In contrast to the vastness of the castle, that particular room was terribly cramped. It was a small chamber with no furnishings installed and not even a window. The only things present were a dimly lit lamp and a pair of chairs facing a single table. With two people inside, they would naturally end up sitting face-to-face.

Gran, the commander of the Rehazen Knight Order, was quite accustomed to such a modest room. As long as appearances were ignored, it was the perfect place for confidential discussions.

“You’ve only just returned from the front, and already I’m burdening you with work without even giving you time to rest.”

The one who spoke words of appreciation to his secret discussion partner was Gran’s lord, Chester Crest.

“I am grateful for your concern, it truly warms me. Still, I’ve been familiar with this room for a long time. Compared to the former Felius territories or the demonic territory, it feels almost like my own chambers.”

After the collapse of the Kingdom of Felius, the Crest Kingdom absorbed the former nation’s territories and personnel. As a result, the kingdom now possessed the greatest territory and national power it had ever held since its founding.

It sounded impressive on the surface, but the truth was far less glamorous. What they had gained was nothing more than an inflated shell of hollow grandeur. No matter how much ruined land they acquired or how many refugees they took in, it hardly formed the strong flesh and blood of a true nation.

The Crest Kingdom had once prided itself on being an elite force of few but capable individuals. Suddenly rising as a dominant power among the northern nations came with inevitable drawbacks. They lacked leaders to govern the provinces, generals to serve as arms and legs of the state, and civil officials to serve as the blood that sustained the nation. They had gained manpower, but not talent.

That was why Gran, who was just the commander of a single knight order, had to shoulder multiple roles to keep things functioning. Given enough time, the lands of Felius might eventually become nourishment and flesh for the kingdom. But there was no such luxury of time left.

“I see. Well, this is a dusty place anyway. Let’s skip the formalities and speak plainly. Despite repeated requests for her return, Ayane has refused and remains in Selta. On top of that, Mayard has formed ties with Highserk and clearly rejected submitting to the Crest Kingdom’s influence. That Grand Duchess who once did nothing but panic seems to have become rather resolute, hasn’t she?”

The Highserk Empire had been battered and defeated in the recent war, but the final blow had never been delivered. Now the same could be said of Mayard as well. They had wasted far too much time, and the frustration lingered bitterly within Gran.

“You probably haven’t heard yet, but reinforcements have been sent from Variguend to Selta. Only about two and a half companies in size but they are accompanied by the user of Demon Fire.”

“The cursed Hellfire Beacon who burned the alliance in the ramparts, is that the one you mean?”

Covered in blue flames, he was the terrifying enemy who had burned the Four-Nation Alliance encampment on the eve of the great offensive. If he had relied entirely on powerful skills or magic, there might have been openings to exploit. But the combat techniques he had accumulated through real battle had reached the level of mastery.

More than anything, what had shaken Gran was the knight’s abnormal mentality. After the unit he belonged to was annihilated, the man had remained alone within the ramparts, which was little more than a mass grave, for five whole days. All the while surrounded by the corpses of his comrades, already crawling with maggots.

“If only he had fallen into the underworld along with Gerald. What a nuisance.”

Gran’s face twisted bitterly. That man had been the very reason the assault on Sarajevo Fortress failed and the cause behind the loss of Ayane, their key healing mage. A ghost who should have died during the Great Rampage had returned from the underworld.

“Highserk changed dramatically after experiencing defeat. More flexible, more efficient. Tradition and faction no longer matter to them, and they even treat former enemies as allies. That same Highserk that once knew nothing but how to throw punches.”

Even among the harsh nations of the northern regions, the land that later became the Highserk Empire had been particularly extreme. A small stretch of fertile farmland was constantly contested, and there was never even time for the blood on the ground to dry.

It might have been better if they had fought over that land for all eternity. Instead, once the region was unified, Highserk turned its eyes outward toward neighboring countries. They claimed it was a war for the defense of their homeland, that they were only brushing away the sparks that had fallen upon them.

But the reality was different. Highserk was a nation addicted to violence , one that seemed to relish being struck, only to seize hold of its opponent and crush them to the marrow of their bones, chewing them apart without mercy. A thoroughly hopeless state.

And yet, now of all times, they were accommodating other nations, even dispatching troops solely for the defense of friendly countries. If the empire that had been beaten down had truly come to its senses, Gran would not have been this anxious.

The problem was that the true nature of that country remained unchanged. A lone starving wolf had simply learned to hunt in a pack and share its prey. But that wolf was still starving, and it hated those who tried to steal its meal. If it ever regained the strength it once had, then the destination of both nations, now holding the Karoloria magic silver vein and the Refun Mine, would inevitably be the same.

“This is a grave situation. Before long, war will split the northern nations in two.”

“Exactly. Libertoa has finally made its decision as well. It seems the pro-war faction led by foreign minister Hugo Evans has regained control of the federal council. That’s what happens when your national system is a federation. Internal factional struggles are inevitable.”

Chester sighed at the incompetence of their ally. A federation built upon multiple small and mid-sized states inevitably struggled to unify its decision-making. It was a clear weakness of the Libertoa Trade Federation.

The moderates of Libertoa had attempted to absorb the remnants of Highserk without relying on military force and had achieved some success. However, they had also been deceived in the process and ended up granting the empire the time it needed to rise again.

“Meanwhile, that little girl of Mayard, whether she’s gained a capable advisor or matured in a short time, has become quite the troublesome opponent. Her handling of the former Felius territories after the Great Rampage was fast, and her subordinates don’t seem to think poorly of her either. Replacing her would be ideal, but security around her is tight. And even if we managed to poison her, Ayane is there. It would be meaningless… I was willing to overlook it because of that rare ability, but with the current situation, we can no longer ignore it.”

Gran clearly understood the meaning hidden behind his lord’s words. It was time to consider harsher measures.

“She has refused until now. I doubt she would comply if we asked again.”

“Then perhaps we lure her back home by claiming her childhood friend is gravely ill.”

“Otherworldly visitors are soft toward their own kind. But she’s already suspicious towards us, and the Grand Duchess has surely advised her as well. Would she really obey so easily?”

“…We have no time left. Before the war begins, we must lure her out and ensure her removal.”

Chester tapped his fingers against the table. He was demanding a plan.

Within a fortified nest, they couldn’t get to her directly. What they needed was unmistakable bait to draw her out. Fortunately, they had no shortage of collaborators, and preparations were already complete.

“Mayard itself isn’t united. Many there resent the decision to ally with their former enemy. The legacy of Felius is sweet, but it’s also a deadly poison. As I reported before, the groundwork has already been laid. For better or worse, Ayane has healed far too many people. It made it easy for us to approach certain church factions that have healing mages.”

“Excellent.”

Chester nodded with satisfaction after hearing Gran’s report.

“Despite all the battles he has survived, Yuuto remains soft and unstable. However, Makoto understands the current situation well. Whenever three people gather, factions inevitably form. And when those people include men and women, love and hatred are unavoidable. Given the relationships between them, they will surely respond.”

“Mind, skill, and body… when those three are unbalanced, people become incredibly troublesome to deal with. And what about Johanna?”

Gran reluctantly admitted the painful point.

“She is one of them as well. Like Maya, she has grown too attached to the otherworldly visitors. It seems I’ve spoiled her a little too much.”

“Even someone as cold-blooded as you can be sentimental?”

“I’m human as well. Even I occasionally feel something.”

The way she said it drew laughter from his lord. After letting out a small chuckle, Chester spoke again in a flat voice.

“I’ll leave the timing to you. Assign Johanna and Yuuto to a different front. The demonic territory along the coastline should do.”

Translator – Lyxxna