The conflict between the Empire and the Magic Federation had a considerably deep history.

About 200 years ago. When there were still dozens of countries rampaging across this continent.

The Empire was expanding its territory through conquest wars led by the first Emperor and his loyal Lion Duke, while the Magic Federation transformed from a research institution into a political power as the magic towers absorbed the existing royal family.

The two countries grew their power as if competing, and in the process, they turned their eyes towards each other.

Naturally, that gaze was far from friendly.

Originally, there couldn’t be two suns in the sky.

Unless one side meekly retreated to become the moon, both sides tried to become the sun, so collision was inevitable.

There were numerous battles and schemes, and just as much blood was spilled.

Sometimes the Empire won, and other times, the Magic Federation was victorious.

However, neither side completely annexed the other.

Some said it was because the Garden acted as a natural border, but this was just one of many factors, not the whole story.

In the early days, when both countries had many other enemies besides each other, it might have been different, but for two countries that had gained stability as great powers, physically breaking through the Garden itself and opening a path was difficult but not impossible.

Yet, neither country put such an operation into action.

They didn’t challenge themselves to unify the continent by entrusting themselves to an all-or-nothing battle.

The reason was.

“—The bigwigs are cowards. Once they had a lot to lose, they didn’t want to gamble with it. Especially that uncle, the Iron Blood Emperor or whatever, he even bowed his head to the Magic Federation first out of fear. What a disgrace, really.”

It was an outrageous statement that could make listeners’ faces turn pale.

It was the kind of remark a drunkard in a tavern might blurt out, but the culprit wasn’t a red-faced uncle, but a very youthful-looking girl.

Her thin, delicate golden hair, deep violet eyes, and an elegant yet noble appearance that made her akin to a living painting when she sat still. Yet Maris von Lennart, facing the girl, had no leisure to be captivated by that loveliness.

“Watch your words. What if someone else hears you?”

The Iron Blood Emperor.

Counted among the most capable of the Empire’s historical emperors, evaluated as having placed the Empire on its current solid foundation.

The late emperor who received absolute support from the people due to his eradication of corruption, abolition of outdated evil practices, and various groundbreaking policies—no, who still receives it even after death. If it became known that someone had insulted him, it was obvious that a big commotion would occur.

Even the traditional nobles who were sick and tired of the Iron Blood Emperor’s oppressive rule of “Shut up and do as I say,” outwardly showed respect, if only because of the numerous achievements the Iron Blood Emperor had proven and the people’s support.

“Someone else? Who’s here besides you and me, Sis? Oh, the servants over there?”

But Maris’ advice didn’t seem to have any effect on the girl before her.

This was evident from how she grabbed one of the servants who were clinging to the wall like shadows and asked, “Are you going to gossip about this conversation elsewhere?”

Maris suppressed her throbbing head and rescued the poor, fidgeting servant from the girl.

“It’s not the literal meaning, but a warning to be careful with your conduct. What if you carelessly do the same thing outside after speaking so freely at home?”

“Hahaha, don’t worry. I have enough sense for that.”

It was somewhat inappropriate to call this the childish behavior of an unworldly noble young lady.

In Maris’ opinion, this “thing” before her was definitely not such an innocent being.

“The late emperor is a traitor who used us and then discarded us, but there are many fools in the world who follow him. Even if I don’t like it, I have to endure it to some extent.”

As if to prove this, killing intent-laced mana began to rise from the girl before her.

The high-quality wooden table began to crumble from the edges, and cracks appeared in the teacups.

Without even swinging a sword, just by slightly revealing her fighting spirit, things around the girl were breaking one after another.

Maris gritted her teeth.

This ruffian, really…!

It was anger towards the girl before her, and also anger towards the Senate who had instilled their delusions in the girl.

What was even more troublesome was that within the Lennart family, there were not a few who held similar thoughts to what the girl had said.

Of course, their claims were not entirely without basis.

The Iron Blood Emperor argued that it was beneficial for the empire to implement peace with the Magic Federation, which was a denial of the Lennarts who had shed more blood than anyone in the fight against the Magic Federation.

Moreover, the Iron Blood Emperor created a decree prohibiting daughters from powerful families from marrying into the imperial family. Although the list itself had many names written on it, it was all too clear that this action was aimed at the Lennart family.

However, despite this, this nation was still an empire.

It was a nation ruled by the emperor and the imperial family.

Now that the throne was empty, control had weakened and various noises were leaking out, but the national power that had been built up wasn’t just disappearing somewhere.

If the Lennarts, who were already being checked by their surroundings as the Empire’s top prestigious family, showed overtly hostile behavior towards the imperial family, the aftermath would be nothing but civil war.

The Iron Blood Emperor knew this too, which was why he had walked a tightrope by granting Maris’ father the position of chancellor and the title of guardian duke, but now the situation was that this late emperor had died at a relatively young age.

The crown prince, who should become the new emperor, was still too young, and the lion, which had been gradually tamed through the cooperation of the late emperor and the duke, was slowly revealing its ferocity after removing the bit from its mouth.

“Ah, right. I’m going to make a quick trip to the north.”

Clap!

As if she had just remembered something, the girl clapped her hands, and the ominous aura and mana emanating from her body suddenly stopped.

The girl’s smiling face was so nonchalant that even if someone unaware of the situation saw this scene, they wouldn’t associate any relationship between the girl and the messy surroundings.

“By north, do you mean Nemea Castle?” Maris asked, once again suppressing the mana she had raised to protect herself.

Although coldness flowed from Maris’ tone and gaze towards the girl, the girl didn’t seem to mind at all.

Well, except for how she acted towards Adelaide, this was basically how Maris always was towards other people.

“No, further north than that.”

“What?”

Bewilderment tinged Maris’s voice.

Nemea Castle was the Empire’s defensive stronghold built on a route that could directly travel between the Empire and the Magic Federation without passing through the Garden.

If she said further north than the castle guarding the border, there was only one thing that could mean.

“You’re going to the Magic Federation? Why?”

“Part sightseeing trip, part dojo tour. There’s one dojo there too, right? I thought it would be good to complete all five while I’m at it. And incidentally, to see what the great ‘Tower of Annihilation’ is like.”

Maris’ eyes narrowed.

It was bound to look suspicious when the girl who had just been complaining about peace with the Magic Federation was now suddenly saying she would go sightseeing in the Magic Federation.

After a moment, Maris’ sharp mind soon came up with a possibility.

While the girl was basically a ruffian who did whatever she wanted, she tended to follow the words of the Senate “grandfathers” well.

And among those currently touring the dojos, there was one collateral clan member whose very existence was uncomfortable from the Senate’s standpoint.

“You, don’t tell me—“

“Well then, see you next time. Sister Maris.”

With a lively greeting, the girl stood up.

Seeing those gestures that seemed subtly excited, Maris realized that anything she said would be useless.

To stop the girl, she would have to use force, but that was impossible.

The girl was the same age as Maris, but her skills already matched those of her father’s generation.

No, even considering the entire family, there were only the duke’s bodyguard knight and the general guarding Nemea Castle who could definitively be said to be stronger than the girl.

After the girl left, Maris sprawled in her chair and let out a deep sigh.

The only fortunate thing was that Adelaide would have that Tin Knight around her, so no matter how much of a genius of violence the girl was, she wouldn’t be able to move rashly.

And the representative instructor dispatched to the Magic Federation was a neutral figure, so he wouldn’t readily go along with the Senate’s behavior.

Of course, that meant he wouldn’t help Maris’ side, which could be considered the family head’s faction, either.

After pondering for a moment, Maris decided to write a letter.

It was uncertain whether it would be delivered to Adelaide in time, but at least it was better than doing nothing.

***

The City of Annihilation, Trudvangar.

The impressions of the Tin Knight’s party upon setting foot there were as follows:

“Quite fierce.”

There were various forms of domains, but comparing cities with “walls surrounding the perimeter like an enclosure” and those without, the latter are overwhelmingly more common.

In the case of the former, not only was the production cost itself considerable, but as walls were also buildings, they required constant maintenance, and they tended to be obstacles in various ways when the city grew and expanded its territory.

However, Trudvangar boasted large and high walls as if such disadvantages were nothing.

If judging by this alone, there was something similar in that City of Pleasure where they had rescued Adelaide, but it was obvious that the actual defensive power here would be much higher.

This was because numerous spirits were staying on top of the walls and around the gates.

Especially on top of the unusually tall watchtower, a giant bird-shaped spirit was perched, and the aura of flames emitting from its body could be felt even from the distant ground.

“A complete combat fortress. I wonder which would have the advantage compared to Nemea Castle on the Empire’s side. Well, that one’s a mountain fortress, so a direct comparison might be unreasonable.”

“It doesn’t seem like there are cannons on the walls. Well, if the numerous mages inside the tower fire attack magic from the walls, that’s as good as cannons.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates that it seems like a map that would be quite fun to conquer!]

“No, if a situation arises where we have to conquer this place, that would be a big problem…”

Shaking her head, Adelaide gazed at the city with complicated eyes.

Father was said to have died in battle while fighting against the Magic Federation. I wonder who his opponent was.

Considering the route from the eastern part of the continent to the north, it was more likely that the Tower of Protection or Control was the opponent, but since the Tower of Annihilation could be called the core war hawks of the Magic Federation, the possibility of their involvement wasn’t small either.

It wasn’t that she particularly dreamed of revenge.

It would be a lie to say there was no resentment or anger, but Adelaide knew too little about her father’s death to burn with a specific hatred.

She didn’t know what battle he participated in, where he fought, or what kind of end he met.

Perhaps the people at the Lennart dojo in this city might know something, but she wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask about it, or what she wanted to do after asking.

…Anyway, Miss Witch is busy now, and there’s also the matter of Sir Knight’s modification, so it’s better not to cause unnecessary commotion.

Adelaide, suppressing the murmuring in her heart, thought she should just pass quickly and be done with it.

***

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