Ch.561An Uneventful Day

After the most controversial agenda item passed, the meeting hall effectively devolved into a one-sided announcement forum. The nobles who had retreated under my pressure never found an opportunity to reverse the situation.

Leopold seized the momentum to declare additional defense taxes to fund the restoration and strengthening of the imperial army. In exchange, he granted nobles the authority to utilize their trained reserve forces as response units against monster attacks.

While they couldn’t conscript for personal military purposes like territory wars, they could draft residents for defense if monsters too powerful for them to handle attacked. Though this right was insignificant compared to the expenses nobles would incur, they had no choice but to be grateful for even that much.

The current nobles couldn’t express opposition even if Leopold had wielded only the stick without offering any carrots. Unless they planned to stab him in the back later.

Afterward, discussions continued regarding foreign affairs and response measures.

“The situation on the western front…”

“The Holy State has promised to respond…”

Led by Lord Wien, the high nobles discussed specific countermeasures with Leopold, while their subordinate nobles engaged in hushed, casual conversations contemplating future developments.

“The Dragonborn… are reportedly engaged in civil war, which is fortunate. We needn’t worry about them for now.”

“The east and south are the real concerns.”

“I heard the Dane mobilized over a thousand mages to invade Panam. Is that true?”

“Indeed. They’re gradually conquering Panam’s territory, wielding fire and lightning.”

“How on earth did they amass so many mages…?”

I eavesdropped on their conversations, gathering information about international developments that had occurred while I was in the Holy State. Except for details about Dane’s military strength, most were facts I already knew.

Over a thousand mages—truly a formidable force. Even the Church of Grimnir, which worshipped the god of magic, couldn’t mobilize mages on such a scale.

If they directed that force against the Ka’har, I couldn’t ask for more. But if they targeted the Empire, the southern provinces could be reduced to ashes.

—-

After lengthy discussions, Leopold and the nobles ultimately decided to concentrate most of their forces in Landenburg to the east.

This would prepare for Ka’har attacks while simultaneously positioning troops to counterattack Dane’s homeland should they attack. Ludwig, who was busy strengthening the Wall’s defenses, would be pleased with this decision.

Various other matters were discussed, but most were irrelevant to me—except for the final agenda item.

Just before the council meeting concluded, Leopold brought me forward and announced he would recognize the Baron of Median as the official head of the family rather than just an heir. In other words, he would bestow upon me the title of Marquis of Median.

Until now, I had been called Baron of Median due to my heir status, but once officially proclaimed as head of the family, it was natural to inherit the family’s title.

The nobles looked toward Lord Wien with expressions questioning the propriety of such an unusually rapid promotion. Though visibly displeased, the Duke chose silence rather than opposition.

…I had expected him to object, but the Duke merely glared at Durandal hanging at my waist without saying a word. Did he think I would draw this sword if he opposed? I had no such intention.

Anyway, thanks to the silence of Lord Wien, who was essentially the head of the noble faction, my promotion proceeded smoothly without any opposition.

Leopold formally bestowed the title of Marquis upon me, declaring me head of House Median. Though I received no additional territory or new castle, I had now become one of the high nobility.

—-

After the council meeting, I greeted Leopold and returned to the workshop where Asha was waiting—to retrieve my repaired armor and collect newly ordered items.

Traditionally, an imperial luncheon banquet would follow such council meetings, but Leopold canceled it citing the gravity of domestic and foreign situations, and secluded himself in his office.

I welcomed this development. Wearing a formal uniform to dance or dealing with nobles approaching me with greedy expressions would have been nothing but troublesome and exhausting.

“Ah, you’re back, Haschal. Have you finished your business at the palace?”

“More or less. How are the things I requested coming along?”

Asha grinned and presented me with a pile of pristine white leather. Not only had the scales been restored, but the armor had been thoroughly cleaned—what had been soaked in sweat, dust, and blood now gleamed like new.

“The winter armor repairs are complete, and I’ve finished the pants you requested. Unlike Rurik’s hide, they don’t have automatic restoration capabilities. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for that.”

“Take your time. I’m not going to wear them right away anyway.”

Next, she handed me a pair of blackish leather pants. Actually, calling them “pants” might be a stretch. Even the underwear I wore as a man had been longer than these.

I had requested them to be made short, but I never expected something where the difference between the hem and the crotch was practically nonexistent. They were provocative garments that fully exposed the thighs.

[…There’s a limit to indecency. These are practically undergarments.]

‘The tops you used to wear weren’t much different, you know?’

I ignored Hersella’s complaints and stuffed the leather pants into my bag. It was ridiculous for someone who wore what amounted to a tank top to grumble about hot pants.

While I wasn’t thrilled about such clothing either, wearing long pants made of werebeast fur in the middle of summer seemed impractical. Sweat would inevitably stream down my legs.

Besides, since I’d received the blessing, I might as well make proper use of it.

After replenishing the daggers I had used up in the Holy State, I engaged in brief conversation with Asha—about her homeland currently at war, idle talk about the return of dragons, and so on.

While Asha withheld information on certain topics, citing confidentiality, she answered other matters sincerely.

“Dragons… I heard our ancestors used cannons to create fire nets against them, but the limitations were obvious. The ancient dragons of that time reportedly deflected ordinary cannons with their bare bodies.”

“Is that so? That’s troubling. If your cannons couldn’t handle them, ballistae wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Hmm… perhaps using dragon bones or scales for arrowheads, and dragon tendons for bowstrings might inflict damage. But first, we’d need to defeat a dragon to secure its remains.”

A logical paradox. To kill a dragon, we needed weapons made from dragon remains, but to make such weapons, we first needed to kill a dragon.

Or somehow acquire the remains of an already dead dragon.

…Finding Nidhogg’s corpse would indeed be helpful. True to its name as the Worm Dragon, its body resembled an insect more than a typical dragon, but that was probably because Isabella had resurrected it.

However, since Isabella died before resurrecting the worm dragon, Nidhogg’s remains might now resemble those of a typical dragon. While it might lack scales, the bones should be intact.

I couldn’t be certain until seeing it firsthand.

I casually asked if Asha and other dwarves could assist the Empire with their technology, but she replied that would be difficult.

It wasn’t something she could decide on her own; it required the consent of other great houses.

Of course, they wouldn’t agree unless their entire race faced extinction.

—-

After my conversation with Asha, I returned to the mansion and presented winter armor tailored to the specifications of the members of Épée de Ciel—the Thousand Sword Corps.

Millia with her glowing face and Demian, who appeared considerably thinner.

Leonore, who seemed pleased after reuniting with the Rosicrucian Knights, and Nigel, who stared blankly eastward, apparently concerned about Landenburg.

Even Jahan and Ophelia, who had been lounging around the mansion.

Except for Perne, all my master-level forces were now equipped with Rurik’s hide.

Oh, speaking of Perne, I heard that once sober, she instinctively reached out to break Millia’s bow upon seeing it. Apparently, a bow made from the World Tree’s branch was unbearably offensive to her.

Fortunately, Millia and Demian simultaneously intervened to prevent the holy artifact from being destroyed before it could be properly used.

Hush looked at Perne as if she were insane, saying he never imagined a fairy would try to damage a branch of the World Tree.

Meanwhile, Perne stared at Hush like a curious animal, remarking that she had never before seen a dark half-fairy, let alone an ordinary one.