As though every last bit of strength had drained from his body, he could not even let out a proper groan. After a moment,
Duke Ferstein raised his head and glared at Damon with eyes that seemed ready to devour him. Because the Blood Worm of Subordination had fallen into a dormant state, he was now able to show hostility toward Damon.
“Do you think that after I die, my loyal subordinates will just leave you and Theodore alone? I warn you, do not even dream of polymorphing into my form. I have instructed my men to attack without mercy if the passphrase is not known. Do you understand?”
Damon silently received Duke Ferstein’s venomous gaze. In any case, he could not help but feel sorry toward him. Meanwhile, Theodore quietly approached the duke. The duke’s hostile stare now turned toward Theodore.
“So, what is it you have to say to me? A tiger never eats rotten meat. Don’t even think of trying to win me over.”
Theodore shook his head forlornly.
“I have no such intention. Though you are my enemy, you are the person I respect most in this world.”
At those words, Duke Ferstein looked as though he had been struck.
“It is an obvious bit of flattery, but it does not feel entirely unpleasant.”
“No, I mean it sincerely. Facing you was extremely difficult for me. If I had not first sworn loyalty to His Majesty Emperor Valensius, I would have served you without a second thought.”
“………”
“Your schemes, your strategies, your command of an organization, and your ability to seize the hearts of your subordinates—every one of those things filled me with admiration. To be honest, I do not have the confidence to even reach the tips of your toes.”
Duke Ferstein shouted fiercely.
“What in the world are you trying to pull?”
“This is no trick. I am speaking my true feelings right now.”
Duke Ferstein stared silently into Theodore’s eyes with a blazing gaze. After a while, he nodded in silence.
“Looking at your eyes, it does not seem to be a lie. But why spout such nonsense now? Are you saying it out of pity for me?”
“That is not it. I merely wish to have an honest conversation with you. It is something I have thought of countless times until now, but creating a situation where it could happen was impossible from the start. I consider it a great fortune that we can converse like this, at least.”
Hearing those words, Duke Ferstein struggled to raise himself. The aftereffects of being struck by the Blood Worm of Subordination were that severe. The duke barely managed to move his feet and sank heavily into a chair.
“Very well. I am willing to listen, so speak.”
Without hesitation, Theodore went to sit in the chair opposite him. Damon, too, silently approached and joined them. Theodore gazed intently at Duke Ferstein’s face and opened his mouth.
“The military power you possess is, in a word, no exaggeration to call the strongest on the continent. Even as it is, it is enough to seize control of the Crosen Empire and Arcadia.”
Duke Ferstein let out a ragged breath and answered.
“That was true until just moments ago. But no longer. I have fallen for that damned black magician’s scheme and will soon become an idiot. So stop saying useless things and get straight to the point.”
Theodore looked at the duke with sorrowful eyes.
“Why do you place your interest only on the Arcadian continent? Broaden your gaze for once.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
The duke’s voice, as he gasped repeatedly, was closer to a scream. Yet Theodore continued without the slightest agitation.
“Do not limit your desire for conquest to Arcadia alone. Is Truvenia, across the sea, not also fully capable of satisfying your ambition? Truvenia is vast. And there are many humans there who live in hardship as slaves of the orc race. If you free them from their lot as orc slaves, they will willingly regard you as emperor. From the bottom of their hearts, no less.”
“………”
“Now is the perfect opportunity to gather all of Arcadia’s strength in one place. If the dragon’s true intentions are made widely known to the rulers of each nation, they will gladly dispatch their armies. I believe it is possible to assemble a great army of over a million men. It would be enough force to save Arcadia from the dragons’ claws and, at the same time, liberate Truvenia as well.”
But Duke Ferstein did not easily accept Theodore’s words.
“Heh heh heh. As expected, your scheme was ultimately to persuade me.”
Bang.
Theodore suddenly slammed the table. His eyes were blazing with anger.
“Why do you insist on thinking so narrowly? Do you even know how the humans of Truvenia live?”
Damon, who had been listening silently, added a word.
“I have experienced much of it. The humans living in Truvenia can be described, in a word, as nothing more than livestock. Their fate is to toil themselves to the bone farming and herding for the orcs, and when they grow old, to become food and fill the orcs’ bellies. Do you think that is all? Though I cannot know for certain, by now young boys and girls are likely being conscripted on a massive scale all across Truvenia. It is to revive the liches that were annihilated in the Battle of Felzentin. To revive a single lich, at least a hundred boys and girls are needed. From the beginning, they are nothing more than sacrifices whose life force is to be drained dry before they die miserably. I have already witnessed such scenes countless times.”
At Damon’s words, Theodore and Duke Ferstein gaped. To think the people of Truvenia were living in such misery. Duke Ferstein’s face twitched again and again. He, too, was human, and could not help but feel hatred toward the orcs welling up within him.
Turning his gaze back to the duke, Theodore continued.
“Please gather the strength of every kingdom existing in Arcadia into one. With your ability, I believe it is fully possible. Then stand at the vanguard of the army thus gathered and display your capabilities. In my view, there is no one but you fit to become the commander-in-chief of the Truvenia expeditionary force. I mean that unless it is you, no one can effectively control such a vast force without discord. When the war ends in victory, you will be able to obtain what you desire. You can gain the seat of emperor ruling all of Truvenia and pass it down for generations. With the power of you and the many subordinates who follow you, it should be entirely possible. If you wish for support, I will do anything I can for you.”
He had heard a lengthy explanation, but Duke Ferstein only rolled his eyes.
“Do not play your petty tricks. Why in the world should I do that?”
Still, his tone was noticeably softened compared to before. A light of hope flashed in Theodore’s eyes.
“It is beneficial for both of us. I can continue protecting the Crosen imperial family, and you can escape the fate of becoming an idiot and continue unfolding your ambition, can you not?”
“Damn it. Even so, because of the Blood Worm of Subordination, I must live my whole life as that damned black magician’s slave. I have no desire to live pathetically as a puppet.”
Damon, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth.
“If the conquest of Truvenia succeeds, I promise to set you free. In other words, I mean that I will completely remove the Blood Worm of Subordination lodged in your head.”
Duke Ferstein snorted coldly.
“Hmph. How am I to believe that?”
But at Damon’s next words, the duke was struck speechless.
“I swear it on the name of my master, Doyle Brokenheart. The promise will certainly be kept.”
Duke Ferstein fell into thought. If the black magician treated even his master’s descendant, who had transcended five hundred years of time, in such a manner, then the feelings he held for his master had to be so extraordinary as to be beyond imagination. If he swore upon the name of such a master…
Having calmed himself, Duke Ferstein looked straight at Damon.
“Are you sincere?”
Damon nodded silently.
“Of course. Though I did administer the Blood Worm of Subordination to you, to be honest, I did not want to. Because I thought you were fully worthy of becoming the emperor of a nation. If I had not learned Theodore’s identity, I would gladly have joined forces with you. I would probably even have accepted becoming your subordinate. You have more than enough qualification for that.”
A faint smile appeared on Duke Ferstein’s face.
“It is praise from a villain, but it does not feel all that bad.”
Damon, too, was smiling faintly.
“That is right. I am undoubtedly a villain. But I take pride in having an eye for people, at least. What do you say? Will you agree to Theodore’s proposal? If you do, I am willing to give you one gift in return.”
“What gift is that?”
Damon spoke briefly.
“The treasure taken from the dragons. It belonged to the humans of Truvenia to begin with, so I had intended to return it. To establish a new empire, you will need astronomical funds. I believe it will be useful in building the empire. I can swear this as well on my master’s name.”
Curiosity appeared on Duke Ferstein’s face.
“I look forward to hearing how much the amount is.”
“It will be more than enough to raise an empire. They are the finest treasures the dragons gathered, after all. If you accept the proposal, I will hand over every last treasure within the magical treasury. Of course, I will have to leave a little for my mercenary comrades.”
Duke Ferstein had now regained his calm. He judged that the other party’s proposal was well worth considering.
Of course, the duke had not never thought of conquering Truvenia before. However, because it required such an enormous amount of funds and carried the danger of facing dragons, he had long since deemed it an impossible task. But those factors had now been swept away. With funds capable of building an empire and the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Corps to deal with the dragons joining him, there was sufficient possibility. Duke Ferstein gazed intently at Damon’s face.
“Will you give me a moment to think?”
“Of course.”
Duke Ferstein immediately sank into thought. What he was thinking was something only the duke himself could know. During that time, Damon and Theodore waited tensely for the duke’s answer. For everyone’s fate would be decided depending on his reply.
After a while, Duke Ferstein nodded.
“I will accept the proposal.”
Faced with the crossroads of becoming an idiot or unfolding his ambition by another means, the choice he could make was obvious. Moreover, what he had experienced not long ago from the red dragon Verkis also contributed to Duke Ferstein’s decision. He could not possibly be without anger toward Verkis, the detestable red dragon who had struck him in the back at the decisive moment. Theodore’s face brightened, and he seized Duke Ferstein’s hand.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. You have made an outstanding choice.”
Duke Ferstein gave an awkward smile.
“Is this not an improvement in our relationship that has come about a bit too suddenly? Until yesterday, I had no intention of ever letting you live…”
A broad smile had appeared on Theodore’s face.
“Until yesterday, we were enemies, but from now on, we are comrades. It is an honor to work with you. I look forward to your guidance.”
At Theodore’s reaction, which showed no sense of distance at all, Duke Ferstein finally gave a wry smile.
“Well, I suppose that is true.”
Damon smiled and cut in between them.
“I am glad things worked out well. As a reward, I will put the Blood Worm of Subordination in your head into a permanent dormant state. I swear I will not awaken it unless you try to kill me. If you do have such thoughts, remember just one thing. You must kill me so quickly that I have no time to notice, or the Blood Worm of Subordination in your head will awaken from its dormant state.”
Duke Ferstein furrowed his brow slightly.
“It is not that I have never thought of it, but it seems difficult. Just what method could one use against a master of the 9th Circle…”
“Well, it is not as though there is absolutely no method. Of course, I cannot teach you.”
At Damon’s banter, Theodore and Duke Ferstein smiled faintly.