Book 11: Chapter 3: The High Kingdom Again

Yasuyuki said he would become a knight.

Indeed, I had previously considered leaving him with Klaus in order to make him a knight – but I didn’t think that would lead to his happiness, so I reconsidered.

For a knight, being weak is a great disappointment.

Normally, I would have wanted Yasuyuki-kun, who had no talent with the sword, to follow the path of becoming a bureaucrat like his mother.

However, he had his own strong wish, and he could not refuse without a fight.

However, if he were to continue on the normal path to becoming a knight, he would probably end up a low or middle-ranked knight.

Strength is not everything for a knight, but strength is what makes a knight a knight.

Tia and Marie are the best examples of this.

They may have personality problems, but they are strong and capable knights who can also do their jobs.

–They have excellent looks, but their personalities are really terrible.

You should learn a little from Klaus.

If Yasuyuki becomes a knight as he is, there is a high possibility that he will lose his life on the battlefield. Of course, I won’t throw him into a dangerous battlefield. I would not, but there are no absolutes in this world.

The enemy may attack where I sent him, or some other unforeseen situation may arise.

In order for Yasuyuki to survive in the future, he will need a role model as a knight – a mentor.

If he is placed by the side of a competent knight and allowed to learn, he will surely grasp something.

If after all this, he still can’t reach the intermediate level as a knight, I am sorry to say, but he will have to give up.

–Now, who is the knight I will prepare for that purpose?

Naturally, it was Klaus.

Tia? Marie? They are capable, but their personalities are too difficult for me to entrust Yasuyuki to them. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the son of an important master.

I had to prepare the best master too, I thought, and Klaus’ face came to mind.

I wait in the office, and Klaus comes to me.

“What about–?”

Klaus was momentarily taken aback when Liam called him over.

Liam, with a serious expression on his face, does not appear to be joking.

“I have been entrusted with the master’s son. He wants to be a knight, so I’d like to leave him with you for a while and ask you to take care of him. Can you do that for me?”

Yasuyuki – it is the child of Yasushi, whom Liam adores, and it is rumored in the territory that if you mess with him, the One-Flash swordsmen will come to kill you.

As for Klaus, he did not want to take care of someone so important to Liam.

“I’m not sure I can raise him. After all, shouldn’t he be trained like the others?”

When mentioned that he is concerned about his educational abilities, Liam gives details.

“I’ve already started educating the knights. You just have to teach them the basics and how to be prepared. If he still doesn’t develop under your guidance, it’s because he lacks talent. He will give up the path of a knight.”

Klaus hears this and immediately understands.

This is a decision that will affect the life of an important person! It’s just too heavy for me!)

As he desperately pondered how to say no, Liam let out a sigh.

“It pains me to say this because I’ve entrusted you with a number of important tasks, but you’re the only one I feel comfortable leaving in charge.”

Klaus’ stomach churned at his boss’s trust.

“I am afraid you are overestimating me. But I’m afraid it would be too difficult for me.”

(I don’t want you to expect so much from me!)

But Liam had no doubts at all about Klaus’ ability to train.

He projected data around him and showed Klaus’ past achievements.

“Don’t be so modest. I wouldn’t entrust you with the son of my precious master without a reason. I’ve already done research on the many knights, soldiers, and other officials who have worked under you and have achieved a great deal. Your ability to train them is real.”

Klaus breaks out in a cold sweat.

(That’s not true! I just assigned the work to the kids I thought they could do it and left it to them, and they just grew up on their own!)

Klaus did not consider himself competent, and if any of his subordinates were capable, he would ask their opinions.

Since he has no desire for advancement, he reports the achievements of his subordinates without concealment.

As a result, Klaus’ subordinates had more opportunities for success than others.

“I was just blessed with subordinates.”

Liam smiles as he says this.

“You have low self-esteem. But results are everything. I leave Yasuyuki to you. You decide if he can make it as a knight.”

Unable to go against his boss’s decision, Klaus had no choice but to accept.

“I will do my best.”

Klaus managed to suppress the urge to sag and left his office.

Around that time.

In the High Kingdom, there was a great movement.

During the 30-year truce with the empire, bloodshed among relatives over the position of the crown prince, which had been vacated, was continuing.

Gudwar, who loved to fight, was defeated by Liam and his guide, but the High Kingdoms were still fighting as usual.

Then, the one who emerged – [Aluna].

The woman who declared at the party venue that she wanted Liam to give his genes to her has won the struggle for the High Kingdoms.

The royal castle of the High Kingdom.

A large number of military officers were in attendance in the hall, rejoicing at the birth of the crown prince.

Aluna’s father, the High King, kneeled down and placed a circlet, the sign of the crown prince, on her head as she hung her head.

The High King spoke to his daughter in a whisper.

This is the beginning of a conversation between father and daughter, inaudible to those around them.

“I didn’t expect you to be the crown prince. Why don’t you change your gender? A man would have an advantage in battle.”

The High King was once a woman, but changed her gender in order to live to fight.

Aluna stood up and snickered at the High King.

“I have decided to stand in the strongest position as a woman. Don’t compare me with you.”

“You’ve always been a bit of a cutie. –I have always hated you.”

Even though her own father hated her, Aluna was smiling.

“I know. But the strong are envied. I accept your envy.”

Aluna, who treated the High King as a lower rank, turned her back on the High King and turned her body toward the assembled military officers.

She then declared.

“I have had enough of the civil war.”

The officers of the armed forces rustled at the crown prince’s feeble statement.

But Aluna smiles ferociously and tells everyone who her new prey is.

“Enough of these weaklings. This time–we will resume the fight against the empire!”

The military officers cheer loudly at Aluna’s words.

The thirty-year truce was over, and the war against the empire was finally about to begin in earnest.

For Aluna, the battle for the position of crown prince was boring.

The goal is the empire – the target is the Banfield family.

(Let’s hope the Banfields come out. Klaus, the most powerful knight in the empire, and Liam, who killed my brother! It’s really worth fighting for.)

Licking her lips with her tongue, Aluna imagines the prey she seeks.

(I will surely defeat them and obtain Liam’s strongest genes.)

The High Kingdom declares war on the Empire.

In the Imperial capital planet, where the news arrives, Crown Prince Cleo and Emperor Baglada are planning countermeasures in the palace.

However, there was no tension there.

For the Empire, it was just one of many border incidents, and a few victories or defeats would have no impact on the outcome.

In extreme cases, losing would not hurt or itch.

In that case, the war with the High Kingdoms would involve other considerations.

What Cleo proposed was the elimination of political enemies.

“I think we should leave the fight against the High Kingdoms to the Banfield family.”

Baglada is a graceful man in his thirties or so, dressed in rough clothes, not unlike an emperor.

He is currently enjoying a board game with Cleo.

“It’s blatant. But I don’t hate it.”

Baglada moved a piece, then Cleo picked it up.

As he played with it with his hand, he spoke of his intention to leave the borders to the Banfield family.

“If the High Kingdom and the House of Banfield were to clash, they would both be exhausted. The duke is certainly the most powerful man in the empire, but if he goes to war with the High Kingdoms, he will be weakened.”

“The High Kingdom is strong. Besides, they love war. The Banfield family will not be spared from being weakened.”

Despite the loss of their own territory, the two were quite calm.

On the contrary, they are discussing how to weaken Liam, their political enemy.

Baglada seemed quite happy despite the fact that a war was about to break out.

“Let’s send the nobles who are close to the Banfield family to the other borders. We need to separate them from their friends. Let’s hit the other troublesome ones against the High Kingdoms and grind them up.”

As Cleo placed the pieces he had been playing with, he expressed difficulty with Baglada’s proposal.

“Would the nobles who are close to the duke be amenable to me now?”

“If it is an imperial command from me, the emperor, they will obey it.”

“Would you be willing to go that far?”

“Why not?”

For Cleo now, her biggest supporter is the emperor.

If an imperial order is issued, the nobles who are close to Liam will have no choice but to obey.

The emperor gives the name of his vizier.

“The prime minister has told me that there have been some disturbing developments in the Banfield family. Apparently, they are rushing to build up their army. I can’t help but think that there is a desire for treason on the part of the Empire. In order to dispel this, we must have the Duke of Banfield work for the Empire with sincerity.”

The Banfield family alone will hit the High Kingdoms to test their loyalty to the empire.

Cleo, who had earned his title, smiles wryly.

“If we lose, fine, but if we win, no reward for dispelling the rumors?”

“The Empire’s financial situation is very tight. It’s more budget-friendly for us.”

The Banfield family is entrusted with the defense of the border, but is given a heartless condition: no support from the empire.

If they lose to the High Kingdom, House Banfield will be greatly weakened.

Even if they won, they would not be unscathed against the High Kingdoms.

In either case, Liam would suffer greatly.

The only thing he would gain from it is the fact that he has shown his loyalty to the empire.

That fact, too, will not resonate with Cleo or Baglada.

It was certain to end in utter futility.

Cleo comes up with a further move to push Liam over the edge.

“Let’s also go ahead with cutting off the people involved in Banfield. Let’s get the merchants and arms factory people on our side as soon as possible and make them betray Liam.”

Baglada shakes his head at the suggestion of betraying his allies.

“That would be boring, wouldn’t it? And those who sided with him could be brought into the mix, too.”

“No, sir.”

There are many people associated with Liam, and if they were involved, the domestic turmoil would be even greater.

Baglada seemed to want it that way.

“There are plenty of merchants and arms factories to take their place. Sometimes you have to clean up like this and try to keep things tidy.”

Cleo’s proposal was rejected.

“Then what do you have in store for the troops you’re sending?”

“Nothing.”

“What?”

Cleo could not believe it. Baglada says that he will not do anything against Liam, who is about to fight the High Kingdom. He will not send out any secret orders to interfere with Liam or assassinate him.

There is no indication that the Banfield family will be cut off.

To a puzzled Cleo, Baglada explains gently.

“An army that has grown in numbers so rapidly is fragile, no matter how you slice it. Only those around them would understand the noble principles of a Duke like himself.”

“Certainly, if you only increase their numbers, you will attract troublesome people.”

“Especially in this empire. Buying up the planets of the lords and taking in the wanderers who don’t have planets – it’s efficient, but it doesn’t work. Even in this empire, there have been those who have done what the duke did.”

There have been aristocrats in the past who have made moves similar to Liam’s.

Baglada tells Cleo what happened to those people.

“Most of them perished through betrayal by their allies or through the independence of their men.”

“–Are you saying that the odds were stacked against us from the start?”

“Pity, though.”

Baglada, with a chuckle, lets Cleo hear his prediction of what is to come.

“The Banfield family will be dragged down in the war against the High Kingdom by the out-of-control army they have increased. Even if they survive this battle, there will be frayed edges. If there is another opportunity, it would be fun to take advantage of it.”

Baglada saw that the downside of rapidly increasing numbers would surely drag them down at important moments.

Cleo smiled wickedly at the prospect of Liam’s future.

“–I’ll call Banfield to the capital planet immediately.”

“I’m counting on you, Cleo.”

–That bastard Cleo called me to the capital planet.

Who does he think he is?

It is beyond the pale to call me, a political enemy of mine, as if I were the crown prince.

Cleo is ordering me in front of him.

“I will ask the Duke of Banfield to guard the border with the High Kingdom.”

I was guarding the border not long ago, but I had all my forces withdrawn when I broke off with Cleo.

And now he wants me to fight the High Kingdoms again.

“Shouldn’t you dispatch the regular army of the empire?”

“There’s a lot of commotion on the other borders, too. We’re asking for your friends’ help. The Exners, who are close to the Banfield family, are also on board.”

That’s what Kurt said.

For some reason, he said, he was asked by imperial order to reinforce the border.

Since Emperor Baglada is behind Cleo, they are connected, as they should be.

I was looking through Cleo to the emperor behind him.

“You want the Banfield family alone to deal with the High Kingdoms?”

Baglada is a bit of a blabbermouth.

“Of course, the Empire will send troops. Besides, I hear you’re building up your forces quite a bit. There are many rumors in the Empire that the Banfield family is planning to betray the Empire. Don’t you think this is a good opportunity to show your loyalty?”

“I’m betraying you? No way.”

“For that reason, I hope the duke will show his loyalty. Also, the Empire’s finances are tight. I need you to take care of the troops I’m sending.”

“You want me to provide supplies on my end?”

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

If I refused, they would harass me in any way they could, as if I were in treason.

I had no choice but to follow the orders of the Empire.

But – surprisingly warm.

I checked the conditions, and found that the empire would send troops, but no support whatsoever.

This is infuriating, and most of the people who will be sent are probably not the people you would expect.

Some of them will be dragging us down, but that is to be expected.

Are you going to make them drag their feet as much as possible on the battlefield and shoot me in the back if there is an opening?

Cleo used the same trick – but I also question whether the emperor is this good.

It seems as if he is playing with us.

It was more eerie than the other way around, and I couldn’t help but feel that his expression was a little tense.

Cleo was in a good mood, as if he thought I was in trouble.

“I have high hopes for the Duke.”

“Suit yourself.”

Having completed my business, I leave Cleo’s office.

As I was leaving Cleo’s office, I was stopped by Her Imperial Highness Princess Licitea, who was waiting outside.

11 chapters in just one day. Welp, Imma sleep then. I might take a break tomorrow or maybe keep going, either way I will finish this novel. Aight till next time, ya hungry bois.

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