally, if a banner falls, that unit is considered defeated."
"Interesting."
The number of troops varied depending on the size of the mercenary company or noble's forces.
Some were tiny units of around 10 men, while others were massive forces exceeding 200-300.
So having many banners didn't necessarily mean having more troops.
But it was possible to make a rough estimate.
"Hmm. Looks like about 3,000 men."
3,000 men!
That should be an intimidating number that makes your legs tremble!
...Or so one might think, but Ian was rather unimpressed.
Ian knew of a tiny, hyper-centralized nation in the East.
Even from that speck of land, armies of 10,000-20,000 emerged without difficulty.
Just 3,000 men?
Truly a Western barbarian-sized force.
"That's fewer than I expected."
"Well, yeah. Only those who smelled money would have followed him."
Ian understood Belenka's point.
Duke Fargar's army consisted only of men who enjoyed war and plunder—a truly dangerous force.
It couldn't be otherwise.
After all, this was an army raised to help others.
He wouldn't drag along conscripted peasants for such a war.
"Not an opponent to take lightly."
Ian asked out of curiosity:
"Have you ever participated in a large-scale war?"
Belenka shook her head.
"No. The battlefields I fought on were at most skirmishes between barons. I've only heard stories about real wars."
Though she lacked experience, Belenka's knowledge of warfare far exceeded that of ordinary people.
This is why bloodline matters.
Being born into a knight's family meant starting from a completely different place than peasant commoners.
"Count Francis seemed confident there wouldn't be a war."
"In theory, yes. But the world doesn't run on theory, does it?"
It was better to prepare for battle, she meant.
"Belenka. When negotiations begin, watch over Kira."
"Understood."
No one could predict the outcome of negotiations.
If things went wrong...
Duke Roxlan's castle would become a battlefield.
That's why Ian assigned Belenka to guard Kira.
"Any messages for the others?"
"Not really. They'll all manage fine."
Sir Salvador had left to guard the Emperor.
Sabui had gone with Sir Salvador.
Ian and Maria would be under Count Francis's protection.
All those close to Ian were safe.
However—
'This is the perfect opportunity for black wizards.'
There was just one concern weighing on his mind.
Ian had encountered black wizards several times on his journey south.
The transmuter Karenne had even directly interfered with the Emperor.
Would such black wizards simply leave this negotiation alone?
'I can't let my guard down until the very end.'
If the southern war was prevented and imperial chaos suppressed, black wizards wouldn't be able to act as freely as before.
A peaceful world would allow Ian to travel as he pleased.
Ian calmly prepared for negotiations with Duke Fargar.
As expected, the Duke's envoy arrived.
"His Grace desires a conversation."
"Good. Let's determine the meeting location."
Count Francis handled the envoy with skilled diplomacy.
A hill not far from the castle was chosen as the meeting place.
It would be a conference with only nobles participating, without armies, from both sides.
Ian climbed the hill with Maria.
"Is it okay not to bring Sister Belenka along?"
"It's fine. Trust Count Francis's guards."
Maria seemed concerned about Belenka's absence.
But Ian wasn't worried.
He had magic prepared for various situations.
With his magic sword and transforming staff, he wouldn't be helplessly defeated in close combat.
'It's certainly chaotic here.'
Ian glanced at Duke Fargar's soldiers.
They looked like absolute vagrants, but their eyes were fierce beyond compare.
They were genuine medieval killers.
Thugs who murdered people, stole possessions, and committed plunder and rape without a second thought.
Having already tasted blood while ransacking(...) the Rashin Kingdom, they craved more wealth and would gladly swing their swords for it.
When they reached the hilltop, Duke Fargar was already waiting for the Roxlan contingent.
Duke Fargar was a man with a rigid appearance.
Angular face, stern expression, swollen ears.
He looked like a human-shaped statue that had come to life.
Duke Fargar tossed just one sentence at Count Francis.
"Let's go inside."
Then he swiftly entered the tent.
"...Ian."
At that moment, Maria tugged on Ian's sleeve.
He could understand why she grabbed him.
Behind Duke Fargar stood a woman with black hair.
Translucent skin, oval face, and moist eyes.
She was beautiful enough to draw admiration.
Ian unconsciously turned to look at Maria.
'They look alike...'
Not just in appearance, but something about their aura felt similar.
That distinctive dark? atmosphere.
If Maria had an eerie quality—
This woman emanated a lonely, cold presence.
Ian recalled the assassin Aesis's exaggerated reaction.
'Didn't he say she was a cold-featured beauty?'
She did have a face worth getting excited about.
"Let's go."
"...Yes."
Ian led Maria into the tent.
The seating naturally divided into two sides.
Duke Fargar and his vassals.
Those following Duke Roxlan's proxy.
The conference room was filled with tension, leaving no room to breathe.
"I'll state my demands."
Duke Fargar abandoned any ice-breaking pleasantries and jumped straight to the point.
"Fine."
"..."
But Count Francis was just the same kind of person.
The vampire-like Count similarly couldn't care less about ice-breaking.
As a result, only Ian felt suffocated...
"This is the rightful heir to the fallen Margrave of Silverwind. Lisa Silverwind."
The black-haired woman stood and bowed her head.
Even in the suffocating conference room, her beauty remained striking.
Several nobles from the Roxlan faction swallowed dry saliva.
This woman...
Though they were seeing her for the first time and knew nothing about her!
Somehow she looked noble!
Ian couldn't help but recall Count Francis's words.
'A woman who secured the heir position with just her face...'
Though it seemed absurd, the persuasiveness of her appearance was considerable.
Even Ian almost acknowledged [Lisa Silverwind]'s legitimacy.
"We've reclaimed Silverwind's lost lands from the Rashin Kingdom."
Duke Fargar said in a rigid voice.
"To fully restore the title, we want Roxlan to return the Silverwind lands it currently occupies."
Duke Fargar's demands were direct and clear.
In short, "Give us the land!"
If Roxlan responded with "I don't want to?"
Duke Fargar would likely give the order to advance, frowning that angular jaw of his.
To punish the greedy Duke Roxlan!
But Count Francis didn't say no.
The Count answered with a sinister smile:
"Your desire to restore the Silverwind title is most admirable."
"..."
"However, we've already decided to return the title to the 'rightful' heir of Silverwind."
Duke Fargar frowned.
"Explain yourself in detail."
"Of course. Nothing difficult about that..."
Count Francis gave a signal.
Maria took a deep breath and stood up.
Lisa Silverwind quietly stared at Maria.
"This black-haired girl's name is Maria Silverwind."
Maria slowly bowed her head.
Duke Fargar's nobles noticeably murmured among themselves.
Even Ian had to admit—
Maria's appearance was distinctly noble.
No less so than Lisa Silverwind!
Duke Fargar stared at Maria for a while—
"I don't know where you found such a fake."
He threw an extremely blunt statement.
You're saying she's the real heir?
I can't accept that!
Count Francis responded with a vampiric, wicked smile (at least in Ian's eyes):
"On what grounds do you make such an outrageous claim?"
"Do I need grounds? Just like Roxlan blood, you present pathetic schemes."
"There are no schemes here. Truth and falsehood. That is all."
The Count gestured.
Maria stretched out her hand, displaying the signet ring.
...It was a brief moment, but Ian didn't miss it.
The momentary agitation shown by Lisa Silverwind.
"This ring is proof that Maria is Silverwind's true heir."
"..."
"Surely a 'real' heir would possess at least one item that could serve as evidence?"
Duke Fargar glared at Count Francis with sharp eyes.
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