Chapter 591

After destroying Himell, would the fairies be satisfied? No noble could answer Leopold’s question with a yes.

They too knew. The fairies’ ambition to restore their former glory wouldn’t stop at conquering Himell.

It was only because the dwarves stubbornly refused that it didn’t happen, but at the beginning of the war, opinions to send reinforcements to aid Himell poured in. It was obvious to anyone that after Himell’s fall, the Holy Kingdom and the Empire would be next.

Thus, the proposal to send envoys to recommend asylum in Himell was passed without opposition.

What followed was a situational report on the civil war in the Dragon Kingdom.

The great war between the Righteous Faction Dragonkin and the Evil Faction Dragonkin. After a bloody battle of killing and being killed, it was said that the Righteous Faction had seized the upper hand. Although the individual quality of the Evil Faction was stronger, it wasn’t enough to overcome their numerical disadvantage.

Even the leader of the Evil Faction, known as the strongest Dragonkin, was defeated after being besieged by the Righteous Faction leader and 108 Dragonkin.

Since the Righteous Faction didn’t have overwhelming strength to crush the Evil Faction, they ended up with a truce, but in essence, it was a defeat for the Evil Faction.

“The Righteous Faction, the Evil Faction… the Dragonkin’s naming sense is always so awkwardly intuitive.”

Leopold seemed to find the Dragonkin’s unique naming sense, like the Righteous and Evil Factions, quite awkward. Well, it fits more with the Ka`har than the Westerners. The Evil Faction leader’s self-proclaimed title of Heavenly Demon is also like that.

Who would have thought there would be two idiots in this world who call themselves such childish names.

‘Heavenly Demon, huh? Seems like you have a similar vibe. Maybe you’d become good friends if you met?’

[As if! How dare a lizard claim that title, and even get defeated? I wouldn’t be satisfied until I plucked every scale off its body!]

…I didn’t expect her to get this angry. What exactly is a Heavenly Demon to her?

It reminded me of the time I casually talked to a guy who liked manga, and he suddenly started shouting, “My ■■■ is not like that!” at the top of his lungs.

Back then and now, it’s still a reaction I can’t understand… but I guess it’s something important enough for them to get that angry. I’ll just have to be the bigger person and let it go.

‘Yeah, yeah. Let’s pluck those scales later. We’ll see who the real Heavenly Demon is.’

I half-heartedly agreed and tried to calm Hersela down.

—

“The Evil Faction’s doctrine is clear… they believe they can grow stronger by releasing violent malevolent stars, right?”

“Yes. It’s a dangerous group that seeks to ultimately reach the level of dragons, not much different from the logic of demons.”

“Their appearance might be similar… but becoming a dragon? Is that even possible?”

A noble in the audience chamber expressed doubt. Evolution into a dragon. While it was common sense and faith for the Dragonkin, to other races, it was no different from nonsense like a wolf beastman turning into an actual wolf.

Even I, who have only seen one Dragonkin turn into a dragon, and that too in the distant future, can understand why the nobles are skeptical.

“Well… at least the Dragonkin seem to believe it.”

The answering noble also didn’t seem to believe it, shrugging lightly.

“The truth isn’t important. What matters is that those who believe they can grow stronger through bloodshed were defeated by strength. This can be exploited.”

“Exploited, you say…?”

Leopold, leaning on the throne, smiled and answered.

“What judgment would you make if you were them? Wait quietly for the next opportunity? Those who sought strength were defeated by strength; they can’t gather power by staying still. They’d worry more about losing their original members.”

The nobles listened to Leopold. Even those who underestimated the emperor’s authority acknowledged Leopold’s eloquence.

“To maintain their power, they must prove they weren’t wrong… but those who chose a truce after being overwhelmed by the Righteous Faction can’t start another civil war. So, where would they aim?”

“You mean the Evil Faction Dragonkin would attack another country.”

“Exactly. It’s the natural conclusion. They’d unleash their malevolent stars on other races to show their strength, maintain their power, and further strengthen their forces for the next civil war.”

For the defeated side to attack another country to strengthen their forces would be utterly foolish in modern warfare, but in this world, it was the most rational choice. While Earth’s wars only consume lives and resources, wars here are the foundation for creating the strong.

The simple rule of growing stronger by killing was leading the world into war.

“The Dragon Kingdom is located in the northwest… unless they cross the Sky Mountain Range, their only targets are the fairies and humans. So, we just need to guide them to attack the fairies instead of humans. Not a difficult task.”

Leopold’s strategy was simple.

The Dragonkin’s expected goal is to grow stronger through war and slaughter. Thus, they’re more likely to target those who aren’t prepared rather than those who are. Therefore, by openly preparing defenses, we can guide their movements.

Pitting one race against another. It was a strategy befitting Leopold, who had instigated the war between Himell and Alvheim.

Of course, the current Empire was already at its limit with domestic issues and the Ka`har problem, making it impossible to secure enough troops to prepare against the Dragon Kingdom… but wasn’t this why we had improved relations with the Holy Kingdom?

We could make up for the lack of troops with the Holy Kingdom’s forces.

“Tell the Holy Kingdom. Concentrate their forces on the border with the Dragon Kingdom and prepare defenses. No need to show hostility; disguising it as routine military training is fine.”

“A wise decision. If the Holy Kingdom concentrates its forces in the northwest, the defense of the Alvheim border will weaken… but if that leads the Dragonkin to attack Alvheim, the fairies won’t dare to form a three-front war.”

Most nobles nodded in agreement, but some pointed out the only flaw in this plan.

“If the Dragonkin don’t attack Alvheim, wouldn’t the Holy Kingdom be in danger instead?”

A valid point. This plan was based on the assumption that the Evil Faction of the Dragon Kingdom would attack another country. If they chose to remain silent, it would only give Alvheim the opportunity to attack the Holy Kingdom.

“That’s why we need to guide them to attack. Isn’t that what the Intelligence Department is for?”

It wasn’t a passive approach of waiting for the Dragonkin to attack, but actively manipulating them into having no choice but to attack.

Detailed plans would require input from the field operatives to devise appropriate measures, so the specifics weren’t discussed here… but after a few persuasive words, Leopold eventually gained the unanimous consent of the nobles.

The court meeting concluded for the day.

—

After the meeting, Leopold headed to his office for further discussions with the field operatives, but the nobles didn’t leave immediately, instead gathering in small groups to chat about the meeting’s contents.

I leaned on the second-floor railing of the audience chamber, smoking a cigarette, and eavesdropped on their conversations. They probably didn’t even think I could hear them, given my level of hearing.

The feasibility of Leopold’s diplomatic proposals. The gains and losses of replacing the Imperial Army’s vacancies with their private troops. Even opinions that this was an opportunity to tie me down in the east and separate me from Leopold.

While some genuinely worried about the country, others only prioritized their own safety and power. I paid close attention to the latter and memorized their faces.

For now, I have to leave them be since we need their strength, but once the world stabilizes, they’ll be the ones to clean up.

Among the nobles, some worried about deploying me, Or-han’s daughter, to the battlefield with Or-han. They didn’t openly discuss it, but whispered among themselves.

“Without Marquis Median, the Border Lord’s strategy would be impossible… can we really trust her?”

“If she betrays us at this point, wouldn’t Landenburg’s forces be completely annihilated?”

Well, if I betrayed them, that’s exactly what would happen. If I cut down all my allies mid-operation and deserted, Landenburg would fall, and the Empire would surely collapse like dominoes.

[They still doubt you? How ungrateful.]

‘What can I do? They’re not openly saying I’ll betray them, just expressing their worries. I can understand that. Given my background, it’s only natural to be suspicious.’

Unlike wars with others, to them, it looks like I’m raising my sword against my own father and kin. It’d be stranger if they didn’t suspect betrayal.

“Enough of this nonsense. If she wanted to betray us, she would have done so long ago. Have you forgotten the last defense battle?”

Huh.

The noble who stopped them was quite unexpected, so I tilted my head slightly and focused my hearing in that direction.

“Y-Your Highness, Duke Bien…”

Indeed, the one who stepped forward to dispel the nobles’ suspicions was none other than Duke Bien.

I didn’t expect him to defend me. Did he eat something wrong?

“Less than a year has passed since thousands of Ka`har troops were buried beneath the barrier. And the main force of that battle was none other than that woman. If it were a disguise to avoid being exposed as a spy, the losses would have been too great.”

“We’re just being cautious…”

“I don’t think highly of her either, but the possibility of her being a Ka`har spy is negligible. She went out of her way to reduce the losses of the Imperial Knights; if she were a spy, why would she do that?”

A truly rational argument. The nobles discussing the matter were at a loss, flustered before Duke Bien.

“Besides, if they wanted to send a spy, they would have chosen someone with more political acumen than that woman. Using a brute who knows nothing but killing as a spy? What kind of idiocy is that?”

…So I’m too stupid to be a spy.

I barely resisted the urge to smack Duke Bien’s head from afar. Saying I can’t do anything but fight is a bit harsh.

I leave non-combat matters to those better suited, but if I wanted to, I could do it.

Probably.