Ch.557557. Restoration Project (1)

When the Viscount’s head fell and his crimes were openly declared, the enemy’s morale hit rock bottom.

It was the inevitable result.

Once it was openly stated that they would have to bear the consequences of the Viscount’s deeds and face the wrath of the kingdom’s regular army, there was no turning back. If they had functioning brains rather than mere decorations on their shoulders, they would realize the futility of further resistance.

“The enemy is losing their will to fight and beginning to surrender! They’re abandoning their siege weapons and fleeing!”

The soldiers surrounding the castle walls receded like an ebbing tide.

The abandoned siege weapons stood deserted, without their masters, signaling that things were finally turning in our favor.

“News from inside the territory! They’ve successfully quelled all internal unrest!”

The timing couldn’t have been better—victory reports were coming in about the situation inside the territory as well.

With the heirs of the family properly bound as prisoners, and the Viscount having shown everyone his final moments, the territorial war had finally entered a complete lull.

I watched them flee with their tails between their legs before descending from the battlement.

“The allied forces will soon send an envoy. Prepare to receive them.”

Having lost their central figure, they would soon assess the situation and send someone to prevent meaningless losses.

We were the victors of this territorial war. If we wanted to extract more resources than the damages we suffered, we should make our own preparations.

Moreover—

“Lord, I’m told that your ward, Lady Tasha, is in critical condition.”

Word had reached us that Tasha, who had worked hard within the territory, was not in good health.

During the brief time I had, I headed to the central plaza of the territory where Tasha was. My eyes fell on a makeshift treatment tent hastily set up there.

‘No wonder divine power is gathering here.’

As if to prove that the beginning of religion had been successfully established.

The territory’s residents maintained calm composure around the treatment area, waiting only for positive news. As I approached the treatment tent, they naturally made way for me.

Then, inside the tent.

“…Lord?”

Tasha greeted me with a pale face.

‘Just by looking.’

The situation didn’t seem good.

From her bleached white hair to the dark shadows under her eyes. Her appearance was no different from someone half-claimed by death.

The bloodstains on the front of her clothes made her look even more critical.

“I must tell you…!”

Despite looking like she could barely move a finger, Tasha tried to force herself up as soon as I came into view.

I immediately stopped her.

“You don’t need to force yourself to get up.”

“But—”

“I’d rather you stay lying down right now.”

“……”

Looking like she might fall back and die if she lost her strength. Why was she pushing herself this hard?

As she rolled her eyes trying to read my expression even while lying down, I held back a sigh and slowly began to speak.

“How are you feeling?”

“You don’t need to worry. Thanks to the help from the magicians and doctors here, I’m much more comfortable than before.”

“……”

“Really. Compared to before, it doesn’t hurt much at all… I’m just constantly sleepy, that’s all.”

Whether her words were true or not, the caregivers who had been looking after her would know best.

When I glanced at the person Tasha had called a doctor, she immediately reported on Tasha’s condition.

“It is as Lady Tasha says. Although her strength has diminished greatly, it’s not life-threatening. The drowsiness is simply a natural response of her exhausted body.”

“Is that really so?”

“…It was only possible thanks to the efforts of the magicians who infused mana into Lady Tasha, and the territory residents who brought precious elixirs.”

It seems she had one foot in the afterlife before being brought back.

“I’ll hear the details later.”

I would make sure to reward those who brought the magicians and elixirs later.

As I quietly looked at Tasha, she added an excuse.

“…I’m really fine now. Other than my hair color fading, I’m no different from before…!”

I hadn’t come all this way to scold Tasha after all her hard work. Somehow the situation had turned out this way.

I wanted to tell her that I was worried, not scolding her, but without giving me a chance, Tasha continued with what she wanted to say.

“Hosts infected with Magia appeared. Both inside the lord’s castle and outside. Thanks to the Captain of the Guard lending his strength, we somehow overcame it…”

She was busy pouring out everything she had experienced.

“We’ve captured most of the people who manifested Magia. We’ve also caught someone who appears to be the mastermind behind this incident.”

How desperately she was trying to speak despite having no strength.

It was almost like.

“So, do you think… this is enough to repay the kindness I’ve received?”

She was nothing more than a child wanting recognition and praise for what she had done.

It seemed she wanted an answer to this question, which is why she spoke so rapidly.

As she began to nod off more frequently, rather than asking why she had pushed herself to the brink of death or what exactly she had done to reach that point, I simply expressed gratitude for the results she had achieved.

“You’ve already done more than enough.”

“…I’m glad.”

Only then did Tania show a small smile, as if finally relieved.

After confirming that she had fallen into a deep sleep, breathing evenly,

I quietly left the treatment tent and thought.

‘She said they even caught the mastermind.’

To think they succeeded in capturing the one who released Magia in our territory alive.

With this unexpected additional harvest making the future look even sweeter,

I couldn’t help but be pleased.

‘It will be easier to dig into Amelie’s background.’

With the help of House Lephelia, who are obsessed with covert operations and information gathering, plus the solid backing of Adelheid and the Count’s family, what couldn’t we accomplish?

The Duchy has long had its feet in the deepest parts of central politics, and the Count’s intelligence department is equally capable. Furthermore, any friction that arises from investigating them will be shielded under Adelheid’s authority.

‘It seems Amelie was planning to betray Viscount Akion and cut off her tail.’

Amelie, who had planned to slip away like a loach, apparently didn’t know.

‘Where do you think you’re escaping to?’

That I’m the kind of person who can shoot an arrow and hit a loach from a hundred paces away.

* * *

The allied forces’ envoy entered the Barony.

Of course, they couldn’t expect good treatment. They entered negotiations with us while knights and magicians glared at them with fierce eyes.

In the end, the conversation could only flow in an obvious direction.

‘Whether Viscount Akion truly colluded with the Empire and cultists.’

It was obvious.

Not only did we have fabricated evidence, but also the ambiguous evidence she had left behind herself. With Tasha’s help, we had secured it definitively.

All judgment would be left to the royal family. If we were wrong, we would accept appropriate punishment.

In the end.

‘The Viscount’s territory has already been occupied, and the Viscount who was the center of the alliance is dead.’

Moreover, the lives of each family head and heir who cooperated with her were all in our Barony’s hands. What could they do?

So the envoys who brought the final decision-making authority could only bow their heads before us.

“…Our alliance acknowledges defeat to the Barony’s cause and truth.”

“Our Barony has suffered numerous damages due to this war that began with malicious accusations. Therefore, we naturally wish to make reasonable demands of the alliance. I ask you.”

Now that the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.

“What do you intend to do to restore the honor and truth of the Barony that has been tarnished by the alliance?”

At my words, the Finance Minister who had been listening quietly bowed his head to hide his face.

And indulged in a deep smile full of happiness.

* * *

Upon receiving news of victory from the Barony, the occupation forces packed up faster than anyone else.

“Return! Return to base!”

“Let’s go back to the Barony and enjoy the joy of victory!”

Of course, with the territorial war over,

There was no need to keep these numerous occupation forces in the Viscount’s territory while post-war processing was underway.

Sione, who had been quietly watching the occupation forces beginning to return to the Barony, felt joy like the soldiers intoxicated with victory, while

She was focusing on reviewing what she had done in Viscount Akion’s territory for the last time.

‘The Viscount’s heir is taken care of.’

The heir who would replace the now-vacant position of Viscount Akion.

Through contact with the most likely candidate, she had made it clear that maintaining good relations with the Barony would be beneficial for both sides.

‘…And there’s what I salvaged from that hidden place.’

Feeling more certain than anyone that this territorial war would soon cause a great tidal wave and serve as a good opportunity,

She finally relaxed her icy expression and muttered lightly to herself.

“They’ll be so happy when I tell them what I found.”

Because what she had found would play an important role in the future ahead.