Chapter 179: Whose Fault Is It (4)

The rain kept pouring.

Because of this, Raion took out the limestone — or rather, Nak powder — that had been stored in the warehouse and built a temporary shelter.

For reinforcement materials, he used the ruined camp tents and tools scattered across the ground.

Though the roof was the only part properly made and the walls were full of holes, it was still enough for several hundred people to stay in temporarily.

“……”

Marquis Conforta, who had been quietly observing the process, couldn’t bring himself to say a word.

‘A man who has reached the realm of Sword Master can use this kind of magic? And what kind of magic even is this?’

Marquis Conforta himself was a mage who had mastered up to the 4th Circle.

He could usually tell the general workings of any ordinary spell just by looking.

But how was he supposed to define the ability Raion had just shown?

He approached one of the gray pillars supporting the roof.

‘If it’s just about using materials, it’s somewhat similar to an Arcane Sorcerer’s method… but then, what is this? Judging by its color and smell, it seems like Nak powder.’

The questions only kept piling up.

And yet, none of them led to answers.

Raion looked at the marquis, and before realizing it, a faint smile formed on his lips.

“You seem to have many questions.”

“N–no, not at all.”

Whether it was because of pride or embarrassment, Marquis Conforta even stuttered.

Then Deborah, watching him, spoke.

“I won’t ask why you joined this incident, Marquis Conforta.”

“I am a traitor. I’ll accept my punishment however it comes.”

It was an answer as if he had already given up everything.

Deborah shook her head.

“No. I don’t intend to judge you for your crimes.”

“I am a sinner. If you refuse to acknowledge that, it will become a problem later.”

“I’m going to reclaim the Mineta Kingdom. But the current Mineta Kingdom isn’t normal. I need you to help me fix that.”

“But…”

“This isn’t a request. It’s an order.”

The statement meant she had already accepted him as one of her people.

Marquis Conforta knew that. So he dropped to one knee.

“I am a traitor. Are you truly sure about this?”

“I need someone like you, Marquis. So stop saying such unpleasant things and stand up.”

His shoulders trembled, overwhelmed by emotion, as he bowed his head.

Deborah managed to calm him down after some effort.

“More importantly, how did you form an alliance with the Canel Kingdom?”

“I met them by chance while heading south to evade our pursuers. Fortunately, the Canel Kingdom had begun stabilizing by then, so I was able to receive their help.”

“But the Canel Kingdom is…”

Marquis Conforta began to say something, then stopped.

Raion spoke in his place.

“You’re wondering why it’s a faraway kingdom and not a neighboring one, right?”

“Th–that’s…”

Even if they reclaimed the kingdom through rebellion, what would it change? The threat from neighboring countries would still loom constantly.

Prince Rasfer of the Moratz Kingdom was one such threat.

It would’ve been easier to seek aid from the Danas Federation or the Boluzan Kingdom.

But receiving help from a distant land beyond the Empire and the Federation felt uncertain at best.

“I know what you mean. From how you were going on about borders earlier, I can tell you’re the type to follow every rule to the letter.”

At Raion’s mocking tone, Marquis Conforta’s brow twitched.

Of course, Raion didn’t stop there.

“Is this really the time to be picky?”

“Wh–what? Pick–ky?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“What are you even saying?”

Without realizing it, Raion had slipped out a Korean proverb.

After all, the word bap didn’t even exist on the Phalon Continent.

Since Marquis Conforta couldn’t pronounce it properly, he sounded like a foreigner struggling with broken Korean.

That included the sorry, of which he naturally couldn’t know the meaning either.

“It’s just an expression. Anyway, I mean — why are you being so choosy in this situation?”

“We must look at things rationally. Even if the Canel Kingdom helps Mineta now, what happens later? Our kingdom is surrounded by the Boluzan Kingdom, the Dior Empire, and the Danas Federation. The Moratz Kingdom even targeted us openly.”

Raion stared at him flatly through the marquis’s lengthy explanation.

“You took part in that too, didn’t you?”

“T–that’s… yes. For the legitimacy of the royal authority, it was an unavoidable choice. Of course, I understand now that it was wrong.”

“Good. So to sum it up, you’re just unhappy that it’s a distant kingdom and not a nearby one, right?”

“…That’s correct.”

“Your mouth sure runs long…”

“Wh–what do you mean, my mouth?!”

“Quiet. Princess, what will you do about him? He’s being like this.”

No matter what Raion said at this point, to Marquis Conforta, it would only sound like the excuses of a potential invader planning to use their kingdom.

“Since the Moratz Kingdom is practically a vassal state of the Dior Empire, there’s no point seeking help from them. The Boluzan Kingdom only talks about peace after overthrowing the Bachenan Holy Kingdom. And the Danas Federation… if I had asked them for help, they would’ve used the excuse of an alliance to expand their territory. Am I wrong?”

Marquis Conforta knew she wasn’t wrong about a single thing.

Even so, desperate to secure proper protection for the future, he kept arguing back.

“How exactly does the Canel Kingdom plan to help us? Don’t tell me you intend to start a rebellion, seize our territories, and usurp the throne—just like Prince Rasfer did?”

He was asking what made them any different from the Moratz Kingdom.

“The throne has already fallen.”

“Fallen? Are you saying Harlan Mineta is dead?”

Because the command of the operation had been handed to Prince Rasfer, he hadn’t yet heard what had become of Harlan Mineta.

“He’s not dead yet. By now, he’s probably left the Rolarsen Mountains and is on his way back to the Mineta Royal Capital.”

“You fought against him?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“I’m saying the royal capital is already in our hands.”

“How do you mean?”

Deborah stepped in to answer the question.

“I asked Count Ambraze for his help.”

The moment that name came up, Marquis Conforta’s eyes widened in shock.

“Count Vagran Ambraze? He’s alive?”

He was a man who, like Marquis Conforta, had been deeply loyal to the former king.

He was known for his sincerity and many achievements, having risen from a common-born secretary to the rank of count—the only one ever to do so.

However, before Harlan Mineta succeeded the throne, he went missing.

Rumor had it that he’d been executed.

“He’d been in hiding for a long time. I managed to find him with great difficulty.”

“How did you…?”

“He agreed to act.”

“Without any military support?”

“No. While I was staying in the capital, I gathered those who had once been my father’s loyal retainers. Count Ambraze must have joined forces with them to seize the empty royal capital.”

The moment Harlan Mineta vacated his seat wasn’t only an opportunity for Rasfer—it was for them as well.

Of course, preparing for that chance had taken a long time.

First, they had to locate Vagran Ambraze, the pillar of their plan. Then they gathered the nobles of the former royal faction, many of whom had been on the verge of abandoning their lives.

“You accomplished quite a difficult feat.”

“It was tough. Especially sneaking out of the palace every night to meet nobles while avoiding the royal guards’ surveillance.”

“How did you manage that?”

“It helped that everyone’s attention was focused on the series of noble disappearances.”

“Ah… yes, I heard about that. What luck, that such a thing happened at the perfect time.”

“Was it really luck, though?”

Deborah’s gaze briefly turned toward Raion.

As mentioned earlier, if everyone’s attention hadn’t been focused on the disappearance of key nobles, this plan would’ve been impossible to even start.

After all, they were not just anyone—they were Mineta’s central nobility.

Who could possibly abduct them without leaving a trace? It was unimaginable.

“Don’t tell me that was also your doing, Prince?”

“…Well, maybe a little.”

No one could guess how much “a little” meant in his words.

Marquis Conforta was dumbfounded beyond words.

And it surprised him even more that Raion hadn’t personally taken part in capturing the capital.

“What do you plan to do about Harlan Mineta? You said earlier he’s on his way back to the capital.”

“He must be judged by our own hands. We can’t borrow the strength of the Canel Kingdom for that.”

That was exactly why Raion had let him go back at the entrance of the Naviadal Valley.

Legitimacy and rightful cause — if they borrowed foreign power to achieve their great cause, it would be no different from building a castle on sand.

“…You’ve done well.”

Marquis Conforta couldn’t help but be impressed at this new side of Deborah, whom he’d thought of only as a reckless princess.

“It’s not over yet. We have to finish this. We need to reorganize the troops and head straight back to the capital.”

“Understood. I’ll make it happen as quickly as possible.”

Marquis Conforta rose and started walking toward his soldiers.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned and asked,

“Have you by any chance seen Marquis Drusar Huffo? Some of his soldiers are mixed among ours.”

Though Marquis Conforta disliked Marquis Huffo personally, he was a man who never let that affect his sense of duty.

Unaware of the full situation, Deborah turned to Raion.

“If you mean Marquis Drusar Huffo, he’s dead.”

“What? He’s dead? Don’t tell me you fought against them too?”

The Marquis of Huffo had taken his son, the Knight Commander, and 300 troops toward the valley’s entrance.

Not a single one had returned to camp afterward.

“It wasn’t exactly a battle. He was crushed by falling rocks in the valley. As for his son and the Knight Commander, my people had no choice but to kill them.”

“It was me. I had no choice if I wanted to minimize casualties.”

Negis added from beside them.

Hearing that, Marquis Conforta was left speechless again.

“What about the remaining soldiers?”

“They surrendered. I sent them back to the Huffo Territory. Oh, and the ones who had been lying in ambush were killed by someone else. I’ll explain that part later.”

Raion found it hard to bring up Malphas right now.

Even though he cut himself off awkwardly, Marquis Conforta didn’t press further and simply nodded.

Then Raion suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, right. About Harlan Mineta’s swordsmanship — he’s close to the top level, not just an ordinary Sword Master.”

“You mean a Grand Master?”

“That’s what they call it.”

“Why are you only mentioning that now?!”

Marquis Conforta shouted in shock, his face pale, before hastily rushing off to check the remaining troops.

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