Chapter: 258
*
Rewinding time for a moment, at Isabelle’s mansion. This was just before the soldiers barged in to apprehend Isabelle.
After a few days of rest, the party gathered at Isabelle’s house as usual. It was due to the notification that there would be guidance regarding future schedules and operational plans.
As was revealed from the past situation, the demon army’s operation was close to a feint. The real intention behind the terror aimed at Frechenkaya was nothing less than to target Drovian.
Einar raised his hand urgently to Ivan, who was summarizing the situation.
“U-Uncle. Then we should leave right now…”
“It’s difficult until Elizaveta arrives.”
Without the permission of the 2nd Legion in Krasilov, the dwarves, and Elizaveta, they could not carry out the next operation. Losing either Drovian or Krasilov at this moment would make waging war against the demon army impossible.
In the current situation, they were effectively the only military force of the United Kingdom.
Assuming the 1st Legion has been crushed, or at least a situation equivalent to that occurring at the border end of the northern front, if the 2nd Legion and Elizaveta are absent, Krasilov’s situation is close to being at the mercy of the wind.
As the head of the Counterintelligence Command and (unofficial) family member of the royal family of Krasilov, Ivan could not leave Frechenkaya immediately.
This city was in a state of complete paralysis administratively and militarily. Even now, Ivan had been staying up for several nights, barely finding time.
Most of the administrative officials had died or disappeared, and the military was rushing to evade responsibility. If another incident occurred before the system was restructured under the king’s command, Frechenkaya could face the same fate as ‘Jan’s University.’ That meant shutting down operations.
And that responsibility lay with him… Elizaveta had led the Legion south because she worried for his safety.
“I cannot leave this city until Elizaveta returns and organizes the northern front. And…”
“What happens if I send these kids out alone in haste?”
Ivan calmly surveyed his party. Of course, they could now be called a proper Hero Party. If the right environment was established, their strength could potentially counter the Seven Dragon Lords.
While he could not guarantee victory, it was still a possibility.
However, regardless of that, they needed scouts. Even with Lucia present, scouting abilities were proportional to experience. A point would inevitably arrive where sheer capability could not resolve the issue.
Even in their time, the Hero Party did not set out to assassinate the Seven Dragon Lords and the Demon King alone. A guide to pave the way and give direction was absolutely necessary.
Moreover, if they win, will that be the end? No. Ivan needed to personally acquire all the Seven Dragon Lords. He could not let their curses be bestowed upon these kids.
And if there is one more thing he believes in:
“Einar is not the kind of man to fall under this kind of crisis.”
“Uncle…”
“Trust your father. If you and I are dead, then the battlefield where lives are at stake is indeed at risk, Einar will never fall.”
If it’s a crisis that two or three people can save, Einar will not die. And if it’s a situation where Einar has no choice but to die, it cannot be resolved with just two or three people’s power.
Ivan comforted Ecdysis.
“Oscar, go to Tylesse.”
“Yes?”
“Summon the Eastern Knights and gather troops.”
Tylesse had entrusted most of its national defense power to Krasilov. Officially, Tylesse did not have a national system that remained to deploy troops abroad.
However, that did not mean Tylesse was on the verge of collapse. They were dedicating resources to maintain military strength for territorial recovery.
No matter how much civil war they had experienced, Tylesse was still a great power. The resilience left in the country of knights could not be exhausted by just one war.
The only person who could persuade them to provide military support was Oscar. Considering that the Etarique family essentially governs Tylesse now, Oscar’s word could rally the knights.
And.
“Elpheira. Go to Kalion.”
“Wh-What?”
“Call Edel Cohenulf. We need to request the deployment of at least a minimum number of elves.”
Kalion was already in a fragmented state. The royal family that would unite them was no longer present, and the swordsmanship faction, which had been on the moderate side, had been completely obliterated.
However, Kalion still ruled the sea. Not as a single nation ruling over one ocean, but as dozens of separate maritime areas divided into various school factions.
Even at this moment, the center of marine trade was the Kalion Archipelago. They had lost most of their aerial battleships, yet they still retained the world’s strongest naval power.
If they could secure even some of them, their chances of success would increase dramatically.
What’s important is not Einar’s survival. It’s about maintaining the national system of Drovian and preventing the preemptive strike from escalating into war.
Now that they knew the enemy’s grand strategy aimed at “removing Einar through a preemptive strike,” it would not be difficult to formulate subsequent plans.
“Lucia will support the northern front alongside Elizaveta, and the rest—”
“Eugene, Yuri, Ecdysis, Isabelle.”
“You all will accompany me to Drovian. Any questions?”
“Are we going to fight the demon army as soon as we arrive in Drovian, brother?”
“No. First, we need to procure the Yarl troops. The number of troops Einar can mobilize is limited, and if the situation becomes critical, the Yarl will not willingly provide military support to Einar.”
All Drovian men were ambitious. The Yarl are those who once ruled the region as kings. Would such men truly pledge their loyalty to Einar with sincerity, less than a generation later?
That would be impossible, even in a feudal state. Moreover, Drovian was a country that could not distinguish between feudalism and democracy. Both were meaningless.
Whether through threats or overwhelming force, they would extract troops. If “some threat” had struck Einar and that threat was potent enough to kill Einar, it could only be countered with military power at the legion level.
Listening to Ivan’s explanation, Ecdysis cautiously spoke.
“However, um… Most people from other countries don’t really understand the Yarl… In fact, they’re not the kind of people who just listen to what someone tells them to do.”
“Mm?”
“Especially not when a foreigner shows up and tries to talk to them; they won’t listen, and I’m not my father. If I just go and tell them to provide troops, they won’t listen…?”
Contrary to common misconceptions, the people of Drovian were quite cunning.
When a person weak in power comes, the Yarl will ignore them, and when someone stronger appears, they will shout about laws and rules.
In Drovian culture, Ecdysis does not have the authority to command the Yarl. That right is only granted to Einar. And Ivan does not have the right to challenge the Yarl. That right is only granted to the people of Drovian.
So, with this party configuration, there was no way to subjugate the Yarl.
As Ivan fell silent for a moment, Eugene suddenly started to laugh ominously.
“I have a brilliant idea, brother.”
“What is it?”
“It’ll require the understanding of Miss Isabelle and Miss Elpheira, but…”
Eugene chuckled as he continued.
“The problem here is that non-Drovian bloodlines have no right to challenge, and the only one of Drovian lineage, Miss Ecdysis, has no chance of winning against the Yarl, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then that means you, brother, are confident that you can win every challenge, right?”
“If it’s a duel, yes.”
“Surely no Yarl or that great warrior would be stronger than Edel Cohenulf.”
“Then the solution is simple! You just need to become of Drovian bloodline!”
“Mm…?”
“Marry Ecdysis!”
“…??”
A moment of silence passed, and as the party slowly began to understand Eugene’s words, their heads snapped up.
“What…?! Are you joking? I… I don’t understand… I don’t get it.”
“So you need permission from Bella and Elpheira… Then why don’t you ask for my permission! Why am I already out?!”
“That’s actually a great idea!!”
Ecdysis nodded vigorously, looking at Ivan. Ecdysis, glancing at some of the party members with a slight smile.
“Well, it might ruin my future, but… this is a duty of the Hero Party… Uncle, it’s fine!”
“Hey, get your hands off. I can see you’re smiling!!”
“I’m having a hard time keeping up with this flow. Lord Yeremov, I will stand up first. It’s a long way to Tylesse.”
“Hey!! You think of leaving when your childhood friend is in this terrible state? The Hero Party must help the hero!”
“Bella, one must seize their own love. Shall I feed it to you?”
Oscar sighed and left. The party’s gaze turned to Ivan.
Ivan slowly surveyed the group and began to calculate. He was already aware of Isabelle and Elpheira’s feelings. He aimed to maintain a relationship that was neither too close nor too distant.
In contrast, Ecdysis… yes, she had maintained a boundary typical of an uncle and niece, and she had many uncles of a similar type. That familiarity might be why.
In other words, the only ‘uncle’ she could lean on in this foreign land was just him. And considering the urgent situation, it was no time to bother with trivial ‘social norms’.
So, it might have to be this way.
If this matter ended, Ecdysis’s reputation would be significantly damaged. The fact that she was engaged to another man would effectively be announced to the whole world. It would be impossible to hide that while pressuring the Yarl.
Unlike him, as an aristocrat in this primitive pre-modern society, the sacrifices Ecdysis would have to endure would be immense. She was saying that she wanted to save her father even if it meant bearing that burden.
Then there was no room for hesitation.
Elizaveta, being a wise ruler, would certainly understand this. Both she and Elizaveta were not those who would be concerned about social perception when developing their strategies.
It was an exceedingly rational and logical judgment. There was nothing to criticize.
Ivan could only nod heavily.
“Then let’s prepare according to that plan.”
“We did it!!”
“Wow, my head… my head hurts so much. Eugene, stay after it’s over. I’ll have to send you to the Lord today.”
“Hmph, after all, humans. In 50 years, they’ll be old and sickly. Have fun while you can.”
“As a side note, vampires live forever.”
“Lucia, shut up. Before I exorcise you.”
*
“…that is the plan. Your Majesty, I will cross over as Einar’s consort to gather troops. Please grant me permission.”
“Do you think you can grant it… grant it yourself? Ugh…!!”
Elizaveta suddenly collapsed, unable to bear the shock. She whispered with constrained moans.
“Without even giving a name to the child in my womb… is it right to… to marry again? Aah, Grandfather… what on earth did you leave behind…??”
With eyes looking at the writhing manifestation of chaos, Elizaveta trembled as she looked down at Ivan.
“Rather… rather cut your own throat!! The man you chose for your first and last will be such a rogue… I can no longer trust my own judgment!!”
“Your Majesty.”
Ivan looked up at Elizaveta solemnly. It was true that early pregnancy symptoms could bring about mood swings approaching mania.
Indeed, this was a fact already proven by 21st-century health knowledge. In this primitive world, there was no concept of hormones, but in the era he lived, such information could be learned in elementary school sex education.
What would have been fully acknowledged and passed over in usual circumstances—a highly valid and reasonable plan—was now being denied by Elizaveta in the false feelings created by hormones.
Sadly, the only one who could save Drovian now was none other than him. Even the extremely prudent monarch could not understand him.
Then there was no choice.
A well-trained agent always performs proof rather than explanation. The result invariably affirms the process.
Ivan deeply bowed and took his leave.
“I will prepare a report on the details of the operation overview in writing for submission.”
“Stop… stop right there, Vanka. My words haven’t finished yet… To have a royal decree wanted to marry foreign royalty, if that’s proclaimed quicker than my wedding, what will happen to my honor…!!”
“I shall call for the court physician. Please take care of your health.”
“Don’t pretend to be loyal! You disloyal—!!”
Ivan carefully closed the door of the court and left. The hard parts were all done now. Everyone had accepted it, and it was time for action.
The next day, the Hero Party left Frechenkaya.
*
