Chapter 189 : Chapter 189

Chapter : 189

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍next day.

When ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the morning sun rose, everyone stared at the results before their eyes in astonishment.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been too busy fighting through the chaos of the night to realize it, but countless corpses of Count Steffen’s troops lay scattered before and behind the palisade.

No ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍matter how one looked at it, the number easily exceeded five hundred.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍near the palisade by the central command, where the fiercest fighting had taken place, around a hundred bodies—men who looked to be knights—were strewn across the ground.

Since ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the value of each knight could not be compared to that of an ordinary soldier, this achievement was no different from slaughtering a thousand troops.

As a result, the people at the central palisade—those who had not broken even in a hopeless situation and had fought alongside me—shed tears of overwhelming emotion.

“It is a great victory, my lord!”

“Oh, to share such a magnificent victory. O God! Thank you.”

Of course—

“Ugh! I am drunk. What on earth happened last night? Good heavens! The whole world is spinning!”

“Hm? What is this now? Did we duel again without knowing it? Ugh!”

Most people were still so thoroughly drunk that they could not even make sense of things, staggering about.

They had been so intoxicated that they had not even woken during last night’s uproar, and only now were they stumbling out like that.

“Good grief…”

I sighed at the disgraceful sight. Why did they not stay shut inside? Why come out and behave like that?

“Y-Your Excellency!!”

“My lord… my goodness. Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere…?”

Some officials and nobles, belatedly grasping the situation, rushed over in a panic.

Seeing the corpses scattered around, they realized there must have been a tremendous battle last night.

While they had been drinking and lounging in their tents.

Of course, I had intended much of this, so I did not care at all.

“Ah, I am fine. Do not worry about me.”

Waving my hands to calm them, I issued orders again.

“Many were injured in this raid. It was a very dangerous assault, but thanks to their devotion, we repelled it without great losses. Verify everything carefully and ensure that rewards for their meritorious service are given thoroughly.”

However, whether that sounded like that to the nobles and officials was another matter.

“Y-yes, Your Excellency!”

“Hiiik…. How could we do it carelessly? We will verify everyone at once, down to the lowest ranks.”

“?”

Why are they reacting so intensely?

Beside me, Magician Agpiel pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed.

“You… could you put down that bloodstained war hammer? You are going to give people fits.”

“Ah…. Huh?”

Only then did I finally understand.

A war hammer caked with blood and flesh.

I was covered in gore and issuing orders with that in my hand. For people who felt guilty, it was enough to send them into convulsions.

“Tsk, tsk. At this rate, I worry your nickname will become something like the Merciless Punisher, or a Tyrant. Is this a new method of giving orders?”

“C-cough. Cough. Of course not. It is a misunderstanding, Magician Agpiel.”

Clearing my scratchy throat for no reason, I quietly hid the war hammer behind my back. It was, frankly, an image perfectly suited to be misunderstood.

“Tsk, tsk. In any case, what will you do now? Will you ride this momentum and attack the castle?”

“Hmm….”

I rubbed my chin at Magician Agpiel’s question.

Certainly, if I pressed forward now, I might achieve good results. But I did not want to.

In a siege, the attacker was disadvantaged no matter what.

And now, in this era of great turmoil, every soldier was precious. With the tide already turning so heavily in my favor, I did not want needless losses.

“No. We will reorganize first. There is no need to rush right now.”

“Then they will absorb the shock, regain morale, and strengthen their defenses.”

“It is a castle that cannot even be supplied, is it not?”

“Ah? That is true. And for the emperor to send reinforcements here, he would have to come by sea…”

“Yes. And we control the sea as well.”

With support from the House of Viscount Bardi and the Holy See, the sea routes around the Apennine Peninsula were, in effect, in my grasp. The peninsula was too wide to block every path completely, but the routes the emperor could realistically use were obvious.

That made it easier to choke them off.

“Heh heh. Then, as you say, if we simply wait, they will collapse on their own.”

“Yes. Exactly, Magician Agpiel. Ah—of course, before that, we should send an envoy.”

“To urge surrender?”

“Yes. Is it not better to avoid unnecessary bloodshed? The situation has already tilted, and there is no path left for them…”

But, unexpectedly, Magician Agpiel shook his head.

“Count Steffen will refuse surrender even if it kills him.”

“Do you know him?”

“I once assisted with matters inside the Holy Empire. That man’s temperament is fiery and upright, and he will not easily abandon his will. He may even try to kill the envoy.”

“Ah…?”

Even in [Pangea Universalise], his personality had been foul, but if Magician Agpiel spoke that way, then he truly sounded unbearable.

“Tsk. Then we will send the envoy much later. Why throw away a life for nothing?”

“Still, would it not be better to make the offer? To gauge the situation inside the castle as well.”

“Hmm….”

“Send them. I will go with them.”

“You mean you, Magician Agpiel?”

I asked in shock.

“What, do you think he would kill me? We have a connection. Hahaha.”

“But earlier you said Count Steffen would…”

“He is a noble who understands honor. If we coax him well, he will not dare act. Besides, you seem to forget who I am from time to time.”

As if I could forget.

The Great Sage of the Forest. The great magician and adviser, Agpiel.

That was why it was even more surprising that he would volunteer to go somewhere so dangerous.

“It is not that I forget. I am only saying it because I am worried you are choosing to go into danger.”

“Heh heh. Wipe the spit from your lips before you speak. Your mouth is going to reach the sky at this rate.”

“C-cough. I am not. I mean it. Truly. I do not know why the corner of my mouth keeps twitching. Damn it.”

In any case, that was one worry dealt with! Hear, hear.

---

The condition I presented to Count Steffen was simple.

Unconditional surrender.

If he did so, I would guarantee his life and the lives of everyone connected to him, and if he paid only a reasonable ransom, I would even provide an escort to his destination.

In a war where defeat was already looming, it was a remarkably generous offer.

After all, he had attempted a dishonorable night ambush. Customs were not always protected in such cases.

But, as expected—

“Do you call that a proposal?”

Inside the castle, Count Steffen erupted in fury the moment the envoy finished speaking.

“That whelp has grown arrogant after a single victory! How dare he make such a humiliating offer to me!”

“A humiliating offer? Are you now insulting the Margrave of Bellua’s generous disposition?”

“What? You dare?”

At the envoy’s words, one of Count Steffen’s eyebrows rose sharply. An attendant jabbed the envoy in the side, but the envoy did not care.

Even if threatened, he would say what needed to be said.

The Margrave of Bellua was famous as a guardian of the faith.

Before I knew it, I had gathered many people around me who were steeled by conviction—under the name of piety.

If I had been watching this, I would have pressed a hand to my head and groaned, but—

“That is correct. Did you not cowardly raid at night, Count Steffen, Your Excellency? And yet His Excellency says he will forgive all of it and treat you generously according to custom. How can you call that humiliation?”

“You… you!!”

People said being beaten with the truth only made you angrier. Count Steffen was exactly like that now. He was already furious from suffering a crushing defeat to a mere whelp, and now they were dragging his shame into the open.

“Drag that bastard out. No—kill him! Spouting insolent nonsense. I cannot tolerate this.”

“Hah! You would kill me? Even if you kill me, the honor that has fallen into the filth cannot be restored!”

“Fine! I will grant your wish! No, I will kill you with my own hands!”

-CLANG!

The scene was turning into a complete brawl. Count Steffen, raging, drew his sword and strode forward as though he would strike the envoy down at once.

At that moment, a robed figure behind the envoy stepped forward and struck the ground with a staff.

-THUD!

-Wooooooong!

Space shuddered, and trees burst up from the ground, pushing people back.

“W-what…?”

“Magic! It is magic!”

“You idiots! Why did you not confiscate the staff?!”

“We—we did not know he was a magician….”

In an instant, the entire hall dissolved into chaos.

-CLANG!

Count Steffen’s knights drew their blades and moved to protect him.

“Shield the sage!”

On the envoy’s side, they also formed a ring to protect Magician Agpiel—their very lifeline.

A situation on the verge of explosion.

But that tension sank at once when Count Steffen, grimacing, spoke.

“Hmph…. Great Sage…. Agpiel, Great Sage of the Forest. Why are you here?”

Count Steffen slung his sword over his shoulder with a disgruntled air.

“It has been a long time, Count.”

“…Why are you here? When I saw the magic in the last battle, I had some suspicions.”

“I have always wandered without a home, have I not? This time, I found the young noble unusually interesting, so I have stayed a little longer.”

“Hmph. A whelp enjoying luxuries beyond his station.”

At Count Steffen’s words, Magician Agpiel smiled.

Praising me like that was, in itself, an admission of respect—proof that he was willing to speak rather than simply rage.

“Count Steffen. The young noble has no intention of insulting you. He only wishes to offer you a reasonable proposal.”

“A proposal? A reasonable proposal? How can that possibly be reasonable, Great Sage?”

“You know it as well, do you not? Your situation is not good. Your castle is already sealed on all sides. And even now, troops from the Margrave of Bellua and the Holy See continue to gather here, one after another.”

Magician Agpiel spoke only the facts, but Count Steffen still refused to accept them.

“A mere army! When His Majesty the Emperor’s reinforcements arrive, we can crush them all.”

“The emperor’s reinforcements? Do you not know that the sea route leading here has been completely blockaded by the House of Viscount Bardi and the Holy See’s navy?”

“…….”

“In a battle where defeat is all but certain, surrender does not mean your honor is trampled. Rather, you will be praised for the courage to consider your men. You almost succeeded in that chilling night strike, did you not?”

“It was stopped in the end. Thanks to someone.”

As he spoke, Count Steffen growled and ground his teeth.

He seemed to be burning with fury over Azulela’s betrayal.

‘Hmm…. I will have to warn her to be careful.’

For a moment, Magician Agpiel thought he should give Azulela a stern warning.

“So is that all you have to say? Surrender?”

“That is right.”

“Fine. Then leave. I had intended to kill every envoy, but… since I have seen your face, Great Sage, I will let you live.”

“Hmm…. Very well. Thank you. I will repay this later when I return.”

Magician Agpiel had considered persuading him once more, but he knew Count Steffen’s temperament too well. It was obvious he would not listen.

Still—

“Think carefully. Is the emperor truly a ruler worthy of your blind loyalty? With his cruel nature, he may trade you away to gain something else. Do not deceive yourself into thinking you will be treated differently.”

Before leaving, Magician Agpiel added one more line.

A sincere warning.

“…….”

Count Steffen’s mind grew troubled.

---

While everyone was busily carrying out my orders—

“You want me to teach you magic?”

I was speaking alone with Azulela for the first time in a while.

And it was to learn magic.

“Yes. When I saw the protective magic you placed on me last night… it seemed rather useful.”

“Hmm…. Mysteries are not something just anyone can learn…. No, I am not saying Your Excellency is just anyone, but ordinary people are not—damn it!”

“…If there is no connection?”

“Ah! Hoho…. Yes. If there is no connection, it is not easy to learn.”

Azulela laughed awkwardly. Her words said one thing, but her expression was openly, plainly saying she did not want to teach me and found it bothersome.

“Why? Are you saying you cannot teach me, then? Hmm….”

“Eek. No!”

When I idly stroked the blade at my side as I asked, Azulela startled as though seized by convulsions. She had remembered the monstrous sight of last night—me smashing knights’ skulls.

“I-If you are going to learn, would it not be better to learn from a more outstanding magician?”

“Magician Agpiel?”

“Yes!”

“But Magician Agpiel is the great sage, so would his magic not be very difficult and complex?”

“……?”

So her magic was nothing special, then?!

Seeing Azulela’s expression, I realized I had misspoken and hurried to salvage it.

“Ah, of course, I am not saying your magic would be easy to learn. It is only that, unlike you, he is very busy, so he likely would not have time to teach me.”

“…….”

The excuse I blurted out only sounded even more infuriating to Azulela.

‘I am treating people in the field hospital too, damn it…!’

Azulela felt unjustly wronged.