How to Live as a Tyrant’s Spoiled Brat Chapter 256

(256)

The southern part of Freiheit also served as the border dividing the western and southwestern parts of the empire.

One by one, the huge rock mountains that pierce the sky disappear, the color of the soil changes from black-brown to yellow-brown, scaly things start to grow larger than furry ones, and birds with colorful feathers cry out day and night.

As it was a place where climates clashed, the weather was also unpredictable, but the water was abundant.

As the altitude decreased, pests and diseases increased slightly, but the plains also expanded.

White clouds floated quickly across the high sky, but no dust rose.

A foreign substance has entered this capricious, beautiful, and fierce world.

Kookookookook!

People looked at the shadow of the ship cutting through the sky with a bewildered look on their faces.

“What is that?”

"oh my god."

“The end has come!”

The village elder consoled the people by saying that there was something called a mirage in the desert.

“Hey, stop talking nonsense. I’ve seen similar things many times when I was a peddler in the desert. What’s in the sea far away is reflected in the sky.”

The old man was the wisest man in the village, and the villagers were more afraid of the tax collectors and the army of the Republic of Langso and the Republic coming from the west than the flying ships, so they quickly forgot about the airship and took up their hoes again.

But the old man who had actually seen a mirage knew.

That loud noise and vividness, the fluttering sound like the wings of a thousand birds, the wind that had swept down here, the softly shining purple force field could never have been a mirage.

“What on earth is going to happen?

The old man looked south with anxious eyes.

It wasn't just the old man who had similar looks in his eyes.

The scouts of the Republic of Langso were so shocked that they dropped the telescopes they were holding.

“What the heck is that?”

“Can the Imperial wizards transfer the apostasy with magic?”

“Flying in the sky… … Isn’t the sky a space that is only permitted to celestial beings?”

“We must report to the General and the Senator as soon as possible. Magic is an unholy power, and if we were to fight a wizard with such power head-on, our Republic’s military would be annihilated.”

“I thought of the word ‘unclean power’, but isn’t their appearance related to the demonic realm that opened up nearby?”

“Huh. They are just using the excuse of the Demonic Crusade to send troops and hinder the advancement of our republic.”

“… … Anyway, let’s go back and report quickly. My legs are shaking.”

* * *

I landed the Nibelungen on a reasonably flat mountainside.

Sereraji had his disciple magicians raise red smoke, and two days later, Signine's supply unit arrived.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Archduke Valencian.”

The supply party was led by a knight of the Heavenly Knights, who arrived with a procession of dozens of wagons.

Judging from the fact that he arrived in two days after avoiding the Langso and Republic scouts who were scattered everywhere, he seemed to be a very capable person in many ways.

“Potions, reagents, biscuits, flour, salted meat, a portable water collection tool… … everything you need is there.”

“And this is a token of appreciation from the Duke.”

I am the Archduke, and Signine is the Duke.

Both are the same but mine was a little higher.

So, it was a very clever and excellent way of speaking to maintain the status by using the title of “Your Highness” while not addressing one’s lord.

“Signine has a good article.”

I smiled with satisfaction and opened the box.

At first glance, it looks like a bundle of silver wires with high mana receptivity, a bag of gold coins containing exactly one hundred coins, jewelry that is both a top-quality reagent and a luxury item, and various defensive magical tools… … .

It was enough money to bring in dozens of knights and a cavalry unit.

Especially when looking at the magic tools, they all seemed to be top-notch, custom-made in the Ivory Tower.

It seemed like there was a lightning ring and a fire resistance ring, but I happened to have someone to give them to.

I glanced at Rudy, then pointed to the last box.

“Is this it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

If you hadn't given me this, I might have brought a little less troops.

I had Marcus' assistants put the chest in an empty cabin and locked the door tightly, then asked Sererazie to set a lightning magic trap on the lock.

“Valentine, what is that?”

Rudy came and asked, and I answered in a low voice.

“Dragon bones. I asked for a few pieces left.”

Rudy's eyes widened, and I quickly took out a few rings from my pocket and put them on him.

One was a gold ring with a red gem attached to it, and the other was a black ring with a blue gem attached to it.

Rudy closed his eyes for a moment, trying to sense the mana he felt from the ring, then opened them again and let out a hollow laugh.

“I now have six magic tool rings on my hands. It’s like I’m carrying around almost my weight in gold.”

“Right? The original ones were silver magic, force field, body strengthening by the method of the birth and death of the ancestors, and body strengthening by the method of the blessing of the wind.”

“The red gem is fire resistant? What about the black ring?”

“Lightning Ring. When you are struck by electricity, it prevents the electricity from penetrating your body, but only passes through your skin.”

Rudy made a face that said he had a lot to say, then shook his head once and smiled kindly.

“I will use it well, Valen.”

“Yes. Now you’re finally saying what I wanted to say.”

Then Sereraji came up to me and pointed north.

I didn't know I could place a spell on a lock so quickly.

“Have you already put the dragon bones in?”

“Who am I? That much can be done with just a wave of a cane. More importantly, look over there.”

I bit my lip as I felt the otherworldly mana crawling over my skin.

“I was wondering if the road here was long or short, but it’s definitely a demonic realm. Signine is having a hard time too. The enemy and the other world are invading at the same time.”

“They don’t seem to be very mysterious beings. They are probably closer to demons than foreign objects, but their physical destructive power is likely to be stronger.”

“We should send out a few scouts. We’ll have to be careful not to run into any Republic bastards along the way.”

“You can figure that out yourself.”

As soon as Sereraji finished speaking, he returned to his cabin.

She looked quite tired from the long flight, so I didn't hold on to her.

Her vacancy was immediately filled by Sir Tentia.

She was looking down at me in her heavy, mechanical armor, her expression not very bright.

"majesty."

“Sir. Your expression is dark. Is there something that worries you? Please speak comfortably.”

“There are two things to it.”

"okay."

“Actually… I was wondering if it would be right to kneel down and get down to your level right now.”

I held back the laughter that was about to burst out.

“Wearing mechanical armor is a bit different from riding a horse in front of your lord. Just stand there.”

“Thank you. And the second is-.”

“Which one?”

“Why didn’t you send a scout party and even light a signal fire? The Heavenly Knights estimate that there will be over 100,000 troops crossing the border in the future. By now, they all know where we are.”

100,000 was more than the army that Cariosa had brought.

Of course, it cannot be compared to the mercenaries of the Republic of Cariosa and Ransowa, who had only selected the most elite, but the number 100,000 had a quality that only numbers had.

No matter how strong I became, if an army of 100,000 people came rushing in, I would eventually run out of mana and be torn apart.

Still, he kindly told me where he was.

“Yeah. I told you to come. You’re just around the corner.”

This is because I believed in the characteristics of a republican system that is easy to corrupt but also easy to correct, and that tolerates diverse opinions and forces.

Sir Tentia narrowed his eyes as he spotted the cavalry charging from afar.

"white flag?"

They were carrying both the tricolor and the white flag.

I recited leisurely.

“Okay. Let’s get ready to welcome our guests.”

* * *

I did everything I could to get the upper hand on the unknown messenger.

He had Marcus launch the Nibelungen on purpose and have it land again, had Sir Tentia and his machine knights run a gallop around the camp, and had the battalion commander of the musketeers demonstrate a timed gait and new weapon.

And after Sereraji and Sir Tentia, who had come out of their deep sleep, Rudy with his gun and dagger, and Marcus, who had his prosthetic legs, arms, and eyes all clearly visible, were all pushed into the tent and made to sit behind me like a folding screen.

“Your Majesty, Valen. Isn’t that a bit too artificial?”

“Little brother. Isn’t this a little ugly?”

“Lord Valen. This seems more like a threat than a formality.”

“Your Highness the Grand Duke of Valen. I am concerned about the leakage of technology.”

I ignored all the objections and adjusted the brightness of the luminous spell-carved crystal orb hanging from the barracks ceiling.

It's supposed to be a little dark to create a lively atmosphere.

“Everyone, keep your mouths shut. The enemy represents an army of 100,000 men. We have to act as if that isn’t a threat at all.”

I adjusted my uniform collar even more meticulously, added a heavy gold ornament I didn't normally wear, and changed my hair four times in thirty minutes.

I'll make you go back trembling.

I vowed so and gave the cool command.

“Tell them to come in.”

And Inyoung, who came in through the tent door, shattered my determination in an instant.

“Greetings from Senator Eric Jan Benedict of the Republic of Lanceaux to Grand Duke Valencianus of the Empire of Soletaras.”

It was early evening, and the tent's entrance faced west, so the red glow of the sunset formed a backdrop for him.

Unlike other authors who are members of the National Assembly, he had his blond hair down, slightly covering his forehead. The redness from the sunset seemed to symbolize his passion for his country and people.

In contrast, the backlit blue eyes were cool, as if they were grasping reality, and at the same time, clear, as if they would not compromise with that reality.

His kind face, handsome appearance, and clean skin reminded him of a young prince from some kingdom rather than a member of the Republic.

As I looked down the neckline, which was so thin that I wanted to twist it, a heavy gold badge came into view.

Even when he entered the camp of the infamous Archduke Valencian, he was dressed in a suit and coat.

He has already conveyed to me his intention that he is not here to fight with a sword.

“Senator. What noble family is the Benedict family? I’ve never heard of it before.”

I asked to seize the initiative, but I already knew Eric Yan.

When I met him before the return, he was neither a prince of a fallen nation nor a member of the council of a fallen nation, a man of no rank, but he was the symbol that brought together countless survivors from all over the Old Republic under the rebellious prince Justinian.

He was a politician who truly cared for the people, and he was also the person who taught me that there is a word for people, not subjects.

He answered so clearly and proudly that it was embarrassing to hear.

“Your Majesty, this may be a little disconcerting, but our Republic has no noble class. The Benedicts are simply people who serve the people.”

I felt like a devil standing before a saint and pressed him.

“Ruling by someone who is not even a noble… … There are such worthless countries in the world. So. What brings you here?”

Eric took a short breath.

“Please stop General Benoit, Commander-in-Chief of the Republic.”

“!”

It was something completely unexpected.

Tentia and Sereraji frowned, and Marcus smiled crookedly, as if he found it interesting.

I wish I had better control over my facial expressions.

“Didn’t the Republic want war?”

Eric answered firmly.

“The Republic never supports opportunistic and imperialist expansionist policies. But the current actions of General Benoit and the hardliners in the parliament are extremely strange.”

I didn't know you would be this honest.

“I thought it was ridiculous to wage a fake war with Doroisen for hundreds of years just for the sake of popularity, and to shed innocent people’s blood. So when the madness against Doroisen ended, I turned my head toward the Empire.”

There was a different kind of nobility in him than in Severic.

“… … .”

“I hate to admit it, but Soletaras is a power that cannot be compared to Lancelot. I am a republican, but I also understand reality. War with the Empire would only bring about the destruction of the Republic.”

I dreamed of ideals, but my feet were firmly planted in reality.

“… … .”

“I will not stand by and watch another politician drive the country to ruin for his own personal approval ratings or at someone else’s behest. There has been no fighting yet, so I ask that you please allow me to withdraw.”

I wasn't afraid to ask for something.

I felt my voice tremble strangely.

Things were going so well.

“If you ask me to stop?”

Eric bowed his head to me.

Very, very deeply and respectfully.

“… … Please, the renowned Grand Duke, come to our camp and inform General Benoa of the reality. I beg you.”

If you translate that 'famous', it means 'notorious'.

Asking for information about reality is something that doesn't even need any interpretation.

In short, he was demanding that I threaten General Benoit to some extent so that he would be frightened into returning to his home country.

“… … .”

Aside from the threats, meeting him with Sereraji might give him a sense of erosion, giving him an idea of how many eroders there are in the Republic military.

It was too flimsy to be a trap to draw me in, too awkward to be seen as a genuine wish for peace, too alluring to ignore, and too unsettling to accept.

I took a deep breath and said.

“I think I need some time to think about it.”