Chapter 89

“Episode 89”

“Ep. 89: Two Faces of the Same Coin (2)”

“There it is! There’s the Lenslet delegation!”

“And Bishop, the head of the Merchant Guild is there too!”

“Bishop controls everything in the Northern Duchy and is the richest merchant in the Goite Empire, huh?”

The major trends identified through intelligence gathering and diplomatic battles were clearly evident even within the banquet hall.

As soon as the Northern delegation and the Bishop Merchant Guild appeared, everyone naturally turned their attention to them.

“Hmph! No matter what they do, they’re still northerners.”

“If they stick together so much… seems like those backwater bastards have some kind of connection after all.”

The disdainful gazes directed at them for being northerners were only from the pure-blooded aristocrats of the capital, who were close to the emperor.

They openly showed their displeasure that the main focus of the banquet had shifted.

“Hmm? Who’s that in the middle?”

“It’s His Highness Prince Yulkaneis, Crown Prince of the Goite Empire.”

At least, if you could call it fortunate…

Thanks to Crown Prince Yulkaneis guiding the Northern delegation and the head of the Bishop Merchant Guild, the royal family managed to save at least a little face.

And the Emperor couldn’t help but notice this interaction between Yulkaneis and the delegation.

“Your Majesty, just now the Crown Prince spoke with the Northern delegation about such and such content…”

Of course, Khanbraman heard a detailed report of what Yulkaneis had just discussed with the Northern delegation.

“…That boy is up to his usual nonsense again.”

Already irked by recent events in the North, the Emperor frowned deeply.

“What do you intend to do about it?”

“For now, let’s leave him be. This rare show of initiative from that cautious boy isn’t bad. Let’s see how it plays out without harming the empire.”

Though his son was taking actions completely opposite to his own strategies, Khanbraman decided to watch for now.

There was simply more pressing business ahead than dealing with his son’s sudden antics.

“Representatives of humanity’s continent, Arcadia! The glorious ruler of the Radiant Goite Empire, the divine representative and the champion of mankind, Emperor Khanbraman of the Goite Dynasty, will now receive audiences from envoys of various kingdoms and regions!”

Although numerous banquets continued throughout the palace and its vicinity, this particular banquet was personally hosted and attended by the Emperor himself.

It was, in fact, the last official banquet held just before the coronation ceremony.

Thus, all delegations gathered in one place and formally met the Emperor.

“The order of appearances will be randomly drawn. This randomness reflects the divine will, so no house, cleric, or kingdom should question it.”

Richard, the Royal Champion and head of Sigma, announced loudly, imbued with mana.

“Now I shall draw!”

He reached into the prepared urn and pulled out a slip of paper.

Everyone watched Richard intently from all around.

“First up… Hmm… The Northern Duchy of Lenslet!”

Upon drawing the paper, Richard exclaimed as if wondering if this was some twist of fate.

At his words, all eyes turned toward where the Northern delegation stood.

Even Emperor Khanbraman seated on the golden throne, and Countess Elisha von Havana standing to his left, looked over.

Duke Doom, stationed to the Emperor’s right, also turned his gaze.

Julkanas, the master of the Golden Mage Tower quietly reading a spellbook in the corner, raised his head.

Cardinal Longos from the Theocratic Church, and Archbishop Theresa who had been locked in a staring contest with said cardinal, both glanced over.

Even Crown Prince Yulkaneis, standing right in front of the Northern delegation, looked their way.

All eyes were fixed on the prominent group of northerners.

“Hem hem!”

Guard, who had never received such attention in his life, cleared his throat and strode forward confidently to stand before the golden throne.

“We celebrate the birth of a new sun in the snow-covered lands of Lenslet. Long may the Emperor reign.”

Behind the scenes, Lenslet was technically at war – or in Earth terms, in a cold war state – with the royal court.

Perhaps even more adversarial than with the Kingdom Alliance.

But outwardly, they maintained an air of calm while looking each other in the eye.

“I’ve heard there was recently an epidemic in the north.”

With that, Khanbraman began addressing Guard and the Northern delegation.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, it was swiftly resolved.”

Guard and the delegation forced themselves to relax the tension building in their temples as they replied.

“And thanks to the efforts of the Archbishop, the North has gained its own sanctity. Witches have been freed from long-standing restrictions and can now proudly take their place among practitioners of magic.”

Of course, being northerners, they weren’t about to let things slide easily.

Their diplomatic language was filled with many thorns.

“All of this is solely due to the undeniable grace of Emperor Your Majesty.”

Guard looked back and forth between the Emperor and the Archbishop as he spoke.

“…”

Upon hearing these words, the Emperor remained silent.

“Dare you…!”

On the other hand, the Archbishop seemed particularly provoked, her eyes blazing with anger.

‘Hmm… Maybe I should have followed the Archbishop’s suggestion to lift the plague along their route?’

Emperor Khanbraman thought to himself as he stared down the insolent Lenslet envoy.

He still viewed him as if he were the crown prince playing at regency, which made him appear even more annoying.

‘Never mind.’

Khanbraman shook his head internally.

Spreading the plague throughout the empire and then blaming it on the North would ultimately amount to self-harm.

‘Trying to plant evil notions about the North would only earn me the dishonor of being an incompetent and unlucky emperor.’

His gaze shifted to the Archbishop nearby.

‘And that’s exactly what the church and the Archbishop are aiming for.’

If a plague spreads immediately after the new emperor ascends, and then the priests of the church resolve it…

While it might worsen the already poor image of the North, it would damage the emperor’s authority and increase the church’s influence.

‘I foolishly halted the relief army’s advance back then.’

The emperor truly regretted it.

He never imagined that the ambitious plague he had carefully spread in the North would come to such a meaningless end so quickly.

‘A sacred force in the North… witches who are no longer witches… What have we done?’

Though the North suffered damage from the plague, they ended up gaining far greater benefits that would last semi-permanently.

On the contrary, the empire gained nothing and suffered significant losses instead.

Communication with Astra and the Sigma special forces had been cut off.

Judging by the lack of response from the Dark Wizards in the Demon Den, it seemed they had not only failed their mission but also suffered a tremendous blow.

‘Arad… Professor Arad.’

Once again, Arad was inevitably at the center of it all.

The figure now known as the Northern Wizard.

‘Tch.’

He clicked his tongue internally and shifted his gaze away from the Archbishop briefly.

“Since you handled the plague so well, I’m pleased. Still, don’t you need any help? Shall I dispatch a relief army?”

“Not necessary, Your Majesty. We’ll just accept the pure and vast heart of the empire and Emperor Your Majesty like eternal snow.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, should the relief army arrive, we fear we wouldn’t be able to properly entertain them due to the harsh northern environment.”

Without hesitation, Guard declined the emperor’s offer.

It came with a subtle warning that any army sent would likely not return safely.

“Should you wish to aid the North, perhaps monetary compensation would suffice?”

“…Very well.”

Faced with the ever-unchanging attitude of the Northern delegation, the emperor chuckled bitterly and nodded.

‘Those… Those uncouth northerners!’

‘Seemed like their porcelain and art improved somewhat, but apparently their fundamentals remain unchanged.’

Meanwhile, the loyalist nobles watching this scene in the banquet hall glared contemptuously at the Northern-style diplomacy that disregarded etiquette and focused solely on money.

‘To think they’d be so bold before the emperor!’

‘Heard Northerners are brave and rebellious – turns out it’s true.’

‘Bold they may be, but they don’t forget to secure practical benefits either!’

‘No wonder they produce things like fine porcelain and Arad salt.’

On the other hand, the envoys from the kingdoms saw the Northern delegation standing firm before the Imperial Emperor while securing practical benefits as quite refreshing.

“By the way, how is the Grand Duchess of the North doing?”

“She is well.”

The audience during this banquet consists merely of brief greetings between the emperor and the delegations. It’s more like a preliminary round before the coronation.

However, the conversation between the delegation from Lenslet in the North and the emperor went on longer than expected.

This was due to the combination of the North’s importance and the symbolic significance of being first.

“And what about Baron Arad Jin, known as the Northern Wizard?”

“Indeed, he is well.”

“I’d like to meet him someday.”

“Pardon?”

“That Northern Wizard Arad Jin. Tell him to come along next time you send emissaries.”

“…”

What the emperor just said was essentially an imperial decree.

Refusing would be akin to saying “never.”

Lenslet, though officially part of the empire, functions similarly to Joseon’s relationship with Qing dynasty China.

That is, once an imperial decree is issued, at least the appearance of compliance is required.

“Heard he’s not originally from the North anyway. Living in the cold North all day, he must yearn for the warm southern lands. Tell him to visit the capital sometime.”

“…”

Guard and the Northern delegation had anticipated something like this eventually happening.

But hearing it now left them unsure of how to respond.

“I’ll relay Your Majesty’s message to Baron Arad Jin.”

Guard answered while avoiding giving a definitive commitment as much as possible.

Historically, the phrase “I’ll try talking to him” is diplomatically equivalent to “Absolutely not.”

“Are you worried about something?”

“Pardon?”

With that, Khanbraman pressed further toward Guard, intending to drive the point home. With a deep smile, he continued.

“Are you concerned we might try to persuade, or worse yet, assassinate or kidnap Baron Arad Jin?”

“A thousand times improper!”

Even the bold and rebellious Northerner Guard couldn’t respond to that question with “Honestly, yes.”

“On this golden throne, I swear. I guarantee Baron Arad Jin’s freedom and safety wherever the authority of the royal family extends.”

Khanbraman intensified his momentum with an oath.

“I, Julkanas, also swear upon my mana. I will ensure Baron Arad Jin’s freedom and safety wherever the power of the mage tower reaches.”

That momentum transformed into the flapping of a dragon’s wings, reaching even the 8th Circle Great Sorcerer in the corner.

“I, Theresa, swear upon God that I will protect his safety wherever the voice of the church can be heard.”

Seeing Julkanas make such a declaration, Archbishop Theresa responded competitively.

“….I will do my best to persuade Baron Arad Jin.”

The emperor, the master of the Golden Mage Tower, and the archbishop had all sworn oaths.

On what was most precious to them.

Numerous delegations and imperial nobles witnessed this.

At this point, even someone as resourceful as Guard had no way out.

* * *

Starting with the Lenslet delegation from the Northern Duchy, countless audiences continued until finally coming to an end.

By then, night had fallen.

The banquet-cum-ball was now in full swing.

Thanks to the bright and splendid magical stones created by the mage tower, the imperial palace was brighter than daytime.

Underneath, members of the loyalist faction, nobility, and kingdom delegations temporarily set aside their grudges and alliances to enjoy the feast, drinking, dancing, and laughing.

However, this didn’t mean they completely forgot their duties as diplomats.

“Ah! Count Guard!”

“Count Entaire!”

From all corners of the banquet hall, nobles and kingdom delegates recognized Guard and Entaire and approached them.

Thump, Thump.

Three major figures intervened between them.

“Long time no see. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

The charming golden-haired and red-eyed Elisha von Havana representing royalty…

“Hmm… You really were working as a bodyguard.”

The imposing figure of Doom with pale skin and great height…

“I wanted to ask you about Baron Arad Jin…”

Yulcanes, who had spent nearly ten years away from the Golden Mage Tower.

“Uh… Hmm…?”

Even though Crown Prince Yulikan was nearby, upon seeing Elisha von Havana, Doom, and Yulcanes, he gave up and stepped back.

“Don’t I get to speak with your husband first?”

Elisha von Havana approached Entaire first and said.

“Do as you please.”

Yulcanes approached Guard while speaking,

“Hmm…?”

Doom nodded slightly while eyeing Phil, the mercenary standing next to Entaire.