Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 427

427

Stairs to Tomorrow

Raido followed along, driven by his competitive spirit and desire for a proper battle against the Celestial Race. However, his presence wouldn’t have been possible without Queen Vanessa’s approval.

She allowed Raido to join because she believed a mage was needed by Zion’s side to facilitate smooth magical communication.

“…Giving the entire Holy Prussen [a historical region in Central Europe] to Nudia?”

Vanessa, visible through the magical communication, didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about the condition.

Hispania contributed more than any other nation to winning this war.

Receiving the western and southern territories of Nudia is certainly a significant gain, but if Nudia absorbs all the territories of the former Holy Prussen, their profits would be far greater.

However, Zion, being as astute as he is, wouldn’t have made this offer without a clear understanding of the implications. Queen Vanessa wore an expression that betrayed her confusion about Zion’s intentions.

“I know what you’re worried about.

Nudia is currently struggling to recover its own territory, and it will take a long time to stabilize and integrate the territory of Holy Prussen into its own land. But after 10, 20, or even 50 years, Nudia will undoubtedly rise again as a strong nation, almost equal in size to Hispania, based on that acquisition.”

“…Knowing that, you offered such a condition?”

“To put it bluntly, Nudia will face more difficulties than expected in occupying that land. Even if they manage to stabilize it, they won’t be able to use it as a springboard to surpass Hispania.”

“What’s the reason?”

“I showed mercy to the enemies for the sake of the light, but these enemies are not the type to be moved by mercy, repent, and atone to the point of never returning to this land.”

At Zion’s words, Queen Vanessa exclaimed, “Ah!”

The magnificent victory of Hispania, the historically benevolent treatment, and the decision to hand over the territory of Holy Prussen to Nudia had made her overlook the most crucial aspect.

“If Hispania manages the territory of Holy Prussen, it will become quite burdensome.

It’s far from our homeland, and strategically, it’s the closest point to our enemies.”

“That’s right, it is. Come to think of it, those who have settled on the island across the sea might attempt to reignite the conflict on the continent.

And if they really do that…”

“They will rally support to reclaim the lost land and reconquer it, landing on the territory of the former Holy Prussen.

In that case, Nudia will be forced to fight again because their land was invaded.”

“Hmm…”

“It benefits Hispania if they drive them out, and it also benefits Hispania if they fail. Either way, Nudia will have to continue expending its national power. If they are pushed back again, they will have to ask Hispania for help, just like last time, and they will have to offer something else in return.”

Queen Vanessa nodded in agreement with Zion’s words.

If she were to act solely out of greed, focusing on the immediate territorial gains, she might end up bearing the brunt of the damage in a future war.

In that sense, ‘passing on’ the potentially problematic land to Nudia could be seen as a strategic move.

“The land west and south of Nudia that Hispania will receive, although much of it has been devastated by the attacks of Holy Prussen, has ironically created a situation where Holy Prussen harbors resentment, while Hispania is viewed favorably.

Even those who settled around the border are Nudia people, so it will positively influence the integration of those lands later.”

“Above all, those lands were as valuable as the territory of Holy Prussen from Nudia’s perspective.

If you acquire all the ports, including the fertile land in the west and the protrusion in the south, it will be an unreserved benefit for Hispania.

But…”

Still, as the ruler of a country, it’s inevitable to be wary of other countries becoming stronger.

Vanessa asked Zion what would happen if the enemies across the sea were content with living on that island for the rest of their lives and never considered crossing over to the continent again.

Zion smiled and brought up the beings that had been erased from Vanessa’s mind.

“Your Majesty.

There is another party involved besides them.”

“…Ah.”

Except for Zion’s women, Kim Yoo-hyun, and his closest aides, no one knows that Zion is trading with the Demon Race, let alone that Lilith is a demon.

And Vanessa was also someone who didn’t yet know the truth.

“The Demon Race will want to seize the territory of the former Holy Prussen at all costs.

That’s how they can spread fear and terror about themselves on the continent again.”

“Especially since Nudia borders the Demon Race.

The Demon Race cannot ignore the fact that if Nudia’s power grows, they will be the first to be targeted.”

“Nudia will definitely become stronger someday.

But there is someone who will never welcome their growth, and there is someone who will attack from across the sea at any time.

And Nudia did not win this war alone. To be honest, it can be said that they barely won because Hispania helped Nudia in every way.”

“Are you saying that the trials that will befall Nudia will not be overcome by them, but will become so urgent that they will eventually have to borrow the power of Hispania?”

“It is said that when the world is in chaos, heroes naturally emerge.

But there is a limit to those heroes. Since Hispania already has many such heroes, Nudia will eventually have to acknowledge Hispania’s superiority and ask for help in the near future.”

Why is Zion so sure?

It’s simple.

He’s planning to use Lilith to attack Nudia when Nudia is about to recover a bit.

It would be quite a sight if another war broke out in a situation where the absorption and stabilization of the territory of the former Holy Prussen was out of the question and even their own country had not yet shaken off the chaotic atmosphere.

He feels a little, very little, sorry for Ive and the people of Nudia who suffered together in this war, but there’s nothing he can do.

In a situation where the affairs of the country are at stake, that personal sentiment can be reversed at any time.

Unfortunately, what can he do? They are the people of Nudia, and Zion himself is a person of Hispania.

“Ah, and.”

“Hmm?”

“There is one more reason why I made a deal with these conditions.”

“There’s one more reason?”

At Vanessa’s question, Zion gave an even deeper smile than usual.

Perhaps sensing something from the change in his expression, Vanessa tilted her head, and Zion slowly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty.

How about the position of Emperor, not the position of King?”

―

The word spread everywhere that Zion Clausen, regardless of whether Hispania or Nudia managed it, would liberate the sanctuary directly in his name and open it fairly only to those who seek light.

And when they heard that the management of the sanctuary was entrusted to Shaa, a member of the Celestial Race who was atoning and repenting for their sins, the first to step forward were the elves belonging to the Allied Forces.

“Zion Clausen, some of our people want to stay in this sanctuary to monitor the Celestial Race and protect this place, which is said to be the beginning of light.”

“That’s a welcome thing.

The elves must have felt a great sense of responsibility for the actions of their people who were deceived by false lights, so they can think of it as atonement for that this time.”

Zion was intentionally implying that the elves were also guilty.

Of course, the elves on the Allied side quickly distanced themselves from them, saying they were not the same race, but they couldn’t deny that they had no sin at all since they were the same race.

Sirien nodded as if she had a similar thought to Zion about that part.

As a race with strong pride, they seemed to be very concerned about the thought that they had been deceived by the Celestial Race.

‘With this, the people who will protect the sanctuary are roughly resolved.’

There is no need to leave a large number behind.

Rather, if a large number tried to stay, Zion would have intervened and stopped them.

The sanctuary is a symbolic place that can be said to be the beginning of light and the source of light.

If this place is too safe, Hispania will no longer have a justification to raise an army and arrive here, and Nudia will have the leeway to focus on other places.

If this place is captured by the Demon Race or those who fled to the island, it would be a disgrace to the Allied side, which calls itself the new descendants of light, so Nudia will not be able to take this place lightly, and even if the Hispania army were to dispatch in case of any problem, Nudia would not have a justification to stop them.

Hispania helped Nudia with the justification of light, so what justification could they use to stop Hispania’s dispatch when the sanctuary, which was the end point, was in danger?

‘Some may ask what that justification is and why they are so obsessed with it, but things that would have been done because of that justification are not done, and things that would not have been done are done. Especially when huge forces such as countries are intertwined, justification is more important than power.’

The reason why the sanctuary was completely independent and made into a kind of autonomous zone was precisely because of that.

On the surface, it would only be seen as the actions of a young hero who is simply faithful and hopeful in the light, but Zion was making decisions and acting with several justifications in mind.

That’s why he handed over the entire territory of the former Holy Prussen to Nudia, and they gladly cut off their territory and handed it over to Hispania.

In summary, even though Nudia seems to have gained a lot on the surface, in the end, they have not gained anything more than Hispania, or even Clausen, in any way.

Women like Ive might have noticed, but even Ive couldn’t accurately grasp what Zion was aiming for because there were secret parts that only Zion and his closest aides knew.

“To be honest, even our elves doubted whether there would be more people like you.

To go beyond mercy to the enemies and show such devotion to the light.

Really, if people like Zion Clausen are not the light but sinners and fallen people.

The Celestial Race must have been blinded by the name of the descendants of light and distanced themselves from the light.”

“Thank you.

Sirien.”

Words that give faith, actions that make you feel trust, and even an appearance that gives stability.

All of those things overlapped and created a synergy effect, creating a situation where you couldn’t help but be mistaken even if you didn’t want to.

Eventually, as the day approached for the Allied Forces to return to where they came from, not only the Celestial Race, including Shaa, but also the people of the former Holy Prussen came to see them off.

“Zion Clausen.”

In particular, Shaa, who had only admired Zion every time, had become almost his ardent fan.

Every word he uttered and every action he showed was what Shaa thought a true disciple of the right light should show, so she thought that this man was their reliable ally who would lead the world to light.

“I am truly sad that you are leaving.

I am worried about whether I will be able to meet someone like you, who is so faithful to the light and does not become arrogant but wants to go to the light with an even more faithful appearance.”

“Don’t be like that, Shaa.

There are many people in this world who are more faithful than me.

I am just a person who is trying to show a slightly more correct appearance on behalf of them.

Since there is a position to stand in, it is such an appearance that should be shown.”

“I know very well that that’s the most difficult thing to do, even if you say that.

Thanks to you, thanks to you and your people, I have finally found the path I should take.

Thank you so much.”

What’s there to thank?

This side is going back home after taking a solid share properly, sweeping away even the external justification and honor that others can’t hold even if they die and wake up.

Of course, Shaa, who doesn’t know that fact at all, may be strong in force, but in the position of Shaa, who is far from the part where she has to use these tricks, Zion would have seemed to be a more faithful person than any other disciple of light she had ever met.

“Although you are leaving, I will spread your story widely.

The honor and courage of you who bravely stood up against external pressure and widely spread the light.”

“I just hope that the chaos here will be quickly subdued.

I’m sorry to Shaa, but I don’t know when they’ll be back.”

“…Don’t worry about that part.”

Shaa seemed to make a slightly bitter expression, but immediately shook her head to shake off that emotion and smiled.

“Although we are the same Celestial Race, we are now walking on completely different paths.

If we meet again, Lu and I, the Celestial Race who follow me and the Celestial Race who are by his side will treat each other as enemies.

Since everyone believes in different beliefs, the same race will have no choice but to fight while losing its meaning.”

“I feel bad that I’m leaving you with a heavy burden.”

“No.

Rather, the appearance you showed has become a signpost that clearly tells us what path we should take.

We will now take the lead in guiding everyone to the light, walk together from the side, and push from behind.

We will shout that we will not build a new world on the ashes like them.”

With this, the fence has been firmly set up.

The side that Shaa is currently fond of is not ‘Nudia’ but ‘Hispania’, to be exact, Zion himself.

And the people of the former Holy Prussen know that those who ran away, leaving them behind, are the wrong guys, but in the end, they don’t deny all the teachings of light, so they will rely more on Shaa and some of the Celestial Race who are taking on the sanctuary and repenting.

The favor they have for Hispania and Clausen will be invisibly spread between them, and eventually, they will rely more on that side mentally than Nudia, which is actually ruling.

‘I’m going to keep shaking it so that Nudia can’t exert its influence strongly.’

It is too far away, too far away, so it is difficult for Hispania to relocate people and send soldiers to protect it.

But if they themselves shout that they want to be under the name of Hispania and under the protection of Zion himself, even Nudia will have no choice but to back down later.

That is why Zion is ‘temporarily’ handing over this place to Nudia.

If Hispania eats up the southern part of Nudia right away, the number of port cities will more than double, and they will be able to advance to the sea instead of staying only in the Clausen Frontier Territory.

At the same time, they succeeded in building the largest port in the land of the former Holy Prussen right next to the sanctuary.

It means that they can go directly to the sanctuary using the sea route without having to go through Nudia’s land.

“I hope our separation will not be long, Zion Clausen.

Every time I talk to you is such a pleasant and rewarding time.”

“I will come once the work in Hispania is finished.

I hope that the chaos here will disappear a lot by then, and that peace will be full of the will of light.”

Everything that could be taken from this place has been taken.

Now, all that’s left is to return to Hispania, put Vanessa on the throne of Emperor, and prove his loyalty to the world so that no one can touch Clausen recklessly.

―――――――Afterword―――――――

Recommendations are always a great help!