Chapter 561

After the most contentious issue was passed, the meeting hall effectively turned into a one-sided announcement session. With the nobles pushed back by my pressure, they found no opportunity to turn the situation around.

Leopold, seizing the moment, declared an additional defense tax to fund the restoration and strengthening of the Imperial Army. In return, he granted the nobles the authority to use their trained reserve forces as response units against monster attacks.

While they couldn’t conscript for personal purposes like territorial disputes, if monsters beyond their capacity attacked, they could conscript locals for defense.

Compared to the expenses the nobles had to bear, this was a minor concession, but they had no choice but to be grateful. Leopold wielded the whip without offering any carrots, and the current nobles couldn’t openly show resentment. Unless they planned to stab him in the back later.

Following that, discussions continued on external situations and response strategies.

“The situation on the western front…”

“The Holy Kingdom has promised to respond…”

Led by Duke Bien, the major nobles discussed specific countermeasures with Leopold, while the lesser nobles whispered among themselves, worrying about the future.

“The Dragonkin are embroiled in a civil war, so that’s a relief. We don’t have to worry about them for now.”

“The real problems are the east and south.”

“I heard the People of Dane mobilized over a thousand magicians to invade Panam. Is that true?”

“It is. They’re using fire and lightning to gradually seize Panam’s territory.”

“How on earth did they gather so many magicians…?”

I eavesdropped on their conversations, piecing together the changes in the international situation while I was in the Holy Kingdom. Most of it was already known, except for the details about Dane’s military.

Over a thousand magicians. That was indeed a terrifying force. Even the Grimnir Church Order, which worshipped the God of Magic, couldn’t muster such numbers.

If they used that power to attack Ka`har, it would be ideal, but if they turned their sights on the Empire, the southern regions could be devastated.

—

After lengthy discussions, Leopold and the nobles concluded that most of their forces should be concentrated in the eastern Landenburg.

This was to prepare for Ka`har’s attacks and, in case the People of Dane invaded, to allow the gathered forces in Landenburg to counterattack Dane’s homeland.

It was a decision that would please Ludwig, who was tirelessly strengthening the barrier’s defenses.

Other issues were discussed, but most were irrelevant to me—except for the last one.

Just before the council concluded, Leopold announced that he would recognize Count Median not as an heir but as the official head of the house. In other words, he was granting me the title of Marquis of Median.

Until now, I had been called Count Median as the heir, but with this announcement, it was only natural that I would inherit the family’s title.

The nobles looked at Duke Bien with questioning expressions, wondering if such a rapid promotion was appropriate, but Duke Bien, though visibly displeased, chose silence over opposition.

…I expected him to oppose, but he just glared at Durandal hanging at my waist. Did he think I’d draw it and swing if he objected? I had no such intention.

Anyway, thanks to Duke Bien’s silence, my promotion proceeded without any opposition.

Leopold formally declared me the head of the Median house and granted me the title of Marquis on the spot. My territory didn’t expand, nor was I given a new castle, but I had now become part of the major nobility.

—

After the council, I bid farewell to Leopold and returned to Asha’s workshop to retrieve my repaired armor and pick up newly ordered items.

Traditionally, a royal banquet would follow the council, but Leopold canceled it, citing the severity of the domestic and international situation, and retreated to his office.

I was relieved. Dancing in my uniform or dealing with greedy nobles approaching me was tiresome.

“Ah, you’re back, Ha-shal-leur. Have you finished your business at the Imperial Palace?”

“Mostly. How are the things I requested?”

Asha grinned and handed me a pile of pristine leather. Not only had she repaired the scales, but she’d also cleaned it thoroughly. My armor, once drenched in sweat, dust, and blood, now gleamed like new.

“The Winter Armor is repaired, and the pants you asked for are done. Unlike Ryu-rik’s hide, they don’t self-repair, though. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for that.”

“Take your time. I’m not in a hurry to wear them.”

Next, she handed me a pair of black leather pants. Well, calling them pants was a stretch. Even the underwear I wore as a man was longer than these.

I had asked for them to be short, but I didn’t expect them to barely cover my groin. They were practically hot pants, exposing my thighs.

[…Even for you, this is too much. These are basically underwear.]

‘You’re one to talk, wearing tank tops all the time.’

Ignoring Hersela’s complaints, I stuffed the leather pants into my bag. A woman who wore tank tops complaining about hot pants? Ridiculous.

Not that I was thrilled about wearing such clothes, but wearing long pants made of beastmen fur in the middle of summer was unbearable. Sweat would pour down my legs.

Besides, since I had the blessing, I might as well make use of it.

After replenishing the daggers I’d used in the Holy Kingdom, I chatted briefly with Asha about her homeland, which was in the midst of war, and the return of dragons.

Asha was tight-lipped on some topics, citing confidentiality, but she answered most questions earnestly.

“Dragons… Our ancestors used anti-aircraft cannons to form a barrage, but there were clear limits. The dragons back then could deflect even heavy artillery with their bare bodies.”

“That bad? That’s troublesome. If your cannons couldn’t handle them, ballistae would be useless.”

“Hmm… If we used dragon bones or scales for arrowheads and dragon tendons for bowstrings, we might be able to inflict damage. But first, we’d need to slay a dragon to obtain its corpse.”

A logical yet contradictory point. To kill a dragon, you needed weapons made from a dragon’s corpse, but to make such weapons, you first needed to kill a dragon.

Alternatively, find a way to obtain a dead dragon’s corpse.

…Finding Nidhogg’s corpse would be a great help. Despite being called an Insect-Dragon, its body was more insect-like, likely due to Isabella’s resurrection. But since Isabella died before fully reviving it, Nidhogg’s corpse might now resemble a typical dragon’s. No scales, but the bones should be intact.

I couldn’t be sure without seeing it myself.

I casually asked if Asha and other dwarves could lend their skills to aid the Empire, but she said it would be difficult. It wasn’t something she could decide alone; she’d need the agreement of other great families.

Of course, unless their entire race was on the brink of extinction, they wouldn’t agree.

—

After my conversation with Asha, I returned to the mansion and gifted the members of Épée de Ciel—the Heaven’s Sword Order—with Winter Armor tailored to their needs.

Milia, glowing with vitality, and Damien, looking more haggard.

Leonor, seemingly in high spirits after reuniting with the Rose Cross Knight Order, and Nigel, staring blankly eastward, perhaps worried about Landenburg.

Even Ja-han and Ophelia, who had been holed up in the mansion.

Excluding Ferne, all my master-level fighters were now equipped with Ryu-rik’s hide.

Ah, speaking of Ferne, when she sobered up and saw Milia’s bow, she instinctively tried to break it. Being made from the Branch of the World Tree, it was inherently repulsive to her.

Fortunately, Milia and Damien intervened, preventing the sacred artifact from being destroyed before it could be used.

Hersh stared at Ferne as if she were a lunatic, never imagining a fairy would try to destroy a World Tree branch.

Ferne, on the other hand, looked at Hersh like a curious animal, having never seen a half-fairy with black features before.