Chapter 194 : Chapter 194

Chapter : 194

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍King of the Elang Kingdom was critically ill.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was truly unexpected news.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍[Pangea Universalise], the King of the Elang Kingdom usually died only after The Great Famine ended and the continent had already become a complete madhouse.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍other words, this news meant that the worldline I had experienced was drifting farther and farther away.

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍last, the defining trait of a simulation game like [Pangea Universalise] had arrived. The small flutter of wings I had created was turning into an ever-growing typhoon, and from now on, I might have to rack my brain and decide the course of events myself. Of course, the global events and the personal dispositions of the various characters would not change too drastically, but still….

“Return ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at once!”

“H-however, our forces are scattered across the County of Campania, so it will take time to gather them….”

“It is fine. We can go down first with the elf knights. Tell the rest to follow at their own pace.”

After saying that to the vassal who answered with an uneasy expression, I immediately summoned three hundred elite elf knights.

A few of them complained at the order to depart first without squires or proper supplies, but I was in no mood to indulge them in such details.

“Enough. Move at once! If anyone is dissatisfied, speak now. If you complain over such trivial matters, you will not be able to remain with me in the future!”

Given the circumstances, I could not afford to entertain the elf knights’ whining.

“Hiiik!”

“We have no complaints, Your Grace!”

Fortunately, the elf knights did have some sense. When I spoke “calmly,” they obeyed.

Of course, for the elf knights who had faced my outburst head-on, it was difficult to tell whether it was calm speech or a murderous threat.

-THUD-THUD-THUD.

-CLACK-CLACK.

In any case, after assembling the retreating force, I began heading north toward my domain at speed. It was a journey that would have taken a full two weeks, but I managed to cut it down by nearly half.

“Oh, our dear Your Grace, thank you for passing through our territory…. Our lord wishes to invite you—”

“I am grateful for the invitation, but matters are urgent. I will accept your hospitality another time.”

“W-what? Your Grace?!”

That was the result of refusing even the nobles’ invitations, pushing onward for days and nights, sleeping rough in the open.

I never wanted to experience it again.

“Whoa, whoa. Yes, calm down. Calm down.”

Only when I reached the border of my domain could I finally breathe.

Half a day remained to the capital.

If I kept riding, it was a matter of reaching right before my nose, so I could afford to moderate the pace. The forced march had left even the hardy elf knights utterly exhausted.

No—more than that, I was worried about Magician Agpiel, who had ridden with us. He was an old man, and yet he had not fallen behind in this murderous sprint.

“Ghh. If you feel that sorry, you should have suggested resting along the way.”

“Haha…. The situation was rather urgent, Magician Agpiel.”

“Tsk, tsk. Yes, to men with the cunning of a fox like you, this must look dire. Aigo…. My back. Everything aches.”

Magician Agpiel spoke flatly as he patted his lower back.

“Ahem. It is not like that. The King is critically ill—how could it not be urgent? As a loyal subject, how heavy my heart is—”

“…Are you ill somewhere? Did you catch an eastern fever? Your face looks normal, but your words are not.”

“C-cough. Ahem, ahem….”

I replied with an awkward cough. I did not even get my money’s worth out of the attempt.

“Well, still, you made the right decision. Other fools would have carried on at their leisure and done whatever they pleased before moving, even now.”

Taking a sip of water from his attendant, Magician Agpiel continued.

“If the King dies abruptly before the current situation is properly sorted out, it will become complicated. Has not the King’s course of action severely damaged his legitimacy? Some nobles will be grinding their teeth. The new Crown Prince will not be able to ascend the throne easily. And is it not true that relations are already poor with the Holy See, which must assist with the coronation?”

Indeed, having stayed in the Elang Kingdom for a long time and helped me, Magician Agpiel now saw the kingdom’s political situation clearly.

“All I can hope for is that the King rises from his bed without incident.”

“Hm, is that so?”

“Yes, Magician Agpiel. We have already expanded once again. We must buy time until it is stabilized. If a new King is born, I want him to be neither too powerful, nor too weak.”

“Tsk. That insidious mind of yours. Still, as a leader, one must sometimes think and move as insidiously as you do.”

“…That sounds less like praise and more like abuse, Magician Agpiel.”

“Now, now. The cunning of a fox. Is it not all the same? This is praise. Keh keh.”

He had been mentioning foxlike cunning and teasing me for a while now. But you could not curse at a smiling face.

‘Aigo. Better to die than to suffer.’

In the end, all I could do was think that and grumble.

“Why are you sulking again? Relax your face. It is unmanly.”

“Ahem!”

“In any case, as you say, we can only hope he simply falls into sickness and secludes himself in bed for a long time. That will buy you ample time.”

“That is exactly it. It would be wonderful if I arrived only to hear that the King has recovered and risen again.”

I nodded as I spoke my personal hope.

Though, given how relentlessly this [Pangea Universalise] seemed to have it out for me, it did not feel likely.

---

“You have returned, my lord.”

No sooner had I reached the capital than Chamberlain Hamil and Viscount Avignon came to greet me.

They must have heard early; they had timed it perfectly and were waiting before the gates.

They truly were thorough and meticulous in such matters.

“Good. While I was gone, was there any trouble in the domain?”

“Haha. A portion of the northern merchant guilds had some complaints about the exchange fees, but aside from that, everything has been running well, my lord. The Agriculture Office has, in practice, taken root across the customs union territory, so we can now mobilize administrative power as though it were directly-managed land.”

“Hm. Good.”

Fortunately, it seemed the plans I had already set in motion were proceeding well.

At this rate, it would not be long before I could seize the administrative authority of the customs union territory entirely.

With a satisfied nod, I turned to Viscount Avignon.

“I heard the King is critically ill. What is the situation now? Do you know anything of the inside?”

“Hm. Fortunately, we succeeded in bringing the head maid within the palace over to our side. We are receiving information from within the royal palace continuously.”

“Oh? How?”

“People are usually stingy in how they treat women, are they not? They tend to approach only the chief attendant. But I thought differently and approached the head maid. Since maids move deep within the palace, it was easy to draw information out one by one, my lord.”

“Indeed!”

“Impressive.”

Viscount Avignon, flustered by our admiration, waved his hands as if it were nothing. But I knew better.

‘His thinking is remarkably flexible.’

No matter how intelligent someone was, it was difficult to step outside the era’s customs and cultural frame.

Who in [Pangea Universalise] would dare think that approaching women could extract internal information so easily?

From a modern perspective, it seemed obvious, but [Pangea Universalise] was the Dark Ages. And in those Dark Ages, women were valued poorly, and palace maids were treated as little more than decorations.

‘Is this also the effect of his rank up? In many ways, it is a good thing.’

Having a fairly solid talent pool in a small domain like mine was a blessing.

If only that slippery Treasurer Palmer would rank up as well.

“Hm, what did you learn through the head maid? Has the King recovered somewhat? Since there has been no new message, it seems he is improving.”

I asked Viscount Avignon carefully, clinging to a sliver of hope.

Then—

“Y-Your Grace. A moment….”

Viscount Avignon scanned the surroundings with a hardened expression, leaned close, and whispered in my ear.

“According to the head maid, the King vomited blood and collapsed. His breathing stopped once, then returned on its own. He is now truly at death’s door—so grave that it could be today or tomorrow. This information arrived two days ago.”

“?!”

As expected, it was as expected.

‘Damn it.’

Critically ill?

Even today or tomorrow?

If he had vomited a great deal of blood and collapsed, it might truly be impossible to judge whether he would live.

‘Things were going too smoothly, of course.’

My expression darkened at once. I had never imagined the King of the Elang Kingdom would die so abruptly.

This early death was not in my plans. With the kingdom’s situation—no, considering the scale of the kingdom—the continent’s situation as a whole, I could no longer foresee how things would turn.

From now on, rather than relying on future knowledge, I would have to solve things with strict and improvisation.

“Hm. But why has there been no obvious movement yet? Could it be that Sir Richeléon has other intentions?”

At that moment, Magician Agpiel asked bluntly.

“Oh? Now that you mention it, you are right. If he is that ill, they should already be proceeding with the succession and announcing it.”

“Indeed. Something is strange. They are concealing information excessively.”

Viscount Avignon’s face grew even more severe.

“T-that is because….”

---

“Whew!”

My office.

Seated in my chair, I rubbed my head and let out a deep sigh.

Recalling the full story Viscount Avignon had reported, my thoughts were too tangled.

“So… the King, feeling threatened by Lord Gertman’s success in subjugation, moved the central army and was conducting a campaign?”

It was not merely a butterfly effect from some small ripple I had caused.

For things to shift this drastically—

Because of my subjugation, Lord Gertman led troops and repelled a peasant rebel force in the eastern part of the kingdom. Feeling threatened by that, the King handed over the central army—once kept tightly wrapped away—to the Crown Prince, ordering him to subjugate the peasant rebels in the southwest.

Which meant—

“There are no defensive troops left in the royal castle.”

Exactly.

The royal castle was empty.

If the rumor that the King was critically ill spread widely, who knew how the already simmering dissatisfaction might explode? They might even raise troops toward the royal castle to seize a King who could not flee from sickness.

‘Richeléon needs time. Time for the Crown Prince and the central army, who left for the southwest, to return.’

Until then, Richeléon would conceal that the King was critically ill—no, more than that, he would conceal that the King was dead.

For the sake of a smooth succession.

That only made my mind more complicated. If the Crown Prince and the central army returned as things were, then the King’s faction—having achieved some success in the subjugation—would reunite and grow strong again.

And this Crown Prince…

As I remembered, he was one of the rare four-star rulers in [Pangea Universalise]. A great sovereign who led the Elang Kingdom to a golden age by winning wars against the Kingdom of Anjou, the Holy Empire, and the Kingdom of Aragon.

Therefore, it was not welcome at all for such a Crown Prince to ascend the throne with intact power.

‘What should I do…?’

How could I change this situation? My mind spun at a fever pitch. No good method came to mind.

And then, at that moment—

‘Ah!’

A thought flashed through my head.

‘This is it! Yes, this!’

A very good idea—one that would overturn the board entirely.