Episode 82: The Secret of Super Magical Power
Thinking about it, I’d never really had a serious debate with my father before.
Perhaps because I hadn’t been on the front lines, I’d been somewhat detached.
Now that I’m out in the open, I realize how much I’ve been coddled.
I’m ashamed that I was just waiting with my mouth open, hoping for a bride.
“Alright. Let’s talk,”
My father said, sounding slightly amused.
“The Lanecki problem should be resolved by us Ortenos alone. Your approach, Father, seems weak.”
“But that’s not realistic. You’ve clashed with the Court of Justice, so you should understand. The seal of the Orthodox Shackles is powerful. Satella-Class is one thing, but the restraints on a Stella-Class are extraordinary. Even your grandfather gave up trying to break through head-on.”
“Grandfather did?”
That’s news to me.
“Yes, haven’t you wondered why Father has been in the frontier for so long?”
“…Now that you mention it, it is strange.”
“Father once challenged the Lanecki alone and was defeated. Even he couldn’t withstand being bound by multiple Stella-Class with the Orthodox Shackles. Since then, Father has been restricted from entering cities like Ortenatris and has been forced to stay in the frontier.”
“I didn’t know that had happened.”
I see, that’s certainly a cause for concern.
I understand why my father is hesitant.
“That’s why we have no choice but to attack from the outside, even if it’s seen as weak. First, after the Ortenos cease hostilities, we intend to join hands with Dalbonny.”
The Dalbonny territory is located west of the Lanecki territory, and they are bitter enemies.
Dinoren of the Dalbonny family was in Ortenatris before my First Campaign, perhaps because my father invited him.
“You mean to pit Dalbonny against Lanecki?”
“If that happens, it would be ideal, but just showing that Ortenos is cozying up to Dalbonny will be enough of a deterrent. We’ll need to add another step to regain the Orthodox Shackles, though.”
Dalbonny and Lanecki certainly have past grudges, and there are plenty of embers smoldering.
My father, skilled in political maneuvering, must have cards to ignite them.
I’m almost inclined to agree with my father, but that would be pointless.
“Your method, Father, relies too much on the actions of other houses. That would be putting the cart before the horse; another house would just replace Lanecki. Therefore, I must say it lacks a decisive blow.”
“I intend to minimize that risk. Squeezing Lanecki with external pressure is the safest and most realistic method.”
“Certainly, your method is realistic. But it doesn’t provide a fundamental solution.”
I intend to push my own ideas, but I want to show my father that I can put up a good fight in a verbal battle.
If so, I need to completely reject my father’s plan to make an impact.
“Hahaha, you’ve found your voice. Then let me hear it, Sharka.”
My father doesn’t seem angry; rather, he’s looking at me with interest.
He’s expecting an answer from me.
His eyes are fixed on me not as a father, but as the Marquis of Ortenos.
“The Ortenos’ position within the Empire is currently very precarious. We’re ridiculed as puppets of the Lanecki, and if this weak-kneed stance continues, a miserable future awaits us. For example, if a large-scale war breaks out in the north or south, we’ll be forced to participate and be used up conveniently.”
The premise is about the situation surrounding the Ortenos.
It pains me to criticize my father’s stance as weak, but I can’t ignore public opinion.
Such negative emotions are quite troublesome if left unattended.
They slowly strangle the Ortenos like a cancer.
“Hmm, and then?”
“We Ortenos must become truly independent nobles. To do that, we have no choice but to show overwhelming power that is not controlled by anything or influenced by anyone.”
“Easier said than done. So, specifically, what do you intend to do?”
I take a slow breath in and out.
“This Sharka will single-handedly crush the Lanecki family from the front and regain the Orthodox Shackles.”
I said it with determination, but of course, my father has a rebuttal.
“I explained earlier that that’s difficult, didn’t I?”
I’ve already reached a conclusion, but I remember that there was something I wanted to confirm with my father.
Since I have the opportunity, I’ll digress a bit and have him listen to my hypothesis.
“Yes… By the way, changing the subject, has Grandfather ever subjugated a Demon Beast in the past?”
“…Why do you ask?”
“I got it out of Barbat. He also said that Grandfather is a Demonbane Warrior.”
“I see, I suppose I should tell you now…”
My father seemed to know about the Demonbane Warrior.
The reason he hadn’t told me before was that if noble daughters knew, they might rush in, saying, “I’ll defeat the Demon Beasts.”
Apparently, it’s something that’s usually taught after adulthood.
However, it’s said that if you fight a Demon Beast alone, you’ll almost certainly lose, so I definitely wouldn’t want to fight one.
“Six years ago, what Sharka told me clearly deviated from the legends of the Demonbane Warriors passed down in the world. It could even change the common knowledge of the Demon Beast Disaster.”
The legend of the Demonbane Warrior.
That is, the story that one who defeats a Demon Beast gains immense Magical Power and becomes a Demonbane Warrior.
“Yes, I’ve also researched some records of the Demon Beast Disaster, but they’re all records of where and how the Demon Beasts rampaged, and there’s no information on subjugation. Also, the story of where the Demon Beasts come from is very vague. With that said, since there’s no eyewitness information about the birth of Demon Beasts, what I encountered was probably a Demon Beast after all.”
“That’s the only way to think about it. It’s natural to think of it as a ‘Demon Beast before birth’.”
My father and I concluded that the being that appeared before me six years ago was a “Demon Beast.”
The failure of the prophecy, in this case, would be because I had defeated the Demon Beast before it was born.
Subjugating a Demon Beast before birth might sound easy, but it’s probably more difficult than a normal Demon Beast.
I’m the only one who can prepare the means of subjugation, or perhaps Roa might have a chance.
It was really by chance that I was able to accomplish the subjugation, and only because the results of my research meshed well.
However, that leads to another interesting hypothesis.
“Father, Demon Beasts release Magical Power in proportion to their activity time, right?”
“Yes, even Demon Beasts stop their life activity if they release all their Magical Power.”
Demon Beasts possess vast Magical Power and advance while scattering Magical Power around them.
In particular, the one that appeared before me would probably have caused a great disaster if it had landed on the ground and would have released a tremendous amount of Magical Power.
“In other words, I defeated an entire Demon Beast before it consumed its Magical Power. So, where does that Magical Power go?”
“Where to? Could it be… no, is it possible?”
My Magical Power Capacity far exceeds that of my grandfather, who is also a Demonbane Warrior.
I’ve been thinking about the reason for that, but if the remaining Magical Power of the defeated Demon Beast increases the Magical Power of the one who defeated it, it would make sense.
Originally, if we assume that multiple Stella-Class shave it down to the limit, and the last one who delivers the final blow enjoys a meager increase in Magical Power, how many times more Magical Power would I have gained?
“It’s just a hypothesis, but I feel it’s highly credible.”
“I see, is that the basis for thinking you can defeat the Lanecki?”
“Yes.”
I was a little worried about the absurd story, but I’m glad my father is understanding.
“…So, Getrude’s story was true after all.”
“Yes?”
“I heard that Sharka had begun to walk the path of the conqueror. The fact that someone with such Magical Power and courage was born from Ortenos seems like a divine revelation. Sharka, what do you intend to desire in the future?”
My father asks me magnanimously, as if deeply moved.
I’m in trouble; it seems I’ve exceeded my father’s expectations a bit.
“Father, I desire only one thing—please, give me Elmia as my bride.”
I bow my head deeply.
I never thought I would say this line to my own father.
I’ve said a lot of things, but in the end, that’s all I want to say.
“Hmm, I wouldn’t have been surprised if you said you wanted to conquer the Atra Continent, but to desire Elmia as your bride… it’s certainly befitting of a noble.”
“Yes.”
Thump-thump.
“Elmia has grown into a beautiful young woman… She has strongly inherited the blood of the Ortenos Royal Family and is blessed with talent. I cannot allow her to marry just anyone…”
Doesn’t this seem like an ominous turn of events?
Crap, I’ll be sobbing if I get rejected.
I’m suddenly feeling anxious, but what will happen…
“Very well… I will give Elmia to Sharka.”
“Yessss!”
I struck the biggest victory pose of my life.
Wow, being acknowledged by your partner’s parents feels this good.
…Well, it’s my father, though.
If it’s officially approved by my parents, I can be lovey-dovey anywhere.
Ghehe, what should I do when I get back?
Maybe it would be interesting to continue our current relationship for a while.
As I daydream about the future, my father continues.
“…However, there are two conditions.”
My father said with a solemn face.
But now that I’m about to receive Elmia, I’m invincible.
I have enough余裕 to agree to any unreasonable demand.
“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do anything. Please, tell me what you require, Father-sama.”
I theatrically extended my right palm towards my father.
“Can you wait three years to settle things with Lanecki?”
“Why is that?”
“You two will be going to the academy soon. I know you’re worried about Elmia, but Lanecki won’t be able to interfere while you’re attending the academy. It will be sufficient to deal with Lanecki after you return.”
My father still seems reluctant to confront Lanecki directly.
I want to crush him at all costs, but I guess we have different ways of thinking.
However, our admission to the academy is likely influenced by the Royal Family’s intentions.
He must have figured that Lanecki wouldn’t dare to interfere.
If there’s a deadline, I have no choice but to compromise.
“I see, I understand. What’s the other condition?”
“It is…”
My father smirked, raising the corners of his mouth.
I had a very bad feeling about this.
“…Sharka, I want you to inherit the title of Marquis Ortenos.”
“Ehhh…”
I couldn’t help but let out a dissatisfied groan.