21. 전.

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aran advanced with truly unstoppable momentum.

He shocked the entire continent by conquering dozens of castles, towns, and cities, his name resonating even in the Western Continent.

 

 

The anecdote about Zeus Castle, in particular, was legendary.

Who else could erase an entire castle?

Considering that the tale of the Glass Crafts from the Mei Empire was considered half myth, this was truly an incredible feat.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Aran, the soldiers of the Great Habsburg Kingdom were enjoying the most comfortable expedition ever.

They would simply walk along, and when they encountered enemy troops, a castle, or a city, Aran would sortie and wipe them out in one fell swoop. Later, they would raise the white flag and enter bloodlessly even before he arrived.

 

 

There was no need to fight battles, and naturally, there was no danger.

Everything went smoothly as long as they trusted in Aran.

 

 

It wasn’t entirely a good thing, but there was nothing better for raising morale and loyalty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was around this time that an envoy from the Athenian royal family arrived.

 

 

 

 

“I am Hephaestus, serving Her Highness Vanessa.”

 

She was one of only two Duchesses in Athens.

 

“Yes, what is it? If you’ve come all the way into enemy territory, it must be quite important, yes?”

 

Aran had transformed into a man again this time.

 

“That is so, Your Highness. First, this…”

 

 

She politely took out a scroll.

Judging by the red silk attached to it, it seemed to have been sent directly by the next in line to the Athenian throne.

 

 

 

 

Hephaestus unfurled the scroll from side to side.

Then, after moving her lips several times, she began to read in a tone filled with emotion.

 

“Vanessa Athens, Queen of the Kingdom of Athens, presents this to His Highness Aran of the Great Habsburg Kingdom.”

“?”

 

A humble start.

The nobles began to murmur.

 

 

“The actions of the former Queen Attica went too far and left a great stain on the honor of His Highness Aran and, furthermore, the Great Habsburg Kingdom. Therefore, I have held her accountable, deposed her, and erased her existence from all family records. Furthermore, we humbly wish to become a vassal of His Majesty Aran the Great, so please bestow upon us your boundless grace and allow us to fulfill the rites of a vassal.”

 

 

After reading the scroll, Hephaestus knelt down as he was and slammed his forehead against the floor.

A dull thud echoed.

 

 

“….”

 

 

Aran pondered amidst the murmuring nobles.

A vassal state…

He already made Srodia a vassal state, so he wondered if there was a need to increase the number of vassal states.

 

 

‘Wouldn’t it be easier to just conquer them outright?’

 

 

“I understand Athens’ opinion well. I will hold an urgent meeting, so please step back for now.”

“Yes… Your Highness…”

 

 

Hephaestus rose and left.

A glimpse of blood flowing down from her forehead was visible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What do you all think?”

 

 

Iliana was the first to answer Aran’s question.

 

 

“Your Highness, there is no need to create a vassal state. Even if you were to vassalize them, it would be best to do so after completely suppressing their military might.”

“In other words, you mean it would be better after completely eliminating the danger?”

“That is correct. Vassalization has its advantages, but with such an overwhelming difference in power as we have now, I believe it would not be very effective.”

“Hmm…”

 

 

Listening to Iliana’s words, it seemed plausible.

From the start, he wasn’t very interested in vassal states, so that made it even more so.

 

 

“However, Your Highness. The Mei Empire’s vassal war will soon begin. Please consider that the sooner we end the war, the more benefits we can obtain.”

“I heard that the Mei Empire exclusively supplies war materials anyway. There’s no point in ending the war quickly now, is there?”

“Ahem, have you forgotten Your Highness’s words? Your Highness used his abilities to conserve supplies even when capturing Zeus Castle. Are you telling His Highness to prolong the war?”

“The situation is different now, isn’t it!”

 

The nobles soon began to argue, each presenting their own logic. It became quite heated, and it only calmed down after Aran intervened.

 

 

“Your Highness, what do you think is the reason they are bowing down to us now? It is to suppress the rebels by using Your Highness and the power of our Great Kingdom! There is no reason to be used even knowing that.”

“Your Highness, complete annexation is not too late to do later. It would be best to accept them as a vassal state for now and merge them when there is room to do so.”

“Huu… Difficult.”

 

 

Aran was torn between the two.

What exactly is good?

 

 

‘It would be good to end the war quickly… but my internal affairs aren’t fully established yet…’

 

 

In fact, increasing territory had its good points, but it also had just as many bad points.

First, there is the rapid increase in population, and as the territory increases, the number of troops also increases.

And the nobles increase, and their power gradually strengthens.

 

 

Of course, that can be compensated by keeping as much land as possible under direct control, but there is a limit to that as well.

 

 

‘But that would be the same even if I vassalized them… rather, it’s like they’re united as one…’

 

 

If he were to create a vassal state, he could receive a certain percentage of the taxes and goods collected each year, and he wouldn’t have to worry about managing them otherwise.

Although he would have to constantly strengthen national defense and monitor them to prevent them from harboring strange intentions.

 

 

‘Ah, it’s complicated… Let’s increase the options for now.’

 

 

As someone said, if he really had to merge them, he could do it later. However, there’s no turning back if he merges them and then regrets that vassalization would have been better.

 

‘Let’s accept them as a vassal state and make Vanessa my plaything. And let’s subjugate all those rebel bitches and bring them here.’

 

 

Aran smiled slyly.

Aran had grown up (?) and become a respectable Demon King.

 

 

 

 

“I will accept them as a vassal state.”

“As you wish, hasoseo.”

 

 

Surprisingly, as soon as Aran said a word, the nobles who had been tearing each other apart in argument all bowed their heads in unison.

It was because they had suffered at the hands of the female Aran.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aran summoned Hephaestus and conveyed this news, and she bowed several times before heading to the Athenian palace with Aran’s letter.

Then, after a few days, she brought back Vanessa’s reply, which invited Aran and his troops to ‘Athena’, the capital of the Kingdom of Athens.

 

 

This was a ploy with the underlying intention of using Aran and his troops to check the rebels, which Aran was also aware of.

 

 

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to eat them all anyway.’

 

 

Whether it was Vanessa, who had become his vassal, or Aphrodite, who had committed treason, he intended to thoroughly devour them all.

Just a month or so ago, he would never let go of a woman he had once taken, but now Aran considered any woman he had only heard of to be his own.

Especially if she was a woman rumored to be beautiful, he didn’t care if she was married or had children.

He had already fallen deeply into the clutches of lust and could not escape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aran and his 50,000 troops confidently crossed the main road without any further interference.

And in just one week, they arrived in Athena, the largest city and capital of Athens.

 

 

“White flags, huh.”

“So it is.”

“But are you really okay with them being a vassal state? It would be a hassle if they rebel later…”

“Well, that’s true… But it’ll be fine as long as I’m here.”

 

Aran will continue to grow stronger in the future.

So rebellion is meaningless.

 

 

And to be honest, rebellion? He wanted them to go ahead and do it.

If a woman who rose up with such inspired heart and purpose was once again broken by Aran and fell into deep despair, there would be no greater pleasure than that.

 

 

‘Hahaha… I’ve become incredibly corrupt.’

 

 

A bitter smile appeared the moment he realized that, but what could he do?

He was already deeply immersed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the soldiers on the outskirts of the castle and entering the royal palace, a woman with blue hair fluttering like Attica’s, and women standing behind her as if to assist her, stood with stiff faces.

 

‘That woman must be Vanessa.’

 

 

Vanessa was said to be Attica’s younger sister, so if she has blue hair, it must be Vanessa.

 

 

 

Aran scanned her radiant beauty with unconcealed lust before passing her and entering inside.

 

Inside the building, the throne, the symbol of royal authority, shone divinely as it received the light from the rear.

 

 

“I feel a sense of déjà vu.”

 

 

Sitting on the throne of another country.

This is Aran’s second time.

 

 

No one stopped Aran until he approached and sat down there.

And after he sat down, the nobles who had followed Aran split to the left and right and bowed respectfully.

 

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

 

Vanessa, trembling, entered through the gap.

 

Now she is the queen of a vassal state.

That is, a vassal queen.

 

 

 

When you think about it, there’s nothing different.

Originally, the King of Athens was a vassal king.

But that was only until Attica, and after she caused a major incident, Athens was expelled from the Mei Empire.

In other words, it became a country with no further relationship.

 

 

Vanessa, who naturally succeeded as the queen of an independent country, was not a vassal queen.

 

 

 

 

‘Now it’s starting again… sister…’

 

 

Vanessa shed tears for Attica’s pitiful fate and vowed.

 

She was deposed and even erased from all family records, so Attica is now a commoner… no, even less than that. She will just live her whole life as Aran’s slave.

 

But that was the best option.

If the country were to be swept away by Aran’s overwhelming power as it is, they might experience an even greater hell than before.

 

 

‘Don’t forgive me…’

 

 

 

She bowed three times to Aran, declaring to all nations that she was Aran’s loyal subject.

 

 

The nobles of the Great Kingdom smiled, the nobles of Athens despaired, and some even burst into tears.

 

 

In the midst of all that, Aran opened his mouth.

 

 

 

 

“However, don’t you think something is lacking?”

“…Yes?”

 

She tilted her head slightly and asked back.

Lacking… what…?

 

 

“I have granted your request and accepted you as a vassal. But I feel that something is lacking.”

 

What on earth is he talking about after coming all the way here!

Vanessa’s face turned white.

 

 

‘He’s planning to find fault and extort something…!’

 

 

“Wh-what can I… what can we do…?”

 

Aran smiled wickedly.

 

 

“Prove it. Prove to me that you are loyal to me. Wouldn’t it be appropriate on the bed?”

“!!!”

 

 

Vanessa’s large eyes were filled with horror.