novelraw Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Chapter 178
“What… what do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
After answering Nazar, I turned my head toward Kara.
“Teacher, I’m thinking about… abolishing the treaty that was made long ago between the other races and the Empire. Today.”
“That’s… even possible?”
“It is possible. As long as His Majesty the Emperor, who rules over the Empire, grants his consent, the treaty can be annulled.”
Yes, at least that much I knew.
But as for how to actually annul it—I had no idea.
That much was only knowledge I’d learned from the game’s setting.
In the game, I’d never seen anyone try to break the treaty—or succeed in doing so.
“The contract was a blood oath signed by the representatives of each race and the Emperor at that time. To nullify it, you’ll need that blood oath first.”
“Uh, r-right. Of course. Makes sense.”
“You know where that document is, don’t you, Teacher?”
Kara widened her eyes, a look that clearly said, How could you possibly know that?
But I shook my head slightly, urging her to answer.
“I do… I’ve heard it’s stored on the fifth basement floor of the Imperial Palace, inside the treasure vault. I’ve never seen it myself, though.”
“Knowing its location is enough.”
I nodded.
At least Kara seemed willing to act according to my plan.
“Please bring those documents here. You can do that, right?”
“I know how to enter that vault, so it’s possible, but… are you seriously trying to break that treaty?”
“In my judgment, this is the surest way to turn the tide of the situation. You’ve seen the other races yourself, Teacher. With their strength, it’s absolutely possible.”
“That may be true, but… haaah, I don’t know anymore. Fine, I’ll do as you say—but don’t even think about blaming me later.”
Kara replied with the expression of someone who had given up thinking, then turned toward Nazar.
“Your Majesty, I will return shortly with the documents containing the treaty with the other races. Please wait just a moment.”
“…Huh? Kara, hold on a moment. You—”
Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, Nazar looked momentarily dazed.
He called out to Kara after regaining his senses, but by then, she had already left the office.
With curiosity written all over his face, the Emperor turned to me.
“Explain what exactly it is you’re planning.”
“Just as I said. I intend to annul the treaty made long ago between the Empire and the other races. Or more precisely, I hope Your Majesty will be the one to annul it.”
“…Tell me why I should do such a thing.”
“Because it’s the best way to turn the current situation around.”
I gestured toward the window as I continued.
The Imperial Guards and palace soldiers were holding their ground, but the advantage had already tilted toward Rage.
There was no way to reverse this battle through ordinary means.
“I met the other races not too long ago. I witnessed their power and mystery with my own eyes. So please, trust me, Your Majesty. If we borrow their strength, we can overturn this situation.”
“As far as I know, the Protected Zone for Other Races is quite far from Lysquare. Are you saying they can come here immediately?”
“Yes, they can.”
That much I was sure of—it was written clearly in the game’s setting materials.
The other races—specifically, the Elves—possessed powers far beyond human magic.
If they so willed, they could teleport all the races within the Protected Zone to this place instantly.
“As I mentioned earlier, Rage has even drawn in the northern nomads. Those nomads will soon arrive in Lysquare and join the attack. The surest way to overturn this unfavorable situation is to bring the other races into our side.”
My tone was so firm that Nazar fell silent in thought.
Judging by his eyes, he seemed to be weighing my proposal against some other plan of his own.
As I waited for his answer—
“Gideon, let me ask you something.”
Andrew stepped in between Nazar and me.
“What proof do you have that the other races will actually help us?”
“Well… when I visited the Protected Zone recently, the other races called me the descendant of the bloodline of their leader. I didn’t understand what it meant at the time, but—”
My eyes drifted to the will that Jayward Mainac had left behind, sitting atop Nazar’s desk.
“If the contents of that document are true, then the other races have long accepted my ancestors as their leaders. And I am their descendant.”
“So, you’re saying the other races will acknowledge you as their leader now?”
“Yes, that’s right. They’ll fight alongside us—for me, for all of us.”
I spoke firmly, with conviction in my voice.
Even so, Nazar still looked uncertain.
“Gideon, it’s not that I don’t trust you. But the other races… there’s a reason the Empire went to war with them centuries ago. There’s also a reason they were confined within the Protected Zone. They’re… beings beyond our control. And they’re hostile toward humans.”
“It’s only natural that Your Majesty would think so. After all, though the Empire did ultimately win that war, it suffered enormous losses against the other races.”
I knew full well the reputation and fear that surrounded them.
If you look into the history of this Empire—from the wars that began at its founding until the moment the other races were defeated— their conflict with humankind had always been deep.
It was understandable that Nazar was skeptical about the other races.
But at least for now… I wished he would trust me.
“However, that is a story of the past. Centuries ago, the founder of the Mainac Family eradicated the conflicts among the other races and gave them the chance to accept humans as their leaders. In fact, they were quite friendly to me—and to Lady Kara, who accompanied me. Even if that weren’t the case, there’s still reason for them to fight alongside us now.”
“You mean the curse placed on them by that Evil God?”
“Yes, that’s right. Long ago, the other races suffered greatly under Bedir’s forces. They would surely want revenge for that.”
I presented every piece of reasoning I could, but Nazar still seemed troubled.
So, I added a few more words.
“Your Majesty, I firmly believe that the participation of the other races is the surest way to turn the tide of this war. Therefore, I earnestly ask this of you.”
“…Even so, the treaty between the Empire and the other races is ancient. To annul it is not something I can decide alone. It’s a matter that requires long deliberation with others.”
“But we no longer have the time for such lengthy discussions, do we?”
With those words, I gestured toward the window.
Anyone could see that our forces were steadily being pushed back.
“This time, Your Majesty must make the decision yourself. After all, that treaty… was designed so that only the Emperor of the Empire could dissolve it.”
“Hmm…”
Nazar fell silent, lost in thought for a moment.
Then he turned his gaze toward Kafka and Andrew.
“What do you two think?”
“I think it’s fine. First of all, I trust my son-in-law… and if we can’t reverse the situation right now, it’ll only get worse for us.”
Kafka observed the battlefield outside the window with a focused look as she continued.
“To turn the tide immediately, we need a large force—one with considerable might. The Balmuth army will arrive soon, but that alone won’t be enough… and it’s impossible for soldiers from other regions to reach here at this hour.”
Kafka’s expression was far more serious than usual.
Perhaps because she’d already experienced many battlefields before, she seemed to grasp the situation clearly.
“If the other races come here right away and fight alongside us… yes, then I can lead the Balmuth army to join them and crush those rebels.”
“…Andrew. What about you?”
“If we borrow the strength of the other races, we might survive this crisis for now. But… what then?”
Andrew cast a meaningful glance at me.
“The moment that treaty is broken, the other races will become completely free. They’ll be able to leave the Protected Zone. And if we want to control them again, we’ll have to subdue them all once more. That won’t be easy. Unlike centuries ago, when they fought separately like disorganized rabble… from what you’re saying, they’re now united—and they even have a leader.”
I met Andrew’s eyes.
He seemed to doubt me, and I could guess why.
“You think I’ll manipulate the other races for my own ends, don’t you?”
“There’s no guarantee you won’t.”
“Lord Andrew, I—”
“Brother, Gideon isn’t that kind of person.”
Luke, who had quietly been watching our conversation from behind, cut in.
“I’ve been watching him all this time. Gideon’s not that kind of guy.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m still not sure.”
Andrew looked at me again, uncertain.
At that, I spoke once more, my voice firm.
“I swear that I will never allow the other races to become a threat to the Empire. So… Your Majesty, I trust you will make the right decision for this situation.”
Nazar once again fell into deep thought.
But regardless of that, the time for a decision was rapidly approaching.
Soon enough, Kara would return with that document…
“GRAAAAHHH!”
A thunderous roar suddenly echoed over the Imperial Palace.
A roar I’d heard once before.
I instantly recognized its owner.
“Wait a second, isn’t that a dragon’s roar?”
Kafka realized it too.
After all, she had hunted dragons several times before.
“Oh, you’re right. It’s a dragon.”
Kafka looked up through the window.
When I joined her, I saw it too—a black dragon circling above the Imperial Palace.
“Hey, isn’t that the Evil Dragon you mentioned earlier… what was its name again?”
“Suiroti.”
“Right, Suiroti. Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a dragon. I guess I’ll stretch my muscles a bit with that thing before facing the rebels.”
Kafka reached for the greatsword strapped to her back.
“Nazar-oppa, once the Balmuth forces arrive, I’ll take them and go deal with that dragon. Until then, try to hold out against the rebels…”
“There’ll be no need for Lady Kafka to move.”
“Huh? Gideon, what do you mean?”
“Because that Evil Dragon… is probably after me.”
No sooner had I spoken than the black dragon roared again from the sky.
“Gideon Kyrgram! I know you’re inside this palace! If you don’t want me to burn this place down and meddle in the humans’ battle… come out alone! You and I! Let’s finish the duel we left unresolved!”
“…Well, there you have it.”
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.