*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
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ENJOY~ PYUUN~
*****
The Battle for Korin as a Son-in-Law (3)
When one thinks of royal assets, taxes might come to mind, but that’s a misconception born of prejudice.
Surprisingly, the budget allocated to the royal family is only sufficient to maintain a modest level of dignity; it is not their main source of income.
The royal family’s primary income comes from private wealth accumulated over generations and from their trading companies.
The trade routes extending to the southern archipelago and the eastern Silk Road that connect them to the East, along with intercontinental trade made possible through selective breeding of passenger animals.
In addition, the royal family is involved in numerous businesses based on the absolute trust associated with the name “royal,” such as real estate speculation in line with urban development projects, bonds of rising trading companies, and banking.
In recent years, the scale of these businesses has expanded as the First Princess of the royal family became the Saintess of the New Church, even involving the church itself.
Except for the upcoming uncertainty about the struggle for the throne between the First Princess and the Second Princess, there was no chance that the royal family’s business would falter during King David’s reign.
This has been accepted as an unquestioned doctrine among domestic economists these days──
“Your Majesty! The trade fleet of the Magdala Trading Company has been detained! They claim it’s due to administrative issues, but the storage costs are accumulating astronomically by the day!”
“The import channels for food supplies to the capital have been blocked! It’s the Dunarev Trading Company! They’ve cut off the food supply!”
“The head of the Johane Trading Company has betrayed us! He’s filed for bankruptcy on a whim and put the goods destined for the trade routes up for auction!”
“The Ministry of Justice has placed a legal hurdle on the new city development project! The development schedule has been indefinitely postponed!”
“……”
King David furrowed his brows at the news that reached him day after day.
This was blatant.
Blatant, to the point of hostility.
The economic assault by Dunarev had started with a straightforward punch and had now escalated to the level of a grand-scale magical bombardment.
“Those damn potato addicts…”
There was no need to ask why this economic attack was happening. It had to be because of the recent push for the royal marriage proposal to Korin Lork.
He had heard that Duke Marde wasn’t very favorable toward Korin Lork, but to think he would react this intensely.
“Your Majesty… Duke Marde has requested an audience.”
“…Let him in!”
First, they attack, and now they shamelessly show their face?
Fine, let’s hear what he has to say. With that resolve, King David agreed to the audience with Duke Marde.
Through the grand doors of the audience chamber strode a man with hair the color of the sea, exuding an imposing presence.
As he glanced at the palace, designed with utmost care by the kingdom’s finest artisans, he clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. The style and design are too extravagant. This place will need renovations soon. I can send some of our southern artisans.”
“No need. We don’t need the old ways of the South. They’re outdated relics that can’t keep up with the trends.”
“They’re called classics, Your Majesty.”
“I call them outdated, Duke.”
“……”
The two men, who occupied the highest positions on the continent, exchanged expressionless smiles as they sized each other up.
“Besides, you’ve spent quite a bit this time. Just how much did you use?”
“About 500 million gold coins. I haven’t even spent half yet.”
“……”
King David glared at the Duke with unprecedented ferocity.
The royal family and Dunarev have always been allies.
Dunarev supports the royal family’s foundation, and the royal family does not interfere with Dunarev, the actual ruler of the South.
This has been a tacit agreement since before the El Rath Kingdom became a continental superpower.
“You’ve attacked the royal family. Do you really want to go through with this?”
“Your Majesty, it was you who stirred the hornet’s nest first.”
“What did I do?”
“Korin Lork. You know this.”
“I heard you were against it…”
“I still am. But…”
Duke Marde met King David’s gaze head-on as he spoke.
“Our Marie will only have her turn once she has confidently rejected that bastard. Our Marie cannot be second.”
“Oh, so what you’re saying is that my daughters should wait until your daughter has done everything she wants, and then take what’s left?”
“If that’s how you interpret it, then yes.”
“Duke… you’re testing my patience.”
The two men… no, the two fathers, exchanged sharp glances in a tense standoff. The secretary observing them swallowed hard, trying to process what was happening.
‘So… all this trouble… just because of a marriage proposal?’
The once unbreakable alliance of the thousand-year-old El Rath Kingdom was now at risk of falling apart over one man?
“Our eldest daughter is a Saintess! Our second daughter is the leader of the noble faction!”
“Our Marie is a Special-Grade Mage!”
“And she got promoted through bribery!”
“She had the skill to make that possible!”
“Are you really trying to challenge me?”
“Do you think you can handle it?”
“You!”
“Your Majesty! Go ahead and try to kill me!”
“You’ve crossed the line!”
As their argument grew increasingly petty, the secretary’s eyes glazed over, when suddenly…
“How dare you argue about Korin Lork while leaving this old man out of it?”
In a corner of the audience chamber, an old man appeared as if out of nowhere.
He was dressed in shabby clothes that didn’t suit the grandeur of the palace, but both King David and Duke Marde knew him well.
“The Swordmaster…”
“Garrand Arden.”
“It’s been a while. This old man decided to drop by, so how about a cup of tea, Your Majesty, Duke?”
Despite his disrespectful tone, the Swordmaster, the pinnacle of his era and a Special-Grade Knight, could speak this way.
“I hear you’ve been talking a lot about my future grandson-in-law.”
“Why would Sir Korin be your grandson-in-law?”
At King David’s natural question, the Swordmaster answered nonchalantly.
“Because I’ve decided so.”
“……”
The royal authority of the El Rath Kingdom is by no means weak. The power of the king of a superpower cannot be weak.
But in this country, the Swordmaster is untouchable, though in a different sense from Dunarev.
Garrand Arden.
An extraordinary knight considered the strongest in history.
His influence, a legend and myth unto itself, remains absolute even in retirement.
If he were to speak out, all the martial clans of the East would rise up.
“Duke, my son’s businesses are struggling due to the loss of funding for the warhorse and dojo enterprises. Do you know anything about this?”
“Well, I don’t remember every little penny spent.”
“Pathetic fool. So obsessed with money, and now he’s getting hit hard. The more you have to protect, the more weaknesses you expose.”
The Swordmaster didn’t seem particularly concerned about his son’s businesses being on the verge of bankruptcy.
Yes, he’s always been like that. He doesn’t care about the rise and fall of his family. His only ambition is the birth of a great swordsman.
“But I can’t just let this slide after being attacked.”
“And if you don’t let it slide?”
“We’ll have to retaliate.”
The secretary watching this exchange gulped.
The Arden family.
The rulers of the East and the guardians of the border.
They live in the harsh East, but their military power has grown proportionally.
The by-products obtained from hunting countless monsters, the military strength built as border lords defending against barbarian invasions, are the best in the kingdom.
If they were to take military action, the kingdom would be divided. Or perhaps it already was?
The central power of the kingdom, the El Rath royal family.
The enormous wealth of the Dunarev Duchy.
The largest military force in the kingdom, the Arden family.
These three forces were clashing.
This would be an upheaval capable of causing a seismic shift in the kingdom’s history.
All because of…
‘All of this… is happening because of one man?’
The secretary’s mind went blank.
「Dunarev takes hostile control of the royal trading company! Kingdom’s economy in peril!」
「Arden deploys troops along the borders of the South and the capital! Largest territorial conflict in kingdom’s history? What’s next for the kingdom’s security?」
「Ministry of Finance issues search and seizure of Dunarev assets! Intense tax investigation? 100 million gold in slush funds discovered!」
What… what is all this…
What the hell happened?
I had been spending my days staying at a hotel in the capital, reporting on my duties as the head of the Guardian Association.
But what in the world… what on earth has happened?
Why is Dunarev imposing economic sanctions on the royal family and Arden?
Why is Arden deploying their private soldiers?
Why is the royal family conducting a massive tax investigation at a time like this?
I trembled as I read the closing lines of the newspaper.
「All because of the battle for Korin Lork as a son-in-law! Korin Lork! Is he a legendary hero or a harbinger of doom?」
“Because of… me? This? Why? What did I… What did I do?”
From the moment King David proposed the royal marriage, something felt off.
And then suddenly, Duke Marde started to antagonize the royal family and Arden, leading to a three-way battle between the royal family, Arden, and Dunarev.
The kingdom was on the verge of splitting apart.
“No, no! We should be uniting our forces, not tearing them apart! And why is this happening because of me?!”
This is unfair! It’s so unfair!
This is the time when we should be preparing for the disaster that’s about to begin. The kingdom cannot be divided, especially not because of me!
“This can’t happen… I won’t let it happen!”
I had to resolve this.
I was experiencing the most awkward meeting in the world.
“…”
“…”
“…”
In a secret room deep within the palace, I was facing the three most powerful men in this kingdom.
King David.
Duke Marde.
The Swordmaster, Garrand.
With the kingdom on the verge of splitting apart, I had begged and pleaded to get these three men in the same room.
Given that I was at the center of the problem, and also because I was now an official Special-Grade Knight and head of the Guardian Association, I somehow managed to get them to sit down together.
“Um… my lords.”
“Don’t call me that. Address me as father-in-law.”
“Who’s your father-in-law?”
“You can call this old man grandfather.”
I had barely said a word, and already they were each responding in their own way. I was in a position where I couldn’t afford to offend any of them, so I tread carefully.
“The reason I’ve called you all here today is…”
I could hardly believe the words I was about to say. Was this really all because of me?
“Regarding the recent unrest in the kingdom… I beg you, please…”
“Korin, my son-in-law.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need for long explanations. You just need to make a choice right here and now.”
“…Me?”
King David nodded and continued.
“As long as you make your stance clear, none of us here have the audacity to go back on our word.”
“No, Your Majesty…”
“It’s simple. Marry my daughters, Estelle Hadatha El Rath and Miruam Elizabeth El Rath, and become the joint king with my children. You will become the ruler of all.”
“The throne? What’s so great about such worldly burdens? Warriors like us should just eat, eat, and devour everything to reach even higher realms. Korin Lork, take my granddaughters’ virginity and produce an even stronger bloodline.”
“Tsk… Power? Military strength? You can buy all of that with money. And now that the Tower of Magic has fallen, we, Dunarev, are the center of magic. If you listen to Marie, you’ll have more potatoes than you could ever want, even in your sleep.”
Each of the three “fathers” extolled the benefits of becoming their son-in-law.
Power and the royal family.
Military might and the Ardens.
Wealth and the Dunarev.
Whichever I chose, the rewards were incredibly tempting. Not even a player could obtain such rewards. But…
“I refuse.”
One thing was certain—I would not accept this proposal.
“Hm?”
“Why?”
“…”
Each of the three reacted to my firm rejection in their own way.
“Why? You could marry not one, but two princesses! And even secure the throne?”
“You were born to be a warrior. My granddaughters can fulfill that. Together, you could reach higher realms and produce exceptional heirs.”
“Marie is the perfect bride in every way. The wealth of Dunarev is far beyond your imagination.”
Yes, they were right.
Estelle, Miruam, Alicia, Lunia, Marie… I wasn’t foolish enough not to recognize what an incredible opportunity it was to marry these women.
Not just their beauty, but the wealth, power, and influence that would come with them.
“I’m not interested in money or power. The same goes for martial prowess.”
“Hmph… Don’t lie to me. There’s no one in this world who isn’t interested in those things.”
“Because there’s something greater.”
“…Something greater?”
The three men looked at me with puzzled expressions.
“I have to save the world.”
The three fell silent. They didn’t yet understand what I was doing.
“Soon, the world will be in peril. Many people could die, and we could lose too much.”
“When storm clouds are gathering, you can’t focus on building a house.”
“Marie, Alicia, Lunia, Miruam, Estelle… they’re all charming and lovable people. But… if the worst happens, I don’t want to hurt the ones left behind.”
What if I die?
Or if I have to go down with Tates?
I might hesitate. I might freeze in fear.
Whatever the outcome, there will be people left behind.
I can’t irresponsibly tie myself to someone right now. I’ve had enough of that horrible experience from three years ago, before I regressed.
“I beg you, sirs. Now is not the time. We should not be divided, but united and preparing.”
“What exactly do you…”
“King David, Your Majesty. You promised me something. That besides the immunity, you would grant me anything I wanted.”
“…Yes, I did.”
“Please honor that promise from the ruler of the royal family. Withdraw the royal marriage proposal and end this conflict.”
Without waiting for the king’s answer, I turned to the Duke.
“Duke Marde Dunarev. Dunarev owes me a debt that can never be repaid. The life of your heir, your beloved daughter.”
“…I acknowledge that. Dunarev owes you a debt of life.”
“Please repay that debt now. Immediately withdraw the economic sanctions against the royal family and Arden, and restore things to their original state.”
“…”
“Swordmaster Garrand Arden.”
“This old man owes you nothing.”
“You long for battles with strong opponents, don’t you? Life-and-death duels with those who can truly test your strength.”
“No one in this era seems capable, except perhaps you?”
“There are such monsters. As of today, stay put in the East. You’ll have something worth watching soon.”
“Hmm…”
This was all I had to persuade them.
Please, make a rational choice.
Then again, if these men were rational, we wouldn’t be in this mess over my marriage in the first place!
“I beg you. Let’s save the world first, and then talk about this.”
From now on, I would disclose all the information.
What would happen next. What we needed to prepare for. What I needed to ask of them.
I would use my achievements thus far to convince the powers of the kingdom.
What was supposed to be a meeting turned into days of persuasion.
“Haa…”
Thrust into the middle of a battle for a son-in-law, I had spent days persuading the powers of the kingdom and explaining what was to come.
We ate, drank, and even smoked cigars in the meeting room, spending several sleepless days in intense discussions.
“Somehow, it’s over…”
Dunarev had lifted the economic sanctions, Arden had withdrawn its troops, and the royal family had canceled the tax investigation.
It felt like everything had been patched up somehow. Of course, this was only a temporary fix, and who knows when it might unravel again…
Anyway, I had managed to get through it, and I was now returning to my hotel room in the heart of the palace.
“It’s already the 25th.”
December 25th.
It was practically my last holiday, but I had spent most of it entangled in these strange affairs.
Tomorrow, Marie and Hua Ran would return, and Lunia and Alicia would also finish their preparations.
The final phase would soon begin, with the Frost Giants and the Old Church stirring, marking the start of the final battle. Until then, I planned to focus on honing my martial skills.
-Click!
“Let’s just get a good night’s sleep…”
But today, I needed a good rest. The physical and mental exhaustion was no joke──
─────
“Uh…?!”
As soon as I entered my hotel room, I was hit by a thick smoke and a sickly sweet scent. The moment I recognized the unmistakable aroma of seduction.
“You’re here?”
A hand grabbed mine tightly. The moment I recognized her, I was helplessly pulled onto the bed.
Though I had relaxed my strength, the red eyes of the woman pinning me down looked down at me with a seductive gaze.
“Long time no see, Sir.”
“Long time no see, Princess…”
It was Miruam, the Second Princess. Her blood-red eyes stared intently at me.
“You know the drug won’t work, don’t you?”
“I know. But… I needed a little help from the drug and the atmosphere. Do you know what today is?”
“…”
How could I not know?
Originally, after the Academy collapse, after I purified Nazrea and was collecting my thoughts… she had approached me.
“Sir, you look lonely. Shall I… comfort you?”
December 25th.
Three years ago.
In the previous timeline.
The day she had come to me,
And the day our child was conceived.
*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
*****
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