Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 47
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Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 47
15. The Unpredictable Irregular (1)
Kalitz van Rhinehearts, King of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts, could not be called a particularly sage ruler, but neither was he a lacking monarch.
He was not headstrong, his ambition was not great, and he was reasonably rational, so even the ministers who followed him respected the king without much complaint.
Moreover, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts ruled by King Kalitz was a strong nation second only to the four great empires, and whether due to the Noble Auditor's Office, the nobles also refrained from crossing the line into corruption, so there were few concerns at home or abroad.
But lately, King Kalitz had a growing worry.
That was the problem of his children, who were full of individuality and power unlike the king himself, who was unremarkable in every way.
'Crown Prince Michael will surely lead the nation well. There are times when I can't tell what he's thinking, but he is clearly a very clever child.'
'But Second Prince Luke's qualities cannot be dismissed either. It's been nearly 300 years since an Aura Master was born from the royal family. He has absolute support from the knights and is popular among the people, so he's a talent too precious to keep bound as a mere royal.'
The Kingdom of Rhinehearts is currently in a state where the conflict between the two princes over the next throne is intensifying.
It takes the form of the younger brother challenging the older brother, who has already been invested as Crown Prince.
Normally, such a fight would never come to pass, but the presence of a young Aura Master made it possible.
If King Kalitz had taken control from the start and reined in the growth of the Second Prince's faction, the problem might not have become this serious, but his pity for Prince Luke had made him miss the timing.
The fact that noble society had split in two could also be blamed on King Kalitz, who failed to hold the center.
He needed to resolve this situation somehow, but the problem was that no clear solution was in sight.
'If this continues, the nation may split in two.'
The king sensed that the time for a choice for the sake of the nation was not far off.
The time had come for him to step forward personally, take one side's hand, and push aside the other prince.
A situation was arising where a father had to deal with his own child directly.
Thanks to that, King Kalitz was in a state of such deep worry these days that he could hardly get a proper night's sleep.
'As if the problems with my children weren't enough to give me a headache...'
His head felt like it was about to split.
But to his dismay, at this very moment, an unexpected new worry had arisen.
"I declare a territory war against the four houses of Viscount Dougherty, Viscount Parma, Viscount Karma, and Viscount Rognier."
A figure had appeared who fanned the flames of state affairs and stirred up chaos.
'Adrian Lawrence, the new marquis.'
Adrian, a key figure more than enough to shatter the political balance as a new power holder, had abruptly declared a territory war against four estates in a space where everyone was exchanging smiles and congratulations.
Thanks to that, the warm atmosphere of the event hall froze over as cold as the Bringham Empire's absolute permafrost.
"M-Marquis Lawrence. L-let's talk for a moment."
The thick-skinned Second Prince, stammering as he spoke, grabbed the new marquis by the arm.
Watching that sight, King Kalitz thought.
In this nation...
A new madman had appeared.
* * *
At the sudden declaration of a territory war, I was dragged before not only the king but also the Second Prince and given a piece of their minds.
But knowing that a title already granted could not be revoked, I made it clear I had no intention of taking back my words.
"It seems I misjudged Marquis Lawrence's nature. I thought he was a typical scholarly type, but to think he'd be this combative."
Second Prince Luke let out a sigh that didn't suit him.
"Do you know this? That a new lord cannot expand his territory for one year?"
"Then I will bring down only the four houses and return the lands to the royal domain."
"So you have no intention of backing down to the very end?"
"No."
In the end, Prince Luke, having failed to persuade me, placed a hand on my shoulder, added one final remark, and withdrew.
"Your actions today have disappointed me. I will be watching you from now on."
Well, that was roughly the reaction I expected.
But the fact that he could never abandon me was revealed in the tail end 'I will be watching.'
"This feels like I've become the black sheep of the family, doesn't it?"
"You are the black sheep."
However, there was someone who was just as shocked as the four houses that had been singled out and that was my parents.
Responding to my father, who approached with a furrowed brow, I put on an apologetic expression and answered.
"I didn't originally plan to go this far, but I suppose I was just too angry. I'm sorry."
"Just what on earth made you do such a thing?"
"Revenge."
At the word revenge, my father was left speechless.
Then, rubbing his temples, my father asked.
"If four houses come at you at once, it's bound to be dangerous. You knew that, and still you declared a territory war, right?"
"Of course. Don't worry."
Faced with my confidence, my father eventually shook his head and withdrew.
"I'll trust you."
And so, we walked together through the Great Hall, which had been transformed from a victory celebration venue into a party hall.
In an instant, the stage and seats were cleared away, and food was laid out here and there.
Along with that, soft classical music filled the entire hall, making it a complete party venue.
"It seems everyone is hesitant to approach you after your stunt."
"Haha, that's fine. Dealing with people is uncomfortable anyway."
Was it because of my unexpected behavior?
Up until the event began, people had been greeting me warmly, saying we should get along yet now, not a single person came near.
It seems I've been firmly branded as a dangerous sort.
"Since we've gotten the rare chance to attend a royal-hosted party, let's enjoy it."
Even though my father and I had gotten back to our usual rhythm, my mother couldn't easily enjoy the party, her face full of worry.
At that, my father urged my mother to dance, saying she should trust in her capable son.
My mother shot me a look asking if it was really all right, and when I grinned and nodded, she finally relaxed her expression and took my father's hand.
As the two of them headed toward the dance floor, I secretly raised my mana.
"There they are."
"I'll join you."
In truth, I had left magical traces on the ones I didn't want to see.
So I walked over to those four, who must have been in a stir.
* * *
"Is he insane? Even a territory war needs justification, doesn't it?"
"Do our past actions count as justification?"
"Those were just childish things we did!"
The young lords and ladies of the four houses Adrian's schoolmates who had been named as targets of the territory war stamped their feet in great agitation, clearly flustered.
It was actually their parents, the lords, who had fire at their feet, but they never expected Adrian's declaration of war to be connected to their children.
So the four, having slipped away from their parents' watchful eyes, gathered their heads together to devise a solution.
"But wait will we lose?"
"What?"
"Looking at his declaration of war, doesn't it mean the four of our houses can join forces?"
"That's true, but our opponent is a marquis!"
"Calm down and hear me out. No matter how much weaker we are compared to Isabella, we are still lord houses with viscounties. With the strength of four such houses combined, don't you think we can easily deal with a new marquis?"
The others, whose minds had been too rattled to keep up, found themselves nodding involuntarily at the young master of Viscount Parma's assertion.
"But wouldn't a smart guy like him have predicted even that?"
"Even if he has some hidden plan, I don't think this is a completely hopeless situation."
"That's true. With our four houses united, we'd have strength at the level of above an earl but below a margrave."
The more calmly they sorted out their thoughts, the more their stiff expressions began to soften.
Adrian had suddenly received a marquisate and, out of nowhere, filed a territory war as a marquis so they'd been frightened but by common sense, they realized his declaration of war was reckless.
"It really does seem doable, doesn't it?"
"Does it, though?"
"Huh? Gah!"
But that was when it happened.
"Hey there."
"A-Adrian!?"
Appearing from who knows where, Adrian spoke from behind them, and all of them wore expressions as if they'd seen a ghost.
"Adrian? These brats are calling a marquis by his name?"
At Adrian's shameless behavior, the young master of Viscount Parma protested.
"Don't be ridiculous. After declaring war on us, you think we'd show you respect now?"
But they had forgotten one thing for a moment.
That the current Adrian was the kind of man who would go so far as to declare a territory war before the king at a victory celebration.
"Then I'll make you show me respect."
Adrian grinned and, pulling off the glove he was wearing, threw it right into the face of the young master of Viscount Parma.
"Young Master of Viscount Parma, I cannot tolerate your impertinence. I challenge you to a duel."
"What?"
"Isn't this a perfect prelude to the territory war?"
An action beyond the extraordinary, entirely outside common sense.
But because so many eyes were gathered, the reinforcements of the young master of Viscount Parma appeared sooner than Adrian had expected.
"That duel cannot be accepted. Lord Marquis."
They were the heads of the four houses that Adrian had declared war upon.
They too had gathered in one place to discuss countermeasures like their children, and happened to spot Adrian before joining the conversation.
"Did Your Excellency not provoke us first? Moreover, given the vast difference in rank between the two, a duel cannot be established under national law."
Adrian expressed regret with an air of not having known such a law existed.
"What a shame. If I could have cut off the young master of Parma's head, I might have spared your lordship in this territory war."
"I don't know what grudge you hold against my child, but don't you think this is going too far?"
At this point, they could not help but realize that Adrian's actions were connected to their own children.
"Going too far? Nonsense. I'm a man who repays debts clearly. If I've been wronged, I always pay it back."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ask your son for the details. The official documents for the territory war will likely arrive within a week. If you don't wish to experience ruin because of your foolish son, bind this brat and bring him before me."
"Are you asking me to sell out my own child? You keep crossing the line."
"Is that so? Then let's meet on the battlefield."
And Adrian, gazing at a woman quietly watching the situation from behind Viscount Parma, left the scene without hesitation.
"Ah, Father."
"Let's talk back at the estate."
At that, the heads of the four houses, fuming, dragged their children the instigators of the trouble and fled the party like they were running away.
As the young masters and ladies of the four houses were being dragged away by their parents, those who belatedly spotted the friend they had been searching for so desperately cried out.
"Isabella?"
"Isabella! Where have you been all this time!"
"Isabella, can you talk to our fathers…."
The woman Adrian had been staring at intently at the end was none other than Isabella.
"What on earth is going on here?"
She bit her lip with a bewildered expression.
* * *
[Shock! Adrian Lawrence, the new marquis, declares territory war on four viscounties the moment he receives his title!]
[The new marquis's boldness that left even His Majesty the King flustered.]
[Why did Marquis Lawrence ruin the atmosphere of the celebration to take such action?]
[The bad blood between Marquis Lawrence and the four targeted houses traces back to their school days.]
-So my brother was a victim of school violence and group bullying….
└I heard it was really severe there wasn't a day he wasn't wearing a cast.
└My brother was definitely of noble birth, so why does this make me so sad ㅜㅜ
└Noble in name only he lived a life worse than a commoner.
└He survived assassination attempts at home and group bullying and violence at school. Becoming a grand mage in those circumstances truly admirable.
-Those foolish brats are about to get taught a lesson.
└They should all be killed.
└Sir Adrian! Looking forward to round two of the lesson!
As expected, there are no secrets in this day and age even without me spreading it to the press, the story came out on its own.
With that, public opinion online which I could call my strength rose up, and it became the perfect justification for the territory war.
So many people are supporting me.
Even though I engineered this situation myself, it's still somehow moving.
"Lord Marquis Lawrence?"
"Ah, what were you saying?"
"I was just informing you of the specifications of the sky fortress available for immediate delivery. Here is the catalog for that sky fortress."
People keep saying it.
That I'm reckless.
Declaring a territory war without even having a proper military force isn't that absurd?
But I think everyone's mistaken about something.
If you lack military strength, can't you just buy more?