Chapter 90 - Sleeping With the Enemy 3 (2/2)

“The allied forces of Daitan and Tiata is already strong enough to vie for supremacy against Aedia.So why should I hire you as a mercenary?”

“There is the risk and the opportunity cost.If you hire me, you won’t have to sacrifice your soldiers, and it will consume much less time.I promise you that I’ll have this wrapped up in a week.You’ve seen me use my abilities, so you know what I’m saying isn’t impossible.”

“I want to say one week sounds impossible.However…I cannot fathom the extent of your abilities, so I’ll have to trust in your words.”

The king agonized over his decision.For Artpe, it was enough that the king hadn’t immediately rejected his words.Artpe was satisfied with his answer, so he continued to speak.

“In return, you’ll have to agree to my small request.My request won’t be burdensome if you aren’t being too greedy.”

“If so, I would have to hear what this request is first.”

Mmmm. He was acceptable.As a ruler of a nation,He was quite splendidIf he was like the ignorant kings from the old hero’s tales, he would have gotten angry already.The kings from the old stories wouldn’t have wanted to get their hand dirty, so they would have shouted at their soldiers to ‘Catch that damn fool!’ or some phrase like that.However, the king wasn’t the problem right now.It was someone else.

“We no longer have to hear more from him, sir Zard.He possesses an obscene amount of magical energy.I’m sure he is with Aedia!”

“How can you say that, sir Eritard.If he was with Aedia, this war would have ended by now.He wouldn’t go through all this trouble to talk with me.That is the biggest proof that he isn’t with Aedia.”

“King of Daitan!”

“Stop it.Let’s hear him out first.”

A man had been sitting on the opposite side of the general.He spoke to the king of Daitan as an equal, so his identity was easy to discern.

Artpe turned to look at him.

“Duke of Tiatia?”

“Ha.That’s right.I am Duke Eritard.I am from the Dukedom of Tiata.”

He hadn’t suspected it before when he entered the barracks, but both the rulers of Daitan and Tiata was present inside.He was thankful, since he didn’t have to travel to the Dukedom of Tiata.He asked his questions as he had such thoughts.

“I said I’m going to win the war for you guys, so why are you trying to undercut that deal?Are you really his ally?”

“You are powerful!What do you gain for allying with us!”

“What is it you want?”

“We want independence for our Dukedom!”

It was at that moment.Artpe followed up by shouting his own words after him!

“However, that is a feint!My true goal is the Forest of Eternity!”

“That’s right! Soon we will······ What!?”

The Duke nodded his head vigorously in agreement, but soon, his face stiffened.In a flash, question marks and exclamation points popped up inside his head.One didn’t need to see inside his head to know what he was thinking.

“······Forest of Eternity? What is the meaning of this?”

“Uh.It is nothing, sir Zard.I just became so agitated that I agreed with his ridiculous words….”

“You spoke your real intention.So what’s going to happen within the Forest of Eternity in the near future?······are you going to use the magic spell you prepared with Aedia over the years?”

“······!”

At Artpe’s continued interrogation, the Duke’s face turned white.If it was a simple lie, there was no reason why a ruler of a nation would be flustered by such words.

“H….how….That······.”

However, Artpe’s words struck home.It was information no outsider should have known, yet he was speaking it out loud.It would have been strange if he hadn’t reacted at all.However, Artpe’s words continued to pour out.

“I know it all.Yes, you were probably the one that made the move on Daitan.You told the king of Daitan that you were pursuing your independence.It’s a likely story, so Daitain joined forces with you to attack Aedia…..However, your true intentions has nothing to do with independence.You intentionally started a war, so there would be a gap in the border defense.The Elves would take this opportunity to attack the Dukedom.You want to to induce this scenario…….You want to gain an excuse that you can use to ‘justify’ your actions.”

In his past life, a calamity had occurred within the Forest of Eternity.The Elves wanted to regain complete freedom from the Dukedom of Tiata and Aedia.The Elves would use the war as an opportunity to assemble their forces.However, Aedia and the Dukedom of Tiata pounced on this opportunity as if they had expected the Elves to act that way.They brought their plan to fruition. In short order, they took complete control of the World Tree.

At the time, Aedia had received a lot of help from the hero, and the hero had trusted Aedia completely.This was why the feeling of betrayal had been enormous.In the end, she chose to fight with the Elves against Aedia.

This was the first incident where the hero had pointed her sword against a human organization…..A single hero had brought down a kingdom with a rich history.Every nation became afraid of the hero, and they refused to assist the hero.It was the worst result for the hero.

After that incident, the hero’s fights became difficult.If the magician hadn’t joined her party, the hero’s adventure would have come to an end.

However, events wouldn’t turn out like that this time around.

“······sir Eritard?”

“N...no….It isn’t like that, sir Zard!”

Artpe had already a completely understanding of what happened in his past life.Of course, there was a possibility that events would head towards the same path as his previous life.However, his conversation and contract with Mycenae was proof that things wouldn’t head towards that direction.

“You had no intentions of attacking Aedia in the first place.Didn’t Tiata draw you into this?”

“······you are right on that account.I rose to seat of power by causing a rebellion.I needed to divert the hate and resentment towards me to an outside source.Sir Eritard’s offer was like a timely rain within a drought.”

“That is why you retracted your suspicion and hesitancy.You took up his offer.”

“Shut up!”

The Duke of Tiata realized Artpe had taken control of the narrative.He yelled out as he stood up.He looked as if he wanted to rip Artpe’s lips in pieces, but unfortunately, he was much weaker even when compared to the king of Daitan.He was trash compared to them.The only thing he could do was make faces and shout in frustration.

The king of Daitan watched the Duke of Tiata, who couldn’t keep himself in control from the frustration he felt. On the other side, there was Artpe.He possessed power, and he had an attitude that said, ‘the powerful do not need to lie.’Artpe’s words held more sway.

“I don’t know or care about the Forest of Eternity.I do know the Elves live there, but that is the extent of my knowledge.So what you are saying is…..The goal of the Dukedom of Tiata isn’t their independence.You think their true aim lies within the Forest of Eternity.”

“You should think about why that man is so flustered.Why would he react so negatively to a powerful being that would end the war quickly?”

A beginning of a smile on Artpe’s lips deepened.He extended one hand, and he subdued the Duke of Tiata with his Mana Strings.The Duke became immobile.

“That bastard just wants to keep the ‘war’ going as long as possible.I’ve spell it out the situation to this extent, so you probably have a good idea of what is going on now.”

“······.”

As he traveled in the carriage, he had done more than just carve the Demite.He killed Aedia’s magicians.He attempted to persuade Regina, and he played with his party members.Moreover, he had gathered information on the road, town and city.He assessed what was going on in the war.

In the end, he came to a single conclusion.The war had been going on for five months, yet both sides were being passive.On top of that, the damage caused by the war had been minimal.

“Oh, most sublime magician.Let me ask you this.”

The king of Daitan, Angelo Zard, asked him a question.

“Do you have the ability to lead my kingdom to victory without the help of Tiata?”

“Will you believe me no matter what my answer is?”

“That······.”

Artpe snorted as he spoke.

“Just follow me.I’ll let you see the truth with your own eyes.”

The king of Daitan was embarrassed to admit, but he was a bit intimidated by Artpe’s forceful words.Still, he had a presence of mind to realize that he had to answer the question presented to him by Artpe.

“······all right.Whatever you ask will less than the costs that will be incurred by Aedia.I will put my trust in you.I will follow you.”

“Deal.”

Artpe grinned.

It was the moment when the outcome of the war was decided.