Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter Pr

Prologue

Below the mountains, the sun began to set as the waves peacefully flowed, and a flock of seabirds gathered. Merchant ships with white sails pushed through the ocean, aiming for the port. Fishermen operated small fishing boats and cast their nets into the sea to earn their daily keep.

The various colors of the sunset dyed the sea near the mundane, peaceful, ordinary port town. However, some held opposing feelings as they looked at the idyllic view.

A sinister red... No, a crimson or a vermilion... Some may even say scarlet. No matter how you put it, it’s certainly a color that makes you tense, thought Akitake Sudou, feeling no need to elaborate as he set foot in a room.

The sunset shone into the room through the window, resembling the color of blood and burning flames. There was a saying that red leaves were like flames, and one could say the same about the sun’s evening glow. It wouldn’t be surprising if one thought the spark of war engulfed the world outside the window. Unlike the flames of red leaves, the spectacle lacked something to make the viewer marvel at it. Death and an indescribable foreboding were present. For some reason, the room generated the sense of being on a battlefield, the air laden with the scent of blood and iron.

Still, I must say that the color shining through does suit her...

His eyes reflected the scene of a woman lying on a bed. If she dressed up, none could match her beauty, and her elegant features showed she was of noble birth. Her shimmering silver hair was evidence of her relation to the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, which held dominion over a third of the eastern region of the western continent. The woman belonged to an elite class, of which only twenty people existed in the western continent. She had both beauty and power, something which many coveted. Sudou wondered if it was okay to consider himself chosen by God to have such a favor before him.

Yet there was an ominous atmosphere around the woman. Something was captivating about her—a shadow behind her beauty.

This is the perfect scene for her. Perhaps her presence in this room makes the sunset feel so ominous...

The woman who stood between life and death was scared, angry, and regretful. It was clear from the anguish that colored her face. A humble room did not suit this woman. And it also raised the question of what a woman of such nobility and status was doing in the southern part of the Kingdom of Brittantia. That was especially the case since they were in a cheap, run-down inn room in the backstreet of Birminghen, enduring this nightmare.

Naturally, there was only one reason for it.

Lupis Rhoadserians... The woman was robbed of Pireas. Now she’s a pitiful ruler with nowhere to go. It is the perfect setup for a light novel or manga. Sudou’s lips twisted sarcastically.

Japanese people were fond of rooting for the underdog, like in the tale of Minamoto Yoshitsune, whose older brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, had ostracized him. They had a weakness for tales where nobility fell from grace. Thus, the situation that Lupis had found herself in resonated with a Japanese person like Sudou.

A hero, brought in from another world, would probably sympathize with her and strive to help her recapture her kingdom. Sudou exhaled as he allowed such whimsical fantasies to fill his mind. He was aware that there was zero chance of that happening. In reality, Ryoma Mikoshiba would play the role of the summoned hero...

He had devised many plans to ensure that wouldn’t happen.

But life is really unpredictable. She probably brought this on herself, but I still find myself sympathizing with her as she lies there. And I can’t say I don’t share some responsibility.

When the previous civil war ended, the consequences became the cause of the anxiety hidden away in Lupis’s heart. Sudou was the one who had driven Ryoma Mikoshiba to the barren land of the Wortenia Peninsula. If one were to dig deeper, one would find that Sudou was also the one who had come up with the idea of dispatching Ryoma to the Kingdom of Xarooda, causing a definite rift between Queen Lupis and Mikhail.

Moreover, Sudou had plenty to do with Lupis’s current predicament. He looked at her with a hint of sadness, something easy to do as the victor in the situation. Was it hypocritical of him? Or was it genuine?

Those who knew Akitake Sudou would say hypocrisy or determine it was his pervasive sarcasm. Their judgment would be correct and incorrect. The person in question had yet to reach his conclusion. Sudou could not understand the inner workings of his mind as human feelings were complicated and mysterious, often full of contradictions.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on them...

Since Sudou was ruthless and cold-blooded, he would do even the most inhumane things to his enemies. That didn’t mean he harbored no humane feelings, though. If anything, he was more compassionate than the average person, but he rarely showed that side of himself. The problem lay in the fact that the targets of that compassion were severely limited, and there was rarely a time when his emotions confused his decisions.

Plus, I did go out of my way to save her.

Lupis Rhoadserians was still useful and was the perfect trigger for war in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. If Sudou were to launch an operation against the nobles of Rhoadseria or if the O’ltormea Empire were to invade Rhoadseria, the mere existence of this woman would cause people to rally. That was why Sudou even used a long-distance transportation thaumaturgy spell, which used a lot of prana, to bring her to the inn. Sudou had already harnessed a large amount of prana.

Ordinary thaumaturgy users could easily use large-scale thaumaturgy; however, it would exhaust them entirely in one single use. Reaching the banks of the River Thebes would have still proved difficult. Although, with enough thaumaturgists, it would be possible to have a continuous chain of them casting the spell. Only a limited number of thaumaturgists could cast a transportation spell from the center of the Rhoadseria to Birminghen, a central trade hub between the Kingdom of Tarja and the Kingdom of Brittantia. Even if one were to scour all the western continent in search of those who would be able to cast such a spell, it wouldn’t be a very high number.

The amount of prana used for teleportation thaumaturgy depends on the distance that needs to be covered. Fortunately, this old body of mine could handle it.

Of course, Sudou was jesting with his mention of “old body.”

The thaumaturgical difficulty increased if the user had to transport a third party along with them. It was only natural since they would not have enough prana to execute the spell or the ability to control it. Depending on the talent of the caster, it wasn’t uncommon that casting such a spell would render them immobile because it was harsh on the mind and body.

Should the technique fail, the thaumaturgist might have to atone for it with death. Thus, Sudou’s use of such risky and high-cost magic was not an act of goodwill.

I can’t do a lot right now, but having a few options is nice.

The most important thing to consider when materializing plans was to ensure there were various options. Even a card that one thought useless could become incredibly powerful, depending on time and circumstance.

For Sudou, he only had one option at present. He knew he had nothing to gain from pity as he approached Lupis’s side.

Of course, this all depends on whether we can keep her alive.

After Sudou confirmed her breathing and pulse, he soaked a towel in a washbasin on top of a shelf. He then tightly wrung the towel before using it to wipe the sweat from Lupis’s forehead.

I need to ask Saria later for a change of bandages.

Bandages covered all of Lupis’s body. Her wounds were so severe that the blood had leaked through the bandages in some places. A deadly poison also coursed through her body, leaving her soaked in sweat. Sudou should have wiped her all over and changed her bandages. Even though he was usually brash, he hesitated to do all of that with an unconscious, unmarried woman. After all, she was the queen of a nation. For how bold he was, it was still hard to do.

Despite everything, I shouldn’t be so wet behind the ears that I mind doing something like that. I guess I shouldn’t do it. If they caught me, it would put my honor on the line.

Sudou wanted to avoid being labeled a pervert by the women in the Organization. Plus, Lupis Rhoadserians was far from Sudou’s type. He found her beautiful, but she was too young and fragile for him. Instead, he preferred a mature woman with more experience—and much more filled out in places.

I’d never be able to explain that to a woman.

Sudou would find it impossible to use that as the grounds for his defense if caught. If this were a battlefield instead, he would have no qualms about stripping someone naked, no matter who they were. He would deal with them as he saw fit.

No one would mind if this situation were an emergency during a mission for the Organization. Doctors took women’s clothes off when performing medical treatment, and they never hesitated to do so. Although this inn was under the management of the Organization, they mainly used it for everyday activities. Lupis had already undergone all the treatment possible, and her survival was now a matter of stamina and fortitude. The appropriate person to change the bandages was out on business. Even though Sudou understood it would be a while before they would return, he didn’t need to do such an immoral act that he could face criticism.

When considering his connection to Lupis, it was clear that he should avoid anything that could lead to unnecessary trouble.

That, and there’s also Lupis’s personality to consider. Even though I saved her, she’s the kind to have a grudge over the most trivial things.

He had rescued her from disappearing into the River Thebes. Anyone who would have done so would say that she should still be thankful and have no grounds for complaints, even if they had seen her unclothed.

Regardless, some people in this world couldn’t think of it that way. From Sudou’s perspective, there was a high chance that Lupis Rhoadserians was one of those very people. She had an astonishing amount of pride and a warped sense of entitlement. Even people from modern society in Japan could get sued when performing lifesaving actions, so there was hesitation to use an AED on the opposite sex. It was fundamentally the same situation. No issues would emerge when removing a woman’s clothes to save her. Or at least, that was the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s official stance on it. Acting with the precondition of no ill intent should have been enough to avoid a lawsuit.

The issue was that it depended on how the victim viewed it. If they believed the treatment to be sexual, then they might sue on those grounds. The police would have to accept it, as was written in Article 63 of the Criminal Investigation Code, should the victim press charges. Whether it would go to trial was a different matter. But the police wouldn’t have accepted a complaint they could not turn into a criminal case. A human rights lawyer or similar people who might intervene could compel them to take the complaint, leading to an investigation and confirmation of the details.

As a result, a person would have to explain everything to the police no matter how well-meaning they were or if they tried saving another’s life. If one couldn’t declare their innocence, they might get prosecuted for their actions.

In modern society, one was innocent until proven guilty and would be under suspicion. It was normal that some people didn’t think that way. Being prosecuted could damage a person’s life. Putting aside whether one could win or have the funds to afford the lawsuit in the first place, the main thing to consider was the difference between civil and criminal trials. Civil trials had a generally lower hurdle when it came to establishing the truth of a situation.

Hence, some people thought not getting involved when someone was in danger made more sense. Especially considering that they risked being sued if they helped a stranger. It was a natural conclusion to reach. One’s conscience might nag them to do the right thing, but since being sued could affect one’s family, it might be safe to assume no one would be against ignoring one’s nagging conscience. Sudou’s current state of mind might have been similar to that of a modern man in Japan who felt grief.

While I can’t say this for sure, just thinking back on everything caused by Ryoma Mikoshiba and this woman... The wise decision would be to avoid needless danger. She seems to have stabilized for now.

Not everything that had transpired between Ryoma Mikoshiba and Lupis Rhoadserians came about from who she was as a person. From a political standpoint, they couldn’t avoid coming into conflict. There were even cases where it could be said she had made the right decisions based on how things worked in this world. Perhaps the future of Rhoadseria might have been very different if Lupis had been a capable queen.

Even though I wouldn’t say she’s arrogant, she does have a high level of pride for a royal. 

That remained true even though Ryoma Mikoshiba had forced her to flee Pireas. Her status and pride as a royal was probably the only thing she had after losing her close aide, Meltina. Absolutely zero possibility existed that Lupis would be calm at the idea of an unknown, commoner man seeing her naked.

Worst-case scenario, she may even choose death over that. 

Lupis would need an uncommonly strong will if she were to decide to live in her current situation.

Not to mention, she was royalty.

To clear oneself of any shame, it wasn’t unheard of for a member of the royal family to choose an honorable death.

Suicide wasn’t always the answer, but many people would rather die than continue to live in their idea of hell. Sudou couldn’t disregard the fact that once she awoke and realized the gravity of her situation, she might take extreme measures. Thus, he decided it was the wiser option not to do something that could further increase that risk.

They hit her with a rod shuriken laced with poison. A shuriken often has poison, so that part wasn’t surprising. It just means he was out for blood, or at least the assassin he sent was. Either way, does this mean he also reached his limit?

Ninjas famously used shuriken, which were not normally lethal weapons, but a more experienced ninja could aim for a person’s vital areas and kill them.

That said, a shuriken would only be effective over a ten-meter distance. Any further would make it hard to deal lethal damage, even if it cut the skin. Shurikens excelled in portability, and one could fire them in quick succession. However, other ranged weapons, such as bows and guns, were better due to their range and being more lethal.

Therefore, it was common for ninjas to douse their shurikens with poison.

Shiho shurikens or happo shurikens were a style of shuriken with several small blades attached. Both were easier to throw and more likely to inflict harm on an enemy since their purpose was to administer poison directly into the target. Judging from that, rod shurikens were better at penetrating when doused in poison, which made them even more deadly than the other kinds of shuriken. It seemed safe to assume Ryoma Mikoshiba held murderous intent toward Lupis.

Anyone would say this looks like Ryoma Mikoshiba wishes for Lupis Rhoadserians’s death. Sudou looked at the woman lying in front of him. Considering her wounds and the strength of the poison, it would have been tough to deny that Ryoma wanted her dead.

But... Is that really the case here? 

Ryoma Mikoshiba wouldn’t try to kill someone in such a roundabout way. On the off chance he used shurikens, he would go for the killing blow, decapitate them, and take their head as proof.

However, at that time, they were...

Sudou had used thaumaturgy at the time of the attack to observe from afar. From what he could see, the assailants had no intention of retrieving Lupis’s body. After confirming that she had sunk to the bottom, they immediately retreated.

They probably assumed there was no chance Lupis could have survived. But it wouldn’t be simple to rescue her based on the volume of the water in the River Thebes.

It seemed the ninjas had retrieved Meltina’s body and had made a swift retreat to avoid witnesses, which was not a bad call to make.

However, that didn’t dispel the unease Sudou felt. He heaved a deep sigh as he looked at Lupis’s face.

The situation felt like a maze with no exit. There was no way for Sudou to know the best course of action. But as a result of Sudou and the others’ devoted care, the sleeping princess awoke a few days later.

†

It was a night without moonlight.

Lupis Rhoadserians woke up in a dark room on top of a hard bed.

My throat... she thought.

Her eyelids felt heavy, and her vision was blurred. She had no strength in her muscles, barely able to breathe, let alone move, without her whole body screaming out as a dull pain flowed through her. Something she could be sure of was that her consciousness was crystal clear. The first thing she felt was severe thirst.

“W-W-Water...” was the first thing she said.

Currently, she didn’t care where she was and only thought about her desire to wet her dry throat. Usually, as the ruler of a country, a waiting maid would have tended to her. It would be a simple task for her to have water brought to her. Now, she was a queen of ashes, with no one by her side. Thus, no one could hear her ask for water.

However, someone soon granted her wish. A light suddenly illuminated the dark room, followed by the voice of a young woman.

“Please wait a moment.” A woman stood up from a chair near the bed. She then picked up a spout cup from a bookshelf near Lupis’s bed pillow. “Here you are.”

The woman brought the cup near Lupis’s mouth. It tasted like the sweetest nectar, more delicious than any luxury tea or liquor. The cool liquid soaked its way into Lupis’s dehydrated body.

“Thank you...” said Lupis, although unable to speak clearly.

The woman lightly nodded in response.

“Where am I? Are you the one who rescued me?” asked Lupis. It seemed she had realized what was happening as her voice became clear and serene. Although Lupis didn’t have the talents of a politician, she had received the best education in the land. She still carried herself in a manner befitting of a monarch, albeit a former one. Her pronunciation and tone remained smooth despite her inability to speak well, perhaps thanks to hydrating her throat. Moreover, she wore a vigilant, tense, and ever so slightly stiff expression. After all, Lupis could only remember being attacked and falling into the river. She also recalled Meltina Lecter’s frantic demeanor, her face covered in blood. Lupis was all too aware that there was no chance that Meltina would have survived those severe wounds.

That means someone else other than Meltina rescued me, but...the question is, who was that?

Lupis had an understanding of the situation she was in. As someone had attended to her wounds, she could at least conclude these were not the assassins who sought to take her life. That didn’t mean they were allies.

She wondered who the woman standing before her was. Her first priority was confirming her identity.

She may be a spy from the southern kingdoms or O’ltormea.

There was also a chance that she could be an unrelated third party who had found Lupis on the brink of death and saved her. The likelihood of that kind of luck was one in a million. Rather than assuming it was mere coincidence, Lupis started to think her rescue was intentional. As it would happen, her concerns were spot-on.

“I could see some light coming from the room, so I came to check on you. I see you’ve woken up. That’s a relief.” A relaxed male voice echoed through the room.

Lupis looked in the direction of the voice. Her eyes widened in surprise, as she spoke the man’s name through gritted teeth.

“Sudou Akitake... It’s you...” she uttered.

She sounded surprised as well as angry and suspicious. That was the expected reaction since Akitake Sudou was an enigmatic man, neither friend nor foe.

They had exchanged words before, when he had presented Lupis with a plan to help her out with a difficult situation. She didn’t think he did it out of the goodness of his heart.

No... In fact...

Lupis understood there had been a shift in responsibility. Despite Sudou’s intentions, Lupis Rhoadserians had the final say. At the time, Lupis and her vassals had no real reason to reject Sudou’s plan because it was the most appropriate. Even though it had backfired in the end, it would be unfair to question who was ultimately responsible for that failure. It was a whole different story whether Lupis truly accepted that burden. She understood that but could not separate her responsibilities and failings, which was one of her biggest drawbacks.

As if Sudou sensed Lupis’s innermost thoughts, he displayed his usual arrogant smile as he approached the bed.

“Thank you, Saria,” said Sudou before looking at Lupis again, then shifting his gaze back over to Saria. “Could I ask you to make something for Lady Lupis? I apologize for asking this of you so late, but maybe some easy-to-digest soup would be nice.”

He was mindful that Lupis hadn’t eaten for days due to her being unconscious. However, that probably wasn’t the only reason he had asked for that.

Sensing Sudou’s intentions, Saria nodded lightly. She bowed toward Lupis, then quickly left the room. When he confirmed she was gone, Sudou turned around to face Lupis.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty. I’m unsure if our meeting like this is fate or some form of irony.” Sudou laughed, yet Lupis felt rage boiling within her.

“So, why did you save me? What are you after?” responded Lupis, aware this was not the place to raise her voice. She kept calm, even if she appeared like she had just eaten a bitter-tasting bug.

“Now, now, what unprecedented words. I put my life at risk trying to rescue you.” Had someone ignorant of the situation listened to him, they would think it was a laudable statement. But it was obvious how far removed from the truth it was, making Lupis not believe anything he’d said.

“Am I expected to believe that? Do you think I am that stupid?” questioned Lupis.

Sudou shrugged in response because he knew that Lupis didn’t trust him. He had somewhat predicted Lupis’s reply but was also taken aback by it.

Well, she has been through a lot up until now, thought Sudou. She has probably matured a great deal from that. I’ve heard many reports about her from the Organization’s spies. Now that I’m talking with her, I see what they meant.

Sudou considered Lupis Rhoadserians as a likable person, yet a mediocre ruler who lacked any qualities suitable to be a politician. That was an analysis of what he had heard from others and from speaking with her. One could say Sudou’s judgment was precisely correct.

For better or worse, Lupis was an ordinary person with no special talents. That made her wholly unqualified to be a ruler in this war-torn land. Even though she had failed at being ruler, that did not mean she had failed at being human. Lupis Rhoadserians was good-natured for a person belonging to the continent’s ruling class. At least she never imposed high taxes on the people of the country to fund her lavish lifestyle and had attempted to complete her tasks as a politician. Many could regard her indecisiveness as thoughtfulness, and her leniency toward her family members as a show of compassion. Depending on how you viewed her drawbacks, they could seem more like merits. If Lupis were a commoner instead of a nation’s ruler, she might have had a peaceful life surrounded by loved ones. Even though she had broken her original promises as a monarch, she upheld her agreements with mercenaries. Such a decision would have been unthinkable for a politician, especially if they found themselves in a disadvantageous position such as Lupis was back when she ruled.

Had another ruler of the western kingdoms tried to hold their ground against Ryoma Mikoshiba, he would have chased them into an even worse situation, mused Sudou.

Ryoma and his comrades might have first come before Lupis as enemies, and even if he had negotiated his way out of it, one couldn’t imagine that Lupis would fight for Ryoma and the others’ innocence with the guild. Ryoma and the others could have very well been executed once they had played their part and were no longer useful. If anything, relegating Ryoma to the Wortenia Peninsula might have been a suitable punishment since it was a feared place overrun by monsters. But that did not change the fact that he was gifted land. That resulted from Sudou using Lupis’s guilt for his benefit while doubling up as a display of her good nature.

To put it simply, Lupis was a good person.

There was currently no longer any trace of that good nature left within Lupis. Instead, a spark of distrust blossomed in her eyes.

As expected, it’ll be harder to convince her I mean well. If I keep my intentions to myself, she’ll be more stubborn, thought Sudou, choosing to be honest with Lupis.

He paused for a moment.

“Well, naturally, I have various expectations,” he said.

“I expected as much.” replied Lupis. Sudou nodded in response. Then, a cold smile crept on Lupis’s face as she asked her next question. “What use am I to you now? I’ve lost my throne, Meltina, and Mikhail.”

The question came from Lupis’s heart, yet it was contradictory. Even though she had accepted she was no longer of use, she knew that Sudou didn’t save her with only good intentions in mind. She harbored somewhat of a self-deprecating feeling.

This is rather complex, he noted, not wanting to point the contradiction out. He would gain nothing from pushing Lupis’s mind into further turmoil. Thus, Sudou told Lupis why he saved her.

“Please do not worry about that. You may not be of any use right now, Your Majesty. However, that does not mean that will forever be the case. I guess you could say you’re more of an investment with a possible risk of not paying off,” related Sudou.

Lupis cocked her head in confusion before displaying a wry smile, understanding Sudou’s aim. He was incredibly to the point, but she sensed he was telling the truth.

“I see... Then, you’ll be waiting for a while to see that pay off,” responded Lupis.

“You cannot even get out of bed yet, Your Majesty. All I can do is wait.”

“Right... Especially in this condition I’m in...” Lupis tried to move as she spoke but could not withstand the sharp pain coursing through her body, giving up and letting it go limp.

Sudou shook his head in response. “Don’t push yourself. Please rest for now. It’s a miracle you’re alive after those injuries. I think you’re over the worst, though you might need several months to fully recover.”

Lupis’s body was battered and bruised, wounds covered her, and poison still flowed through her veins. Because of Sudou’s appropriate emergency care and available use of large amounts of high-quality medicine, she had narrowly avoided death. But she was still an injured person who required bed rest. There was also the possibility she would suffer aftereffects from the poison. It would have been appropriate to cut the conversation off, eat a light meal, and go back to sleep. Although Lupis was aware of that fact, she wanted to know something.

“That’s true. Even just talking like this is difficult for me. Still...”

Sudou sensed from the spark in her eyes that she wanted to know more. “Are you curious about the condition of the royal capital?” Sudou asked.

Lupis nodded softly, and Sudou let out a small sigh. He couldn’t really say that now was the best time for him to tell her the current state of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. If Lupis were to know the truth of the situation, she might fly into a rage, which would only worsen her condition. Yet he also felt that it wouldn’t be the best decision to not tell her either.

Well, I will have to tell her eventually. Plus, she may not rest well if I don’t tell her while she’s here, thought Sudou.

After swiftly weighing up the pros and cons of telling Lupis, he finally concluded that he should tell her.

“Well, it is as you would imagine,” he said. “The Kingdom of Rhoadseria has welcomed Princess Radine as their new queen, and peace seems to have been restored under the new regime. The nobles have also sworn loyalty to Queen Radine.”

“I see,” said Lupis as she bit her lip.

“You don’t seem that surprised.”

“Yeah... Meltina updated me about what was happening after I fled the capital.” It was a part of the information Meltina had reported while Lupis decided on a place to flee. Hearing it once again from Sudou made her body shake with anger and disgrace. Even then, she did her best to remain calm.

“Then, what happened to him? Is he the prime minister of the kingdom? Or has he now become general in Helena’s stead?” The man she alluded to was the one whose movements she was most curious about. It was only natural that Lupis wanted to know the current situation of her most sworn enemy. Still, she did not expect what Sudou had to say on the matter.

“Ah, yes. Mikoshiba. It seems he wishes to return to the Wortenia Peninsula,” said Sudou matter-of-factly.

Lupis had no reason to doubt it, then replied, “What?”

“It seemed he had no interest in becoming prime minister and turned down the role of general and being the leader of the knights.”

Her eyes opened wide. “That...can’t be.”

If Sudou told the truth, Ryoma Mikoshiba had chosen to distance himself from Rhoadserian politics. The only reasonable inference was that he had done so in order to focus on developing his own territory. Sudou then explained the information the Organization’s spies had gathered regarding the royal capital.

“Viscount McMaster has taken on the role of prime minister, and Helena Steiner has taken command of the knights. Quite a bold decision, although it poses no issue for the kingdom itself,” added Sudou, smiling wryly.

All one could do was laugh.

He’s probably considering independence from the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, which will lead to him planning to dominate it. 

Ryoma was probably still in the preliminary planning stages, but that meant he was missing a prime opportunity. He was throwing away the chance to gain control of one of the leading western countries. It seemed like an act of madness. Lupis had yet to come to the same conclusion as Sudou.

“That’s unthinkable...” Lupis had expected Ryoma Mikoshiba to carry out a plot to use Radine as a puppet ruler to seize the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. That was why she feared Ryoma Mikoshiba and tried to eliminate him, yet he had subverted her expectations. Sudou felt the same way but had no intention of telling Lupis. People like her, who had long endured power struggles with nobles, couldn’t understand Sudou’s point of view, even if he explained it to her.

Ryoma is ambitious, yet modest and careful. He’s an interesting man, that’s for sure.

It was ambitious to strive for independence from Rhoadseria. After all, he was trying to create a country with ex-mercenaries. One could also say he was humble for not aiming for control of the nation right away. Had he become prime minister, he could have used Queen Radine as a puppet ruler and run the kingdom.

This is a mere guess, but I assume Ryoma Mikoshiba is taking a step back to assess the reach of his control. 

Of course, Sudou had no concrete evidence to support that. If anything, it was simply a possibility he had deduced from the current situation. There was no other explanation for Ryoma’s decision.

Well, there is no doubt that the Mikoshiba barony excelled in military might; its main personnel have a bias toward the military.

Ryoma’s forces comprised the best of the best, like Lione—also known as the Crimson Lioness—and the mercenaries who worked under her. Sudou considered them all battle-hardened warriors, making Ryoma’s force one of the strongest throughout the western continent. Not to mention, Robert Bertrand and Signus Galveria, formerly known as the House Salzberg’s Twin Blades, were also brave and fiercely feared generals of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. As individuals, they represented the kingdom while they boasted outstanding skills as generals. Moreover, Ryoma had mastered a powerful verbal thaumaturgy which existed in the Wortenia Peninsula. Doing so had allowed him to build relations with the demi-humans who wandered the monster-infested plains in a perpetual struggle of life and death.

Then there are those two sisters who follow Ryoma Mikoshiba everywhere, like his shadow.

Sudou wasn’t aware of how Ryoma had met them. Nonetheless, they seemed to be the main reason behind Ryoma Mikoshiba’s escape from the imperial capital and the clutches of Shardina’s extensive security network. Aides like those sisters, who excelled in combat and command, stood as testament to the quality of the personnel within the Mikoshiba barony.

Dear me, I can only describe it as a treasure trove of talent. 

Several people in the Organization matched the same level of influence over the western continent. Even so, Sudou could not deny the amount of talent Ryoma’s subordinates held. Considering that even his regular soldiers had mastered martial thaumaturgy and had weapons that had utilized the dark elves’ abilities, his military power was far from that of a mere local lord. If Sudou’s analysis were correct, then Ryoma’s military would rival even the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, which had held sway over the eastern part of the western continent. The Mikoshiba barony’s martial strength greatly outshone its nominal political clout.

They also have Counts Bergstone and Zeleph in their ranks, who both excel at politics. 

Sudou saw both of them as unusually talented among the nobles of this world. There was also no doubt that Simone Christof was managing the barony’s finances. One could not simply run a country with talented personnel alone. The key was also having competent bureaucrats and government officials, who in military terms, were on the same rank as mid level commanders or soldiers. In a world with many illiterate and innumerate individuals, it was difficult to train staff to the level required.

Better yet, I can imagine those working on internal affairs rushing around like headless chickens at their underdevelopment headquarters in the Wortenia Peninsula. 

Based on their situation, it made sense they thought ruling the reborn Kingdom of Rhoadseria was impossible. Even if it were possible for Ryoma Mikoshiba to rule it with military power alone, he could not do so forever.

Despite how people understand that, it’s in their nature to want to rule anyway. 

People here did not hesitate to grasp opportunities when presented to them because it was an instinct for a lot of people living in a war-torn world. Not to mention, human nature dictated that a person go to extra lengths, if necessary, to ensure they secure their gains from said opportunity.

But Ryoma Mikoshiba has shown us that he keeps those feelings at bay. He retreats and attacks when needed. My, my, he is quite terrifying.

Ryoma succeeded as a ruler because he knew himself and his enemy incredibly well.

All right, I’ll let it rest for today. We’ll continue this discussion another time.

Lupis had yet to recover from the news. She remained in a daze as Sudou politely bowed his head and quietly left the room. What Lupis required was rest.

She’ll also need some time to organize her thoughts. 

Lupis would begin to process the loss of her most trusted confidants, Meltina and Mikhail. Once she had come to terms with their loss, only then could she play a part in Sudou’s plans.

“This is about to become a lot more interesting. When I imagine the two of them reuniting, I get all too excited, especially for a man of my age,” whispered Sudou to himself as he left the room. The conflict stirring between Lupis Rhoadserians and Ryoma Mikoshiba made for very captivating entertainment for a third party.

Also, there is Saria. I thought she would stay with Lady Helena.

Helena Steiner’s daughter, Saria, had left the Kingdom of Rhoadseria and now worked under Sudou as an ordinary member of the Organization. Anyone else would have probably decided to stay with them. While that wasn’t the case for Saria, it was a very unexpected blessing for Sudou.

I have no reason to doubt her loyalty. I’m glad I could keep one of my most important pieces.

Even though Saria’s devotion to the Organization was unquestionable, her feelings regarding her familial relationships were a different matter. She no longer saw her mother as her guardian.

It still stings a little. Although that may be obvious, considering I invested a lot of time and labor into that whole situation.

Slavers had abducted Saria from her mother and abused her as a sexual plaything. Because of her mental illness, she was soon to be killed. But Sudou had saved her from the grimy hands of a slave trader and looked after her, nursing her back to health. As a result, Akitake Sudou was like a father figure to Saria Steiner.

However, that was not purely because of Sudou’s goodwill.

Ultimately, Saria getting kidnapped in the first place was a part of Sudou’s plan. Rescuing her was nothing more than the result of a whimsical yet calculated decision. That said, Saria had no idea about any of that and still regarded Akitake Sudou as more important than her mother, which might have worked in Sudou’s favor. And he was very aware of how skilled and useful a pawn Saria would be.

She’ll be a perfect companion and a close observer of Lupis, who has lost both her closest confidants, Meltina and Mikhail, thought Sudou. He also considered that Saria could act as an ace in the hole if the opportunity arose for him to plot against Helena again. It was like season one of Sudou’s favorite drama had finished, and he was impatiently waiting for the next season to begin. That, or he had the excitement of a skilled chef who had a variety of ingredients in front of him and wondered about all the food he could make. Most of Sudou’s thoughts were still about hypothetical situations that could happen soon. For that reason, he emphasized more realistic situations than an uncertain future.

Ryoma Mikoshiba is already planning his next move. I’m eager to reunite him with Lupis Rhoadserians, and it all depends on whether I can slip past his next plan.

Sudou hadn’t chosen the Kingdom of Brittantia to have Lupis rest because it neighbored the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. The face of a young man appeared in Sudou’s mind, one who had somehow ended up among the ranks of the Organization.

For now, let’s just see how good he is.

The work given to the young man would start a ripple effect throughout the western continent. At the same time, it was a test for him.

I wish for him to take on a part of the Organization and lead the next generation. It’s also interesting that he has some relation to Ryoma Mikoshiba.

The test would decide if the Organization required new management. That was another of the reasons Sudou had brought Lupis here to Brittantia.

A new wind is blowing in... 

Sudou smiled disdainfully as he impatiently waited for a new war to begin.