I couldn’t comprehend the Third Lord’s decision at all.
If he proceeds with the duel as it is, he’ll die.
He called this honor, but to me, it was nothing more than a pointless death.
A completely meaningless and unjustified death.
Moreover, it was a foolish choice that would lead his subordinates to ruin as well.
Exactly why?
For the sake of this absurd and vague concept of honor, is he going to be so stubborn?
“Maybe it’s best to give up on convincing him?”
Arkhana looked at me calmly and said this.
She seemed to somewhat understand the Third Lord’s choice.
“Grand Lord, are you on the Third Lord’s side as well?”
“Well, I don’t completely agree with him either, but I can’t say he’s entirely wrong, can I?”
“Hmph.”
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
The Third Lord, talking about honor and rushing off to die, the Grand Lord hearing his nonsense and agreeing—somehow, none of them seem to make any sense.
At this point, I’m even starting to suspect if I’m the odd one out.
At least Silvia shared my opinion, but due to her status, she couldn’t overly interfere with the Third Lord’s decision.
In other words, it’s up to me to persuade the Third Lord.
…Honestly, I didn’t think he’d listen even if I tried to persuade him.
Still, I was heading to see him out of sheer curiosity.
I was curious about his intention to choose death for himself and so many others in the name of a lord’s duty, and his mindset that regarded this as some kind of absolute truth perplexed me.
“…”
Knock, knock.
I knocked on the door without hesitation.
“Who’s there?”
“Sixth Lord.”
“…Come in.”
Creak.
As I entered through the slightly opened door, he was sitting on the couch, smirking.
“You look like someone with a lot to say, Sixth Lord.”
Instead of answering, I sat on the couch opposite him and locked eyes with him.
The Third Lord didn’t avert his gaze either, and so I got straight to the point.
“Abandon the duel.”
“Is that what you’re going to say again?”
“You’ll die if you go there. Knowing this, what’s the reason you’re being so stubborn?”
Between our clashing gazes, sparks seemed to fly.
“Holding onto destruction is not honor; it’s ignorance-based stubbornness.”
“…”
“Ignoring Kalakh’s declared Ragnarshut, reorganize your forces. The schism has already begun anyway.”
The Third Lord was quietly staring at me with a blank expression.
Not out of anger or hostility, but with a gaze that was as if he was looking at something distant.
As his silence continued, I grew frustrated and raised my voice slightly.
“Results are more important than appearances.”
The Third Lord knows.
He knows that his decision will lead to the death of many, including himself.
He knows the great calamity that will come from this.
“Can this really be called a proper decision?”
“…”
Of course, it isn’t.
No matter how you rationalize honor and belief, everything ends with death.
That’s a basic truth and my perspective as a modern person.
“Do you think everything ends with your death? What do you plan to do about the aftermath?”
“There’s the Grand Lord.”
“…”
So, it’s the Grand Lord you’re leaving it to then?
But there’s no need for it in the first place.
Ignoring Ragnarshut is all it takes.
Even if this supposed promise, discipline, and system were made by the Third Lord himself, considering the impending disaster, it’s right to prioritize results and break the rules using his authority.
“If you truly have the welfare of your people in mind, stop being obstinate and listen to me.”
Click.
The sound of ice rolling in an empty glass was heard.
The lord, who had taken a sip of whiskey, quietly asked.
“If you have the welfare of the people in mind, you should not listen to that.”
…What?
“What do you think a lord is?”
The Third Lord Kalen was still calmly staring at me.
His sharp red eyes were gleaming like a blade.
Since the answer to his question was clear, I didn’t hesitate either.
“To lead the people. Someone who takes responsibility for their lives and safety.”
“Then may I ask, how do you intend to lead them? By strength? Power? Or by the results you mentioned?”
As the Third Lord swirled his whiskey glass, he continued.
His gaze contained neither arrogance nor superiority.
Just the steadfast will of a man.
“True governance originates from trust. A lord must have an absolute standard that the people can believe in and follow. That is the essence of a lord.”
“Don’t you think the way you’re keeping this trust is wrong? A belief that leads to death is nothing more than arrogance, right?”
“No, it is not.”
He paused mid-sentence.
Just that, but the atmosphere grew heavy.
“What do you think the difference between a lord and the leader of a band of thieves is?”
Caught off-guard by the question, I took a moment to gather my thoughts.
“Probably the difference between ruling by order or ruling by force.”
“Is that all?”
The Third Lord’s gaze sharpened.
“Even the leader of a group of thieves protects his people. They also have their own rules and order. So why do we call them thieves?”
“…”
“Because they change the rules for their own benefit whenever suitable. They break promises when it’s inconvenient, and abandon their companions when it’s dangerous. They only chase results.”
The Third Lord’s eyes didn’t show any doubt about his decision.
They were filled with resolute certainty.
“Sixth Lord, by telling me to break my vow because the situation is unfavorable, you’re suggesting that I should discard my promise. Then I must ask you. Is that the act of a lord or the act of the leader of a band of thieves?”
“If you follow your flawed logic, does it mean that one must keep even a wrong promise? Correcting a faulty vow is also an attribute of a lord, wouldn’t you say?”
“Wrong promise… Then who decides what is wrong?”
There were many things I wanted to say.
There were numerous logical errors in his statements.
It was definitely contradictory, irrational, and by modern standards, akin to tyrannical law.
Yet, his eyes never wavered.
They were sharp.
The eyes of a ruler resolute in his belief.
“When the people decide? Or like you, after considering the results? Or possibly looking at the unpredictable future?”
The hand that had been swirling the glass stopped.
“The vow of a lord must be kept regardless of gain or loss. It’s not something to be discarded just because the situation turns unfavorable.”
“What’s the meaning if keeping such a vow leads to death?”
“Meaning? Ha! The moment you calculate gain and loss in a lord’s promise, it ceases to be a promise at all. It’s nothing more than a rationalized calculation.”
“…”
“Mutual trust is just that. It doesn’t calculate reasonableness or absurdity. It’s simply about mutual belief and following each other. Just as the people believe in and follow me, I must also keep my promise to them.”
Everything he said was flawed.
He calls every decision made for a better outcome as a betrayal of trust, and wraps the judgment that leads to everyone’s death in a polished veneer of belief and honor.
Yet, he was unyieldingly confident.
He was firmly asserting that he was right, like I was the only one living in a different world.
“You must have done quite a lot of villainous acts as a lord, too.”
“Villainous acts?”
“Cutting the heads off of those who disagree with you, confiscating their property, and using your authority to take what you desire. Did you not?”
“Yes, and what’s wrong with that?”
“… Are you really asking me this out of ignorance?”
“Of course.”
The Third Lord was entirely unashamed.
I pointed out his past as a tyrant to criticize his current stance despite claiming lordly qualities, but I couldn’t understand why he remained so unapologetic.
Instead, he grinned as if to teach me, and said,
“Rewards for loyalty, death for betrayal. Where’s the problem?”
“…”
“That is another vow a lord must keep. And I kept it. Everyone in my territory knows this: if you reward me with loyalty, you will certainly be rewarded.”
…Though it’s off-topic, I remained silent.
After all, I was the one who brought up his past first.
“The people also maintained their trust in me, and that’s why three races can live harmoniously under the domain of the Third Lord.”
Indeed, as he said.
The dominion of the Third Lord was the only nation in the continent where more than one race lived peacefully together.
“Keeping trust is what honor is. It is the regulation, the order. A steady and unchanging criterion without calculating profit or loss… Without this, isn’t it just a gang of powerful bandits?”
I had nothing more to say.
Though I found it frustrating, I could somehow understand his reasoning.
Illogical and filled with contradictions, yet it was resolute.
Rigid and simplistic, but with a solid belief.
A mutual faith that relies on blind trust.
“So, you’re going to respond to the Ragnarshut?”
“No, it’s not sacrifice nor stubbornness. It’s simply the obvious path as a lord.”
“Ultimately, you’re heading towards destruction, then.”
“That burden I must bear. At least I can say I was a lord till the end. Moreover, aren’t you and the Grand Lord here? Even when I die, the Grand Lord will step in and resolve the aftermath.”
“…”
Persuasion failed.
Yet, my perspective of the Third Lord changed.
He was incredibly frustrating, but not an unpleasant man.
This stubbornness belongs to the type I dislike the most, yet for some reason, it was slightly understandable.
Ordinarily, I would disregard his beliefs and try to stop him by binding him if necessary, but my strategy shifted a little.
Certainly, I wasn’t going to let him die.
But since he’s not going to heed my words, I’ll need to find another way.
“…I understand your intent.”
“Thank you.”
That’s where our conversation ended.
I stepped out of the room.
Time passed.
“…”
In the dead of night, when everyone was asleep,
The volcanic region was like hell.
The rising magma dyed the sky red, and the incessantly surging lava cracked the surrounding ground.
Under the soot-filled dark red sky, Kalakh, the Grand Shaman of the Orc Tribe, was preparing his power at the altar near the sacred site for the upcoming Ragnarshut with the Third Lord.
“…!”
At that moment, he opened his eyes.
He had sensed something.
Kalakh’s gaze darted about, and from the darkness emerged a man.
“…Who are you?”
Kalakh questioned the unknown man.
But the man maintained silence, slowly walking closer.
The heat from the volcano rippled between them.
“Answer me, intruder.”
He still didn’t respond.
All Kalakh could discern was that the man was of slight build, and the tattoos beneath his eyes were glowing.
When he realized this, everything had already stopped.
Kalakh couldn’t budge a single finger.
All he could do was look at the man who had somehow approached him.
The man scanned Kalakh up and down with a cold gaze before speaking.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to kill you.”
“…?”
“Thought I’d just break a few limbs, that’s all.”
“???”
