Ch.567567. Competitive Spirit (1)

After the territory battle, everything proceeded smoothly without exception.

This was the expected outcome. We had a military force powerful enough to defeat the alliance with the baronies, and now we had gained a heroic narrative of executing traitors to the kingdom who had been colluding with the Empire and nobles.

Who in the western part of the kingdom would dare interfere with anything our family did? Perhaps the only exception would be the County, but they were already so closely aligned with us that they could be called our destiny-sharing community.

Thanks to that…

“So you’re saying these carriages lined up here are filled with gold coins?”

“Yes, sir. For now, the three families have sent the first compensation payment in cash. You can decide whether to receive future compensation through promissory notes or by securing favorable contracts instead.”

We were able to receive three carriages full of gold coins.

And later, we received additional compensation from families that had diligently submitted to the royal investigation.

“We’ve secured favorable contracts for the iron mines in Akion Barony!”

“This family will never be the same as before. Rather than accepting promissory notes or contracts in the long term, it would be better to receive physical assets now.”

Thanks to this, our finance minister’s face had been blooming with smiles, with no sign of fading.

Not only were there new equipment for the soldiers, but also the shooting range that Sione had thoroughly wrecked, and the overall training grounds were being renovated.

While the lord’s castle was bustling with activity, news came pouring in from various places.

‘A letter has come from Adelheid.’

I wondered what news the princess in the Empire wanted to convey by writing another letter.

“She says she’s almost ready to draw up the roots of the World Tree.”

The letter contained updates on the progress of the plan we had discussed in the great forest.

“And… information about the expeditionary force departing from the Empire to face the demons.”

She even informed me about those being mentioned as part of the expeditionary force that the Empire hoped would come directly to their land.

Adelheid was saying that the Empire, or more precisely, the Iron-Blooded Empress, wanted me and the County to be pieces on her chessboard in the war she was planning, if no one else.

“This actually works out well.”

I was planning to join the expeditionary force and go to the Empire anyway. If they’re making such a request, the Empire will likely treat us with proper respect.

Regardless of what happens to the Empire because of the demons, it’s better to secure whatever benefits we can.

“An expedition, huh.”

Leading an army beyond the lands of the Marquisate of Kallia.

The land beyond the border signifies the beginning of the final battle against demons.

For someone like me who already knows what end this world will face, the word “expedition” feels heavier than it would to anyone else.

“Three demons remain.”

Poison and Gluttony are dead.

It’s only natural that to face the most troublesome enemies who bring about the most grueling wars of attrition, one needs solid backing.

‘Edeline—’

She said she would head to the cold northern lands.

It seems she intends to buy time until the final preparations can be made against the Lord of Corpses, who is gradually moving westward.

‘Deceit goes without saying.’

Divine Power, the most effective weapon against them after the Morning Star.

He headed to the Holy Nation, filled with knights armed with this power. Not only will this buy time, but if done well, he might be weakened, making him easier to deal with.

‘As for Amelie.’

Adelheid wrote in her letter:

—While discussing peace, she showed signs of dealing with her pawns within the kingdom. It seems the Emperor, feeling displeased, has plotted something behind the scenes. It would be better for her to shake it off and return. So it might take some time.

To prevent the Empress’s schemes from reaching into the kingdom.

She would cleanly dispose of all the corrupt elements clinging to her like leeches in foreign lands.

—When she returns to the capital, I will make sure to finish Amelie off.

Even Amelie, who had been left alone until now.

—My younger brother has just told me he’ll take my side.

She said she would use this opportunity to uproot her.

Given that our First Princess wields almost absolute power in the kingdom, equal to the Queen, it’s easy to envision Amelie’s downfall.

Time passed relentlessly, and as the weather began to grow hotter, the renovation of the shooting range and the knights’ dueling grounds was completed. On the morning of the completion ceremony, with a gentle breeze ruffling my hair, I spoke to Sione, who was dressed in a neat and stylish uniform to attend the new shooting range’s completion ceremony.

“Sione, I’m thinking of writing to the Count first after a long time.”

“It hasn’t been that long… Haven’t you been talking a lot with the beastkin unit and about ancient text research at the County recently?”

Well, I suppose.

They seem to have successfully manipulated the beastkin unit, moving away from blindly following the Order’s words.

The County’s interpretation of the doctrines in the ancient texts has deepened, and a new religion taking its first steps has begun to establish firmer roots, so we did exchange some information.

“I want to propose something different to the Count.”

Adelheid has arrived close to the kingdom.

With the Duchy of Lephelia also earnestly engaged in attacking Amelie at this moment.

Once all the necessary matters are settled, an expeditionary force will be formed to advance to the Empire.

Before that, there was something I wanted to confirm and finish.

“A complete sweep of the Demon Forest. How about doing it together with our barony’s forces?”

Sione tilted her head slightly at my words and asked.

“…A complete sweep means you want to eliminate all the demonic beasts remaining in the Demon Forest?”

“As much as possible. It’s good for checking if the barony army’s changed combat methods work, and for getting used to the characteristics of the battles to come.”

“Indeed, there’s no better place than the Demon Forest.”

Named demons and those with epithets emit a foul magia that seems to rot and decay life just by approaching them. They generally deal with lesser demons or demonic beasts that have become ferocious from exposure to magia.

There’s nothing better for gaining the most necessary and definitive practical experience than facing terrible magia and the monsters adapted to it.

“And if possible, I’d like to find other temples that might be in the Demon Forest.”

“Other temples?”

“The Count told me. After researching the ancient texts, he could speculate the locations of two more churches similar to the temple we visited last time.”

Having killed the guardian spirit of the temple and obtained the technique to alter fate, the other two temples might also hide connections meant for me.

In truth, my main purpose for wanting to enter the Demon Forest again was heavily influenced by this.

“But Ray, the expedition is coming soon. Deliberately disturbing the quiet Demon Forest to carry out an operation has its pros and cons.”

Sione was worried.

She didn’t like my decision to pour resources into a non-urgent battle on the eve of a great war.

“Ray, can you handle it?”

She was asking if I could cover the losses from the Demon Forest and return to peak condition before the great expedition.

Of course, my answer was already determined.

“Of course. Look at how much our family has.”

The steel from Akion Barony is currently being forged into excellent weapons and armor.

The families that attacked us weren’t just one or two, and our warehouses are full of consumables received at bargain prices as compensation. What couldn’t we do?

After that brief conversation about the final operation before the expedition, we proceeded with the scheduled completion ceremony for the training grounds.

“There’s nothing more effective and certain than training that simulates real combat. The newly renovated training incorporates the essence of the kingdom’s finest magical engineering technology, making it more than adequate for intense, realistic duels.”

To showcase the highlight of the completion ceremony in front of everyone, Sione and I had agreed in advance.

“The facilities of our barony’s training grounds are the best in the kingdom, and to prove that they are no less than those of the Royal Academy…”

As Sione and I slowly walked forward and spoke, the next words caused an eruption of cheers from the crowd.

“We want to demonstrate that the training grounds can guarantee minimum safety even for duels between Masters.”

There’s nothing more entertaining than ranking strength.

How could it not be exciting when two people who had risen to Master status through bows, something rarely seen in the continent’s history, were going to compete against each other?

To this, Sione smiled and asked.

“The dueling ground is really safe, right?”

“We’ve put in so many safety measures for this one event. As long as we don’t fight too recklessly, it’s sufficient.”

Contrary to her concern, seeing my wife on the verge of excitement about this duel, I taunted her childishly.

“Why, not confident?”

“On the contrary, they say no teacher can defeat their student. I was just asking out of concern.”

With a clear, innocent smile and a distinct voice, Sione replied.

“Well, Ray… you can’t handle the Morning Star.”

For the first time, my competitive spirit began to burn.