Chapter 352

C352. Dance (1)

Palmarian IV already imagined it.

The reason Marquis Palatio was creating the Divine Land was probably because he wanted to become king.

“…War?”

“Yes.”

But even so…

He did not expect him to so blatantly show his intention to start a war.

That was, in his opinion, a bad decision that would only prove he completely lacked the most basic quality to be a king.

“Haa…”

Palmarian IV exhaled slowly as he reflected.

Did Marquis Palatio really plan to unleash a war?

No matter how much he thought about it, the idea didn’t fit.

The Marquis had many better options.

However, if he recalled what his son had told him…

No matter how he interpreted it, everything sounded like an open declaration in favor of starting a conflict.

“……So… what did you say happened there?”

At Palmarian IV’s question, Tolenis took a deep breath and began to recount, without omitting anything, everything that happened in the Divine Land.

From the first words he heard upon meeting Marquis Palatio,

to the explanation he received later from a knight of the Divine Land regarding their “deficiencies,”

and finally, the fact that the Marquis rejected all sponsorship proposals.

“……That is all.”

“And is there nothing else?”

“None.”

Palmarian IV let out a long sigh.

No matter how he looked at it…

No matter how he tried to interpret it in different ways…

The Marquis’s intention was too clear.

In short:

“If you don’t want war, let’s do this the easy way. Give me money, but not the amount you people are offering… much more.”

He remained thoughtful.

Marquis Palatio was powerful.

His achievements were so enormous that his reputation within the United Kingdom had reached impressive heights.

But even so…

Such an open threat was not something positive for him.

No matter how strong he was, if the United Kingdom really united with determination and attacked him in a single strike, then… then…

……Wouldn’t they win?

Palmarian IV recalled, one by one, the achievements the Marquis had accumulated.

Then he remembered everyone who followed the Marquis.

……Right. It wouldn’t be that easy.

While he remained immersed in deep worry…

The man who had remained silent until then spoke.

“Your Majesty, may I say something?”

“Speak.”

It was Duke Padrima, one of the nobles who was giving his report separately.

“I believe it would be prudent to debate this matter with the other allied kingdoms.”

“That sounds as if you are suggesting we must prepare for war together. Is that so?”

“Exactly.”

“…Are you not underestimating Marquis Palatio’s achievements?”

But the Duke shook his head.

“Not at all. In the first place, I do not believe there is anyone in the Allied United Kingdom who can afford to underestimate the Marquis.”

“Then, why do you say that?”

“Because of the future.”

“…The future?”

Padrima continued speaking.

“Marquis Palatio will become king. But, do you think he will be satisfied with that?”

“You mean to say—”

“In my opinion, Marquis Palatio will aspire to something more.”

Palmarian IV fell silent.

In reality, everything was a possibility.

No one knew what decisions the Marquis would take in the future.

But what the Duke was saying was not impossible.

Although he couldn’t completely understand the Marquis’s personality…

Palatio had enough power to make that future totally plausible.

While Palmarian IV stroked his beard, thoughtful…

“Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Apparently, Ashtalon has publicly declared that they will support the Divine Land.”

“…What?”

A knight entered hurriedly with the report.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, that is what the intelligence network has reported.”

“Khm…”

Palmarian IV frowned.

It was true that the Ashtalon Kingdom, in its current state, had lost so many troops that its position within the Allied United Kingdom had weakened.

Even if they waged a war without counting on Ashtalon, it wouldn’t be a huge problem.

But the important thing was something else:

The simple fact that Ashtalon had declared they would offer their support.

If this news became public…

Regardless of Palmarian IV’s will, other countries might appear that decided to support him as well.

If that happened…

It would be practically impossible to start a war.

“If I take too long and another nation shows their intention to support first…”

It would not only be a strategic disadvantage.

He also ran the risk of looking bad before the Marquis.

…And that, naturally, was not good.

Marquis Palatio was not king yet, he only had the Divine Land…

But his achievements were such that no one wished to enter into conflict with him.

That is why—

“…There is no other way.”

Palmarian IV understood it clearly.

From the beginning, there was only one option.

He let out a deep murmur.

---

Duke Padrima, who just a short while ago had expressed his opinions with fervor, clicked his tongue inside his carriage upon returning to his mansion.

He was not satisfied with Palmarian IV’s decision.

“Things have gone awry again.”

Duke Padrima—

No.

The spy of the Eastern Empire Kasranoia who had been infiltrated in the Allied United Kingdom for more than twenty years, exhaled a deep sigh.

“Why does everything have to get complicated like this…?”

Frustration made his head throb.

When he killed the real Duke and wore his skin…

He thought everything would turn out perfectly.

The Allied United Kingdom was much more careless than the Empire.

Although the Empire was divided into four…

This place, fragmented into five kingdoms and various small cities, was perfect for achieving his objective:

an internal war within the Allied United Kingdom.

Furthermore, there were many zones outside the Kingdom’s control, which facilitated the growth of underground organizations that he could use.

That is why, until a few years ago, he was convinced that his plan would be a total success.

He even celebrated when the External Force appeared.

…Until Marquis Palatio emerged.

“That guy…”

The Marquis had defeated every crisis of the kingdom one after another in an absurd manner.

And that wasn’t all.

Since he started acting actively…

The organizations of the underground world that he had prepared were disappearing one by one as if they were paper dolls.

Remembering it provoked a sigh from him.

Even now, thinking about how entire groups disappeared, one or two a day, made his stomach ache.

…Although technically it wasn’t the Marquis who destroyed them directly…

Since his appearance, a strange snowball began that had grown beyond all control.

His entire plan was tipping dangerously towards failure.

Even his attempt to manipulate the Marquis through his daughter, planned for years, had failed.

And he also failed to correctly incite Palmarian IV.

“There is no time left… I need to provoke a war before it is too late…”

He murmured anxiously, forced to construct a new plan.

“…This really is interesting information.”

“Shall we extract more details?”

“We will have to.”

Without knowing that someone was listening to them…

Duke Padrima, who had insolently tried to manipulate Marquis Palatio,

was about to receive a small punishment.

The eyes of the elf and the lizardman, sent by Magrina, shone with intensity.

---

Alon arrived at the Magic Tower approximately a week later.

“Wow, it’s huge.”

Seolrang marveled at seeing the imposing silhouette of the tower in the distance.

“Hey— hey! You’re crushing me, it’s tight!”

Ryanga pushed her, while Historia observed the tower in silence.

As Alon watched the girls in silence, he remembered what had happened a week earlier.

Rine and Magrina left as soon as partners were assigned for him.

Rine, in reality, was appearing through an artifact, so she couldn’t stay any longer.

And Magrina, as the leader of the elves, couldn’t stay for long either.

And Yutia Bloodia had also left for a while.

—She had things to do, right?

With a face of deep pity, Yutia Bloodia said goodbye promising to meet again in Teria, and left for Rosario.

In summary, Alon arrived at the Magic Tower accompanied by Ryanga, Historia, and Seolrang.

But the fact that there were fewer of them didn’t make the stagecoach ride any quieter.

During the entire way, Seolrang and Ryanga didn’t stop playing with each other.

…although a simple game between them could blow up a hill, or destroy an entire section of the road.

Even so, thanks to that, the trip wasn’t boring.

“Mm?”

But seeing the panorama in front of the tower, a strange doubt came to his mind.

Although the academy was not in an active period and should be quiet…

There was a pile of wizards crowded outside.

‘…There are so many.’

So many that one could believe the entire tower was outside.

“What is that?”

“Vagrants…?”

Seolrang and Historia murmured upon seeing the crowd.

And anyone would think that.

Even to Alon, the wizards outside looked extremely unkempt.

Looking closer, there were small improvised tents everywhere.

As if they had been standing guard there for days.

‘……Are they really vagrants?’

Alon shook his head.

Their robes made it clear they were wizards.

So that made the situation even more inexplicable.

Why on earth were wizards camping around the tower?

It made no sense.

Just then—

“Gasp!”

“A-a carriage.”

“W-who could it be?”

The voices of the wizards were heard near the stagecoach.

“I-it’s Marquis Palatio!”

“Uh!”

“Marquis Palatio’s carriage has arrived!”

“R-really?”

“Yes! It’s his carriage!”

The shouts multiplied.

The wizards, who until a moment ago were looking at the ground with a miserable air, raised their heads in unison to look at Alon.

And then…

They started running like crazy.

“T-this…”

“What is wrong with them?”

“Boss, should we blow them up?”

Alon hesitated for an instant.

More than a hundred wizards running toward him with desperate looks was, honestly, intimidating.

While Alon hesitated…

And Seolrang raised her leg with a serious expression, ready to kick…

“M-Marquis! Pick me, please!”

“?”

A wizard shouted with desperation.

“No, me! I am good! I am excellent at basic operations!”

“G-get out of the way! I am a professor— no, I am a professor! Me! Pick me, please!”

“Choose me! Please, choose me!”

“…Eh?”

The crowd threw themselves toward the carriage,

shouting desperately as if they were saying

“I code well!”

but the wizard version.

Alon’s head began to spin.