Chapter 75 : One Month, One Year, Ten Years

Chapter 75: One Month, One Year, Ten Years

Peace had come.

At least, that was how it seemed.

On the surface.

But in truth,

The anxiety that had taken root in my heart only grew larger with each passing day.

‘Apostle….’

At the root of that unease was the Apostle.

That thing, once called a ‘Finger.’

“Mm.”

The moment I recalled its overwhelming presence, my fingertips trembled faintly.

Perhaps the reason I enjoyed the festival was because I wanted, even for a brief moment, to forget this uneasiness.

Even though I had cut it down, that fear had not left me.

From the very beginning, the fact that I was able to cut that monster at all had not been by my own strength alone.

With the Dragon’s Magical Armor, a relic of the Mythic Era, and by wringing out every ounce of output from the Dragon Heart, I had barely managed to cleave it….

‘Even then, if that Annihilation Angel hadn’t used that thing called the 「Final Wedge」?’

If even a slight variable had been different, the outcome might have changed.

That was how overwhelming it had been.

Thinking back now, this Book of Fate—what a cruel thing it was.

Sending me into the past, expecting me to fight something like that?

But then,

The real problem was….

‘That was just an Apostle. A Finger.’

Then were there also hands? A body?

Could a human even hope to endure such a thing?

A chill—

crawled down my spine.

The cult.

At first, I had thought little of it.

I had only thought of it as a pseudo-religion dealing with some strange powers.

After all, unlike in the ancient times, in this modern age even the true orthodox religions hardly wielded much influence, so why should some cult matter?

That was what I had thought.

But….

‘It’s more terrifying than I ever imagined.’

Now I understood.

Why had someone as pragmatic as Count Kxias suddenly become a religious zealot?

Even if it was only a fragment of that unfathomable power, once one sensed it, fear and reverence became inevitable.

That was the root of my unease.

‘Something is happening.’

The cult.

If it had only existed in the ancient era, I would not have felt so anxious.

But as seen in the cases of Count Kxias and Blood Count Delkash, it very much existed in the present.

Even the Emperor of the Galotin Empire was almost certainly a cultist.

If that was true—

‘Then that means something like that Finger could appear even in this era. Perhaps even its master could….’

I had to prepare.

For my younger siblings. For my people.

As quickly as possible.

Conquering Ailun, for example,

was nothing more than a preparation for the preparations of the real preparation.

“Haa….”

I sighed and tossed the letter I had been holding onto the desk.

On the desk, piles of letters with nearly identical contents were stacked high.

The writing styles were all different, and the embellishments were all their own,

but the contents were the same.

‘Let’s join forces and tear apart Ailun.’

As expected of those damned Counts.

When Haarun had his cold blue eyes wide open, they were too busy clinging to their own seats….

But the moment he fell to me, they became like a pack of jackals, desperate to tear the land to pieces.

“Utter nonsense.”

I had not the slightest intention of joining hands with the likes of them.

From the start, I never even thought such a thing was possible.

They were all blinded by greed—cooperation?

Laughable. I would only end up having to guard my back constantly.

Even so, the reason I read through every letter and sent replies back was only to reassure them.

If I rejected them outright, those bastards would surely try to interfere with me.

So, I pretended to be testing the waters.

As if I were whining: I lack the strength, so perhaps I might join with you.

But in truth,

‘I can do it. Alone.’

I had already thought of a way.

The only reason such letters came to me in the first place was because they all thought it impossible.

That I could not conquer Ailun on my own.

Even comparing the populations made it seem so.

The Ailun region had five cities, with a population of over 6.3 million.

On the other hand, the three cities I ruled barely added up to 2.7 million.

The scale was different from the start.

‘Even so, I can do it.’

They would say this:

That with the forces I had, I could not possibly cover such a vast region.

That it would be even more difficult because the stubborn people of Ailun looked down on other regions.

That if they took up arms across the land, refused to pay taxes, and rose in disobedience, I would be dragged into an endless mire.

But even so,

‘I can do it.’

My conclusion did not change.

In the end, all of it was nothing but armchair talk.

Rise up? Rebel?

In practice, would they really, truly, do so?

Ironically,

what flashed through my mind at that moment was… the ‘Apostle.’

That overwhelming power and fear.

A force that shattered not just stubbornness, but even one’s entire view of the world.

Yes.

I had already made up my mind.

*         *         *

The eastern continent, Oldland, and the western continent, Gloryland.

The caravans connected the ends of the world, passing through Roberland.

They were the very blood and life of Roberland.

Because of them, all of Roberland could survive, and its massive cities could be sustained.

Among them was the caravan counted among the top three, the Thousand-faced Caravan, led by Renajora Chemien.

They were now heading toward the capital of the Ailun region, the city of Ilunael.

Ilunael was the most important city to him.

The gateway of the trade route passing through Ailun.

A port facing the great lake, Naelund.

Unlike the other regions filled with rolling hills, Ailun’s trade route was an endless plain where wagons could travel easily.

There was also a sturdy, massive ancient highway, and since the Ashen Lands here were noticeably smaller than in other regions, attacks from Demonic Beasts were rare.

To use that trade route—several times faster and safer than anywhere else—one absolutely had to pass through Ilunael.

Moreover, as the final stop of the shipping route that followed Naelund, the world’s largest lake, Ilunael City was truly a land where money and honey flowed.

‘That’s why I must hold Ilunael tightly in my grasp.’

The very reason Renajora Chemien had earned the title of the Thousand-faced Caravan, and built a trading company ranked among the top three in Roberland was Ilunael itself.

Of all the logistics that passed through Ilunael, he controlled over 40%.

‘This is why one must always stay close with those in power.’

When everyone else shouted against Haarun, he had bet everything on him.

Even now, just thinking about the treasures he had offered Haarun back then made his blood weep… yet in the end, look at the result. Hadn’t he gained tens, no, perhaps even hundreds of times more in return?

And now, once again, the moment had come for Renajora to place another bet.

‘Haarun can’t be dead. But he must be in a very difficult situation. Then what should I offer? What should I give him that he cannot refuse?’

He had prepared many cards.

The only problem was deciding which one to play.

As he was lost in such thoughts, a young merchant he had been keeping an eye on—since the lad seemed rather bright—spoke up.

“Uh, but Master Trader… will it really be fine like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t we at least send a gift to Ransen?”

“Hmm? Isn’t that something the steward in charge of that matter is already handling?”

“Even so, shouldn’t you, Master Trader, meet him in person at least once? They say Haarun suffered a crushing defeat against Ransen and barely clung to life…. If things continue this way and Ilunael falls into Ransen’s hands….”

Pfft—

Renajora only laughed.

The boy was clever, but still young.

“For the time being, there is nothing to worry about. No matter how great Ransen is, he won’t be able to set his sights on Ilunael for at least the next ten years.”

“Ah, so Master Trader believes Haarun is still alive?”

“Of course Haarun lives. But that’s not the real issue.”

Renajora turned to the two knight-guards at his side and asked:

“What do you two think? If Haarun were gone, would Ilunael fall?”

The two men were exalted warriors who had reached the realm of the Swordmaster.

Even if they were hired as knight-guards, they were not the kind of figures one could casually speak down to.

And yet, though they were the ones in a hired position, they spoke informally.

“Impossible.”

“Can’t be done.”

Their answers cut cleanly, as if there was no need to even consider it.

The young merchant’s face flushed red as he protested.

“But Ransen is an unparalleled genius of the sword….”

The Swordmaster on Renajora’s right, a distinguished middle-aged man, curtly cut him off.

“No. From the start, if the two of us joined forces, I’m confident we could take down Haarun or Ransen alike. But Ilunael? That’s different. Ilunael is impossible.”

“That’s right.”

“Has there ever been a case where a warrior not of Ailun origin seized Ilunael?”

“Never.”

“Exactly. The Ailun people are too exclusive. They wouldn’t stand for it. They’d all gather to protect Ilunael.”

“With that many Experts, even a Grandmaster would be ground to pieces.”

“And there are still two Swordmasters left, aren’t there?”

The two spoke in perfect sync.

Even so, the young merchant still did not seem convinced.

In the end, Renajora decided to kindly add an explanation.

“Think carefully. How do you suppose there can be so many warriors in Roberland? Where does all that money come from?”

“Why, thanks to us, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. It is because of us—the golden caravans. The vast profits we generate by linking the eastern and western trade routes.”

“That is true.”

“And because of that, we could support so many warriors. And thanks to those warriors, we could push back the swarming Demonic Beasts and build cities.”

“That is true.”

“So think about it. Ransen has already seized Kashu, Kinalo, and Kushan. But if he were to take Ilunael as well, what then?”

Ah!

The young merchant finally let out a sound of realization.

“All the trade routes leading to Norberju… Ransen would control them!”

“Exactly. If Ransen cut off the trade routes, all of Norberju would wither and starve.”

Renajora gazed across the plains stretching far into the distance, a sly smile curling his lips.

“So even saying ten years was rather generous.”

No one wanted Ransen to seize Ilunael for himself.

If he ever revealed such ambition, he would have to face not only the warriors who gathered from all across Ailun, but also those dispatched from every city of Norberju.

All would oppose Ransen.

So that he could never seize Ilunael.

“In truth, even in a lifetime, it’s more likely impossible. Unless Ransen were to form an alliance with the other lords of Norberju, that is….”

Renajora let out a dry sneer.

“But those greedy fools would never unite.”

At those words, the two Swordmasters on either side nodded in agreement.

At that point, the young merchant could only gaze at Renajora with eyes full of admiration.

Renajora looked at that sight and gave a calm smile.

‘That’s just because he’s young. Because he’s young.’

People were easily bewitched by the words of others, or by a fleeting surge of momentum.

That was why he always abided by three iron rules.

The third among them:

‘Prioritize my own judgment over the judgment of the world.’

The world was easily swept away and shaken. One had to always read the tide with cool, realistic eyes if one wished to avoid loss.

And his judgment told him this.

Ransen.

For now, it was not a name worth paying any mind to.

*         *         *

Seah grumbled.

Her expression barely changed, yet she looked full of discontent.

“Why are we holding a meeting in the training grounds?”

Even today, she had brought along a whole stack of documents. And yet, she hadn’t let go of her sword—honestly, that in itself was amazing.

I asked Seah,

“What are those documents?”

“A plan for subjugating Ilunael that I put together this time. Assuming Haarun is dead, if luck is on our side, it could be done within a year. The key is a counter-intelligence scheme...”

Her explanation was about to drag on, so I cut her off.

“Sorry. But you’ll have to revise that.”

“Why? You haven’t even looked at it?”

“There’s a method I want to try. If it goes well… a month, maybe? We could bring Ilunael under us within that time.”

Seah’s eyes widened slightly.

“You’re saying you’ll conquer Ilunael within a month?”

Instead of answering, I looked around me.

My younger siblings I had called here, and even Rivera—every key officer had gathered.

“Yeah. I’ll explain it all in due time. For now….”

I spread out my hand, pointing to one side.

“Come on! For now, let’s get started. Step forward one by one and try these on.”

Where my hand pointed, no less than thirty-one sets of Magical Armor were neatly displayed in a row.

In this era, their very existence was unknown—powerful weapons of the Ancient times.

Even at Lorraine’s mobile research institute, they had been kept stored away in a special exhibition chamber, a culmination of cutting-edge magic technology.

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