Chapter 34

Chapter 34
## Chapter 34

Tristan found himself at a total loss for words following Lucian’s analysis.

It wasn’t a diversionary tactic; their true intent was to strike Greve City to harvest sacrifices? And they were doing this while keeping the Empire Liberation Front stationed as a distraction near Bornholm Castle?

“Is a maneuver like that even plausible?”

“It is. You have to consider what these mages actually want. I am referring to standard rogue mages, not those who practice the black arts.”

“I imagine they want to reclaim the prestigious standing they held three centuries ago.”

“Exactly. That is why the Empire Liberation Front trusts them. They are convinced the mages’ goals align with the new hierarchy the Front plans to establish.”

If these allies were merely traditional mages, they would need to bolster the Empire Liberation Front to achieve their ends. If the current Empire overseeing the continent refused to accept them, they would need a change in regime to thrive.

However, the logic shifted entirely if they were black mages who held no regard for social standing. Since they would be outcasts regardless of who sat on the throne, they could simply seize what they required and vanish into the shadows.

“The Empire Liberation Front likely has total faith that the mages won’t double-cross them, and the black mages are counting on that blind spot. By the time the Front realizes they’ve been used, the damage will be done. What could they even do at that point?”

Most importantly, this specific event had been successfully suppressed in Lucian’s previous life. This suggested the tragedy hadn’t been so massive that it was impossible to cover up.

Had Bornholm Castle—a vital military pivot and a fortress of iron—been leveled, there was no way the news could have been contained. It was far more probable that the history books merely recorded it as a localized monster incursion on Greve City.

“Fortunately, it looks like we won’t have to petition the Imperial Family for aid. With an operation of this magnitude, our internal garrison should be more than enough to handle it.”

“…I suppose that’s true.”

A small, relieved smile finally crossed Tristan’s face. He seemed eased now that his primary anxiety had been addressed.

“Now that we understand the black mages’ target, we have to bolster the security at Greve City. They might get spooked if we move our units openly, so we should do it as stealthily as possible—”

“No, the battalions will stay put. Keep this information strictly between us and continue the surveillance on the Empire Liberation Front exactly as we have been.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

Lucian blurted out the question before he could stop himself.

What was the man thinking? Even with the enemy’s plan laid bare, he intended to stay idle and take no defensive measures?

“Did you actually comprehend the explanation I just gave?”

“I did. Including the part where these criminals might employ magic capable of shattering city walls.”

“Then how does that not change things? Their objective is Greve, is it not?”

“If a black mage arrives at Greve seeking sacrifices and finds the perimeter too formidable, do you think he will just keep pounding on that door? I suspect he would pivot to Bornholm Castle, which would be vulnerable once the walls are compromised due to a lack of troops.”

A dry, cynical laugh bubbled up from Lucian. He finally grasped Tristan’s cold reasoning.

“Are you suggesting we simply hand over Greve City to be slaughtered?”

“Even for practitioners of the black arts, there are only two of them. There is a cap on how many sacrifices they can realistically gather without a full-scale army. I expect they will use monsters to spark a riot and snatch a few dozen civilians in the mayhem.”

“A ‘mere’ few dozen? When you account for everyone killed in the crossfire, the death toll will be significantly higher.”

“But it is the strategy that results in the least amount of total devastation. Besides, monster raids happen all the time. The Imperial Family won’t find anything out of the ordinary about it.”

To Tristan, the nightmare scenario was an Imperial inquisition marching through the lands surrounding Bornholm. That would constitute a direct intrusion into their local governance, not to mention the stain on the reputation of House Valdek and the massive economic and human toll.

In contrast, letting the black mages take their sacrifices was a manageable variable. If he had to pick the lesser of two evils, Tristan would choose the latter and sweep it under the rug afterward.

“Greve City won’t be wiped off the map by a monster attack. It will be a tragedy for the peasants, certainly, but it will probably conclude with maybe three or four hundred dead. They can manage that on their own without our intervention.”

“Are you forgetting that those three or four hundred souls belong to House Valdek? You, who desire to lead this family, are prepared to offer up your own subjects as fodder?”

“If the presence of mages is leaked to the Imperial Family, those same people might be executed by the Royal Guard anyway. Don’t you think a quick death by a monster is better than being burned alive by their own sovereign?”

The first was the cruel death of the innocent; the second was the ‘honorable’ passing of the unlucky.

Confronted by this sickening logic, Lucian stared Tristan down, his jaw tight with fury.

“If that is the path you’re taking, then I will lead my own mercenaries to intercept them myself.”

“You will do no such thing.”

“I’m not asking for your knights. You won’t even permit me to reposition a simple group of hired blades? Is your terror of the Imperial Family that absolute?”

“No, I am telling you that you are forbidden from going. I cannot allow you to enter a combat zone.”

For a split second, Lucian wondered if he had misjudged the man. Was there actually a shred of sibling concern between the original Lucian and Tristan?

“You are a Valdek. How can someone of the Grand Ducal line put their life at risk? Never forget the prestige of the blood in your veins, and weigh your choices with more maturity.”

The fantasy dissolved in seconds. Lucian rubbed his aching temples at the ridiculous justification.

*This man is a nobleman to his very marrow.*

He had encountered people like this in his previous life as well. Elitists who believed high-born blood was inherently sacred and that even a hated rival noble deserved more respect than a loyal peasant. Men who would execute a commoner for a minor slight, yet only house-arrest a peer who had razed entire provinces.

“The significance of the Valdek name is heavy. Rulers are constantly forced to make hard choices and balance the worth of lives on a scale. Do not throw your future away for a moment of cheap pity.”

Though the advice was technically rooted in a form of care, a wave of disgust surged through Lucian. Tristan was claiming that Lucian’s lone life outweighed the lives of hundreds of people.

But that was only true because of his current station. In his past life, Lucian had always been part of the group being discarded.

Suppressing his rage, Lucian met Tristan’s gaze directly.

“I’m afraid I can’t take that advice. I am going.”

“Do you intend to give me a sermon on the responsibilities of the peerage?”

“No. I don’t give a damn about noble obligations.”

Taking a steady breath, Lucian gave voice to a truth he had carried since his rebirth. A conviction held by the commoner he used to be, not the noble he was now.

“If you refuse to protect those who serve you specifically so they *can* be protected, then you have forfeited any right to lead them.”

“…!”

Tristan’s features twisted in a mask of rage. Lucian’s words were a direct strike at the heart of the aristocratic order.

Grinding his teeth, Tristan stepped closer and bellowed, “You’ve clearly spent too much time reading fairy tales! To think you’ve abandoned logic for some delusional hero complex! Do you really intend to gamble the family’s future on a pathetic sense of vanity?!”

“Yes, that is exactly what I plan to do.”

“What?”

“Brother, you’re being pathetic.”

“…!”

Tristan’s mind went blank at the insult.

There was no legal recourse for this, it wouldn’t impact the race for the succession, and it caused no physical harm. It was simply a judgment of character—a declaration of ugliness—delivered by his supposedly inferior younger brother.

It was nothing more, and yet it stung more than anything.

“How dare you…!”

Tristan’s hand flew to the hilt of his sword. But before he could unsheathe the steel, Raymond, who had been observing quietly, stepped between them.

“Restrain yourself, First Young Master.”

“Step aside! This is a family matter!”

“I am tasked with the protection of the Third Young Master by the direct command of His Grace the Grand Duke. If you strike the Third Young Master now, you are interfering with my orders and the will of your father.”

Tristan fumed at Raymond’s interference. Ultimately, though he shook with suppressed rage, he let go of his weapon. He was no match for a member of the Black Lions, and he knew Raymond wasn’t bluffing.

“…Fine. You hired those mercenaries, so take them! But whatever happens next is on your head!”

“I never expected otherwise.”

Lucian walked out of the study without a second glance. Once they were clear of the room, Lucian looked over at Raymond.

“Why did you interfere? I could have dealt with him even if you had stayed out of it.”

“Is it not my job to be your shield? Regardless of whether the Third Young Master can handle a situation, allowing a threat to manifest is a failure of my duty. Furthermore…”

Scanning the hallway, Raymond lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“…To be perfectly honest, I also found the First Young Master’s reasoning to be quite pathetic.”

“Pfft!”

Lucian couldn’t help it; he let out a genuine laugh. He had initially pegged Raymond as a stiff, humorless soldier, but it turned out the man had a sharp wit.

“So, what is the plan now, Third Young Master?”

“Exactly what I said in there.”

After cooling down, Lucian spoke with a determined grin.

“Let’s round up Hugo and the rest of the Black Lions and make for Greve City. And unlike my brother, let’s make sure we arrive with some flair.”

—

Three days later, on the fringes of the Yellow Forest near Greve City.

Two figures stood in the dappled shadows at the forest’s edge. One was clad in a ragged set of dark robes, while the other wore a nondescript, faded cloak.

The middle-aged man in the dark robes let out a raspy, ominous sigh.

“Ah, marvelous. Truly marvelous. It’s been an age since I felt this saturated with mana. I’m certainly getting my money’s worth from those fools in the Empire Front.”

“…It is the Empire Liberation Front, Lord Jude. Misnaming them like that changes the context entirely.”

“What does a name matter when they’re just the ones paying the bills? Honestly, you younger mages focus on the most trivial things. Or is that just a quirk of the Celestial School? I suppose counting every light in the sky makes one a bit of a perfectionist.”

As the older man cackled, the younger mage, Colin, felt a shiver of dread. That laugh sounded like the wet slap of raw meat.

*I’d heard stories about black mages, but I didn’t think one would be this stomach-turning.*

He had been introduced to this black mage, Jude, via the Empire Liberation Front. Colin had been anxious about the partnership, but he was in no position to argue. They were the only ones keeping him safe from the Empire’s hunters.

*At the time, I thought I just had to grin and bear it for a few weeks.*

The situation deteriorated when Jude began demanding human sacrifices. Colin wasn’t an expert on the Beast School, but he knew only the dark arts required the life force of sentient beings. The “rituals” Jude performed were not just different academic approaches—they were fundamentally malevolent.

Eventually, Colin had confronted him directly.

—Are you a black mage?

—I am.

—Since I’ve already caught on, don’t bother lying… wait, what?

—I said yes. I’m a black mage. Why? Is it odd that I’m being honest?

Surprisingly, Jude didn’t try to mask his identity. He admitted it with a smug, knowing grin.

—Now that you know my secret, what’s your move? Do you plan to report me?

—Of course! Even if I’m a fugitive, working with a black mage is a line I won’t—!

—That’s a problem. In that case, I’ll just have to kill you and make my escape.

—W-What?!

—It’s only logical, isn’t it? If I’m outed, they’ll try to execute me. Luckily, your combat skills are mediocre, so I can end you quite easily.

Colin had frozen at the sight of the blood-red mana swirling in Jude’s palm. It wasn’t the internal physical buffing used by warriors, but the raw mana projection unique to mages. If that energy hit him, it would tear a hole right through his torso.

As Colin shook with the fear of death, Jude had leaned in with a freezing smile.

—Don’t be so dramatic. As long as you keep your mouth shut, I have no reason to kill you.

—W-What do you want? What am I supposed to do?

—What do I want? I just want us fellow mages to support one another in this cruel world. Regardless of our schools, aren’t we basically the same?

—Stop the word games and give me a straight answer. I’m not in the mood for riddles.

—Simple. Just sign a Pact of Magic with me.

A Pact of Magic. A metaphysical contract where the penalty for breaking a promise was the permanent loss of half one’s magical capacity. With no other choice, Colin had agreed.

Fortunately, the terms seemed lopsidedly simple.

—Just stay with me and cast one specific spell when I tell you to.

—…That’s it? Are you sure?

—Are you complaining that I’m being too generous?

—I’m just trying to understand your angle. Most people add a thousand clauses to prevent loopholes, but this is incredibly vague.

—Haha! Do you really think you have the guts to try and exploit a loophole after seeing what I can do?

Colin had been silenced by the sheer pressure of the dark red mana. He knew if he failed to deliver, Jude would kill him on the spot. He had to follow the contract, however much it sickened him.

Up until now, Jude had been following the Empire Liberation Front’s directives without any major detours. Colin had hoped he could just finish the job and leave.

But those hopes were dashed in an instant.

“Now, shall we commence the raid on Greve? I’ve gathered every beast I can bind, so finding sacrifices should be a walk in the park.”

“What? No, the attack on Greve City is supposed to be a distraction—”

“That’s their concern, not mine. I’m taking my payment here and cutting ties. They can deal with the fallout.”

Colin stared at Jude, his face draining of color. The man had been feigning obedience this whole time, just waiting for this opening. Then, Colin remembered the Pact of Magic.

“Wait, the spell you need from me… is it for this?”

“Precisely. When the time comes, you’ll release every drop of mana you’ve stored into one big blast. We need to make a nice opening for my little pets to get inside.”

“You’re out of your mind…!”

His thoughts scrambled. He was going to help monsters slaughter a city? And ruin the Empire Liberation Front’s plans in the process? He wouldn’t just be an Imperial fugitive; he’d be the most hated man on the continent.

“Oh, don’t look so worried. You’re just the backup. Greve’s defenses are a joke anyway; if things go well, my darlings will handle it without your help.”

Jude’s attempt at reassurance did nothing for Colin. Even if he didn’t cast the spell, he was still an accomplice by contract. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

“Grrr…”

“Kiii!”

“There, there. You’re all thirsty, aren’t you? Just a little longer. I’ll let you off the leash soon.”

Jude ignored Colin’s despair and petted the Gnolls and Kobolds, who were foaming at the mouth. Even though they were clearly hollow puppets, the way he acted like they were his beloved pets was nauseating.

“Now, go! Feast to your heart’s content! Just remember to bring back the sacrifices you owe me!”

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Grrr-aaaakh!”

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

The moment the command was given, the tide of Gnolls and Kobolds surged from the treeline. The mindless mass of monsters caused the very earth to vibrate as they sprinted toward Greve City.

The sight clearly thrilled Jude, who began to laugh maniacally.

“Hahaha! Look at them! Is it not a vision of beauty? An army of beasts more powerful than any man! The culmination of my life’s work! My strength and my property!”

Jude’s voice was thick with insanity. Frightened by the sound, Colin instinctively backed away.

As the wave of monsters reached the city’s outskirts, Jude started clapping like a delighted child.

“Look! Witness the carnage! To see those people who hid behind their fragile laws being torn apart by my sweeties is truly… truly…?”

Lost in his delusion of grandeur, Jude suddenly went still, sensing a shift in the air. Colin also looked toward the city, wondering what had caused the pause.

The words left Colin’s mouth before he could stop them.

“From where I’m standing, it looks like your ‘sweeties’ are the ones getting torn apart.”

“….”