Chapter 7 – Let’s Win over the Mountain Folk

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Imperial Calendar, Year 260 – Moon of the Ruby

After safely wrapping up the inspection, I was busily working at taking care of my wife and her lovers at night while filling the daytime with governmental duties.

One day Warid suddenly appeared in front of me. When he became my retainer, I had asked him what sort of technique he was using to pop up out of thin air like that, but he refused to tell me, claiming it was a secret technique of his clan. However I got him to explain just one thing about it: It’s a running style allowing one to move swiftly while limiting the stamina consumption. Basically, the same thing as ‘Quick Shuffling’ (shukuchihou). ¹ Thanks to that ability, he can increase his movement speed twofold.

For me, who has no talent in horse-riding, this would be an extremely convenient ability to have since it’d raise my survivability on the battlefield, if I could increase my movement speed so significantly.

“Albert-dono, I have finished persuading Hakim. It is planned for the mountain folk to hold an emergency clan chief council, and as such I would like you to also participate.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If everyone hears that the youth, who went around drinking among the mountain folk while pretending to be a relative of Hakim, has in reality been you, it will add more credibility to my words while also making the whole story ten times scarier.”

I see. It’ll result in exposing my true identity to the clan chiefs, but even if we deduct that as a minus, it means there can be a lot more gained through it, huh? As expected of Warid. It looks like he’s scrupulously tying all loose ends.

“I understand. I’ll participate.”

“Albert, you’re skipping on work again to go and play at the mountain folk’s place! I want to go with you! Definitely!”

Malida had been stamping her seal on documents while sitting at the opposite desk, but now she was making a racket over accompanying me. I decided to quickly divert her attention to something else.

“Malida-sama, we will dispatch our troops to the mountain folk’s territory in a month. The scale of the troops will be 200. The force will only consist of oni. The total number of enemies is unknown. The location of the enemy headquarters is unclear as well, but please get ready in advance so that you can deal with everything, ranging from a surprise attack to an assault strategy. Can you do that for me?”

You could literally see Malida’s face blooming into joy.

“Lichere! Call my uncle and Lator! We will discuss the troop compensation at a strategy meeting. Warid, lend me someone knowledgeable about the roads in the mountain folk’s territory. I will have an oni immediately draw up a detailed map, even including forest paths and hidden mountain trails. Liese-tan, we will check the number of personnel that can be sent around as reinforcement from the Alkor family! Irena, please take care of calculating an estimate for the war expenditures that would receive Albert’s approval. Unless we work out a plan that include a budget, it will be rejected anyway.”

The relaxed atmosphere completely dissipated thanks to the instructions hurled out by Malida. As always, Malida’s orders are quick and precise whenever it concerns battle. It’d be nice if she could allocate at least a bit of that motivation to domestic affairs, but…I guess that’s what you’d call asking for the impossible.

I led Warid and Luminas out of the now busy office, heading to the mountain folk’s territory to attend the clan chief council.

■

A few days later we found ourselves at the meeting place for the clan chief council, which had been set to take place in the village of the Warihara. The chiefs of all mountain folk clans had gathered, resulting in a noisy atmosphere inside the venue.

The ones gathered were 90% of the mountain folk, comprising the breakaway clans and the reformed moderate clans, who acknowledged the new system.

“It’s no mistake to interpret this as the majority of the mountain folk approving of the new system, is it?”

“Yeah, I got the same impression when I went around with Hakim to persuade folks. Besides, with you being here as well, there should basically exist no adversaries.”

I stood next to Warid while hiding my face under a hood to avoid my identity being exposed, but no one paid me any particular attention.

“Hakim has arrived.”

Seeing Hakim show up at the entrance to the assembly room, all chiefs stopped talking at once. Hakim moved up to the center of the silent room. The eyes of the chiefs were focused on him as they sat in a circle.

“I thank all of you for having followed my proposal and gathered for a clan chief council today. First off, I would like to announce that this meeting will become of utmost importance as it will decide the future prosperity of the mountain folk.”

Because they had already laid the groundwork by going around to persuade the clan chiefs, the attendees silently listened to Hakim without commenting on his words in any way.

“Very well, please allow me to move ahead to the first point on the agenda which I had already mentioned to all of you. Those in favor of shifting the jurisdiction of managing the mountain folk from the clan chief council system to a great clan chief who will represent all mountain folk, please raise your hand.”

All the clan chiefs raised their hands. I thought they’d slightly argue about it, but the persuasion by Warid and Hakim plus the obvious disadvantages and weaknesses of the current system as exploited by Hero’s Sword had apparently pushed the clan chiefs towards the great clan chief system which would allow for a centralization of power.

“The first measure has been accepted unanimously with everyone raising their hand. Then, on to the next measure. All those in favor of assigning me of the Warihara clan as the founding great clan chief and Warid of the Goshoot clan as the vice-great clan chief with both of us possessing the same authority, raise your hand.”

The reason why I asked Hakim to go with a double-headed political system was based on the mountain folk’s wish to officially remain neutral. Hakim would become a great clan chief, a representative of the mountain folk’s power, who advocates neutrality outwards. Meanwhile, I would have Warid create a system allowing me to move the mountain folk for the Erwin family’s sake.

This double-headed, political system followed the goal of splitting the mountain folk’s stance into official and unofficial.

This measure also saw no dissenting opinions as everyone approved of it by raising their hand.

“The second measure has also been adopted through the unanimous vote by everyone. As for the last and third measure; all those who approve of banishing the conversion to Hero’s Sword and exiling all clans which didn’t participate in this council, raise your hand.”

Around half didn’t raise their hand on this last measure. Even though most approved of the prohibition to convert to Hero’s Sword, many clan chiefs showed their disapproval of the idea of exiling their fellow clans.

“Albert-dono, I think it’s your turn now.”

Addressed by Warid, I removed the hood and moved up to Hakim in the center of the circle together with him. Seeing my face, the clan chiefs started to become noisy.

During my drinking trip, I had become acquainted with the clan chiefs over here and we had formed close relationships.

“Why is Hakim’s family member at this council?”

“Shouldn’t only clan chiefs be allowed in here?”

“Warid is also next to him. What’s going on?”

The clan chiefs looked at me with confusion as to why I was participating in this council written on their faces while loudly asking their questions.

Standing on either of my sides, Hakim and Warid held back the stirring clan chiefs.

“Be quiet!”

“Calm down. This gentleman here is the one who saved us mountain folk from Hero’s Sword’s tyranny ―― Albert von Erwin-sama!”

The loud meeting place instantly fell silent as soon as the other clan chiefs heard Hakim. Their eyes focused on me. And many of the chiefs quickly turned pale as they realized the implications of that.

Yep, yep, that’s the logical reaction here. I mean, they spilled all sorts of slander about other clans, embarrassing stories about themselves, and juicy stories when we were drinking together. I got them to tell me all sorts of things, which usually wouldn’t be intended for the ears of others, while we were chugging down the booze.

“We already told you about this, but Albert-dono is the one who cornered that powerful Hero’s Sword into a state close to annihilation through speech, wit, and information. Many of you probably told such a guy all sorts of secrets.”

You could hear the chiefs swallowing hard.

“At this point, the authority over the life and death of our influence lies with Albert-dono who has been called the Crown Jewel of Wisdom. If you oppose them, you should realize that you will suffer the same fate as the diehards and Hero’s Sword.”

The dispassionate threat by Warid caused the chiefs to shudder violently.

You don’t really have to threaten them so much, man. I’m kind to my friends, after all. However, I never forgive betrayal.

“B-But, we’re a neutral power――”

“The actual father of your daughter’s child, who married another clan chief――”

“Hii! W-Wrong! You’re wrong! Something like that――”

I unintentionally ended up letting a piece of information slip I possessed about the clan who was frantically trying to object.

“Ah, sorry. That was my misunderstanding then, I guess.”

After this short intermezzo, the faces of the other clan chiefs started to look even worse. They had realized that I was holding onto information that could very likely cause their ruin, if revealed.

“Anyone having a problem with the measure should speak up now. If you start to oppose our policy later, I’ll take it as treason.”

Warid cornered the clan chiefs by pressuring them with his new position.

“Hmm, it looks like no one wishes to object. Hakim, could you please run a second vote on the adoption of the third measure?”

“Very well. All those who approve of banishing the conversion to Hero’s Sword and exiling all clans which didn’t participate in this council, raise your hand.”

As soon as Hakim put it to the vote once more, all hands went up.

“The third measure has also been adopted through the unanimous vote by everyone. From now on I will be the founding Great Clan Chief with Warid serving as Vice-Great Clan Chief. Officially we will protect our territory as a neutral power while maintaining a close friendship with the Erwin family. Got it?”

“”””No objection.””””

It’s a big help that the mountain folk are going to cooperate with us. Not only does it lower the danger of us getting stabbed from behind, but it’ll also allow us to obtain high-quality information as the mountain folk can freely enter many nations.

Controlling information is directly linked to victory in battle and the ability to develop your own territory.

Once the clan chief council was over, a banquet to celebrate the establishment of the new ruling system began. I entrusted Great Clan Chief Hakim with the organization of the banquet to enjoy some wine together with Warid.

“Albert-dono, us mountain folk have chosen to walk along the path of prosperity together with the Erwin family.”

“That’s correct. But, rather than that, some clans suffered from our fake arson plan. I believe we should support those clans cordially. What do you think?”

“We have planned to return the money and goods to the clans, which suffered from the arson, after mopping up Hero’s Sword, though.”

“We must help them to compensate for the fields that burned down. They probably weren’t able to harvest any crops and if it’s food, we can provide it from that Ashley fief.”

Even now it’s still possible for that to be revealed at some point, although people believe it was done by armed soldiers of the diehards. If we now send them plenty of support, they might get angry at us at the time of disclosure, but they won’t break away.

Given that I wish to maintain close ties with the mountain folk for many years to come, I don’t want any disasters of the fake arson operation to remain festering.

“Understood. I will have the guarantees necessary for the afflicted clans estimated.”

“Please do.”

It’s possible that we will invite alienation, if our side keeps requesting unreasonable things from the mountain folk. I intend to carefully foster a relationship of mutual trust. Someday I will have the child between Luminas and me become the Great Clan Chief so that the mountain folk becomes a power of the Erwin family.

As I indulged in such thoughts while drinking with Warid, Hakim showed up next to me.

“As Great Clan Chief of the mountain folk, I request of you, Albert-dono of the Erwin family: I would like you to pretend that the matters of Hero’s Sword took place without our knowledge.”

“As you wish. I still haven’t reported back to His Majesty the Demon King, so it’s fine. You mountain folk have formed a close relationship with the Erwin family, after all. And friends help friends.”

“Thank you very much. I feel relieved to hear you say so, Albert-dono.”

Hakim appeared to be relieved as he had avoided a war with Elancia by becoming friends with my Erwin family.

“If you could make some of your soldiers available for the Hero’s Sword subjugation, I think it will give His Majesty a good impression. Hakim, you also have your stance as a neutral force to protect, so several soldiers to guide us would be plenty.”

“I understand. If just a few soldiers are needed, our Warihara clan can dispatch them.”

Given the demon king’s strong suspicion, he would likely order us to annihilate the mountain folk as well, if none of the mountain folk’s soldiers, even if it’s just a few of Hakim’s clan were to accompany us on the subjugation. Because all my prior effort would come to vain in such a case, we’re going with this plan.

“So, when do you plan to subjugate Hero’s Sword?”

“As a matter of fact, we’re already preparing for it. Since Malida-sama will take the lead in this operation, the soldiers of the Erwin family will come here within a few days as soon as I give her the go.”

“No way. Something like that should take much longer.”

Hakim smiled wryly at my words. But, it’s not like I’m kidding. Given that my family consists of meatheads, Malida should be currently waiting for the order to sortie with bloodshot eyes after already having finished all battle preparations.

“Sir Hakim, the Erwin family is quite capable of that.”

“What…so you were saying this seriously?”

Hakim apparently grasped from my reaction and face that I wasn’t joking around.

“Now that Sir Hakim has asked about the schedule for the subjugation, I will get an update about the current information on Hero’s Sword and then decide on the precise timing. Warid, please take it from here.”

“The enemy has become paranoid, doubting anything and anyone looking vaguely suspicious. Several of the clan chiefs of diehard clans have been executed. Tightening down the believers even further caused internal conflicts among the staff of Hero’s Sword, their believers, and the diehard clans.”

Hmm, I remember that part since I’ve taken part in triggering it.

“The internal conflicts have escalated and after getting anxious about having set up his stronghold in the settlement of a diehard clan, Bleach Oxner gathered the leaders of Hero’s Sword, the worshippers from Alexa, and a few, loyal mountain folk from the diehard clans to seclude himself in an old fortress located in the mountains.”

Hearing Warid’s report, it’s become clear that the organization’s internal structures have fallen apart, leaving only the core members behind.

“What’s their current combat power?”

“The ones encamped in the fort are estimated to be 100 armed soldiers of Hero’s Sword, 100 worshippers, and 100 clan members. It seems like they’re planning to make a comeback with the fort as their new base,” Warid explained next to me.

It’s possible that we could suffer big losses, if we force an attack on soldiers that have nowhere to run anymore. At this point, it’s best to deliver the finishing blow with as few casualties as possible by deploying the combat experts against the cornered Hero’s Sword members.

If we succeed in crushing Hero’s Sword by doing this, we will also prevent anyone from starting attacks on us after getting agitated to join some holy war by the hero in gilded armor. Also, the conflict with Hero’s Sword also allowed me to catch one of the empire’s nobles who’s making odd moves.

I plan to have the Alkor family, led by Liese, kill that traitor for the sake of her family earning some plus points with the demon king.

“So the total number of enemies in the fort amounts to around 300, huh? If it’s only so few, it’ll turn into some sort of show to demonstrate the Erwin family’s strength to the mountain folk, I fear. I feel sorry for the guys who have holed up in that fort, but once the battle starts, even I won’t be able to stop them anymore. Please fire plenty of arrows with a message, telling them to flee if they value their lives, into the fortress.”

“As you wish.”

I entrusted Warid with the task of giving those, who were willing to resist, a final warning. Once those meatheads are set loose, they may not listen to my orders until they’ve choked the life out of their enemies.

Giving those in the fortress a chance to escape is the last mercy I can show them.

■

※ Orgus’s Point of View ※

“Did you catch all of the Hero’s Sword folks?”

Prime Minister Zazan showed up at the room where I was handling the governmental work as my father’s representative. For some reason he was looking even worse than usual.

“Actually, there is something I must tell you. Would you be able to come to another room?”

Another room? So he can’t talk about it here? I get a bad feeling from this, but it’s not like I can’t listen to it just because of that.

“Very well. Today’s governmental duties are finished. I’ll do the rest tomorrow.”

The civil officials, who had been waiting nearby, respectfully bowed their heads and started to clean the documents away. I left the room together with Zazan and moved to my private chamber.

“So, what is it?”

I jumped on a sofa, stretched my tired body, and urged Zazan to speak.

“As a matter of fact, a messenger from Hero’s Sword has arrived… He has asked me to let him meet you, Your Highness.”

“Are you an idiot!? You know how much attention everyone in Alexa is paying to Hero’s Sword right now, don’t you!? Don’t let someone like that anywhere near me! If Goran hears about this, my standing will become even more shaky! Do you plan to ruin me!?”

I kicked the table in front of the sofa away out of anger.

“I am well aware of that, but…the other party possesses a document listing the donations paid to you by Hero’s Sword. It will become a huge uproar if he spreads it all over the capital after we don’t meet him.”

Zazan made me even angrier with his report given while bowing.

Tsk! Those fuckers from Hero’s Sword kept records to use it as protection, if necessary, eh? And all that after I told him to get a hold of all documents when I had him search the facilities of Hero’s Sword. That Zazan is such a useless dunce!

If such a document were to be spread about me, my credibility would likely plummet to the ground, even now after I recovered some ground by rigorously investing Hero’s Sword.

My irritation and impatience grew worse, causing my feet to tremble.

“Is that record of the donations genuine?”

“I was only able to throw a fleeting glance at it, but it was no different from the documents we confiscated beforehand. If that is spread publicly, we won’t be able to talk our way out of it. After all, it even contains your own hand-written signatures, Your Highness.”

“That bloody Hero’s Sword! They must be an incarnation of the pest! In the first place, you were the one to introduce these bastards to me! Take responsibility for it!”

“P-Please forgive me. As I tried to meet your expectations, I fell for their cajolery,” Zazan apologized while rubbing his pale forehead against the floor.

Because he was deeply trusted by my father as prime minister, he became my guardian, but far from being useful, he keeps pulling my legs all the time. If not for all the nobles who are backing me, I’d have been dismissed by now.

Most recently the wind’s direction has changed and the scum supporting Goran has grown in number. If not for the support of Zazan’s family which has been supporting the royal family for generations, my position as crown prince would have been called into question, too.

It pisses me off that I cannot cut off that imbecile of a prime minister, but because I still need him, I’ll go along with his way of fixing the situation.

“Where’s that man?”

“He has been hiding in one of my detached villas.”

Hmm, if it’s one of Zazan’s mansions, I think the danger of anyone watching us will be negligible. I’ll meet him, get the document, cut him down, and expose it as me having been attacked by an assassin of Hero’s Sword. If I handle it like that, the people will also buy the explanation.

“I will meet with that man, just as he wishes. Zazan, lead me there. Also, have armed soldiers stationed at the detached villa.”

“Yes, Your Highness! Thank you very much! I will immediately get everything ready.”

After Zazan ran out of the room, I waited for sunset and then we moved to his villa in a carriage.

■

“Thank you kindly for giving me the opportunity of a meeting.”

The man in Zazan’s villa was a leader of Hero’s Sword. I’ve forgotten his name, but I do remember the face.

“It’s because I’m quite obliged to Hero’s Sword. If I’m told you want to meet me, I’ll grant you at least that much. But, you didn’t visit me to just have a casual chat, did you? Out with it. What is your objective? I’ll cooperate if it’s something I can deal with. In exchange, I’ll have you pass us those records you possess.”

The leader guy looked surprised as he apparently didn’t expect that I’d readily offer him my cooperation.

“It makes things easier, if you bring it up from your side, Your Highness. We would like you to speak to the Eutel Main Temple on our behalf and ask them to undo the banishment and renouncement of Hero’s Sword’s legality.”

What is that guy saying now after all this time…? The scandals of Hero’s Sword are well known among the people by now, and the main temple of Eutel is enraged about them as well. There’s no way a few words from me would change anything.

I firmly suppressed the desire to slap that guy.

“It’s impossible for me to do something like that. Right now I’m on the side of those cracking down on Hero’s Sword as an illegal organization.”

I could hear the man click his tongue, but ignored it. There’s nothing but risks involved in supporting Hero’s Sword now that it’s lost its influence.

“I see… Then we request assistance on the territory of the kingdom. If it’s this, it should put Your highness in any danger since it’s a domestic problem.”

“The territory of the kingdom, you say?”

“Yes.Our Hero’s Sword is aiming for a comeback from within the territory of the mountain folk, but thanks to the banishment of our belief by the Alexa, believers are continuously running away from us and we have become isolated. We would like you to ask Marquis Brolish to resume the military assistance to us from Tiana.”

“Bleach Oxner and your leaders have gathered in the mountain folk’s territory?”

“Yes. Since our lives weren’t safe in Alexa anymore, Bleach-sama and the rest of us moved into the mountains. I have come back here as a negotiator.”

I see. I wondered why we couldn’t find them, but I guess they already gave up on their activities in Alexa. That swindler and his happy band of crooks sure is fast at running away.

But, I must show some results in tracking down Hero’s Sword. Although he’s a small-fry, my father will reconsider his opinion of me, if I present him the head of this leader here. Besides, if they’re isolated within the mountain folk, those savages will sooner or later get rid of Bleach.

Once that happens, I won’t need to dirty my own hands, allowing me to keep things vague.

“Ah, so you have been isolated, huh? Bleach has taken good care of me, so it won’t be much of a problem to provide you with secret military support, if it’s within our territory. Alright, I’ll pass that order to Marquis Brolish.”

The man beamed in joy at my reply, took out a gold bar, and offered it to me.

“This is compensation for your support. Please acc――”

“Are you an idiot or something?”

I took a bell out of my pocket and rang it. At once armed soldiers stormed in from the adjoining room. They quickly stabbed the leader of Hero’s Sword to death.

“Lop off his head and put it on display on the royal capital’s main gate.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

As an armed soldier cut off the head, I picked up the records from the ground.

“Zaza, make sure to dispose of these properly. Also, dispatch spies to Hero’s Sword and make sure that they’re annihilated. The gold bar down there should be more than enough as funds. Get it done.”

“A-As you command.”

Leaving the annoying after-care to Zazan, I went back to the royal palace.

On the next day, the head of the leader was displayed on the gate as punishment for an assassin of Hero’s Sword who had tried to kill me. It allowed me to direct the people’s anger on his conspirators.

With this, my position as crown prince should have been safe. But, for some reason, the records which we should have collected were suddenly found inside the mouth of the head on display, resulting in all citizens learning about my relationship with Hero’s Sword.

Because of that, demands to investigate my qualification as next king started to spread and I was forced to run all over the place to cope with the situation.

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Translation Notes:

1. It’s the thing Yoruichi in Bleach uses in a way.