Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 50
============================================================
Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 50
16. Real Combat (1)
-Bringham Empire Intelligence-
"This is a problem, isn't it?"
Count Elfried, the Bringham Empire's Intelligence Chief and a 7th Circle female Grand Mage, frowned as she read a report.
"What's the matter?"
Her adjutant, Viscount Joseph, approached and asked.
"Adrian Lawrence has already been granted a title."
"Ah, you mean that person who achieved the 7th Circle at the same age as me?"
"Yes. His Imperial Majesty ordered me to try recruiting this man, but now it's become difficult. I never expected them to move this quickly."
"Could it be that the power struggle in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts hastened the title grant?"
"Correct. Not anticipating that is clearly my mistake."
"Well, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts has low priority, after all. Master, you have many places to attend to besides Rhinehearts."
"No, that's nothing but self-justification."
The adjutant, Viscount Joseph, is a promising mage who achieved the 6th Circle at age 20, and is also Count Elfried's disciple.
He was famous for stopping at nothing when it came to his master's affairs seen positively, his respect for his master was immense, but seen negatively, his affection was excessive.
"Master, you seem to have a lot of interest in Adrian Lawrence."
"I can't help it. He's the same age as you, my disciple, yet he's on the same level as me, your master. Perhaps he'll be the one to reach the 8th Circle first."
"Haha."
Viscount Joseph didn't particularly like seeing his master react this way while thinking of another mage his age.
"Still, wouldn't he consider it if we offered him a title from the Empire? A count of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts and a count of our Bringham Empire are vastly different."
"That's not possible either I hear Rhinehearts has given him the rank of Marquis."
"What?"
That was unexpected, and Viscount Joseph couldn't help but be surprised as well.
With the same rank, there'd be no comparison, but a marquis of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts is certainly better than a count of the Bringham Empire.
But what was truly baffling was what came next.
"And what's more, the moment he received the title, he filed simultaneous Domain War declarations against four viscounties. And he did it right in front of the King of Rhinehearts during the commemoration ceremony."
"Good heavens... Is he insane? He's a newly appointed noble, isn't he? Does he even have the forces to wage war against four viscounties?"
An action that defied common sense.
But perhaps it was that very unpredictability that piqued her interest, bringing a smile to the lips of the Bringham Empire's Intelligence Chief, known as the Ice Flower.
"Who knows. Whether he's a reckless madman or an eccentric with something up his sleeve watching will tell."
"Master?"
"I need to go to the Kingdom of Rhinehearts. If I'm lucky, I might get to witness this man's battle firsthand."
"What? You mean you'll be leaving this place..."
"Yes. I'll leave the rest to you. If you back up the deputy chief, there shouldn't be any problems."
At Count Elfried's declaration, Viscount Joseph felt a fierce blaze of animosity toward Adrian ignite within him.
It should be him who monopolized his beautiful master's attention, yet some random brat had barged in.
* * *
If supply issues can be properly resolved, it's better to fight a war on someone else's land than your own.
Therefore, I swiftly moved my forces and deployed them before the four viscounties that could be called my enemies.
This was a choice made to protect my wealth and my people, and also intended to put psychological pressure on the enemy.
"Huff, Lord Marquis. I believe the Domain War permit hasn't been approved yet. Isn't this an act that disregards the law?"
I split my forces into four assigning nearly equal but slightly superior strength to three of them, and throwing everything else in front of Viscount Parma's Viscounty, the first target.
Viscount Parma's Viscounty possesses one Sky Fortress and 50 Vanguards.
But the forces I brought are 3 Sky Fortresses and 60 Vanguards.
Furthermore, with myself as a Grand Mage and Arcia as an Aura Master accompanying us, the difference in power can be said to be threefold.
Thanks to that, the representative of House Parma who came to protest was furious but dared not show it, twitching the corners of his mouth in a forced smile.
"Have you misunderstood something?"
"Misunderstood?"
"We're simply training right now, aren't we?"
"What?"
"Have I attacked your territory?"
"That's not it, but..."
"Don't worry. I'm a man who follows the law. I won't attack before the Domain War permit is issued. So, don't mind me and go about your business."
My excuse left him speechless.
It was such an outrageously brazen claim, after all.
"So once the Domain War permit comes through, you'll attack just like this?"
"Of course. The enemy happens to be right in front of us while we're training."
"Isn't that absurd? It goes against all decency!"
He let out a deep sigh and continued his protest.
"In the first place, this Domain War will never be approved. Isn't your justification far too lacking? I hope we don't have to redden our faces and exhaust ourselves over nothing."
At his mention of justification, I snorted.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is! Does it even make sense to start a war over a schoolyard grudge?"
-Beep beep.
But just then.
The ringtone of my terminal blared loudly.
I used a Silence spell to mute him, then pressed the call button.
"Yes."
[My Lord!]
As his voice suddenly failed him, Viscount Parma's representative floundered in panic.
Paying him no mind, I asked the territorial administrator who had suddenly called.
"What is it?"
[As of this moment, the Domain War permit has been approved!]
A satisfied smile tugged at my lips.
"How nice."
Perfect timing, if I do say so myself.
Having overheard the conversation impossible not to hear from right beside me Viscount Parma's envoy turned deathly pale.
After finishing the brief call, I hung up and also released the Silence spell that had been blocking the envoy's voice.
"It seems the royal family's thoughts differ from yours?"
"T-This can't be. Are you saying we've been abandoned by the royal family?"
"They merely judged who is more worthy."
"Marquis, please. Be reasonable..."
"Leave. The one you need to persuade now is not me, but Viscount Parma. The only way for Parma's territory to survive is unconditional surrender. There is no other way to avoid war."
He clearly wanted to persuade me somehow, but I twirled my finger dismissively and signaled my subordinates, making it clear I had nothing more to see.
At that, Pesius, who had been waiting behind, shouted loudly.
"Spatial Teleportation Interference Magic!"
"Magic activation!"
"Magic activation!"
"Sky Fortresses! Vanguard units! Advance! Target: the fall of Viscount Pesius's territory!"
"All units, advance!"
"All units, advance!"
Pesius's voice was echoed by multiple confirmations, and the three massive Sky Fortresses, along with 60 Vanguards mounted on Hoverboards, led the support fleet toward Parma's territory.
The attack target was Peth, a city of 500,000 where Viscount Parma's castle stood.
"Not going back? You won't have time to dawdle."
"Grrr."
At the clear dismissal, Viscount Parma's representatives swallowed their groans and exited the support train where the temporary command post had been set up.
Then I extended my hand to Arcia, seated beside me, as if inviting her to dance, and helped her rise from her seat.
"From now on, Arcia and I will be deployed directly to the front lines. Command during this time will be left to Sir Pesius."
"What? My Lord? What do you "
"Let's go, Arcia."
"Yes!"
"My Lord!"
I took up a splendid white robe equipped with the Vanguard's Force Armor function, and a magic staff equipped with the Force Sword function.
Arcia, armed with a jet-black Force Armor of classic design and a jet-black Force Sword, stepped out of the command post with me.
[Vanguard units! Marquis Lawrence and Count Klein are personally joining the battle! Serve them well!]
[Yes!]
The Vanguards were all baffled by Pesius's urgent transmission, but they answered with booming voices, as if not entirely displeased.
Whether Pesius worried or not, Arcia and I increased our pace and led the units from the front.
"Hahaha!"
Someone once said.
Even if you achieve revenge, nothing remains, and you'll only feel great emptiness.
In the end, revenge only begets more revenge.
But I don't think that way.
'Nothing gives a clearer sense of purpose than revenge.'
From Anna and Cedric to the bad blood from the Academy.
Their existence is the starting point of a new future.
And above all...
'Watching my enemies twist their faces and scream in agony is just fun, isn't it?'
As I flew through the wind with high-speed flight magic, I wore a delighted smile and cast a 7th Circle grand spell.
* * *
A bedroom in the Viscounty of Parma's lord's castle.
'You'd better brace yourselves. I'll torment you in the most horrible way possible. I'll make you regret ever being born into this world.'
The Young Master of Viscount Parma, who had been under the watch of knights like a prisoner, recalled the words Adrian had once spat out like a curse and gnawed on his fingernails.
Back then, he had brushed it off and laughed.
But now, those words pierced sharper than any dagger and lodged deep in his chest.
-Thud!
The Young Master of Parma gulped down the whiskey on the table and slammed the glass down roughly.
"Damn it, damn it."
During his Academy days, he had beaten and bullied his classmates without ever feeling a shred of guilt.
After all, this world was a strict hierarchical society, and he had simply been instilling discipline into those beneath him.
But he never imagined that his past deeds would snowball and grow until they came back to haunt him.
No, it was only natural he couldn't have foreseen it.
In this class-based society, he had never seen anyone rise from the ruled class to the very top of the ruling class overnight.
'That bastard Adrian is the abnormal one!'
There was a limit to turning your life around this was a story even more outrageous than any trashy drama, he thought.
The Young Master of Parma asked the high-ranking Knight that the Viscount had assigned to watch him.
"If war breaks out, what are our chances of winning?"
The high-ranking Knight in charge of his supervision clicked his tongue briefly and replied.
"Honestly, it's grim. The forces currently rallying before our domain are more than twice our strength, and they've even got an Aura Master and a Grand Mage waiting in reserve. Honestly, it won't even be a fight."
When Adrian first filed the Domain War, he had thought it wouldn't be a big deal.
But as if mocking his judgment, Adrian moved a massive army, and the Young Master of Parma's nail-biting grew more frantic.
"If we lose the war, what happens to me?"
No one in the Viscount Parma's household currently felt any pity for his situation.
Because of the past wrongs the Young Master of Parma had committed, innocent domain residents, soldiers, and knights were all going to die.
As he reached for the bottle again, the high-ranking Knight, as if he could no longer hold back, spoke coldly to the Young Master of Parma with a disrespect he never would have shown before.
"Even in this situation, you're still only thinking of yourself."
The Young Master of Parma, having some pride, tried to push back, but faced with the high-ranking Knight's aura, as if he might draw his sword at any moment, he couldn't muster the nerve to rage.
"Would you like me to tell you what you can do in this situation, Young Master?"
"I-Is there something?"
"Die by Marquis Lawrence's own hand. If you let him achieve his revenge, won't it soothe his anger even a little? Then the damage to our domain might be lessened."
At the high-ranking Knight's words, the Young Master of Parma widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Y-You dare speak of your master's son like that "
"Everyone in the lord's castle is probably of one mind. It was you who committed all those atrocities, so why should we be the ones facing death? No one understands. When the servants die, they'll curse you, not Marquis Lawrence."
"Hah..."
"More than ten innocents have died directly or indirectly by your hand, haven't they? In the end, I've come to understand what 'you reap what you sow' truly means. I'm damned grateful for the lesson."
As even the surrounding knights voiced their agreement with the high-ranking Knight's words, the Young Master of Parma finally realized his position.
Their reaction was far too hostile for him to rationalize it as simply bad luck.
'Reap what I sow? I'm part of the ruling class! What the hell is the problem!?'
As if answering the Young Master of Parma's inner scream, the family's Knight Commander entered through the door and set something down before him.
"Knight Commander?"
"These are Vanguard equipment the Force Armor and Force Sword. You do know how to handle Aura, don't you?"
"But why these?"
"Put them on and challenge Marquis Lawrence to single combat."
"What?"
"The Viscount's orders."
"Father...?"
At the Knight Commander's words, the Young Master of Parma realized he had been abandoned.
"B-But the royal court hasn't approved the Domain War yet, right? Maybe the royal court could still block it, couldn't they? Besides, the justification makes no sense, doesn't it? There's no need to go this far..."
"The royal court just accepted the Domain War petition. Soon your domain will become a battlefield."
At the news that a Domain War was about to begin, not only the Young Master of Parma but even the knights guarding the room swallowed dryly.
"There isn't much time. Come now, hurry."
"Goddammit! You fucking bastards!"
Under the Knight Commander's pressure, the Young Master of Parma ultimately refused while spewing every curse imaginable, and the knights bound him and forced the equipment onto him.