novelraw Chapter 154: Krafte War - Show Me the Money
Chapter 154: Krafte War - Show Me the Money
“You are very generous, Your Majesty the Great King.”
If we are victorious, he will help us against Abyss Corporation.
At first glance, it sounds magnanimous, but it conversely means the Great King either does not seriously consider the possibility of losing to us…
Or, he is not even considering the possibility that Krafte could suffer great damage even if his side loses.
That's why he can make such a promise without hesitation.
“Why, are you not pleased?”
The Great King asked shamelessly, and I stared at him in silence.
Karl II.
The one who, in a single stroke, raised a nation that was merely a northern electorate of the Germania Empire to the hegemon of the northern Empire and the strongest military nation in the Central Continent.
When everyone expected Krafte’s defeat, he achieved victory over the Empire with overwhelming ability, and during his reign, Krafte officially became a kingdom, doubling its territory.A hero so famous in this era that his people bestowed upon him the title of Great King.
But that is why he does not realize.
In the end, everything he has achieved was only possible because of the foundation his predecessors had laid.
The people of Krafte, who obey him absolutely, also do not doubt him because they believe in their Great King's great achievements and that he could never be defeated.
“No, His Majesty the Great King of Krafte has offered a valuable prize, so we must gladly accept. However.”
I looked at the Great King's amused face and said,
“I hope that His Majesty the Great King will not have any cause for regret or retraction.”
“Hahaha…”
The Great King extended his hand to the scribe and, in place of an answer, signed the paper he was offered.
“Well then, I believe our business is concluded.”
The Great King, with a smirk, rose from his seat, struck the ground forcefully with his cane, and, leaning on it with both hands, asked,
“Do you need more time?”
Ha.
I glanced at Eris’s face, which was clearly filled with defiance and anger, and replied,
“It is not us who need His Majesty the Great King’s mercy, but the people of Krafte.”
“Hahahaha!”
The Great King burst out laughing and said with a deep smile,
“Good. Then, in four days, I shall launch an all-out offensive. I shall be looking forward to it.”
*
The encampment, after our return from tea with the Great King.
“I simply cannot understand that Great King.”
Eris burst out in frustration as soon as we returned.
“How can a man like that, who uses his nation and his people as he pleases to satisfy his personal desires, be respected by the people?”
“Because he brought his people great glory and pride. It is a fact that the Kingdom of Krafte became a great power during the Great King's reign.”
“Are you saying they are willing to throw away their lives for the Great King for that reason alone?”
At least, that’s what the Great King would believe.
-In the end, I have devoted myself enough to the nation for which they call me an enlightened absolute monarch and Great King. If so, do I not also have the right to command the people to devote themselves to me?
That's why he would have said it so confidently.
“Of course not. To be precise, there may be sacrifices for the Great King’s glory, but they are willing to be enthusiastic for him because they believe they will not be the ones sacrificed.”
“The Great King and that nation must all be completely insane.”
“How interesting. I had thought you were fundamentally incompatible, but this is the first time I have seen Your Majesty detest someone to this extent.”
Hearing my words, Eris, as if realizing just how angry she was, pressed her lips tightly together.
Eris, who believes that as a queen enjoying the nobility derived from the people, she should naturally serve them, and strives to help and save as many as possible.
The Great King, who believes that because he has shown his greatness to the people, he has the right to command their devotion, and cares not for their sacrifices in the name of glory and pride.
They are beings who stand at opposite poles, who will never be able to understand each other.
After a long silence, Eris spoke in a suppressed voice.
“It is horrifying that our people will have to shed blood because of a person like that. …I have never craved power as desperately as I do now.”
-Your Excellency the Marquis. Can we achieve victory against that Great King? I do not want to lose to a man like that, who would create a sea of blood for his own satisfaction…
Eris’s voice and José Vachet’s, who had asked me pleadingly before returning to the encampment, overlapped in my ears.
I paused for a moment before answering.
“That is a relief, Your Majesty.”
Eris blinked and replied.
“Pardon?”
“…I was about to give Your Majesty enough power to get drunk on if you’re not careful, but it seems Your Majesty would not refuse it now.”
“What do you mean?”
To the quizzical Eris, I replied with a smile.
“To catch the Great King, we too must have a secret weapon, mustn't we?”
*
Two days later.
Eris stared, mouth agape, at the 10 crystals laid out in the box..
“It has been a long time, Bishop Johan. No, it’s Archbishop now. Congratulations.”
“It has been a long time, Marquis Lafayette. It is largely thanks to your virtue, hoho.”
Bishop Johan had once led those who sought to protect their faith against the Republic, which had persecuted religion in the region south of the Loire River in the west.
He had become a central figure in the religious community of Francia, which had been in turmoil after the death of the highly respected Bishop Richelieu in the capital, Lumiere.
It was strange for a nation whose queen was none other than a Saintess to not have an archbishop, so Johan, who had both defended the faith against the previous National Assembly's religious persecution and cultivated a close relationship with Eris, became the archbishop in charge of the Francian diocese.
While I was greeting Archbishop Johan, a mage dressed in a robe next to Eris was explaining.
“Unlike the mana amplification crystals previously sold by the Magic Tower, these are special products created exclusively for users of divine power.”
Fundamentally, divine power, like a knight’s or a mage’s, consumes the user’s mana.
Therefore, Eris could use a mana amplification crystal to temporarily and greatly enhance her divine power.
In fact, in the battle against the Storm Witch, she had used it as a makeshift measure and performed admirably.
But even though it uses mana as its material, a user of divine power converts it into divine power, a form greatly different from mana, before using it.
Therefore, when using the same mana amplification crystal, the efficiency was inevitably lower compared to that of a mage.
The mana from the crystal could only be properly used after conversion to divine power, and a considerable amount was lost in the process.
…Though uncertain, I surmise that the great burden Eris felt at that time was partly due to the strain of converting the suddenly immense amount of mana into divine power.
“Previously, there was no reason to create such a product. Not only was the relationship between the Magic Tower and the Holy Theocracy strained, but there was no one who would go to such lengths to use divine power.”
The Holy Theocracy is too busy making money from divine power. Who would waste money like this to perform miracles wantonly?
“However, an order came in, and thanks to Archbishop Johan’s cooperation with the Magic Tower, where divine power is a relatively under-researched field, we have achieved considerable results. Although it is an early model, for a user of divine power, its effects will be incomparable to the previous mana amplification crystals.”
Eris, who had been listening blankly until then, snapped to her senses and asked.
“Aren't these… incredibly expensive?”
The mage answered with a very kind smile.
“We have received the payment in full. Of course, since we received some help from the Magic Tower and it was an interesting project, we did offer a considerable discount.”
Instead of asking the mage again, Eris turned her gaze to Christine, who was next to me.
“So how much is this?”
Christine answered calmly.
“The payment was made by the National Assembly, Your Majesty.”
“What money does the National Assembly have?”
“The bond sales and donations Your Majesty encouraged, and…”
Christine ran a hand through her hair and added.
“The proceeds from government bonds bought by the Aquitaine Merchant Guild.”
“How much did the Aquitaine Merchant Guild buy?”
“Hmm…”
Christine opened and fluttered her fan, then replied.
“About five years' worth of the National Assembly's budget?”
“A-a-are you insane?! How much is that! We won't be able to pay it all back even if we win the war!”
As Eris’s pupils practically trembled, Christine answered leisurely.
“It was a confidential matter, but since the National Assembly approved it, they will handle it. We are willing to adjust the maturity date based on their situation, and anyway, if we lose the war, Aquitaine's blow will be no less severe, so it does not matter, Your Majesty.”
Even so, seeing Eris swallow dryly as she looked at the crystals before her, I spoke.
“Your Majesty has always lamented her inability to save some, no matter how much power you exert. And now, before you lies a great power that could save many in this fight.”
I looked straight into Eris’s wavering eyes and asked.
“Since it is you, Your Majesty, I am sure you do not think that the lives of those who will fall in this war, or the suffering Francia will endure if defeated, are worth less than money.”
“Ahaha…”
Eris slammed her hands on the table where the box lay with a thump, and answered with a face full of fighting spirit.
“Of course not. …Thank you, Marquis Lafayette, Countess Aquitaine, and Archbishop Johan. Since you’ve done this much for me, let’s give that obnoxious Great King a good punch, shall we.”
I also grinned and replied to Eris.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Eris gave me a faint smile, then looked at Christine with a timid expression and spoke.
“I didn't know Countess Aquitaine was so patriotic, but if you don't mind, could you forgive just a little bit of the debt? This is really too much…”
“Do you wish for me to go bankrupt, Your Majesty?”
“Ah, no, that's not, what I mean…”
She immediately crumpled before Christine, who answered with a very sweet smile.
When things seemed to have settled, the mage waiting on the side spoke with a kind face.
“It seems everything has been resolved. In fact, we had already received the payment and were preparing a list of ten reasons to refuse a return.”
“Ahaha…”
Eris’s face plainly said, ‘What thieves,’ but as expected, the mage from the Magic Tower, who had sold his sense of money and conscience to spend research funds like water, didn't even bat an eye.
“Still, as it is a high-priced item, we will optimize it for Your Majesty. As a test, would you like to lightly infuse it with your divine power?”
“In-infusing it won't consume it, right?”
“No, it will not.”
I let out a bitter smile, looking at the nearly trembling Eris and the deadpan mage.
For a queen of a nation, she seems to have a weakness for high-priced items, probably because she was a wandering minstrel for so long. It's strangely cute.
A contented smile spread naturally across my face…
“No, I wasn’t thinking anything, Christine.”
Christine answered with a faint smile.
“I didn't say anything either, Pierre?”
Christine seemed completely unconcerned.
…If only she weren't gripping the fan she had been fluttering leisurely moments before as if to break it.
Meanwhile, Eris did as the mage said, gently placed the crystal in her hand, and closed her eyes.
Simultaneously, a radiant golden aura spread, covering the entire room.
“Ooooh…!”
Archbishop Johan immediately fell to his knees and made the sign of the cross, and not only the mage but even Christine’s eyes widened in surprise.
The golden aura, like the flapping of an angel’s wings, resplendently caressed the entire room. Eris’s divine power had never before reached this level.
At the truly holy sight, I too opened my mouth as if enchanted.
“…Incredible.”
“Th-this wasn't actually used, right?!”
…That reverent atmosphere was shattered by Eris’s scream.
“N-no, it was not. If actually consumed, its power would be incomparable to this.”
At the words of the mage, who belatedly came to his senses, Eris put the crystal back in the box with a trembling hand, then rushed to Christine.
“Ah…!”
As Christine was startled, Eris, who had hugged her, exclaimed.
“Money is the best after all! Sister Christine is a god!”
“G-God…”
At the truly blasphemous words from the Saintess Queen’s mouth, Archbishop Johan clutched his chest and made the sign of the cross.
Haha, what a mess.
Still…
This is certainly doable.
Now, let's see what the Great King has to say after tasting the unparalleled power of God and the might of money.