Chapter 136

Clang—.

At the sound of the cup falling and breaking, Leonardo and Yoanna turned around in unison, and Elly hurriedly bowed her head and spoke.

“I-I’m sorry. My hand slipped……!”

“Are you hurt?”

“Ah, no! I-I’m fine.”

Elly spoke, even waving her hand to show that she was really alright.

In reality, she was not hurt at all.

But that didn't mean she was alright.

‘Why…… why are they going alone?’

Even as Elly cleaned up the broken glass cup, her entire focus was on Leonardo and Yoanna.

“Your Highness, are we the only two going to the Foothill's Rest then?”

“Yeah. I was originally planning to go with the Commander, but the Commander is a bit busy. So are the other knights.”

“The soldiers……? Won't you need an escort?”

“It's fine. And we need to get there and back quickly, so it would take too long to go to the Foothill's Rest with soldiers.”

Leonardo spoke as if it were no big deal.

However, Yoanna was inwardly very flustered about going on a trip alone with Leonardo.

‘I’m to attend to His Highness by myself……?’

But the reason Yoanna was flustered was not because she was going on a trip alone with Leonardo as a woman.

Yoanna respected and even worshipped Leonardo, so she never thought he would see her as a ‘woman’.

The reason Yoanna was flustered was simply out of concern.

‘These days, there are no bandits in the kingdom, and it seems there are almost no monsters, so it should be fine…… but still, isn't the Foothill's Rest near the Monster Mountains, making it dangerous? For me to escort His Highness by myself?’

It was an embarrassing story, but Yoanna hadn't faced many monsters yet. It was thanks to—or rather, the ‘fault’ of—the kingdom being too peaceful recently.

Of course, many senior knights had told her, 「“Someone of your level could hunt an Ogre without much difficulty. A Troll might take a little longer because of its regeneration, but you’d manage somehow.”」—but that was just speculation.

‘I’ve only hunted Orcs so far.’

After thinking for a moment, Yoanna spoke carefully to Leonardo.

“Your Highness. I believe my skills are insufficient to escort you alone. Other knights—.”

“Is it because you're worried? That you won't be able to protect me?”

“……Yes.”

Leonardo answered Yoanna, who was speaking while watching his expression, with a light smile.

“Don't worry. There won't be any problems until we get to the Foothill's Rest.”

At that one light-hearted remark.

Yoanna felt a sense of relief for some reason.

‘This…… is similar to that time. Three years ago at Ness Plains, when His Highness told me to just follow his back…… it’s like that time.’

With that comforting feeling, Yoanna’s expression returned to her usual confident one.

‘That's right, I don't need to think. If His Highness commands, I just need to follow. His Highness is…… my god.’

“Understood! I will inform Commander Jereuth now and prepare for departure!”

“Alright. You may leave.”

“Yes!”

Salute!

Yoanna saluted and left the room.

Only then did Elly, who had cleaned up even the smallest glass fragments, bring water to Leonardo. Leonardo drank the water in gulps, as if he was quite thirsty.

After watching Leonardo for a moment.

Elly mustered up her courage and asked.

“Uhm…… Your Highness. Could I perhaps go with you to the Foothill's Rest tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Why?”

“Well……. Your Highness will also need assistance…….”

Elly couldn't properly finish her sentence. It was because she didn't really have a justification for following Leonardo to the Foothill's Rest.

‘When His Highness went to the Wasteland of Ruin before. I think I could only give such a flimsy reason back then too…… it’s the same as that time.’

“Is it not possible?”

Elly spoke, looking at Leonardo with what was, in her own way, no, a quite desperate gaze.

But.

“Sorry. I don't know if you heard what I said with Yoanna earlier, but the schedule is a bit tight, so I'm trying to get there and back quickly.”

“Ah……. Th-then I will ride the same horse as Knight Yoanna! That way, we won't be delayed much—.”

“There’s a big difference in a horse's speed with one person versus two. No matter how light you are, Elly.”

“……”

“And, this is absolutely not to look down on you, but you'll probably have a hard time after just one day of riding a horse. Your back hurts a lot when you ride a horse.”

Leonardo smiled playfully and pointed to his lower back. From Leonardo's voice and expression, Elly could feel that he was really trying to persuade her.

It was an incomparably gentle attitude compared to when Leonardo gave orders to knights, soldiers, and officials.

‘Still, I want to go with His Highness too…… is it not possible?’

For some reason, Elly felt helpless.

However, she couldn't show such weakness and disappointment. Because she was a maid.

“……Understood, Your Highness. Then I will pack your belongings.”

“Yes, please do.”

Smiling warmly again.

Leonardo stood up from his seat and walked to the bathroom to wash up.

After glancing at Leonardo's retreating back.

Elly looked at herself in the wall mirror and showed a mix of a sigh and a bitter smile.

Sigh—.

‘How foolish. I can't even say anything properly……. What you wanted to say was that you wanted to stop His Highness from traveling alone with a woman.’

Among the maids, Elly showed immense authority and a firm attitude.

But in front of Leonardo, she was no different from an ordinary young girl.

Whether it was three years ago when she was a young girl, now, or surely in the future.

***

Drip— Drip—.

After quickly finishing my shower.

I looked at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and thought.

‘Is it…… almost time now?’

I acted calm and composed in front of the knights and soldiers, Elly, Yoanna, and others.

But in reality, my mind was extremely complicated. I was also anxious.

‘Will I be able to obtain the Gryphons when I go to the Foothill's Rest? Will I be able to draw out the Elves' help? Furthermore, can I stop the monster army?’

—There hadn't been a single moment when I hadn't had such worries and concerns. For the past three years.

The Future Diary had shown no changes for the past three years. My ending was still blank, and it didn't say whether I could obtain the Gryphons after meeting Paras at the Foothill's Rest.

It just maintained the content where Paras said he would guide me to the Gryphons, and that was it.

Wipe—.

I wiped away a drop of water that flowed from my chest to my stomach with my hand. I could feel the firm muscles, incomparable to three years ago, at my fingertips.

Not to brag, but my body now looked like a ‘warrior's’. It wouldn't be lacking at all compared to the top UFC mixed martial arts fighters. In fact, it might even be better.

‘I really trained until I bled.’

For the past three years, I hadn't been lazy for a single moment. I didn't know how much the future me had trained, so I truly did my best to surpass him.

Thanks to that, I achieved results I was satisfied with to some extent…… but it still felt insufficient.

Because my ending was still ‘blank’.

‘For the past three years, war preparations have been steadily progressing in secret under Jereuth's command. I also obtained the cooperation of the Anakros through the covenant with Risilbak. The army has been trained strongly, and I am prepared to fight to a degree that I'm not ashamed of. Nevertheless, the fact that the ending hasn't changed…… must mean that so far, it’s not much different from the future me’s path.’

To have worked so hard, yet the ending hadn't changed.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed.

But what could I do? There was no time to be disappointed.

‘There are a lot of documents to handle before I go to the Foothill's Rest tomorrow. Let’s get out of here quickly.’

Thinking that, I roughly put on a cotton t-shirt and came out of the bathroom. As I came out, Elly bowed her head slightly and spoke.

“Your Highness. Lady Olivia dropped by while you were washing up.”

“Olivia?”

“Yes. She said she left a report on your desk and asked you to check it.”

A report.

When I went to the desk, there was indeed a pile of documents I hadn't seen before.

[Regarding the 1st Installation of ‘Magic Power Relays’ for Kingdom-wide Communication Activation]

‘A report on the kingdom's communication facilities.’

Over the past three years, the elders of the Mage Tower had completed the ‘Magic Communication Orb’. It was a magical tool similar to the two-way radios from my original world, allowing communication according to ‘magic power frequency’.

However, its communication range was still short, so it wasn't yet at the level where I could instantly transmit my orders to all parts of the kingdom as I wished.

With the current magic technology, communication was barely possible up to about 1-5km outside the royal capital.

The distance varied by more than double depending on the weather that day.

‘So I suggested, what if we made something like a relay.’

At my small idea, the elders of the Mage Tower were surprised as if they had gained a great enlightenment and immediately burned with passion, saying they would build ‘Magic Power Relays’ throughout the kingdom.

Truly, they were old, but their passion overwhelmed that of any young mage.

‘The problem was that building those ‘Magic Power Relays’ cost a lot of money…… and because of that budget, Olivia and the elders fought a lot. But it seems they managed to reach a good agreement.’

As an aside, Olivia faced five or six elders from the Mage Tower without a single flicker of expression.

Saying she couldn't give them any more money, that the money His Highness had saved was the kingdom's reserve fund.

She was truly an amazing woman.

Swish—.

Sitting at my desk, I read the report titled ‘[Regarding the 1st Installation of ‘Magic Power Relays’ for Kingdom-wide Communication Activation]’.

I decided to look at how much money it would cost later, and first checked to see what the communication range would be.

…….

—Aiming for communication activation in the royal capital and major cities.

—Installation of ‘Magic Power Relays’ based on a 5km distance.

—For the first phase, we will install Magic Power Relays up to ‘Saulim Castle’ in the south-central part of the kingdom.

[Map of the Kingdom (Planned Magic Power Relay Installation)]

…….

There were various contents, but it could be roughly summarized like this.

‘So the plan is to primarily equip the southern region with communication facilities first.’

It seemed like a good judgment. Because the northern part of the kingdom has many mountains and hills, making it difficult to install ‘Magic Power Relays’.

Since the magic relay technology is still in its early stages, it would be better to practice and go through trial and error by installing them in easier places rather than difficult ones.

‘That's true…… but honestly, I'd rather they install it in the east.’

The reason I thought it would be good to have communication facilities installed in the eastern part of the kingdom.

It was because the war with the monster army, which would start within two years, seemed likely to take place mainly in the east.

‘The Monster Mountains are to the east of the royal capital. In other words, there’s a high probability that will be the main battlefield. Of course, according to the Future Diary, it seems the entire kingdom will become a battlefield…… but it’s clear that in the early stages of the war, the main battlefield will be in the east.’

And in fact, from the kingdom's perspective, the best thing would be to prevent the monster army from entering the interior of the kingdom.

It would be best to corner them at the entrance of the Monster Mountains, or in a specific area, and defeat them all at once.

That way, there would be less damage to the kingdom's territory.

‘The most important thing in a war is victory. But just as important is winning with minimal damage.’

Even if the monster army was driven out, if the kingdom's territory was devastated, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

‘Well…… victory isn't even confirmed yet, so is it too greedy to hope for something like that? Winning is the priority for now.’

After thinking for a while.

I revised the plan to install the communication facilities mainly in the plains east of the royal capital.

‘If we can't stop the monster army, the kingdom will be destroyed anyway. So for now, we must prepare everything with a focus on the war.’

As an aside, only Jereuth and I knew about the monster army.

I should reveal that soon too…… but I don't know when the right timing would be.

‘For now, my priority is to go to the Foothill's Rest and do what I have to do. It won't be too late to reveal it when I feel I'm fully prepared. The war preparations are already well underway.’

After reading the report to the end, I checked the next document.

A report that more taxes had come in than expected, a report that several excellent wild horses suitable for warhorses had been obtained from the fields, a report that competition had sprung up between blacksmiths and merchants throughout the kingdom, leading to better quality and lower prices, and so on.

They were all good news. It was truly a time of peace and prosperity.

But my heart did not flutter at all.

This was just a part of the ‘peaceful period’ the Future Diary had spoken of, and the truly important ending for me and this kingdom had not yet been decided.

Scribble, scribble—.

I quickly checked the documents, corrected what needed correcting, and also checked the parts that raised questions.

I handed the pile of checked documents to Elly and spoke.

“Elly, please take this to Olivia. I know there are a lot of other documents left, but tell her to handle this first.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Elly took my documents and left the room.

To rest for a bit, I leaned my head back on the chair's headrest and looked up at the ceiling.

‘If we win the war against the monster army…… I hope my ending will be decided with that. Something like, I grew old and died peacefully.’

Yes, I hope so.

***

Jerpan Archipelago.

An island nation located about a two-month boat ride across the sea south of the Plank Kingdom.

The Jerpan Archipelago was far from the mainland continent, and thanks to the protection of the natural fortress that was the ‘sea’, it suffered no damage in the war against the demons.

It didn't even participate in the Human Alliance forces, nor did it send support.

At such a selfish attitude of the Jerpan Archipelago, the empires and kingdoms of the continent were extremely furious at the time.

How could they not be angry when the Jerpan Archipelago, in the safest place, had ignored humanity's crisis, even though they had engaged in exchange across the sea in the past?

But the Jerpan Archipelago also had its own circumstances.

It was a civil war.

***

A castle located on a high and wide hill.

The plains around the castle were originally paddy fields and farmlands, but now they were a battlefield.

—Waaaaaaaah!!

—‘Nobrin Odanor’!! Your head is mine!!

—That son of a bitch! How dare he to our lord!!

—Cut down all the dogs of the Akeburon family, leave none behind!!

—Surround the castle! The siege must not be broken! Soldiers, three days! If we hold out for just three days, victory is ours!!

—Hold on, soldiers! If we trap them for just three days, everything in the Odanor domain will be yours! Money, land, wealth, women and men! All of it!

—Break through the siege!! We must let our allied domain know that the enemy's main force is gathered here!!

The reason the Jerpan Archipelago was embroiled in such a civil war was truly absurd.

The king, who held immense power, had died after falling from a horse. It was an accident that happened overnight.

When the great king with immense power suddenly died, his sons and daughters tried to seize the throne using the power of the provincial lords—.

The provincial lords engaged in a bloody struggle for the throne in the capital, and in the end, a prince named ‘Yoshir’ was enthroned as king.

But the provincial lords had no reason to obey the authority of King Yoshir, who had become king using the power of others.

Each provincial lord established their own power, calling themselves the ‘king of that land’, and ignored the king's orders. That was the beginning of the civil war.

Each lord formed alliances and factions, and crushed any domain that opposed their faction.

It was truly an era of warring states.

In the Jerpan Archipelago, it was called the ‘Era of the Broken Crown’.

While humanity on the continent was fighting for survival against the demons, the lords in the Jerpan Archipelago were fighting to become king.

Even now, when the war with the demons on the continent was over.

***

The central domain of the Jerpan Archipelago, the ‘Hideon Family’.

The head of that family, 'Hideon Tyrrell', was in deep thought, looking at a map of the Jerpan Archipelago.

‘This war…… the ‘Era of the Broken Crown’ will end soon.’

Of course, fierce battles were still taking place in various regions.

But the tide of victory was clearly turning towards the Hideon family and its allied forces. Clearly.

‘It will take two years at the shortest, four years at the longest. To eliminate all the lords who oppose me.’

But.

‘The real problem starts from there. The aftermath of the war is the bigger problem.’

After a long civil war, the Jerpan Archipelago was poor. This meant the people were hungry and had many complaints.

‘Right now, those complaints are being suppressed because we're at war. But if those complaints erupt after the war ends…… this kingdom will fall into another kind of chaos.’

That wasn't all.

‘The lords who fought with loyalty to me, risking everything, and the knights are also a problem. Their power has grown too large.’

While the lords and knights suffered the most damage during the war, they also gained the most power.

Because they had gained popularity among many people through the war.

‘Those guys will also demand a lot from me as soon as the war ends. Conversely, they'll refuse to pay taxes, giving all sorts of reasons. Also, they'll try to act like kings in their own lands, and the knights will demand domains and titles.’

That's right. Hideon Tyrrell was perfectly predicting what would happen after the war, even before it was over.

It was not for nothing that he had been able to build the strongest force in the ‘Era of the Broken Crown’.

Even his enemies acknowledged his ability.

‘The dissatisfied people of the kingdom after the war. The lords and knights trying to satisfy their own greed. How can I solve this? To start another war…… that would be a self-destructive move.’

Just then.

Knock, knock—.

—Father, are you still awake?

Tyrrell's daughter asked, knocking from outside.

At the voice of his daughter, dearer to him than his own eyes, Tyrrell felt his fatigue melt away.

“What is it?”

—I brought some tea.

“Ah, yes. Come in.”

Bringing tea was a job for a low-ranking servant like a maid. However, Tyrrell only allowed his food to be prepared by his family.

It was to prevent assassination by poison.

Click—.

As his daughter placed the tea on the desk, Tyrrell smiled gently. He was a man with no blood or tears on the battlefield, but he truly loved his family.

His daughter, ‘Hideon Loa’, looked at the map her father was looking at and asked.

“Are you thinking about strategy?”

“No, the civil war is almost over.”

“Then…… why are you looking at the map?”

“I was thinking about what to do after the war.”

“After the war……”

Loa thought for a moment, then smiled a very beautiful smile and spoke.

“You're worried that the people of the kingdom will express their discontent after the war ends, aren't you? You're also worried about the defiance and demands of the provincial lords and knights.”

“……!”

To say so much without him having said anything.

‘Loa is indeed…… a very smart child.’

“Yes. I'm worried that another civil war might break out in this land.”

At Tyrrell's expression of difficulty, Loa massaged his shoulders and encouraged him.

“Don't worry. You will surely find a way, Father. A way to make everyone in our kingdom, the Jerpan Archipelago, happy.”

“Haha, yes, thank you. I also want to make everyone in this land happy. But to do that, there's really nothing left in this kingdom. Even if we start farming again, it won't be easy since the entire country has been ravaged by war. Besides, how will we survive for the one year it takes to farm…… ah.”

As he was speaking.

Tyrrell realized something.

He saw an ‘island’ roughly drawn at the northern end of the map.

That island was ‘Ingrid Island’.

‘……Why was I looking for land to distribute to the lords and knights within the Jerpan Archipelago? Why was I trying to find the wealth to quell the discontent of the kingdom's people in this land?’

Outside the kingdom.

Wasn't it just across the sea?

In the weak and feeble minor nation, the Plank Kingdom.

All the land and wealth to quell the discontent of the people, lords, and knights.

At that thought, a fearsome smile appeared on Tyrrell's face.

Grin—.

‘When this civil war ends…… next is the Plank Kingdom.’