My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 276

276. The Looming War Clouds (2)

The Elrandur Marquisate, nestled in the eastern reaches of the Empire.

“All forces have completed their assembly, my lord,” Eran, commander of the White Wolf Knights, reported.

Durak raised his eyes, surveying the scene before him.

An army stretched as far as the eye could see, each soldier gripping their weapon.

The sheer number of soldiers arrayed in perfect formation was staggering.

It was a force that seemed far too large for a single kingdom, let alone a marquisate.

Durak subtly shifted his gaze.

“How is the relic release proceeding?”

“Only the final procedure remains,” Rachel replied, stepping forward.

“Proceed immediately,” Durak commanded.

“But… are you certain you can handle it?” Rachel asked, her expression etched with worry. “Even with the power of the two monarchs…”

“I said, proceed,” Durak repeated, his voice brooking no argument.

Rachel pressed her lips together, her concern evident. She looked up, meeting Durak’s cold, unwavering stare.

His eyes held an unsettling chill, a quality that made him seem almost inhuman.

“…Understood,” Rachel conceded, stepping back.

Durak returned his gaze to the vast army before him, stretching to the horizon.

“All forces, advance!”

At Durak’s command, the army surged forward like a relentless wave.

#

Lord’s Castle Lv.4, the heart of Ruben.

Within the castle’s conference room, a multitude of Ruben’s people had gathered.

Key figures representing each race were present, along with individuals holding important roles within the territory.

Virtually everyone who could be considered essential to Ruben was assembled in that room.

“Is it true that Elrandur has mobilized?”

“So it is said. I’ve only heard reports myself, so I can’t vouch for the details.”

The reason for this urgent gathering was Elrandur’s impending invasion.

As the people murmured amongst themselves, a commotion arose.

With a bang, the conference room door swung open, and Cyan, the lord of Ruben, strode in.

His appearance instantly silenced the boisterous atmosphere.

Cyan walked through the quiet room and took his seat at the head of the table.

He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the faces turned towards him, before speaking.

“Everyone has likely heard the news, so I’ll skip the unnecessary explanations. Diana?”

At Cyan’s signal, Diana stepped forward.

“Brief everyone on the relevant information.”

Diana bowed briefly to Cyan and began her briefing.

“We have received confirmation that a large-scale force, centered around the Elrandur Marquisate, has mobilized. Our intelligence department has…”

Diana continued, laying out the facts as they knew them.

“Furthermore, all vassals belonging to Elrandur have joined this war, and Durak Elrandur himself has been appointed commander-in-chief.”

Durak Elrandur.

The moment that name left Diana’s lips, a palpable tension filled the room, faces hardening with grim resolve.

Only Cyan remained calm, nodding slightly as he inquired, “What is the estimated size of the force? Have you been able to confirm it?”

“The confirmation was made hastily, so it may not be entirely accurate, but… the current estimate is approximately 300,000 soldiers.”

Diana’s answer hung in the air.

“300,000…!!”

“300,000! That’s impossible!”

Shock and disbelief erupted throughout the room.

The faces of everyone present were etched with stunned surprise.

It was an almost incomprehensible number.

Common sense dictated that a county’s forces rarely exceeded 10,000.

Even with vast sums of money spent on mercenaries, it was difficult to muster more than 15,000 at best.

The Crowd County, which had engaged in territorial disputes with Ruben in the past, had fielded a force of around 12,000, which was considered a considerable size.

But now, they were facing a force of 300,000.

Even for a marquisate like Elrandur, it seemed absurd.

It was a military strength comparable to that of a kingdom.

“Are you sure it’s not a mistake? Perhaps 30,000? How could there possibly be 300,000…?”

“That’s right. There’s no way they could field 300,000 troops…”

Many were quick to doubt Diana’s report.

“There may be some margin of error, but the actual number is unlikely to be lower than 280,000,” Diana stated firmly.

She understood the possibility of inaccuracies, but the difference wouldn’t be significant.

Diana, as the head of the Empire’s most reliable information guild, was not prone to exaggeration. When she spoke, people listened.

“Hmph…”

“How can we possibly…?”

The shock deepened.

This… this wasn’t even a fight.

The difference in scale was simply too vast.

The forces that Ruben could muster were, at most, around 2,000 to 3,000.

With the addition of the beastmen, they might reach 5,000.

But their opponent numbered 300,000.

It was like hitting a rock with an egg, or rather, with tofu.

“…”

“…”

The shock reverberating through the conference room refused to subside.

In the silence, broken only by gasps of disbelief.

“Hmm…” Cyan mused, lost in thought.

The sheer size of the enemy force was difficult to comprehend.

Honestly, Cyan struggled to believe the scale himself.

It was a force large enough to launch a rebellion against the Empire without exaggeration.

But if it was true, one thing was certain: Durak was serious.

Durak was genuinely intent on wiping Ruben and Cyan off the map.

Cyan turned to Diana again.

“What is the estimated time of arrival in Ruben?”

“Due to the size of the force, their march will be slow. But at the very least, they are expected to arrive within three weeks.”

“Three weeks…”

Cyan fell into thought once more.

In that case… his trip to the imperial palace would have to be postponed.

He couldn’t abandon his territory when it was facing such a dire threat.

It was a shame he couldn’t exchange the gold… but.

He had already done everything he could with gold for the time being, so it wasn’t a major issue.

Besides, the gold wasn’t the only reason he wanted to go to the imperial palace.

To be precise, gold was a secondary reason.

The primary reason was this:

『[Main Story Quest] – ‘The Unfinished Battle’』

.

.

Karze’s last words and the main story quest.

The truth that Kyle, whom Cyan had been searching for, had faced.

Printing gold was just a side job.

… Really.

Well, anyway.

He had to set aside the gold and the quest for now and prepare for war.

“Semir. Will it be possible to equip the soldiers, knights, and magic corps with dragon equipment within three weeks?”

“The prototypes have been tested and confirmed, but… mass production will be difficult. The knowledge of our ancestors is essential for the production process, and I will need to be directly involved in all the refining stages.”

Even the dwarves struggled with the intricacies of dragon equipment.

No matter how skilled the dwarves were as artisans, dragon equipment was on a different level.

Semir, the descendant of Morcru [a legendary dwarven smith], was indispensable.

“But I will do my best to meet the deadline.”

Semir answered with a determined expression.

“I would normally tell you not to overwork yourself… but I’m asking you to push yourself this time.”

“Don’t worry.”

Semir nodded firmly.

Cyan turned his gaze, preparing for the coming war.

“Lucas. Continue training the soldiers, but don’t push them too hard. Don’t overdo it just because Semir is working tirelessly.”

“Understood.”

“Kendrick, the same goes for you. Take good care of the Black Lion Knights.”

-Don’t worry, my lord.

“Asrandiz, I entrust the command of the magic corps to you, with a focus on adapting to the dragon staves.”

Asrandiz, the former forest keeper of the dark elves.

Although he had lost his power, Asrandiz was a great mage who had reached the 8th Circle [a high level of magical proficiency].

He retained his vast knowledge.

Sera was currently leading the magic corps, but Asrandiz was assisting her as a mentor and guide.

“Understood.”

Asrandiz nodded solemnly.

“And Karis…”

The chieftain of the beastmen.

“I apologize for asking this so soon after your arrival, but will you fight alongside us?”

“We have decided not to run anymore. We are now citizens of Ruben, and we have no intention of standing idly by while it is threatened.”

Karis nodded without hesitation.

The beastmen behind him echoed his sentiment, their fighting spirit burning brightly.

They were a far cry from the fearful beastmen of the past.

Cyan nodded in approval.

He assigned each person their respective roles.

War was not solely about combat power.

This time, the battlefield was Ruben itself.

He needed to minimize the damage and ensure the future of his people.

Cyan meticulously and carefully assigned roles to everyone.

After a long deliberation.

“…Then, everyone, be aware of your responsibilities and act accordingly.”

At Cyan’s words, the people moved in unison, their faces set with determination.

But the shadow of fear still lingered in their eyes, a testament to the overwhelming power of Elrandur.

Just then.

“Um… excuse me, can I ask something?”

An unexpected voice broke the tension.

Cyan turned to see Kmaru, a muscular dwarf, standing hesitantly.

The first dwarf to visit Ruben long ago, and the one who had guided Cyan to the dwarven village.

“Kmaru?”

“It’s nothing important… I just have a question.”

Kmaru scratched his head, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with uncertainty.

“A question?”

“I don’t think I’ll have another chance to ask…”

Kmaru seemed uncharacteristically hesitant.

What could he possibly be curious about?

“Please, speak freely.”

“Well, it’s not about the lord, but about Karis over there. I’m curious about something.”

“Me…?” Karis tilted his head, surprised by Kmaru’s attention.

Kmaru nodded slightly.

“I heard you’re a dragonkin [a race descended from dragons].”

“As you can see, that’s correct.”

“Arnaiz Noemi [a legendary figure] of a thousand years ago was also a dragonkin, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then that means you are a descendant of Noemi.”

“If you trace the lineage, yes.”

“Then no one knows more about Noemi than you.”

“Well… that’s probably true.”

Karis nodded again.

All eyes in the conference room were now fixed on Kmaru.

What was he going to ask?

“Then I’m just asking out of curiosity…”

Kmaru cleared his throat.

“Arnaiz Noemi… didn’t Noemi have a mother?”

For a moment, confusion rippled through the room.

Cyan paused, taken aback.

What was that supposed to mean?

“No, isn’t that right? Noemi, Noemi. What kind of parent would name their child like that? It must be a name given because she didn’t have a mother.”

Kmaru continued, oblivious to the growing tension.

A deep silence descended.

Or perhaps it was more than just silence.

Surprise, embarrassment, bewilderment, absurdity.

A silence thick with unspoken emotions.

Neither Karis nor anyone else could find the words to respond.

“But don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean any offense. I’m just curious, so please don’t take it the wrong way.”

Kmaru continued, completely unaware of the awkwardness he had created.

“So, did Noemi have a mother? Or didn’t she?”

People remained speechless.

But some strange signs began to emerge.

Throats were cleared, glances were exchanged, and a sense of anticipation filled the air.

It was as if they had all been secretly wondering the same thing but had been too afraid to ask.

-Um… I’m a little curious about that too… When I met Noemi, she didn’t have parents…

Leia’s muttering echoed in the room.

Leia was a thousand-year-old vengeful spirit and Charlotte’s younger sister.

She had known the Arnaizes personally.

Leia’s words sparked a realization in everyone’s minds.

… At that moment.

“That’s not true!” Diana shouted, her voice filled with indignation.

Everyone wondered why Diana was reacting so strongly…

Then they remembered that Diana was also a descendant of Noemi.

Diana was Karis’s younger sister.

Although she didn’t possess the full power of the dragonkin, she was still a descendant of Noemi.

Diana glared at Kmaru.

The usually composed and ethereal Diana looked quite different in her anger.

“What kind of being can be born without parents? How can you say such a thing?”

“That’s true, but…”

Kmaru nodded, then continued his line of questioning.

“Then is Noemi’s mother a dragon? Was she born from a dragon’s… union?”

“That’s not it either!”

“Then what is it? Who is Noemi’s mother? Stop beating around the bush and tell me!”

Diana looked exasperated.

“If you think about it, she’s a dragonkin with dragon-like characteristics, but she wasn’t born from a dragon. And her name is Noemi.”

Kmaru looked utterly confused.

“Then didn’t she have a mother?”

“You short dwarf, you!” Diana finally exploded.

Kmaru frowned.

“What? Short? I may be short, but I have a mother!!”

“Okay. Let’s settle this right here, right now!”

The two of them began to argue fiercely.

And it wasn’t just them.

“The audacity of these dwarves…!”

“Hey! Audacity! You’re curious too, aren’t you!”

Other beastmen and dwarves joined the fray.

“So what is it really? Did Noemi have a mother? Or didn’t she?”

“These guys, really!”

They split into factions and began to fight.

The humans were caught in the middle, desperately trying to mediate.

“Ah, no. Everyone, calm down…”

The dark elves, on the other hand, kept their distance.

“Kyahahat! The dwarf friends are so funny!”

“The beastmen friends are also funny!”

The dark elves giggled, finding the whole situation amusing.

Cyan watched the chaos unfold.

“Haa…” He sighed deeply.

Humans, dwarves, dark elves, beastmen.

The Ruben territory was a melting pot of different races.

“If the parents of the dragonkin are dragons, then does that mean the parents of the dogkin are dogs?”

“Huh? Isn’t that how it works?”

“There’s no way!”

“Why are you bothering those of us who are just standing here!”

It was a complete mess.

Could it be that Morcru and Noemi had also argued like this a thousand years ago?

More importantly, what kind of war preparation was this?

‘Well, it’s better than being depressed.’

Thump!

Rumble!

And it seemed like they were getting along, in their own way.

The darkness that had been hanging over their faces had vanished.

So Cyan decided not to intervene.

Even if it looked like they were fighting, they weren’t really fighting.

‘But I’m curious too.’

Of course, there were other reasons.

Cyan smiled unconsciously.

#

The war between Ruben and Elrandur.

Or rather, the massive army mobilized by Elrandur.

“Elrandur has declared war on Ruben?!”

The news swept across the Empire, turning it upside down.

In fact, the entire continent was buzzing.

“That’s right! The size of the force is a whopping 300,000?”

“300,000!!!”

Everywhere you went in the Empire, everywhere you went on the continent, the story of Ruben and Elrandur was being discussed.

Of course, the rumors didn’t spread as quickly as expected.

“Hey, man. 300,000? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, I’m telling you it’s real! You may not believe it, but it’s true!”

“Even so, 300,000. How can a single marquisate raise 300,000 troops?”

It defied logic.

The forces of a single marquisate, not a kingdom, numbered 300,000.

Even a kingdom would struggle to field that many troops.

“It’s a false rumor.”

“I thought it was real.”

Many dismissed the news as a fabrication.

But the rumor persisted, spreading and growing in scale.

And when the Charlotte Empire finally released an official statement.

“I-it was true?!”

“Oh my god… E-Elrandur was that powerful?”

“Oh my goodness…”

The true face of Elrandur was revealed.

One of the two pillars supporting the Empire, a stronghold for hundreds of years.

And the implication was clear.

“Ruben is finished.”

“I thought a supernova family would emerge after hundreds of years…”

The end of Ruben was nigh.

No matter how miraculous Ruben’s achievements had been, it would ultimately fall before the might of Elrandur.

Everyone predicted Ruben’s defeat.

There were no exceptions.

That’s how hopeless the situation seemed.

As the continent buzzed with the news.

[Elrandur’s vanguard is expected to reach Ruben’s territory soon.]

The final battle was approaching faster than expected.