Chapter 166 - 164 The Ambitions of the Duchy of Walujava
Duchy of Walujava, Ducal Capital
The Hero's Advent in the Altmea Empire
This news sent a shockwave through many people.
To the key figures of the Altmea Empire, it was like a nickname, but with the destruction of the Monster Castle being the sole focus, Windam had become a celebrity through an exaggerated image.
In various ways, this news grew and became known even to the common people.
"Hey, hey! They were saying the Duchy of Walujava was a land of gods, but if the Hero has descended in the neighboring country, doesn't that mean this country is different?"
"Don't say such reckless things. If you're overheard by those who want to go to war with the neighboring country, they'll kill you. There's an old saying, 'Let sleeping dogs lie,' right? For commoners like us, it's better to know nothing."
However, in this country where civil wars and such had continued, the true feeling of the common people was that they preferred there to be no war.
To be blunt, the only ones in this country who wanted to go to war with the Altmea Empire were the nobles harboring a 19-Year Grudge and the people of the Prime Minister Shoben Faction. Rather, there were many nobles and Cardinals who were considered part of the Moderate Faction.
Even though they were the majority, the reason they couldn't complain to Shoben was that those who opposed Shoben were dying of illness, or suffering sudden deaths or disappearances. Furthermore, the fact that Shoben had many believers as allies was another reason why no one could speak out strongly.
(I don't know where his believers are, or which ones might become assassins... If I'm not careful, I won't even be able to trust my own family or servants...)
Because everyone thought that way, Shoben had been able to become a dictator as Prime Minister. However, even Shoben had few allies in the political and social circles. From the bottom of his heart, he had no capable adjutants whom he could trust.
Even within the military, one of his few allies, there was skepticism regarding war.
"Does His Excellency Shoben truly intend to go to war with the Altmea Empire? Even now, with a total mobilization of fifty thousand, and thirty thousand from Hazard Country joining, it is finally a fifty-fifty situation. But Hazard Country is currently at war with Kieff Country! Furthermore, I have heard that the Traitor Margrave who was planning to betray the enemy has already been captured! General! Minister of Military Affairs! Please, reconsider!"
The Operations HQ was expressing opinions to the General and the Minister of Military Affairs that they should not go to war.
(I'm well aware of that! I don't want to fight a war for the selfish desires of a bastard like Shoben either. But if I refuse, assassins will come...)
The General, who wanted to say that but couldn't.
"I understand what you all are saying! However, we soldiers must fight if orders are given by the Grand Duke! I expect you all to come up with better strategies, that is all!"
And the news of the Hero's Advent had become an even greater threat to them. The Operations HQ was in despair, feeling there was zero chance of victory.
(If I'm forced to say, I can only rely on Shoben's Shadow Corps to do their best.)
That was the single thread of hope for the Minister of Military Affairs.
There was one person whom Prime Minister Shoben met frequently.
That was...
"I'm glad you could come, Prince Jason!"
"I am a man who was taken in by His Excellency the Prime Minister. I feel more gratitude than anyone."
He gave a deliberately respectful bow.
Both of these men thought that for them, favor and etiquette were mere formalities. Much less did they have trust or faith in one another; they simply had shared interests.
Destroy Altmea Empire
This single point was what connected the two.
"The reason I asked Prince Jason to come is for nothing else. You understand, don't you?"
Shoben nodded with a bright smile.
"They are just foolish old men who have swallowed the ridiculous story of a Hero whole and are now frightened, aren't they? In any country, old fogies exist and are quite troublesome."
The politicians and those called Cardinals in this country were a lineup that could all be called elderly. The only young one was the Prime Minister, Shoben. That was precisely why he was hated even more.
"That is true! Those old men are already living solely for self-preservation! Even if they survive, they will be of no use to this country! Well, fine. The reason I asked you here today is about the Hero. I thought perhaps you might know something."
Shoben watched him closely while toasting with wine.
"The Windam I know is a person far from being a Hero. He is more cowardly than anyone and takes a haughty attitude. He is a womanizer, and his sword skill is nothing special. However..."
Saying that, he stopped talking and looked into the distance.
"However? What is it you mean?"
"Sometimes, people undergo a great change quite suddenly. I was like that once, but if he has become like a reborn person, a different person, it might be troublesome."
Hearing this, Shoben looked interested.
"Ho! Are you saying you also were reborn like a different person?"
"During the previous war, you see. I was reborn. Well, no one would believe such a story no matter who I told it to. Never mind me. As for Windam, even if he has been reborn, he is not a great man, but his reputation has grown too large and is becoming a nuisance. It would be best to dispose of him early."
Finishing his wine, Shoben sneered, "That is certainly true. An irritating fellow has appeared. But, if we just dispose of him, it will be settled. It will also reduce enemy morale. If possible, I want him gone before the war begins."
It wasn't that Shoben actually wanted war either.
It was strictly a last resort; until then, he wanted to eliminate the key figures and create more rebels. For now, he was well aware that he could not obtain the cooperation of Hazard Country.
(Does he think I will be satisfied with being merely the Prime Minister of such a small country? I'll blow the minds of those old men with mold in their heads! Not just the Altmea Empire! The Kingdom of Rhodesia and the East Empire too—everything shall be in my hands!)
Jason was also riding on Shoben's ambition, plotting his own advancement.
(For now, I have no place unless I borrow this man's power. But just watch! I will surely become the lord of my own castle and territory somewhere!)
The two men, driven by muddy desires, joined hands and, for the sake of their selfish desires, were reaching out toward the Altmea Empire.
Shoben and Jason were also taking their next step.
Ceasefire Between Hazard and Kieff
Originally, it was a matter that started from a border dispute. Furthermore, they had obtained intel that Kieff Country was searching for the massive treasures of the former national lord.
"Their true desire is also not to fight. If so, could you use your power, Prince Jason, to stop the war? I will make efforts to eliminate the Imperial Family, Prime Minister Klaus, and the Hero. Of course, I will send the Foreign Minister openly. You, please make efforts to stop it from the shadows."
"I see. Right now, it would be easier for them to enter the Altmea Empire from Kieff. Though the journey will be a long distance, neither they nor the people of the Altmea Empire should be that much on guard."
Thus, by having the Duchy of Walujava mediate, they intended to create a favor, and were plotting to destroy the Altmea Empire through the Triple Alliance.
"Let us create our land of gods! If we uphold our justice and destroy the evil Altmea Empire, the Kingdom of Rhodesia, and the like, a land of gods will inevitably be created!"
"Indeed! Let us toast to our justice, Your Excellency the Prime Minister!"
Jason poured the wine with a smile, and after toasting with Shoben, they began to formulate a concrete plan.
During the winter, I was renovating Sea Capital, my new territory in the Former Gran Territory. I was drawing water from the river and using irrigation canals so that one could go anywhere using them.
(It's possible precisely because there is much flat land and it slopes gently toward the sea!)
Using earth magic, I constructed the canals.
Centering on the large river, I was connecting various cities through the canals. If the canals connected to Water City Aqua, Port Town Marino, and even the Imperial Capital, then there would surely be times when it is more convenient than land routes for the transport of people and goods, not just by carriage but by water transport.
Regias of Shivans' Guard had become a master craftsman, building roads and completing irrigation canals and water wheels.
Vel was searching for criminals lurking in various places, and Yaris was leading the military in crackdowns.
The Marine Corps had become the Coast Guard, regulating pirates along the coast.
Sera was performing city zoning, creating an efficient city.
She was giving instructions to make the internal affairs officers the mayors to develop the farming villages. The five people Sera had brought before were now serving as city mayors for the territory capitals of the Former Mercury Territory and Former Auris Territory, as well as Water City Aqua, Port Town Marino, and this Sea Capital.
I asked Sera to plant azuki beans.
"What is this?"
She asked, her eyes sparkling.
"This will produce even more money!"
"I knew it! I'm looking forward to it!"
I was smirking, thinking that with this, I could make anpan and manju.
After that.
When I returned to my family home for the first time in a while, Aristo and six others, along with the three from 'Silver Wolf', were being trained, learning the sword from my Father, the butler, and learning magic from my Mother, Leen.
"Aristo might even have more talent than Shivans!"
"Is that true, Master! More than Shivans?"
His eyes were sparkling; it seemed he was training every day until he was worn out. Apparently, he called my father 'Master' and seemed to be enjoying being beaten down, but I wondered if he was alright.
As I watched with a worried expression, Gale approached me while laughing.
"Unlike the young master, that boy is honest, so it looks like he'll grow as much as you praise him."
"You say that as if I'm not honest, Gale?"
"You've been a twisted one since long ago, young master, playing adults like toys. And you were a kid who enjoyed that! Is he the type to joyfully accept praise just because the Boss praised him?"
If you put it that way, it's true... but am I the only one who feels unsatisfied with that explanation?
"Well, fine. How are the others?"
He made a face as if to say it was obvious if I just looked.
Indeed, they had developed good expressions.
(It doesn't look like they're doing it reluctantly.)
"Don't you think the academy teachers and the officer academy teachers have bad teaching methods, young master?"
Since I hadn't been taught by them, I didn't know, so I asked what was wrong.
"Teachers, you know, teach the fear and difficulty of battle. And they only point out flaws, right? On top of that, in the end, they spout nonsense about 'talent'! If we could get strong with that, we wouldn't have had such a hard time."
Gale said that, but I have never been taught gently and politely! Absolutely never.
"Well, that's because you're family, young master. It's natural to be strict, isn't it? Besides, if they taught like those teachers, we wouldn't have become the mercenaries called the strongest. The Boss is actually quite good at teaching, despite how he looks!"
If you put it that way, it might be true.
I could only say, "I see."
While I was relieved, I worried if the territory management was alright, but he told me, "Actually, when Lord Klaus found out you were training those ten, he donated 10 million G, so the Boss and the Madam are teaching with great enthusiasm!"
In fact, since I was working the internal affairs officers hard, it seemed the territory was no problem.
Also, the reason I returned to the territory was for nothing else than that I had something I wanted to consult Gale about. It was that I was thinking of making cannons to be mounted on ships. However, unlike conventional cannons, they would be cannons that used magic instead of gunpowder.
"I can't quite put it into words, but I'm thinking if there's a way to use wind magic to launch the cannonballs."
It was fine to use gunpowder for the shells, but I thought a form close to the Warring States Cannon would be fine for now. As I explained to Gale while drawing diagrams, he seemed to grasp the image.
"I see! I've got the image of what you want to make, young master! Leave it to the genius Gale! Good magic tool artisans are being raised, but it looks like you've finally started preparing for war, haven't you, young master?"
"So you found out after all?"
"Of course! You're trying to build ships, aren't you? I heard that even in the Imperial Capital, an engineer unit headed west for fort construction."
Just as Gale said, preparations for fort construction had begun at the western border.
In the Imperial Capital, after the party ended, the movements of the material managers and design personnel had become frantic.
Within a year, the Duchy of Walujava will attack.
This information had been provided by the Lechaa Trading Company and the Shilling Trading Company, so it was said to be almost certain. Furthermore, they were also conducting assassinations of key figures, rebellions of major nobles, and guidance for revolts, leaving no room for carelessness.
Personal security for His Majesty and Klaus, of course, as well as the cabinet ministers, had also tightened, and the situation was such that family members could not go out without a guard.
"Klaus. It seems the enemy is turning fanatics into assassins to compensate for their lack of military force?"
"The military police are keeping watch, but it is difficult because it's hard to identify them if they infiltrate among immigrants and refugees."
The strength of the Duchy of Walujava is that it is also a religious nation and holds many believers on this continent, but while they currently have little contact with the Altmea Empire, it was unknown how many secret believers there were.
It was said that many believers had disappeared since the war 19 years ago, but the actual situation was not well understood. The Minister of Internal Affairs and the Justice Minister were also conducting internal investigations, but the reality was that if you started suspecting, there would be no end to it.
Regarding palace security, the Imperial Guard Knights were keeping watch day and night, but the military was also being called out for security duty.
"It is a situation where you don't know when a neighbor who was smiling until yesterday might turn their fangs on you."
Windam, as the Minister of Military Affairs, was also being forced into a situation where he had to allocate personnel to the security of the Imperial Capital, mines, and such.
I also continued to monitor my expanded territory with [Skill: Hawk Eye].
I was capturing red dots, but they were only ordinary criminals, not enemies.
(I'll leave the Imperial Capital to His Majesty and Klaus; I must stabilize the foundation of my own territory.)
It would be putting the cart before the horse if I neglected my own territory.
The captured criminals were, for the time being, entrusted to Regias to become laborers. Thanks to that, Sea Capital was gradually developing.
While continuing to monitor with [Skill: Hawk Eye], I returned to the shipyard in the fishing town, and Kairi came hugging me while crying, saying, "Welcome home!"
"I'm home, Kairi. Why are you crying?"
"I felt like you wouldn't come back anymore..."
"That's not true. I leave occasionally for work, but I'll be here during the winter."
She smiled happily and wiped her tears, saying, "I have to make delicious food tonight!" and was acting enthusiastically.
I went to the factory in the shipyard to build the ship.
I had to make the screw propellers and the rudder, and I also had to perform the fitting out.
(There is much to do, but I'll handle them one by one.)
Rust prevention was a given, and I also had to consider defensive power by anticipating enemy attacks, but I also had to thoroughly verify if it could truly be used as a ship.
When evening came, a voice from the second floor said, "Dinner is ready!"
"I'm coming now! Thank you!"
When I answered and went up to the second floor, the two tamed puppies and Jin also came; Jin looked happy, saying, "Papa!"
"Have you been a good boy, Jin? Let's take a bath later!"
"Da!"
I wondered if he understood, but after eating together harmoniously and finishing the cleanup, Kairi also came into the bath with us.
"When you weren't here, I was bathing with Jin. Lately, he wants food more than breasts. He's growing bit by bit!"
It seemed she was a little lonely.
It was as if it were a lie that we had been treating each other so poorly until just recently; we were so good together.
(It's a good thing.)
After drying my body and hair, I put Jin and the puppies to sleep, and then I drank alcohol together with her, dressed in nothing but a single bathrobe.
"When I think about it, it's a dream-like life!"
"What are you talking about?"
I am a noble, and although Kairi is the daughter of a net boss, she is a child of a fisherman.
Normally, we wouldn't even meet, and even if we paid to perform a dogeza, we wouldn't drink alcohol together or be embraced like this. At most, it would be normal to be embraced once or twice like Gonta and then abandoned when bored.
(In this world, that would be the case...)
"And yet, you taught me how to cook, even took care of my child, and made me happy!"
"I want you to continue to be happy."
"My, even my ex-husband didn't feel that way, you know?"
She can laugh about it now, but Kairi said she might have committed suicide if I hadn't been there.
"Six months after thinking my husband had died, I gave birth to this child... My Father collapsed from mental stress, and then the harassment from Gonta and the others from the neighboring fishing town began. I thought somewhere, my husband would return. And that he would save me. But, in reality, I also had a sense of resignation that he wouldn't return."
And she confessed that from Jinta, whom she finally met, she was told things like he didn't like her, and even Jin had become someone she couldn't find cute.
"Well, even so, I think it's admirable that you were able to properly say goodbye to Jinta."
"To be honest, perhaps it was thanks to my state of resignation, thinking he had died somewhere. But, I was hurt when I was told that I was nothing but complaints and that my sex was bad. To think a noble would save someone like me!"
She laughed after taking a big gulp of alcohol.
She had likely lost confidence in her appearance because she was abandoned and hated by Jinta. That's why I understood that she was working hard to devote herself to housework and her sexual encounters with me.
"I didn't save you because you're a lord. I saved you because you're a wonderful woman."
Kairi hugged me, saying she was happy.
"A young and cool noble became my husband, even if only temporarily! You saved my Father from illness and helped the fishermen! And you even taught me the joys of being a woman!"
She was crying, seemingly moved.
"Kairi, you have struggled. I can understand that!"
"Yes. I decided to marry only Jinta. Jinta did not love me. Thinking about it now, because I was the daughter of a net boss, I endured and married him even though I was ugly, but I couldn't cook, was bad at night, and was strong-willed, so I was hated. That's why he ran away from me. I'm glad I'm alive. Since he has grasped new happiness, I'll forget him! Since I have grasped happiness too."
She knelt before me with an expression of lust.
And then, as if it were natural, she began fellatio.
"Kairi, you aren't ugly at all. You're a woman so good that it's a waste on Jinta! I don't want to embrace you out of sympathy; I want to embrace you because I like you, Kairi."
She had an exotic atmosphere and gave a slightly intense impression, but to me, she was a beauty and also had large breasts. And she was erotic and devoted. She looked like she was about to cry at my words.
"I didn't even do fellatio for Jinta! I was told my sex was bad, but I love you! ♡ I'll devote myself to you a lot! ♡ I want you to want me more! ♡"
When I gripped her breasts quite firmly, Kairi rejoiced, saying I was wanting her.
"I like Kairi, who sucks my cock so deliciously. I love Kari, who becomes lewd when her breasts are squeezed hard by me!"
When I made her spread her legs, her love juices spilled out.
"Squeeze my breasts even harder, until it hurts! ♡ Make me so lewd! ♡ I'll suck my beloved's cock anytime! ♡ Make me feel even better! ♡"
When I released inside her mouth, she licked her lips and performed semen ingestion. Her face became bewitching, and she proactively took me into her mouth many times. When I taught her titty fuck fellatio, she did it with pleasure.
The next morning
She made breakfast with a high-spirited face.
"Heh! You've increased your repertoire again?"
"I have to make sure Papa eats well! It's a problem for me if you aren't energetic at night! ♡ Since you're the one who taught me that sex feels good! ♡"
It was cute how she said that while kissing me with a red face.
"Isn't it hard being embraced by me every day?"
"Rather, I hate not being embraced! When I think about what position you'll embrace me in tonight, I get excited! ♡ I'll build up my stamina too! ♡ I want you to embrace me until morning! ♡"
Her breasts bounced, and she remained in a state where she could be wanted by me at any time.
I handled the security of the territory and the shipbuilding work, while Kairi handled childcare and housework, and it seemed she also went back to her family home while out shopping.
"Is Taizou-san doing well?"
"Yes! He says he wants to see the Young Master's child soon!"
She was making a fuss by herself with a red face. Since Taizou, the net boss, had a system where he received a salary as a local leader, Kairi should be able to live a life of leisure even if she became pregnant.
Once Kairi learned the cowgirl position, she began to want to ride on top frequently.
The cause was my comment that 'I can enjoy swaying breasts and lewd Kairi', but Kairi would say, "When I move myself, I can reach the places that feel good and it's easier to climax!" and as soon as I performed fellatio and her breasts got big, she would immediately get on top.
"Besides, I can lean over and kiss you right away! ♡"
"You've become quite the pervert, haven't you?"
"But I'm only interested in my husband! ♡ Because I love him this much! ♡ And it's because my super pervert husband says he likes a wife who has become lewd! ♡"
Making wet sounds until morning, she let out lewd moans and climaxed many times.
Meanwhile, in Sea Capital
Since they were preparing the liquor during the winter, Sera was overjoyed that by using alchemy for fermentation and aging, they could sell delicious liquor in one year.
"With this, tax revenue will go up even more this year!"
Everyone was excited at the prospect of increased revenue and profit.
(Maybe I'll make beer this year too.)
The ale in this world was indeed unsatisfying. I thought I would make ice-cold beer in the summer, and I was repeating trial and error here as well.