No matter how oblivious Frey was and no matter how much of a born lunatic Vane was, they did not stay on after his fiancee came to visit his private tent at dusk.

The two of them vanished at a speed that looked as though they had used Thunderstep.

When I checked with Bio-radar, they were still circling within about thirty meters of the tent, but apparently they did not know that the radius of my constantly deployed Bio-radar extended well past three hundred meters.

"...How amusing."

Erica poured tea with the tea set she had brought herself.

It was an eastern tea that came up from Rikenta, and it gave off as many scents as the countless varieties of flowers painted on the teacup.

It was a kind of refined culture that had always been far removed from me.

If I drank it, I would probably think it was just water that smelled nice and had no taste.

"So I am to be your fiancee."

With a smile that was both sweetly alluring and mischievous, Erica dropped no fewer than two cubes of fine raw-sugar lump sugar into my teacup.

A mysterious fragrance spread through the tea as the unseparated molasses, caramelized for an exact span of time at high heat, changed its aroma.

Only after I saw her wink did I realize that she had come on purpose to chase those two out for me.

"It only counts as an engagement if I win."

Only then did the tension finally leave me, and I laughed.

"If I fail, I will not even be in a position to hold a wedding of souls."

At first, it had only been a delusion I entertained by myself.

It felt like such an old story now, but let us go back to the time before and after my decisive battle with Erica.

At the time, my goal had not been the extermination of the evil House Rikenta that had created mutated beasts.

At most, I had wanted to use that pretext to settle the border dispute in a way favorable to House Astreos, then turn it into one of the early achievements of the Andromeda administration.

My engagement to Erica had been the threat card I meant to use then.

A move to warn them that if House Rikenta kept refusing to come to the negotiating table and continued to hold out, then the younger brother of Astreos's Sub-patriarch might insert himself into Rikenta's line of succession.

But then the situation changed when things turned into a mess where I had to become Sub-patriarch.

If I was not going to fight Andromeda, then I had to make good on that threat.

Of course, the Thunderbolt Constellation might have asked what being a prince consort had to do with being Sub-patriarch.

But judging from the line that appeared in the stigma, it seemed this method had been under consideration from the very start.

【Hero's Journey Stage 12】

【Stage 4: Sub-patriarch {(Kronprinz/Crown Prince) Locked}】

【Become the Sub-patriarch (Kronprinz/Crown Prince) of a prestigious family.】

【Penalty for failure: Death】

【Reward for success: Heart Domain】

"Kronprinz" could mean "heir to the throne," but it could also simply be translated as "grand duke."

The same grand duke rank given to the husband of a female Patriarch when she takes the seat.

It was a word passed down from the days of the Ancient Empire, so its meaning was somewhat ambiguous, but roughly speaking, it could refer to just about any close blood relative in a ruling house apart from the ruler themself.

So if I became the de facto ruler of Rikenta while engaged or married to Erica, then I would become Kronprinz.

That night, the Thunderbolt Constellation agreed with that logic.

It was not surprising.

As one could see from the previous sub-objectives, the Thunderbolt Constellation tended to be very enthusiastic about overfulfillment.

But now I had to become the second-in-command of Rikenta somehow.

What did Erica think of that?

Anyone would like it if, instead of throwing a fallen princess who had invaded someone else's land without even a declaration of war and unleashed monsters on it into the Fortress Monastery, you returned her to her homeland and placed a crown on her head.

"...Then I suppose I must fervently hope that you win."

Just look at those sparkling eyes.

Anyone could see they were the eyes of a power-seeker full of ambition.

"But nothing changes just because one wishes for it in one's heart. It seems your lightning arts practice is not going well either, so I shall teach you Rikenta-style strategy and tactics. Consider it an honor."

At those words, I straightened where I sat.

"It really is an honor."

I did not think anything as foolish as What am I supposed to do with another family's strategy and tactics?

After all, I was on my way to fight the bastards of that very family.

Know the enemy and know yourself, and you need never fear a hundred battles.

"You are certainly eager."

Erica smiled in satisfaction and began to speak.

"Rikenta is not really a continent. It is an island and an archipelago. Rivers and wetlands, lakes, salt lakes, brackish zones, deltas, and shallow seas split the land of Rikenta apart like a board."

"A board?"

"My apologies. It is a board game from the Eastern Continent. Let us say it is split apart like a turtle's shell. In any case, that is also why the name of our superhuman nobles is Navigator. It means we can travel freely between island and island and form spheres of dominion."

"So the title carried far more implications than Blue Knight."

"At the same time, the army developed as well. As you know, Rikenta's field-gun units are the finest in the Empire."

"What does the army have to do with Navigators?"

I listened closely, then threw in the question.

It seemed the explanation had drifted a little.

"Ah, pardon me. You may not wish to admit it, but if an ordinary Navigator and an ordinary Blue Knight fight, the ordinary Navigator wins. That is how much higher the quality of our superhuman soldiers is, and their numbers are few. Since quantity cannot overcome quality, only an elite army will do."

Erica put on an expression full of pride.

For a very brief moment, I felt like poking her cheek, but I endured it.

It was not even something I was reluctant to admit.

On the other hand, when a strong Blue Knight and a strong Navigator fought, then the Blue Knight won.

Had I not proved that with my whole body just a month ago?

"So there is a tactic Rikenta developed. Coordination between glider assaults and field-gun units."

"Gliders."

"From a sky beyond the reach of field guns, Air Cannons throw the formation into confusion, then the repeating-crossbow units swing around and encircle the target before firing in unison. That finishes it."

With a clatter that felt deliberate, Erica set down her teacup.

"But with terrain like that, would not a small elite force actually have the advantage? River crossing and landing operations are a real pain."

I questioned her at once.

There were several parts her explanation did not account for.

"You do not need to take only a few people. There are always more than enough who want to enter the army."

"So this is a case where the army is the only opportunity? Astreos is the same."

"Y-you can see for yourself when you get there. In any case, Rikenta's basic strategy is just what I said. Bombard from the air with gliders, then encircle and fire with repeating-crossbow units."

Erica gave an embarrassed little cough and changed the subject.

"Then why did you not do that?"

"Most of the gliders were destroyed while we were retreating."

I had no idea what part of that she found embarrassing.

"Thank you."

I said what needed to be said.

"I need to prepare a counter-plan. We leave tomorrow, so let us think about it on the way down. Together."

"Spiramentaon. I will be setting foot in that city again."

"It will not be like last time."

Erica smiled.

"Will it not? Well, yes. We are no longer in a relationship where we fight to take each other."

"We are in a relationship where we fight to take what belongs to someone else."

"That is usually what one calls a political marriage, is it not?"

From that smile, I learned that a person could be self-mocking and elegant at the same time.

The people I worried about were Gluttony and Nereus.

If war broke out with Rikenta, Gluttony would be unable to do business, and no matter what war broke out, Nereus would unquestionably stand on the opposite side from me.

If the forces those bastards had spent all this time building up there ended up grabbing my ankle, it was not going to be easy.

This is making me uneasy.

The Governor's Residence of Spiramentaon had been repaired so perfectly that not a trace of the last battle remained to be found.

Yet its master, Nekron, spent no more than three or four days a year in the Governor's Residence.

Every single day, Nekron roamed the jungles and the sea, hunting the exotic monster beasts of the south to his heart's content.

"Kyrie is coming?"

"Y-yes, Your Excellency."

This alone was the simplest possible proof to the whole world that the true governor was Nereus, the nominal chief adjutant.

"I see. I heard he got engaged to that Rikenta main-line girl."

In the governor's office, where a soft darkness had settled.

"He is an extraordinary one. If he is going to be second-in-command anyway, Wind Duke is several times better than Sub-patriarch."

Nereus rose slowly from his seat with a smile like a beast.

A huge shadow fell across the face of the messenger who had made the report.

"What do you think he will need?"

"In this subordinate's estimation, an army."

"Indeed. The boy will surely need an army. No matter how fierce a commander he may be, he cannot hope to deal with a great house with a mere ten thousand men."

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Nereus moved his giant frame and left the office.

What is victory?

Out the window, he looked down at the training yard below the fortress.

Is it not simply possessing more of what the other side desires?

Tens of thousands of torches swayed in the darkness.

"Long live Governor's Adjutant Nereus, long live Governor's Adjutant Nereus! Honor to the thunder of House Tonatio!"

"Like lightning forever! Like thunder without end!"

"Victory! Victory to show the Thunderbolt Constellation! Victory to one day carry into the night sky!"

Tens of thousands of mouths gave voice to tens of thousands of cries.

"Come quickly."

Nereus murmured low.

"Thunder is thirsty."

At the docks, a short distance away from there.

"The God of Wealth is coming?"

"It should be about seven days and nights from now."

Gluttony heard the details of Kyrie's march south from the captain who had just come in off a newly arrived ship.

"At last."

Gluttony lifted his hardened, wrinkled face toward the night sky.

He smiled broadly enough to show his gold teeth.

"Ahaha, hahahahaha! At last, at last he is returning!"

"C-Chairman?"

"Move. The one who will grant us a new future is coming, is he not? Send men to the Chamber of Commerce this instant. Procure transport ships, landing craft, and battle lines. Heap up hardtack and salt-cured meat in vast quantities. Stack them higher than that mountain ridge. If we are to receive a god, should we not show at least that much devotion?"

The words came pouring out of him faster than Rikenta repeating crossbows.

"Y-yes!"

"You lot, go to the three Grand Cathedrals of Spiramentaon. We need to buy up every drop of holy water they have stockpiled. And summon every smuggler. I need a detailed map with every last hidden route marked on it. No. I will personally see to this one."

Neither the directors nor the other merchants were flustered.

They had already been enjoying to the fullest the wealth Kyrie had given them through the last war.

As a result of that war, the number of places to sell and import from had increased, while tariffs had decreased.

So if they fought one more time, would they not naturally gain even more markets and suppliers, and see tariffs fall even further?

The movements of merchants blinded by greed were swifter than lightning leaving a storm cloud.

Their results might even turn out better than lightning's.

It was a day without a single cloud.

Kyrie and Erica disembarked at the wharf of Spiramentaon.

"Your hand."

"Ah, my thanks."

No matter how political the relationship was, in front of people they had to behave like proper fiancees.

An escort was part of that too.

Kyrie acted like the most courteous gentleman in the world, and Erica acted like the most refined lady in existence.

It was such superb acting that no one could have imagined the most famous Blue Knight in Astreos and the war princess who had once led tens of thousands of troops.

"Hm?"

"What?"

The performance shattered the instant they looked at the main road beyond the docks.

"Stand back!"

Riiip!

Erica shook off Kyrie's hand, slashed apart the hem of her skirt with a blade of wind, and prepared to draw her sword.

Rumble!

Kyrie likewise left Erica standing in the middle of the gangplank and jumped down to the dock first.

What is that?

Tens of thousands of troops were standing in formation along the great road.

Beside them, all kinds of supplies were piled up like mountains.

Are they planning to sell all those supplies off somewhere else and use that army to attack us instead?

There was no doubt that this was the army and matériel Nereus and Gluttony had prepared to stop him.

Forty thousand, no. Fifty thousand at least. They mobilized fifty thousand just to sweep away ten thousand? Did I really look that strong to them? Should I be happy about this or not?

Nereus was standing up ahead.

"What is all this?"

Kyrie asked it outright.

With that bastard's personality, he is not going to lie.

Hearing the question, Nereus thought:

What is all this? Does he mean to say he can win without our help? He was really planning to conquer Rikenta with only ten thousand? What kind of plan did he prepare? No. Just how much stronger has he become?

Chapter 167

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