A blond young man was reading a book in an antique chair under the warm sunlight streaming in from the terrace.
An air of elegance radiated from him as he turned each page, making it clear to anyone that he was of noble lineage.
The shadow of the young man stretched long and reached into the relatively dark room.
“I see. So, my sisters have started to move….”
“Yes, it seems they’ve already begun taking action in Magical Wisp.”
“Hlmm….”
The young man, Zephyr D. Wyatt Samuel, spoke without lifting his eyes from the book.
“It’s as if someone orchestrated these movements, like a picture being painted. Don’t you think?”
“With both the First Princess and the Second Princess appearing at the same time like this, it does seem like a deliberate plan.”
“I wonder who it could be… the one who managed to get my eldest sister, who was too busy protecting herself, and my fallen second sister to take action….”
“The person who organized the gathering at Magical Wisp is said to be the eldest son of the Clayton family.”
“Ah, the eldest son of that merchant family? He’s started things off in grand fashion once again.”
Samuel considered for a moment whether that boy could be behind this, but he shook his head.
An eighteen-year-old boy directly influencing two princesses?
It didn’t seem possible.
Not unless it was the head of his family, the Clayton family’s patriarch.
However, on the contrary, the head of the Clayton family was someone who kept his distance from politics.
“Come to think of it, I heard that the Knights of Judgment contacted that family. Were there no significant results?”
“They only responded that they were busy with the opening of the Great Mezaiya Forest.”
Originally, the plan had been to use their status as a merchant family to establish a foothold in the underground city of the coalition.
With the royal family’s backing and the size of the Clayton family, they could have wielded even greater influence than Count Salier who previously held that role.
But now that the head of the Clayton family had a bigger opportunity in the form of the Great Mezaiya Forest, the risky underground city wouldn’t seem like an attractive business.
“It can’t be helped. Commander Daniel must be disappointed.”
“…….”
Caw─ Caw─
At that moment, a crow landed on the terrace railing.
And as if he was accustomed to it, Samuel picked up the bundle of papers left at the bird’s feet.
“Indeed… it feels like our roles have been reversed lately.”
After Samuel read through the papers, he smiled as if he found the situation amusing.
However, the man who had been talking with Samuel felt a chill from that smile.
It was the same smile Samuel would give to his subordinates who refused to listen.
Considering how things ended for them, that feeling of dread was not without reason.
“We need to mobilize the army. It would be problematic if the belief arises that the only ones concerned about the empire are my sisters. After all, I am the one who worries about this empire’s safety more than anyone.”
“I will follow your orders. So, how should we handle the draft?”
“It’s time for Commander Daniel to make his move. After all, it’s a matter of dealing with the orcs who dominate the north. As for the rest, select those who are obedient and know how to follow orders.”
The Knights of Judgment.
The sword of the imperial family had begun to move in earnest.
***
The day after the academic conference ended.
Shane woke up to the smell of the forest. This was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
The Great Mezaiya Forest which was once filled with the sound of rain had become quite crowded with people.
Many were still drawn by the profits tied to this place, and the line of people that were eager to scrape up whatever crumbs remained stretched out.
However, since the long-lived elves preferred peace and quiet, Priscilla had limited the number of people who could enter at one time, so the crowds were not as large as before.
After he arrived at the Great Mezaiya Forest with the help of a leaf from the World Tree imbued with Priscilla’s life essence, Shane went to see her as he usually did.
“It’s been a while. But it seems your skin has become even paler.”
Priscilla smiled as she said this, and Shane casually responded before getting to the point.
“I’ve come to receive the dragon’s reverse scale.”
“Oh my. Has it already been that long?”
Their first contract had been for the stabilization of the Great Mezaiya Forest.
Although there were still several ongoing matters, the benefits tied to the Great Mezaiya Forest among humans were already deeply intertwined.
Therefore, now that the word “war” could no longer be mentioned,
it was fair to say that the elves had entered a period of stability, just like what was mentioned in Shane and Priscilla’s contract.
“Very well. Although it might seem a bit early, your family has continued to help with many aspects.”
As she spoke these words, Priscilla placed both hands on her chest.
“Mmm…”
With a faint moan, Priscilla began to gather magical power and life essence into her hands and a pale green light slowly started to seep out.
Then from her heart, a gem began to take shape and was placed in her hands.
The gem was delicate in appearance and held a radiance more brilliant than any other jewel.
When Shane gazed at the dragon’s reverse scale which was even more dazzling than an emerald, he was overcome with a strange emotion. He was seeing it for the second time in his life after all.
I’m finally holding this once again.
In his previous life, the dragon’s reverse scale had not taken on such a noble form as it did now.
It had been thoroughly corrupted by the organization and only came into his possession after enduring all of Gordon’s experiments.
Though the power emanating from the gem was less than in his past life, its fundamental quality was much more refined.
For Shane, who valued the fundamental abilities over the raw power of the reverse scale, this was actually better.
“However, before I give this to you, there’s something I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“What do you want to do with this?”
“War.”
“……”
“A war to stop wars. That’s what I want.”
Isn’t it ironic? A war to prevent war.
“And what do you hope to gain from that?”
“Sometimes, fear is what suppresses war. Don’t worry, Priscilla. If anything, this will benefit your race, not harm it. Just remain a friendly race to the humans as you are now. Earn their goodwill and respect. Like a tree that grows well, just stay in the sunlight.”
—I’ll take care of the shadows beneath.
Priscilla’s gaze at Shane who added that final remark wasn’t exactly warm.
It was like the expression of an older sister watching her younger brother walk a path he must take, even if he doesn’t want to.
“……Since our relationship is purely transactional, I suppose I shouldn’t say more. But Shane.”
“What is it?”
“Find a place to rest. No matter how strong your will is, you’re still just a human in the end.”
“That’s nothing to worry about. I already have one.”
I wonder if that kid is working hard right now.
Shane smiled as he thought of his younger brother, and Priscilla quietly looked at Shane and thought.
You need to find rest for yourself. Still an idiot.
With that, as usual, Priscilla replenished Shane’s essence and their meeting quietly came to an end.
***
“What, what is this?”
“Oh my…”
“Is all of this really supplies? Here in Arunvida?”
“The world’s gone mad…”
“If this is madness, then bring it on, you bastard!”
It was early morning in Arunvida.
The residents gathered at Viduron Castle couldn’t keep their mouths shut as they watched the supplies being piled up in front of the castle.
They were used to seeing so few supplies. Stuff that was barely enough to fill a single cart, so how long had it been since they’d seen this much—so much that it was almost blocking the entrance?
No, to be precise, they’d never seen this amount before.
Following the recent opening of the Great Mezaiya Forest, supplies had trickled in a bit more than before, but even then, it was barely enough to call “a bit more”.
“Ahem, ahem. Greetings! I’m Havoc Merrington from the Havoc Merchant Guild under Clayton’s Merchant Guild. Do you have any monster materials that are difficult to dispose of? I’ll buy them at a very reasonable price!”
The residents tilted their heads in confusion at the brave call of a merchant with a generous expression.
“Price? Does that guy even know what he’s talking about? What use are coins here?”
“Hey, you idiot. Can’t you see that?”
“A portal?”
A portal that had appeared overnight.
The residents of Arunvida looked at it with puzzled expressions.
“What’s with that?”
“You blockhead! Why do you think we’ve always been so short on supplies? It was a pain in the ass to go back and forth all the time! But with a portal over there, it means travel just got easier!”
“Aah!”
While some were simply happy to see it, quite a few others watched the piling supplies with worried expressions.
“It feels like something’s about to happen.”
“Did Lord Mimir get that from the Imperial family? They wouldn’t just give it to us……”
“Isn’t the portal open for everyone now?”
“No, no way. Even if we accept that the merchants are coming through, it doesn’t make sense for the supplies to be stacking up like that.”
“True…… but if something bad were about to happen, wouldn’t the merchants stay away?”
“You’ve never experienced war, have you? A battlefield is the perfect place to strike it rich. Plenty of people would come just for the money.”
“Ah…….”
“Then is something really about to happen?”
“Does it have anything to do with what Sir Felice was doing the other day?”
Such doubts began to spread among the residents of Arunvida that evening.
Anastasia gathered all the residents together.
Even though the evening had grown colder, not a single resident failed to respond to her call.
“Everyone, we are currently like a candle in the wind.”
Her words stirred unrest among the residents.
What on earth was she trying to say by starting off with such a grave tone?
The reason soon became clear.
“Recently, I received a report. The orcs have started using magic. And after some investigation, it was confirmed that the report is true.”
“…! Ma-Magic?”
“How could those brutish orcs possibly use magic?”
“Well, if someone like you can use it, why couldn’t they?”
“You crazy bastard!”
Thud!
When the commotion threatened to escalate, Anastasia struck the ground with the tip of her greatsword and drew everyone’s attention to her once more.
“So, a secret special scouting team was formed to attack the orcs’ forward outpost, and as a result, we were able to uncover what the orcs are planning.”
Thud!!
“War. The orcs are preparing for war; they aim to conquer the northern part of the Empire, just as they did fifty years ago.”
“……”
Boom!
“They are using the magic of the ancient vampires to awaken their magical powers, and they’re creating their own rituals to artificially trigger a monster wave.”
“…….!”
Thud! Thud!
“Everyone, this winter will be particularly harsh.”
Thud!! Thud!!
“But for the past fifty years, we have never once allowed the enemy to breach our walls. Isn’t that so?”
Boom! Boom!
“Also! This winter will be far from lonely. My warriors, listen well. Outsiders may mock us and call us the abandoned but they are mistaken. They never had the right to make that choice in the first place.”
Thud! Thud!
“Make no mistake, everyone! The choice is ours. Will we abandon that empire, or will we protect it with our own hands? That decision lies with us!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“What will we do? Will we turn a blind eye to those who laugh at us for being abandoned, or will we show those fools the reality and correct their delusions?”
Before anyone realized it, the residents of Arunvida began stomping their feet in rhythm with Anastasia’s timing.
How long had it been?
Despite this harsh weather, their hearts were burning once again.
Seven years ago.
Those who remembered the time when Anastasia first set foot in Arunvida, their eyes sparkled.
She was a strong person who, unlike them, had never once shown despair in her gaze. Even here in Arunvida.
That’s why they had all chosen to follow her.
And right now.
They realized once more that they were standing before another trial.
“Of course, Your Highness!”
“Let’s show those outsiders who we are!”
“Who said we’re abandoned?!”
“That’s right! We will choose!”
“Uooooh!”
And they never once let Anastasia down.
Just as she said, their crisis was the empire’s crisis, and if they managed to end this war successfully, even the empire would no longer be able to look down on them.
Leading the way on that glorious path was none other than the Second Princess, Zephyr D. Natasha Anastasia
At last, the preparations for war were complete.
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