Chapter 362 - Episode 354: An Ominous Urgent Report
After finishing Eleos's engagement announcement party and returning from Lichthagen, Noein's life was the very definition of peaceful.
Trade with the three nations bordering the frontier was proceeding smoothly. Various industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, were also doing well. There were no notable troubles within the country. There were no disputes with neighboring nations.
Regarding the Jet-Black Armor, matters were progressing without issue. Currently, he was having the puppet mages—the most irreplaceable human resources in the country—proceed with the creation of their armaments. Once their armor was completed, the equipment would be updated for the nobles and retainers, then the Guard soldiers, and finally the general soldiers.
Since he left the majority of the practical work to his subordinates, Noein himself had nothing special to do and spent his days in relative leisure.
The next piece of work requiring special action was the goodwill visit to the Kingdom of Revelant scheduled for early autumn. In order to externally appeal that the monarchs of neighboring nations who had established diplomatic ties were getting along sufficiently, it was planned that Noein would go there this year, and King Gabriel Revelant would come here next year.
He thought he could relax for a few more months until the departure for that goodwill visit. Then came a certain day in June. While Noein was carrying out his duties as a monarch as usual, there was a knock on the door of his office.
"Your Excellency, it is Knight-Bachelor Schoenberg. I have an urgent report."
"...You may enter."
Having been granted permission to enter, Pence opened the door, entered the room, met Noein's eyes, and
"Please don't make that face before I've even said anything,"
he said with a subtle expression.
"Sorry, but whenever Pence comes saying it's an urgent report, the abnormal usually begins from that point."
"I think so too, but it cannot be helped given my role."
Pence, who was the Captain of the Guard and also the person responsible for the security of the House of Grand Duke Arqvist, often delivered important reports brought from outside the Grand Ducal House to Noein first. Naturally, he often ended up in the unfortunate role of delivering unpleasant news.
"So, what is the story today?"
"...Sir Beverstamm, a knight of the Kingdom of Revelant, has arrived. He says there is something he must urgently convey to Your Excellency."
Hearing this, Noein's face became suspicious. At a time when they were scheduled to visit in about two months, for a noble from that side to go through the trouble of crossing the mountains to deliver a message, it had to be something significant.
"I understand. I'll go immediately. The reception room?"
"Yes. He has already been shown in."
Noein stood up and headed immediately for the reception room. Matilda, who had been performing duties in the room with him, and Pence, who had reported the news, followed behind.
When the door was opened by the steward Kimberly and he entered the reception room, the waiting Beverstamm stood up and bowed.
"Grand Duke Arqvist. It has been a long time. I apologize for this sudden visit without prior notice."
"Thank you for your hard work traveling from so far, Sir Beverstamm. Please, have a seat."
While exchanging greetings calmly for the time being, Noein had her sit and sat opposite her. Pence attended beside him, and Matilda waited behind the two of them.
"Now then, I hear there is some urgent matter?"
If it was urgent, social pleasantries and small talk should be omitted. Thinking this, Noein asked the main point abruptly.
"Actually, a crisis is currently approaching the Kingdom of Revelant. I have come to inform you of that matter."
"A crisis, is it?"
"Yes. A crisis of the disappearance of the Kingdom of Revelant."
"...That is not very mild. May I hear the details?"
Noein stopped smiling. For an official envoy of a nation to say that their country was in danger of disappearing was an extraordinary situation.
For Noein, the Kingdom of Revelant was a long-awaited source of salt imports with whom they had just established diplomatic ties. It was also the source of imports for the garnet that served as a raw material for the Jet-Black Armor. It would be problematic if they disappeared.
"Then, I shall explain."
The current situation as told by Beverstamm was as follows.
First, the northern part of the Adleon continent was a region where many small nations stood side by side, but the tendency was that the further north one went, the smaller the scale of the nations became. It was said that the nations further north within the northern region had a slower degree of civilizational development compared to nations further south, such as the Kingdom of Revelant.
Among those northern nations, there was a country called the Kingdom of Virgoa, which was conspicuously large. Although its population was large at approximately thirty thousand, it was a land that was not very fertile, and they struggled to support that population, so it was not an existence that could be called a powerful nation.
Such a Kingdom of Virgoa had begun to rapidly expand its influence over the last two years. Apparently, they had escaped their primitive farming system and acquired technology and knowledge to dramatically increase agricultural productivity, and they attacked surrounding countries with an army matching their population. They achieved annexations and the creation of vassal states.
And now, the Kingdom of Virgoa was showing a new movement. They had declared an invasion of the Kingdom of Revelant and the Duchy of Dale immediately to its northwest, and were said to be gathering soldiers from their own country, vassal states, and even surrounding nations that sought to join them.
"That is quite troublesome... I wonder why that Kingdom of Virgoa achieved such rapid growth."
"Regarding that point, one thing became clear very recently. A man who has been highly valued as a close aide to the current King of Virgoa for several years is said to call himself Cadne Lancel."
"!!"
Hearing Beverstamm's words, Noein's eyes widened. Beside him, Pence's expression became grim.
"We are also aware, in broad terms, that a political upheaval occurred in the Kingdom of Lancel several years ago, and the king at the time was driven from the country and fled to the north. If the story of this man is true..."
"...Does it mean that Cadne, who was exiled from the Kingdom of Lancel, survived and ingratiated himself with the current King of Virgoa?"
Noein thought it was probably true. He had heard that Cadne fled north taking some subordinates in addition to soldiers, and if he had been raised as royalty, Cadne himself should possess a certain level of education. If he and his subordinates had agricultural knowledge and found someone to ingratiate themselves with in a civilizationally underdeveloped region, it was not impossible to make a leap forward like this.
The probability of dying in a ditch was likely far higher than succeeding, but Cadne had grasped a tiny piece of luck. The current situation of the Kingdom of Virgoa told that story.
"Our country also has national pride, and the royalty and nobility have a duty to protect the country, therefore we cannot simply accept the invasion and annexation by the Kingdom of Virgoa. In the first place, the Kingdom of Virgoa likely would not let us surrender peacefully."
Noein did not deny Beverstamm's words.
They would attack on a large scale leading the newly annexed countries, vassal states, and surrounding countries wishing to join. As the one who recruited the soldiers, the King of Virgoa had a responsibility to achieve a brilliant victory and give rewards to the participating lords and kings.
Whether that was permission for looting, or the people and the land of the invaded country itself. Either way, the two countries being attacked would not escape unscathed.
"However, I must say that our country's prospects are poor even at this moment. According to rumors, the military force the Kingdom of Virgoa is gathering is no less than three thousand, and in some cases, it is seen to exceed four thousand."
"That is... I do not know the common sense of war in the northern continent, but even from our perspective, that is quite a large army."
"Yes. Speaking by our common sense, it is a large army that comes once in several decades. In contrast, our country's military personnel, even including the lowest soldiers, are around three hundred. Of course, we will conscript from the civilians, but even then, we will be far inferior to the enemy in both quality and quantity..."
Beverstamm made a bitter expression. It was only natural.
Peasant soldiers conscripted from among the civilians were better than nothing, but they could not be expected as a proper fighting force. If it were the Grand Duchy of Arqvist or the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, they could be used reasonably well if lined up to fire crossbows, but since the Kingdom of Revelant did not have such weapons, their use was very limited.
Furthermore, the population of the Kingdom of Revelant was only twenty thousand. Even if they gathered those who seemed able to fight from among the adult males, they would lose in numbers to the army of the Kingdom of Virgoa.
"Is it not possible to expect reinforcements from the surrounding northern nations?"
"My lord also called for joint action, but the response has not been favorable. Some countries that do not look kindly upon the leap of the Kingdom of Virgoa have begun to unite using this incident as a catalyst, but their pace of coordination is slow. Since many were countries in a relationship of virtual enemies until now... they will likely not make it in time before the invasion of our country begins. I do not think other countries will urgently compromise solely for the sake of our country."
"...That is a very harsh story."
Noein chose his words carefully for Beverstamm, who wore an expression of anguish.
Their interests differed, their cultures and values differed, and even the races that occupied the mainstream within their countries differed. For such nations to suddenly discuss things as equals and unite into a single force was likely not something that could be done overnight.
It would be good if they could unite in solidarity, disregarding their own interests in the face of a common enemy, but reality was not that simple. There was a high possibility that they would fail to unite properly and be defeated one by one before the military power of the Kingdom of Virgoa.
Depending on how the Kingdom of Virgoa expanded its influence after victory, some countries might consider giving up resistance from the start and being incorporated or forming an alliance.
"I can understand the thoughts of other countries, and I believe it is useless to resent them. However, our country is currently the party being targeted by the Kingdom of Virgoa. If so, we must face the battle staking the survival and prestige of the nation."
"And so, you have come as an envoy to seek assistance from our Grand Duchy of Arqvist?"
When Noein spoke in a voice that showed no emotion, Beverstamm nodded.
"Yes. Until the invasion by the Kingdom of Virgoa begins, there are probably two to three months. Our country does not have much time left. As a friend with whom we have established diplomatic ties, I have been commanded by my lord to ask that you please lend your strength to our country's plight."
Facing Beverstamm, who bowed deeply, Noein thought. After letting his thoughts circulate for a while, he opened his mouth.
"...Our country is a friend to your country, and I believe that I am a friend of His Majesty Gabriel. I wish to state clearly here and now that I will certainly provide assistance. However, I am also in a position that holds a nation and subjects. When it comes to dispatching troops to a foreign land, I cannot avoid discussing it with my high officials. I want that time."
As if having expected Noein to say so, Beverstamm nodded calmly.
"I understand. I shall wait, while praying that I may receive a favorable reply from Your Excellency."