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Volume 5 Chapter 1 Part 1

Chapter 1: Treaty

The Lords who were serving the now deceased Vilar Constance, the Earl of Artuk had all gathered at Lassic David’s castle in Selvis.

There was bout fifty of them. Many of them were independent Lords in the ranks of Baron or higher, representing their respective regions.

This was a meeting to decide their policies for the future. Siluca was also present at the meeting along with Theo.

Theo’s current peerage has gone back to that of a Baron. In the previous battle, known as the Artuk Campaign, Theo defeated the army of Veltava that invaded the Forest of Eternal Darkness and stole the titles from several of its Lords. Afterwards, he joined up with Lassic, who has pacified Ozer, and controlled all of Veltava as a result.

The Lords of Ozer and Veltava were originally vacillating over whether to stay with Factory Alliance or join the Fantasia Union, and since they could not reach any sort of consensus their morale was pretty low.

However, Siluca thought that the victory that Theo and Lassic achieved was a significant one. If either of them had been completely defeated, today’s gathering might not have happened.

(But it’s all thanks to Lord Villar…)

In the Battle of Castle Unicorn, the Factory Alliance’s side also suffered heavy losses, with both the Heavy Knights of Waldrind and the Nord Fleet having to return to their territories to rebuild their armies. Vilar sacrificed himself to stop the Alliance invasion.

「…Is it all right for you to inherit Lord Villar’s will? 」

Moreno, the Head Mage of Lassic David and the moderator of this meeting, asked that of the Lords as a reminder. As expected, the tasteless decorations that he was usually wearing were removed for this meeting.

The Lords in attendance nodded their heads as if it went without saying.

「Then I would like you to sign the treaty. 」

Moreno raises the treaty text with the utmost dignity.

(The fact that he can still feel so casual about this is pretty impressive.)

Siluca murmured to herself.

The treaty was then signed by the present Lords one after another. Theo also signed it with his own signature of course.

「…The treaty has now been concluded. We shall call it the Artuk Treaty. 」

When Moreno declares, the hall resounds with applause.

「We are now the Lords of the Artuk Treaty… 」

Edochia Karaha, queen of Haman, looked around at the guests and said so.

In the previous battle, the Queen lost the 「Palace of the Sea」, the cannon that as onboard of it, and all of her lovers. However, she was still wearing a bewitching dress that exposed a lot of her skin, which was befitting of the name of the Immoral Queen. Maybe that was actually her mourning dress.

「So who is going to be the Leader of the Treaty? 」

The Queen’s words as she tilted her head instantly engulfed the entire hall with a heavy air. That is because that point is regarded as the most important and difficult issue that needs to be taken care of at this conference.

The gazes of the Lords moved busily from one Lord to the next.

「Isn’t Serge Constance, the younger brother of Earl Vilar of Artuk the most suitable person to be the leader? 」

Clovis’s King Alfred Shakes said after clearing his throat. Several Lords nodded at those words, since that claim made sense.

After the death of Villar, Serge became the head of the Constance family. He is also an Earl hailing from a prestigious family that has lasted for generations. He is a good ruler, and managed the nomads of Regalia, whose tribes were at constant war with each other, efficiently.

(However……)

Serge made a mistake in the previous battle and suffered a crushing defeat to the Heavy Knights of Waldrind because of it. He almost lost his life, but was saved by the help of Solon, the Theater King of Kirchs. However, Solon sacrificed himself so that Serge could escape to safety.

Yet despite that, many Lords still think that Serge Constance should be the leader of the Artuk Treaty, as it is certain that the battle with the Factory Alliance will surely continue in the future.

「I appreciate your kind words, but I can’t do it… 」

After waiting for everyone’s gaze to gather on him, Serge quietly shook his head.

「What? 」

The one who raised a voice that sounded like it was filled with anger was Baron Eugen Niklae, who was here as the representative of the independent Lords of Artuk.

「We the Lords of Artuk, wish that Lord Serge would take back the Castle Unicorn as soon as possible and become the new Lord of Artuk! 」

Despite the death of their Lord Vilar and many of the independent Lords, the allegiance of the Lords of Artuk remained with House Constance. Hoping for the legitimate Lord’s return, they didn’t respond to Milza’s call, and instead hid themselves in the forests and mountains and engaged in guerrilla warfare with Dartania. Due to their bravery, Dartania only manager to control a limited area of Artuk around Castle Unicorn.

「I also feel like that. I want to clear my brother’s regrets and take back my homeland, Artuk. However, whether or not I will become the leader of the treaty is a different matter entirely. 」

Serge clarified that to Eugen.

「If you want to take back Artuk as soon as possible, Lord Serge thinks that Earl Lassic David would be the most suitable leader. 」

Standing next to the Earl of Regalia, his contracted Mage Ellet Harukas spoke her words without hesitation. It seems that Serge was saved in the previous battle thanks to her quick wit and dedication.

(Ever since the time of Magic University, she was famous for being an oddball.)

Siluca got an impression that she was better at practice than theory. She didn’t know about her when she was at the Magic University herself, but ever since she became Theo’s contracted Mage, she has been made aware time and time again of how important and difficult magic in practice actually was.

(I should have her tell me various stories later.)

From the current situation between them, Ellet seemed to have gained Serge’s trust. From now on, she will have to keep in close contact with the rest of the Lords of the new treaty.

「I see, so that’s why you think Lord Lassic would be ideal… 」

While Alfred nodded, his face frowned slightly. He did not object, but it is an expression that also showed that he was not entirely convinced either.

Lassic’s father was a mercenary who was rumored to have taken over his Lord’s title and become a Lord himself because of it, so it could be said that he is far from being famous. That is why Alfred’s pride as the King of Clovis would not allow him to look up to such a Lord as the leader of the new power on the continent.

However, King of Clovis, perhaps considering his own position as a newcomer to the Fantasia Union, said no more.

(I do not think he expected this kind of situation at all.)

Dartania defected to the Factory Alliance, and Villar, who was the cornerstone of this region, was killed in action.

But right now, the King of Clovis should know that he will never be able to return to the Factory Alliance again, since the Alliance is known from their severe punishments towards those who betrayed them, a fact that should’ve been made very clear after what happened at Stark. That is why Siluca believes that Alfred and other Clovis Lords can be trusted.

「I think that Lord Lassic is the right person for this job. After all, he is the best fighter from among all of us. 」

Edochia smiled as she put her finger to his lips. She must’ve been intending to pick Lassic from the very beginning.

「I also think that Lord Lassic is the suitable one for this role… 」

Yorgo Dallaras, who inherited the title from Solon, agreed with the Immoral Queen.

Yorgo is still the greatest Lords of Kirchs, but he was unable to inherit his father’s title, so his own title less than that of a Viscount. Many if his father’s subordinate Lords also became independent as a result of Artuk’s invasion, and it was debatable if they would be willing to subordinate themselves to a Lord like him again or not. However, one thing was clear: that he would not actively try to actively seek their subordination. On the contrary, he said that as long as the leader of this new power would be decided, then he would subordinate himself to this new leader immediately.

Siluca heard that while Solon was a pessimistic idealist, his son Yorgo was his exact opposite: a pessimistic realist.