Chapter 103 - What to Do with the Deposit

A human who resembled Berge had been sighted.

There had been no suspicion or anything of the sort. Armand had said he sensed nothing from the man but pure mana. How could a Demon King possibly be like that?

It had merely been an amusing anecdote.

Reina had been troubled by the failure of her carefully laid scheme and had simply contacted Berge, someone she could speak to comfortably.

But now...

“It was the snowfields. It was definitely the snowfields.”

Why was he in the snowfields?

Why had he lied?

“Was it truly the snowfields, my lord?”

“There was no mistaking it.”

“Erjest also receives a great deal of snow. At higher altitudes, it falls all year round, just as it does in the snowfields. And although it is mountainous, that does not mean there are no flat areas at all.”

“Is that so? That must be it, then?”

Reina forced herself to nod.

Yes, on reflection, that made more sense. Armand’s failure and the appearance of a human resembling Berge must have left her a little stressed.

“But does Erjest have snow-covered plains so vast that you can see the horizon?”

“... Well...”

Nina could not readily answer.

“...”

“...”

Silence settled over them.

“... What did Demon King Berge look like?”

“The same as usual.”

He had been every inch a Demon King. In the first place, the Demon Kings’ communication orbs would not work without demonic energy.

“I do not believe it possible. It makes no sense. But...”

Once suspicion began to blossom, it was not easily dispelled.

“Even if he was in the snowfields, you would have noticed if he had been within your domain, my lord.”

Even if it had been the snowfields, there was no major problem as long as he had not entered Reina’s domain.

Nina was not wrong.

“No.”

But Reina shook her head.

“If it was the snowfields, then he lied to me.”

He had said it was not the snowfields when it was.

An alliance had to be founded on mutual trust. Berge had said so, and Reina agreed. Yet Berge had broken that trust.

“It is taboo for a Demon King to enter another Demon King’s domain without permission. Though he was not within your domain, he was nearby. If he had told you the truth—that he had come close to your domain—how would you have reacted?”

“Not favorably. So you mean he tried to hide it for that reason.”

“That is what I believe.”

“That does not excuse him.”

“But since he was outside your domain, it is not an offense either.”

That was certainly true. If he had merely wanted things to pass smoothly because something insignificant might become an issue, she could understand.

But the question of why remained.

“Why would he set foot in the snowfields?”

“For what?”

“To what end?”

One question led to another.

“Are there any members of the imperial family nearby?”

“No members of the imperial family have come north at present.”

“Then...”

Why did Drakson’s words come to mind now, of all times?

A high-ranking demon who had invaded his domain.

What if that had actually been a Demon King, not a high-ranking demon? What if it had been Berge?

Reina pondered it. So did Nina.

“... Perhaps.”

After a long while, Nina spoke haltingly.

“Perhaps?”

“Perhaps it really was because of monsters.”

“Monsters?”

“Yes. Demon King Berge said he had gone out to take monsters as his servants. Could that not be true? Only, he was in the snowfields rather than Erjest.”

“Why come all the way to the snowfields?”

“Erjest and the snowfields have similar climates. Both are cold and snowy. But because one is mountainous and the other is plains, different monsters live in each. Perhaps he wanted something different?”

“An absurd reason.”

“Is it?”

“But for now, I cannot think of a more plausible one.”

Reina rubbed her chin.

“... Monsters.”

It might be true, or it might not.

But since Berge had brought it up first, it was a rather convenient excuse to approach him without hesitation.

“I shall sound him out.”

Using the monsters as a pretext.

* * *

With not the slightest inkling that Reina Sordein suspected him, Berge returned to the south.

In some respects, the south had become even more chaotic than the north.

“It’s war!”

“The southern alliance and the Empire have clashed in the Philerium Mountains!”

The Empire and the alliance had tried to keep their enormous honey pot—the mana stone mine—a secret, but with tensions between them escalating, complete secrecy was impossible.

Rumors of the mana stone mine spread, and both sides’ armies gathered around the Philerium Mountains.

“The Empire is invading the southern alliance’s territory and plundering its resources! Those cowards ambushed His Highness Prince Pablo Barkat while he was prospecting for resources!”

“We shall hold the Empire accountable for its ambush and reclaim the alliance’s stolen lands!”

That was the southern alliance’s position.

“The southern alliance has invaded imperial territory and covets the Empire’s resources.”

“They led an army in a surprise attack on an imperial position, then claimed to be wronged on the grounds that they are the weaker party.”

“The Empire will never fall for their propaganda, nor will it surrender a single inch of its territory to them.”

That was the Jespine Empire’s position.

They listed all manner of reasons, but the facts no longer mattered.

The two sides had already fought, and the exceedingly sweet prize of a mana stone mine lay before them.

Neither would be the first to give it up.

“How delightful.”

One pleasing report followed another, enough to make him forget all the commotion in the north.

“So, where do things stand now?”

“Um, my lord, my mana cannons...”

“I gave them a proper burial in the snowfields. Just answer the question.”

“Prince Pablo... What? What do you mean, you gave them a proper burial in the snowfields?”

“Work it out for yourself.”

“... Lady Ernyan? Surely it isn’t what I’m thinking?”

“...”

Ernyan made a determined effort to avoid Logger’s gaze. The dwarf scurried after her and clung to her, and she used a spirit to push him away.

“Lady Ernyan!”

“I don’t know either!”

“At least tell me whether my babies are alive or dead!”

“... If I had to choose, I suppose they’re closer to dead than alive...?”

“Th-that’s impossible...! D-do you know how I felt when I sent them off...!”

The dwarf sank to his knees.

Berge clicked his tongue and turned to the elves.

“What a nuisance. You lot, continue the report.”

“Yes, my lord. The southern alliance launched another surprise attack on the mine, with Pablo Barkat at the forefront.”

It was nothing like their previous, hastily assembled force. They had selected elite troops from each nation and increased their numbers even at the cost of losses to monsters.

Though these were not the very finest troops each country possessed, they were formidable forces.

“The Empire fought hard, but lost the mine.”

“Oh?”

“The Empire retreated, then immediately dispatched troops again to retake it, but failed twice. That is where matters stand for now.”

“So the southern alliance has the upper hand for the moment.”

The southern alliance had suffered one defeat against the imperial army that had occupied the mine first, then succeeded in taking it in the ensuing rematch.

And afterward, they had won the battles to keep it.

“What is the mood like?”

“After three defeats, the Empire is proceeding cautiously this time. Ten imperial knight orders have already gathered along the Philerium border, and more continue to arrive. They are recruiting mercenaries, and the nobles’ private armies are gathering as well. They certainly will not back down now.”

“And the southern alliance?”

“The same. Reinforcements from each country are arriving in Barkat and moving straight to the mine. They are ignoring all the losses they suffer along the way. That is true of both sides.”

“Interesting.”

“If this continues, there is a strong possibility of all-out war.”

“I see.”

That was precisely what he wanted. Still, this looked likely to last longer than he had expected. Should he buy a few more portable miniature towers and bring them over?

Then the elves’ expressionless faces suddenly made him wonder.

“Doesn’t this trouble you? You are on humanity’s side, after all, aren’t you?”

“We are on the elves’ side, not humanity’s. Their war is theirs alone.”

“Moreover, we have sworn to the World Tree. For the next hundred years, we will serve you loyally, my lord, so long as doing so does not harm the World Tree.”

Just as expected.

This was what made employing elves so satisfying.

He whistled.

“It was a good idea to plant them around the mine.”

The thought of the considerable negative energy that must have accumulated in the miniature towers pleased him. Imagining how much more would gather pleased him even more.

But it was too early to relax.

Certainly, Berge’s interference had pushed the situation to greater extremes.

Yet the importance of the mana stone mine remained unchanged, with or without his involvement. Why, then, had the southern alliance given it up so easily before his regression?

‘It wasn’t easy. There were several battles, and they gave up because they never managed to take the mine.’

But that was a drop in the bucket compared to what was happening now.

‘There’s something behind this.’

And Jason Cockmundo was most likely involved.

What could it be?

How had he made the southern alliance give up a resource as immense as a mana stone mine?

‘Does he have connections with the southern alliance’s kings?’

‘Or perhaps the Empire? Did he use connections with imperial nobles to make them negotiate?’

No, before that—

‘Why did he stop it?’

Something this good?

This golden opportunity to gain vast amounts of demonic energy?

‘Was there something I didn’t know?’

He did not know. He had not paid much attention to this war at the time.

That was because Ugar was involved. He had not been so desperate that he needed to steal another’s bread, and such behavior had not suited his lofty disposition.

After pondering it, Berge shook his head.

‘There’s no need to dwell on pointless questions. That was the past, and the present is different.’

The future had already changed. There was no need to recall the past and worry over things that might not even happen.

If they did, he could prepare for them then.

Still, just in case...

“Do any of you elves have a good idea for escalating their war further?”

The more options he had, the better.

* * *

“Interesting.”

The man savored his pink fruit wine.

In the north, the Demon King of Bitter Cold had stirred into action.

In the south, a conflict with the southern alliance had erupted.

And both had ended in defeat.

As a member of the Empire, he should have found that displeasing, yet he was genuinely delighted.

Count Mainz cautiously continued his report.

“Margrave Chernian has submitted a report on the current situation and the Demon King of Bitter Cold.”

“To summarize?”

“Bitter Cold’s forces are, at the very least, powerful enough to sweep away the Empire’s north.”

“Frightening.”

He shuddered, then promptly shrugged.

“How likely is the Demon King of Bitter Cold to take action?”

“Extremely unlikely. Despite Gillian Aint’s scheme, the Demon King of Bitter Cold sent many survivors back. That means she desires peace.”

“Then let us leave it to Margrave Chernian for the time being.”

“Yes.”

“And the south?”

“Their surprise attack cost us the deposit. Reportedly, two attempts to retake it have failed.”

“They drag the Empire’s honor through filth. Utterly incompetent.”

The man poured his wine onto the floor.

“And now they’ve ruined the taste of my wine.”

“I shall pour you another glass.”

He held out his empty glass. The count filled it with wine.

“Still, it is not entirely bad. The southern margrave follows Floyan.”

“Yes.”

“Suddenly, the wine tastes sweet.”

“Margrave Ersian is preparing a counterattack. He will try to secure the mine at any cost, restore his damaged honor, and distinguish himself to strengthen his standing in the capital.”

“That will not do. No, that will never do.”

He clicked his tongue.

“What do you think? Will the deposit be useful?”

“Its exact size has yet to be determined.”

“And?”

“Unless its reserves are overwhelmingly large, the deposit does not actually offer much advantage.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it is in the Philerium Mountains. Philerium remains largely untouched by human hands. The terrain is rugged and monsters abound. It is true that we suffered heavy losses at the southern alliance’s hands in our three battles, but the losses caused by monsters were considerable as well.”

“Hmm.”

“If even a fully armed army doing nothing but advancing suffers such losses, what will happen when mining begins?”

Taking those losses into account, could it really be considered economically viable?

“Then do you think giving it up is the right course?”

“I would not call it the right course, but there is no need to cling to it at the cost of such losses. Unlike the southern alliance, the Empire has numerous mana stone mines within its own lands.”

“I see.”

The man nodded.

“Then let us bury the matter.”

“You mean to hand the deposit over to the southern alliance?”

“No, not that. Even so, I cannot let those little fucking ants have anything good. Simply leave it where no one can have it. Yes, I would like things to stay as they always have.”

“I shall carry out your command.”

“How? The Empire’s honor has already been tarnished. It will have to be restored somehow, will it not?”

He was not asking because he did not know. His interested gaze was a test for the count.

“I will restore our honor and spread word that the mine is worthless.”

“Not bad. But those little fucking ants will hardly sit still, will they?”

“May I use the other deposit the Lake told us about?”

“That must be why he told us in the first place. So that I could make proper use of the war and end it whenever I wished.”

The man poured his wine onto the floor once more.

“And so he could get what he wanted out of the war, too.”

The southern alliance had arrived as soon as the Empire occupied the deposit. That could not possibly have been a coincidence.

“Arrogant bastard. He dares try to use the Empire?”

“Everything he does is underhanded. But I believe this time, at least, he is genuinely helpful.”

“Yes. That bastard Floyan underestimates the southern alliance, but they are not so easy to deal with.”

The current outcome was one he had foreseen—and desired.

“Still, it seems a waste to simply give it to them.”

“You must consider the larger picture.”

“Yes, I must.”

He nodded repeatedly.

“It would be best if I stepped in personally, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Then that is what I shall do.”

The man poured himself another drink.

“Even those demon bastards who gnaw away at the world can be useful on occasion.”

This sip tasted sweeter than the last.