novelraw Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
Chapter 43. Anonymous (6)
Dekal, disguised as Clapo, the Chancellor of the Lombard Kingdom.
He had now finished his brainwashing work in Lombard and had come to Marquis Moltke's territory.
With the intention of occupying the dragon's paradise.
But what was this?
He repeatedly doubted his own ears.
“What did you say? Contact has been lost?”
“That is correct. We have lost contact with all five of them.”
“Aren't you mistaken? Aren't they the most elite of the elite among our New Demon Tribe?”
Moreover, Silentium was a mage whose future exploits were highly anticipated.
In terms of pure magical ability, he was even stronger than Dekal himself.
Nevertheless.
The subordinate just quietly shook his head and retreated.
Left alone, Dekal furrowed his brow and continued to mutter to himself.
“This is bad. Was it too much to expect just five of them to subjugate the dragon's paradise, where Anticus stands guard, from the beginning?”
He had thought they could pull it off, what with Silentium and the artifact that could put dragons to sleep, but at this rate, he had to completely revise the plan.
“Damn it. I haven't even started yet and I've already hit a snag. I should have launched an all-out war from the start.”
If they had launched an all-out attack with the Lombard Kingdom's army, which included some of the Demon Tribe, and the Marquis' forces, they might have somehow subjugated the dragons.
After all, his abilities included not only brainwashing but also turning opponents into berserkers who could be pushed beyond their limits.
This was his own mistake, for placing too much faith in Silentium and the Magic device.
“How do I report this to Sir Nox……. This is a disaster.”
Anticus' power was greater than he had thought, and now it was difficult to move the army rashly.
Dekal briefly considered brainwashing the Marquis to attack the dragon's paradise, but he soon shook his head.
“Now that Silentium has failed, I don't think we can beat them just by having superior numbers. It would be a meaningless act.”
After long deliberation, Dekal decided to make a strategic retreat.
If Silentium had failed, the dragons would be wary of them.
If he stayed here any longer, the enemy's next target would undoubtedly be him.
“For now, the best course of action is to return to Lombard and wait for Sir Nox's contact.”
If he failed again this time, his head would not remain on his shoulders.
Because the thing the person named Nox hated most was someone failing to produce results after being trusted with a task.
***
Before long, a group of people departed from the marquisate.
They left for Pavia, the capital of the Lombard Kingdom.
Among them was Clapo, who had been so confident about this affair.
“Cowardly bastards. After boasting so much, they run away as soon as the plan fails.”
Moltke, who was watching them leave from his window, bit his lower lip and swallowed his anger.
“Indeed, I warned him to be so careful. He let my words go in one ear and out the other, so it serves him right.”
It wasn't just Anticus who was fearsome.
That place was the land where the Hero who defeated the Demon King, Frank, stood guard.
“Frank must have done something. They said his mansion is full of unseen and unheard-of Magic devices.”
Now that things had come to this, his own safety was also at risk.
He had braced himself for a coup d'état under the protection of the Lombard Kingdom, but the moment Frank reported this fact to the kingdom, “I’ll be immediately stripped of my title and branded a traitor.”
It felt as if the numerous connections and achievements he had built up over the years were crumbling overnight.
Moltke wracked his brain, wondering what to do about this situation.
“Few people know about this yet. Should I make the first move?”
For example, he could plead that the invasion of the dragon's paradise had nothing to do with him.
In reality, only five mages from the Lombard Kingdom had gone there.
It was true they had passed through the marquisate to get to the dragon's paradise, but if he feigned ignorance, there might be at least one or two high-ranking nobles who would defend him.
And how would he explain not conducting an inspection?
That could simply be blamed on a subordinate's mistake.
Since he was bound to the royal palace and not the marquisate anyway, wouldn't they overlook such a minor mistake?
There would be few nobles in the kingdom who didn't make mistakes of this magnitude.
Just as he was entertaining all sorts of thoughts.
A completely unexpected person visited the marquis' castle.
It was none other than Bruno, one of his long-term pawns, who had come to visit.
Moltke hurriedly went to greet him.
“Well, well, who do we have here. If it isn't the Count Bruno whom I cherish the most. Haha.”
Moltke put on a bold face and welcomed him as if nothing was wrong.
Bruno, seemingly unaware of Moltke's betrayal, also smiled and opened his mouth.
“Haha. Those words, 'cherish', are truly sweet. It’s been a long time.”
“What do you mean, long time. But what brings you here without any notice?”
Bruno replied with a bright smile.
“Your vacation ended, but I was worried you still hadn't returned from the marquisate, so I came to visit in person. If your work is finished, let's return together. If we do, there won't be any strange talk.”
Ooh. To think there was someone so foolish and yet so timely in his response.
‘Bruno is right. I can feign that I couldn't think of returning due to internal problems, and that I only realized my vacation was over because he came to find me.’
Of course, if that happened, his range of action would be restricted when the Lombard Kingdom attacked the Benedict Kingdom in the future, but right now, surviving by any means was the priority.
As long as the dragon's paradise and Anticus were intact, the Lombard Kingdom wouldn't easily attack the Benedict Kingdom either.
But was today some kind of special day?
Less than an hour after Bruno's visit, another person came.
Alvarez, the spy, had requested an audience.
Moltke immediately summoned Alvarez to his room.
A face gaunt to the bone.
Matted hair and clothes that were little more than rags.
The appearance of a fugitive.
‘I heard he was captured by Frank, but it seems he managed to escape.’
He had heard from Bruno later that Alvarez was originally coming down to the royal palace with Bruno, but had suddenly returned to Rarc Village with a girl sent by Frank.
Moltke glanced at Bruno and thought to himself.
‘I almost lost a competent talent because of this foolish brat.’
Alvarez was the person who placed second after Adel in the knight examination.
He was also the one who had constantly provided information about the Hero Frank from within his territory.
However, for some reason, the man felt like he had changed 180 degrees from before.
‘Strange? He seems much colder than before, and I can hardly feel any humanity from him.’
Human emotions could no longer be read in his cold eyes.
Perhaps he had lost his humanity after suffering harsh torture from Frank.
It was a sight he had seen countless times when the Demon King invaded with the Demon Tribe.
In any case, now was the time to celebrate having one more ally.
Moltke hid his inner thoughts completely and asked casually.
“You're in a sorry state. What on earth happened?”
At his question, Bruno also showed curiosity.
“Indeed. Didn't you follow Anonymous to Frank's mansion? Why are you here? Oh, is Anonymous safe?”
Anonymous. Who in the world was that?
Moltke asked about Anonymous.
“Who is Anonymous?”
“Ah, she's the distant relative of Frank that I mentioned before. Alvarez went back following her.”
“Hmm.”
Moltke tilted his head and thought.
‘What on earth is this guy thinking? Why is he asking about the well-being of such an insignificant person?’
It was absurd, but Alvarez resolved Bruno’s curiosity.
“She is safe.”
“Phew. That's a relief. I was so worried when I heard the dragon's paradise was invaded.”
“This is the first I've heard about the dragon's paradise being invaded. It seems to have happened after I left.”
“Damn it. I really hope she's safe.”
Unable to listen to this kind of talk any longer, Moltke asked about Frank.
“What is that bastard Frank up to?”
“He is at the mansion.”
“Is he not plotting something? I mean, like helping the dragons or something of that sort.”
Alvarez slowly shook his head.
“As I said before, that incident seems to have happened after I left. I have no information on what Frank has done since then.”
“I see. Anyway, you've been through a lot. I'll give you a room, so get some rest.”
“Thank you.”
Alvarez bowed with a blank expression and was about to leave Moltke's room.
Moltke realized something and hurriedly stopped him.
“Wait!”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
Alvarez turned around and looked at him with a detached expression.
On one hand, it was frightening how he didn't feel human.
‘A guy like this might have more uses.’
Moltke swallowed dryly and brought up the following.
“I'm sorry, but could you rest for a few days and then go back to Rarc Village?”
Alvarez asked back with an indifferent face.
“I have just arrived, and I have only just escaped from Frank's clutches. I do not understand why you are telling me to go back.”
“It’s because there’s no one as well-versed in the situation there as you. Go there and find out what on earth happened. And what Frank is doing. If you do this one thing properly, I will never forget your contribution.”
“……”
He hadn't been a man whose inner thoughts were this difficult to guess.
‘Now I can't even begin to guess what he's thinking.’
While he was getting anxious.
Fortunately, Alvarez nodded, saying he understood.
“I will do so. However.”
“However?”
“If I feel even the slightest threat to my life, I will return immediately. I hope you will understand that much.”
Moltke beamed and deliberately overreacted.
“Haha. Is there any question? Isn't this all for the sake of survival? I'll be counting on you.”
To think that he, who stood at the pinnacle of nobility, would have to beg a mere knight-errant like this.
Unaware of his master's inner turmoil, Bruno, who was next to him, brought up another useless topic.
“That's great. Please check if Anonymous is safe as well. I'll reward you separately.”
Damn it. Who the hell cares about someone like Anonymous to be this worried?
But in the current situation, Bruno was the only one who could save him, so Moltke, with a heavy heart, catered to his whims.
“I'll ask you as well. It's hard to see the Count pleading like this and pretend not to notice.”
Alvarez said he understood and left the room.
It was a relief, if anything, that he didn't show any displeasure.
Only an unreadable coldness lingered on his expressionless face.
Bruno asked if he was going to leave for the royal palace right now, and Moltke said he needed to prepare and asked for a few more days.
‘I'll feel more at ease if I at least see Alvarez leave. For now, Alvarez is the only one who can spy on Frank.’
How did he end up in this situation?
Moltke let out a deep sigh and lamented his fate.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
An amazing scene was unfolding in the dragon's paradise.
“Slowly! Good. Put it down right there.”
Thud.
Following human guidance, dragons were stacking lumber.
That wasn't all.
“This is called silk, a natural fiber imported from a distant eastern country. It's soft, isn't it?”
“The texture isn't bad. The decoration is also quite beautiful.”
“Of course. It’s a luxury item comparable to the gold found here.”
A female dragon in human form was chatting with the women of Rarc Village.
Behind them, a male dragon in human form and the village men were betting on who was a better drinker.
“I wonder if the dragon will win, or the human?”
“Of course, our dragon will be victorious. A mere human is no match.”
“Hmph. I've been drinking this like water for over thirty years. You think I'll lose just because my opponent is a dragon?!”
What was all this about, you ask?
This was what happened a few days after the dragon's paradise was burned down by the Demon Tribe's attack.
I looked at Anonymous, who was dressed in a maid's uniform and quietly attending to me, and said.
“I’d like to restore the dragon's paradise, what do you think?”
“Do as you wish, Master. And it puts me in a difficult position if you use honorifics with me, Master.”
“Ahem. I understand. Then, I plan to restore the dragon's paradise, but before that, I think it would be best for all the dragons to transform into their human forms.”
Anonymous tilted her head and asked.
“Is there a reason?”
Anonymous' use of honorifics was still something I couldn't get used to.
I gave a bitter smile and explained the reason.
“If they remain in their dragon forms, they take up too much space. On the other hand, if they humanize, we just need to build a small village like Rarc Village, so the restoration time will be much shorter. Above all, they'll be able to interact with the residents of Rarc Village, so wouldn't there be various advantages?”
“I see. That is a brilliant idea, Master. Everything will be as you wish.”
She was so obedient that she agreed with everything I said, which was quite baffling.
In any case, because of this, all the dragons who heard Anonymous' words had to humanize, and the current spectacular scene could be created.
The dragons and villagers were becoming friends at a rapid pace.
And buildings were rising up day by day.
Once this was over, I could probably put the dragons to work in the gold mine with the villagers, so it would be beneficial to me in many ways.
However, not everyone was satisfied.
As Anonymous stuck to my side all day, Adel and Noemi started to throw a fit.
“Master! When on earth are we going to practice swordsmanship?”
“Nono! Why are you trying to follow Dad all the way to his bed? Get out right now!”
But they couldn't win against Anonymous.
“What's the matter, Young Ladies? I am the Master’s servant, so it is only natural for me to attend to the Master. Even if that means attending to him at night. Hoho.”
The daughters flared up at Anonymous' joke.
Was it just my imagination that things ahead didn't seem like they would be smooth?
I was grateful that Anonymous had become a slave, but the fatigue was rapidly piling up from her excessive devotion.
I didn't know whether to call this a good thing or a bad thing.
As this precarious relationship with Anonymous continued.
An unexpected person visited the mansion, heralding yet another wave of repercussions.