353. The Immortal and the Mortal (22)
Guir is probably one of the most prosperous cities in the Empire right now. It has not suffered any damage, from the 50-year war to the Empire’s civil war, and even during Karadskar’s great northern campaign.
Another name for Guir is the Golden Port. It is the last ice-free port adjacent to the north and holds the most important position on the vast northern sea trade routes. Any major trade route connecting the east, north, and Kirzat must include Guir.
Therefore, Guir has now become the Empire’s largest trading port, enjoying nights more dazzling than day and days more refined than night, rivaling the wealth of Paltennoia.
“Amazing!”
Kirhas kept her eyes shining as she looked around. She had served as the regent of Bülrang’s Duke and as the leader of two factions, and as a result, she could now objectively measure the prosperity of a city.
As a lord, she fully understood how remarkable Guir’s wealth was.
The nobles passing by had bright complexions, and the streets were perfectly maintained. It was a world of difference compared to Bülrang, which was almost in ruins. Unlike the desolate and poor Bülrang, here there was a mix of laughter, the smell of cooking, and the noisy shouts of merchants.
It was the sound of life burning brightly. Unlike Bülrang, which had been directly hit by scorched-earth tactics and war, this place was vibrant. She rolled her eyes in admiration, feeling a hint of envy.
Then, a hand rested on her shoulder.
“Robert is a resourceful man, Kirhas.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“And Guir has dodged all the aftermath of the war. Even during the civil war, Guir’s fleet attacked and plundered nearby territories. Their wealth is built on the plunder of surrounding territories, so it’s bound to be different from your domain.”
“Ahem. Isn’t that a bit of a problematic statement to make in front of Count Tremule, Lord Sernerd?”
“Since it was an operation carried out by the previous Count Tremule and myself, isn’t it natural to talk about it?”
Responding cheerfully to Everiz’s pointed remark, Fernandez tugged on the reins. Clip-clop, clip-clop. With the relaxed rhythm of hooves, Fernandez continued.
“Anyway, comparing Guir’s wealth to Bülrang’s beastmen isn’t fair. Not right now, at least. In about fifty years, Bülrang might surpass Guir.”
“Huh? How?”
Kirhas blinked and asked again. It seemed vague and impossible to her. Guir was such a dazzling port city, while Bülrang was nothing but ruins near the wilderness. Even worse, during the war, scorched-earth tactics had destroyed all the infrastructure.
With the halt of western expedition support, Bülrang’s economy was in shambles. As winter approached, half of the nobles would have to scrape by eating roots.
There were no proper trade routes, the territory’s specialties weren’t remarkable, and the once self-sufficient granaries were devastated during the war, requiring significant time to rebuild. Even most of the young population in the territory consisted of beastmen who had taken up farming.
“Empress Carvelier is strengthening ties with Kirzat, and soon, when western trade flourishes, the ancient Silk Road of La Merthion will open to the west.”
“Uh, Lord Sernerd? Wouldn’t that require the collapse of trade with the Eastern Kingdom?”
“That’s right. The east will be too busy surviving on their own for a while.”
Fernandez answered in a matter-of-fact tone. Even if the war progressed as expected, the eastern small kingdoms’ national power would be halved at least, and if it escalated more fiercely, half of the Eastern Kingdom’s alliance would be engulfed in flames.
“And if the eastern trade routes are cut off, western trade through the Great Wilderness will flourish. If we limit the routes through the Great Wilderness to land, there are two main paths.”
“Bülrang and Ribue, right?”
“Exactly, Count Tremule. Empress Carvelier would want to make Ribue a trade hub, but Bülrang has a significant advantage that Ribue doesn’t.”
“…The beastmen!”
“Right. A powerful warlord who controls the entire Great Wilderness is protecting Bülrang. Unless Ribue supports a knight order, it would be hard to guarantee safer trade than under the protection of the beastman nobility…”
“Beastman warriors… right. They’re cheap labor!”
It felt a bit odd coming from the Chieftain of the Beastman Nobles… Fernandez nodded, feeling a bit strange, but it was true nonetheless.
Bülrang had vast farmlands, but now they were almost all wastelands, with beastmen raising unprofitable crops and livestock. They were poor nomads who didn’t know farming.
Teaching them farming methods to settle down would be like pouring water into a bottomless jar. There was a better way to utilize them.
During the 50-year war, beastmen were often used as mercenaries. Almost all of them were skilled in mounted combat and experienced in long journeys like trade caravans. They even knew the geography of the Great Wilderness inside out.
Once the political situation with Kirzat stabilizes and trade routes open, Bülrang will quickly rebuild. It’s just a matter of time.
‘Yes, just a matter of time.’
Perhaps the world is like a scale. If someone falls, someone else rises to seize wealth and honor. The fall of the east and the rise of the west are even fitting in their timing.
Just as this city, Guir, grew through the tragedies of the last war. The development of cities and territories might require sucking the blood of others. Fernandez thought as he looked at Guir’s bustling streets.
“Ah, by the way, Lord Sernerd, I’ve prepared the trade ships as you requested, but why did you ask for trade ships instead of warships?”
“You know we’re heading east, right?”
“That’s why I’m asking. I need to check how far the situation in the east has progressed, but it doesn’t seem like a good time for trade, does it?”
“Sending warships to the east could be seen as the Empire’s active intervention.”
Fernandez continued without stopping. Guir’s fortress came into view. The bustling road leading to the fortress, the houses along the ridge, and the slowly growing horizon.
The bright sunlight shone on the northern port. The water’s surface on the horizon sparkled beautifully. Fernandez looked at the ships dotting the horizon and continued.
“Not all of the east has fallen yet. In fact, they’re hiding the demons’ intervention and exaggerating the Church’s faults. In this situation, the Empire’s intervention could be politically exploited.”
The Eastern Kingdom is now a powder keg preparing for civil war. The Phaeirn Royal Family will soon officially condemn the Vaitas Church, and the conflict between secular society and religious authority will soon escalate into a civil war that will burn the entire alliance.
The Empire is by no means a friendly neighbor to the Eastern Alliance. Outwardly, it was an ally and a major trading partner, but in reality, it was a powerful nation extracting tribute under the guise of tariffs and trade route maintenance fees.
In the current chaotic political climate, if the Empire shows any sign of military intervention, Phaeirn’s position would only strengthen. Condemning moderate small kingdoms like Dane and others…
The empire must unite against the common enemy.
‘That’s the most certain way.’
Phaeirn is now aiming for a new alliance system centered around themselves. Beyond the regional powers of the Eastern Union, they might even be showing ambitions to swallow the entire union.
On the other hand, the empire lacks both the justification and the resources to help the East. The aftermath of a long war has left the empire without the capital to wage an expeditionary war.
‘At best, we can deploy a defensive line in the eastern region centered around La Merthion, but an eastern expedition is out of the question.’
Fernandez slowly shook his head and moved his steps. Now, the fortress of Guir was approaching. The family flags fluttered in the wind on the shining fortress walls under the sunlight.
‘The Carvelier family flag…?’
Among the flags of House Tremule and the military flags of Guir, the Carvelier family flag was visible on the highest pole. Fernandez unconsciously stopped in his tracks.
Seeing this, Everiz smirked.
“Surely not?”
“Correct. His Majesty the Emperor is currently on a royal visit to Guir.”
“Since when?”
“He entered with me and has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. He must be very pleased. Mama?”
Fernandez frowned and rubbed his forehead. He wondered why the Duke had come out to the outskirts of the territory to personally receive him, but it seemed Rene had ordered it.
“His Majesty has been meticulously ensuring your arrival, taking extra care so you don’t lose your way. Hoho, do you see how much he cares for you?”
“Probably means don’t run away.”
“That’s such an unromantic attitude.”
“My romance isn’t in such places.”
“A banquet and dinner are planned. Originally, your return should have been celebrated with a feast in Paltennoia, but oh my. Weren’t you planning to ignore Paltennoia and leave through Guir?”
“I remember stamping the divorce papers.”
“The legal secretary rejected them. His Majesty has not yet remarried, so legally, you are still His Majesty’s consort.”
Everiz kept giggling as she spoke. Fernandez struggled to suppress the urge to turn and leave. Meeting Rene at this point was not a good idea.
‘Too conspicuous.’
Maybe I should have stopped by Paltennoia? The Emperor’s sudden visit to Guir outside the capital was information that not only the various Dukes but also all nearby kingdoms would be wary of. The current Emperor is a war hero, and the former Count Tremule was a founding contributor.
But soon, Fernandez shook his head. No operation can be completely secret. Especially for a national-scale operation like this, information is bound to leak.
The small kingdoms of the Eastern Union are not incompetent fools. They are jackals always alert to the movements within the union and the empire. Given that, this is also an opportunity to act as a filter.
‘An opportunity to see who sides with whom.’
The opacity of information is the same for Fernandez. At this point with Karadskar’s fall, Fernandez has no idea what the future holds.
Just as the former Emperor Tremule suddenly fell, and as Phaeirn prepares for civil war. The achievements he has built up are now an unpredictable future lined up before him.
The political situation is shrouded in fog. For him, and of course for his enemies. It’s the same for the many monarchs of the secular royal families who find it hard to distinguish friend from foe. If it’s hard to gauge the starting point—
‘We must bring equal chaos to everyone.’
War is an unfair game. It’s not a gentlemanly chess match where each country plays with identical pieces and capital. The battlefield is where chaos, and even greater chaos, comes. Information becomes tangled, and unpredictable variables always arise.
And chaos is never an enemy to dark mages. Fernandez wiggled his fingers and nodded. It was a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time. A feeling a temple priest facing great demons shouldn’t have.
A feeling a dark mage facing secular kingdoms, heroes of various nations, and tens of thousands of troops might have. A dark mage overlooking the battlefield.
‘Not bad.’
It’s been quite some time since becoming one with Faijashi. Fernandez walked on, wondering if these thoughts were his own emotions or those Faijashi might have had.
* * *
“Announcing the entrance of the Imperial Consort, Sir Fernandez de Carvelier!!”
As Fernandez’s party crossed the corridor of Guir Fortress, the knights on both sides of the door shouted in unison and opened the door leading to the banquet hall. Just moments before, there was a clamor beyond the door, but once opened, only silence filled the banquet hall.
The imperial nobles all turned to look at him as he entered the banquet hall. The figure of a young man striding confidently across the red-carpeted banquet hall. With unkempt black hair and strikingly blue eyes, the tall, sturdy knight walked straight towards the Emperor.
A low ripple of murmurs spread around him. The nobles whispered among themselves about Fernandez’s rumors. The Emperor’s assassin, the demon hunter, the man who single-handedly tamed and defeated those savage barbarians.
He wasn’t the giant knight or the scarred field commander with a lion’s mane as the rumors suggested. But no one dared to belittle the young man’s achievements.
Kirhas watched the scene with mixed emotions. Back in the audience hall of Ribue, where they first intervened in imperial politics. They had to endure the sneers and disdain of the imperial knights to prove their worth.
Now, at this moment, with the Emperor sitting cross-legged looking down at them. No one doubted their authority. They only whispered in awe. Kirhas stood still with complex feelings, watching Fernandez walk ahead.
-Clink.
At the end of the carpet, before the Emperor, Fernandez stopped and knelt on one knee. The sound of his armor lightly clinking was heard. Fernandez bowed his head briefly and took a breath. Soon, he raised his head to look up at the Emperor.
“Sir Fernandez Sernerd. I have returned from the expedition. Your Majesty.”
“Sernerd?”
“My apologies, but I do not recall changing my surname.”
Rene looked down at Fernandez without a word. The two looked at each other with completely expressionless faces. Soon, a slight smile began to creep up Rene’s lips.
Just as the nobles were about to be frightened by the somewhat ominous atmosphere, the Emperor’s clear laughter echoed through the hall. The court nobles were startled to see the Emperor laugh. It was the first time they had seen her laugh since ascending the throne.
“Ahahaha! It seems my joke didn’t sit well with you?”
“It was amusing.”
“Good. What are we waiting for? The guest of honor has returned, let the banquet begin!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!!”
Rene stood up abruptly and walked towards him. As she walked, attendants quickly and carefully held her cloak. As she reached out her hand, the chamberlain handed her a transparent crystal glass.
“Take it, Sir Sernerd. Don’t stand there so out of place.”
“Lady Carvelier.”
“Hoho, it hasn’t been long, but that name already feels nostalgic. For you, and for me?”
“…Indeed.”
“One person from that time has returned, but the other will never do so. I have mourned alone, but I couldn’t share a drink with anyone. Will you help me?”
“Gladly.”
Fernandez took the glass from Rene’s hand. Rene poured wine into his glass and filled her own. Clink, the clear sound of their glasses touching.
“To the great Duke, Erbe de Carvelier.”
“To the father of Ribue.”
“May the Temple of the Gods bless us.”
They nodded briefly and downed their drinks in one go. At the same time, the banquet began.
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