Ch.314Chapter 314. Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (4)

* * *

After not much time had passed – Luna finally declared her resolve before everyone.

“Our enemy is Seta Rolland! By defeating the Rolland army, we will save more territory residents! Follow me!”

The news of this major declaration of war began to spread across the continent at an incredibly fast pace.

The first places it reached were – naturally the four countries of the south.

In the southern continent, there were four massive cities.

First, Madlan Castle, the former capital of the Karelia army and now the capital of the newly formed Lunarian army.

Dofer Castle, the capital of the Rolland army and known as a natural fortress city.

Mertian Castle, the capital of the Hesna army and the oldest major city in the southern continent.

And finally, Iekaide Castle, the capital of the Ohana army, which was originally a small place but has recently developed remarkably after being made the capital of a new nation.

In the royal castle of Iekaide, a city that had risen to prominence overnight in human terms, Nabidos Ohana, the ruler of the Ohana army, was lost in thought, absently stroking his beard.

“I don’t know what to do…”

The rebel Lunarian had pointed her blade at Rolland.

He had secretly thought that after things settled down somewhat, she would naturally turn her forces toward them, and so he had concentrated his troops at the front line, which was good—

But he never imagined that the opportunity to cast the dice of choice would come to him.

“My lord. Now is the time to make a decision. Send troops to Tepelo Castle!”

Despite the urging of his militaristic national advisor, Ohana couldn’t easily make a decision.

“Wait. Haven’t you heard that the lord of Tepelo Castle is that magician?”

“Even so, war ultimately comes down to overwhelming numbers. If magic were such an omnipotent power, they would either have just one magician with no soldiers, or they would have already swept across the southern continent, wouldn’t they?”

“That’s still just an assumption. What if it’s not? What if this is all a bluff from those rebels?”

“A bluff, my lord?”

“Yes! Think about it. Doesn’t it feel like bait to place relatively few troops and just one magician there? I can see it clearly. That would be disastrous to swallow! You said there must be limits to a magician’s abilities, but if you think about it, we can’t rule out the possibility that they’re deliberately hiding their power for this moment. Am I wrong?”

“My lord…! But if we miss this opportunity due to such uncertain reasons, the growth potential of our Ohana army will be—unless we advance toward the Hesna army—”

Ohana began to lose his temper at the national advisor’s words.

“Enough, be quiet! It might be comfortable for you to give such advice under me! But not for me! One wrong choice could instantly destroy the Ohana army that I’ve built up from nothing! Are you saying this after seeing how Makana Karelia collapsed so pathetically because of a magician?!”

“My lord! I agree a hundred times that we must decide carefully, but if we continue to do nothing like this, how can you not understand that we’ll never bring about any change!”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear any more. How could someone who bears no weight on their shoulders understand the burden I feel?!”

“My lord…!!”

“On my shoulders! The lives of countless territory residents and the military commanders who follow me are at stake! Your life too, Lupio!!”

“…!”

“If I make the wrong choice, will I be the only one to die? You’ll die too! All who follow me will die! That’s the issue!”

The national advisor couldn’t respond.

Nabidos Ohana came from humble beginnings. He had led a band of thieves and lived a carefree life until, during chaotic times, he luckily became a lord and somehow established a country—his advisor had been with him through it all.

As a ruler who valued practicality over the sense of authority, he wasn’t such a bad ruler—but if he had a flaw, it was that when important decisions needed to be made, he became indecisive and couldn’t decide anything.

He had a talent for protecting his country when caught up in others’ decisions. It was no coincidence that he had somehow survived between the Karelia army, known for justice and cooperation, and the Hesna army, the strongest nation in the southern continent.

But now was the time for him to decide. Should he strike the Lunarian army that had taken Karelia’s place from behind, or not?

If not for the presence of the magician, he could have chosen easily… but as long as this unknown entity stood firm, he knew it was nearly impossible to demand an independent decision from himself.

Even so… no matter how he thought about it, this was the last chance.

If he missed this opportunity, he felt it wouldn’t just be a problem for the Ohana army, but the fate of the entire southern continent would be determined in an instant.

“Lupio, you’re too reckless. You can’t approach this with the same mindset as when you led a band of thieves. One must be cautious, extremely cautious. Even if we gain nothing, it’s far better than losing what we have. Once war breaks out, opportunities to take advantage of the chaos will surely come. We just need to wait for those opportunities! I don’t understand why you don’t see that!”

The national advisor bowed his head and thought.

‘Is it really alright to just stay still like this…?’

* * *

The royal castle of Mertian, the capital city of Hesna, the largest city in the south.

Sitting on the throne was a beautiful woman with tanned skin and flowing brown hair, Aski Hesna.

Wearing unusually revealing clothes for a ruler, she leaned back in her chair with a seductive smile and said:

“So the rebel girl has provoked the Rolland fellows?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought she would naturally go after a weakling like Ohana first.”

The middle-aged woman serving as the national advisor beside Hesna bowed her head and said:

“Lunarian has Ginor Nighthart under her. That old man is quite skilled at making unexpected moves.”

“So you’re saying it’s more Ginor’s thinking than the rebel girl’s?”

“Yes.”

Hesna ran her hand over her mouth, letting out a slight laugh as if amused.

“Tera. Weren’t you in a master-disciple relationship with Ginor?”

“That’s merely a thing of the past.”

“Even if it’s the past, well, you should be able to read the thoughts of someone who was once your master. What do you think? What will be that girl’s next step?”

The national advisor of Hesna—Tera raised her head to meet Hesna’s eyes and stated firmly:

“Prepare for war. We will be next.”

“As expected?”

Hesna nodded slowly, as if the answer was within her expectations.

“If the Ohana army attacks Lunarian from behind this time, it might be different, but since Nabidos Ohana isn’t the type of person who can make such a decisive judgment, naturally we will be next in line.”

“Right. He’s really not someone I’d want to be friends with—such a petty man.”

Even during the few diplomatic exchanges they’d had, Ohana was truly a materialistic person to an extreme degree.

Moreover, he had no boldness at all, so it was clear he wouldn’t be able to initiate a war first.

“How’s the border with Rolland?”

“They won’t withdraw their troops. Rolland must know we don’t intend to stay idle.”

“What do you think would happen if we proposed an alliance?”

“…An alliance?”

Tera, who had been responding calmly, finally looked at Hesna with some surprise.

“Yes. Do you think Rolland would accept?”

Tera thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“They probably won’t accept. Seta Rolland is a person with too much unnecessary pride. He would find the very idea of an alliance with our army, whom he considers a rival, insulting.”

“I thought so, but it seems I was right. Hmm… I thought he had some flexibility when he was younger. I’d like to tell him that such simple-minded men aren’t popular in times like these.”

“Were you thinking of joining hands with the Rolland army?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why?”

It was then.

The playful tone that had characterized Hesna’s responses suddenly gave way to a sharp gaze.

“Well, it’s always better to catch the truly dangerous person first rather than someone you can tease anytime.”

“By truly dangerous person, you mean…”

“Who else could it be besides the rebel girl?”

Hesna spoke in an extremely serious tone.

“Karelia collapsed helplessly. Everyone focuses on the magician, but wasn’t it that girl who deployed such a magician in the first place? We obviously need to check her. Besides, if Rolland falls this time, we probably won’t be able to defeat the Lunarian army either. So it’s about preparing in advance.”

“I understand, but… unless Rolland agrees to join hands, there aren’t many suitable methods, are there?”

“Why not? We still have a few options left.”

At these words, Tera fell into thought briefly, then asked with a slightly surprised expression:

“Are you thinking of joining hands with Lynn Brans?”

The Brans army had been an enemy state with whom they had been engaged in localized border conflicts until quite recently.

Even so, if one thought purely in terms of countering “the Lunarian army that devoured the Rolland army,” there was no better option.

At that moment.

“Hehehehe.”

Hesna laughed again as if amused.

“That’s right. Allying with the Brans army is one of our options.”

“Pardon…?”

“Tera. Remember? I said we still have ‘a few’ options left. Besides allying with the Brans army, we have one more choice we can make.”

“A choice we can make? The Aeshus army is practically collapsed and too weak to be worth allying with… but…”

Only then did Tera’s eyes widen as she realized what her lord was suggesting.

Among the countries of the southern continent, excluding Brans and Aeshus in the central region, there was only one remaining possibility.

The absolute evil of the world that everyone turns away from but cannot hide—

“Surely… you’re not thinking of joining hands with Serpina von Einhart…?”