Chapter 120: Request for Cooperation
I landed in the courtyard again—who knows how many times now—but this was the first time without any hostility aimed at me. After confirming the man who had come to meet me, I dispelled the magic from the balloon.
“Please allow me to escort you to His Excellency, the Chancellor.”
He bowed and walked ahead. I followed, but people passing by either turned away or trembled and fled at the sight of me.
I was the one attacked, and only defended myself—how rude.
After a long walk down a corridor, we stopped before a door guarded by knights. A knock sounded, and the door slid open.
The room was lavish, almost like a salon. Chancellor Corbens rose to his feet when he saw me.
“Sir Leon, were you able to obtain their reply?”
“Yes, I brought it with me and will hand it over now.”
I gave it to the aide standing beside him. The aide checked it, then hurried out after asking me to wait a moment.
The king and Prince Merediths were dead, and many nobles who supported Merediths during my audience had also died.
The kingdom must be in shambles—they likely have no time for formalities.
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“Lord Felix… No, Your Majesty. A reply from the Kingdom of Sutherland has arrived.”
“So quickly? That was fast.”
“I did not expect it this soon, but… more importantly, the contents of the reply…”
Encouraged by the chancellor, Felix opened the letter. His face shifted repeatedly between pale and flushed.
“The conditions for agreeing to a ceasefire are: ceding Narsie and Granbale, allowing a fortress to be built at the midpoint between the new border and Variant, and a payment of fifty thousand gold coins as compensation for the cost of deployment.”
“The compensation is understandable, but they’re demanding land beyond the Linjueil River?”
“But… we cannot refuse.”
“There is no hiding the devastation of the castle. Couriers have been riding out nonstop from the embassies of all the foreign envoys. With the deaths of the former king and Prince Merediths, our current state cannot be concealed.”
“The reparations can be paid using the confiscated assets of the purged nobles…”
“It is truly regrettable that Prince Merediths could not be stopped.”
“Father allowed himself to be manipulated by Merediths and his followers. But if we leave things as they are, our kingdom will disappear. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Suthererland writes that they are willing to make peace if we accept the conditions.”
“Believing that seems to be our only path to survival.”
“Yes. And to do so, we must seek his cooperation.”
“I have him waiting in my reception room.”
“Let us meet.”
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I was startled when a servant announced, “His Majesty the King.” Before I could even stand, Felix entered the room.
“Thank you for waiting. I intend to accept all of Sutherland’s demands, but I have another request separate from that.”
“A request?”
“Yes. Thanks to Merediths, the damage to the castle is impossible to hide. The foreign envoys who saw it have already sent numerous urgent messengers home. Defeated by Sutherland, and now this devastation—once other nations learn of it…”
“Holtland Kingdom will be invaded next… is that what you’re saying?”
“I deeply regret ever entrusting the governance of the country to Merediths, but at this rate the kingdom will fall into chaos and the people will flee.”
Yeah, that’s what worries me.
Refugees flooding down the Madras Highway would have a huge impact on Linus.
I may have gone too far… but I also don’t want to get involved in another war. What’s the right move here?
“My request—formally, a commission—is for you, Sir Leon, to demonstrate your power to the foreign envoys and our nobles.”
“Demonstrate… my power?”
“Yes. To show them what it means for someone to fly freely in the sky and rain down boulders. Rumors are spreading that the kingdom is weakened and will be attacked. Our nobles are panicking. For the sake of suppressing the rumors and calming the people, I ask for your strength.”
Certainly, the force I used to beat up the castle…
If I dropped stones on an army from overhead… the result would be horrifying.
Felix isn’t stupid, and he claimed not to care much for authority—but it seems he’s motivated now.
“I have no intention of fighting a war. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“I will explain,”
The chancellor said.
“We will gather the foreign envoys and domestic nobles at the castle training grounds. You will fly freely in the sky and drop stones from above, demonstrating your capabilities. Even fist-sized stones dropped from a great height could annihilate an army of tens of thousands.”
So he truly understands.
With fist-sized stones packed in Magic Pouches, scattering them from above… I could take down hundreds at once.
Attacking troops is far more devastating than attacking a castle. I could wipe out armies of several thousand alone.
“I may accept the request—but I have conditions.”
“Name them.”
“Gather the envoys and nobles at the training grounds. Line up shields across the grounds. I will attack the shields, and you will give full-powered orders to stop me.”
“That seems… dangerous.”
“Dangerous, but I don’t plan on dying. If they witness what could happen in battle, perhaps they will think before acting.”
“That is… true. And your fee?”
“It’ll certainly be cheaper than going to war. But I’ve never calculated expedition costs before, so I’ll leave it to you. More importantly, prepare five Rank-2 Magic Pouches filled with fist-sized stones, and two Rank-5 Magic Bags filled with stones the size of a human head. Once the shields are ready and the envoys and nobles are gathered, I’m ready anytime. The sooner the better.”
“I understand. We will prepare immediately, though… the stones?”
“Ask the Adventurers’ Guild. They can gather them quickly. I’ll fly to the Sutherland embassy before sunset—please send word ahead.”
“Understood.”
Oh boy… both the chancellor and King Felix bowed their heads to me, shocking the royal guards.
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While flying over the plains, I practiced bombing runs by dropping fist-sized stones, then headed to the Sutherland embassy.
When I began descending toward the estate, people below pointed at me and shouted. Soldiers were trying to calm them.
Looks like word of what happened at the castle has spread through the city.
Honestly, I won’t attack unless attacked first—but people sure make a fuss.
Seeing no guards or knights near the embassy building itself, I landed in the carriage loop. A guard rushed over to challenge me.
When I showed the identification I received from Chancellor Brighton, he snapped to rigid attention and saluted.
Apparently being the chancellor’s aide with earl-level authority packs a punch.
I told him I wanted to meet the ambassador. He immediately relayed the message inside.
What was the ambassador’s name again?
Soon someone arrived to escort me, saying, “So you’re the messenger from the Kingdom?”
Since we’re keeping my identity discreet, showing up dressed like an adventurer was probably a mistake.
I silently nodded. He looked irritated, but barked, “Follow me!” and turned his back.
This could be troublesome… I wonder what the ambassador is like.
A knock—and a sharp “Enter!”—opened the door.
“I have brought the man mentioned in the notice. Enter!”
I was shoved inside.
I figured I’d better show my identification quickly, but then—
“This is His Excellency, Ambassador Trevan McNeill! Kneel!”
What a wonderful roar.
I shoved my identification card—fresh from my Magic Bag—right under the shouting man’s nose.
“My name is Leon. I believe Chancellor Corbens has sent word ahead.”
“We received notice, but… what is that?”
“The identification entrusted to me by Chancellor Brighton.”
“From His Excellency the Chancellor? Let me see it.”
He took it—looking bewildered—and rushed over to the ambassador.
The ambassador inspected both sides thoroughly.
“I’ve never heard of this.”
Of course he hasn’t—I received it only a few days ago.
“If you can’t trust the royal identification, that’s your choice. But since Chancellor Corbence invited you to witness this, make sure you memorize it well and report it properly.”
“Report what?”
“A little demonstration. Soon the ceasefire and reconciliation between Sutherland and Holtland will be announced. This is a preventative measure so other nations don’t bare their fangs.”
“A ceasefire and reconciliation!?”
“It seems Prince Merediths caused you quite some trouble, but the war ended long ago.”
“How do you know that!?”
Because I’m the one who delivered the letters…
But he wouldn’t believe that, so I simply shrugged.
“I am involved in this matter, and I must wait until Holtland finishes their preparations. I’ll come here every evening. Tell me when they contact you.”
“Why should I report to you?”
“Watch your mouth. If you can’t understand my status even after seeing the identification, be prepared to lose your position and rank.”
“…Under…stood…”
He answered reluctantly, but is he really an ambassador?
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After a week, I was informed that the castle was ready. I told Ambassador McNeill:
“Tomorrow, we’ll meet at the castle training grounds.”
Though really, he’ll be in the spectator seats while I’m the performer.
I muttered that inwardly as I headed back to my usual roost.