Chapter 88: Evening Banquet of Outcasts
Translator: Lei
Proofreader: Imagine
“Not over there, you stupid fool!”
Cl-clunk, cl-clunk.
‘It’s totally a construction site.’
There were no more refugees staying at the covert—instead, the hangars and various buildings were filled up with wyverns, and workers were bustling around making repairs.
‘I need to move soon, seriously.’
But the city of Denfors was old and worn down. Besides the covert, which was taking up the most space in the city, there wasn’t anywhere else I could move to. Of course, there was Gadain Castle, the forr base of Viscount Lukence, but I didn’t want to use a castle soone else had used, either.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“Wyverns are landing!!!”
‘So they’re finally here.’
Ryker and Janice, who stuck together like peanut butter and jelly, were escorting our guests from the Havis Kingdom in a slow fashion, landing in the covert’s central clearing.
‘Hrm? That wyvern, haven’t I seen it sowhere before?’
I was watching the envoys from Havis when I saw a familiar-looking wyvern.
‘R-Rosiathe!’
A female Skyknight descended from the familiar wyvern. It was Rosiathe, the woman who had happily eaten roast boar with .
After Rosiathe alighted, Havis Skyknights fell in behind her with a clatter of tal like inseparable shadows. Considering how practiced their VIP guarding movents were, they were definitely Skyknights of the Royal Guard.
‘A welco guest has co, huh.’
There was no doubt they had co to discuss the national invasion, so I was prepared for the worst. I was soone who would even shoot magic at the Crown Prince’s wyvern in a fit of pique, so I wouldn’t allow myself to be threatened by a frail kingdom.
However, my feelings changed the mont I saw Rosiathe.
PR/N: Simppppp
As the Havis Kingdom’s knights and Rosiathe headed towards , my knights ran over and assud positions next to .
‘They’ve grown a lot.’
I had no need to envy any territory. Wyverns were milling around the covert like chickens looking for food. The sight of Gold Wyverns among them would instill fear in these ambassadors.
Rosiathe removed her helt with a click as she walked over.
“!!”
“Mm…”
Stunned by her uncommon, wavy golden hair gleaming in the sunlight and blue, diamond-like eyes, my knights and soldiers exclaid in spite of themselves, proving without a doubt that Rosiathe deserved the title ‘Flower of the North.’
“Haha, welco, Princess Rosiathe.”
I bowed towards Rosiathe, who wore a happy smile. No matter how high my rank was now, the other party was the princess of a kingdom.
“We et again, Count Kyre.”
Since she wasn’t wearing a dress, Rosiathe gave a slight nod in response.
‘Hmm, she slls good.’
The faint sll of pansies ca drifting over as Rosiathe approached.
“What are you all doing! Show your respects to Princess Rosiathe!”
Cla-cla-clang!
“All, hail!”
Around 20 knights drew their swords in a salute at my command.
“Thank you for the warm welco,” said Rosiathe in appreciation for greeting her without a single hair out of place.
“It is nothing. You must be tired from traveling so far, let us quickly go inside.”
“I am not tired. The sight of the Nerman Plains full of vitality completely refreshed as we flew.”
Since everyone was watching, I imitated an old noble’s mannerisms to converse with Rosiathe.
“But where did those Gold Wyverns over there co from…?”
Havis shared a border with the Laviter Empire, so Rosiathe knew better than anyone about Gold Wyverns. She was looking at the Golds who had been reduced to sorry, patchy little mutts from getting their asses kicked by Bebeto and the beastn. Now, they were even enjoying naps outside of their hangars.
“They were roaming around the Kovilan Mountains like they were holess, so I picked them up.”
“Huh? P-Picked them up?” Rosiathe stuttered, dumbfounded. Gold Wyverns were the symbol of the Laviter Imperial Family, after all.
‘You’ll get hurt if you know more.’
“Why, shall I let you adopt one?”
“N-No.”
Fully aware of what it ant to have a Gold Wyvern, Rosiathe snapped back to her senses and quickly refused.
“Then, let us go inside.”
“Yes…”
Maybe because she owed from the incident in the Bajran capital, Rosiathe followed ekly.
‘I’m nervous.’
This feeling of inviting a pretty woman to your ho…
Only soone who knew what it was like would understand.
* * *
‘It’s overflowing with vitality.’
Before leaving the Havis Kingdom, Rosiathe reviewed all the information they had gathered about Nerman. She had heard that Nerman must be doing a ton of trade with major rchant groups, particularly the Rubis rchants, because an enormous volu of goods were passing through Havis borders into Nerman.
However, there was more negative information than positive. Everyone on the continent was aware that just a few months ago, the empire had given up on the territory and had pulled out their formal troops. Moreover, it was common knowledge that nearly a million monsters were thriving on the Nerman Plains instead of people. Therefore, Rosiathe didn’t believe the rumors that Nerman had undergone trendous developnt in the past few months following Kyre’s appointnt as the provisional lord. As the first person in the line of succession for the Havis crown, Rosiathe knew better than anyone that it was impossible to change the administration of a territory or country in such a short period of ti.
However, she was shocked by what she had seen of Nerman on the way from Havis to Denfors, the central city. What she saw wasn’t monsters, but cavalry that were moving in groups of hundreds. She did see the occasional monster, but not nearly enough to be much of a threat.
‘They said the territory was low on grain, so where did all these fields around the city co from?’
More unbelievable were the huge farmlands spread out around Denfors. Not too long ago, it was said that Denfors might fall at any ti to monsters, but the autumn wheat ripening before her eyes like an illusion were waving in the wind.
‘The eyes of the knights and soldiers are brimming with life.’
As she walked with Kyre’s escort to a building that was lacking quite a lot of class to be called the office of a lord, Rosiathe glanced around, finding out more about Nerman.
“An evening feast has been prepared. Please have a short rest; I will see you again in the evening.”
After reaching the entrance of what appeared to be the covert headquarters, Kyre bid her farewell with a reliable smile.
“See you then.”
Rosiathe’s face reddened at Kyre’s pleasant voice.
She bowed her head slightly, then walked towards the maids who were waiting at the entrance, her heart beating hard with every step.
* * *
“We have almost reached Nerman.”
“Anchor the fleet.”
“Understood, Commander.”
A shore could be spotted far in the distance. Sitting on the deck of a massive wyvern convoy ship holding 10 wyverns, Fleet Commander Chrisia gave an order to anchor.
She was the Commander of the 2nd Fleet and the third daughter of the King of the Kesmire Island Pirates, or rather, the Sea Kingdom that they had declared themselves to be. Her slightly tanned skin from the endless days of life on the sea and curvy body gave her a charming appearance.
‘Contact ca later than expected, huh.’
When trading for the top-grade potions, she had thrown out irresistible bait—a mass of treasures, including magic crystals, more generous than other trades. She used goods that a collapsing territory would absolutely need for its developnt as bait to test the man nad Kyre. Back then, Chrisia had no doubt that it would be effective. She thought that with that level of paynt, he would quickly contact her again for another trade. She thought that Kyre, who was discarded by the empire and surrounded by enemies in the form of the Temir and monsters, would have no one else to rely on but the Kesmire.
However, contrary to her expectations, Kyre did not contact her for quite a long ti. More surprisingly, according to the information that swiftly reached her ears, within just a few months, he had acquired 40 wyverns and built up his military force.
‘Letting down my guard could cause our plans to fail. The kingdom’s desire to gain a foothold on the continent would co crumbling down.’
How long had they waited for that mont?
Hoping for the Bajran Empire’s withdrawal, Kesmire had pressured Nerman, a hot potato for everyone, with force year after year. And then, after cleaning up the regional ruling power left behind, the Kesmire Kingdom had intended to take Nerman for themselves with nary a sound nor rumor.
They could not always make a living by blocking the sea routes of other empires and kingdoms, plundering, and conducting interdiate trade. For the Kesmire Kingdom, which only had islands, securing a source of provisions was their dearest wish.
‘Kyre… Kyre…’
Everything had been going as planned, but then, an unexpected dark horse appeared, a totally green rookie nad Baronet Kyre. According to the urgent information that had flown to them a few days ago, he had received a count peerage along with Nerman from the Bajran Emperor.
“Prepare the wyverns!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The call from a man who had ignored her bait could not be disregarded.
“Huhu…”
Thinking of Kyre with his striking black hair and eyes, Chrisia let out a quiet laugh.
Even to her, soone who had lived on the rough sea her whole life, he looked manly.
Today was the day she would finally et him again.
“An evening feast?”
“Is it a burden for you?”
“N-No, that’s not it…”
Aramis devoted herself to God and the ailing everyday, like a Kallian Mother Teresa. Because she had granted God’s grace to hundreds of residents who flocked to the temporary temple, her face was full of fatigue. Seeing that made think that no matter how much a priestess was loved by a god, bodily fatigue could not be defeated.
“I will wait for you.”
“Yes…”
She was really biddable. No matter what I did, Aramis looked on and silently supported from the side. This ti as well, she responded to my invitation with quiet acquiescence.
‘Today is my day.’
I was busy all day, but it was finally ti for the evening feast, and it was a al with three beautiful won who could each outshine a Miss Universe. Just thinking about it filled with happiness.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A noisy bell clanged outside.
“Wyverns have appeared!”
Soldiers with loud, carrying voices inford the covert of a new guest’s arrival.
* * *
“I’ll kill him! I’ll rip him to shreds! KEAAAARGHHHHH!”
Craaaaash!
Inside Second Prince Alskane’s bedroom in Oparn Palace within the imperial castle grounds of the Laviter Empire, the strongest of the three great empires on the continent, a noisy crash and a raw scream of rage rocked the palace walls.
“Please calm yourself, Your Highness. Your body is not completely recovered.”
“Calm? How can I be calm right now?! As long as that bastard lives and draws breath, I won’t be able to sleep at night! So hurry and prepare the soldiers! I will talk to my esteed Father, so please gather the Skyknights, Grandfather! You must recover my wyvern and honor from that shitty little bastard!”
Trapped in the cave for over a week, Prince Alskane had nearly starved to death. For the first ti in his life, he experienced the fear of death. Prince Alskane was born in the Imperial Family of an empire ruling over the continent and grew up treasured and treated with every bit of luxury and love. Alskane, who was widely considered to be the most likely successor of the emperor instead of his older brother, Crown Prince Perfias, was screaming with bloodshot eyes at Duke Yanovis, who had been dragged to the palace from his territory.
“In all actuality, we are already preparing for battle. But the bastard is a noble of the Bajran Empire. If we were to recklessly attack without pretext, war could be ignited between the two empires.”
“Pretext? I, a prince of the empire, very nearly died, so what better pretext could there be?! And since when did our empire tuck their tails in fear facing Bajran?!!!!”
After escaping the deadly crisis, Prince Alskane had beco quite a bit more violent. The mana he had used unrestrainedly was fettered and he starved for over a week inside a pitch-black cave, so it wasn’t as if Duke Yanovis didn’t understand the Prince’s pain. However, the Duke knew that war was not sothing you should imdiately ignite because there was sothing you were unhappy about.
“We need a little more precise information and pretext. Please wait a little longer. This humble one will be sure to create an opportunity for Your Highness to vent the rage inside your heart in one go!”
“URAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I’LL RIP OUT HIS HEART! THAT BASTARD… URAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
His wrath filling the depths of his heart, Prince Alskane’s rage rang throughout the Laviter Imperial Castle.
Unbeknownst to him, the person he cursed was currently beaming with joy.
* * *
“It isn’t much, but please help yourself.”
“Thank you for inviting .”
“Oh my, it looks like food made from newly harvested crops.”
‘Huhuhu, it’s a total bevy of beauties.’
The covert dining hall was incredibly ragged compared to any noble house, but the large table was fully decked with dishes made with the harvest the residents had brought.
The al, which was prepared by roping in the best cooks from Denfors’ inns, consisted of big potatoes roasted to a golden brown, various kinds of fruits and vegetables, salad tossed with honey and milk, tuna caught from the ocean and roast fish from the river. There was also soft white bread, smoked beef, pork, and chicken.
In my eyes, it was an amazing feast, but that was of course just my opinion. The nicely suntanned lady of a pirate family, Chrisia, looked at the feast with appreciation, but Rosiathe was wearing an unimpressed expression.
“Let us dig in before it grows cold.”
I had run around all day, so I was hungry. If I were still going to school back at ho, this would have been the ti for night free study. Afterwards, I would have definitely road the stores like a ravenous wolf, going all out to buy fast food like cup ran.
And so, the al began. With at the center, to my left were Aramis and Derval, and to my right were Chrisia and Rosiathe.
“Delicious! I think this must be the most delicious potato I’ve ever had in my life.”
Chrisia had a vivacious personality, as expected for a girl from a pirate household. After cutting a potato with her fork and bringing it to her mouth, she repeatedly exclaid out loud.
“Haha, that is because it is a potato produced through a special thod.”
From having tasted it before, I knew these potatoes were clearly different from other potatoes.
“A special thod?”
“We planted seeds that were disinfected with top-grade potion.”
“W-WHAT?! TOP-GRADE POTION?!”
Chrisia had purchased that sa top-grade potion with an enormous amount of money. After hearing that such a valuable thing was used to disinfect seeds, Chrisia’s expression went from disbelief to dumbfounded.
“That is truly a special thod…” said Rosiathe, who had been quiet so far. She looked at a loss for words.
“It is thanks to Priestess Aramis over here.”
The two won turned in tandem to look at Aramis. The pure angel Aramis reddened after suddenly becoming the focus of attention.
“So she is that priestess,” said Rosiathe.
‘Shall we slowly get to the point?’
I would have been happier if Rosiathe had just dropped by for a visit, but I was well aware that she was here to represent the Havis Kingdom.
“Since the topic has co up, let us talk. How does the Havis Kingdom intend to compensate for the damages our territory accrued?”
“….?”
Rosiathe stared at as if totally blindsided by my ntion of compensation.
“I intend to demand compensation for damages to prevent reoccurence from the Havis Kingdom, or the Calvaron County to be more exact, who harbored criminals who committed an unspeakable act. That is my demand as Kyre de Nerman, a noble granted a territory and peerage from His Majesty the Emperor of the Bajran Empire.”
Because Nerman was formally recognized as my territory, I used Nerman as my last na instead of Adaron.
“T-That is…”
“Impertinent! What station do you have to threaten us!”
Two Royal Knights had been standing with a shocked face that mirrored Rosiathe’s own. The one who looked older flushed as he interjected.
“What is your na?”
He may be a Royal Knight, but I was now a count of an empire. I asked his na with a smile.
“Sir Luchias, stand back.”
“But Princess…”
“Both of you, go outside. I command it in the na of the Havis Royal Family.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The Royal Knight nad Luchias who had flapped his mouth saluted and went outside, but not before fixing with a nacing glare.
‘Brat, just know how lucky you got. How dare you glare at so openly!’
If soone dared to pick a fight with on my turf without reading the mood, even if they were an emperor, I would slap them across the cheek.
“I apologize, Count Kyre.”
“It is nothing. A Royal Knight should naturally have that level of loyalty.”
Rosiathe’s mood had already hit rock bottom. “However, I believe it is excessive to speak of compensation for damages,” she said. “Actually, the reason why I ca here today is to amicably settle the matter that occurred on the border. I stopped our kingdom’s nobles from blocking the border and seeking revenge against Kyre-nim. But if you insist so strongly, then…” Rosiathe trailed off, looking at with a cold but also sad gaze.
‘Hooh, so that’s how it was.’
I knew Rosiathe definitely had an interest in . But there was too much we had to resolve with Havis to settle things with interest alone. For Nerman’s future developnt, it was necessary to keep the relations with the Havis Kingdom black and white, no matter what that took.
“I apologize. Because of …”
Knowing it was sothing that happened because of her, Aramis uttered an apology with a glum expression.
“Nonsense! It is the fault of the people who kidnapped you, an irreplaceable priestess Nerman cannot do without, and those who protected the criminals, what would Aramis-nim have anything to apologize for? Even if a pontiff, no, ANY empire or kingdom were to threaten your safety… I will throw them into the fiery pit of hell!”
Mana surged up wildly inside the dining hall to mirror my emotions.
“…..”
The hall instantly beca quiet. I had revealed my pure emotions without a filter.
The third wheel, Chrisia, gave Aramis a strange look. “I’m jealous. To be a priestess receiving such protection from Kyre-nim…”
On the other hand, Rosiathe’s expression had grown ice cold. “The Bajran Imperial Family has already given us a response. They said it was an issue related to a lord alone, which they have absolutely nothing to do with.”
‘Of course they did. Huhu.’
It was just as I expected. Nerman was granted to as my territory, but it wasn’t given out of goodwill.
“So?”
“So…” Rosiathe was unable to respond.
‘EH? T-That is—!’
I was looking at Princess Rosiathe as if interrogating her when I spotted a small gem sparkling on her cheeks.
She was crying.
Rosiathe’s blue eyes were slowly reddening, and a single drop ca running down as if to express her grievances.
‘Why is she crying?! I didn’t do anything wrong!’
Right now, we were settling things between my territory and an official of the Havis Kingdom. But Rosiathe was crying after just a few words.
“Y-You… can’t do this to . I… I believed in you… Sob sob~!”
Rosiathe suddenly covered her face with her hands, then stumbled to her feet and went outside with lightning speed.
‘Ehhhh? What’s happening right now?’
I suddenly beca the worst guy in the world, soone who made a woman cry. The most we had done together was peacefully sharing so boar at together and having saved her from the wolf of a crown prince. After Rosiathe left, the two won left in the room turned to look at .
“I will go outside.”
Aramis must have felt bad, because she also got up and left, following Rosiathe.
“I-I recalled sothing I have to quickly take care of…”
Faced with the prickly atmosphere, Derval made up an excuse to leave.
‘What, I just spoke honestly, but… Jeez.’
A woman’s heart was already so incomprehensible, but I didn’t know it would be like this.
“To make a woman cry… Hoho, Kyre-nim, contrary to what I thought, you seem to be a bad man.”
‘Geh! B-Bad man.’
Chrisia followed up and labeled as a bad man.
“Then shall we also talk, Chrisia-nim?”
I was seen as a bad man anyway, so I took the opportunity to turn the fire on Chrisia.
“Hoho, you’ll scare if you look at like that. I am a gentle lady.”
‘Uh huh, gentle lady my ass.’
I had happened to hear soone calling her a princess back then. Though they were both princesses, the two won were so different.
“I asked you to co because I wanted to propose a trade, Chrisia-nim.”
“By trade, you an…”
As expected for a woman with formidable nerves, Chrisia trailed off while flashing neat white teeth at in a smile.
“Please acquire magic crystals for .”
“Magic crystals?”
“From what I have found out, most of the magic crystals produced in the Ice Empire Haldrian are taken care of by the Kesmire Kingdom. Please sell a portion of those magic crystals to us.”
“Oh my, where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor? We are barely managing to make a small profit from the magic crystals from the Haldrian Empire.”
‘You pretty fox, at least tell a believable lie.’
The woman in front of was a coy and dangerous eight-tailed fox.
“I am asking you to give us those barely profitable magic crystals.”
There was no need to draw things out. Going around in circles with a fox would only give a headache.
“Then what would you give us in return?”
Propping her chin with one hand, the tanned beauty looked straight in the eye.
“If you tell what you want, I will do my utmost to provide it, as long as it is within my limits.”
Many magic crystals were necessary for the territory developnt I was planning. Even the dwarves could not easily acquire magic crystals. Moreover, I had a poor relationship with every magic tower on the continent.
“Can you promise ? With your na on the line.”
‘With my na on the line… She can’t be trying to employ as a pirate, right?’
“On my na of Kyre de Nerman, I give you my word.”
In any case, it was a promise I was making within my limits. Because I had no other choice, I made the vow with my na on the line.
“Hoho, then the trade has been completed, Count Kyre de Nerman.”
Chrisia the fox put special emphasis on my na and title.
Grin.
I sent the inscrutable woman a bright smile. We may have beco allies, but in the end, we were still just the social outcasts of the continent…
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