Episode 63. Do You Wish to Seize the Initiative?
After organizing the Sahyut Fleet, the fleet advanced along the river.
Soon, the steep cliffs disappeared, and plains began to come into view.
The blessed land, the Southern Plains, had begun in earnest.
The fleet’s destination was Alantster, a commercial city located on the riverbank.
“It’s definitely a bigger city than Entroville.”
“I understand why the Southerners call the East a backwater.”
Sirius got off the ship while talking to Justitia.
Today, after unloading the cargo here, they planned to move to the Letius family by land.
“Justitia, take a look around this neighborhood until the cargo is unloaded.”
“This neighborhood is managed by the Letius family. There’s nothing for you to do.”
“I’m just going to look around. I’m not going to fight.”
While Cheonrangpyoguk was unloading the cargo, Sirius decided to look around Alantster.
It was because there might be a hidden member of the Alliance.
If the Alliance was targeting Sirius or Verdian, they would have sent at least a 7th Circle Mage.
If they had that much魔力, Sirius could find them easily.
“This should be enough.”
Sirius climbed to the top of a tall building.
Then, he spread his senses in all directions and began to search.
He could feel魔力 all over the city.
However, most of them were ordinary Mages with魔力 below the 3rd Circle.
He could feel a fairly strong魔力 from the pier, but it was the魔力 of people he knew, such as Aleion and Velid.
“Wait…”
There was a reaction on the outskirts of the city.
It was quite a large魔力. It was the 6th Circle.
In addition, there were several Mages who seemed to be around the 4th or 5th Circle.
Sirius headed that way to take a closer look.
“……”
As soon as he arrived using Skywalk, he saw a group being inspected at the entrance to the city.
They were all dressed in uniforms with crimson patterns, and their appearance was neat.
Among them, he found the man with the魔力 of the 6th Circle.
He was a man with red hair who looked to be in his early 30s.
He wore glasses and had an overall intelligent aura.
Sirius quickly realized who he was.
“Mr. David, please sign this document.”
“It’s quite complicated. And it’s urgent.”
“Isn’t it a decision made by the Retiue family to maintain治安? Mr. David, you should follow it.”
The man talking to the checkpoint officer was… David Retiue, the second son of the Retiue family.
In other words, Letitia’s husband.
“My wife is in danger.”
A desperate voice suddenly burst out.
Sirius listened unconsciously.
“It’s possible that she was attacked by the Shahit bandits. I have to go and check quickly.”
“The Shahit bandits? If you just pay the toll properly, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“That’s not true.”
David got angry as he quickly filled out the paperwork.
“It’s all because of that Sirius bastard. That damn bastard.”
Why is he suddenly like that?
Sirius was also puzzled when he was scolded out of nowhere.
“I heard that he turned the Lupelcia militia upside down.”
“If it’s the Lupelcia militia… Are they related to the Shahit bandits?”
“Yes, if there’s a problem with the Lupelcia militia, it’ll be difficult to pass through the area controlled by the Shahit bandits safely.”
David’s voice became even harsher.
“The ship Letitia is on may have been attacked by the Shahit bandits! Because of that crazy guy…!”
“You, don’t worry too much. You must have paid the toll and passed through.”
“They’re not that easygoing! They must have sunk a few ships as an example!”
“Oh, I see. The paperwork is sufficient, so please go to the pier quickly.”
David had no idea that the Cheonrangpyo Kingdom’s fleet had safely arrived at the pier.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Sirius, who couldn’t stand it any longer, came forward and spoke to David.
“The Cheonrangpyo Kingdom’s fleet arrived safely, so you don’t have to worry.”
“What?”
David looked at Sirius with a surprised expression.
“What did you just say?”
“Everyone arrived safely. Lady Letitia is also safe.”
There was a big change in her body… but there was no problem.
“W, what are you talking about? The Shahit bandits must have blocked the way?”
“The Shahit bandits did block the way, but there was no problem.”
“There was no problem?”
“The Shahit bandits have already been annihilated.”
“……!”
Not only David, but also the subordinates with him were shocked.
“What are you talking about? Shahit has been… our family couldn’t even touch them.”
“I killed Shahit.”
“Wha…!”
David opened his eyes wide and looked at Sirius’ face.
“Wait, are you…”
“I didn’t greet you properly.”
He’s my wife’s sister’s husband.
I should at least show basic courtesy.
“I’m Sirius, Eustia’s husband. I’ll be in your care from now on, Brother David.”
“……!”
Brother.
David gulped as Sirius bowed his head while calling him that.
* * *
“Leticia, you’re really safe…!”
David burst into tears as he hugged Leticia, who had just gotten off the pier.
Sirius watched them and talked to Eustia.
“You seem to be close.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Unlike the two of them, who were a cold, contractual couple, Leticia and David seemed to be a couple who truly loved each other.
Well, that’s probably why they already have a third child…
“Lord David, do you have a moment?”
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“Oh, Eustia.”
David let go of Leticia and cleared his throat.
“You’ve had a hard journey. If I had known this would happen, I would have sent an escort from our family in advance.”
“It’s alright. I had Sirius with me.”
“Sirius…”
David’s gaze turned to Sirius.
His eyes held an uncomfortable emotion.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it. You subdued the Lupeltia militia and even defeated the Shahit Order?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“My, oh my…”
David scratched his head and said,
“I’m grateful that you brought Leticia here safely, but I have a bit of a problem with you causing unnecessary fights.”
“Lord David, what do you mean by unnecessary fights…”
“You could have passed by without getting into a fight. Especially since you had Leticia with you…”
“…….”
I could understand David’s feelings.
As a husband, he couldn’t help but worry about his wife getting caught up in a fight.
“And the fact that you, of all people from the Eastern forces, caused such a commotion in the South is also problematic. The Southern Union might protest.”
“Lord David, we only fought back against those who threatened us.”
“I know that. But the other families in the South won’t see it that way.”
After hearing that, Sirius opened his mouth.
“May I say a word, brother?”
“Sirius…?”
“We have never violated the rights of any Southern family.”
Sirius spoke calmly.
“Lupecia was a neutral city that did not belong to any Southern family. The same goes for the area occupied by the Shahit Order.”
“That is…”
“Since no Southern family was properly managing those places, we simply cleaned them up as we passed by. We have not harmed any family.”
“Hmm…”
David looked puzzled.
“Sirius, that may be true, but… there are many aspects to consider. Other families might feel threatened.”
“I don’t think it will be a problem since we have not actually threatened them.”
“Even so…”
“If any family raises an issue, I will personally explain the situation.”
“…”
David was speechless at Sirius’s confident attitude.
“David, are we going to keep standing here? I’m tired and want to go quickly.”
“Oh, I understand. Get in the carriage, Leticia.”
Just then, Leticia complained of fatigue, so David rushed over to her.
Watching him, Justitia whispered to Sirius.
“I hope you didn’t bother my brother-in-law too much, Sirius.”
“I didn’t bother him at all.”
“As you can see, he is just an ordinary man who loves his wife dearly. He has no great ambitions.”
“The complete opposite of me.”
“Indeed.”
Justitia said in a flat voice.
“The person you need to deal with is not my brother-in-law. It’s the eldest son of the Retiud family… Andres Retiud.”
Andres Retiud.
After his father, the head of the family, fell ill, he took over the reins of the Retiud family.
A capable man who had been praised as the ‘Crown Prince of Retiud’ since childhood.
A genius Southern wizard who reached the 8th Circle in his thirties.
“He has been constantly watching for an opportunity to seize control of the Rigel family.”
Justitia’s voice was laced with caution.
* * *
The Retiud family’s main castle.
David, who had brought the Rigel family entourage, headed straight to the study upon arrival.
“Brother, they have arrived.”
“I see.”
A handsome man with a striking appearance looked up, putting down his pen.
He was the ‘Crown Prince of Retiud,’ Andres.
He was currently acting as the head of the family in place of his ailing father.
“Explain the situation.”
“That’s…”
David relayed the fact that Sirius had subdued not only the Lupeltia Vigilantes, but also the Shahtiz Order.
As he listened, Andres’s gaze grew sharper.
“It seems the rumors we heard from the east were not mere hearsay.”
“Brother, how did it come to this? Sirius was just a feeble scholar…”
“He likely had a special grimoire hidden in the Rigel household.”
Andres said, brushing back his crimson hair.
“It wouldn’t be strange for the Rigel household, one of the continent’s five great houses, to possess such a grimoire. Rootvein Rigel must have passed down the ancient magic to Sirius.”
“Ah…!”
After making that conjecture, Andres’s expression twisted.
“Because of this, our plans have been completely foiled.”
“Brother…”
“I was thinking of advancing into the east at the most opportune moment, and making your wife the head of the Rigel household.”
The Letiwood household had been eyeing the Rigel household for a long time.
If the current head, Rootvein Rigel, were to perish, one of his three daughters would have to succeed him as the head of the household.
If they were to make Leticia the next head, and have her husband, David, seize control of the Rigel household… the Rigel household would essentially be absorbed into the Letiwood household.
By uniting with the Rigel household, one of the continent’s five great houses, they had intended to greatly elevate the Letiwood household’s status.
They had been making preparations to do so… when Sirius suddenly appeared.
“If I had known this would happen, I would have sent you to the east sooner.”
“I couldn’t help it, I was conscripted for the Southern Union’s campaign…”
“I had planned to send you to drive out the Yuterus household and seize control of the Rigel household at the right moment… but I missed my chance.”
“……”
David made an uncomfortable expression.
Honestly, David did not like Andres’s plan to seize control of the Rigel household.
Even if they did not bring the Rigel household under their control, the Letiwood household was already prosperous enough as a renowned house in the south.
Furthermore, if they were to follow through with Andres’s plan, David would have to go with Leticia to the Rigel household in the northeast.
He was loath to leave his beloved hometown and live in the barren northeast.
“Brother, why don’t we just leave things be?”
“What are you saying?”
“If it’s true that Father-in-law passed down the ancient magic to Sirius, doesn’t that mean he has already decided on the next head of the household?”
“……”
“I think it would be better to support the Yustias couple as they lead the Rigel household. If the two houses get along well…”
“David.”
Andres cut off David’s words in a sharp voice.
“You’ve already lost your nerve. Did Sirius get the better of you?”
“N-no, brother…”
“That feeble attitude of yours is the problem. It seems to have gotten worse since you got married.”
“……”
David shut his mouth.
“Pull yourself together. If we show even the slightest weakness, that bastard will use us as a stepping stone to gradually devour the south.”
“Brother, that’s…”
“He’s already wiped out Lupeltia and made mincemeat out of the Shahitt corps. We cannot allow him to run rampant in the south any longer.”
“……”
Honestly, David couldn’t quite understand this attitude of his older brother’s.
His brother was normally a cool-headed and collected person, but when it came to matters involving the Rigel family, he became overly impatient.
Could there be… some other reason?
“We have to seize the initiative somehow. And if possible, we should…”
“If possible, what do you mean?”
Just then.
A voice could be heard from outside the door.
“……!?”
Both Andres and David were startled.
A clear voice could be heard from beyond the thick wooden door.
“My apologies. I can hear your voices all the way out here.”
That was impossible.
The soundproofing in this office was excellent, so no voices should be able to escape to the outside.
It was also strange how that man’s voice could be heard so clearly.
Was there some strange power imbued in the voice?
“I shall enter.”
Creak.
As the heavy door opened, a young man with long hair appeared.
“I came to pay my respects, but it seems I have arrived just as you were discussing me.”
“……!”
Before the two shocked brothers, Sirius Canisroot strode into the office.
And without waiting for permission, he sat down on the guest sofa.
“So… you wish to seize the initiative?”
Who gave you permission?
The two brothers remained silent before Sirius’ piercing gaze.