Chapter 242 - Episode 235: Dire News
The office of Konrad, an honorary attendant serving the Viscount Arqvist family, is currently located within the territorial army headquarters.
Initially, Konrad had performed his duties within the Arqvist estate, but since communications via "Far-Talk" from outside the territory required him to first report to the Chief Attendant, Yuri, who would then convey the information to the lord, Noein, he had moved his workplace here for efficiency.
Furthermore, until a short while ago, Konrad had been stationed at the Aspida Fortress in the west, but as relations with the Kingdom of Lancel had calmed and work involving communications with Retovik had become more frequent recently, he continued to work in the territorial capital, Noeina, for the convenience of reporting.
One day, as September drew to a close, a "Far-Talk" connection linked into the mind of Konrad, who was waiting while performing his usual memorization training.
"...! Yes, this is Konrad, honorary attendant of the Viscount Arqvist family."
The one who had connected was a Royal Mage stationed in Retovik, the territory of Viscount Koenitz to the east. To prevent any accidental misconnections, Konrad stated his name and affiliation while grabbing a pen and paper for notes.
"Urgent report from the royal capital, understood. Please proceed. ............What!!"
While shocked by the contents of the transmission from the Royal Mage, Konrad continued to take notes mechanically, driven by his instinct as a dialogue mage. He wrote in shorthand to ensure not a single word was missed.
"............Yes. I will repeat. September 29, Imperial Year 218, 11:00 AM. The ambassador from the Republic of Betumia has delivered a declaration of war to His Majesty King Oscar Roadberg III. The invasion by the Republic of Betumia is expected within the next few days. All nobles of the kingdom are to immediately prepare their military forces. Is that correct? ...Understood. Farewell."
As the sensation of the "Far-Talk" connection in his mind severed, Konrad immediately snatched up his notes and bolted out of the office.
"Ch-Chief Attendant! Chief Attendant—!"
Running through the corridors of the headquarters, he reached the front of Chief Attendant Yuri's office and knocked on the door.
"Chief Attendant! This is an urgent report! Chief—"
There, Konrad noticed that the sign on the door was set to "Absent."
"Ah! Seriously! Chief Attendant—!"
Konrad dashed through the corridor once more. The only other places Yuri might be were the officers' offices or the conference room.
"...Oh, what's wrong?"
While running through the hall, he bumped into attendant Dant, who was coming up the stairs from the first floor.
"Ah, Dant-san! Where is the Chief Attendant!?"
"The Chief Attendant is at the training grounds right now, overseeing the soldiers' training. Did something—"
"Thanks!"
Cutting off Dant's question and pushing past him, Konrad raced down the stairs.
Dant didn't particularly mind the action; rather, he figured that for Konrad to be in such a rush, there must have been a highly urgent report from outside the territory.
"..."
It seemed best that he also prepare himself to move quickly. He should probably notify the other attendants as well. With that thought, Dant hurried toward the officers' office.
.....
In the lord's office at the estate, Noein was performing his duties alongside Matilda.
The second planting of the year was expected to yield the planned harvest, and a complete solution to the food problem was in sight. The import of salt had also been achieved. At the start of the year, he had wondered how things would turn out, but the great turmoil regarding the Arqvist territory had ended.
Now, he only had to spend peaceful days without incident until next year. Thinking this, Noein worked leisurely, tea brewed by Matilda in one hand, while exchanging small talk with her.
That peaceful time ended with the sound of the lord's office door being violently knocked upon.
"Your Excellency! An important report!"
"!!"
The loud voice calling Noein was Yuri's. At the extraordinary tone, both Noein and Matilda immediately tightened their expressions.
"Come in!"
"Excuse me!"
Yuri, who burst into the room, was accompanied by Konrad. The fact that he had gone through the trouble of bringing Konrad along meant there had been an important report from outside the territory, and it wouldn't be strange for additional reports to arrive at any moment.
"What happened?"
To Noein's question, Yuri relayed the contents of Konrad's report with a grim face.
"...This morning, the Republic of Betumia declared war on the Kingdom of Roadberg. It is predicted that enemy landings will begin within a few days. It is a royal order that each noble immediately prepare their military forces."
"No way..."
Hearing this, Noein was stunned.
The Kingdom of Roadberg and the Republic of Betumia had engaged in friendly trade for many years. Although it was a one-sided arrangement where Betumia, possessing the technology and knowledge of deep-sea navigation, would visit from far across the ocean to trade at the kingdom's ports, they had interacted for over 100 years without any problems.
Who could have imagined that Betumia would suddenly bare its fangs now?
"Some kind of mistake... no, that's impossible."
Having accumulated several years of experience, Konrad had grown into an excellent dialogue mage. There was no way he would mistake such an important report.
"Your Excellency, for the time being—"
"...You're right. First, let's inform the attendants of the major martial houses. The summons will be—"
"Tch! Yes, this is Konrad, honorary attendant of the Viscount Arqvist family!"
Interrupting the conversation between Noein and Yuri, Konrad began to speak while staring into mid-air. Another "Far-Talk" must have come from Retovik.
"..................Yes. I will repeat. September 29, Imperial Year 218, 1:00 PM. The army of the Republic of Betumia has landed in Laden, the territory of Earl Kivileft in the southeastern part of the Kingdom of Roadberg. The Earl Kivileft territorial army is attempting a defense, but the war situation is desperate."
"Ugh... th-"
"..."
Noein instinctively muttered upon hearing Konrad's words, while Yuri fell silent with a stiff expression. Though Matilda's expression did not change, a single drop of sweat rolled down her forehead.
"Nobles of the southeastern region are to gather as many troops as possible and immediately assemble under the faction leader, Marquis Bittenfeld. Nobles of other regions are to continue preparing for departure and await further instructions... Is that correct? ...Understood. Farewell."
Even after Konrad finished the "Far-Talk," silence enveloped the room for a while.
"...Your Excellency, first, the summons for the attendants."
"...Right. Call everyone who is within the territorial capital to the conference room. Ah, for the Claymores, just the captain Gustav and vice-captain Cecilia will suffice."
"Understood. Konrad, gather the attendants via 'Far-Talk.' Just tell them to come to the estate's conference room for now. You go to the conference room as well."
"U-Understood!"
Ordered by Yuri, Konrad leaped out of the room.
"Kimberly!"
"Did you call, Master?"
When Noein called, the door Konrad had just exited opened immediately, and the steward Kimberly entered. It seemed she had been waiting in the corridor, noticing the commotion.
"Please prepare the conference room. Also, I want you to gather the attendants who are within the estate in the conference room."
"Yes, immediately."
After seeing Kimberly leave, Noein sat on the edge of his desk, leaning his weight on it as he let out a sigh.
"...Sigh. This has become an absolute disaster."
"Yeah, it's truly a bolt from the blue,"
Yuri nodded as he sat down on the meeting sofa. Matilda remained quietly by Noein's side.
Noein and Yuri occasionally debated for fun "what would happen to the kingdom and the Arqvist territory if a military conflict with neighboring countries occurred now," and they had considered Betumia as well. But he never imagined that a war would actually break out.
Betumia was generally said to be a rational, civilized nation. It adopted a unique political system called a republic, where wise leaders chosen by the people guided the country, prioritized the interests of the people, and built an ideal, peaceful society. At least, that was what he had heard on the surface.
That was precisely why the Kingdom of Roadberg did not consider Betumia a realistic threat and prioritized the battles against the immediate enemies, the Pallas Empire and the Kingdom of Lancel under Cadne's rule. Or rather, due to the limits of national power, they had no choice but to focus there.
One could say they were off guard. Including the royalty, there were likely few in the Kingdom of Roadberg who had seriously considered a war with Betumia, with whom they had never once conflicted until now.
"Of all places, the enemy landing point is the Earl Kivileft territory. No matter how much Laden is one of the kingdom's leading cities, if Betumia attacks in earnest, they won't stand a chance—"
"...Noein-sama, are you, uh, alright? Laden is your birthplace, after all."
"Hm? Ah... though, from the time I was born until I became an adult, I never once left the grounds of the Earl's estate. I only spent about a week there preparing to leave for the Arqvist territory after being kicked out of the house. So, I don't really have any attachment to the city itself."
Asked by Yuri, Noein answered with a nonchalant expression.
"However... I wonder what that piece-of-shit father of mine is doing. Given his personality, he'll probably flee instantly, but if he messes up and dies, my revenge will be ruined."
"...Well, Earl Kivileft is a cunning man. He probably won't die so easily,"
Yuri said with a bitter face. Because of Maximilian, Yuri and his comrades had lost many of their fellow mercenaries and had once fallen as far as being bandits. He understood Maximilian's spitefulness just as well as Noein did.
"True... more importantly, at this rate, not just the Earl Kivileft territory, but the entire kingdom is in danger. No joke, this is a crisis of national extinction."
"It's already in chaos due to the famine. Betumia probably aimed for that."
While the feeling was faint in the Arqvist territory, the current Kingdom of Roadberg was in a state where people were starving to death. Even if told by royal order to prepare military forces, there was no way to conduct a proper war in a situation where they were struggling even for food.
Of course, the nobles would likely prepare for departure even if it meant seizing food from the people, but even then, it was unknown how many troops could be mobilized and by when. It wouldn't go as it did in peacetime.
"...I wonder what will happen now."
Noein muttered, lowering his gaze to stare at the floor.
What would become of the kingdom from here on?
In order to protect the happiness of himself, his family, and his people, what should he do now?
Because the situation was so sudden, it was still difficult to imagine specifically.