New Merchant Noble is out (4/6 chapters for today)

 

 

Counterattack

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Leone’s funeral procession for Leo was moving slowly. They were intentionally taking their time in order to greet the residents of each city along the route as part of the new king’s formal introduction. As a result, by the time the report reached them, they were still on their way toward the former Leo territory.

“Reporting! I bring urgent news!” (Yuna)

Yuna, who had been stationed in the capital, came riding hard on horseback.

“What happened?” (Leone)

She dismounted from her horse and collapsed. It was rare to see her, who was usually expressionless, breathing so heavily. Arc lifted her up and gave her water.

“…Her Highness Casablanca, who had been confined, has raised an army in the capital. She has already mobilized nearly ten thousand troops and seized control of the city.” (Yuna)

“What!!?” (Minister)

The ministers cried out in shock. Some were so stunned that they nearly fell off their horses.

“Casablanca… Unbelievable!” (Leone)

Leone muttered in a daze. He even forgot to use her title and called Casablanca by name.

“Arc! Arc! What should we do?” (Leone)

Leone turned to Arc in panic and asked for his counsel.

“…” (Arc)

Though the king had asked, Arc did not immediately respond.

He could not help but recall what he had seen just a few days earlier. Her vacant eyes. The slurred words. The saliva that had dribbled pathetically from her tongue. That Casablanca had clearly not been in her right mind. She had not been.

Was I mistaken? Had I, of all people, been deceived? I, who have always taken pride in reading others as a merchant…

“Heh. Hahahahaha.” (Arc)

“Arc?” (Leone)

Worried voices surrounded Arc as he suddenly burst into laughter.

Had the shock finally driven him mad?

However, Arc showed a cheerful face despite the emergency.

“So, it was all an act. I wasted my sympathy. Truly, that woman is a fine actress. Right, Yanna-neesan?” (Arc)

Yanna gave a wry smile and nodded at Arc, who looked oddly pleased.

“I had planned to bait the demon by using the Demon King, but it looks like the Demon King we thought was dead is still alive.” (Yanna)

“You don’t mean… the Warden Household predicted this would happen!?” (Minister)

“Of course not. This was unexpected.” (Arc)

One of the ministers asked in surprise, but Arc and Yanna answered immediately.

Indeed, a rebellion from the remnants had been anticipated. The plan had been to lure the scattered remnants to the capital and crush them all at once. However, the entire premise of that strategy was the neutralization of Casablanca as the symbolic leader. A rebellion without Casablanca would just be a mob. They were fragmented and easily defeated. But the fact that Casablanca remained active was entirely unforeseen. At this rate, the rebel forces would unite under her leadership.

In any case, the former queen Casablanca had now risen in arms against the current king Leone. If they delayed even a little, powers like the Lureid Kingdom, which had close ties to Casablanca, might intervene. They had to act swiftly.

“Your Majesty Leone. Regrettably, we must cancel the visit to Leo-sama’s grave. If we dawdle, we may end up being the ones buried instead. Hahaha!” (Arc)

Apparently, Arc seemed to be in an unusually good mood. He offered this advice to the king with a joke.

Soon after, loyalists of the current regime who had managed to escape from the capital began to arrive. According to them, regional governors and other figures close to Casablanca were entering the capital one after another.

Several days had already passed by the time Yuna’s report reached them. There was no more time to waste. Arc knelt before Leone.

“Your Majesty Leone. I request permission to subjugate Casablanca.” (Arc)

“Aunt… I spared her life, and still, she…” (Leone)

Leone was half in a panic. He did not even respond to Arc’s plea and simply stood there in a daze. It seemed he could not believe that the aunt whose life he had once spared had taken up arms again.

This boy knows far too little about Casablanca.

Arc spoke bitterly in his heart toward the king, who was still in shock. There was no way to suppress her with such a half-hearted method.

“Your Majesty Leone. Now, grant me permission to strike down Casablanca.” (Arc)

“I-I understand.” (Leone)

Leone, inexperienced and unsure of what to do, was overwhelmed by Arc’s firm pressure.

“I appoint Arc as the commander of the suppression army and order the subjugation of Casablanca. However, you must not kill my aunt under any circumstances. You are only to capture her.” (Leone)

How naïve.

He still could not make up his mind to kill Casablanca.

“Arc-dono.” (Verite)

His inner displeasure must have shown on his face. Verite, who stood beside Leone, gave a warning.

“Casablanca-sama carries royal blood. Only royalty may kill royalty. Arc-sama, you are aware that this is the tradition of this kingdom.” (Verite)

Indeed, Verite’s words had some merit. Zerold had been killed by his son, Leo. Leo had been killed by his younger brother, Louis. Louis had been killed by his elder sister, Casablanca.

Among the people of Laplace, who had been taught the greatness of royalty from childhood, killing a royal was the ultimate taboo. For most ordinary people, the thought would never even cross their minds. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that someone like Arc, a commoner by birth, who could calmly consider eliminating Casablanca, was the truly abnormal one.

“I understand. I will give consideration to the safety of Her Highness Casablanca.” (Arc)

There was no point in arguing further amid the emergency. For now, Arc accepted the king’s order and moved to make preparations.

“Rishu, Mia.” (Arc)

Arc called the two and showed them a map of the surrounding area.

“Half a day’s walk from here is a large city. It was originally used as a fortress, so it has a deep moat and tall walls. Escort His Majesty and the ministers there. Have them remain until the danger has passed.” (Arc)

“Yes!” (Rishu and Mia)

Fortunately, a large city was nearby. The protection of important figures like the king could be safely left to the adventurers.

“Your Majesty Leone. Let us go. Do not worry. Arc-sama will destroy the traitors. Please relax inside the secure fortress.” (Mia)

Dragged along by the energetic Mia and the others, Leone looked back at Arc with a face filled with prayer.

“Arc. Please stop my aunt. And I beg you, spare her life. She is still my aunt.” (Leone)

“Leave it to me. Her Highness Casablanca is the elder sister of my wife, Marie. In other words, she is also my sister-in-law.” (Arc)

Arc remained kneeling until Leone and the others were out of sight. And then, he immediately began to act.

“This is convenient.” (Arc)

Arc muttered quietly. Under the pretext of protecting them until safety was assured, he had effectively locked Leone and the others in the fortress. He would use this opportunity to have the Warden Household seize full control.

“Generals!” (Arc)

Arc called his subordinates and gave orders one after another without pause.

“Randal. Take 5000 troops and head for the capital. Crush the rebel army and retake the capital at once.” (Arc)

“Arc-sama. That is why I said we should have killed Casablanca…” (Randal)

Randal grumbled as he blamed Arc. He was saying that they should have killed Casablanca herself instead of Fran. From the perspective of hindsight, that was indeed true. However, it was unpleasant to be criticized about past decisions now.

If needed, he could open a thorough debate on whether his judgment at that time had truly been wrong. But there was no point in internal conflict at this moment.

“You are right. Choosing to spare her was my mistake.” (Arc)

Arc swallowed all his objections and dissatisfaction, bowing his head. Then, he issued a new command.

“I spared her life to prevent a rebellion from the remaining forces, yet a revolt still occurred. There’s no longer any reason to save Casablanca. Her life or death is of no concern. Do not let him escape.” (Arc)

“Understood!” (Randal)

Randal interpreted this as tacit approval of Casablanca’s execution. Then, he left energetically.

“Laika. Lead 2000 soldiers and set up camp outside the capital. Currently, the remaining forces who responded to Casablanca’s call are gathering at the capital. Do not allow them to unite any further. Meet them outside the capital.” (Arc)

“Yes, Milord.” (Laika)

He gave similar detailed orders to the other generals.

“Yuna.” (Arc)

Once everyone else had left, he called Yuna.

“…I’m here.” (Yuna)

Arc handed her a scroll.

“Mobilize all the Order members. Take this list.” (Arc)

“…What is this?” (Yuna)

“This is a compilation of the individuals your Order has been investigating for a long time. These people are highly likely to be anti-Warden.” (Arc)

The names on the list were varied. Business rivals, remnants of the nobility, Casablanca’s faction, church forces, and many other diverse figures were listed.

“This is the perfect time for a purge. Don’t miss this opportunity while the kingdom is in chaos due to Casablanca’s rebellion. Use any means necessary. Eliminate them.” (Arc)

“…Understood.” (Yuna)

Everything was for the prosperity of the Warden Household. The face Arc showed here was different from his usual outwardly good demeanor. Yuna accepted his orders without changing her expression. Arc, Yanna, and Minerva remained behind.

“Fran’s death ended up being in vain.” (Minerva)

“No, it wasn’t in vain.” (Arc)

Minerva muttered with regret, but Arc responded calmly.

“Huh? But she was executed to resolve our conflict with Casablanca’s faction.” (Minerva)

“That’s why it wasn’t in vain. We have nothing to fear from Casablanca without Fran. Her death has been very helpful to us.” (Arc)

“??” (Minerva)

Their conversation didn’t quite align.

“Ah, I see. Right… I understand now…” (Minerva)

After a while, Minerva grasped what her brother meant. At the same time, she felt a sense of dread. Her brother now only cared about what was best for the Warden Household. He seemed like a completely different person from the one who always maintained an objective perspective.

“…Then, I will accompany His Majesty Leone.” (Minerva)

Perhaps it was shock from seeing a side of her brother she had never seen before, or perhaps she felt she didn’t belong in this situation. Minerva quickly left, behaving as if she was a stranger.

 

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