Chapter 413: Even the King of the Military State Can Stop If He Doesn’t Like It

Even though I had read her thoughts in advance, an absurd remark was still absurd.

There was no need to act, my voice was naturally filled with disbelief.

“A king? What? Who? Me? Why?”

“It’s the Military State!”

Hilde said cheerfully.

“The Military State is a nation of the masses without a king. It was built on the dream of ruling people solely with law and order so that no one could exploit others!”

“Well, that dream came true. In that damned country, there’s no one exploiting or ruling others  because everyone’s being exploited.”

“Haha~ As expected, someone who’s lived through it would know best. That’s right. It’s unfortunate~”

She helped make it that way and still called it unfortunate.

Hilde avoided my eyes and spoke innocently.

“But even if there’s no ruler, someone has to give directions, right~? Lately, we’ve been realizing that more and more, and just in time, you showed up, Father!”

“You want to use me as yet another tool? Not interested. What kind of king hides in a rat’s nest receiving communications? Go look for a King of Rats instead.”

I answered curtly. Meanwhile, Tyr smiled as she spoke.

“Hilde. The ‘King of the Military State’ you mentioned has not even appeared at the negotiation table yet.”

｢How sly, trying to negotiate as if Hu belongs to you. Now that Hu relies on the Duchy, he is as good as mine…｣

Excuse you?

I belong to no one but myself.

Being the Military State’s king might be better than becoming a vampire’s beloved pet.

I decided to leave a little room open for negotiation.

“What would I gain from becoming the King of the Military State? No luxuries, no good food, not even a soul to talk to. Being a citizen of the Duchy with free meat sounds way better than being a Signaller over there.”

Hilde widened her eyes in response.

“Were you really worried about that?”

“I’ve seen what life’s like over there. How could I not be?”

“There’s no way Father would be treated poorly, right? You’re the very ‘Arcane’ the Military State and ‘I’ have been desperately searching for!”

Her eyes sparkled in a lively rainbow hue as she looked at me.

Every time she acted, her eyes had one color, but now it was as if all colors were mixed together.

“The Military State has made a huge break with the Sanctum. You could say it’s your ally! Its Signaller System is organized and the intelligence is sharp. If you use the Military State’s structure, you could find the Divines you’re after more easily! You’d turn all that down?”

“No matter how useful it is, the quality of life matters. Staying as Tyr’s guest here gives me a life on par with a level-5 citizen.”

“Come now. Would I treat the King of Humans with only level-5 hospitality? If Father comes to the Military State…”

Hilde smiled sweetly and moved across the carriage to sit on my right.

Tyr was clearly displeased, but Hilde clung to me as if she didn’t notice and whispered.

“I’ll give you everything the Military State has.”

“Everything? Mind being a little more specific?”

She leaned forward and looked at Tyr sitting across from us.

As their eyes met and Tyr’s face stiffened, Hilde smiled like she was delighted, then leaned close to my ear and whispered again.

“Literally everything. The resources, the power, the knowledge, the systems. And… all the people there. Every. Single. One.”

“That does sound tempting, but can you even deliver on that? What if they refuse to be mine?”

“Oh, don’t say things you don’t mean~”

Still smiling, Hilde scooted closer and teasingly nibbled on my earlobe.

I let out a yelp at the unexpected move, yet she blew a breath into my ear as she continued.

“…A.B– no, Abbey and Historia, their hearts already belong to you~ They’ve deeply entangled themselves with the Military State—there’s no separating them anymore. You’d simply be reclaiming the seeds you planted, Father~ And to top it off, I’ll throw myself in too.”

Saying someone’s heart belongs to me like I put it on layaway or something.

I’m mine, and other people are theirs.

Still, the offer is interesting.

Being a guest of Tyr’s is nice, but as a human in a vampire country, I will always be forced to remain passive.

“Did you get permission for this?”

It was a jab at Yuel.

Even if she had turned against the Sanctum, the Saintess wouldn’t just hand me the nation she had created.

Though no subject was mentioned, Hilde picked up on my implication and grinned slyly.

“I don’t need permission. I’ll make it so.”

｢Sorry in advance, Yuel~ But you know your strength isn’t enough anymore, right? I’m sure you’ll understand ‘my’ choice, my dear Saintess.｣

Even Yuel, with her foresight, couldn’t peek into the inner parts of the Duchy.

There was no better place to plan a coup.

In any case, the proposal was quite enticing.

I uncrossed my arms, showing I was open to it.

“It sounds good? But I’m a little scared to do it alone. If Tyr lends me just one Elder, I think I could take the Military State completely.”

“A flawless plan! What do you think, Tyrkanzyaka? Feel like joining the negotiation table now~?”

Strictly speaking, I’m not even the King of the Military State.

Hilde’s words were no more than a promissory note—paying now with money she’s planning to borrow later.

Still, promissory notes often fly freely in this world.

What matters is whether you can pay, and even more, whether the receiver believes you can.

“…”

Tyr was silent, deep in thought.

And then, an unexpected voice chimed in.

“That’s the most delightful thing I’ve heard!”

Support came from a completely unforeseen direction.

Kavila, who had been listening all along, clasped her hands together and spoke in an excited voice.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard in a while! The Duchy of Mist should start building some external alliances too. Even if it sounds like some smooth-talking bum’s bluff, if even a fraction of it is true, it could be strategically and politically worthwhile.”

It was a little unsettling how sharply Kavila was glaring at me, but then she flashed a cute smile and said something that could’ve been either criticism or praise.

“If my sis’s consort just lazes around like a good-for-nothing, it doesn’t reflect well on her, does it? But if he carries the title of the Military State’s king, then that’s something worth looking at! Even a flea-bitten mutt gets a second glance when it’s wearing a crown!”

“Hu is my guest. That alone is enough.”

Tyr, who had been quietly listening, issued a low but firm warning.

“And that alone is reason enough for you to treat him with respect.”

It was a short and powerful warning.

Kavila immediately turned pale and fell to her knees.

She didn’t care if her dress wrinkled or got dusty—she bowed her head low to Tyr and pleaded.

“I-I’m so sorry, sis. I was just reflecting on what the world thinks! I never meant to mock or belittle the gentleman!”

Just like that, I’d gone from a bum to “gentleman.”

It was practically a revolutionary rise in status.

Maybe being the Progenitor’s guest isn’t so bad after all.

Even after her apology, Tyr remained silent, and Kavila nearly broke down in tears as she clung to Tyr’s feet.

“I truly apologize. I’ll atone for this however I must. I’ll do anything. If he goes to the Military State, I’ll help solidify his claim to the throne. Lord Hu, whatever you need—treat me like a subordinate, no, like a slave, and I’ll serve!”

Now it’s “Lord Hu”? I’m touched.

I was about to put that loyalty to work when Tyr stepped in first.

“I understand your intent. My anger has settled, so you no longer need to grovel before Hu.”

“…! Yes! Thank you, sister! I’ll repay your mercy without fail!”

Tch.

I was just about to take advantage of her, but Tyr went and blocked it completely.

She only ever wanted Tyr’s forgiveness anyway.

Once she got it, she lost any interest she had in me whatsoever.

Tyr, slightly relieved by Kavila’s behavior, thought to herself,

｢I cannot stand seeing any more women lingering around Hu. Kavila may be one of my Elders, but now that I have lost my Dominion, there is no telling what she might do.｣

In any case, with her mind now settled, Tyr calmly went over Hilde’s proposal.

Kavila’s words kept echoing in her head.

｢…Maybe it is better to empower Hu. It would benefit both of us. Here, he is just a consort—but if he is the King of Humans and of the Military State… then we would be on equal footing. Even a political marriage would be possible. A husband of mine should carry proper authority, after all.｣

Why this negotiation had ended up in fantasies of political marriage is beyond me.

This twelfth-century girl is still stuck in such outdated mindsets.

Why should the husband have authority?

Can’t I just laze around and be the househusband?

Let me have my freedom to marry into wealth.

｢But… I don’t want to send Hu away from my side just yet. Who knows what might happen if he is out of sight… Very well… I will accept the proposal but with conditions.｣

“So, what do you say, Tyrkanzyaka? Need more time? Don’t take too long. We humans don’t have that much time, you know?”

“No. I have decided.”

Tyr, having sorted out her thoughts, raised her head and straightened her posture.

Just that small adjustment brought back her lost dignity as the Progenitor.

“It is not a bad offer, but if I’m to lend my strength, we must also gain something in return. I will attach conditions for my help. First—”

Tyr raised her index finger as she spoke.

“Until the trial regarding Luscynia’s death is concluded, you shall remain at Plenilune Castle and assist me. The Duchy is in disarray due to the Elder’s death and until the chaos is settled, I will not make any formal declarations.”

The death of an Elder was no small matter in the Duchy of Mist.

Beyond being a murder, no one even knows how an immortal Elder was killed.

Prioritizing internal stability made sense.

“And second—”

Tyr took my hand and stated the second condition.

“Use your power, Hu, to restore my senses. That is the condition for receiving our aid.”