Ch.76It’s All Your Fault. (3)

The more negotiations with the Eastern Alliance progressed, Galdur couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The conditions proposed by the Eastern Alliance included monopoly rights over all maritime trade routes in the east. That alone was excessive, but demanding reparations on top of that was simply unacceptable.

“Have you ever seen such madmen!”

“I can’t understand what gives them such confidence!”

The angry staff officers were in the midst of heated discussion. Even though the Empire needed to be conciliatory in these negotiations, there was no need to bend this far.

It would be less damaging to start a war at this point.

“One thing is certain: if we accept these terms, the Empire will suffer irreversible damage.”

Galdur bit his lip at the conclusion reached by his staff.

Although the staff officers were conducting the direct negotiations, Galdur was officially the one in charge.

If the negotiations succeeded as they stood, Galdur would go down in history as a traitor who sold out the Empire. If they failed, he would be recorded as a madman who started a war.

“Find out what that King of Martial Arts is thinking. I can hardly believe this is the attitude of someone who wants to negotiate.”

The biggest reason for the stalled negotiations was indeed the King of Martial Arts, Ashe Balthar.

He had been obstinate about not negotiating with “magicians,” so they had gone to the trouble of bringing Duke Kiel, only for him to spout nonsense like “Hand over the monopoly rights to eastern maritime trade.”

Galdur wanted nothing more than to punch him, but since Duke Kiel had suggested they retreat for now, Galdur had no choice but to endure, being lower in rank.

But now even Kiel was absent.

“Lord Baldur. Shouldn’t we bring back His Grace the Duke soon? The fourth round of negotiations will begin shortly.”

“Leave him be.”

“Pardon?”

Galdur snorted.

“I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”

‘That’s knights for you. Running off because they can’t control their temper.’

Honestly, Galdur was hoping Kiel would cause some trouble.

That way, he would take less blame.

If the Empire was going to fall anyway, it would be better if a knight initiated it…

– Red Tower Master.

Galdur reflexively stood up at the voice that came from thin air.

– How are the negotiations progressing?

The face that appeared in the crystal ball was Galdur’s lord, Second Prince Edward. Startled, Galdur quickly observed proper etiquette and dismissed his staff.

Edward was the one who had secured the support of the Magic Council of Elders. The Magic Council was the largest organization of mages on the continent, comprising all Tower Masters except the Golden Tower Master who reported directly to the Emperor.

Edward looked to be in a good mood through the crystal ball. It was impossible to imagine he was the same person who had been constantly dejected about being overshadowed by the First Prince.

“To be honest, not well, Your Highness.”

– Is it because of that barbarian from Mikabel? Has he put forward unreasonable conditions?

“…Yes. How did you know?”

Edward laughed out loud. Galdur had never seen him so happy before.

– I had help from an assistant.

“An assistant? Have you perhaps won over the knights?”

– No, not that. Let me give you a hint: it’s a member of the imperial family.

Galdur’s expression changed at the mention of the imperial family.

There weren’t many who could be called members of the imperial family. The Emperor and Empress, the First Prince and Second Prince. And…

“Are you referring to the Princess?”

– That’s right.

Galdur’s expression became complicated at Edward’s words. While support from an ordinary princess would be good news, support from Aria specifically was a different matter.

Aria was famous among commoners for her unique character, but she was subtly ostracized by the nobility.

She was considered too inadequate for someone of imperial blood.

Not very bright, one might say.

‘It would be fortunate if she doesn’t provoke a backlash from the nobility.’

But Edward couldn’t possibly be unaware of this simple fact.

Galdur instinctively sensed there was something more hidden.

– I never knew Aria was hiding her abilities. I never imagined she had House Kraffen under her command!

“…Kraffen, you say?”

House Kraffen, one of the four great ducal houses.

They had amassed immense wealth through steady trade with the western archipelagos, incomparable to other houses.

They were known for their strong regional identity and for never involving themselves in the risky imperial succession struggles.

“Is that true? How on earth…”

For hundreds of years, countless heirs had appealed to Kraffen for support, but Kraffen had never once involved themselves in succession disputes.

But now that had changed.

– I don’t know either. But what matters is that we now have the support of one of the four great ducal houses. This means we’re no longer at a disadvantage in the power struggle against my brother!

Originally, the Second Prince had been at a disadvantage against the First Prince because House Krauch, which had supported him, lost power and declined due to the Princess Yekaterina incident. But with House Kraffen’s support, there would no longer be any problem.

– You just need to successfully complete the negotiations. Then the momentum will completely shift to our side!

Galdur unconsciously swallowed.

The pressure on his shoulders felt incomparably heavier than before.

“I will do my best, Your Highness Edward.”

– Ah, and one more thing. You can take this with a grain of salt.

“Please speak.”

– If that barbarian becomes a problem, go to the Wavemaster of Icail and tell her this: that we will protect Icail’s waters on better terms than the Eastern Alliance.

“…Pardon?”

The Wavemaster of Icail was known for her ferocity.

The number of ships she had sunk easily exceeded several hundred.

She was called Wavemaster, but she was more like a tyrant of the sea.

– Hahaha. Is it a bit much?

“Who suggested this?”

– Aria told me.

“The Princess said that?”

For a moment, Baldur was dumbfounded.

Did the Princess really believe she could sway the Wavemaster’s heart with just a few words?

– Still, there’s no harm in trying. That child Aria, she’s more intelligent than she appears. It feels as though she’s been hiding her abilities all this time. His Majesty, myself… even my brother was quite surprised.

“…To that extent?”

– I think it would have been quite troublesome if she had entered the succession struggle.

If Edward thought so, then Aria’s abilities were as good as proven.

But Galdur’s expression remained puzzled.

‘Then how did she persuade Kraffen?’

Even the current Emperor, known as the Iron-Blooded, had failed to persuade House Kraffen until just before ascending the throne.

But Galdur soon snorted.

If it wasn’t coincidence but skill, why had she hidden such remarkable abilities all this time?

– Anyway, if the negotiations stall, try going to Icail.

Edward said in a strange voice to Galdur, who was nodding without much thought.

– I hear the Wavemaster cares only for Icail. Not the Kingdom of Canis.

*****

Livga had been observing Olivia every day without fail since the day she collapsed.

She spent entire days by her side reading scripture, openly bestowing blessings, and even obtained the Pope’s permission to bring her into sacred grounds under the pretext of evangelism. But there had been no results.

Olivia was definitely human.

“…Livga? Isn’t it time you told me what this is all about?”

Livga kept her mouth shut.

The demon had been quiet so far, but she didn’t know when it might appear and slit Olivia’s throat.

She couldn’t forgive herself if Olivia got hurt because of her mistake.

– This is a competition. Whether you save her or I eat her.

The demon had clearly spoken that way.

Even for a great demon, it must be difficult to erode the mind of a human as powerful as a Grandmaster.

So it must have lost its body and was only parasitizing the mind.

That was when it happened.

“How warm.”

In an instant, as the touch turned cold, the atmosphere became tense.

Livga bit down hard on her teeth and pushed Olivia away.

That cursed face.

It was him.

[‘Saintess Livga’ activates ‘Falsehood Detection’!]

[‘Saintess Livga’ uses ‘Divine Barrier’!]

An enormous amount of divine power rose around Livga.

Her whole body tingled with raw hostility. However, mindful of the eyes around them, the divine power was precisely aimed only at Olivia.

Livga spoke through gritted teeth.

“…Asmodeus.”

At those words, Olivia simply responded with a smile. There was no need to explain when the other person was making assumptions on their own.

“Have you made any progress?”

Livga took a step back and regarded Olivia warily.

Demons were creatures that exploited emotional vulnerabilities.

According to her research, this one was among the most vicious of such demons.

‘I mustn’t waver.’

He had been unable to show himself for more than ten days.

That could only mean one thing.

‘He’s withering away too.’

Unable to break through Olivia’s strong will…

“I have made progress. I can control it to some extent now.”

“…Progress?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Before Livga could say anything, Olivia snapped her fingers.

[Currently spectating ‘Saintess Livga’.]

As the atmosphere changed instantly, Livga’s face visibly hardened.

No words were needed; her eyes said it all.

The person before her was definitely…

[Ending spectation.]

“How about that.”

“…!”

For a brief moment, one word dominated Livga’s mind.

Again, again, again…

Once more, the demon smiled coldly.

“Can you save her?”