Building A Human Empire By Creating A Clan [EN]: Chapter 105

Creating a Vassal to Build a Human Empire Chapter 107 (107/185)

A Base for Human Hunting (Map Attached)

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“Your Grace!”

A retainer burst into the office, his voice urgent.

He was about to blurt out that the fleet had arrived—the elven fleet—but Duke Willem raised a hand, cutting him off.

“I know. Don’t get agitated. Speak calmly.”

“I… I apologize.”

Willem studied his retainer, striving for a calm demeanor. “What’s the situation?”

“There are approximately 200 ships, seemingly elven. Judging by their design, over half appear to be transport vessels… They’re approaching the harbor.”

“Are they signaling their intentions?”

“They haven’t raised a single signal flag.”

“Hmm…”

Willem turned from the retainer and gazed out the window.

The sight of the approaching elven grand fleet, encircling the harbor, was undeniable.

“Should we prepare for evacuation?”

“Bring me a horse. I’m going to the docks.”

“Pardon?”

The retainer blinked, bewildered.

A grand fleet was arriving, and he was going to the docks?

“Your Grace, the fleet is blockading the harbor. This is—”

“It’s not a blockade. They’re not aiming for a blockade. What reason would elves have to blockade a human harbor? Sending just one ship to land would be enough to conquer it.”

*It must be that the harbor is so small they ended up blocking the passage by accident.*

Duke Willem swallowed the unspoken words and a faint smile touched his lips.

*To think this city would feel small.*

This city, this harbor, was the capital of Freetrand.

The nation’s foremost port city.

And yet, there wasn’t enough room to dock a single fleet.

So little room that it practically constituted a blockade.

*The sight is truly pathetic.*

If there was any consolation, it was that the opponent wasn’t another human power.

A grand fleet of at least 200 ships, each larger than Freetrand’s warships, crewed by elves—it was only natural that humans would be overwhelmed, he reasoned, seeking to comfort himself.

It was only natural that humans were inferior to other races.

Willem spurred his horse onward with a self-deprecating smile.

“Hurry!”

“Just abandon your belongings and get out!”

The city center was utter chaos.

The arrival of another race was something they had never imagined in their lives.

A situation where they couldn’t even discern whether the visit was an invasion or not.

The citizens, assuming the worst, flooded the streets in a desperate attempt to flee.

“······.”

In stark contrast, the docks were silent.

Not a single person remained. Goods that had been in the process of being unloaded lay scattered, and only the ships swaying gently in the calm sea and the seabirds crying, oblivious to the unfolding events, were present.

The place that should have been the busiest and most bustling in the port city, save for festivals, was eerily quiet.

“There aren’t even any guards.”

Willem gestured towards the fleeing masses.

“They must be mixed in there.”

“Those guys—weren’t they making a fuss about being incorporated into the Empire until yesterday? What happened to their spirit to stand against other races?”

The retainer scoffed, his tone laced with derision.

It was a mockery of what the king and his faction had been advocating.

Currently, Freetrand was sharply divided into two factions.

The faction centered around the king, advocating for incorporation into the Empire.

The faction centered around Willem, adhering to the existing system.

The two factions repeatedly clashed, neither willing to yield.

“The king’s direct subordinates abandoning their duty to protect the harbor, fleeing before the other races they claimed to fight against—I have no words.”

Willem smiled at the sarcasm, knowing the target of it was out of earshot.

“It’s an opportunity for us.”

Wallachia was on the verge of surrendering to the Empire.

It was obvious that the tense confrontation would rapidly shift in the Empire’s favor as soon as Wallachia surrendered, and Freetrand was destined to be incorporated into the Empire without resistance.

If that happened, Willem’s fate, standing on the opposing side, would be sealed.

Then, by chance, the elven grand fleet arrived.

“An opportunity? Not a disaster?”

“It’s an opportunity.”

“Perhaps… Did you receive any prior notice?”

Willem shook his head.

There was no way another race would give humans prior notice.

In the first place, other races were reluctant to even speak to humans.

The only time they spoke was once.

When the tribute was not paid, to inquire about the transgression.

“If they were going to punish us, they would have done it already.”

That’s why Willem was certain.

Other races never hesitated.

If they were going to destroy the harbor, they would have done it already.

But they brought so many ships and didn’t attack?

Clearly, there was another reason besides conquest.

“Then why suddenly…?”

“It must be because of the Empire.”

“The Empire? That, the heretics you mean?”

“Hmm.”

Willem was about to elaborate when a shout interrupted him.

“Duke Willem!”

The king and his nobles belatedly arrived at the docks.

The king’s face was stiff with tension as he looked at Willem.

“What’s the situation? What kind of reaction are they showing?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Who here would understand the situation, Your Majesty?”

The king groaned and fidgeted nervously.

He was on the side of the Empire, opposed to other races.

The current situation felt like a personal attack.

“The ship is moving.”

One ship from the fleet turned its bow.

Judging by its size, it appeared to be the flagship of the fleet.

“Umm…”

The king and his retainers had come to the docks armed.

They must have come with the determination to stand against the elves if they invaded.

However, as the flagship approached the docks, their resolve quickly evaporated.

Some even untied the swords from their waists and placed them on the ground.

*Just as I thought.*

He clicked his tongue inwardly, watching them lose their will to resist.

However, he wasn’t in a position to scold them.

He felt the same way as them.

He was just as afraid of other races.

Thud, thud—

The flagship stopped at the docks and dropped anchor.

After dropping anchor, they extended a wooden staircase to the ground.

And one by one, sailors disembarked onto the harbor.

“…What?”

Willem’s eyes widened at the sight of the very first member of another race.

*It’s not an elf?*

The first race to set foot on the harbor was a lizardman.

A lizard with scales shimmering in the sunlight flicked its tongue.

Next were dwarves and elves, and nagas emerged from the water.

*Elves, dwarves, nagas, lizardmen… Why are they together?*

As the four races approached, he unconsciously stepped back.

“Who is the representative here?”

An elf asked.

Her appearance, as if sculpted by a god, was matched by her clear voice, and as her gaze swept over the humans gathered at the docks, more than one or two were stunned.

“I… I have inherited the throne of this place, Freetrand. O great race.”

The king, who had gasped, belatedly answered.

Where was the human who admired the Empire and advocated for incorporation?

There was only a coward who respectfully clasped his hands and pressed his forehead to the ground.

“Don’t be afraid. We did not come to intimidate you. We came to you as representatives of the Great Council [a governing body of various non-human races].”

“That… that means…?”

“It means we are redefining the relationship between you and us.”

Redefining? What relationship did other races have with humans?

The humans were at a loss and remained silent.

“It seems like it will be a long story. I would like to sit down and talk.”

“Ah, I will guide you.”

The king quickly rose and escorted the other races to the palace.

As they headed to the palace, citizens who had not yet fled were seeing other races for the first time in their lives, expressing awe and admiration and prostrating themselves.

“This way… If you sit here…”

The king seemed to be channeling a butler.

He seated the other races in the reception room and stood before them.

With the king standing, no subject could sit.

The remaining humans stood behind the king and faced the other races.

“You look uncomfortable. Why don’t you sit down too?”

“No. How dare I…”

The dwarf spoke indifferently, and the king waved his hand dismissively.

The dwarf’s lips curled into a smile, as if the sight amused him.

“If you’re more comfortable standing, stay that way.”

After only a few words, the king turned pale.

The corners of his mouth trembled, and his shoulders and hands shook.

As I said, he had been on the side of the Empire until yesterday, advocating for incorporation.

Like a thief with a guilty conscience, he must be terrified.

He must be afraid that his head would be the price.

“Hmm.”

Some nobles stood behind Willem.

They were those who could be considered royalists, who had originally followed the king.

They must have guessed that the king’s fortunes were waning, judging by the way things were going.

They were switching sides to avoid sinking with the leaky ship.

*Stupid bastards.*

Willem smiled inwardly and spoke instead of the speechless king.

“O great race. If I may be so bold, may I ask about the relationship you mentioned earlier?”

“It is as I said. We want to redefine the relationship between you and us.”

The elf turned her attention to Willem, who was listening intently.

“Do you know?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Why we haven’t come to the land where you live until now.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Tell me. I’m curious what you think.”

Willem paused, carefully considering his words before answering.

*This is… a test.*

He answered in a cautious tone, tailored to their expectations.

“As I know through the teachings of Horbid [a deity or figure of authority revered by some humans], the great race took pity on us humans and made a promise.”

“······.”

“That promise is that as long as humans follow the order given by the great race under the protection of Horbid, the safety of this land will be guaranteed. If humans break the order, the promise will disappear, and they will be punished.”

*Slyly.*

Willem, who had answered with his head bowed, stole a glance at the elf’s reaction.

She smiled, as if pleased with the answer.

*Did I pass?*

He was relieved inwardly.

His answer was a recitation of the teachings of the Wolf Cult [a religious or philosophical group].

If he hadn’t suddenly realized their intention, he would have given a different answer.

That was the truth of the Great Council and Horbid that he had learned through the Empire.

*You asked what I thought. Not whether I knew the truth.*

“That’s right.”

And her reaction confirmed his suspicions.

“As you thought, we pitied you. So we settled you at the western end and promised to prevent anyone with ill intentions from invading you.”

The elf paused for a moment before continuing.

“But now that promise is gone.”

He flinched.

“That means…?”

“It means we can come to this land anytime. Like now.”

He gasped.

Who wouldn’t understand what that meant?

It meant that Freetrand had become the same as the Great Plains [a lawless or uncontrolled area].

It had become a place where other races could hunt humans.

Not only Freetrand but all areas where humans lived.

*Why on earth?*

Because of the Empire?

Because the Empire was disliked?

“Don’t worry. We didn’t come to hunt you. Didn’t I say we came to redefine the relationship?”

“What should we do?”

“Submit to us. Stop each of you being loyal to each of us and become our vassal [a subordinate or dependent state] in the name of your country. Then we will grant you certain considerations.”

“Considerations like…?”

“We will not receive tribute. We will not restrict exchanges, and we will guarantee your safety so that you are not invaded.”

*Abolition of tribute, liberalization of trade, and even security guarantees?*

Willem bit down hard on his mouth, which was about to open in surprise.

It was a condition that seemed to offer only benefits.

It was so enticing that it was suspicious.

*…They’re trying to keep the Empire in check.*

The reason was clear.

It was to restrain the Empire, which had rebelled against other races.

To halt the growth of the Empire, which was greedily expanding its territory.

It was to win over human countries that were in danger of being incorporated into the Empire.

*That guy was that strong.*

A silent exclamation echoed in his heart.

Why would other races make such a drastic proposal?

It’s because they can’t punish the Empire directly, so they’re indirectly intervening.

*He clearly stated it directly. The promise prohibiting the invasion of the human world has disappeared. And they even set foot in the human realm on such a large scale. But why are they choosing a way to indirectly block the Empire without trampling on it?*

“······.”

Silence fell among the humans.

The humans in this place must have been thinking the same thing as Willem.

*If the power of both sides is equal, negotiating might be….*

Just then, the outside was noisy.

Willem turned his head and looked out the window.

There was a commotion on the main street leading from the docks to the palace.

*Who are they?*

The elves from the flagship disembarked and walked down the main street.

Each was carrying a crate, and they stacked the crates one by one.

As the crates piled up on the main street, they opened one of them.

Gold, silver jewelry, spices, and silk.

All kinds of luxury goods were in the crate.

“What is that?”

Someone inadvertently muttered, and the elf responded.

“Let’s just say it’s a light greeting.”

A greeting.

The king and nobles who were looking outside widened their eyes.

The elf was distributing the luxury goods in the crate to the crowds. They couldn’t help but be shocked by the sight of them carelessly distributing such precious items as if they were distributing grain.

“Th, th, th…”

“How can they give away such precious things!”

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I only brought what exists in your world. If you accept our proposal and exchange with each other, you will exchange things more valuable than that.”

The nobles’ eyes changed.

That meant that there were treasures that did not exist in the human world.

And it meant that they could acquire them.

The delegation from the Great Council smiled at their reaction.

“Will you accept the proposal?”