Episode 302 – The war is over.
It was only two months.
The outcome of the War of the Seven Powers, triggered by the Tahiti uprising, was completely different from what the historians had expected.
Romen Romero Liberty swallowed up Tahiti and Terronan conquered Calon.
Even the territory of Tria, the strongest country in the alliance, was split in half by the two countries.
There was some confusion in the process of Terronan taking over Tregonia, the capital of Tria, but in the end, the Union of the Seven Kingdoms was changed to the Union of the Two Kingdoms, and the new superhumans of the two countries, ‘Reaper’ and ‘Guardian’, emerged as the biggest topic of discussion on the eastern continent.
“You’re both young, right?”
“The future of both countries depends on these two people.”
“Who will lead the coalition now?”
“Isn’t that the Liberty that swallowed up the three kingdoms? As for Teronan, he only ate one Calon.”
“Uh-huh, the tidal wave mage surrendered to the Teronan. There are only three superhumans.”
“What’s important about the number of superhumans? National power is important. Just wait and see, Liberty will catch up with McLane in 10 years.”
“Well, if the two countries are united, there won’t be much of a problem even now, right? There are only five superhumans.”
The people of the mainland, excluding the anxious residents of the conquered territories, gathered in small groups and talked about the bright future of the union.
In particular, the performance of the two gods who showed their skills to the fullest in the war spurred their rosy imagination.
As such, there was a lot of interest in what kind of compensation the two deities would receive during the post-war process.
And, as if meeting the public’s expectations, each royal family offered handsome rewards at the public service fair.
“…For this reason, Prince Gail Slayer, who has made the greatest contribution, is crowned Grand Duke and the entire existing Principality of Tahiti is granted as territory!”
As soon as Liberty King Krahn III’s voice ended, loud cheers rang out from the palace hall.
“The entire principality? Wow!”
“Congratulations, Your Excellency the Grand Duke!”
“Congratulations!”
“Long live Archduke Guille Slayer!”
Those who attended the rare and extravagantly decorated Daejeon, dressed in their own style, were all those who had contributed to this war in some small way.
In particular, the cheers from the knights, who were the main force in the war, were truly amazing.
King Krahn III, who was wearing a bright smile like a mask, internally gritted his teeth at the sight.
‘I know who this is.’
But it was inevitable.
Everyone knows that the war was won thanks to the ‘reaper’ in front of them. If an appropriate distribution was not shown, there would be severe backlash from the nobles, especially the knights who had completely fallen in love with him through the war.
‘I can’t believe I should even give territory to a superhuman from a foreign country.’
At least I have no choice but to believe him when he says he has no intention of actually exercising control.
King Krahn III looked at the superhuman in front of him with complicated eyes.
Logan, reading his eyes, smiled and knelt down.
“I am devastated.”
He, the king of one country, bows down to the king of another kingdom, even one smaller than himself.
In some ways, it was an absolute humiliation, but it wasn’t much of a problem to Logan, who put practical reasons first.
The results were too good for just kneeling once.
‘I have gained a solid identity that can be used externally.’
I don’t care about the principality that would be blown away if McLane’s identity is revealed right away.
All that mattered was his status as the Grand Duke of Liberty.
‘As the Grand Duke of Liberty, I have no intention of ruling the territory or collecting taxes. But…’
Instead of giving up all compensation except for status, the Liberty Kingdom will have to take infinite responsibility for what ‘Grand Duke Guille Slayer’ will do in the future.
‘If you give up your rights, you have no responsibility. ‘You can’t say anything about using your superficial identity.’
Of course, if King Krahn III found out, he was going to be furious and ask what kind of pretense was there.
‘Well, it’s still only a possibility.’
In any case, the entire purpose of joining the alliance was achieved.
Logan bowed his head to King Krahn III with a satisfied expression and expressed his gratitude.
‘It’s already been two months since I was away… I have to go back soon.’
* * * Immediately after the end of the public performance, Archduke Guille Slayer made an unexpected declaration.
“Now that my country’s crisis is over, I think I will devote myself to training again.”
“yes?!”
“No, Your Excellency! What is that?”
“Please reconsider!”
Everyone was in awe of that explosive remark and tried to stop the Archduke.
But he was steadfast.
“The reason I went to war was for my country, not for my own personal success or fame. I have done my part enough, so I want to go back to being a warrior.”
“But Your Excellency…!”
“I heard a rumor that the people chant my name more than your Majesty? How can I tolerate such disrespect as a subject? Don’t look for me for a while.”
“yes?”
Gail’s words swept through Liberty’s political and social circles and the entire kingdom.
An envoy who achieved the rank of Grand Duke went into seclusion indefinitely for training to embody the enlightenment he gained during the war.
Following his mysterious actions, similar news was delivered from Terronan.
Did the Guardian also give up control of the Calun Islands and go to training? Could it be a sense of competition against the Shinigami?
The two gods, who achieved the status of grand duke in each country after a grand public debate, stopped their official activities almost at the same time.
The rumor heated up the entire kingdom every day.
“Could it be that the royal family kept it in check?”
“They say there was trouble with the existing nobles.”
The strange actions of the two heroes immediately gave rise to numerous rumors, but each royal family maintained silence.
There was no other way.
Now, it was impossible to say that the heroes who would be engraved in the kingdom’s history were actually McLane’s reinforcements.
* * *
“Wouldn’t it have been better to get rid of it during the rice paddy field? It’s Macline’s power anyway.”
An office with just the two of them, without any attendants.
The King of Liberty shook his head helplessly at Grand Duke Gunther’s frightening words.
“I can’t do that.”
It occurred to me once again why this younger brother could not ascend to the throne.
How can it be so simple?
“If we deal with Guile, it will give the Kingdom of McLane a reason to invade. Even if the two kingdoms unite, they cannot handle McLane yet.”
Of course, Gunter also had something to say.
“But they might ask for too much!”
“…I’ll have to think about that then.”
“Aren’t you being too complacent?”
“There is nothing special about the existing demands. Even if it is a mutual defense treaty, there are no enemies on the eastern continent anymore. The Empire will not invade.”
To them, who had no way of knowing the dark secrets of the empire, it was nothing more than a formal story.
“…That’s right.”
“I’m just afraid of McLane’s power. I never thought two unknown superhumans would be so powerful.”
“It was foolish to expect to be consumed on the battlefield. I should have stepped forward…” “It’s
already too late. As long as the sun of McLane is alive and well, it’s difficult to escape their influence. We can only hope for future generations.”
The King, who did not know that Guile was the sun of McLane, continued to sigh.
“Profit…! I can’t give in like this!”
Gunther protested, but the king’s sigh did not disappear.
And that sigh became reality in a communication that followed shortly thereafter.
[…Please don’t forget.]
“Of course. How could I forget the favor you showed me?”
[Of course I believe it, but how can matters between countries end with just our words?]
McLane’s Sun. King Krahn III’s expression hardened at the young monarch’s words.
“What do you mean…?”
[I hope that Liberty’s successors will be sent to study abroad at McLane. We will teach and learn about the advanced civilization we have achieved and send it back to Liberty.]
The King of Liberty’s complexion turned pale.
‘this…!’
Since I wasn’t a fool, I couldn’t have known the true meaning of what he said, but I couldn’t refuse it either.
“…Understood. I will prepare the first prince and send him away.”
[Ah, you misunderstood what I said. I said ‘successors’?]
At those words, King Krahn III closed his eyes tightly.
The two red eyes beyond the communication port seemed to be dizzyingly boring into his own.
“Are you really talking about all the princes?”
[Is that possible? I think 1 2 3 princes, excluding the still young 4 princes, would be enough.]
The smile disappeared again from the face of Krahn III, who had been forcing a smile with a glimmer of hope in his joke.
“Do you plan to make our kingdom a vassal?”
[You are saying too much. As I said before, all McLane wants is a non-aggression and mutual defense treaty. Even that is just a means to prove the firm friendship between the two countries.]
“…So what do we gain?”
[We will ‘sell’ McLane’s new weapon, a repeating crossbow, at a low price. We will also promote joint training between our 4th Corps and Liberty Kingdom elite soldiers. That would explain our strong relationship with your rival Terronan.]
It seemed like a reasonable condition, but I had no idea what more they would ask for later.
Crann, who was trying hard to control his expression, let out a small sigh.
“…Wouldn’t you make a similar offer to Teronan?”
[Hahaha, of course. By doing so, we will be promised permanent peace in the eastern part of the continent.]
I wanted to swear at his shameless face, but I couldn’t.
Even if it was just because he was conscious of the gaze of their superhuman, Gail, who was watching him right next to him.
‘I never thought Gunteo would lose.’
Gunther, who said that he could not give in and that he would relieve his anger by attacking the enemy, was seriously injured that very day and went into convalescence for what was expected to be several months.
Thanks to his active involvement, it did not become a rumor and spread, but there were quite a few articles who watched it.
At least in the royal family, we now know for sure who the strongest person in this country is.
Although only the king and Gunther knew the painful truth that he was a person from a completely foreign country.
[What will you do?]
“If I refuse…”
[Hahaha! [He is also good at joking.]
But his red eyes were not smiling at all.
King Krahn III also knew.
If he refuses here, a situation will occur where Liberty’s hero, Guile Slayer, will naturalize as McLane and invade the kingdom.
And even the result was fully predictable.
“…I will accept your offer.”
[thank you. With this, McLane and Liberty will share their fate as unwavering allies. Dwayne?]
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
[You heard everything, right? Send an envoy to prepare a treaty.]
[Understood, Your Majesty.]
The same goes for Teronan.
Logan, who was watching Krahn III let out a long sigh with a gloomy expression, could barely suppress his laughter.
‘Rick, this guy is much better at acting than I thought. I’ll have to leave it to you often.’
Logan grinned, thinking that he would cause an uproar if the hairy finance minister bent over the communication port heard him.
And from that day on, Liberty’s ‘reaper’ disappeared from the royal family, and Terronan’s ‘guardian’ also disappeared.
It was a natural move for the parties involved… but
the two gods of war disappeared at the same time!
Influential successors from each royal family go to McLane to ‘study abroad’!
Almost at the same time, those who knew the meaning of the rumors that were widely spread throughout each kingdom began to criticize the two kingdoms for being too scared and choosing to submit to their archenemy.
Because the result of combining the two points to one bloody possibility.
“Couldn’t they have removed the heroes from the royal family? Why us when they have them?”
“That’s right. Are you going to abandon the hero who will lead the damn kingdom’s glory like that?”
“A thousand years of glory are falling to the king’s greed.”
To patriotic intellectuals, this was truly deplorable.
While strange rumors brought about by the limitations of information were making noise in the two kingdoms for a while, the King and Queen of McLane returned to their places after three months.
“You successfully brought the coalition together. Really…”
“I told you I could do it.”
To the few who know the truth, it can be a bit boastful.
“I would like to thank you for your recovery.”
“I’m so glad, Your Majesty.”
“Ah, thank you. Everyone, please take a seat.”
To the public, he pretended to have recovered from a long injury.
However, not long after starting his official duties again, Logan received an unexpected report.
“It seems like something strange has happened in the empire, Your Majesty.”
“what?”
