Chapter 249

Doroysen was a powerful nation in the west, and a powerful nation meant one that could bully its neighboring countries yet remain a viable state.

Of course, Doroysen’s tax collection had some logic to it, unlike Solletarass.

“We have stopped the westward advance of Solletarass for the past several hundred years.”

“Why should we act as your shield?”

“The blood of our citizens has protected the grains of your citizens, so we demand grains in return.”

They claimed that it was they who had blocked Solletarass’s invasion into the west and were entitled to compensation.

If they refused, they would find Doroysen expanding to the west.

Doroysen had been a great power since before Ensis’s reign.

Surrounding small nations had no choice but to mark their territory with the label of “shield tax.”

Some saw this as bullying, while others regarded it as legitimate defense spending.

“Regardless, it’s true that we’ve been stopping Solletarass’s westward advance.”

“Without lips, the teeth will ache. If Doroysen falls, we’ll be next.”

“Those ruffians are not kind even in idle talk, but they’re better than those blood-sucking royalty.”

Thus, ripples of concern spread through the international political landscape.

“The Sword King Ensis has died, and Crown Prince Philius has ascended to the throne!”

“Duke Valenciaunos has established a mutual non-aggression pact with Philius.”

“There are also rumors that Holy Emperor Jeilliris has made an appearance.”

“Make sure to grasp the full details as quickly as possible!”

The return of the Sword King Ensis, the decisiveness of Cuith Az, the long-hidden conspiracy behind the meteor, the counterattack of the bandit Valenciaunos, the Emperor’s visit, the uneven treaty.

The small nations that learned of this sequence of events thought to themselves.

“Then we no longer need to pay the shield tax, right?”

“To try to economically enslave us indicates an unwillingness to intervene militarily.”

If they intended to destroy everything, they would have done so long ago.

“It seems there is little chance that Solletarass will invade Doroysen again.”

“When we refused to pay the shield tax, was there any chance they would invade us?”

“After Ensis’s death, Doroysen is also in chaos. They will not have the capacity for large-scale military activities under these circumstances.”

“There are Inquisition officials from the Empire coming. Philius cannot afford to be away.”

“Then, send a messenger.”

Countless messengers and diplomats sent by small nations reached Doroysen’s royal castle.

“First, we express our deep condolences for the death of His Majesty the late King Ensis—.”

The audience, which began this way, always ended with similar words.

“We sincerely thank Doroysen for stopping Solletarass’s westward advance thus far. You no longer need to shoulder such burdens.”

“No.”

“We also have a conscience. With the evil blood-sucking royalty responsible for the passing of our late king, we cannot continue to use Doroysen as our shield.”

* * *

For Philius, this was a maddening predicament.

The nation was already in chaos following his father’s death.

If the vassal states were to show their escaping from such a situation, the authority of the king would undoubtedly plummet.

He decided to stake his soul to make a pact with the devil.

“If the twin siblings are closer than we anticipated, winning over one can sway both.”

“Send a message to Duke Valenciaunos.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It seems I’ll need to wander for a while. Please send not only the Inquisition officials but also Holy Knights and administrative priests.”

Philius entrusted the capital’s administration to the Church of Light and, leading knights and swordsmen, toured the borders.

This served to both receive oaths of loyalty from the local lords and to powerfully demonstrate military might to foreign countries.

“Just remember, if we continue to refuse the shield tax, it won’t be entertaining.”

During this process, Yulia, rumored to be Philius’s lover, played a significant role.

“If you desire the thrill of life and death, and wish for fame that will leave your bones to rot!”

Most of Doroysen’s swordsmen consisted of mercenaries or adventurers.

Common mercenaries and adventurers were aimless wanderers with little patriotism, but Doroysen’s swordsmen were tightly bonded through schools and martial sects.

They voluntarily armed themselves and crossed borders, easily slashing powerful monsters or otherworldly beings that had been troubling foreign lands without concern.

Publicly, it was merely adventurers undertaking their adventurer work; there was nothing to worry about.

“Those bastards could come and take my head at any moment!”

“These fools haven’t changed at all from their fathers!”

Thus.

Philius proved that he was the son of Ensis.

Moreover, Yulia demonstrated that as a commoner, she possessed the spirit worthy of being a king’s partner.

However.

Making a pact with a devil meant one must always pay a price.

As soon as Philius returned to the capital, he was met with a bizarre spectacle.

“May the grace of light rest upon Your Highness.”

The capital was swarming with Holy Knights, priests, fervent Inquisition officials, and Church purifiers.

“…….”

They had erected a pyre in the center of the square and had even intruded upon the noble residences of Doroysen, using holy power to incinerate anyone deemed even slightly suspicious.

“Do you believe this?”

“I believe it!”

The capital was sinking into a pit of fanaticism.

Philius let out a quiet sigh and swore.

“Yulia, I will become stronger. I will become a king of swords like my father.”

“What do you intend to do with that power?”

“I will certainly butcher those damned Solletarass bastards someday.”

Objectively speaking, there was a significant gap in power, but Philius remembered the smiles of the two he had seen that day.

A smile that suggested they were the only two in the world.

Surely, they could be used to manipulate one through the other.

Yulia hesitated for a moment before asking.

“May I stay by Your Highness’s side when that time comes?”

“That is what I wish to ask of you.”

Thus, the lovers began to sharpen their swords.

Unbeknownst to them, the spies planted by Valenciaunos and Jin were among the purifiers from the Church of Light.

* * *

“Rest well! You must rest deeply!”

Valenciaunos granted Trentia a long leave of three months.

“Your Highness! I have fully recovered! I’ve consumed several potions and met with priests multiple times.”

“Don’t utter such nonsense! If a Mana Road gets injured, it usually takes a year to recover.”

“If I don’t wield my sword for even a day, I’ll grow thorns in my hands! If I rest for that long, thorns will actually sprout!”

“Then I’ll grant you 50 days of rest. Instead, you must go to the cathedral and receive treatment from high priests. You can take this token with you. It’s a kind of donation certificate.”

Valenciaunos handed Trentia a token made of ivory adorned with gold, and Trentia had no choice but to accept it.

To enjoy the scenery of the capital after a long time, she walked slowly through the streets without a horse or carriage.

Her first time in casual clothing in a while.

“What should I wear?”

As she was going to the cathedral, she had to dress appropriately.

She neatly swept back her red hair, revealing her forehead, wore a crisp black shirt and trousers under a red robe, and donned military-style boots while carrying Hwanhan.

It was an outfit resembling that of a proper knight in civilian attire.

In deep autumn.

While the capital’s tree-lined streets were adorned with red and yellow leaves, Trentia enjoyed the passing winds and the changing leaves.

But the moment she felt the token in her pocket, her mind was filled with thoughts of Valenciaunos again.

“Although it doesn’t feel so bad to be worried about… I cannot help but think what kind of mischief he may cause while I’m not by his side to teach him chivalry.”

She was confident he wouldn’t engage in minor mischief.

“Maybe it’s not so minor.”

What she had seen of Valenciaunos was certainly not the type to accept bribes to allow an unqualified candidate to pass the candidacy registration process.

Contrary to public rumors, he was quite temperate.

“Of course, he does enjoy fine food and rare wines, and likes flashy attire and jewels. But at the very least, he doesn’t throw lavish feasts that rot food, gather a horde of spring beauties for lewd acts, or create fountains out of liquor.”

Just then, three men passed beside her.

“Have you heard? Duke Valenciaunos had an enemy knight kill his three illegitimate children.”

“That enemy knight must feel pitiful. That’s not why they likely became a knight.”

“Hmph. Why would they feel pitiful? It looks like that ruffian has received a fief and completely sold out. Besides, being that ruffian’s knight, they must be—”

Smack.

Hearing rumors he’d heard multiple times did not leave him feeling good.

In this world, a knight insulting royalty was an unforgivable sin.

Trentia immediately looked up at the sky and shouted.

“How dare you insult royalty in front of a knight!”

“!”

People’s eyes turned to her, and Trentia glared at the three men.

Their faces turned pale.

With her short-cut red hair, wearing the kind of robe knights would don, the finest belt, and a sword that only those permitted could wear, she was a striking beauty.

If they couldn’t understand the situation upon seeing this, they had no right to survive in this world.

“Wha, what?”

“Lady Knight! We spoke mistakenly.”

“We apologize!”

One could be punished in the square for misnaming the names of high-ranking individuals and risk being hanged from the city walls.

“You seem to take the crime of royal insult lightly.”

Such was the law.

“Moreover, having tarnished my honor with your nonsense, this too cannot be overlooked.”

The men’s faces turned from pale to a darker shade.

To hear honor from the mouth of a knight meant that someone had to die before it could end.

Trentia could slice them into six pieces without a word of protest.

Yet she understood that Valenciaunos’s infamy acted as a shield.

“…….”

Trentia lightly clicked her tongue, slapped each of the men, and ordered them to repay the sin of speaking thoughtlessly with donations to the church this Sunday.

“Thank you, my lady.”

“We will surely do so.”

The three men quickly disappeared, and the onlookers glanced at Lady Knight with a mixture of fear and admiration.

Trentia willingly accepted the stares as she continued on her way.

Such a gaze, mixed with fear and awe, told her what kind of being she was.

“In fact, I don’t mind such minor mischief. Duke Valenciaunos. I may indulge a bit in luxury, and perhaps enjoy some lewd amusements.”

Among court nobles, there were many who enjoyed human hunts in the slums with escorts.

Let alone, Trentia was a knight.

She would eat and drink lavishly, demonstrate her prowess, and showcase her charm while accumulating lovers wherever she went.

For a knight, this was not a flaw but a virtue.

“However, the folly of His Highness Valenciaunos extends to a greater domain. I wonder if it can even be called folly, but still.”

Even as she entered the cathedral, her thoughts continued.

“Lady Knight? What brings you here?”

“I was told to show this token.”

“Please, come in!”

‘Assassination of Gremoryus, the collusion during the magical realm incident, encouraging Zahan Alliance to purchase promissory notes during the recovery process and then assassination, and the recent unfair treaty. All of it for the Empire and the Imperial Court. While it doesn’t only benefit him, at least it isn’t done solely for his own gain.’

If it had simply been for his personal benefit, she wouldn’t have pondered as she was now.

“In the past, I thought it was just a matter of scale, that essentially it was all the same. But it’s different. To act like this, even if it doesn’t greatly benefit him, means he believes it to be the right thing.”

As she thought this, a specific name rose to her mind as the embodiment of that “rightness.”

‘Her Majesty Jeilliris.’

“Lady Trentia, this way please.”

“Ah, yes.”

Trentia’s musings were interrupted by a priest’s call.

The cathedral was always bustling with people wishing to make donations and receive healing.

The priest led Trentia past all of them.

“Um, priest. I wish to come for healing as well. I am just a mere servant before the Lord, and to be so brazen—.”

Trentia’s cheeks flushed with a bit of embarrassment, but the priest shook his head.

“Oh, this is not cutting in line. It’s your rightful entitlement.”

Unlike what she thought, the priest did not lead her ahead of the queue.

Trentia followed the priest up to the third floor, entering a splendid reception room that commoners knew nothing of.

“…….”

Looking at the chandelier and the golden candlesticks, it seemed even more splendid than the royal palace’s reception room.

“Please wait a moment.”

The priest stepped out, and a short while later, the door opened.

“Duke Valenciaunos, why again… oh.”

“Saint?”

Trentia rose with a flustered feeling.

‘He certainly is a high-ranking priest.’

Entering the reception room was Saint Matheos.