Chapter 190 : Chapter 190

Chapter : 190

Anyone ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍who heard it would say, “No way,” but it was true.

Recently, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Azulela had been so busy that she could barely think straight.

Had ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she not said she would test the field hospital before this campaign?

Professor ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Vesalius was the overall person in charge of the field hospital, but that did not mean Azulela had no role. She was overseeing and producing all sorts of medicines used there.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was even verifying on-site whether the medicines truly worked on the wounded!

“Hmm. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Why? You look like you have a great deal you want to say. Do you have something to say?”

“N-no, Your Excellency. Hohoho.”

Azulela could not bring herself to spill all of her complaints.

‘A miracle-working saint, my foot. He is a tyrant worse than the emperor. Still, he does take good care of himself.’

Pouting, Azulela quietly changed the subject.

“Y-You said you wanted to learn magic, so… I will help you for now. But.”

“Because mysteries must be awakened by oneself, I cannot provide any direct help. Is that what you were going to say?”

“…?”

Did this man learn magic somewhere? From the great sage, Agpiel, perhaps?

Azulela was flustered, but she forced herself to stay calm and nodded.

“Y-yes. So even if you do not encounter a mystery, it is not my fault, so do not scold—”

“Did I seem that narrow-minded?”

“No! No! It is just that nobles are all like that, getting angry, so hohoho. Your Excellency too, just in case—”

“…I always think this, but it would be wonderful if you watched your mouth.”

What on earth was she trying to say? Really…. Even when I wanted to treat her well, she had a talent for begging to be punished.

I could not help but sigh at Azulela’s behavior.

“Anyway, we will begin now. Teacher Azulela.”

---

To begin with the outcome, I did manage to awaken a magical mystery.

But….

“Khkhkh. What is that? Do not tell me you cast that as a protective mystery?”

“Gnh. Do not tease me, Magician Agpiel.”

“Tease? C-cough. I am not teasing. It is just… is your mystery not far too adorable?”

“…Most people would call that teasing.”

“Would they?”

At my words, Magician Agpiel shrugged with complete innocence.

I felt sulky, but what could I do?

The protective magic hovering before my hand really was, as he said, absurdly tiny.

-Wooooong.

It wavered at no more than the size of a palm.

I had no idea why, but—

“Hmmm…. Perhaps the teaching was wrong? Magician Agpiel.”

As I spoke, I glanced back.

Given how rough Azulela could be, it seemed possible she had not taught properly. Knowing something and teaching it were not the same thing. And nothing was as peculiar and difficult to formalize as magic. A slight shift in perspective could produce a different result.

Azulela startled and shouted.

“N-no! Your Excellency. Wrong? I taught you properly. You promised you would not do this…. Do not tell me?”

“…I did not say I would punish you.”

“Oh, really? Hehehe….”

“Well. It seems you may simply not suit that mystery.”

“What?”

What did that mean? Was magic not magic?

“Depending on a person’s temperament, there are mysteries that suit them and mysteries that do not. For example, those with a passionate and explosive nature who suit a mystery of fire tend to have very poor compatibility with a mystery of water.”

“Oh…?”

So even mysteries had affinities tied to one’s personality.

“Hmm?”

Then a thought occurred to me.

“Since Azulela mainly handles mysteries of protection and healing, does that mean she possesses those qualities?”

When I recalled my first meeting with Azulela, it felt like a rather glaring mismatch.

Had she not used a sly ambush, controlling goblins to lure an ogre?

Magician Agpiel spoke with an oddly awkward expression.

“How do you see Lady Azulela, exactly…. Of course, even mysteries of protection and healing can suit the expression of selfishness. ‘I’ want to protect myself. ‘I’ want to heal myself. Such earnest wishes can be the beginning.”

“Hoh…? Remarkable. That is quite persuasive, Magician Agpiel.”

“…….”

As the conversation went on, Azulela’s expression grew delicate in a very particular way.

‘Damn it!’

Just swear at me instead!

Of course, neither Magician Agpiel nor I was the type to worry about Azulela’s feelings.

“Anyway, the reason your magic looks like that is likely because of this.”

“Then you are saying I am poorly matched with protective magic?”

“No. More precisely, you are poorly matched with the mystery of the magic that Lady Azulela is teaching you.”

“Ah. Then what should I do? From the look of it, I do not think I would match well with your nature either, Magician Agpiel.”

“Hmmm….”

Magician Agpiel fell briefly into thought, then spoke.

“Can you move that barrier? I mean, can you make it move? If you give it a strong will, it may be possible.”

“Eh? Magician Agpiel, the protective mystery I taught is fixed in place.”

Azulela waved her hands.

“Hoho, of course you can—”

-Buuuuung!

“?????”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“…Nothing, Your Excellency. I was going to say it certainly can.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

I pulled my gaze away from the utterly blank-faced Azulela and looked to Magician Agpiel.

“It moves. Now what do I do?”

“Now throw it. Throw it at that haystack over there.”

“Are there any precautions?”

“A fierce anger. And the destructive intent to smash it.”

“Hmm. Understood.”

“Come on…. You are telling him to alter an already-formed mystery. Even if His Excellency is like that, can he really do that? That is a bit—huh?!”

Azulela had started to chuckle at the absurd advice, but a thought flashed through her mind.

This felt familiar…. Was it not like earlier?

And, sure enough—

-WHIIIIIISH!

The protective magic on my hand suddenly shot toward the haystack like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Like a bolt fired from a massive ballista.

And at the same time—

-BOOM!

With a tremendous explosion, the haystack was blasted into fragments beyond recognition.

“…….”

Azulela could only gape in silence.

“Hmm. As I thought, you are suited to a nature of destruction and anger. I already suspected as much when you took the lead and started dropping men. Hahaha.”

---

The outcome was rather hard to believe (though I thought Agpiel and Azulela matched it far too well), but in any case, the magic lesson ended one way or another.

For now, I decided I would only enter the mystery I had awakened and would not use it directly.

It was simply too powerful. I was concerned I would be mistaken for a heretical magician.

Even though the Holy See had already notarized me as someone beloved by God, it was still better not to create political ammunition for attacks, just in case.

I agreed that the two magicians’ advice made sense.

Anyway, with these small personal matters finished, all that remained was public business.

“So. Have we heard anything from Sir Biden and Captain Konrad?”

“According to the reports, the occupation is proceeding smoothly. They say they will soon enter the southern region of the Apennine Peninsula.”

“That is fine.”

The County of Campania was a county only in name. Its size was almost that of a kingdom.

While we laid siege to the capital of the County of Campania, Sir Biden and Captain Konrad continued marching south, crushing the remaining remnants.

“Still, as I understand it, there are quite a few minor lords in the southern region…. Do we need additional troops?”

“Fortunately, because of His Majesty the Holy Empire Emperor’s conscription, those lords have no proper military power. Most of the County of Campania’s forces are the troops Count Steffen commands, Your Excellency.”

That truly was fortunate.

If the minor lords in the south had possessed large forces, the fighting would have been difficult in many ways.

“Meee. My looord. Would it not be better to win them over instead. Meheh.”

At that moment, Bishop Marco the goat beastman—who had been silent—offered an opinion. It was astonishing.

“Huh? You?”

“Whut?”

“Cough. No, I mean… win them over? The tide has already turned. Do we really need to?”

“Meeee! That is why we need to win them over. We cannot govern this place directly, can we not. Mehr. So we must embrace those minor lords to rule here without trouble. Mehr. Of course, we should squeeze a fortune out of them in exchange for our mercy. Meheheheheh!”

“…….”

He seemed more interested in the scraps than the rite itself…. But it was still a good suggestion.

As Bishop Marco said, it would be difficult to govern this place directly.

It was far too distant from my own directly-managed land.

‘And if we simply sweep everyone away like this, the Holy See’s influence will grow too large.’

The Holy See was far closer than I was. We had even borrowed its authority to reclaim this fief.

In a sense, I might rule the County of Campania in name, but the Holy See could end up governing it in practice.

‘Yes. I did the work, so I will not let someone else enjoy the benefits.’

How long would I remain on good terms with the Holy See?

In every domain, churches were filled with vast tax-exempt lands and tax-free enterprises. When I reformed the domain later, conflict would be inevitable.

Coldly speaking, the Holy See was, in the end, a future enemy.

So I made a decision.

As Bishop Marco the goat beastman suggested, I would take the minor lords of southern Campania into my fold.

But in a slightly different way.

“Good. Bishop Marco. That is an excellent opinion. Well done.”

“Meheheheh. You recognize my splendid counsel. Meee. My looord. I am very pleased. Mehr.”

“…Anyway, as you say, I will offer submission to the minor lords in the south of the County of Campania. If they swear loyalty and offer an appropriate sincerity(?), their long-held rights will be maintained. However…”

When I trailed off, the vassals in the room all fixed their eyes on my mouth.

Whenever I spoke like that, something difficult to understand usually followed.

And indeed—

“From now on, they must all gather quarterly at the newly established court of the County of Campania. There, together with regional representatives I appoint specially, they will form an assembly and present opinions on the governance of the County of Campania.”

“Whut?”

“Yeees…?”

“What is that supposed to—?”

The moment I finished, my vassals’ expressions turned bizarre.

Form an assembly and discuss governance?

Was I not saying I would share a lord’s absolute authority?

Why?

What was I lacking?

But my thinking was different.

‘Heh heh heh…. The pro-Holy See faction, the emerging administrative officials’ faction, and the local lords’ faction. Split apart and beat each other senseless.’

It was land I could not govern directly anyway.

I only needed to set the broad direction and reign above them.

And if I did—

They would bicker among themselves so much that they could not unite to resist me, and in every dispute they would look to me to resolve it.