Episode 107
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“I intend to grant you the Duchy of Saxony.”
What the Duke of Saxony gave to Dale on his thirteenth birthday was truly something befitting a ducal family.
“The territory… … .”
As the representative of the Duke of Saxony, Dale already had the title of Viscount. However, it was only a stepping stone for political activities, and Dale was not actually given a territory. In the first place, Dale had a more important role to play while traveling around the continent than being tied to a territory.
To make the name of ‘Black Prince’ known and to continuously refine himself. Furthermore, to obtain what he needs.
But things were a little different when, on her thirteenth birthday, the Duke of Saxony spoke of the ‘Land of Dale’.
The head of the Shadow Court, the continent’s greatest assassin organization, was in his hands… …and he was the captain of the Black Armor Company, an invincible black armor mercenary unit comprised of one thousand heavily armored infantrymen.
Trustworthy swordsmen, including the Swordswoman Charlotte and the Virgin Aurelia, were guarding Dale’s side.
The Night Raven Knights under Dale’s command, including Lord Vale of Baskerville, were no exception.
Lastly, there is the elf wizard Sepia, his teacher who has always been by his side without question.
People who exist for Dale, not the Duke of Saxony. Dale’s forces possess an absurd level of power. Before he knew it, the eldest son of the Saxony family had far surpassed the level of a mere middle-class nobleman, and the Duke of Saxony, who had figured that out, wanted to grant him lands accordingly.
A place where Dale’s power could settle and take root. So there was no reason to hesitate.
“Is there any other place you have in mind within the dukedom?”
“Yes, there is a place I really want to go.”
“Oh, tell me.”
There was a map of the empire on the table, and the Duchy of Saxony was visible, dominating the northern part of the map. Moving the view upward, the White Mountains blocking the Duchy of Saxony were revealed.
Above the White Mountains, there was an endless expanse of dark, unknown territory that had not yet been discovered, starting with the ‘Old Demon King’s Territory’.
Dark Land.
When the warriors once defeated the being known as the ‘Demon King’, the people of the continent believed without a doubt that peace had come to the world. However, what the imperial leadership realized was that some of the demons had simply attempted a great migration in order to survive the harsh environment of the ‘Dark Lands’.
Despite knowing this fact, the Imperial Household granted the ‘Demon Lands’ to the Duchy of Saxony as a fief and issued an almost unreasonable order to develop it into Imperial land.
When Dale was young, there were some attempts to develop the Demon King’s Territory. However, the development project ended in failure, and now they only station winter guards in the White Mountains to monitor the activities of the Demon King’s Territory.
A barren land that even the Duke of Saxony, the greatest in the world, could not obtain.
“Please give me the territory here, in the Demon King’s Territory.”
Pointing to the land, Dale opened his mouth.
“……also.”
But at Dale’s words, the Duke of Saxony simply smiled bitterly without even being flustered. As if he had known this would happen from the beginning.
“You’re not surprised.”
“You’ve already shown me so many surprises that it’s hard to be surprised by them all.”
In order to force the bleeding of the Duke of Saxony, the Imperial Family deliberately did not root out the darkness of the Demon Territory.
“What do you plan to do with this Demon King’s territory?”
“I will establish my own fiefdom here, and it will become a shield to defend against the threat of the Demons.”
“There are still countless labyrinths and wandering monsters in the Demon King’s Territory. Even if you can build a fortress, it would be impossible to create an ‘environment for people to live in’ in that territory.”
“At least with our own strength.”
Dale answered.
“But there are still countless talented people on the continent who are wandering around in pursuit of an opportunity to get rich quick.”
Pathfinders, monster hunters, mercenaries, adventurers who wander the roads of this world, living in a hopeless world.
“Because the way people live doesn’t necessarily have to be through harvesting crops.”
It was something Dale could say with confidence, as he was the first to delve into the darkness of the ‘Demon King’s Territory’ and defeat the Demon King. If the value of the treasures sleeping there were to be known, it would literally be reminiscent of the gold rush of the Wild West.
“Do you know the meaning of that act?”
“I know.”
The Duke of Saxony asked heavily, and Dale nodded. He wanted to make the treasures sleeping in the Demon King’s Territory known to the world, and provide adventurers on the continent with a chance to make a fortune overnight.
“But it’s worth it.”
Breaking the isolationism of the Duke of Saxony and moving towards openness.
“We will only assist adventurers and protect them from threats they cannot handle.”
“What a truly absurd idea.”
“Humans are creatures who live by desire.”
Dale answered.
“Even so, is there a way to persuade all the adventurers on the continent at once?”
“there is.”
At the Duke of Saxony’s question, Dale smiled as if he had been waiting for it.
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Some time after that.
A considerable number of adventurers showed up at the large market held in Guild City. They were holding artifacts and jewels that they had risked their lives to obtain in the land of the Demon King beyond the Duchy of Saxony.
The seven masters of Guild City competed with each other in a bidding war worth thousands of dollars over the treasure of darkness, and it goes without saying that everyone’s attention was focused on it.
The treasures of the Demon King’s Territory that the adventurers had acquired were spread through the mouths of the seven cities and the great guilds.
The Guild City becomes a horse without legs that runs a thousand miles, riding on the network of organizations that have taken root throughout the empire.
‘We are recruiting skilled adventurers from the Duchy of Saxony.’
‘In the Northern Demon King’s Territory, there are still countless labyrinths and artifacts sleeping.’
‘By obtaining one artifact, you can become a millionaire who can feed three generations.’
‘Even an adventurer with no skills can slowly grow by hunting low-level monsters.’
‘If you avoid the monsters and are lucky enough to find one of the gems in the labyrinth, you can live a comfortable life.’
Following the special order of the City Master, the seven great guilds began to talk about the ‘Treasure of the Demon King’s Territory’ wherever they had branches.
Through the guild city network, the story spread through word of mouth among the mercenaries.
A land of opportunity where you can risk your life to make a fortune. Artifact Rush.
It was the prelude to the beginning of the ‘Wild North’.
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The following year, Dale’s fourteenth birthday arrived.
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Labyrinth, the city of dungeons.
A city of opportunity built on top of the ‘Great Labyrinth’ of the Northern Demon King’s Territory.
Adventurers were bustling about on every street, and in the Labyrinth City area, these very adventurers began to work as ‘pioneer farmers’ and cultivate the frozen soil with winter crops.
In addition, the church also said, “Developing the land of the Demon King is an act desired by the Goddess,” and many pioneer monks joined one after another to carry out the will of the Goddess. Impressed by Cardinal Nikolai’s fiery passion, they volunteered to be the servants of the sister gods.
People gathered, cities were formed, and wealth was circulating. No one dared call this place the northern backwater anymore.
Including Guild City, large merchant houses from all over the continent have established their branches here and there. The streets of the labyrinth city are no exception, with taverns and other facilities built up in layers.
The Duke of Saxony once remodeled the fortress as a base for developing the Demon King’s Territory, and expanded it into a city.
And that day, the castle of the ‘Little Viscount of Saxony’ in the labyrinthine city of Labyrinth.
On the throne of that very lord’s castle sat Dale, officially the ‘Virgin of Saxony’ who ruled over the Northern Demon King’s Territory.
A title granted to Dale as a representative of his father, the Grand Duke of Saxony.
The Black Armor Company has officially signed a long-term contract with the Viscount of Saxony… …Dale, and has been reborn as a guard force that officially protects the Demon King’s Territory (Vissitudes of Saxony).
As the years passed, Dale’s vision of a northern colony was progressing more smoothly by the day. By choosing openness rather than isolation.
This is not to say that the Duke of Saxony’s methods were wrong. Rather, the fact that Dale is now choosing to be open and bring about a revival in the territory is based on the power of the House of Saxony that the Black Duke has built up by choosing isolation up until now.
It was the son’s job to inherit and carry on what his father had built up.
Ruler of the Demon King’s Territory.
Although it officially bears the name of the Saxon County, the name of this land remains unchanged. In awe of the notoriety and fear of the ‘Black Prince’ who rules this territory.
And Dale, too, had no particular qualms about calling his territory ‘the Demon King’s Territory’.
“Your Majesty the Viscount of Saxony.”
At that time, the ‘Winter Watcher’ who was monitoring the Demon King’s Territory reported to Dale.
From being a mere mountain guard stationed in the mountains, they were reborn as an intelligence unit directly under the Count of Saxony.
“There are reports that a group of ghouls are preparing a large-scale attack on the pioneer monastery north of the city.”
Hearing the report, Lord Vale of Baskerville opened his mouth.
“Shall we issue a summons to the entire Knight Command?”
“How many ghouls are there?”
“It’s about a thousand levels.”
“I will handle it myself.”
Dale nods and continues.
“Lord Veil, summon the knights within the castle.”
“I will follow your orders!”
“Sir Johnes, two hundred heavy infantry from the Black Armor Company.”
“I will follow your orders, Captain!”
The adventurers can handle what they can, and it is the House of Saxony’s job to protect against threats they cannot. That is why Dale stood up.
As the lord of the Saxon countship and the ruler of this Demon Territory.
Following Dale’s side was Geomhee, armed with black armor.
Lady Charlotte.
Although her figure was hidden by the helmet, she could not be seen. However, she could be seen from the puffed-out chest that could not be hidden above the black armor symbolizing the Night Raven Knight. In her who had grown up to be fourteen years old, there was no longer any trace of the aegyo of that time.
Dale was no exception.
Dale walked forward, his shadow cloak fluttering as he disguised himself as a black surcoat. The vassals of the Saxon Viscounty lined up on both sides silently bowed their heads.
Dale’s first idea was to establish Dale’s forces here in the Demon King’s Territory and build a ‘City of Opportunity’, which was a success. But that wasn’t the end of it.
In fact, it had only been a few months since the city had been revived and adventurers had begun to flock there. The conflicts between people and people, people and monsters, and countless others were troubling Dale’s head every day.
In this land filled with dark powers, the threats Dale will face are only a taste.
It was not for no reason that the Duke of Saxony abandoned the ‘Devil’s Territory’.
Therefore, Dale’s journey to become a lord who develops the Demon King’s Territory and receives the title of ‘Virgin of Saxony’ from his father was only just beginning.
