The Witches of the West, led by Nivea, began to move after seeing the battle between the Aether Empire and Variantus.
It wasn’t because Nivea didn’t trust me, it was because the nobles of Cython didn’t trust the witches.
The nobles of Cython were not competent, to say the least, except for accepting the witches of the west. It was the king’s decision to accept the witches, not the will of the nobles.
However, since the region of Saiton was relatively wealthy, the wealth accumulated by the aristocrats was substantial, and there were many people who dedicated their wealth to the country in the early days of independence and occupied their positions. Based on that wealth, they were able to become one of the remaining 7 factions, so it wasn’t completely useless.
However, the king was now judging that their usefulness had run out. The King of Cython secretly entrusted Nivea with the task of purging incompetent nobles, or nobles who were against his views, before attacking the kingdom of Baraha.
Nivea didn’t like this mission. It was because it was a mission in the form of boiling and eating dogs after a typical hunt, aside from the extensive internal purges that were not enough even if they concentrated their forces on Baraha. Nobles this time, but next time? It will be witches.
However, it was not easy to refuse the king’s order. Watching this situation, I contemplated whether to help Nivea or not. But it was no longer necessary.
“You have a lot on your mind, Archwitch.”
The one who appeared in front of Nivea, who was troubled, was Naru, the ghost magician whom I had taken to the western witches in the past Great Labyrinth incident.
“Yes, Naru-nim, I’m worried.”
Naru controls the grudge spirit. There was a part similar to me. I manipulated the grudge spirit and exercised very little physical force, and although I couldn’t collect the information collected by the clones in real time like me, I sent the grudge spirit to a not-so-distant distance and got information from the returning grudge spirit.
So, after becoming a naturalized Saiton, Naru excelled in several battles. They did things such as identifying the location of the enemy or figuring out the enemy’s strategy in advance. It’s kind of like helping the ether when I was a soul.
“The King of Cython is not a good person. He is a person with a lot of grudges.”
The number of grudges worn by the King of Cython was quite large. He killed many people in the civil war even before ascending to the throne, but he was the same before that.
“So it’s more of a problem. You can just use us and throw us away at any time.”
“Then, how about changing the king on this occasion? I don’t think the prince’s personality is bad.”
Nivea’s eyes shook at Naru’s suggestion. Your heart will be shaken. Nivea’s worries deepened.
“I will try to think deeply.”
“I see. Archwitch”
Even though Naru is Nivea, who is much younger than herself, she was polite enough to pay respect to the Archwitch and withdrew. However, as he was stepping back, he saw his clone in the corner and lowered his head slightly.
Of course I knew that Naru was looking at my alter ego. I couldn’t get rid of the suspicion that Naru intentionally showed me this scene. She is a clever woman like an old witch. good night. Nivea will hate it if she finds out later, but I have a promise with Melania, and let’s help a little this time.
Anyway, I also don’t want Western witches to be used and abandoned by King Cython. I went to Eltis and got a Blue Moon Mark.
And that night the King of Cython died. The mark of the blue moon remained on the king’s forehead. Naturally, the royal palace of Saiton turned upside down. However, it was impossible to pursue the Blue Moon, a mysterious organization whose traces could not be found.
And even before the king’s funeral began, some nobles began to make secret moves, aiming for the throne.
Nivea was by no means stupid enough to easily throw away an opportunity that came rolling in like this. Prince Il of Cython was not a bad nature, but he was a tough boy. However, there was a bit of a weak side to be a king.
Prince Il was one of the few people who had goodwill toward witches, including Nivea. The reason was simple. Young witches are usually pretty. The prince wasn’t horny, but liking beautiful women seems to be an inevitable instinct for men of his age.
Nivea immediately contacted Prince Il and officially declared its support for Prince Il. The queen was also there. The queen didn’t like the witches, but she was very happy for now. Right now, the queen knew that Cython’s greatest strength was the witches.
With the permission of Prince and Queen Il, Nivea slaughtered the nobles who dreamed of treason. In the process, some nobles who were excessively incompetent or showed hostility to the witches were also included.
Sithon’s attack on Baraha was delayed due to various things, but while the western witches were strengthening their position, the Aether Empire army was preparing to attack the royal capital, the last bastion of Variantus.
The first battle also ended rather blandly, but after that, there was no battle worthy of battle, so the Ether Empire suffered little loss. On the contrary, the army was increased by absorbing the soldiers who surrendered.
In addition, the border guards who were originally guarding the borders of Aether marched into the newly expanded territory and began to maintain security, so there was no problem with worrying or supplying the rear.
They advanced to the vicinity of the capital and made camps as if to show off, but Variantus did not dare to come up with a strategy like a surprise attack.
“It is too easy.”
The seven swords felt sorry for not having a chance to show their skills except for a brief moment in the beginning.
“Is there any chance for us to step out in the future?”
“If there is, wouldn’t that be a problem as it is?”
Although there was regret, I couldn’t express my dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction comes only when the opponent is in a certain level.
The tightly closed gates of the royal capital of Variantus opened, and several figures with white flags came out.
“We are the diplomats of Bariantus. I want to negotiate with Empress Shalltear.”
Approaching the camp of the Aether army, they shouted out their identity and purpose.
Upon hearing the news, Shalltear met with diplomats.
“Your Highness, Empress Shalltear, we, Variantus, want to surrender.”
“What are the conditions?”
“It is a guarantee of the property and safety of the royal family of Bariantus.”
Shalltear’s face contorted at once.
“How dare you say that in front of someone!”
Malus, who was next to him, burst out with an angry face. He was in the mood to pull out his sword right away.
All of Shalltear’s family members were executed by Barianthus, and it could be said that it was a rather brazen offer to make Shalltear live as a condition.
However, it is also diplomacy between countries that allows such things.
“Safe survival is guaranteed. However, property and status are not guaranteed.”
Shalltear unexpectedly accepted this situation with courage.
“That, it is”
The diplomat stuttered. Although they were few, they were members of the royal family. Taking property and status from those who were high-ranking nobles even before becoming royalty is no different from telling them not to live.
However, the diplomats knew that Shalltear would not easily accept these terms of surrender. Diplomats were persistent. Sluggish negotiations ensued.
At that time, Argin entered the barracks where negotiations were underway and threw something into the middle of the negotiation room.
“I caught him sneaking away.”
It was the head of King Bariantus. The diplomats opened their mouths in unison. They, too, did not know that the king had sent them to give them time to escape.
Of course, I told you that the Bariantus royals were running away. That’s how the kingdom of Bariantus disappeared.
The remnants of Variantus had no will to stop the Aether Empire’s army, which carried the heads of the royal family who had been decapitated while secretly fleeing.
They threw down their weapons and surrendered, demanding the utmost leniency. Shalltear accepted them as much as possible. The thing lacking most in the reborn Principality of Nebra is human resources. Shalltear didn’t know that. Of course, we will have to cover the boulders again, but we need the help of those who are familiar with the existing Barianthus situation.
The war against Bariantus ended much easier than expected. But not all are good. As the number of territories occupied so quickly increased, there was not enough personnel to manage them.
Among the officials of the Akasha Territory, I recruited talented people with ambitions who wanted to demonstrate their capabilities in the fledgling principality.
Not many people applied. Although the number was significantly smaller than the number of people who tried to remain under William’s last time, they were all proven outstanding talents.
I sent them to Shalltear. Should I call it a kind of celebration gift? Shalltear, who wanted to make her country like Akasha’s territory, welcomed the officials who were active in Akasha’s territory more than any other gift.
After a while, Shalltear succeeded in occupying all the territories of Bariantus, eliminating even the few local aristocrats who resisted until the end, and officially declared the founding of the Principality of Nebra.
The territory of Barianthus was added to the territory of the existing Nebra Kingdom, but it was still a small country because it was about 2/7 of the territory of the original Neos Kingdom.
A large number of important figures from neighboring countries participated in the founding event. Of course, most people were more interested in other things than the founding of Nebra or Shalltear, but Shalltear never felt intimidated or sad. Rather, he gritted his teeth and pledged to create a country that would not be ignored by anyone in the future.
In the meantime, the 3rd prince from the Kingdom of Crucio, who was the only true prince among the ruined royal family that the neighboring kingdoms found to check the Aether Empire, restored the kingdom of Crucio with the help of the alliance of neighboring kingdoms like Shalltear. cried out and jumped into the battlefield.
The target was the Kingdom of Koncart, which destroyed the Kingdom of Crucio.
Surrounding countries provided more support than expected, so Guilliman Crucio’s army was quite large. The number of soldiers was 30,000. Of course, they were soldiers of a level that could not be called elite soldiers, but this army was joined by Masters from each country who secretly participated in the war.
Crucio’s forces broke the borders of the Koncart Kingdom and advanced. Koncart resisted desperately, but the strength of the Masters dispatched from each country was great. On the contrary, they even showed a tendency to overheat due to competition with each other.
However, there was a part that was mostly overlooked here. Despite the great activity of the Masters, the leader of this army was Prince Guilliman Crucio. He was at the forefront of actual military command and even suggested excellent tactics in front of seasoned generals dispatched from different countries.
Guilliman Crucio was by no means an incompetent person. The neighboring countries who tried to make him a puppet underestimated his abilities too much.
As the advance continued and they penetrated deeper into the Concart Kingdom, the situation for Crucio’s forces was getting more difficult.
The Koncart Kingdom army retreated and used clear field tactics that left no supplies, causing problems with supply, but it was because the Koncart Kingdom’s real strength began to emerge.
The Kingdom of Koncart was one of the countries with the best military power among the successors of the Kingdom of Neos. They had two Masters, and there was a supply problem, and Crucio-kun had a gap, so they finally started moving.
The masters of Koncart thoroughly chose a hit-and-run tactic. He never fought Crucio’s Masters, aiming for a supply corps or a small detachment.
Conversely, Crucio-kun hid and placed the masters in the supply unit or detached unit, but when the information leaked from where it happened, he noticed it like a ghost and ambush somewhere else.
That’s how Crucio’s advance slowed and the front line began to fall into a stuck state. However, no one had yet noticed that this was Guilliman’s ruse.
Of course I knew So I was watching the direction of this war with great pleasure.