Chapter 142 – Grand Duke’s Council (3)

The Baltic Mountains are a mountainous area in central Penheim where a significant amount of magnetite is distributed.
The vast land, coupled with the magnetism of the earth, combined with magic to create numerous floating islands.
Among them, the six islands called plums, which resemble plum blossoms with five petals, were the locations where this Grand Duke’s meeting was held.
Although it was an island made of rocks, it had all its own commercial facilities.
The scenery overlooking the huge waterfall falling to the ground and the majestic clouds in the middle of the mountain range was beautiful, making it a quite famous tourist destination within the kingdom.

An old castle with traces of time in the center of the floating island of Plum.
There was a larger table in the conference room than the second floor of the cafeteria, but the only people sitting there were me and Erzsebet, who looked tired and was organizing data.
The reason the table was so large seemed to be to prevent people from touching each other’s hands or canes even when sitting facing each other.
This gave us a good idea of ​​how bad the relationship between the archdukes was.

‘Well, Adela and Liv were especially anxious because they couldn’t eat each other.’

Even though we arrived last, as Lehel said, none of the princes showed their faces.
When I asked where Valjean and the Baron were, I was told that they were unpacking their belongings on the island assigned to them.
After looking around the conference room for a moment, I made eye contact with Erzsebet.
She pursed her lips as she fancied her and then she cautiously called out to me.

“Uh… “Godfather.”
“What about my godfather? Just call me Louis as usual.”
“Well, but according to the royal family’s etiquette, for a person of high rank…”
“I’m not royal and I don’t know etiquette, so I don’t care about that. Rather, where should I stay?”

She thought about it and said that any place would be fine.
After finding out my identity, my movements have become strangely slow, so I feel burdened by this as well.

“There are a lot of empty rooms on this central island. If you want to go to the island where the other Archdukes are, there is a blimp at the dock. “It doesn’t run at night, so you just have to be on time.”
“Do I have to attend the meeting?”
“Of course, it’s true that I called you to get help, but… I will proceed first. Sugar… “God’s role is ultimately that of a protector.”

Erzé Bet said that there were many variables in this meeting, and she pushed the data she had researched so far in her direction.
The appearance of a demonic statue, the speed of spread of black magic, and even the possibility of war breaking out based on what Darling had recently said about holy water and salt of wisdom being concentrated in the Holy Kingdom.
At a glance, it seemed like they didn’t know that Seongguk was preparing to summon a hero, but the rest was pretty close to the truth.

“There is still insufficient investigation into the Demon God Statue, but the Holy Kingdom’s intention to spread black magic by sending her saint to her academy is clear. “If she’s executed, she’s going to go to war.”
“So I stopped you.”
“It’s a temporary measure. “Even if you protect her in the name of her godfather, it does not absolve her of her guilt.”

Her opinion was correct.
Currently, Caroline is officially missing under the pretext of her seclusion.
Already her watchdog and her Goliath could smell her black magic on her.
At the request of Erzsebet, including myself, the official investigation was simply postponed for a while.

“We have to refute that the sewer incident was a ploy by the Holy Kingdom, and at the same time show that we are not afraid of war. “For that, the support of the archdukes is absolute.”
“How about that? “There is no evidence that the Holy Kingdom and the people who spread the demon statue are the same group.”
“Caroline herself has the evidence. If she undoes the brainwashing she put on herself, her past actions will be revealed. For that…”

Erzébet noticed me for a moment and spoke in a slightly uncertain tone, like a child having his homework checked.

“I plan to request cooperation from the Lighthouse of Horus.”

That’s great.
I managed to get there.
Terra would probably be able to remove the autosuggestion that Caroline told herself and glimpse fragments of her memories.
Of course, it’s unclear whether she will come when she calls, but this is probably the best in the current situation.
Because she was so willing, I went up to her and patted her on the head.

“Good job. “It’s not perfect, but it’s the best way.”
“Tsk, tsk… ! Well, stop… !”

Although his pride was hurt, it was obvious that he couldn’t resist because it was in front of his godfather.
Her fists, neatly gathered on her knees, are shaking.
Pii followed me and pricked his master’s head with his beak.
It must have really hurt, so Erzsebet jumped up from her chair and screamed.

“Oh, it hurts! That means straightening your hair for an hour! Ah, the meeting has to start soon, but if I mess it up like this… !”
— Princess. The communication modification connection process has been completed.
“Yes yes! Great job! “Bring it in!”

The royal signal soldiers placed crystal balls one by one on the table.
As soon as they finished saying hello and left, the magic power connected and familiar and new faces appeared one by one.

‘Oh…’

I took a step back from behind Erzébet and looked at them.
The five princes of the great Penheim, the lords of magic.
Among the beautiful wizards, all but one were familiar faces.

An old, crumpled robe and a dull hat.
Lehel, the Yunhoegong, is holding another crystal ball and looking at the Mon King Hall with a sad expression.

The woman creaked in her chair, leaned back and made eye contact with me.
Scarlett, a five-colored baller who opens her mouth slightly and smiles meaningfully.

A wizard with a gloomy aura who wears ten rings on ten fingers.
The magic tower lord of Megrez, the Gourmet Duke, was the only Grand Duke I saw for the first time today, so I could immediately guess who he was.

Liv is sitting with her back straight, looking a bit nervous.
Although you can’t see it clearly, Adella is standing behind her sister with both hands raised.
And–

— …
“…”

A woman who spreads a cold chill that can be felt even beyond the crystal ball.
Esther, the ice and snow worker, glanced at me over Erzsebet and then looked away again as if she was unimpressed.

Even if I didn’t expect a bright smile, I thought I would make it up to you as if I knew you since it’s been a while since we last met.
Is she mad at me, or is it just a memory of her past that she spent her last night before leaving?
It was a reunion that left me with a bittersweet feeling.

“Hmm, my name is Erzebet Brunhart, the spokesperson for the Fenheim royal family and the host of this grand ducal meeting. You can omit honorifics and formalities. “The reason I have summoned you today is because a great danger is approaching the kingdom.”

In a rather rigid atmosphere where no one spoke, Erzhebet introduced herself and brought out her agenda.
It was the same thing she said to me a moment ago.
The main point is that there may be a war with the Holy Kingdom and that they are believed to be spreading demonic images, so they are requesting the cooperation of the Grand Dukes.
We must come together once again to prepare for the danger of Penheim.

There is considerable appeal in a gentle, yet polite tone of voice that is not servile.
She spoke quite well during the presidential election speech.
He is passionate, and although he still has some freshness left, his ambition to rise above others somehow makes me want to support him.
But–

“… This is the royal family’s presentation. I would appreciate it if you could each give your opinion.”

If this were an academy classroom, it was an excellent speech that would have received applause.
However, the archdukes’ reaction was still lukewarm.
After about a minute of silence, the first person to speak was Esther.

— I refuse.

Pop.

With that one word, the connection was cut off.
And Erzsebet is dumbfounded and unable to speak.
I saw Lehel mumbling something with her mouth beyond the crystal ball.

‘See, I told you so.’

At those words, the contents of the last grand communion meeting, which ended in three seconds, came back to my mind.

***

The reason why the meeting did not work properly was simple.
This is because the great dukes do not unite unless humanity is in danger of extinction.
It could not be more fitting to say that those who have realized inherent magic are insane.
Everyone was busy showing off their individuality.

— You went out? Look, it looked like it would end soon. I’m against it too!

When an agenda unrelated to Helzeb comes in, Ice and Snowball is the first to stop paying attention.
Next, Five Colors, who hates troublesome work, also objects.

— How do you find and kill small children who don’t even know where they are? Moreover, the matter with the Holy Kingdom has nothing to do with Dube Magic Tower.

A master of destructive and straightforward elemental magic.
On the contrary, Scarlett, who could not survive a one-on-one confrontation with a strong person, hated small wars, boring information warfare, searches, etc.

— Mmm~. I am~. I’ll think about it when I hand over Merak Tower’s pet, which has a short life left.
– Hey!!! I lost interest in my Grand Canyon!! You wanna die!!?
— Don’t you think you’ll be the first to die? If I catch him, he’ll come to my island. Bye then~.

Gourmet, who is performing illusions, offers Reincarnation’s Titan Rhino as a condition, but Lehel immediately rejects it, and a fight breaks out.
And Lehel herself refused because she did not want to waste the rest of her life.

— I’m more… I’ll think about it.

The last remaining fantasy ball—— Liv also postponed her decision, and the meeting quickly broke down, just like the last time.

“Now, wait… !”

Erzsebet urgently tried to call them, but all connections had already been cut off.
All that remains is silence that fills the room.
The meeting ended before they could be properly persuaded, leaving them in a devastated mood.
Erzsebet puts her head down on the desk with a loud sigh.
Just when I was thinking about teasing him to see if he would cry, she stroked her hair and clicked her tongue.

“… After all, not everyone is average.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I fully expected that it would be difficult to obtain the cooperation of the archdukes. How big is the magic tower, family power, and capital they own? “If you bet carelessly, you could lose everything, so that’s why I’m so lukewarm about it.”

Is there some basis for that attitude?

“I guess I’ll have to convince them one by one. “We need to take out our cards here too.”
“Use something the royal family can give you as bait?”
“Yes. It could be a fiefdom or a title, or it could be an imperial legacy like iron soldiers… Anyway, good job today. “We will hold another meeting tomorrow morning, so you can leave now.”

I left the conference room, leaving behind Erzsebet, who had a bitter smile on her face.
Although it must have been painful for her, she also had a fortunate side.
In the past, when I was ‘cooperating’ with Esther and Adella for their unique magic, I threatened her that I would never send her to her battlefield.

Even now, that thought remains the same.
Even if a war with the Holy Kingdom breaks out, Adela and Liv will never be sent out of the academy.
Their value is a total thing that is intertwined with not only their own magic, but also the magic tower and various interests.
If you persuade these two people well, you will be able to get them to the negotiating table.
Instead of going to the battlefield, he said he would vote in favor.

“Let me see, then…” …”

I walked to the dock where the strong wind was blowing.
If you had to meet one person before tomorrow’s meeting, who would it be?
Adela would nod her head before even hearing my request, and Liv would be deep in thought.
I don’t think it would be that difficult to convince them both…

“Sir, are you going to get on? “What is the destination?”
“Umm… Wait a minute.”

As I was wondering which island I should head to, an airship came into the dock.
And the moment I saw someone getting off it, I dropped the cigarette I was holding.

“Esther…”

The woman I had seen in her conference room a little while ago approached me.
The pure white uniform, the cloak reminiscent of a black lion’s mane, and the elegance in the expressionless face that showed no emotions were all the same.
There was no disturbance in the regular sound of the rock mixed with magnetic iron, again and again.

“How have you been doing?”
“…”

The cold breath of the North Sea greeted me on the breeze of the Cheonhae Island.
Of course, that joy didn’t mean that it came out of the ice-snowball’s mouth and into my ear.
She had a way of revealing her heart, something similar to her heart, more than asking her how she was doing or saying she missed you.

Come on.

It was an act of embracing me mercilessly.

The mountain breeze was cold.
It was because winter had come to me.