Chapter 254

Helena looked at me with a wistful gaze.

“I had hoped that Valenciaunos would witness the victory of my soldiers, but alas. You may go ahead first.”

The priest shook his head at her words.

“I hope that Duchess Helena will join us as well.”

“Me too?”

“It is an affair involving the Land of Lanzo Republic.”

“That’s very happy—no, a significant matter.”

Helena exclaimed, and anxious glances exchanged in the tent.

Rudi was on guard, Sererassie had set up a soundproof barrier, and Tenitia sent out several officers and Marcus’s apprentices.

The priest bowed his head in gratitude and slowly opened his mouth.

“The main base of the infiltrators operating in the Doroysen Kingdom was the Land of Lanzo Republic.”

Duchess Tenitia blinked as if she couldn’t believe the words, while Helena frowned.

“What do you mean by that? The two should not be able to coexist under the same sky.”

Even I, having returned, struggled to understand right away.

The Land of Lanzo Republic had been advocating for universal equality and republicanism since the humans gained independence from heterogeneous races a thousand years ago.

On the other hand, Doroysen was a country with a stronger centralization than our Solletarass, deeply rooted in a culture that venerates swordsmen and heroes.

“I’ve heard the stories about the two warring, about expelling or executing each other’s merchants and messengers, but I’ve never heard that they conspired together.”

The priest nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness. In fact, it is not easy for neighboring countries to maintain friendly relations.”

“That’s true.”

“But there is no other place where neighboring countries can become close so easily. We learned this through our investigation along with the bishops of various countries. Although both countries officially deny each other, they do not block or hinder trade. In fact, the customs duty between the two countries is quite low.”

Before my return, when I had quit my life as a debauched rogue and began the emperor’s debauched activities, both countries had been the evil invading armies, lairs of the infiltrators that deserved to be burned.

I hadn’t realized there were such relations.

Of course, having heard this much, I had a rough idea.

“I see. Could it be that the hostile coexistence among the leadership of the two countries has begun?”

“Yes, Your Highness. As expected, you grasp it quickly, just as the saint said.”

The priest nodded with a peculiar expression.

Hmm, it seems Matheos expected me to understand this quickly.

Since the conclusion was correct, I couldn’t say anything against it.

At that moment, I heard a throat clear, and when I glanced to the side, both Duchess Tenitia and Lady Sorelazie wore expressions of not understanding anything.

“Lady, sister?”

The blank expressions of the knight and mage, who understood a lesson when taught one, were precious, so I couldn’t help but inwardly sigh at the fact that I couldn’t depict that scene as a portrait.

Sererassie glanced at Tenitia and then poked me in the side with a look of insult.

“Valen, what does hostile coexistence mean?”

* * *

I pondered how far I could go in explaining so that even a magician who knows nothing about the world’s affairs could understand.

“The Land of Lanzo is a republic, you know? You understand what a republic is, right?”

Sererassie replied in an unusually uncertain tone.

“They elect members through voting, and those members elect a prime minister… is that not it? Anyway, I know it’s a country where kings are elected for a term rather than based on bloodline.”

I skipped over the difference between a governor and a king without explaining.

“That’s right. Roughly correct. The important thing is that those elected through voting govern the country. Therefore, it would be important to please those with voting rights, wouldn’t it?”

“Isn’t that so? Otherwise, they won’t vote for you next time.”

“Exactly. But neighboring Doroysen is a centralizing kingdom. So, those with voting rights fear Doroysen. They never know when they might invade and conquer us and take their voting rights away. What would the ones campaigning say?”

This time, it was not Sererassie but Duchess Tenitia who answered.

“They would say we need to strengthen our power against their threat, we must attack and defeat them.”

I clapped my hands.

“That’s right, Lady. But would they really start a war just because of that? If they make a wrong move, they could all perish together. Also, if their sons and daughters are dragged to the battlefield and killed, their approval ratings would drop.”

Sererassie, Tenitia, and Helena all inhaled sharply.

“So, they won’t actually go to war, but will keep saying we need to fight?”

“What kind of cowardly fellows would that be?”

“Why don’t their hearts race?”

The last remark missed the essence, but I let it slide.

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “It’s common to criticize each other while soothing internal dissatisfaction externally. Right now, the church is saying the imperial court is unfit when there’s a drought, and the imperial court blames the evil infiltrators for the drought… let’s pretend we didn’t hear that.”

That was not something a member of the royal family should say in front of a priest.

Sererassie, Tenitia, and Helena all chuckled and nodded.

“In any case, explaining that they won’t actually fight while criticizing each other and gaining the support of anxious citizens is what we call hostile coexistence.”

I organized my thoughts like that, and the priest was about to speak again, but Duchess Tenitia raised her hand, glancing at me.

“Then why did Doroysen choose coexistence? Those swordsmen revere the battlefield.”

The voice of the Sword Expert carried a weight like the sky, and the priest wrinkled his face and avoided eye contact.

I replied with a wry smile.

“Ensis was not a king who would shy from war either. But what about the Crown Prince? He needs the support of the knights and citizens to maintain his position. Yet, starting a real war would be unwise.”

“He could lose everything if he’s not careful.”

“That’s why they only criticize. Well, as you said, calling them cowardly fools isn’t entirely wrong.”

“Hmm. I understand but cannot be convinced.”

Lady Tenitia wore a confident smile on her dignified face, and the unfortunate priest finally found his chance to speak again.

* * *

“It is as Your Highness mentioned earlier. The two nations have long accused and disparaged each other, continuing only small-scale skirmishes. However, even small-scale skirmishes have devastated the lives of nearby cities, and in the process, the number of infiltrators has surged.”

“I see.”

This was the reason I generally avoided harsh measures like large-scale warfare or meteorite impacts.

Our royal nobles could not tolerate the people who had chosen to be infiltrators because their lives were hard, but at the same time, they also had a responsibility to ensure that life is not hard for them.

“The increase in lower-level infiltrators has statistically led to an increase in high-level infiltrators, and infiltrators have been gathering across the continent, naturally forming large infiltrator cults.”

“So that means—”

“Yes. They were the group that attempted to retrieve holy items at the Alchenversa Monastery and provided ancient powers to the Central Greenskin Horde, leading the Sword King Ensis of Doroysen down the path of corruption.”

Duchess Tenitia, who had defeated the Greenskin Horde alongside me, frowned, and Sererassie clicked her tongue.

The priest pulled out a scroll from his bosom.

“A list of sponsors and a completed eradication list.”

It appeared to be over a meter long at first glance.

“We’re currently identifying their organizational structure, but it seems to be composed of laymen, priests, bishops, and archbishops.”

His voice gradually cooled.

“The highest infiltrator within Doroysen was a court noble and a bishop. They were active in capturing but were so defiant that they were eradicated, resulting in the deaths of 25 holy knights, 13 combat priests, and 677 purification soldiers.”

It seemed he was trembling.

“There was no archbishop level within Doroysen.”

I recalled how Justianus, the traitorous prince, had sought asylum before my return.

“Maintaining a gigantic secret organization in a small nation is difficult.”

In small nations, there were limits on logistics, manpower, and resources.

That was also a reason why the Zahan Alliance never managed to conquer the world.

A gigantic secret organization needed to exist in a country of a similar level.

“I can’t think of any besides the Land of Lanzo. Given how severe factional strife and party strife are in that nation, it wouldn’t be difficult to cling to political circles and survive. It’s a perfect base.”

I finally muttered, looking at the priest.

And with a bow of my head, I said, “I express deep gratitude as a member of the imperial family for the church’s dedication.”

The priest appeared to look as if he were seeing a ghost.

I smiled and continued, “From now on, leave it to me. I will show you the end of the internal strife.”

Helena had an excited expression.

“I’m glad we did the mock battle. I didn’t expect it to turn into a real situation so quickly. Valenciaunos, thank you.”

The priest could only fumble and produce a few documents.

* * *

The mock battle ended successfully, and Helena was recapping the mock battle with the officers while preparing for real action.

I assigned maintenance of the mechanical armor to Marcus’s apprentices and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

“I request an audience in the name of Valenciaunos. It’s an urgent matter.”

At the presence of the Crown Prince and the authority of a Count-level Great Lord, the high officials waiting in line since morning parted to the sides.

“Your Majesty.”

“You? Did the mock battle go well? Your timing is perfect.”

Jeilliris had just stood up from a pile of paperwork.

Her previously relaxed gaze now bore signs of fatigue.

“I thought I’d work just for today. Would you like to have dinner and take a stroll?”

I reported with a guilty feeling.

The bishop of Doroysen, the hostile coexistence between the Land of Lanzo and Doroysen, the increase in infiltrators as a result, the confirmation of the cult’s existence, and the archbishop who might be in the Land of Lanzo.

“And so, urgency from the Duke is required.”

As I finished speaking, a glimmer of interest appeared in Jeilliris’s gaze.

“Hmm.”

The fatigue in her golden eyes had vanished, leaving only the sharpness of a peak mental state.

“Let’s have dinner and take a stroll.”

“Y-yes? Where to—”

“If we’re to bring down a meteorite, we need to confirm coordinates at least once, right? I can take this opportunity to eliminate those republicans. They should be delighted to experience the equality they’ve been shouting about.”

Her red lips curled sadistically, and her haughty voice echoed throughout the grand stony dome, cold yet majestic, while the hem of her black dress curled upward, transforming into a shape reminiscent of monstrous wings.

“Stay in place!”

I was ready to grab her ankles and cling as I bowed my head, but Jeilliris shook her head.

“Why waste time and money on something that could be finished in one go? Do not negotiate with those you can defeat.”

“There are many innocent citizens among them.”

“You shouldn’t be the one saying that, my rogue.”

I could only pause.

“If you send me as a special envoy, I can separate the Land of Lanzo Republic and the infiltrator forces within a year through political maneuvers.”

“If you let me go, in a month, I can show nightmares to the infiltrator forces.”

“You might turn many innocent citizens into infiltrators.”

Jeilliris laughed brightly.

Her laughter was both chilling and beautiful, like shattered jewels.

“When it comes to a meteorite impact, there shouldn’t be a problem. There won’t be anyone left who can become an infiltrator. Look at this. It’s a magic I recently developed. After the meteorite impact, it creates a massive dome of repulsion that traps the shockwave. Inside it, heat and pressure will surge, grinding everything to dust.”

Oh my god.

Desperately, I gestured to the officials eavesdropping at the door.

But before the Holy Emperor Jeilliris, there was only one person on the continent who had the guts to say “no.”

I blurted out, “Your Majesty! Then please grant me command of the army. I will invade the Land of Lanzo.”

“Why is it okay for you to go to war, but not for me to invade my own territory?”

“Your Majesty, you are the Emperor. Please reign without ruling.”

“With just one meteorite, I could clean things up—”

“It won’t be that simple!”

At that moment, someone rushed into the office.

I silently thanked the hero who entered while the Holy Emperor and the Bandit Duke raised their voices.

“Right on time… Duchess Signain?”

With neatly tied light brown hair and sky-blue eyes, a steadfast glare hiding a cunning smile.

The victor of the West urgently cried out, “The armies of the Land of Lanzo have crossed the border.”