Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 21

The Highserk Empire once stood as a small country within a region where countless kings and lords existed in a state of disarray.

The first war after its establishment was a defensive one. The empire lured the enemy’s main force into its territory and annihilated them in an open-field battle.

Following their decisive victory, the Highserk Empire, riding on momentum, annexed the territories of the defeated nation. In a region where power balance was crucial, the emerging Highserk Empire faced alliances formed by neighboring countries against it. However, after decades of prolonged warfare, the Highserk Empire stood as the sole survivor.

For the mid-tier countries around it, Highserk was a bothersome small nation that, unaware of its place, continued to grow aggressively. Initially, every nation felt the same about it. The first to realize the change was the Libertoa Trade Federation, when one of its vassal states suffered a major defeat and sought reinforcements from the homeland.

Libertoa sent what could be considered an excessive force of 10,000 soldiers. Together with the vassal state’s troops, they formed a 15,000-strong army, which was more than double Highserk’s forces. Libertoa also had the geographical advantage, and everyone expected an easy victory. However, the outcome was a disastrous defeat for Libertoa, which ended up ceding part of its territory to Highserk.

Surprised by the military prowess of Highserk’s soldiers and their battle-hardened nature, Libertoa reevaluated its perception and paid a high price for its lesson.

The next to notice was the former Canoa Kingdom. Feeling threatened by Highserk’s expansion, a border lord, disputing over river rights, clashed with Highserk.

The battle concluded in just six days, with the local noble losing all his territories. The lord and his family were killed, and their land was seized by Highserk.

At this point, the surrounding nations, including Felius and Crest, became aware of Highserk’s threat. However, they welcomed the weakening of a mid-tier nation by a newcomer and refrained from intervening or aiding, choosing to observe from a distance.

Subsequently, in the face of defensive wars and just causes upheld by Highserk, the former Canoa and Mayard also succumbed to the empire. With the fall of these nations, only three mid-tier countries remained in the north. With Highserk’s territory now larger than that of a mid-tier nation, it was unclear how far its territorial ambitions would extend. What started as a territory as small as a goblin’s body had grown into one of the largest in the surrounding nations.

Should Felius in its half-paralyzed state fall, the remaining nations would not be able to match Highserk. The immovable three great nations remained passive, and the calculating Highserk Empire was unlikely to provoke the major powers.

The anxiety and fear of the surrounding countries were about to trigger an event that would have been unthinkable in peacetime.

In a room of the Crest Kingdom, which bordered both Felius and Libertoa, knights were mobilized for heightened security.

One of the invited dignitaries, Hugo Evans, the Foreign Minister of the Libertoa Trade Federation, sat down at a corner of the round table. He formed a fire attribute spell and lit his cigar, trimmed on one side, emitting purple smoke.

A Crest Kingdom guard, one of the protectors, cast a suspicious glance at Hugo. Although Hugo had been the foreign minister for 10 years, his path had not been smooth. He had roamed battlefields as an infantryman and experienced numerous life-or-death situations. The scarcity of his hair was due to being burned by his helmet.

Even now, at an advanced age, Hugo felt confident in taking on a few infantrymen, but he knew he stood no chance against the guards of national representatives and high-ranking officials.

“Your duty attitude is indeed earnest,” Hugo said with a smile on his scarred cheek, praising the Crest knight, but the reply was curt.

“Thank you,” the knight responded.

With the involvement of the Felius Kingdom and the Mayard Duchy in the war against the Highserk Empire, including Hugo and other members of the Libertoa Council, everyone was in high spirits. However, the recent developments in the situation were far from favorable.

Regrettably, Mayard had fallen, and Felius was struggling to defend its homeland.

Hugo had hoped that engaging the Highserk Empire on multiple fronts would have worked, but the current situation was more than enough to disappoint him.

Hugo glanced at the people seated at the round table.

In the center sat Chester Crest from the host country, Crest Kingdom. To his right was King Bariston of Felius, who was under Highserk’s invasion.

Previously, when Hugo had met for negotiations, Bariston’s build was slender compared to his brother Winston, and now he appeared even thinner.

His complexion was poor, but his eyes shone more fiercely than when Chester had last seen him. They were the eyes of someone who had lost his composure and was cornered. Hugo appreciated such a person.

“My, the Felius Kingdom has really fallen into dire straits. Who would have thought Mayard would collapse and lose over half of its field army… Truly pitiable, I’m at a loss for words,” Hugo remarked first.

“Ha, such grateful words I have received. To think I would follow in Libertoa’s footsteps,” Bariston retorted sharply to Hugo’s sarcasm.

“Well, I don’t recall losing a third of my territory like Felius,” Hugo replied.

“Let’s stop there. We didn’t gather here for refined conversation, did we?”

The host, Chester, reprimanded them. Hugo had no intention of engaging in a serious argument. He was just warming up for the main discussion.

“Indeed. Let’s put an end to the greetings. By the way—” Hugo cut off his words and turned his eyes to one corner of the round table.

“Where might this lovely young lady be from?” he inquired, focusing on a girl sitting there. Her gestures and demeanor indicated noble blood, but Hugo was unaware of her identity. It was supposed to be a discussion among Libertoa, Felius, and Crest.

Those with limited status, like close aides, usually stood behind the main participants at the table. To sit here meant being an influential figure with national-level impact. To Hugo, her presence seemed out of place.

“Mayard,” replied Bariston. The girl then continued.

“My name is Rita Mayard. I am here representing Mayard.”

Hugo quickly processed this information. Although he didn’t know her personally, he was aware of her existence.

“I see, the only daughter of Lord Yuse, it is a surprise to see you escaped… However, representing a fallen Mayard is quite peculiar,” he remarked.

“Thanks to the knights who accompanied me… Indeed, Mayard has lost most of its territory, but Selta remains,” Rita responded.

After a moment of thought, Hugo clapped his hands.

“Selta… Ah yes, its aquatic resources and waterways were economically significant, but it served mainly as a base against lake dragons. The well-trained Mayard navy and the escaped soldiers, along with the presence of lake dragons, there isn’t much to gain. The Highserk won’t bother with it either, I suppose.”

Hugo knew the vast Lake Selta and its surrounding rivers were economically valuable, but the lake’s dominant creatures brought more harm than benefit from the area.

Furthermore, due to their long-standing control over the lake, the Mayard, although weaker in land battles, had exceptional naval proficiency. Hugo was disappointed, but he understood that the Highserk wouldn’t casually engage and suffer unnecessary losses.

“Yes, until recently, your description was accurate. But now, the lake dragons have been exterminated,” Rita stated.

Hugo’s face contorted for the first time since the meeting began.

“Exterminated, you say?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

The lake dragons, albeit sub-dragon species, were among the most powerful creatures. Hugo expected to have heard of such a large-scale sacrifice.

The lake dragons were powerful creatures, even among dragonkind. Their massive jaws could crush ogres and trolls with a single bite. In the past, before the change in leadership, when a lake dragon attacked the aquatic city of Libertoa, it took the sacrifice of two and a half companies to defeat it.

Such a significant loss should have caught the attention of merchants and spies, making its way to Hugo’s ears.

“That’s great news. The brave soldiers must have struggled greatly.”

“Fortunately, there were no casualties,” interjected Chester from across the table.

“Against lake dragons?”

Hugo found it hard to believe.

“The Mayard navy, Crest knights, and visitors from another world contributed. While I wouldn’t call them match one for a thousand, their efforts were comparable to hundreds of soldiers.”

Chester clapped his hands, and a young man stepped forward.

“One of the visitors from another world.”

“Nice to meet you… I’m Yuuto Asama.”

The man, with black hair and eyes, appeared young and out of place. Without the context of otherworldly visitors, Hugo wouldn’t have imagined him as a dragon slayer.

“Ah, so young and already a dragon slayer. What an exotic name from another world. I’d love to hear your tale of valor if not for the current situation.”

Hugo wanted to assess his magic and skills but knew the attendees were too shrewd to reveal much.

“It’s nothing like that. I just fought following the directions of the knights of Crest,” Yuuto humbly replied.

Rita’s and Bariston’s trump card, the otherworldly visitor showcased by Chester, clearly conveyed their intentions to Hugo.

“Young yet so competent, both Lady Rita and Lord Yuuto.”

Hugo said it half in jest and half seriously. Crest was a land that had easy connections to other worlds, and it had developed its homeland in both culture and military with the help of visitors from other realms. It almost felt like they had human resources falling from the sky, which Hugo wished was just a fairy tale.

“Let’s return to our main topic,” Chester declared, satisfied.

The discussion among the three nations had concluded. Hugo was sure of it.

As he carefully considered the materials that would be used for negotiations – the suzerain country and its former vassal states, interests in the lake, military balance – Hugo knew that he would be engaged in a diplomatic game.

“Ah, let’s get straight to the point. Felius desires a solid alliance. A four-nation alliance focusing on both military and economic aspects, centered around Lake Selta,” Bariston proposed directly to Hugo.

For Hugo, diplomacy was akin to warfare. He was already strategizing for the upcoming verbal battle, although the sudden proposal was both infuriating and intriguing.

“That’s quite a bold move.”

Forming the alliance would mean an inevitable full-scale war with the Highserk Empire. Despite this, the proposal was too crucial for Libertoa’s future to ignore. Eventually, they had to confront the expanding Highserk Empire.

To secure as many interests as possible… Hugo’s mind continued to spin rapidly. He didn’t realize it himself, but he found more enjoyment in this discussion than in idle conversations.

“Please, continue. This is a matter of glory and downfall for our nations.”

Despite the scarred burn marks twisting with his smile, Hugo felt no pain, immersed in the strategic dance of words.