Chapter 90, Having Too Much (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian tapped the table with his finger.

 

This was a habit, which appeared when he had something to think about.

 

Although there were quite a few people around, it was not noisy. So Kalian took care not to make a sound with his fingertips so as not to disturb others’ conversations.

 

In the meeting hall where the regular meeting of the Central Noble Council was being held.

 

At the gathering that Kalian was attending after his coming-of-age ceremony, the youngest-looking among the Nobles seated around the large round table was speaking.

 

“I hear that Tansyll has suffered great damage from the heavy rain earlier this year.”

 

[Yes, that spring, unprecedented flood damage occurred in Tansyll. The Priests of Tansyll said it was due to insufficient devotion to Serenty, but others said it happened because they blocked the waterways for canal construction.]

 

In truth, Kalian did not particularly enjoy attending meetings. He felt uncomfortable when matters that only he knew about due to having traveled back in time were mentioned.

 

“When flood damage occurs, the greatest shortage would be food, wouldn’t it?”

 

[Cyries would offer food aid to help, but Tansyll refused. The relations between the two countries would not be good for a while because of this.]

 

This time was the same.

 

At least in Cyries, Kalian was the only one who knew what would happen with the ‘food’ being mentioned now.

 

That was why he was troubled.

 

“So, I think it would be good to provide wheat to maintain friendly relations between the two countries.”

 

Whether to shut that cunning man’s mouth or let him keep talking.

 

Cyries and Tansyll had different wheat harvesting seasons.

 

Even with the flood damage, Tansyll’s wheat from the final harvest in January was safely stacked in storage facilities in each territory. Despite other shortages, they had offered overflowing wheat, causing both the refusing party and the refused party to feel offended.

 

In other words, this was Beurisen’s ploy to distance the two countries and narrow Randel’s position.

 

Seeing the same events repeat as in Kalian’s memory, it seemed Beurisen still had no intention of siding with Randel. Perhaps the Marquis had Plants in mind, or still had interest in Kalian.

 

“If Your Highness makes a decision, I will designate someone in charge.”

 

If it were only Randel’s position that would be narrowed, Kalian would have just let that mouth continue, but he could not. After all, it was the Pollun Trader’s Guild, which was providing much help to Kalian’s treasury, conducting diamond trade with Tansyll.

 

[Should I step in? Or leave it be?] Having Allan and Kyrie, as well as Melpir by his side, and creating the Mage Order. These were the actions Kalian had taken using the information he knew.

 

[Even with just that, the future has changed quite a bit, but should I personally interfere in matters that would affect the relationship between the two countries for the sake of the Trader’s Guild’s profits?]

 

As Kalian’s worries deepened, his brows furrowed.

 

But then, unexpected words were heard.

 

“It will not be necessary.”

 

It was Rmain.

 

Rmain’s subsequent words were almost identical to what Kalian had thought. Rmain already knew exactly why wheat was not needed.

 

Kalian’s finger paused momentarily.

 

And then that finger drew a small curve on the table.

 

He created with his fingertip the smile that he could not show on his face.

 

[So, in the past, His Majesty knew that this path was wrong but couldn’t refute it.]

 

So, in the end, Kalian’s mere existence had already changed many things. Therefore, with a lightened heart, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“If we are to provide support.”

 

When the Third Prince, who had been sitting quietly until now, spoke for the first time, everyone in the room looked at Kalian. And Kalian spoke the correct answer in a relaxed voice.

 

“I think it would be better to send salt. Tansyll’s salt flats and salt storage facilities would all be submerged right now.”

 

Kalian could see Rmain smiling slightly at him.

 

[This won’t do.] And Marquis Evan Beurisen, who observed this, wore an expression that suggested he found something displeasing. [Whether intentionally or not, he has again interfered with Beurisen’s affairs. I can’t join hands with him.]

 

In the end, Evan decided to meet with Plants first to take Randel’s hand. To probe whether Plants knew about the matter concerning Aisha.

 

* * *

 

After the Central Noble Council meeting.

 

Evan, who had requested a meeting with Plants, exchanged proper farewells with the Nobles and then moved to the meeting place. Plants, who had no need to exchange separate greetings with others, would already be waiting for Evan.

 

In fact, Evan did not know much about Plants.

 

That he resembled Sillike in many ways, that his reputation was not very good.

 

His main concern was that he had joined hands with Kalian.

 

For that reason, he had thought he would never join hands with Plants. And due to what happened during the meeting, his heart had leaned heavily toward Randel.

 

But Evan could realize one more fact right after seeing Plants looking at him, sitting in the reception room of Senu Hall.

 

[I was mistaken in my thinking.] Evan though. After all, it was difficult to find any ill feelings toward Evan anywhere on Plants’ face.

 

“I thought Your Highness would be reluctant to see my face.”

 

“Do I have a reason to be?”

 

Of course, Plants had no reason to hold any special feelings toward Evan.

 

Originally, since it was Plants himself who had decided that Sillike should be expelled, he had no reason to distance himself from Evan for helping with that.

 

However, Evan, who would not know why Plants had made such a decision, created one wrong assumption while looking at Plants who was now facing him.

 

[Plants was not on good terms with Sillike, and therefore temporarily joined hands with Kalian to drive Sillike out.]

 

At the end of this thought, Evan slightly changed his mind.

 

[I should have met him before Kalian. If he truly has no hostility toward me, joining hands with him rather than with Kalian or Randel would be best.]

 

Evan briefly regretted seeking out Kalian first only to be treated in such a manner. And after walking to Plants and showing a simple courtesy, he sat across from him and spoke.

 

“How much mental suffering you must have endured all this time.”

 

It was a statement that came as the result of his brief deliberation while walking toward Plants.

 

Plants curled up one corner of his mouth after hearing Evan’s first words.

 

Plants, for his part, had figured out that Evan saw him as ‘a pushover’, one good for exploitation.

 

From that point on, the clever Plants began to deal with Evan ‘moderately.’

 

* * *

 

Kalian’s expression became one that was clearly trying to hold back his laughter.

 

He had thought Evan would only probe Plants.

 

That if Kalian knew the secret about Aisha, he would continue to reach out to Kalian, and if it seemed otherwise, he would go to Randel.

 

That he would not think of making Plants, who would clearly be uncomfortable with him due to Sillike, his ally.

 

But Beurisen chose Plants.

 

“I thank you for your wise choice, older brother.”

 

Plants had no intention of becoming king.

 

But he had even less intention of making Randel, whose intentions were unknown, king.

 

Therefore, Plants held Evan’s heart to prevent him from going to Randel.

 

He joined hands with Evan while appropriately maintaining his dignity.

 

Plants, who smirked at Kalian who was again saying something impertinent, opened his mouth.

 

“I’ll take charge of Valkan’s matter starting tomorrow.”

 

“Yes. That way, after joining hands with Evan, it will look like you deliberately took on Valkan’s matter. I wonder how happy Marquis Beurisen will be thinking that Valkan’s power has come into Beurisen’s hands as well.”

 

Kalian, nodding while saying this, continued.

 

“Then my relationship with you should appropriately deteriorate afterward.”

 

“As if it was ever good in the first place.”

 

Kalian grinned at those words.

 

“Anyway, I’ll do something in a few days to worsen my relationship with Beurisen. Something that will make it appear as if I am angry about you joining hands with Beurisen.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Plants did not ask what that would be.

 

He was not particularly curious and thought Kalian would handle it well.

 

Kalian likewise did not specifically tell Plants what he should do in Valkan. Because he knew Plants would handle it well.

 

Only Arsene, who would receive the one called the previous ‘Mad King’ as his superior, would embark on a path of hardship.

 

Of course, it was not something for Kalian to worry about.

 

* * *

 

Sometime in the past, Allan had asked Kyrie.

 

‘Do you intend to become the sixth Sword Master?’

 

There was a reason for this seemingly abrupt question.

 

Eighteen hours a day.

 

That was the time Kyrie spent locked in Kalian’s training room practicing swordsmanship. Whether learning from Kalian, sparring with him, or practicing alone. Kyrie finished his day only after fulfilling those hours.

 

It was not something Kalian had ordered him to do. He was doing it on his own.

 

‘I’m curious if you want to increase the number of Sword Masters that the Prince has reduced by one.’

 

Once he had said those words, Allan had thought of what he asked as a foolish question. Anyone who held a sword would wish for that, so wasn’t it an unnecessary question?

 

But contrary to expectations, Kyrie shook his head.

 

A small but by no means unconfident voice gave the answer.

 

‘No. I just want to become a sword worthy of the Prince’s use.’

 

‘A sword worthy of the Prince’s use. That’s an even more difficult task, isn’t it?’

 

Since Kalian was already strong in his own right.

 

‘Yes. To become a sword worthy of the Prince’s use, it’s not enough to just walk the path of the sword.’

 

Even Allan, who was perceptive, found it difficult to understand Kyrie’s thoughts.

 

Ian had been serving Kalian for a long time, and Arsene somehow got his nose tied to Kalian. Of course, Allan knew well why he himself was helping Kalian.

 

While Kalian cherished Kyrie because of his past as a Bern, he had not told Kyrie about that past. More precisely, Kyrie had not told Allan why he followed Kalian.

 

Allan could not tell what this taciturn boy saw in Kalian that made him decide to dedicate his life to him.

 

‘A worthy sword. You’re setting out to do something truly difficult.’

 

However, Allan was after all, Allan. So, without probing into Kyrie’s inner thoughts, he had only responded like this.

 

“Kyrie.”

 

That worthy sword was called upon by Kalian.

 

After that, while instructing ‘a matter that would worsen relations with Beurisen,’ he asked.

 

“Can you do it?”

 

It was the exact same question as he had asked before.

 

Kyrie knew that even if he answered, ‘I can’t,’ Kalian would not blame him. So, he answered immediately.

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian, this time too, just nodded without any other words, and Kyrie also left Kalian’s room right after a simple greeting.

 

And that night.

 

A brown horse left the Royal Palace.

 

The horse headed to a tavern with a rather strange name.

 

‘Syspanian’s Boozy Breath’

 

Kyrie, who went there alone, drew the sword Kalian had given him. And without hesitation, entered the tavern.

 

“Do you have company?”

 

The eyes of the attendant who asked this fell on the sword in Kyrie’s hand.

 

As he stepped back with wary eyes, Kyrie, without other words, raised a finger to point to the lower floor.

 

“I would appreciate it if you would just open the door.”

 

The attendant nodded and ran to open the room with the secret door.

 

Entering the room that led downstairs, Kyrie opened the secret passage as Kalian had instructed. And skipping past the third floor, he went straight to the fourth floor.

 

A place filled with cursing, shouting, and cheers.

 

Upon arriving there, Kyrie gripped the sword in his hand tightly.

 

He moved toward the office that Kalian had entered long ago to retrieve Kyrie.