“The food supplies available in the Sahelrn Duchy are more than sufficient. Thanks to this war, the Underground Farm has become quite prosperous, and with the military provisions left behind by the humans, we don’t need to worry about feed for a while. Even if all the vampires from the Helraig Duchy were to migrate over, we could handle it easily.”
“The Helraig Duchy has no regrets about abandoning territory, considering that the land itself is almost a barren desert. However, I’m left wondering if it’s truly the best choice to give up the underground facilities completed over the course of hundreds of years.”
The Grand Conference Room, now familiar to me due to my frequent visits, echoed with the conversation between Martini and Jeil.
Two changes stood out: Jeil no longer lounged with his feet on the table, behaving carelessly, and this time some bureaucrats, including the secretary recording the meeting, were present.
It dawned on me that we were indeed taking the first official steps to merge the two duchies.
“While that’s certainly not incorrect… let’s set that issue aside for now. Is there any problem with the migration itself?”
“I’d like to say there shouldn’t be any issues since I’ve traversed that route before, but I can’t guarantee it. It’s not a distance we can cover in a single night, and with the increased numbers, it would be easy to become a target. It won’t be as simple as last time when we were able to sneak past the pursuers. It’s clear that at the very least, the Progenitor will need to accompany us.”
As Jeil looked to me for confirmation, I nodded lightly.
There were still many unresolved issues, but overall, it seemed that the remaining vampires of the Helraig Duchy were finding their way to join the Sahelrn Duchy.
‘That makes sense.’
As Jeil said, the current land of the Helraig Duchy holds little geographical value.
While not entirely barren—plants can grow—large-scale agriculture isn’t feasible, and it lacks rich underground resources or even essential transportation hubs.
It’s a harsh environment for human-like beings who require ordinary meals to survive.
In fact, Helraig Duchy’s lower national strength compared to the Sahelrn Duchy could be attributed to the fact that its lands were deemed worthless.
Keeping hold of lands that offered no real value seemed tantamount to suicide in the eyes of humans, who’d rather not turn their backs on the Sahelrn Duchy or the Dragonkin to the north.
Conversely, while it’s a small territory, the Sahelrn Duchy has much better conditions.
It’s certainly more prone to being eyed by others, but if they have the strength to defend it, choosing that side makes perfect sense.
It is indeed correct, but choosing one side over the other is seldom straightforward.
“Your Highness.”
How long had that discussion lasted? The messenger who cautiously broke in momentarily halted our conversation.
“What is it? I trust that you didn’t allow anyone in unless it was urgent.”
“It’s an urgent matter. According to newly received intelligence… the Suwang Kingdom is on the move.”
The atmosphere in the conference room shifted instantly.
The sudden emergence of an event that could completely flip the ongoing troubles began to stir a hectic energy in our midst.
*
The Suwang Kingdom.
A territory of Beastmen bordered to the east by the Greysia Empire, and the most eastern nation of the Terra continent.
It’s commonly referred to simply as the Suwang Kingdom without any additional titles.
The Suwang Kingdom leaders prefer no specific designation, and humans don’t bother expressing any respect towards the Beastmen’s nation.
However, it cannot be overstated that everyone on the continent knows who leads the Suwang Kingdom.
The Suwang, Cardan Lionheart.
The strongest beastman of this era, a hero of the Ain race who elevated the Suwang Kingdom to a position second only to the three most powerful human nations in the continent.
It was said he was also the fourth Progenitor of Vampires, meaning he was the figure most feared by the Greysia Empire and the Luminous Kingdom until my appearance.
Among the Ain, he leads the largest faction and is said to be strong enough to rival the Grand Duke of Vampires in physical combat, making him a concept practically unimaginable for someone like me, who considers the common level of Beastmen.
Moreover, he’s extremely cautious in action, constantly giving headaches to those in the Empire who are on the frontline.
Regardless, the greatest culprit for the humans who have brought down Albresia yet not gained dominion over the entire continent is clearly him.
“But you’re telling me the Suwang appeared on the front lines himself? Gathering a massive army, to boot?”
“According to reports, it seems that way.”
Martini sighed in surprise.
She noted it must be a rare occurrence. Since Cardan Lionheart’s ascendancy, the Suwang Kingdom has thoroughly avoided a direct confrontation with humans.
Though minor skirmishes have happened hundreds of times, there had never been anything on a scale that could truly be called war.
With merely showy military drills near the borders or occasional ambush raids, the Suwang Kingdom had managed to maneuver cleverly, never quite becoming a priority for humans.
Martini explained that unless there’s some form of assurance for victory, it wouldn’t make sense for them to mobilize on such a large scale.
“They must see it as an opportunity. With the sudden variable of the presumed-dead Progenitor and the involvement of the Helraig Duchy, the coalition forces must have suffered significant damage. Seeing them emerge right after the war ends suggests they’ve been sharpening their blades all this time.”
“And the humans’ reaction?”
“The Empire is the most anxious. Almost all available troops, except the garrison along the western border with us, have been ordered to the east; the Luminous Kingdom is in a similarly frantic situation.”
The Suwang Kingdom has suddenly taken a stand.
Then, all eyes turned to the east toward the Empire and the Luminous Kingdom.
A silent exchange occurred. No words were spoken, but we all understood we were having similar thoughts.
The first to voice this strange amalgamation of urgency was me.
“Jeil, are the guys left in the Helraig Duchy still reachable?”
“Yes. We brought the means of communication with us.”
I realize I’m not quite adjusted to formality yet. Should I just revert to how I acted when no one was watching?
Regardless, having a way to contact them opens up new options to overcome the existing dilemmas.
“It’s a thought I had put off, but how do you feel about attacking the Bertica Kingdom?”
The third of the major human nations, the Bertica Kingdom.
The Sahelrn Duchy and the Helraig Duchy geographically flank the Bertica Kingdom.
In other words, if we can take Bertica Kingdom, we could merge the two duchies without sacrificing the Helraig Duchy’s underground infrastructure.
No, if successful, we might be able to expand our forces beyond our initial assumptions.
“I’d thought taking on the three nations would have to wait, but… I see. As long as we don’t outright provoke the Empire and Luminous Kingdom, the probability of them being our opponents is low this time. Turning our backs to the Suwang Kingdom, which’s come out ready for blood, to assist the Bertica Kingdom would be tantamount to a death wish. It’s also questionable if we’ll have the resources to offer meaningful support in the first place.”
That makes sense. It’s true that we’ve taken considerable hits from the war, but the coalition forces are not the ones who truly suffered defeat.
No matter how abundant the troops and resources are, engaging the ready Suwang Kingdom while worrying about vampires is not feasible.
“You asking about the possibility of contact suggests you’re considering launching a two-pronged attack rather than merely a migration.”
“Correct. Assuming there’s no intervention from the Luminous Kingdom or the Empire, if it turns into a full-blown war between us and the Bertica Kingdom, who do you think would win?”
“Well, obviously…”
Jeil grinned fiercely.
Martini, seeing his expression, pressed her forehead with her hand as if suffering from a headache, yet she didn’t contest his sentiment.
“We’ll win.”
“What about you, Martini? What’s the condition of our soldiers? Can they fight?”
I really want to give the vampires of the Sahelrn Duchy a long rest.
We’ve just barely finished dealing with the aftermath; it might burden them to enter another war so soon after barely escaping death.
However, this opportunity may not come again.
Given that it’s an opportunity presented by the Suwang Kingdom rather than an internal factor, we needed to wrap things up before the Empire and Luminous Kingdom devised some countermeasures.
To prevent shedding even more blood later on.
“Your humble concern for the people is commendable.”
Martini bowed her head lightly in acknowledgment.
That gesture alone confirmed her agreement.
“The night’s retainers are not so weak. If the Progenitor is moving toward a great endeavor, we will fully support you in the forefront.”
“I see.”
For a moment, I thought Martini might say something impossible could become possible; however, I quickly shook my head.
In this particular regard, I must place my absolute trust in her judgment. She has safeguarded this land and the vampires for a millennium.
“Alright. Then this will be our course of action.”
But because of that, I’ll be the one leading the charge, not you.
I hold the duty to prove that paradise lies beyond your trust.
“Let’s conquer the Bertica Kingdom. Prepare yourselves.”
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