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Volume 5 Chapter 1 Part 3

After saying that, Theo looked back at the Lords

「Besides, I also have my own pride. It’s up to you to decide if I’m worthy of being the leader of the Artuk Treaty or not, but at the very least I want to show you that I’m a Lord who’s worthy of Lord Lassic’s loyalty. If I won’t be able to do that, then I’ll subordinate myself to Lord Lassic. 」

「You said that you want to show it to us, but how do you intend to do that, exactly? 」

It was Moreno who asked that of Theo.

「Lord Theo is originally from Sistina… 」

Lassic has then clapped his hands together as if he just remembered something.

「When you became a Lord, you vowed to free the people of Sistina from the oppression of the notorious Rossini family and to pacify the Demonic Realms that are plaguing the island! 」

「That’s right. That’s why I chose Cornero to be my family name. 」

「Then how about fulfilling that oath? 」

Lassic made a proposal just as they planned before.

「You cannot decide about something like that so arbitrarily. We’re about to go to war with the Factory Alliance, remember? We don’t have the time to be attacking Sistina right now, and above all else, the Rossini’s, a family that is governing the island right now, are a part of the Fantasia Union, right? 」

The King of Clovis protested.

「Lord Alfred, you might not be aware of this, but at the Lord’s Conference which was held in Halusia, there was an attempted assassination of Alexis Ducet, the current leader of the Fantasia Union. As it turned out during the investigation that we conducted, the ringleaders behind that assassination attempt were the members of the Rossini family. 」

Lasik said. Although that information was never made public, it is now common knowledge in the shadows.

「I’ve heard that rumor. Pederico Rossini will never come back to the continent again because of it. 」

Serge nodded. Several other Lords also seemed to know that information.

「Lord Theo was also present at the scene of the assassination attempt when it happened. That is why even though Lord Theo has a perfectly valid reason to overthrow the Rossini family, he will never go to war with the Fantasia Union itself. 」

So you can rest assured, Lassic said while smiling at Alfred.

「However, in order to reach Sistina, we’d have to cross the strait where the maelstrom is generated. Because of that, travelling with a large force would be too dangerous, correct? 」

「I agree with you. 」

Theo nodded at the King of Clovis, and then turned to Lassic.

「And even if I defeat the Rossini family with a large force, it will not show my own power as a Lord. That is why I will not borrow the power of other Lords to help me achieve that goal, and I will carry out Lasik’s proposal alone, within a year. 」

Theo said the words he had prepared beforehand and made his Crest shine on the back of his hand as if he had made a pledge.

Most of the Lords, however, were more appalled than surprised. Several people, including the King of Clovis, were even laughing.

「Don’t force yourself to do something so unreasonable! 」

Someone shouted.

「True, this is certainly not going to be an easy task. But if I won’t be able to do at least that much, then I really won’t be able to show that I am someone who’s worth Lord Lassic’s loyalty. 」

Theo turns to the Lords and said that.

「Since it’s a matter between master and servant, I think it’s okay for Lord Lassic and Lord Theo to decide about that. 」

After clapping her hands twice, Edochia looked around at the other Lords.

「Is it okay for us to be witnesses to the promise between the two of you? So right now, we’ll have Lord Lassic acting as the leader of the Artuk Treaty, and if Lord Theo will fulfill his promise, it’d mean that Lord Lassic will subordinate himself to him. And when that happens – if that happens – we will just have to hold yet another meeting to discuss who should be the leader of the Artuk Treaty. At that time, I will officially recognize Lord Theo as our new leader. 」

The Queen of Haman said so with a perfect smile on her face. Many of the Lords did not seem entirely convinced, but no further objections were raised.

(Because no one expects Theo to succeed…)

Siluca knew that. If she was here by herself, she would’ve had no confidence that she would’ve succeeded.

(However, if we didn’t do this, the relationship between Lord Theo and Lord Lasik would become difficult. The unity of the Lords who had signed the treaty would also be shaken.)

For the time being, this will keep the region united under the leadership of Lassic.
However, if Theo manages to fulfil his promise, Lassic would become Theo’s subordinate Lord, and the leadership of the Artuk Treaty is also going to be moved from Lassic to Theo. But even if they do end up failing, the leadership of the Treaty is still going to remain with Lassic, so there is not going to be any problems on that front.

(Still… I don’t want to give Moreno-senpai any reasons to act smug around me because of it.)

That being said, even Moreno cooperated in today’s meeting as promised.

Some of the Lords and their Mages probably realized that there was a secret pact between Theo and Lassic, but nobody said anything because it hurts nobody. Some of them might’ve even saw that as Lassic refusing to be the leader and Theo withdrawing from the responsibility as well, because many of them probably thought that Theo was not being serious about crossing the sea and confronting the Rossini family at Sistina.

That is why every Lord who doesn’t believe in Theo’s success should be greatly surprised when he comes back triumphant. That, and Lassic is going to subordinate himself to Theo just like he promised.

From Siluca’s point of view, the friendship between Theo and Lassic was a genuine one, but the social standings of the both of them have grown so much that their problems were no longer just their own.

For the time being, the Artuk Treaty was signed, and they have decided on who their allies were going to be.

(Next time, we should finally discuss how to stop the invasion of the factory Alliance.)

Once its armies will regroup, the Factory Alliance is definitely going to attack once more. If they don’t do something to show them that they are tough, the Artuk Treaty and its members are going to be crushed in no time.

* * *

In the throne room of Castle Unicorn, Milza Kuches, the new governor of Artuk received reports from the warriors who became his subordinate Lords.

「…So the deadline for them to offer their servitude has passed, and yet none of the Lords do it? Not even a single one? 」

Milza said sullenly.

Although it was expected, Artuk’s Lords were determined to fight him with all their might. The people of their territories also seemed to be fully on their side.

「This castle and throne may be surrendered to you, but that doesn’t mean that Artuk itself has been defeated… 」

Milza remembered the last words spoken by Villar’s Head Mage during the previous battle. It almost seemed like it was a curse now.

「If they don’t want to obey you, you can just kill them… 」

One of his subordinates laughed.
Didn’t you conquer even Dartania, which is larger than Artuk, in a month? 」

「Watch your tongue! 」

Milza yelled involuntarily.

「This place is different from Dartania. The forests are deep and their topography is much more intricate. If you enter them without a guide, you’ll surely get lost. Our enemy has the land advantage, and they also have the support from the people. Don’t think things will go so easily for us here! 」

The other day, a subordinate Lord dispatched as a new ruler to a settlement not far from this castle was ambushed by the original Lord the very night he arrived there and lost his life. Less than ten of the two hundred soldiers he took with him there returned.

「M-My apologies! 」

Milza’s subordinates all hung their heads apologetically, but none of them seemed to have understood the real reason behind Milza’s outburst just now.

Dartania has a lot of dry land, and all settlements are concentrated around limited water sources.

A single raid there could be enough to defeat the hostile tribes.

However, Artuk’s Lords have abandoned their castles and are now hiding in the forests and mountains.