The count narrowed his eyes at Luke’s words.
‘Are you saying you don’t want to withdraw later?’
The Count suppressed the corner of his mouth that was about to rise. I didn’t think so, but I thought I’d ask for it first because my body is sweet.
The Count burst into laughter with a happy face.
“Isn’t that a natural thing? I have to tell you right now that this has happened.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
“hehehe, what is gratitude? It’s the right thing to do.”
Having said that, the Count shifted his gaze to Ray. Even when he was said to be the successor of a territory, his expression did not change.
Luke nodded, and Rey stepped forward and knelt.
“Ray Herning sees his father.”
“I am really happy to have such a wonderful daughter. Now that we have been reborn as a true family, if there is anything this father can do to help, let us know.”
“Yes, Father.”
A hard title that doesn’t even feel the slightest bit. However, the count was satisfied with the title itself ‘Father’.
Originally, the form shown on the outside is important for this kind of thing.
“Anyway, you came at the right time. I was thinking of calling you anyway.”
“You mean me?”
“That’s right. It’s when you need the strength of a brave monk.”
The count said with a smirk.
“The elves asked for negotiations.”
* * *
The Count gathered all the commanders and knights in the family, including Luke. Then he shouted loudly.
“There are two things I am really happy about today. One is that those wicked elves gave in to us and demanded negotiations!”
“Oh oh!”
An exclamation broke out among the soldiers. I was very nervous when I heard that I was fighting an elf, but I lowered my tail first!
Everyone whispered that he was going home without shedding a single drop of blood. Fortunately, the commanders were the same.
‘I can only get magic tools without wasting troops!’
‘It’s good that you brought a lot. Will the stakes increase as much as the number?’
The family property of all these forces. Every time you lose, the power of the family is also cut into chunks, but all of them are preserved and only spoils are obtained.
It was the optimal result for the descendants of each family. While everyone was paying attention to the ashes, once more the Count shouted.
“And on this day, another good news! It means that I, who had no children, now has an heir!”
“… … !?”
Everyone widened their eyes this time at the shocking news. I told you about the negotiations beforehand, but this was the first time everyone had heard of it.
At that response, the Count smiled contentedly and turned towards Luke.
“My daughter, come up!”
“Yes, Father.”
When Ray stepped up to the podium, everyone made angry faces. Could it be that he made Luke’s knight his successor?
The Count shouted at Ray, who was on one knee.
“Will you swear to be my daughter?”
“I swear.”
“Will you shoulder the duty of an heir to carry on this family?”
“I will gladly bear it.”
“good night! Your name is now Ray Herning, not Ray Winslow! You are my heir and daughter, rise up and make a name for yourself!”
Ray stood up and shouted at the people.
“I am now Ray Herning, the rightful heir to the Herning family. I hope that today you will be witnesses to this oath.”
“Blessings Ray Herning and the Herning family!”
As soon as the words were finished, someone whom the count had put as a catcher shouted. Soon, similar slogans spread like wildfire everywhere.
“Long live Ray Herning!”
“Blessings on the Herning family!”
It was the completion of the successor declaration that no one could deny. Seeing that everyone was chanting the same slogan, the count turned his gaze to Luke.
‘Are you satisfied with this?’
‘Enough.’
The Count, who exchanged glances with Luke, exclaimed enthusiastically.
“Today I will face them with my daughter! I will teach them the dignity of humans!”
Wow!
The roaring cheers of the soldiers rang through the air. The cheers seemed to bless a rosy future, so I was more than happy.
As he checked his plan, the Count imagined a rosy wing. Without noticing the subtle gaze of Luke next to him.
* * *
It was a declaration that would not be strange even if they had a final battle, but the movement of troops itself proceeded calmly.
It is not an all-out war, but a move for an armed demonstration prior to negotiations. There was no need to risk one’s life, so there was nothing to be nervous about.
“Still, it is spectacular.”
Walter glanced back and murmured. Troops were also troops, but the number of knights was no joke.
“If we could always cooperate, we would be able to glar at the hegemony of the West.”
“Have you not woken up yet? I see you talking nonsense.”
“Noisy. It’s something I’ve heard before.”
Walter grumbled at Damian’s scolding. In fact, everyone here knows. That it would be impossible to gather troops like this again.
Even Count Herning would not have stepped forward if it had not been for a reward as appetizing as a magic tool.
“Huh, I never thought we would form a group.”
“I mean.”
“Since I live, I see all kinds of stars.”
At Stefan’s murmur, the other two agreed. Originally, the four families were not on good terms, but when a particular family stood out in particular, they would all be crushed together.
What mattered was that it was the Winslow family. A subtle wall existed between the three of them and Leon.
Because Luke and Rey were helping the Winslow family.
“Damn it, that guy is lucky because he took good care of his older sister.”
“Anyway, he’s the heir. It’s to make friends with Sir Luke, but aren’t you going too far?”
“Tsk tsk.”
Damian clicked his tongue at Stefan and Walter’s muttering. It was like looking at a kid who doesn’t know anything.
“To be stupid. Still don’t know His Excellency’s number of goals?”
“what?”
“No matter how much he is called the successor, Lord Ray is an outsider. He is the successor appointed by His Excellency without birthright. Of course, you can change it anytime.”
Birthrights are rights granted to you from birth. Examples include shares of inheritance by lineage, succession to the father’s position, etc.
But Ray has no birthright. Although he is the legitimate successor, if the Count changes his mind, he could be immediately deprived of the position of heir.
“Aren’t you someone who was born into the Herning family in the first place? Since there is almost no influence within the family, depriving the heir is easy.”
“But you said so… … .”
“Where is anyone to say something when you say you will change your successor?”
Stefan shut his mouth. Come to think of it, it was like that again. It wouldn’t change anything if the Winslows and Lord Luke had some grievances.
I don’t know if the influence of the Bernstein family is added, but isn’t it too far? If you really pretend to be crazy and throw everything down, you won’t know again, but that’s just simple aggression.
It’s not a legitimate succession, it’s just usurpation, so no one will admit it.
“If your Excellency leaves after many years, Sir Ray will have the Herning family in his hands. But in other words, while you are alive, you have to be tied up for the rest of your life.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
After all, if you want to preserve your position as heir, you have to look good to the count. Ray, as well as Luke, who wants to benefit from it, have no choice but to be dragged around by the Count.
“Besides, isn’t His Excellency the Count still at the correct age? He won’t budge for about 10 years, but in the meantime, His Excellency will have no choice but to take the initiative in his hands.”
“Mmm.”
“indeed.”
After Damian’s explanation, the two’s expressions changed. At first glance, it seemed like he was giving Luke everything, but it was the Count who held the leash.
In the midst of being surprised by the count’s heart, Walter opened his mouth with an anxious expression.
“… But what if His Excellency accidentally, really accidentally, goes wrong?”
Silence fell in an instant. The death of Count Valdemar was not something to be talked about carelessly.
After looking at each other for a while, the three of them opened their mouths.
“This story ends here.”
“That, it is. You talked too much.”
The three of them separated and separated from each other. Damian murmured to himself as he watched the two walk away.
‘What will happen if His Excellency dies suddenly?’
The answer was obvious. Ray will have the entire Herning family in his hands, and Luke will also benefit from being a vassal.
As Damian, he only prayed to the goddess. never let that happen. Please, let Count Valdemar live a long life.
* * *
There were two unsuitable beings among the soldiers leaving for negotiations. One is a male elf who exists inside a movable cage.
Another was Eldira, which Luke mounted on a horse. With a robe over her head, if you look closely, you wouldn’t notice that she was an elf.
The other knights were startled when Luke first brought Eldira.
-Sir Luke, do you really need to take that elf with you?
-This is to be used as a hostage in case of emergency. Wouldn’t it be better to have at least one hostage?
The knights clicked their tongues at the poor excuse.
‘A hostage would only get in the way of riding a horse. Did I bring you to show off?’
‘It’s not uncommon to take a concubine or maidservant to the battlefield, but it’s not someone else, but an ascetic knight… … .’
Some knights lowered their ratings of Luke, but Luke didn’t care. It was always good to keep Eldira by her side, even if it was just in case.
You never know when the Archduke or the elven army will come out. It wasn’t the time to care about evaluation and nabal.
‘Anyway, it’ll pierce your face.’
Luke glanced back toward the cage. The male elf was glaring at Luke as if he were going to kill him.
The first elf who came out of the dungeon was frightened when he saw Eldira, and has been in that state ever since.
Still, she did not reveal Eldira’s identity or speak to her, as if she had noticed the situation.
‘I’m glad he’s quick-witted.’
So far it has been working out smoothly. The best outcome would be to encounter the Archduke here, but it was hard to expect that far.
It would be difficult to meet if a full-scale war breaks out or if you don’t notice Eldira’s existence.
“You have arrived.”
At the Count’s words, all troops stopped in unison. It was a huge clearing in the middle of a forest.
No, it was too big to be called an empty lot. It was enough to fight a fight comparable to a battle on the plains.
“I never thought there would be such a wide place.”
“Who made it?”
It was when the knights muttered that. Someone approached from the other side of the road. They were elves wearing neat clothes and jewelry made of various jewels.
Some people were mesmerized by the splendor that was incomparable to humans, while others clicked their tongues. The representative elf came out and shouted.
“Human lord! Where is my son!?」
In response, the Count smiled and showed the iron bars behind him. As the emaciated male elf lowered his head, the representative’s eyes trembled.
“Son… … !”
“Don’t forget the deal, elf!”
The count stopped the elf who was about to say something in a trembling voice. Luke’s eyes sank at the sight.
‘This old man, of course, knew how to speak Elvish.’
After all, if you want to fool everyone else, you have to do that. Only a few people know the Elvish language, so it must be that they can be so confident here.
The elf who came forward gnashed his teeth and looked at the soldiers behind him. Moments later, elven soldiers carried several boxes and set them down in front of me.
“oh my god!”
“That’s all magic… … ?”
It wasn’t a normal amount just looking at the amount that came out because I couldn’t put it all in the box. Seeing this, the Count muttered.
“Hmm, they’re going to bewitch us with that magic tool.”
“Are you going to be possessed?”
“Since you don’t want to teach them how to make them, they must be giving it in bulk and ending it all at once. After all, they are clever bastards.”
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“Then it is better to refuse… … .”
“No, you should take what you get.”
As soon as the Count looked at them, the soldiers behind them jumped out and began to move the magic tools toward the humans.
The elf on the other side, who was watching him shuddering, shouted.
“sh*t! Weren’t you satisfied after eating so many magic tools!? I have nothing more to give! Stop asking me to return my son!”
“… What do you mean?”
When Walter asked, the count replied with a serious expression.
“I can never pass up the magic tool manufacturing technique, so I’m telling you to be content with this much. As expected.”
“I knew it!”
“… … .”
Luke blinked his eyes and looked at the Count. Look at this baby?