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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Lingering Killing Intent
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Viktor was quietly dragged away by the guardsmen, but the impact he left behind did not fade easily.
Regardless of the war, the nobles of the Ruth Kingdom who had been enjoying banquets in the capital could not easily shake off Viktor's gaze filled with killing intent.
Including Nikolai, several particularly faint-hearted nobles had even pissed themselves outright, and the stench of urine wafted from where they were gathered.
The king, barely fourteen years old, had faced Viktor's aura head-on while faithfully delivering the responses taught by Vladimir Savinkov standing at his side—yet the nobles, who had lived long enough to know better, showed even greater inadequacy.
Vladimir felt a twinge of doubt about everything he had done so far.
No matter what intentions he had harbored, in the end, once Viktor was sold off, those incompetent nobles' power would greatly strengthen.
*Clap clap.*
"Let's clean this up."
Trying not to show his disappointment outwardly, Vladimir clapped his hands to summon the attendants and entrusted them with the cleanup.
The attendants waiting nearby rushed over, escorted the nobles in poor condition away, and cleared the remaining mess around them.
Vladimir approached the side of the trembling king and whispered the words he needed to say.
"T-The negotiation terms... will be upheld. Viktor will be loaded onto the c-carriage you arrived in."
"...Understood."
Erika Bauman, the representative of the negotiation team dispatched by the Emperor, quietly bowed her head while sneering at this country farce.
Before meeting them in person, she had admired Viktor based on rumors and thus regarded his nation, the Ruth Kingdom, as no small rival.
The Dragonia Empire was not in a position to concentrate its forces in one place, so it generally had to deal with the Ruth Kingdom using troops conscripted near the border.
Even if they were a loosely bound group of nobles under the banner of the Noble Faction, she believed it was no country to take lightly since they had cornered the Empire's superior forces in numbers and quality at one point.
When she heard that the kingdom's capital, Zabinsk, would serve as the negotiation site, Erika had even considered the possibility that the invitation itself was a trap.
In fact, she had minimized the escorts to reduce losses if the negotiation team was captured as prisoners, forming it with just herself and Paul Richter.
But now, having seen the reality of the Ruth Kingdom, she could cast aside all her worries.
The negotiation process where they acted subservient as if they were the ones losing, the sight of all the nobles cowering before a single Viktor.
After witnessing it all, any lingering wariness toward the kingdom vanished completely.
Of course, Erika herself had been suppressed by Viktor's aura, but in the end, it was the kingdom that handed him over to the Empire.
If there was no overwhelming difference in national power, what mattered was the leadership—and if that leadership consisted of nobles who showed such ugliness even in the presence of a foreign negotiation team.
Just one year from now, who knew what might happen, especially if these people who sold out Viktor seized power in the Ruth Kingdom.
It even made her think they might collapse on their own without needing to dispatch troops.
With trash like that lording over them from above, the Ruth Kingdom had no choice but to fight sluggishly.
"Viktor, General... how did you endure these people for two years...?"
Erika was amazed that Viktor had lasted two years under such people.
Even just hearing the nonsense spouted by that Nikolai fellow earlier allowed her to imagine the extent of his hardships.
The supplies scheduled for delivery must have been delayed or missing.
He must have endured constant interference simply because he was a commoner, and somehow talked down the horrific orders coming from above to smooth things over.
"Her Majesty has good reason to take an interest."
The Emperor had merely ordered her to bring Viktor back safely, but Erika hadn't missed the flicker of interest in her eyes when giving the command.
She had thought the rumors were just that—rumors—but there was reason the Emperor had specifically named a figure from an enemy state.
"If only we could recruit him."
Aside from when she mentioned the nobles separately, his gaze had been fixed solely on the king, so his loyalty seemed assured.
As for his abilities, Paul Richter's gloominess throughout the carriage ride here said it all.
A man who had boasted before the war that he needed no support from the Emperor had come along quietly without a word, and even when looking at General Viktor earlier, his eyes held more fear and tension than anger.
Based on what she had seen so far, Viktor was the kind of talent that appeared once every few centuries.
"And his looks... are striking too."
Though her evaluation carried a hint of personal bias, to Erika, Viktor had become someone they absolutely could not afford to lose.
"We'll take our leave."
"Yes."
Erika deeply bowed to the Ruth Kingdom nobles who had handed over such a Viktor, her gesture laced with gratitude.
His loyalty was undoubtedly remarkable, but they had even crushed it thoroughly using the king's own mouth.
It seemed there was no lack of openings to exploit.
"What a waste of talent in a dump like this."
With that final impression, Erika patted the copy of the contract safely tucked in her bosom for confirmation, then returned to the carriage with General Paul.
---
For now, the first button seemed to be fastened properly.
She took a deep breath to steady her mind.
The guardsmen carefully transporting me loaded me onto the ornate carriage parked near the castle gate and quickly vanished.
The carriage bore the Dragonia Empire's imperial dragon emblem in gold, all but confirming that the Empire's representatives earlier had been sent directly by the Emperor.
Of course, it was just the beginning.
The mere fact that I hadn't been seized by the Noble Faction grinding their teeth at me was nearly a success in itself, but it wasn't time to relax yet.
When I was dragged to the carriage earlier, the kingdom soldiers' gazes toward me were unusual.
Those on guard duty atop the walls should have been facing outward beyond the castle, but they were all standing turned toward me.
Moreover, the junior officers who should have reprimanded such breaches of discipline were watching this way with meaningful expressions.
What was the reason?
Honestly, I feared some sudden incident might occur.
The worst case would be the soldiers rushing over in opposition to the negotiations and unbinding me.
No matter what choice I made then, my future would be bleak.
If I sided with the soldiers, it would inevitably lead to rebellion.
I and the soldiers would end up confronting the nobles, and that's all a gathering of soldiers could really do.
Failure meant death, and even success would thwart my original goal of going over to the Empire.
No matter how much the Emperor coveted talent, she wouldn't hire the leader of a rebel force.
Ignoring whatever the soldiers did and claiming obedience to the king's orders?
That would trigger a massive purge or civil war, unleashing a bloodbath on the Ruth Kingdom.
I didn't want to create such a situation.
*Ahem...*
I kept my eyes obediently closed to avoid provoking them as much as possible.
If they got angry for my sake, I'd be grateful, but I hoped they wouldn't risk their lives.
Out of unease, I habitually opened the tactical map.
The familiar UI appeared before my eyes, easing my mind a little.
...Just for a moment, it should be fine, right?
---
"...Doesn't something feel off?"
"Pardon?"
Erika, walking silently toward the carriage, finally spoke up as they neared the castle gate where it was parked.
"Th-those gazes..."
"Ah, hmm. Now that you mention it, you're right."
As she said, the soldiers atop the walls were all glaring at the negotiation party's group.
They weren't threatening with weapons, but dozens of soldiers staring with the same eyes created an unavoidable pressure.
They were made to feel anew that this was enemy territory.
"...Let's hurry."
"Yes."
Paul quickened his pace a bit more, and Erika hurried after him.
Paul, arriving at the carriage first, opened the door.
"...Hmm."
"General Paul?"
With that small mutter, he froze in the position of opening the door.
"...Ah."
Rushing up, Erika peered through the open door into the carriage's interior and instantly understood why Paul had reacted so strangely.
"Th-that, uh, um..."
Inside the carriage sat Viktor, bound head to toe with ropes.
Even as the door to the carriage he was in opened, he didn't stir, eyes closed.
'...Is he that angry?'
Earlier, from afar, Erika hadn't felt fear or danger from him, but facing him up close now made her movements cautious for some reason.
It wasn't because of an especially large build or fierce features.
On the surface, his refined facial lines and modest stature evoked young nobles more than a general.
Erika stood by the carriage, gazing at Viktor as if lost in thought for a while.
"...Let's get in, Miss Erika."
"Ah, yes."
What mattered was the atmosphere.
Erika certainly viewed him favorably, but the moment she boarded the carriage, she instinctively felt she shouldn't touch him carelessly.
She couldn't tell if the pounding in her chest was warm affection or trembling fear.
Paul had originally wanted to kill Viktor.
Every time he faced him as an enemy, it went beyond unfairness to feeling possessed by a ghost, getting utterly crushed—and he had seen the Emperor including him in the negotiation team as an opportunity.
Yet, perhaps because Paul himself was someone's vassal.
Seeing Viktor wither pathetically in the palace's main hall stirred a strange feeling.
He didn't know exactly what emotion it was, but the urge to kill him right then had vanished.
Especially after seeing him sitting there with his head bowed powerlessly.
"..."
Paul and Erika moved carefully so as not to disturb Viktor and sat opposite him.
"Let's depart."
"Yes."
As Erika told the coachman to set off, Viktor finally cracked his eyes open slightly to confirm who had boarded.
*Gasp.*
*Hmph...*
Erika, who had intended to try persuading Viktor from the carriage ride, found herself unable to say a word upon meeting those pitch-black eyes.
Viktor closed his eyes again soon after, but the suffocating silence that descended lingered long even after the carriage started moving.