123 — 13 (4)

“I cannot understand what Duke Louis is thinking.”

Marquis Orsini Ludovico, who led House Orsini, let out a sigh. With his pale face and sharp eyes, he too was a mage formally registered with the Mage Tower. His family had inherited the blood of mages for generations and long maintained deep connections with the Mage Tower. Ludovico could not shake an uneasy feeling. He was a man impossible to predict. Even if increasing the army with gathered funds fit Louis’s style of domestic administration… the problem was that the army was not being recruited simply for maintaining order. Louis wanted to conquer the harsh land called Pantalist, a worthless land crawling with monsters and barbarians.

‘Perhaps he is simply young…’

It was worthless land. There was no need to seize it by force. Rebellions always broke out there. Barbarians were not easily conquered. In any case, what Louis requested from allied houses was military support. Excluding House Batenberg, which lay farthest away, he asked help from House Parse and House Orsini, with whom relations were currently strongest.

‘But he is not that kind of reckless youth… Perhaps there is something valuable there that I do not know.’

The alliance had to continue regardless. The flow of the Eron Duchy was completely in Louis’s hands. Ludovico’s sigh was not because providing support itself was difficult. Every action of Louis was unpredictable and extraordinary. Every move until now had been the same—actions that seemed like mistakes produced optimal results. Unpredictable people gave him stress.

“Until now, House Pontina and House Haidek have been obligated to block invasions from those barbarians. I agree with Duke Louis’s opinion. It would be good to wipe out the uncivilized unstable elements at this opportunity. I will lead the troops.”

Orsini Spessart, Ludovico’s son, spoke. Spessart saw no reason to hesitate. Without realizing it, he had begun admiring Louis more and more. Had he not belonged to his house, he might have offered himself as Louis’s personal mage. Ludovico had never seen his son like this—deciding something readily for another’s sake. His son carried the finest mage bloodline in House Orsini.

If he could not trust this son, there was no one he could trust. Ludovico was immensely proud of his son who had defended Louis before Evantes. He even boasted of it repeatedly. The value possessed by a young lion could not be measured. Thus Ludovico’s resistance was, more precisely, anxiety. No one knew how far Louis would grow.

“What Duke Louis says is only assistance, so it is not a great burden, but I cannot guess what he intends to gain there, my son.”

Spessart smiled, curiosity in his expression.

“That is why I will confirm it with my own eyes.”

“Very well. I entrust you with the troops. Assist Duke Louis and help in his conquest.”

Spessart answered confidently. The force his father granted him was no ordinary unit, but the special mage corps.

The first to arrive was Linsia. Everywhere she passed, she captured the gaze of all men. She was a splendid flower. The rumor of her arrival quickly spread throughout the city. The only thing she cared about in this city was Louis. When she entered, even a dark room seemed to brighten. Even Louis felt that way, so the other men were practically entranced. Today Anok served as Louis’s guard. Anok stared at Linsia in admiration.

Meanwhile, the moment Linsia saw Louis, her mouth parted.

‘He has become even more handsome. Should I assign him a famous tailor?’

“Duke Louis!”

She called in a charming voice. Their eyes met. Louis smiled and spoke.

“You came. I heard you plan to spend your vacation here.”

“Yes. There is no place in the Eron Duchy that interests me more.”

Their conversation continued. Linsia clearly showed interest in Louis. The surrounding men noticed her vacation’s purpose was Louis. Even Anok, dull toward women, realized it. Anok shed tears internally, muttering that if only his face were less fierce he would have a rosy life. In truth, Anok himself did not know he was quite popular with women; his intimidating expression simply prevented them from approaching.

As soon as Linsia left, Jodan entered. Dark circles hung under his eyes from overwork. He found it strange that Louis worked in perfect condition without issue; Louis worked more, yet Jodan’s stamina was worse.

“Duke. House Orsini will assist. Orsini Spessart will aid you. And House Parse also promises active cooperation. The army commanded by Akiteia is already moving here.”

Reliable allies were always good. Previously Louis would have handled it alone, but after the Evantes incident he learned the simple truth that he need not push himself alone. Parse Akiteia and Orsini Spessart were people with whom he would maintain deeper relations. Now preparations for the advance were complete. To advance into harsh land, mages and clerics were essential—especially clerics. After the Pope’s visit, clerics increased greatly within the territory. Only mages were lacking, and with House Orsini supplementing them, all deficiencies were resolved.

Kaban Ferdinando sighed repeatedly. A veteran hero and called the protector of the Eron Duchy, he never imagined facing such worries. A well-paved road stretched ahead, with a stream beside it. The road led to Louis’s capital. The condition of roads alone revealed skill in territory management. Roads were more important than expected.

He had not seen even a single orc on the way. Louis was clearly not merely skilled in war. In some sense, he could become the greatest threat to the duchy’s safety. Though he served the Grand Duke, Louis’s internal and external abilities overwhelmingly outshone him.

Behind Ferdinando, a two-horse carriage rattled along. Inside rode his granddaughter, Kaban Mary. The carriage bore the modest purity of House Kaban despite lacking lavish decoration. It did not mean the house lacked wealth—House Kaban proudly ranked among the seven great houses of the Eron Duchy with wealth and power. Above all, their most valuable possession was their incorruptible honor.

Farmers and soldiers passing recognized the crest and removed hats or bowed, though they could not dream that the man ahead was the Sword Master Kaban Ferdinando.

Ferdinando looked at the sky. Rain began to fall lightly. He hoped to arrive before a downpour. Soon his eyes widened.

An enormous army was moving. Among those entering Pontina territory were Orsini banners. More importantly, the road passed by the training grounds where Louis trained recruits. Thunderous noise echoed constantly, and everywhere were armed soldiers.

‘What is this… Has he increased the army? This is large enough for war…’

Thinking he must meet Louis to know more, Ferdinando urged his horse faster. The carriage accelerated. Mary leaned out and shouted.

“Grandfather! Too fast!”

“Endure it. I must meet Duke Louis quickly.”

Mary’s dissatisfied expression softened at the mention of Louis and she complied.

Before Louis lay several materials from the Pantalist region. They were materials for making horn bows. The most distinctive was gorgon sinew. The gorgon was a buffalo-like monster multiplying rapidly in Pantalist—huge, heavy, moving in herds, goring obstacles with horns. Strangely omnivorous, it even ate humans when hungry, so people called it a demon beast.

Fifteen craftsmen with at least talent level 6 stood before Louis. Among them, the most outstanding was Enneu. On her recommendation three more were added, making four women among fifteen. Any other lord would faint at such a ratio. But Louis knew their abilities precisely through the information window.

“What is this?”

The craftsmen murmured as Louis revealed the materials.

“It is something you will research and create.”

“What is it?”

Enneu asked with shining eyes.

“A bow. From now on, it will be called a horn bow.”

As Louis spoke confidently, the craftsmen instinctively realized it could become a historic object. Their faces flushed with excitement wondering what ingenious item would appear.

“The sooner the deadline, the better. Rewards will be generous.”

A new information window appeared. The percentage was 1. Louis opened the map window. The northern part of his territory was blank—the darkened region was Pantalist. Informants believed barbarian civil war recently occurred. It seemed to be the same person who once cornered Louis. He was there now. Excitement rose. He also wanted to reveal the upper map.

Barbarians could not be underestimated. Fighting in harsh terrain could make them stronger than regular armies. During this operation, enough Science would likely accumulate. Two technologies were prepared—Physics and Magitech. Opening both would shift into the great current called the Magitech Era. Whether it would become poison or benefit was unknown, but Louis believed it worth attempting.