Chapter : 63

[Insidious Proposal!]

[You have completely deceived Cardinal Adriano with your cunning tongue. If Cardinal Adriano finds out about this later, he might become furious. Be cautious.]

To get straight to the point, although there was a slight misunderstanding(?), Cardinal Adriano accepted my proposal.

In fact, there was no reason to refuse.

Not only was it exceedingly trivial compared to the previous proposal, but it was also a good way to deal with the troublesome scholars and Moors.

Thanks to this, I was able to return to the annex palace with a very satisfied expression.

“Hmm, it seems he thought quite highly of you.”

Magician Agpiel, who had heard about my conversation with Cardinal Adriano, nodded and said.

“It would seem so. A southern port city for trade. The terms were so generous that I was actually a bit surprised.”

“Well, with the reputation you've built up, it would have been difficult to just brush it aside.

Besides, you agreed to mobilize 5,000 soldiers, didn't you?”

“Well, that is true.”

Contrary to popular perception, the reality was that commanding even 1,000 soldiers was difficult for anyone but a fairly powerful lord.

Especially in the world of [Pangea Universalise], which emulated a typical medieval style.

In such a situation, for a single lord to mobilize 5,000 soldiers was to risk a truly great loss of blood.

Even if they were mostly infantry.

“Of course, even considering that, the terms are quite generous, just as you said.”

“Right?”

Agpiel nodded at my question.

“Considering the value of the city of Mangtong, it certainly is. Moreover, isn't that place a major route for the southern heretic subjugation? You could just let the crusaders handle the siege and stand back with your arms folded.”

“If I did that, I wouldn't be able to handle the aftermath, Magician Agpiel.”

“Hoho, I'm just saying. Can't you just fight with a bit of tact? Even if you don't, other nobles blinded by the desire for meritorious service will step forward.”

“Hmm….”

It was a rather tempting suggestion.

Then a question arose.

“Could it be that Cardinal Adriano didn't anticipate this?”

“I wonder.... But what's certain is that Cardinal Adriano doesn't need to worry about it.”

Then, Magician Agpiel spoke in a cold voice.

“First, considering the reputation you have as a ‘Performer of Miracles,’ you can't just stand by with your arms folded. Reputation sometimes forces you to do things you don't want to do.”

“Hmm, that's true.”

Reputation and honor were like a double-edged sword.

If they were high, nobles and knights were more likely to follow, but on the other hand, if one acted contrary to that reputation, they would rapidly lose favorability.

But what gave me chills was not that, but what followed.

“Even if you obtain the city of Mangtong, it will be difficult for you to escape the grasp of the Holy See anyway.”

“Why is that?”

“Isn't that place far from your domain? Besides, to get there, you have to pass through Count Bozen's territory. Why would the Holy See bother to summon both you and Count Bozen at the same time? I recall you saying that you two don't get along.”

“Ah-!”

“If they make two neighboring lords compete, and give a city that will become a source of conflict, who will you rely on? Whether you like it or not, you'll have to receive help from the Holy See. They probably thought they could maintain their influence even if they gave it to you in the first place.”

Hearing it, it was a truly elaborately woven scheme. If I had acted without knowing better, I would have lost the hard-won city in a flash-!

I had been inwardly underestimating the Holy See and Cardinal Adriano, but they were cunning old foxes.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I have a clear grasp of the situation.”

“Hahaha. Are you not angry?”

“What is there to be angry about? We are just using each other. I also gained a commensurate benefit, so it's fine.”

At my calm words, Magician Agpiel wore a satisfied expression.

Why do ambitious nobles who rise rapidly suddenly fall?

For a family to prosper for a long time, a calm reason was needed more than emotion.

This young noble had the innate qualities of a ruler.

Thinking so, Magician Agpiel asked.

“When did they say the subjugation would begin? Winter is about to end soon.”

“They decided to move in the coming spring. They said they would issue the excommunication when the spring wheat work is in full swing and strike all at once.”

“Hmm, that doesn't sound like a bad idea.”

It was common knowledge not to wage war during the farming season.

Wars were usually fought in the autumn when the grains were harvested.

If a war started when seeds needed to be sown, that year's farming would be completely ruined.

Even if that weren't the case, it was better for both the attacker and the defender as they could procure supplies like food locally.

In that sense, raising an army in the spring had considerable risks, but it was a good strategic decision.

“In that case, you'll have some time to prepare after returning to your domain, won't you?”

“To some extent, yes. I have to mobilize a lot of soldiers, so I'll need to prepare in advance.”

“Hoho. Very good. Then let's hurry back to your domain. I'll follow along and see if there's anything I can do to help.”

“Oh? Are you really going to come with me? I saw the influential figures of Romulus calling for you.”

I asked in surprise.

I was well aware that magicians were treated with great respect in [Pangea Universalise], but the reality was far more incredible. People would come with bags of gold asking for advice.

Even the Holy See.

That's why I naturally thought he would leave me now that his business was done....

“I decided to help you with your work, but I haven't really been of much help, have I?”

“Hmm.... I am thankful enough just for you introducing me to Vesalius?”

“...That wasn't me introducing you to help. You just tagged along.”

“Oh, is that so? I thought you brought it up on purpose to introduce me.”

“……”

Agpiel realized for the first time.

Just as devaluing advice was hurtful, overvaluing advice was also extremely damaging to one's pride.

What did this young noble think of him-!

A magician with a reputation like his should give advice befitting that reputation.

Somehow, after meeting that young noble, he felt like he hadn't shown his sage-like side, which left a bad taste in his mouth.

‘If I follow him to his domain, there will probably be plenty of things I can help with.’

There was no magic as helpful in managing a domain as forest magic.

It could fertilize farmland, make fruits ripen abundantly, and even promote the growth of trees in the forest.

Any noble with a large estate would have no choice but to love it.

Besides, with a big war ahead, his years of experience would surely allow him to give ample advice.

Magician Agpiel thought so.

“The debt I owe you cannot be satisfied with just that, so I will just go with you. Well, if you really don't want me to, I won't go.”

“Oh no. Not at all, Magician Agpiel. I welcome you with open arms. Who would dare say no when you offer to come?”

“Hmm. This feels like being forced to accept a bow.”

“Of course not. Now, now, let's go together. I will escort you, Agpiel.”

* * *

The plan was simple.

Return to the domain, prepare as many soldiers as possible, and as soon as spring arrived and the weather warmed up, join the army in response to the Prince-Elector of Bohemia's summons.

Therefore, there was a little bit of time left before the actual heretic subjugation took place.

I intended to spend this time quite productively.

“Contact the L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild and secure as many weapons as possible. And ask the Jubo merchant guild if it's okay to use the L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild.”

“Request from the Holy See officials. Ask them to recommend a useful and trustworthy mercenary company.”

“Send a person to the domain. Tell them to prepare to conscript soldiers in a way that minimizes damage to the farming season.”

Either by busily moving like this to prepare for the war in advance.

“Tell Vesalius and his Moorish friends. To prepare to return to my domain.”

“Contact the merchant guilds here. Ask them if they would like to participate in the relay market. The reward? Offer them the port rights of the city we will newly acquire as a reward.”

“Look for capable money changers and accountants. We will hire them and take them to the domain.”

I took care of the affairs for the domain that had been neglected while I was away at the Holy See.

War is important, but in the end, my domain is the most important thing, isn't it-!

If I neglected internal affairs, no matter how many wars I won, the domain would continue to be impoverished. Just like during the rule of the previous Bellua Margrave.

After I had busied myself for a while, pestering the Holy See officials, I was finally able to finish all the preparations.

Now all I had to do was hurry back to my domain.

“Meeeeeh~ I don't want to go, merr. Can't we stay longer, Lord? Meeeeeh~.”

Of course, our cute(?) goat beastman kept whining that he didn't want to go.

But could I not go because of that? I dragged the tearful Bishop Marco, who was gazing at the receding Romulus, and headed north quickly.

Although the number of people had nearly doubled compared to when we left the domain, our speed was much faster.

This time, we didn't go around the Arhen Mountains but went straight along the main road.

-Whoa whoa!

-Heeheeheeng!

Thanks to this, my party and I were able to enter the Bellua Margraviate's territory before the end of winter.

“Welcome to my domain, Magician Agpiel. It's much humbler compared to Romulus. Please understand.”

“Hoho. Humble, you say? I was worried because you complained so much on the way, but this is quite splendid, isn't it? And comparing it to Romulus in the first place doesn't make sense.”

“Well, to be honest, it has changed quite a bit in the meantime.”

At Magician Agpiel's words, I chuckled and replied.

It wasn't for nothing.

My domain, upon arrival, had changed in many ways in that short period of time.

There was a neat dirt road that could be considered a road, albeit crude, and beyond it, rows of dazzling tents were set up around the main castle of my domain.

Seeing the people carrying luggage busily moving between them, they seemed to be the tents of the merchant guilds.

It looked like the instructions I gave before leaving had been carried out very well. Thanks to that, I wore a satisfied smile.

‘It seems Chamberlain Hamil worked very hard while I was away.’