Chapter 120

The eyes of the frontier count were the same color as Luina’s, but they were different.

Hotter, heavier, and more ferocious.

Forcibly holding back his racing heart, Fernan closed and opened his eyes before speaking.

“…Since you put it that way, I’ll speak sincerely as well.”

“Speak.”

“The truth is, I initially approached Luina as bait to provoke the current situation.”

Ever since she had told him that creatures had begun appearing in northern Bercheff, Fernan had partly anticipated what was now happening.

Even if it were the frontier count himself, he would have felt the same curiosity and the same anger.

The response he now gave was something he had prepared since then.

A lie—but as convincing as the truth.

He couldn’t say he had approached her because, after seeing the future, he thought she’d ruin it, or because she seemed destined to become a Royal Knight.

“Just because it comes from your mouth doesn’t make it true.”

“I only learned a little earlier about the existence of the monsters. And by tracking them, I traced it back to the tragedy that occurred in Bercheff.”

“And now you expect me to believe that?”

He knew it was hard to believe. But whether the count believed it or not, Fernan had no choice but to persist.

“Believe it or not, that’s your decision. I only tell the truth.”

At his calm tone, the corner of the count’s mouth twisted.

“Fine, continue. Why did you want to see me, then?”

“Because I want to invest.”

“Invest?”

“The monsters won’t just sit around enjoying a picnic, don’t you think?”

Nor will the humans.

“Bercheff was already devastated once by a wave of beasts displaced by monsters.”

And what if that repeated itself—as a second wave directly provoked by monsters?

“You dare say, to my face, that Bercheff might fall.”

“You know that yourself, don’t you?”

Each person requires a different way of being dealt with.

In the case of Albinos Bercheff, he hated empty words and lies more than insolence.

Before him, it was better to speak firmly, even if crossing the line a little.

The proof was the murderous pressure that seemed ready to kill him at any moment but hadn’t yet acted.

‘Damn it, I can’t breathe…’

His mind dulled, and cold sweat ran down his body.

That just this murderous intent alone could do so much—indeed, the title of Royal Knight wasn’t for nothing.

‘If he found out this is a lie, he’d tear me apart…’

But no one could prove it was a lie.

A perfect lie is no different from the truth, so there was no problem.

“…Is that the will of Pellenberg?”

After a long while, without withdrawing his murderous intent, the count asked.

“It is my will.”

His brow furrowed.

“What real power does a mere young master have to dare utter such words?”

The pressure intensified. Fernan felt it was getting harder even to speak.

Still, he had to speak.

“…Yes, it’s true. I don’t have the same power as the patriarch… What I’m planning, the large investment in Bercheff… I can’t decide it on my own.”

But.

“…I can persuade my father.”

Cough—, with a cough, red blood spilled from his throat.

Damn it, even mana shielding hadn’t been enough.

Fernan gritted his teeth.

“Persuade him?”

“Yes…! If Bercheff falls… the northern Empire will be devastated. Even all of Schwaben’s territory… will collapse.”

Even if it had been destroyed once before, Bercheff was still Bercheff.

Could the other lands withstand a monster wave that had devastated it?

Impossible. With the current power, only Schwaben could stop that advance.

And between Bercheff and Schwaben stretched a territory—including Bercheff itself—that made up nearly one-eighth of the Empire.

A land barely smaller than the great kingdom of Alfrosen would vanish all at once.

“In… that region, Pellenberg has many interests.”

The Golden Turtle Company had long been expanding into the north, with multiple investments.

If that region fell, not only the Empire but especially Pellenberg would suffer colossal losses.

“My father… won’t let it go. And above all, within that eighth of land is…”

“The County of Ashdov, yes. And I doubt that greedy man would lose it so easily.”

The County of Ashdov was one of Pellenberg’s holdings on the Lutar continent, famous for its vast plains and warhorse breeding.

That’s why, when introducing his father, he was filled with endless titles—“Grand Duke of Pellenberg, Count of Ashdov, Lord of Holtian, and so on.”

Like all electors, after all.

“Then, what is it that you demand?”

The murderous intent disappeared. Fernan could finally release the breath he had been holding and catch his breath.

“…I want us to go north together.”

“To the north?”

“Yes. We need evidence—solid evidence. Something to convince my father.”

“To bring proof that there’s a monster nest?”

Hahahahahaha…!

The count burst into laughter. The force of his laugh made Fernan shield his ears with mana.

“You expect me to sacrifice my knights for Pellenberg?”

“Not just for Pellenberg—but for Bercheff and the Empire as well.”

And he added:

“I’ll go too.”

“…What?”

The count’s expression cracked for the first time, as if he hadn’t expected to hear those words.

“…You say you’ll go personally?”

“Yes.”

“It’s an extremely dangerous place.”

“I’m aware.”

Hmm… The count fell silent for a moment, then hardened his face again and spoke.

“But there’s a problem. Why should I bind myself to Pellenberg, when it’s enough to officially notify the Empire of the danger and request aid? Your people already made me suffer enough.”

“It’s better to have a large chunk taken from us than to be devoured by hundreds of hyenas until not even bones remain.”

If it became public, many nobles would come to aid Bercheff.

They knew that if it fell, they’d be next, and there was much to gain there.

But in this world, nothing is free.

Aid always came at a price.

Though everyone was under the Empire’s roof, at heart each noble prioritized their own interests.

“You’re not saying you wouldn’t take a bite yourself, huh?”

“That would be too shallow a lie.”

Fernan felt the count’s voice soften a bit. It was time to strike the final blow.

“And there’s another reason I’m doing all this.”

He took out from subspace a recording crystal—the same one containing the summoning of Andromalius.

“I don’t want the wealth Pellenberg has built up to be lost to the demons.”

That was the most honest answer he had given so far.

***

“How did it go?”

At the chief butler’s question, the frontier count, now back in his office, let out a dry laugh.

“He tricked me.”

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t ask what feelings he has for Luina.”

“Seems he said something tempting enough, sir.”

The frontier count nodded as he picked up an almond chocolate from the table and popped it into his mouth.

“It was a proposal like rain in the middle of a drought.”

Even if it hadn’t been Fernan, the count already felt firsthand the threat of the monsters.

Because the monsters that used to cross into Bercheff were gradually, though steadily, decreasing.

Thanks to that, reconstruction had become easier, but ever since the monsters appeared, no one interpreted it as a good sign.

“That’s why it’s even more suspicious. What is that Ivon plotting, using his son at the forefront?”

The count didn’t believe this was Fernan’s unilateral decision.

Support of such magnitude from Pellenberg couldn’t have happened without the patriarch’s approval.

“Then will you reject it?”

“No.”

They had lost the right to the golden edict due to Pellenberg’s proposal.

They had nearly lost the family’s secret swordsmanship, along with the debts they incurred with Pellenberg.

Even so, the frontier count couldn’t reject the current proposal.

Whatever trap it held, whatever poison it carried.

Sometimes, even knowing it’s poisoned, one must swallow.

“As he said, it’s better for Pellenberg to bite off a large chunk than for others to devour us down to the bones.”

If they still held the title of elector, things might be different.

But they had already lost it. And Bercheff’s situation was what it was.

“Above all, after seeing this, it no longer matters what Ivon is scheming. There’s no choice but to accept.”

The count shared with the butler the recording crystal he had received from Fernan.

When he checked its contents, his face turned pale.

“We expected that someday the corrupt ones would summon a demon… but that it had already happened? Where was this?”

“At the Academy.”

“…Then, the rumors about the corrupt causing trouble—it wasn’t them, but a demon.”

The butler let out a bitter, disbelieving laugh.

“Mikale Montella… to hide something like this…!”

“Don’t waste time lamenting the past. What matters most there is Aint Armian.”

The holy light that defeated the demon. His figure was the same as that of the legendary First Emperor.

“The world has not yet abandoned Bercheff.”

The demons were showing their fangs again—but a new hero had also emerged.

“Prepare an expedition.”

“To what scale…?”

“Farther than any expedition we’ve done so far.”

“Right away, sir.”

The butler bowed his head. Just then, Luina entered.

“He tricked me, Father.”

“I had to see Fernan first.”

“And how did it go?”

“Now I understand that your praise for him wasn’t just from being infatuated.”

“…It’s not that. Fernan is objectively an outstanding mage.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true.”

The count shrugged.

“But I’m still against it. The Pellenbergs are so sly, you never know what they’re hiding.”

“Father!”

At Luina’s shout, the count covered his ears.

A relatively peaceful day.

***

“Ugh, I’m a mess inside.”

Fernan drank a potion. It was a waste, but he had no other choice.

Knowing the frontier count of Bercheff, whose decisiveness and ability to act were among the fastest in the Empire, he would soon prepare the expedition.

And until then, if his wrecked body didn’t stabilize, he wouldn’t be able to prepare effectively.

“I’m sorry… it’s all my fault…”

“It’s not your fault, Luina. It was something I had to face sooner or later, and in the end, it turned out quite well.”

“Thank goodness. Ah, my father says we should have dinner together later.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Fernan nodded at the positive signal.

‘There’s no way to refuse. Even if I were the frontier count, I’d accept.’

The situation had backed him into a corner.

‘Though he could’ve made it public to avoid relying on Pellenberg…’

No, the count wasn’t that foolish.

To anyone, choosing Pellenberg was the best option.

‘I set the whole board myself. I won’t let someone else grab the fork first.’

Making it public would make things easier, of course.

But Fernan didn’t just want to stop the demons.

He wanted to stop them and, at the same time, have him and his house profit even more.

All big investments come with risks.

If he failed, he’d lose a lot.

If he succeeded, Bercheff would become Pellenberg’s backyard.

‘What should I start with? Maybe with so many mercenaries I should build a hotel… No, better to exploit Bercheff’s abundant mines, make weapons, and profit from the war…’

The greed characteristic of Pellenberg, the same that led them to even sell to demons, came to the surface.

“…Are you listening to me?”

A pale hand waved in front of his eyes. Fernan snapped out of his thoughts.

“I’m listening. What did you say?”

“You don’t even know what you’re saying.”

Luina sighed before continuing:

“I said that, if you want, I can show you Bertén.”

Bertén was the main city under Bercheff’s domain and where they were now. The largest city in the north.

“If you show me, I’d be grateful.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Can I bring senior Gismond too?”

“Him?”

Luina didn’t like the idea and stopped.

“If you don’t want to, it’s not necessary…”

“No, let him come too.”

Fernan and Luina dragged out Gismond, who had locked himself in his room, and went out.

The first destination was the street of forges and workshops.

“This place is the workshop street.”

Clang, clang, clang—

Heat and smoke poured out from everywhere.

The regular pounding of hammers sounded like a melody.

Fernan examined a sword at a nearby workshop.

“Well made. Firm and with good elasticity.”

“Bercheff’s swords are the best on the continent, I assure you.”

Luina’s pride was justified.

Bercheff was the region with the most wars and battles in the Empire, which had led to the extreme development of its weapons and armor.

Bercheff’s weapons were considered the best anywhere on the continent.

‘If I buy these weapons in bulk and resell them, I’ll make a fortune.’

The problem was, no matter how many were produced, most were consumed within Bercheff.

The battles were so frequent that they rarely exported.

‘In the investment contract, this is the first thing I’ll secure.’

He could also support the craftsmen, learn the technique, and expand the business.

“This is the statue of the first patriarch.”

In the central plaza stood a ten-meter statue.

It vividly conveyed the feeling of the founder on horseback.

For having been erected a thousand years ago, it showed no signs of wear.

“Do you want to eat something?”

“I’m curious about the food here.”

After eating, they returned to the castle.

They passed by the training grounds, where knights were practicing.

“Can I see that?”

“Observing the knights’ training is forbidden. Not even you can.”

Hmm… Fernan shifted his gaze elsewhere.

Not far away was the dueling arena.

“What if it’s not training, but a real duel to instruct senior Gismond?”

The person in question, who was watching the fights, flinched at the mention of his name.

“M-me…?”

He followed Fernan’s pointing finger. There were Bercheff knights engaged in bloody duels.

“I’m not talking about teaching you the family’s secret techniques. Just some real practice or basic aura handling.”

“Can’t that be taught somewhere other than Bercheff?”

“Yes, but here they do it better.”

At that praise for Bercheff, Luina’s expression softened a little.

“Was that your intention from the start when you brought the senior?”

“It was. As you know, his skill doesn’t match the aura he has. And in the war against the demons, even one more expert is valuable.”

Though in truth…

‘I need to keep an eye on Gismond.’

Sooner or later, he would get entangled with demons.

If he died suddenly, it would be a problem.

There were still too many things to draw from him.

“That said, it’s not enough.”

Luina evaluated him with her gaze and sighed.

“Compared to Bercheff’s knights, he’s… far behind.”

“Can’t that be fixed?”

“…Since it’s you, I’ll ask the training captain for a favor.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

Luina entered the training grounds.

Left alone, Gismond asked:

“…Hey, what about my opinion?”

“Obviously it doesn’t count, senior.”

Gismond’s face turned pale.