Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 164

164

I’m back, but what’s this?

“Listen, you from the Holy Prussen.”

As Edgar IV spoke in a solemn voice, Special Envoy Riemann quickly lowered his head and looked at the ruler of Hispaña, the one who could make decisions regardless of what discussions these people before him had.

He looked at Special Envoy Riemann for a moment, then turned his gaze to Prince Erader and Princess Vanessa.

“There is no compromise in either of your opinions, and at the same time, I cannot say that either of your opinions is wrong.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Listen, all those gathered here.”

At the King’s words, everyone gathered lowered their heads and waited for his next words.

Edgar IV closed his eyes for a moment, pondered, and then opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“Hispaña will participate in the Holy War that they are requesting. I declare this personally in this place.”

“Your Majesty!”

Voices calling out to Edgar IV were heard from all directions at the same time.

One side welcomed the King’s decision in accordance with their wishes.

The other side looked utterly bewildered, as if they had not expected it at all.

‘It’s done!’

Special Envoy Riemann simultaneously let out a sigh of relief and a cheer inside.

It seemed that the King of Hispaña placed more weight on the threat of the demons and Prince Erader’s opinion on the matter.

“Princess Vanessa.”

But you should always listen to what people have to say until the end.

“I entrust to you the task of selecting those who will participate in the Holy War, aiding the Holy Prussen and Nudia.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Furthermore, lead the army and participate in the Holy War, acting as my proxy.”

The King announced participation in the Holy War, yet placed the one who opposed it in command.

The first to protest was Prince Erader, who was desperate because he was about to miss the chance to gain merit after setting up the whole scheme.

“Your Majesty!

The battlefield is not a light matter.

How can you send the Princess to a land swarming with demons…?”

“The Prince has only participated in small-scale battles in the past and has never led a war itself.

Moreover, you have never faced demons.”

“B, but…”

“My decision is firm, so do not argue about this matter.

Or perhaps.”

In an instant, Edgar IV’s eyes flashed and fell upon Prince Erader.

“Is there another reason I do not know for you to worry about the safety of Hispaña and advocate for the Holy War?”

In other words, was he causing conflict with the Princess to satisfy his own desires?

When it was time to discuss matters for the kingdom and the royal family, he showed such a reaction as soon as the King made a decision, which was no different from that.

Thanks to that, Prince Erader shook his head, denying it, and stepped back.

‘…A setback.’

Special Envoy Riemann bit his lip slightly.

It was safe to say that he had been completely outmaneuvered.

The Princess, who seemed to be a political patron of Zion Claussen, who had strongly opposed the Holy War, was now about to become the supreme commander of the army participating in the Holy War.

And she had clearly stated her position that the Holy War was too much, explaining the current situation of the kingdom.

If such a person became the supreme commander, would that army even fight properly?

‘Is this how they’re going to show off?’

It was no different from declaring that they would participate in the Holy War but would consistently take lukewarm actions.

Special Envoy Riemann pondered Edgar IV’s decision, and he even thought it would be better to declare non-participation.

“Everyone seems to be wondering why I made this decision.”

Edgar IV leisurely savored the silence flowing through the grand hall, smiling.

Although he was weakened by illness, his sharp political sense, befitting a monarch who had led Hispaña well through turbulent times without any major problems, had not dulled.

“Fortunately, both the Prince and the Princess, though their opinions differ, have the same desire to worry about the country for the sake of this Hispaña.

Therefore, I am giving both of them the opportunity to dedicate themselves to this country and the time to prove their hearts, so I declare that they should not act carelessly.”

“Your Majesty?”

Prince Erader expressed his doubts at those words.

Edgar IV had clearly stated that he was granting ‘opportunities’ to both of them.

Did that not mean that Prince Erader would also be assigned some kind of task?

“Listen, you from the Holy Prussen.”

“Y, yes.

Your Majesty.”

“Hispaña will participate in the Holy War that you proclaim.

However, the current situation of the country is so precarious, as you said, that we cannot dispatch the large-scale expeditionary force that you desire.

I hope you will convey this well when you return to your homeland.”

“As you wish.”

“If you are worried about our attitude, there is no need to be.”

It meant that they would not be lukewarm and that there was no need for unnecessary worries.

As Special Envoy Riemann only lowered his head, as if his inner thoughts had been exposed, Edgar IV closed his eyes as if that was enough and leaned deeply into the back of the throne.

The chamberlain, noticing that he seemed quite tired, opened his mouth instead.

“His Majesty is weary in body and mind, so we will conclude today’s session here.

We will gather again at this time tomorrow to continue to receive His Majesty’s will.”

With the King’s will being so, there was no way to say more here.

Zion frowned as he watched Prince Erader, Princess Vanessa, and Special Envoy Riemann step back.

He wondered what the King was thinking, declaring that he would participate in the Holy War but appointing Princess Vanessa, who opposed the Holy War, as the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, instead of Prince Erader, who had expressed a strong will to participate.

“Ah, wait.

There is one thing I had forgotten.”

Edgar IV suddenly opened his eyes and straightened his body slightly.

Then, he began to stare intently at Special Envoy Riemann.

“….”

“…Your Majesty?”

He clearly seemed to want to say something, but Special Envoy Riemann could not figure out the reason at all.

In response, Edgar IV kindly told him.

“What are you doing, Special Envoy Riemann of the Holy Prussen?”

“Yes?”

“Did you not hear Princess Vanessa’s words?

I am telling you to apologize to Young Master Zion Claussen.”

“Y, Your Majesty?”

“What are you doing?

Apologize at once.”

Edgar IV’s eyes were shining coldly as he said that.

As Special Envoy Riemann hesitated for a moment, he smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

“Young Master Zion Claussen has even been appointed as the King’s representative and has been to the North.

To engage in rude behavior towards someone who has not officially returned the proxy rights to me after completing his mission could be taken as an insult to Hispaña and the royal family.”

Wow, he’s really holding a grudge like this.

Zion barely managed to hold back the applause that was about to burst out.

It seemed that Edgar IV was also very displeased with Special Envoy Riemann’s words and actions.

However, if he stepped in while the atmosphere was heightened, the nobles who were watching would immediately jump on the bandwagon and tear apart the person from the Holy Prussen, which could escalate into a diplomatic issue, so he seemed to be waiting for the right moment to ease the atmosphere before stepping in.

“Above all, he is a person who has worked hard for Hispaña, and that is why he is called a hero in the kingdom, so if you say such things, wouldn’t our Hispaña be in a very difficult position?”

There was a cold dagger hidden in his words.

A warning that there is a place to wag one’s tongue and a place where one should not.

He was letting them know that this was not the Holy Prussen, where they shudder at the mention of demons and insist on the Holy War, but Hispaña.

‘If necessary, we can just cut off your head for committing a diplomatic discourtesy and send it to the Holy Prussen.’

That’s what he means.

Wow, as expected of our King.

He’s charismatic.’

Zion thought that he was indeed the father of a woman like Princess Vanessa.

At the same time, he wondered how a piece of trash like Prince Erader came out from under such a strong person.

“…Young Master Zion Claussen.”

And Special Envoy Riemann, who had received a threat that was not a threat, succumbed to it and agreed.

He approached Zion and bowed so low that his back almost bent double.

“I misspoke earlier.

I hope you will forgive me with the same generous heart you have shown to the people of Hispaña.”

Zion looked at Special Envoy Riemann, who had bowed deeply, and then glanced at Edgar IV.

Then, Edgar IV nodded slightly.

It was a reaction that he did not like Special Envoy Riemann, just like Princess Vanessa, that it was okay to tease him appropriately.

“Of course, accepting the apology is not a difficult task.

But, Special Envoy Riemann?

You are a person from the Holy Prussen, are you not?”

“Yes?”

“I mean, you’re not a person from Hispaña.”

Chuckling inwardly, Zion replied half jokingly and half seriously.

Thanks to that, Special Envoy Riemann, who looked utterly bewildered, could not tell whether this situation was real or a joke.

“Hahaha.

It seems that Young Master Zion Claussen is secretly harboring resentment towards your words.

How about accepting Special Envoy Riemann’s apology, Young Master Zion Claussen?”

Although it was a light-hearted joke, Edgar IV, the King of Hispaña, was giving ‘advice’ to Zion.

To a mere nobleman, even one who had not yet formally received a title.

Watching that scene, the nobles of Hispaña who were gathered there could clearly see that Edgar IV was definitely treating and taking care of Zion Claussen.

“I will do so, Your Majesty.

Then, Special Envoy Riemann.

I will consider the words you said earlier as a mistake made by a person from the Holy Prussen who is only worried about the safety of the continent.”

“Th, thank you for doing so.”

With Special Envoy Riemann’s apology, the atmosphere finally broke up.

The nobles left the grand hall, which felt like a storm had passed, and were busy talking to each other.

The topic would probably be about the relationship between Zion Claussen and the royal family, the issue of who would participate in the Holy War, and the future actions of Prince Erader and Princess Vanessa.

“You’ve worked hard, Zion.”

And Zion was finally able to face Count Lichten and talk to him.

“It must not have been easy to hold talks with the barbarian tribes, but to stir up the nobles of the North and clean it up.

I’ve even heard that you’re not the kind of talent who should be stuck in Claussen.”

“They say that suffering starts when you leave home, and I felt it keenly.

I just want to stay holed up in Claussen as much as possible.”

Count Lichten burst into hearty laughter at Zion’s nonchalance.

Since he had not yet given a detailed report to the King or the Princess, Count Lichten was unaware that Zion had agreed to maintain peace with Zhan Temujin for the reason of a marriage alliance.

Zion had decided to return to the villa and talk about that part later.

“Young Master Zion Claussen.”

The chamberlain approached him and called out to Zion.

When Zion looked at him, asking what was going on, the chamberlain muttered in a small voice.

“Please wait until all the nobles have left the grand hall.

His Majesty has something important to tell you.”

“….”

Being told to stay after sending all the nobles out was highly likely to be related to the story that the chamberlain had whispered in his ear earlier.

In fact, Zion was roughly aware of the reason.

It was because of Edgar IV’s expression hardening and his intention to appoint Princess Vanessa, who opposed the Holy War, as the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, and to give Prince Erader, who supported it, other tasks.

‘It was around this time that the South started to get noisy.’

He entrusts the external affairs to those who advocate for internal stability.

He entrusts the internal stability to those who advocate for external order.

‘It’s really scary, scary.

That’s why it’s true that the worst thing is when someone who has been worn out in the political arena becomes an enemy?’

Edgar IV was giving his son and daughter the opportunity to prove their abilities and, at the same time, to seize each other’s weaknesses.

He was telling them to prove that they were not just good at advocating for external and internal affairs, but that they also had the ability in the opposite direction, so that they were worthy of challenging for the position of the next king.

At the same time, he was telling them to discover each other’s mistakes that could occur in that area, to rationally tear each other apart and inflict wounds, so that they would not recklessly attack each other in the succession battle.

It was the words of a man who was a ruler and king of a country before he was a father.

‘Honestly, I don’t have to worry much about Princess Vanessa, she’s a trusted royal talent.

In the novel, Kim Yoo-hyun shook her heart so much that he made her half-crippled, but her abilities and talents were definitely outstanding.

Her heart for the country as a king was better than Prince Erader’s, if not less.

Although she opposed the Holy War, once she was entrusted with the affairs of the country, she would fight with all her might and try to achieve victory more than anyone else.

The problem now is…’

The problem was Prince Erader.

In this case, the person who would solve the problems in the South would be Prince Erader.

Here, Zion could not help but worry.

He was worried that Vanessa’s position as successor would be narrowed if he solved the problem well like Vanessa, and if he cursed him to fail, the maritime transport routes of Hispaña would be completely ruined.

It was a situation where he couldn’t wish for him to fail, and it was ambiguous to wish for him to succeed.

Zion had a strong feeling that he had to make a decision.

‘Whether to participate in the Holy War or go down to the South.

Ha… damn it.

When will I ever be able to rest?

Am I really going to work my bones out until the pigeons drop a bomb of poop?’

Why is it that sad premonitions are never wrong?

A line from a song suddenly came to Zion’s mind.

―――――――Author’s Notes―――――――

4!

Ultimate skill activated!

Still, I can get a triple kill… right?