Chapter 4: The Ambition of the Duke of Valzen
“Valzen Ducal Calendar Year 10, Late June — Ducal Capital Eisenburg”
[Perspective of the Duke of Valzen]
Days without war were unbearably dull.
Who else but me has the capacity to unite this continent under a single banner?
If the gods do not wish for it, then I shall cut down even the gods themselves on the battlefield.
And yet, the stacks of parchment the bureaucrats present contain neither the scent of blood nor the gleam of swords.
I simply waited for the flames of war to rise once more and set my chest ablaze.
Sunlight slanted across the thick carpet of the study.
The black steel armor displayed by the wall reflected that light dully.
Breaking that silence was the report being read aloud by my aide.
The subject of it all was that former foot soldier—Glenn von Helden.
“—That concludes the report. Baron Glenn has reportedly secured a large loan from the merchant Dario Bolani and has begun construction of a town.”
“Oh? That foot soldier borrowed money from Dario? That money-grubber lent him funds without collateral? How amusing, how very amusing!”
Even that gold-obsessed merchant has bet on the man’s ‘luck,’ has he?
Interesting.
It has been a while since I’ve heard something so refreshing.
The report continued.
“Yes, my lord. Furthermore, he has used those funds to hire the entire ‘Silver Wolf Mercenary Band.'”
“Oh! Now he’s taken in the Silver Wolf Mercenary Band as well! Skilled, yet notorious for their unruly nature. Hm, they can be used as a fighting force.”
“…And what is he doing with those he has gathered?”
“Yes, my lord. It is said that he has begun digging a moat in the Helden Hills, building earthen walls, and constructing a provisional castle.”
Securing manpower, winning hearts, assembling forces, and building a base.
I do not know how much of this is calculated, but that former foot soldier is no ordinary man.
It is as if I am looking at myself from when I had nothing.
At those words, a vast map of this land spread across my mind.
A red line was drawn upon it.
If one were to advance eastward from the Helden Hills, it would be easy to strike at the rear of the Caledon territory—our long-standing enemy.
Until now, there had been no foothold there.
But if a single fortress existed, the tide of war would change drastically.
(That foot soldier… is he driving in the wedge I could not obtain myself, using nothing but his own ambition…!)
The days of boredom were over.
I let out a fearless grin and rose from my throne.
“Send word to the entire army! Prepare for immediate departure! Our destination—the Helden Hills! On the stage that foot soldier has prepared, we shall bare our wolf’s fangs once more!”
A few days later, the drums of war echoed throughout the ducal capital of Eisenburg, and the horns announcing departure resounded high into the sky from the castle gates.
The four thousand elite soldiers under my command marched in perfect order along the stone-paved roads.
Women leaned out from every window, throwing colorful flowers toward the soldiers.
The skies of Eisenburg were filled to the brim with the scent of war.