Preparation for the Decisive Battle (2)

Only now did I finally understand what Damian meant.

When I should head for Lugal’s seal naturally became clear.

That’s how evident the signs of Lugal’s resurrection had become, so clear that anyone could recognize them at a glance.

“… Isn’t this more of a calamity than a calamity itself?”

Sitting on my horse, I stared at the black sky.

It was almost a mystery why Lugal wasn’t classified as a calamity.

The darkness covering the sky was spreading, not only over Kiten Forest but over the entire Vanhart territory, even encroaching upon nearby domains.

‘And now…’

I swallowed dryly.

As the sky gradually turned darker, a hole suddenly tore open, and a pillar of black light struck down.

‘It must have landed on Lugal’s seal.’

Convinced that this was exactly the sign Damian had spoken of, I hurriedly led the soldiers toward Kiten Forest.

I needed people who could control the crowds in case anything happened.

Among them was also the Black Skull Company.

“Just like when we first met, but it seems like being with you, Count, will never be boring.”

The one who spoke with a broad grin was Max.

Back when he was in Eintban, he’d been so prickly, but now he just looked like a genial middle-aged uncle.

“Only Riya, Maria, and I will go inside. Max, I want you to help the other knights and soldiers keep the people calm.”

“Understood. However… will just the three of you really be enough? I know Her Highness the princess is impressive, but…”

As he said that, he looked to Maria.

He was probably most worried about Maria.

‘It was hilarious when he found out she was Rutia’s daughter.’

Max had discovered that Maria was Rutia’s daughter during the victory banquet after we arrived here.

Until then, he’d thought Maria and Rutia were just sisters, and was so shocked that he nearly fainted.

Anyone would be; Rutia had the outward appearance of a girl in her late teens, so he never expected someone like Maria could be her daughter.

Smirking at the memory, I turned to reassure Max.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Then I turned to Riya and Maria.

“Are you both ready?”

“Yes. I’m fine anytime.”

“I’m ready as well.”

Riya and Maria wore clothes far more suitable for movement than usual.

It was a sight I hadn’t seen before, so I found my gaze lingering, but I quickly shook my head.

There was no time to leisurely admire the view.

“Hmm?”

While double-checking our equipment near the entrance to Kiten Forest, I heard a commotion from nearby.

Curious what was happening, I looked around, and one of the soldiers came running up, breathless.

“Count! Count Deoric and his retainers have arrived!”

“What?”

For a moment, I was too dumbfounded to speak.

Why now, of all times, had Deoric come barging into our domain uninvited?

‘This is urgent, and they’re making trouble at a time like this.’

With a short click of my tongue, I spoke to the soldier.

“Where is Count Deoric now?”

“He’s at the entrance to the village, demanding to be let in.”

“I’ll go over there myself.”

I calmed the anxious soldier and turned to Riya and Maria.

“This happened, so I’ll be back for a moment.”

“If it’s troublesome, shall I come with you as well?”

“Well, I’d be grateful.”

Riya, listening to the situation from the side, answered with a deeply displeased expression.

Naturally, I had no intention of refusing Riya’s offer.

The advantage her name carried was truly enormous.

“Fufu, then let’s go. I’m curious to see the face of such a rude noble.”

… Though Riya’s chilling smile was indeed unsettling.

Judging by that look, even if I’d refused, she’d probably have followed on her own.

“Count Vanhart! What on earth is going on here!”

As I approached the entrance to the village, Logan Deoric shouted at me with a booming voice. His brazenness was simply astounding.

“That’s what I want to ask, Count Deoric. Storming into another’s domain—what do you think of the law?”

“… Oh? You’ve gotten arrogant since becoming Count. Trying to put yourself on my level, are you?”

“You were the one to speak so informally first. There’s no need for me to bow and scrape.”

At least, Count Bellen never broke the law.

Whatever might be said about his son, Nior, Count Bellen had properly declared a domain war and simply met a pathetic end, nothing more.

So I’d shown some formality to him, but Logan, who trespassed uninvited into my domain, deserved none.

“Fine. Let’s see how long your impudence lasts.”

“Right, so just get to the point. What’s your business here?”

“…!”

“So, tell me why you came all this way without permission.”

With a bored expression, I said this, and Logan’s face flushed red.

“Clay!”

Logan, enraged, shouted my name and took a step closer.

He looked as if he was about to grab me by the collar. Riya, standing by my side, quietly stepped in front of him.

“What are you—huh?!”

Only then did Logan notice Riya and his eyes went wide.

Of course, there was no way Logan could fail to recognize Riya.

He had attended the empire’s New Year Festival and Founding Festival many times, and Riya’s hair bore a broken dragon horn on one side, making her instantly recognizable.

“Why is Her Highness the princess here…?”

“Oh my, am I not allowed to be here?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

Count Deoric was a formidable swordsman, nearly at the level of a Swordmaster.

He who always carried himself so confidently looked utterly intimidated now.

“We saw each other often at the New Year Festival, didn’t we, Count?”

“Y-yes, we did.”

“I never thought a count would be so unbearably rude.”

“B-but this is a special case, so I had no choice.”

“A special case?”

As Riya tilted her head in curiosity, Logan seized on the moment and raised his voice.

“Just look at this sky! All the domain residents throughout the south of Talua are trembling with fear. I came to investigate, suspecting that Vanhart territory was up to something.”

“Oh dear.”

A faint smile played on Riya’s lips, but her eyes grew as cold as a century’s snow.

“What to do with you…”

She put a finger to her cheek and cocked her head gently.

If someone else saw her, they might have thought she looked cute, but I felt chills run through my body.

[… She looks like she wants to kill everyone here.]

‘No way, surely not.’

No matter how much of an imperial princess she was, she couldn’t just harm a foreign noble at whim.

“Clay.”

“Yeah?”

“I’d like to have a private talk with these people here for a moment… Is that all right?”

Her tone was endlessly gentle, yet I couldn’t help but tense up.

For a dragon who wields Dragon Tongue, “conversation” often held a double meaning.

If I left it to her, there was no doubt chaos would erupt.

Of course, Logan’s actions had left me exasperated as well, but striking him down here would only make things worse.

‘Hmm… But I could take advantage of this situation.’

After a quick consideration, I spoke up.

“Your Highness, allow me to handle things here.”

“… All right. If you need help, just say the word.”

After nodding to Riya, who seemed almost disappointed to step back, I turned to Logan, who was watching us closely.

“Logan Deoric, let me make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

“I’m headed to the place that’s the source of this phenomenon right now. If you want, I’ll allow you to accompany me.”

“The source of this phenomenon… How do you know about that?”

Logan’s reaction was one of genuine surprise at my unexpected proposal.

Sensing something, he tried to calmly assess the situation.

Compared to Count Bellen, he was definitely not someone to underestimate.

“I discovered the clue when we restarted mining at the abandoned mithril mine recently.”

“What? Don’t tell me—Vanhart family is really…”

“To avoid any misunderstandings, I’ll explain in more detail. An ancient ruin was discovered beneath the mine.”

“An ancient ruin?”

Both the Vanhart and Deoric families had long histories in the south.

Word of any ancient relics in Kiten Forest had never spread; it was understandable why he was suspicious.

“What kind of ruin is it?”

“We’ll only know after investigating it. If you want, you can come too. Bring as many knights or soldiers as you wish.”

“…”

Logan looked me up and down, as if weighing the truth of my words.

He was probably thinking through all the possible benefits of joining me, and also the benefits of not joining.

[Why did you so casually offer to let him bring other knights and soldiers?]

‘Rumors spread fastest when there are many witnesses.’

Collision with the Deoric family was one of the things already on the agenda.

And if things went well, maybe I could solve the problem here and now.

“Fine. I’ll accompany you.”

Logan’s scales tipped toward coming with me in the end.

‘If I hadn’t proposed going together first, he’d have never agreed.’

From Deoric’s point of view, there was no need to risk danger by investigating.

He could just spread a rumor that I was plotting something suspicious here.

But there was no telling what might be in those ancient ruins, and he must have wanted to see with his own eyes.

“Suit yourself.”

I said it as if I didn’t care, and though Logan’s eyebrow twitched, he couldn’t lash out aggressively like before.

It was surely because Riya was standing right by my side.

After returning briefly to where his retainers were gathered, Logan brought over ten knights and thirty soldiers.

“Is this many allowed?”

“I don’t care. We’ll only take three, anyway.”

“What?”

Logan scowled, as if he couldn’t understand what I meant.

He probably thought I was toying with him.

But when we reached the entrance to Kiten Forest and only Riya, Maria, and I prepared to go in, his expression turned peculiar.

“… Is it really just you three?”

“Yes.”

Logan looked at me with increasingly confused eyes.

“Why, you can take a small group if you prefer too.”

“… No. We’ll go as is.”

I let out a small chuckle at his serious face. It was obvious what he was thinking.

‘He’s probably considering the option of taking us out if things go south—makes sense.’

Even with Riya’s strength, if Logan launched a surprise attack first, he could possibly pull it off.

Or, if things went wrong below, maybe he planned to turn on us then.

‘Not that he’ll get the chance.’

I offered Logan Deoric my quiet condolences in advance.

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