Chapter 421: The Usage of the Royal Capital

“…Maybe it might have been better if I didn’t come here.”

Richard Permillis distorted his eyebrows while his heart felt greatly confused. In front of him stood his former student Lugis, who was the purpose of this visit. But he wasn’t alone. Several women surrounded him without leaving his side, as if they were wrapping him in chains.

Knight Caria Burdnick. Sorceress Filaret La Volgograd. And Fin Eldith, the Queen of the Elves.

If another person saw this scene, he or she would look at Lugis as the embodiment of heroism. Richard couldn’t help but feel like he was dealing with not one, but another three different beings.

Above all, the color of those women’s eyes looked dangerous. They were not common people who got frustrated at the slightest thing. In fact, those women looked stagnant, yet ready to attack. The latter was the worst.

Richard sighed loudly and leaned back in his chair as he placed the bottle of ale he brought on the table. He said while someone put that ale into the container in his hand.

「…If possible, I’d like to have a man-to-man talk. Or isn’t that possible? 」

The six eyes reacted strongly and changed shape when Richard said those words with his white beard swaying. Their color was now almost hostile. No, since he was originally an enemy general, that reaction wouldn’t be that strange.

As if the silver glow consumed the strange darkness, Caria Burdnick caught Richard’s eyes and answered.

「That’s an impossible proposal, Richard Permillis. There’s no way I’ll tolerate a one-on-one secret talk between you and Lugis, who are only temporary allies. 」

Besides, Caria said with a strangely charming smile. It was an expression Richard had never seen before when they met at the military council.

「…Besides, Lugis swore that he would never betray me again. So there’s no need to hide anything in secrecy, right? 」

「…It’s okay, old man. If you have no problem with that, then you can talk to me now. 」

Upon hearing those words, Richard suddenly looked at Lugis, and found his cheeks twitching. Richard didn’t know what was going on, but something must have happened.

It seemed that the Sorceress and Her Majesty the Elf Queen were here for the same reason as Caria Burdnick. Richard wondered why they didn’t have any discipline. Perhaps Lugis allowed them to have this much leeway.

After all, all three of them were probably women chosen by Lugis. Richard’s mouth curled, wondering if his former student took the leader position lightly.

Richard spoke after pouring the ale down his slightly dry throat. A thick scent hit his nose.

「…Well, that’s fine. It’s about the usage of the royal capital, Lugis. It’s been damaged, but it’s still valuable enough. We should decide its future while it’s still valuable.」

Should we sell it or use it? Either one should be fine for you, as it seems.

As soon as Richard said those words, Lugis narrowed his eyes, wondering what he meant with those remarks. But instead of intersecting him, Lugis urged him to continue speaking.

「I pretty much know what you want to do. As far as I know, you’re planning on using that princess to your advantage. So, what do you plan to do after that, Lugis? 」

Richard’s aged eyes were wide open as if looking into Lugis’ inner thoughts. It contained, more than ever, an authentic color.

—

What did I plan to do after that? I stroke my chin as I repeated the words the old man said in my mouth. I searched for the true meaning behind those words deep within those eyes.

It was about the old man after all. He must have already guessed that I was trying to get Philos Trait to sit on the Gharast throne and usurp the royal power.

So, what about after that? Before answering, what was the old man thinking when he brought this story to me?

It was out of my control when it came to politics. Matia, Ann, and Philos would probably take the lead on that matter.

After wetting my mouth with the ale the old man had brought, I finally opened my lips. Caria, Filaret, and Eldith, who were by my side, seemed to have no intention of interfering in this talk. They just wanted to be by my side. That’s all.

「There’s nothing outrageous about it. She will become the legitimate princess, and later on, she’ll exercise the royal power in this city. The Heraldic Order will support her, and she’ll replace the Great Holy Church with the Heraldic religion. That’s all. 」

The area around the capital of the Gharast Kingdom was still fertile land. In fact, it was because of said land that this auspicious area became the site of the royal capital.

If they were able to completely take control of this royal capital, the Heraldic Order would no longer be a small organization that only controlled key cities like before. It would gain a clear foundation for the future.

Based on that foundation, I was to become the leader of the demonic beast disaster subjugation and work with other countries to bring this great catastrophe to a close. That was the main goal at the moment.

Of course, it sounded easy when I put it into words, but it was not an easy path. Actually, it sounded closer to a pipe dream than actual reality.

Still, now that the Gharast Kingdom’s capital had fallen and the national army had fled north, there was no choice but to carry on with that goal.

No matter what happened, I absolutely couldn’t allow the Cathedral, no, Altia, to take the lead. I was talking about someone who loved deceit and exploitation. Altia must have prepared a truly ridiculous script. Something so grand that it would cost the majority of human lives.

I must deny her existence and defeat her no matter what in order to save Ariene.

When I said that while drinking a good portion of that ale, the old man pressed his fist against his temple and replied with a stoic expression on his face.

「That’s not it. Lugis. I’m asking what you’re planning to do by swallowing this capital and, to a great extent, the Gharast Kingdom as well. 」

My lips closed involuntarily at the old man’s question. The old man’s eyelids widened, and his expression hardened. I never expected him to talk about the whole nation, rather than just the Heraldic Order. I carefully chose my words, wondering what my answer would be.

The old man’s eyes were only looking at me. I was sure that he talked to me as if Caria and Filaret weren’t even seen. Even Eldith, the Queen of Ghazalia, was not in his sight.

I placed the container, which was still more than half full of ale, on the table and looked at the old man and responded.

「…That’s a matter way too big for a commoner like me to shoulder. I think that’s the domain of Saint Matia and Her Royal Highness the Princess. 」

「You idiot. Why would I bother myself to come here and ask you that question? Besides, you’re past the point where you can get away with those words of yours. If you continue without thinking, you’ll eventually become a puppet for someone else’s convenience. 」

A puppet for the Saint or Her Royal Highness the Princess? Or did he mean someone else? The old man said those harsh words while his gaze cut across the others.

Even from my quick glance, I could see that Caria and Eldith were twitching their eyes. Their demeanor was unusually quiet, but that quietness was rather eerie.

I put my palm on my chin, pressing my lips and swallowing my breath. I knew exactly what the old man was trying to say.

After this campaign…after the catastrophe was over…What would happen after that? What would happen after everything was over and used to the maximum?

What would I do? Would something happen to me? Even though my thoughts were running from one end of my skull to the other, nothing came out.

That’s it. My goal was to grab Ariene’s hand and become a hero like Helot Stanley. Other than that, I had nothing. I had nothing at all. I hadn’t even thought about it.

The future after the catastrophe? After thinking for a moment, I opened my mouth.

The old man’s eyes were staring straight at me. C’mon, he knew that I didn’t have the education to say anything important.

「I don’t think I’m in tune with the beautiful things you’re saying…But. I’ll make sure the so-called God that the Gharast people worship will never enter this country again even if it pretends to be a great God. Gods are bastards, after all. 」

I said while lifting my cheeks and shrugging my shoulders. The old man narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then took the container of ale to his lips.

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