The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 70
Unsatisfactory Operation (5)
“… … I see.”
Arendelle’s great victory.
… … and the restoration of the North.
I calmly placed the contents of the communication that arrived from Arendelle on the desk. Then, Baron Vidor, who had brought the news of victory, asked with an anxious expression.
“Your Majesty, is there anything that doesn’t seem right?”
He seemed to have noticed that there was not even the slightest change in expression on my face, and he seemed to have expressed concern.
But the reason he acted so indifferently was simply because the situation wasn’t all that surprising.
“It was just something that was planned.”
I also designed it that way. I am not the kind of person who can afford to be overjoyed or saddened by a predetermined outcome.
If there was one part that was particularly moving, it was the damage Arendelle suffered.
‘… …I guess that’s how it’s going to turn out.’
The plan to burn down the granary in the north was a simple but utterly difficult strategy.
First, there was a condition that the barbarians had to be inside the granary area, and second, there had to be a determination to burn down the granary area that was responsible for the country’s food.
Finally, there was a special element that required the use of the south wind, which only blows briefly just before the arrival of spring; missing this period would have rendered the operation ineffective.
Ironically, the best opportunity was right at this time, just before the nation’s fortunes were on the verge of collapse.
In that sense, Caravan Zite, the person who completed this strategy, also perfectly understood my intention and put it into practice.
What was it like before the return? Since the destruction of Arendelle, it had been a waste of two years to fully meet the conditions, and the land had already suffered irreparable damage from the barbarians.
Moreover, wasn’t it the case that countless troops from the Liberation Army were sacrificed to lure the barbarians who had spread throughout Arendelle to the northern granary?
‘But unlike the past, Arendelle has been completely restored.’
In other words, he changed the fate of another country without even moving from where he was sitting.
I absentmindedly rested my chin on one hand and tapped the desk with the other.
“Did you say you were going to throw a victory party?”
“Yes. We will hold a party whenever His Majesty arrives. However, we have not forgotten to be considerate, saying that it would be better for you to move after enduring the winter cold.”
After winter passed… … that is, there were more than three months left.
Considering the long distance to Arendelle, it’s a very leisurely schedule. It’s probably a consideration to have you prepare slowly and come back around a warm spring day.
But if you think about it the other way around, it’s similar to saying that you have to wait that much time.
“… … 3 months, it’s been a long time.”
“If so, would you like to send a message to express your intention not to attend?”
“no.”
I stopped tapping my hands on the desk and pulled up the corners of my mouth.
In any case, it was necessary to visit Arendelle for the sake of the plan.
However, if we bring that time forward, we might be able to move a little more efficiently and nimbly.
“I will adjust the schedule. Transmit the communication immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Assuming that we move quickly by carriage, would it take about a month?”
“A month later? Is that necessary?”
My mischievous gaze turned to Baron Vidor.
“Three days later.”
“……yes?”
For a moment, the Baron’s eyes, which had met mine, lost focus in absurdity. But I paid no attention and continued speaking.
“The victory party will be held in three days.”
“Your Majesty… … .”
They will also need at least some time to make the minimum preparations.
But even those three days were, at least to me, a waste of money.
* * *
Three days have passed since the last communication with Esteban.
The royal family of Arendelle decreed a four-day festival to comfort those weary from war.
Not only did he open the royal treasury to feed the people, he also lifted the prohibition on alcohol that had been in place during the war, thereby announcing the end of the war.
However, the king was actually looking at the inside of the royal party hall to console his bitter feelings.
“I didn’t know that the first prince of Esteban would send me a message of rejection.”
“It was probably a consideration to take care of the people without delay. As my father said, how can this opportunity only come once?”
But the crown prince who said that also did not hide his regretful expression.
His statement that he would come back in three days from a distant foreign land like Esteban was effectively a roundabout way of expressing his intention to reject her.
The reason why he specifically mentioned the three-day period there is probably because he wanted to tell them not to wait for him and to enjoy the joy of victory as soon as possible.
“I know that, but I can’t help but feel sad that he won’t come.”
“That’s okay. Next time, why don’t we just hold a party just for him?”
“… … Heh heh. I see. That should work.”
Only then did the king smile, holding a glass in his hand, and walk to the center of the party venue.
“It looks like everyone who will attend the party has arrived.”
So the King began the party by giving his opening speech.
… … No, it certainly would have been so, even if there hadn’t been a commotion coming from outside the party venue.
“Hmm?”
The king, feeling strange, turned his gaze to the door of the party hall, and then the nobles also turned their gaze to the same place.
At that moment, the door to the party hall opened and a royal magician wearing a robe turned inside out appeared. The king slowly put down his goblet and asked.
“What’s going on? It’s noisy outside. What’s that noise?”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty… … That’s it, the communication has arrived… … .”
“communication?”
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As the king frowned, the wizard began to explain something urgently.
“We will be moving now, so please vacate the royal palace training grounds immediately.”
“A training ground? Who?”
“The first prince of Esteban said.”
“What does that mean?”
What does it mean to come now, and what does it mean to ask for the training ground to be vacated?
But it was none other than the nobles present at the party who were able to grasp the situation before that.
“omg!”
“Hey, what is that!”
“oh my god……!”
The nobles who were absentmindedly looking out the window burst out in shock at the mention of the training ground. The king approached in surprise.
“What’s going on?!”
“Look over there, Your Majesty!”
“Over there… … .”
The king’s gaze followed the nobles’ eyes. And, there. he witnessed a scene he could never believe.
“What, what is this… … .”
A gigantic magic circle descends brilliantly over the deep night smoke field. And a group of people walk out from within it.
Even if we put aside the violent aura felt from the magic circle, just watching it was enough to understand the situation.
“Te, teleport… … !”
It was a miracle called power.
* * *
“Ah, His Highness the First Prince of Esteban and his attendants are entering!”
At the servant’s shout, the king’s astonished gaze once again turned to the entrance of the party hall.
Silver hair, red eyes, and a steady gait.
The person who appeared, leaving such unbelievable footprints, was clearly the first prince of Esteban, whose existence was known only through rumors and communications.
So even after seeing the truth, I couldn’t believe it.
“Uh, how… … .”
A man who was in Esteban’s royal household just three days ago.
A man who, just a moment ago, I had decided would never participate.
How on earth could you possibly be here? And with a delegation of a dozen or so people?
“I really want to teleport… … .”
In front of the King, who was repeating the same lines over and over again like a broken cuckoo doll. And in front of the Crown Prince, who was glaring in shock.
I woke them up by setting an elegant example.
“I clearly said I would come see you in three days, so why should I be so surprised?”
“Ha, but, just before that… … .”
Haven’t you been communicating with Esteban’s royal family?
I could have easily predicted what would happen without even hearing the aftermath.
But if you insist on repeating the same thing, then that is none of my business. The purpose of coming here was not to make others understand.
“Don’t worry about the little things. I am just a ‘guest’ who came today to congratulate Arendelle on her victory.”
“Oh, I see… … Jim almost made a mistake.”
Judging by the fact that he quickly accepted the situation and tried to sort it out, it seems that he is quick to grasp the situation. Otherwise, he would have just responded reflexively because he was in a panic.
I smiled at the bewildered voice of the King of Arendelle and stepped back. It was a series of elegant courtesy without a single flaw.
“Isn’t the main character of the war Arendelle? It seems like the party hasn’t started yet, so outsiders will not interfere any further. Please continue with the event.”
“… … Ahem! Okay, let’s get the party started now.”
The King, who had focused everyone’s attention by coughing, gave his opening speech, signaling the start of the real party.
And I watched the scene from afar, but as soon as the party started, I moved and took a suitable seat.
… … The corner seat of the chairman’s office. It was a place where no one would pay attention.
Of course, that doesn’t mean those harsh stares will go away.
Swish-
“Your Majesty, if their gaze is bothersome, I will cast a spell to obscure their perception.”
The attendant who followed behind, a middle-aged looking wizard. These were the words spoken by Matapju.
The nobles of Arendelle flinched and turned their heads away whenever their gaze met mine and that of the Magic Tower Lord.
And yet, the way he casts glances at us from time to time is like looking at a wolf that has entered a flock of sheep.
I chuckled and called over the party attendant, taking a glass of wine in my hand.
“Just looking at it doesn’t give you any information. Why do you have to do uncomfortable things?”
“… … .”
In that moment, the body of the retreating attendant flinched slightly.
Regardless, I continued talking, my eyes focused solely on the view of the party venue.
“It seems that the Crown Prince of Arendelle has done things right.”
“Are you referring to the point where you said to maintain security until the war is over?”
“hmm.”
There were questions felt amid the astonished looks. They were looks that questioned why I had been invited to such a place.
Perhaps they don’t even know what happened between Arendelle and me.
Matapju’s eyes calmed down with a sense of appreciation for this.
“I wonder if it is possible. Since Your Majesty has spared me your precious time, it is only natural that I should make such a move. It must have been done so.”
“What a unique idea.”
I shrugged as I said that.
If you couldn’t even do that properly in the first place, then it really wouldn’t have been worth saving.
To put it correctly, it is about understanding the topic.
“Well, knowing what is important is the most important virtue for a human being.”
widely-
The half-empty glass landed on the table. I smiled cynically and smoothed the buttons on my suit sleeves. Then, after lightly checking my attire, I lifted the wine glass as if embracing it.
… … How dreamlike was the series of movements that passed by in an instant.
“Hmm!”
Not only the nobles who had been glancing at him, but even the horse rider who had followed him as his attendant was momentarily taken aback and let out exclamations.
Of course, it wasn’t just an action for show.
In the distance, someone was coming towards me, crossing the party venue.
“1st Prince.”
The protagonist who had been getting closer all along, the Crown Prince of Arendelle. He took a look at the wine glass in my hand and then spoke.
“Your father wants to see you.”
That was the time I was waiting for the most.
