An Even More Sin-Soaked Story

“Viscount Karmos-Fivro-Yōntsu! Why… why…!? If what you said earlier is true, this won’t stay an internal matter of the Lumoria Kingdom!? It could drag the neighboring countries in and turn into a great war… no, if it goes badly, it could all return to ash…!”

The red-faced Viscount Assen let out a shout that was practically a scream.

Uh… is the Ground Dragon really that dangerous…? Is this going to be okay…? My heart was pounding like crazy.

At least according to Ururu’s investigation, there was no sign of a dragon on these plains right now… but apparently they had found a few old traces.

My Overlord heart couldn’t take it, so I wanted it to show up already… or else I wanted proof it would never show up.

“Viscount Assen. Of course, I understand that well enough. And when I first heard this, I raised my voice just as you did. This is not something that ends with those who live in this castle. Are you intending to wipe out every last person in the surrounding lands as well?”

“…Exactly! It’s a deed no sane man would commit! I can only see it as a roundabout suicide that drags everyone else down with it!”

He’s getting absolutely roasted… even though it wasn’t my choice to build a castle here… I mean, wasn’t this Fio’s fault? Seriously, that woman’s messing with me—if I could, I’d demand an apology, reparations, and the slaying of the dragon as compensation.

“Wh—!? So that’s what it means… ‘no room to choose’ means…”

“Because the castle is already standing here.”

“Then! We must remove this castle before the dragon notices! If it hasn’t noticed yet, there should still be time!”

“…By defeating this kingdom’s army?”

“Ghk!? Th-that is…”

Viscount Assen fell silent. Watching him, Karmos continued evenly.

“Einheria has no intention of moving from here. And as we witnessed with our own eyes, this nation’s military power is considerable… no, it is so vast that someone like me cannot even measure it. I am convinced that even if the entire Lumoria army attacked, it would not be able to inflict a serious blow upon this nation.”

“No… that can’t be…”

“Just the other day… I once again witnessed Einheria’s strength. Overwhelming—there is no other word for it. One man alone broke through a gate defended by three hundred soldiers and seized the territorial capital.”

“…W-what… that’s impossible!?”

Viscount Assen shouted and whipped around to look toward Jōsen by the door.

“The one standing there is Sir Jōsen. I believe you remember him, Viscount Assen. He is a commander with strength worthy of being called heroic—however, the one who broke through the gate alone this time was not him.”

“There’s more than one commander that abnormal!?”

“This is only within what Karmos and Harris have personally seen… but Einheria likely has multiple individuals with power worthy of being called heroes. Not merely two or three—more than that.”

“I-is that true!? Sir Harris says the same!?”

Harris… that was the old-gentleman-looking knight standing beside Karmos, right? If I remembered right, he was the captain of the unit we ran into first. The Viscount being surprised like this—was Harris some famous figure?

Also, it felt like Viscount Assen’s eyes glittered for a moment… does he like the whole ‘hero’ thing?

“Still—having so many heroes… I’ve only heard of that in the Great Empire of the Central Plains…”

“But at the very least, I saw two heroes with my own eyes. Harris shares that view.”

“M… mmm…”

“They possess multiple heroes, their army is elite, and above all, the sovereign who leads them is a man worthy of being called an outstanding hero. I am convinced that only Einheria can defeat that calamity—the Ground Dragon.”

“…True. Viscount Karmos—no, Sir Karmos, as you say, perhaps only this country can defeat the Ground Dragon. But isn’t it their responsibility in the first place, building a castle here!? Such an act…!”

Yes. You’re completely right. Viscount Assen was so correct I couldn’t even make a sound in rebuttal.

I could come up with excuses—like we didn’t know this was a dragon’s lair, or we didn’t build it because we wanted to, or I didn’t even want to come to this world—but to the people living here, that’s irrelevant.

Stop complaining and deal with it.

It really came down to that single line.

Viscount Assen’s words were right… and yet, at the same time, they were words that meant nothing.

“Viscount Assen. I understand your feelings very well. As the former lord of Yōntsu Territory, I did not feel nothing but anger. However… we are past the stage where we can afford to say such things.”

“!”

The smile that had stayed on Karmos’s face vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

Viscount Assen flinched at the change… and, honestly, so did I.

“In this situation, where a castle already exists in the dragon’s lair and a nation called Einheria already exists—raising our voices now has no meaning.”

“But Sir Karmos! This shouldn’t be that kind of discussion! If they call themselves a nation, then the responsibility that comes with it—”

Viscount Assen, who had snapped back at Karmos, suddenly froze as if he’d realized something.

“Absurd! Th-this… this is how you ‘take responsibility’!? You leave the castle here and say you’ll be the first to be targeted—so what!? It’s true this country might be able to slay the Ground Dragon! But where is the guarantee!? Won’t you simply awaken the calamity and be the first to turn to ash yourselves!?”

“His Majesty promised to protect this land… to protect Yōntsu Territory. He promised to save all the people who live here from sorrow.”

“That’s nothing but a madman’s ravings! Because of whose fault did this happen—!?”

“Viscount Assen. I will say it again. There are no options.”

“Grr…”

Yeah… in the end, no matter what was said… no matter how correct Viscount Assen was, the discussion always ended there.

It’s a total match-pump—no, more like a land shark scam.

Einheria was seriously yakuza-like….

“We, the people of Yōntsu Territory, have no road but to cling to His Majesty’s power. And without Einheria, this land cannot be protected. And more than anything… do you think the Lumoria Kingdom as it is now can defeat Einheria?”

“Th-that’s not… a reason…”

“It is. What is it that we desire? The prosperity of the Lumoria Kingdom? Or the survival of our houses?”

“…The peace of my house and my people. The kingdom is only a framework for that… is that what you mean?”

“I won’t say I feel nothing for the framework called the Lumoria Kingdom. But the current king of Lumoria… has problems—more than just a few.”

At Karmos’s words, his expression loosening slightly, Viscount Assen’s face tightened further.

“…Even so, switching sides…”

“Can you protect your people and your house by remaining loyal to Lumoria?”

It felt like Karmos’s loyalty to Lumoria was pretty low… I hadn’t heard the details, but did something happen?

Well, his house had nearly been swallowed by a count’s family, so maybe there were other issues too.

Yōntsu Territory had finally started settling down. Maybe I should study the Lumoria Kingdom more seriously as well.

While I was thinking that, Viscount Assen turned from Karmos to face me.

“…King of Einheria. I would like to ask one thing. If I submit… will you truly protect the people of Assen Territory as well?”

“Of course I want to say I’ll protect them—but your submission alone isn’t enough. Compared to Lumoria, our reach is much wider. But there are conditions that must be met, and it’s not something we can do immediately.”

“In other words, if the kingdom learns I have betrayed it and Assen Territory is invaded, there is no way for you to protect my people.”

“We can’t provide protection as thorough as Yōntsu Territory. That said, I’m not saying we won’t send troops.”

“…That’s a bit unexpected. I thought you’d promise it more easily.”

Viscount Assen muttered. Maybe he meant it as an aside, but I heard it loud and clear.

If anything, I was the one surprised… for someone that careless, Viscount Assen tried some political maneuvering… even though it was leaking all over the place.

Karmos was smirking wryly beside him.

“I say only what I can do. And once I speak it aloud, no matter how absurd it sounds, it will be done.”

Hopefully.

“The process has no meaning; results are everything. And a ruler should not lightly speak of what he cannot do.”

“…That doesn’t sound like the words of a king who built his home in a dragon’s lair and boasts he’ll defeat a dragon.”

“There are too many rulers who talk about what they can’t do. Speaking ideals and giving dreams is part of a ruler’s role, but when those dreams fail, all that remains is disappointment. Repeat that enough and it becomes resignation—and eventually it ignites into rebellion.”

“So what the King of Einheria speaks is an ideal that will certainly become the future. Hmph! That’s an outrageous boast!”

“Can’t you believe it?”

“Of course not! I’ve only seen that one battle! I understand that wasn’t mere luck or a fluke, but even so, I can’t possibly believe you can do anything about a Ground Dragon that has caused countless calamities!”

Viscount Assen spoke with his eyes wide, but… the atmosphere felt a little different from before.

Like that absolute ‘I won’t believe you’ aura had receded a bit… more like he was testing me—like when his eyes glittered earlier.

“Hm. So you have no intention of coming under me. Is that what you’re saying?”

“…I-I didn’t say that. But it can’t be right away. I know your commander there has unbelievable strength.”

Viscount Assen stammered a little as he continued, glancing at Jōsen.

“And the commander Sir Karmos mentioned—if that person also has power worthy of being called a hero… I need to know more. Not just about those individuals, but about the nation called Einheria—and above all, about you, its king. Otherwise, I can’t entrust the people who live in my territory to you.”

“Fair enough.”

Though… he let it slip for a second, didn’t he? He basically said he wanted to see heroes, didn’t he?

Still, what he said wasn’t wrong. I understood the need to judge us properly. I could give him that much time.

Considering that until today we couldn’t even have a proper conversation, this was a solid result.

“Then we’ll end it here for today. Viscount Assen, I’ll keep you confined a while longer, but I’ll allow you the freedom to interact with Karmos and others. I’ll inform the guards accordingly—so long as you remain inside the castle, you may move around to a certain extent. Of course, there are places you must not enter.”

“Y-you’re sure?”

“It’s fine. What you want to see is our ordinary selves, right? If I don’t grant you some freedom, you won’t gain anything.”

“…I admire your boldness. Then I’ll accept your generosity.”

Saying that, Viscount Assen rose from the chair he had been sitting on… or made to sit on? And gave me a neat bow.

Should I learn that sort of etiquette too?

…But who would I even ask about ‘kingly’ manners?

As I was thinking that, the room’s door was knocked, and Eisha’s voice came through.

“Fels-sama. May I enter? I brought the documents regarding Yōntsu Territory’s population.”

Oh? That must be what Ilmitt had checked. I’d been really looking forward to it—how much mana-stone income we’d get…

“Come in.”

“Excuse me…”

Eisha opened the door and entered slowly.

She was, as always, a delicate-looking, narrow-eyed pretty girl—but it seemed there were more people in the room than she expected, and she opened her eyes in mild surprise.

“Apologies for interrupting while you’re busy.”

“It’s fine. I wanted to check those documents sooner rather than later.”

I took the documents Eisha handed me and was about to look them over when I remembered Viscount Assen was still in the room.

“Viscount Assen. That concludes our discussion, but… do you have anything to add?”

I set the documents on the desk and looked toward Viscount Assen.

But Viscount Assen had completely frozen, still wearing an astonished expression.

“…Viscount Assen?”

What…? What was he so shocked by? Eisha…?

As everyone in the room stared at Viscount Assen with puzzled looks, the Viscount finally muttered a single word.

“…Beautiful.”

…What?

I heard that dazed-sounding word, but before I could even confirm it, Viscount Assen moved.

“K-King of Einheria. P-please forgive my rudeness, but… w-who is that…?”

“…She is Eisha. In Einheria, she holds the position of High Archbishop.”

As I introduced Eisha, Viscount Assen snapped into a rigid attention stance, so straight it looked like someone had shoved a ruler down his back.

“I-it’s an honor to meet you, Lady Eisha. I-I… I am Gusco-Habar-Assen. I hold the rank of viscount in the Lumoria Kingdom.”

“How courteous. My name is Eisha. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

When Eisha returned the greeting with a gentle smile, Viscount Assen’s face turned bright red.

Yeah… Viscount Assen… no doubt about it….

“L-Lady Eisha! A-actually, I… I’ve always had an interest in religion within Einheria, and… if you would be so kind! I-I would like your instruction…”

Huh. So he was interested in that… news to me….

“My… what a wonderful attitude. Then I will make an opportunity for us in the near future.”

Eisha responded with a purely delighted smile.

“Th-th-thank you, Lady Eisha! I, Gusco, will devote myself to it with solemn sincerity!”

Viscount Assen answered with his face still bright red… yeah, he was absolutely serious.

Well… I’m not going to judge someone’s tastes, but… yeah… if I left it to Eisha, she could probably win Viscount Assen over in an instant….