How to Survive as the Villain in a Strategy Game Chapter 87 : Chapter 87

Chapter 87

The reason Eleonor made Leon's heart sink by requesting a private eting was, in fact, due to one thing.

─Why doesn't Leon try to beco a monarch (a king)?

It was the exact sa question that Fasa's new mayor, Emilio, had harbored.

The only difference between Eleonor and Emilio was their proactiveness.

While Emilio was wondering if he should ask, Eleonor went to find him directly.

Of course, that was also possible because Eleonor belonged to the coffee─overti cartel.

To Leon, Emilio was just his employer's son, but Eleonor was a driving force that brightly lit up the company headquarters alongside him.

That's why Eleonor could ask the question without reservation during the eting.

“Lord Gryph has now beco the de facto hegemon of the south. At this rate, it would even be possible to establish your own dynasty. But to do nothing and let it pass? That doesn't make sense.”

Leon just grinned instead of answering.

Eleonor found that smile incredibly annoying.

***

Lately, she was being treated by the people of Fasa as ‘the neighborhood fool of a lady who always has coffee to her lips and is worn out from fatigue,’ but Eleonor was strictly a formal knight belonging to the Phoenix Knights.

And the condition for joining the Phoenix Knights was codified as being a high noble of Aquitaine.

This was both the reason why the Phoenix Knights were treated as a social club of the Aquitaine court rather than a military organization, and the reason why people were surprised when Eleonor appeared in Fasa.

Originally, Eleonor was of a status that the mayor himself should have gone out to greet and entertain.

Being of such a class, Eleonor could easily deduce the political influence and consequences of this war.

This war left serious scars on everyone.

Fasa, Urdino, Pescara, ssina, and even the pirates—there was no place that wasn't battered.

But where there are losers, there are also winners.

Only one person, Leon Gryph, the company commander of Fasa, gained from it.

Company commander Leon Gryph swept away the opposition within Fasa, eradicated the pirates who were a long-standing headache of the Golden Sea, and disabled most of the surrounding hostile nations.

ssina and Pescara even begged Leon to beco their ruler, if only in na, so they could surrender to him.

Putting aside their despicable inner thoughts of avoiding the wrath of Duke Cavaldi of Urdino.

It was clearly a golden opportunity for Leon to advance.

It is very rare for a re company commander to rise to the rank of a duke or marquis.

It's a tale of legend even if one only obtains a knighthood.

So Leon could have beco a living myth in the industry.

But Leon refused that opportunity and remained just a company commander.

Eleonor could not understand that decision at all.

What is incomprehensible cannot be trusted.

Perhaps she had misjudged the man.

To confirm this, Eleonor sought out Leon.

***

“Isn't it a waste? A crown is sothing many people yearn for their entire lives but can never even touch. When the opportunity to grasp it ca, why did you just let it go? I am curious about that reason.”

“My own kingdom. What a wonderful dream. Did Da Eleonor dream of a crown in the past? I will cheer for you.”

“Lord Gryph. This is not about . It is about you. Are you going to speak as if it's soone else's business?”

Eleonor's expression as she looked at was quite serious.

It seed that changing the subject would not work here.

Nurous thoughts flashed through my mind.

The reason for the political consideration needed to hand over the next mayor's seat to the Signori family.

The fact that the company's loyalty is not based on national or ethnic consciousness but follows a monetary contract.

The secret of the bloodline I was hiding.

But bringing up such answers at length now would only be pathetic.

I said sothing that Eleonor would find convincing.

“Just because it's possible doesn't an I pursue unrealistic things.”

“Unrealistic?”

“I an this land is not a good location to establish a kingdom.”

At the aningful words, Eleonor's eyebrows shot up.

Right.

I had just made it clear that I was ‘not without ambition.’

“In this land where nurous countries, governnts, and communities exist, what would happen if I, an outsider, were to establish a kingdom?”

“?”

“They would look at with suspicion rather than accepting as a benevolent neighbor. I would eventually face danger.”

“……”

“Especially in a situation like now, where the foundation is not solid.”

Eleonor quickly understood the aning of my words.

It was a situation where we almost got into big trouble after mismanaging our aggro once.

We managed to get through it with sches this ti, but there was no guarantee that it would be possible next ti.

Probably next ti, the powers that had been silent would also join in and attack.

Especially, it was clear that Levona would be sharpening its knives.

So now was the ti to keep a low profile without attracting attention.

For that, it was better to have the position of a company commander rather than a throne.

But that wasn't the only problem.

“Let's say we sohow manage to establish a kingdom. But would people easily acknowledge the rise of a re company commander? Countless rebellions would occur, and all the years would pass by in pursuit of governntal stability.”

“Probably, yes.”

“Even if we sohow find stability, there is a limit to maintaining a power with personal leadership.”

The effective period of charisma is the sa as one's lifespan.

Even if the predecessor's halo is passed on, the sa power is not passed down to the next generation.

Nurous nations that attempted to strengthen royal authority fail for that reason.

As soon as the monarch dies, many of the things he achieved crumble like a sandcastle hit by a wave, and the dynasty collapses.

But who knows how much longer I will live?

It's impossible to predict one's lifespan.

Thus, I concluded the conversation.

“Eleonor. I am not interested in establishing a dynasty that will not last long. I would rather lay the foundation of a kingdom that will last for a thousand years.”

There, is that good enough now?

Hurry up and tell the Descendant of a Demon or whatever bloodline trait has been activated.

This kind of conversation is too awkward for .

Hurry up and tell I succeeded in persuading Eleonor.

Unfortunately, this ti, the notification that the trait had been activated did not appear.

But I did succeed in persuading Eleonor.

Though it seems to have worked in a not-so-good way.

“Indeed! So that was your thought. Lord Gryph, you were planning a thousand years ahead. To think you had such aspirations. It's truly amazing.”

What.

What are you talking about.

No, it’s because I'm not going to establish a kingdom and will return to the Empire later.

But Eleonor's eyes shone as if she had completely misunderstood.

“Yes, if that's the case, then your current actions are understandable. No wonder. Heroes are not ordinary. There's no way there's soone in the world who would refuse a kingdom.”

“Haha.”

“Actually, I was going to decide whether to leave Fasa or not depending on Lord Gryph's answer.”

“……”

I was shocked by Eleonor's confession.

That can't happen.

If Eleonor leaves now, all the company's work will co to a halt.

“But after hearing Lord Gryph's explanation, I realized it was a needless worry.”

“……That's a real relief.”

“I didn't know Lord Gryph was drawing such a big picture. As expected of Lord Gryph. I apologize for judging you rashly beforehand.”

“Not at all. The complint…, thank you.”

Eleonor spoke with a completely unclouded attitude, but cold sweat trickled down my back.

I send my thanks to my past self for not rashly taking the crown.

I knew Eleonor was a 'my way' type in the ga, but to think she'd be even more so in reality.

I must definitely keep the fact that I plan to return to the Empire once I've gathered enough troops a secret from Eleonor.

If I save it as a kind of final trump card, I might be able to stop Eleonor from trying to leave one more ti.

***

Just when I thought the situation was settled, there was one more person who was surprised by the fact that I was not becoming a king.

I had montarily forgotten, but besides Eleonor, she was not the only 'my way' person in the company.

“Lord Gryph, Duke Cavaldi has visited the company headquarters.”

“Cavali? Why that gentleman again? I'm busy as hell.”

“He insists on eting you. Should I just send him back?”

I glanced at the pile of docunts stacked high on my desk and let out a sigh.

From Urdino to Fasa is a five-day ride on horseback.

Although I had a lot of work, I couldn't coldly turn away soone who had co from so far away.

“Tell him to co in.”

“He's already here.”

“What?”

Before I could even answer, Cavaldi was already entering the office, leading a large group of attendants.

“Duke Cavaldi, it's been a while. You must be busy, how did you─”

“That's not important!”

Cavali cut off.

He was in an agitated state, as if he had witnessed the world collapsing.

Theo, who was on guard duty, reflexively grabbed his axe.

Of course, Cavaldi didn't pay any attention.

I calmly asked back.

“Then what is important?”

“Building a kingdom, of course!”

“?”

“Leon Gryph, why aren't you becoming a kinggg!”

Cavali grabbed by the collar and shouted.

After riding for five days on horseback, the first thing he says is why am I not becoming a king.

Are there only ghosts in Apennia who died because they couldn't beco kings?

Or are they all suffering from galomania?

I exchanged a look with Theo.

Theo also sent back a rather perplexed gaze.

‘It wouldn't be okay to hit him with an axe, right?’

‘Of course not. He's a duke, for crying out loud.’

We exchanged glances with roughly that aning.

I don't know what logic led Cavaldi to think he had to co see .

Cavali's ntal world was a mystery even to , who had attempted a quack psychological analysis.

But it was clear that Cavaldi was being a pain.

Because he was interrupting my work.

Ah, right.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any Heavenly Demon Divine Art to subdue Cavaldi.

Instead, I still had my authority as a company commander.

Although the war was over, the Urdino Regint had not been officially disbanded and was still part of the company's organization.

So, for now, it was logically possible for a re company commander to claim a duke of a country as a subordinate.

I decided to bet on that.

“Captain Cavaldi, show respect to your superior. This attitude is far too rude.”

“Hut. My apologies.”

Fortunately, the strategy of asserting authority worked on Cavaldi.

Cavali let go of my collar and stepped back in surprise.

Thank goodness he had so sanity left; if he had been in the ‘Cavali does whatever he wants’ state like during the Pescara siege, it would have been a disaster.

Confirming that the duke had co to his senses, I relaxed and spoke as usual.

“If you've co to visit, you should first state your business. What is all this commotion about?”

“I ca to ask why you haven't claid the throne!”

“You ca all this way for five days just for that? You could have just sent a letter, couldn't you?”

“Then the reply would be too slowww!”

“Oh, my head.”

At the innocent answer, I was at a loss for words and looked at the duke's attendants with an expression that said 'can't you stop him'.

However, the attendants only shook their heads or looked away.

Damn it, I've seen the faces of those who looked away.

Just you wait.

But I could understand their reaction.

If it were , and the person I served was acting like that, I would feel second-hand embarrassnt and want to run away.

They proved their loyalty just by staying in their spots.

Regardless of what his subordinates did, Cavaldi was on the verge of wailing.

“I naturally thought you would build a kingdom in the south of Apennia and wear the crown! Why on earth? Why aren't you wearing the crown?”

“Then what's in it for Duke Cavaldi?”

“My na will be rembered as your helper! Now! Hurry up and beco the king of Apennia, Leon Gryph! I will personally place the crown on your head!”

What on earth is this conversation.

I sighed and lowered my head.

Clear sunlight poured in through the window.

It was sumr.