The reason the Steppe Tribe warriors looked down on the people of the Empire was actually simple.
Long ago, back when the Founding Emperor was still but a mere martial artist during the era of Condor.
There had been no figures of note besides a few who briefly made a name for themselves operating here.
At the time, Condor was rotting away from the worst corruption in its history.
Bureaucrats plundered instead of administering, and martial artists acted like thugs instead of fighting.
If even the central government was in such a state, those on the border were far worse.
It was no wonder they were utterly fleeced by the winter barbarians of the north.
Southern pirates landed and pillaged even the capital.
The east was the same. It was a disgrace that made them hard to call martial artists.
Far from stopping those who encroached on the borders, they were busy scurrying out of the way.
From the perspective of the Steppe Tribe warriors, how lowly and sordid they must have looked.
Swaggering about with swords at their hips yet unable to fight properly.
Calling us uncivilized, yet in truth they were the more barbaric ones.
Fools who gave up their borders, their people, and even their pride.
The Empire is a new existence born from toppling such a Condor.
But from the perspective of the steppe warriors, there was likely almost no difference.
Because the people in it appeared no different from those of the Condor era.
That is why they disregarded it even though more than six years had passed since the Empire's founding.
'How dare they. There are no people left to take lightly anymore. Do they think this is still the Condor era?'
A chaotic world divides people into extremes.
Those who are weak toward themselves and cruel to others become even weaker and more vicious.
Those who are good to others and strong in themselves become even more benevolent and formidable.
The old remnants of Condor, having failed and fallen, became the former and vanished.
They groveled before the Founding Emperor's blade, offering everything in place of their lives.
On the contrary, I had made it this far. With the title of Founding Contributor.
Did they think I earned this appellation merely by sitting in front of a desk?
The reason I didn't enter the military was simply because I lacked the overwhelming talent for martial arts that the Founding Emperor possessed.
I have the basics down. In my previous life, I even learned judo and put it to good use.
'Anyway, thanks to this, I've come to know for certain. The Uruteu Tribe absolutely cannot betray us, if only because of the surrounding tribes. At least as long as the current Beoilleo is alive.'
The difference between having many possibilities and having none is great.
Judging by the current situation, there is little to worry about with the Uruteu Tribe.
After all this, would they cut ties with the Empire and now ally with the surrounding tribes?
It wouldn't just be internal opposition; the other tribes would tell them to get lost.
I had gone everywhere on foot to cultivate the most favorable atmosphere possible.
Even so, in the end, the fundamental attitude of each tribe was similar.
They couldn't trust the Empire. Because it was the successor to that Condor.
The Uruteu, being closest to the Empire itself, would always be an object of wariness.
Amidst all this, I had obtained a title I so desperately needed.
Edan from the Empire. I may not know other Imperials, but I can trust you.
With this single assessment, my expertise here would skyrocket.
If something happened in the east later, they would call for me before anyone else.
This is how you raise your worth. You have to prove your usefulness.
"You're here? I gave you a month, yet it took far longer."
"My apologies, Beoilleo."
"But from the rumors I've heard of late, it seems you've grasped a definite answer."
Beoilleo seemed to have roughly grasped the answer I'd obtained as well.
Yet seeing that he let it go at that meant he was confident.
There are no eternal allies, no eternal enemies. If it's profitable, they shake hands.
It might earn censure between individuals, but between powers, that is the right way.
"It's been nearly half a year since you came here. Isn't it about time you returned to the Empire?"
"Perhaps. I had intended to return within this week, but the reaction from the surrounding tribes hasn't been bad. I plan to stay a few more weeks and request that my companions consolidate the information on the surrounding tribes."
"I see. What will you tell your brother when you return? That I disrespectfully call the Emperor not 'Your Majesty' but 'brother'? Is that what you intend to say?"
"I shall say that Beoilleo of Uruteu has declared he will forever cherish his friendship with His Majesty."
"In the end, isn't that the same thing? Hahaha!"
With that, Beoilleo placed his hand on my shoulder and patted it.
"I thought an Imperial envoy would be a pushover. I must reassess. I knew you were a wolf, but I never thought you'd be this rough."
"I was lucky. Had my opponents not let their guard down, I would have been defeated."
"Victory and defeat require no 'what-ifs.' 'If I had done this, I would have won; if I had done that, who knows.' Such talk is merely the loser's self-consolation. You may be much more confident in your victory."
Beoilleo said nothing to me about recklessly invoking the steppe law to force a duel.
On the contrary, he said that because of that incident, the surrounding tribes now looked at them a little differently.
He had thought there was no difference between the Empire and those Condor folk from before.
Yet the envoy had known the steppe law and even dueled to victory.
Furthermore, he had gone to the surrounding tribes to build trust and forge bonds.
"Warriors can be stubborn and prideful to the point of foolishness at times. But sometimes they are so simple that if they take a liking to someone they once despised and fought, they will readily accept him as a friend."
"It is not only steppe warriors who are like that. The Empire is the same. As long as intentions align, a man can always become a friend with anyone."
"Indeed. Unlike women, whose inner thoughts are hard to fathom. Did I ever tell you how I met my wife? I asked what she wanted as a wedding gift, and she said anything would do, so I dragged a promising warrior from a hostile tribe back as a slave..."
If it was that story, I had heard it at least ten times while drinking ailak last time.
But I pretended it was my first time and humored Beoilleo as best I could.
This, too, was part of social life. A leader deserved to be treated like a leader.
And so I sat with Beoilleo for several more hours, chatting and drinking.
Fortunately, warriors came in and stopped him when he tried to grab me and keep talking.
I had nearly lost my poker face and shown him a drunken state.
Barely holding onto my senses, I returned to my quarters to get some rest, but...
"You're late, Edan."
The female warrior who had been with me until yesterday greeted me in the evening.
I instinctively stepped back and checked whether I had come to the right place.
This is my quarters, isn't it? I was a bit tipsy, but that was all.
"Why are you looking around like that?"
"This is my quarters. What are you doing here?"
"As you can see, I am preparing to fulfill a promise."
"Preparing to fulfill a promise?"
"Beoilleo. That is, did my father not tell you?"
Beoilleo? Why on earth was he bringing that man up here...
No way. Wait a minute. Then, had that female warrior been Beoilleo's daughter?
Had he really assigned his own daughter to a potentially dangerous escort mission?
"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Edan. This is simply how it is on the steppe."
"Excuse me, wait. First, let's exchange names properly. You know I'm Edan, but I only knew you as a female warrior of the Uruteu Tribe."
"My apologies. I was remiss. I am called 'Areute.' Is that sufficient?"
"Yes. The name is fine, but why do you keep trying to take your clothes off?!"
I hurriedly stopped the warrior—no, Areute—and she tilted her head in confusion.
"Beoilleo... my father said he would arrange a betrothal between Edan and myself."
"It was only mentioned; nothing has been decided yet!"
"There is nothing to be ashamed of. Edan has proven himself a wolf. For over a month, Edan has shown himself a man. Now I simply need to prove that I am your deer."
Wolf and deer! The mention of a betrothal only came up briefly in passing!
I've never once agreed to actually marry, so why is this happening?!
All the while, Areute continued steadily taking off her layered clothes.
Afraid this would lead to a real misunderstanding, I urgently stopped her.
"Now, Areute. Listen carefully. It is true that I received a betrothal proposal from Beoilleo. But I never agreed to it. I merely said I would consider it."
"Is that not agreement? If you disliked it, you could have refused on the spot. For one with a wolf's soul like Edan, it would not have been difficult."
No, it was difficult. In fact, it was a hundred times harder because I am an Imperial envoy!
How could I say 'No, I'm not interested in your daughter' to Beoilleo's face?!
Considering my political position, it was only wise to be cautious with my words.
In political circles, one must always leave an escape route with ambiguous answers.
"Areute. Stop. That's enough. A betrothal is a betrothal. Marriage is marriage. Let's keep them separate."
"I am ready. Edan is fully capable of becoming my man."
Truly a woman who knew nothing but the direct approach, befitting a steppe warrior.
"That may be so on the steppe. But Areute, I am an Imperial subject. It does not end simply because you wish to follow the steppe's customs. If you acknowledge me, you must also accept the customs of the Empire, my homeland."
"...That is not without reason."
Fortunately, this woman called Areute was no simple brute.
Though a warrior like them, she was quite emotionally sensitive as a woman.
If I persuaded her a bit more like this, perhaps we could get through this somehow...
"By any chance, in the Empire, does one have the right to break the back of anyone who opposes a marriage?"
"Huh?"
"On the steppe, when someone voices opposition to a marriage between a man and a woman, such a right is granted to either the bride or groom—if the opposition is unwarranted, that is."
This was no joke. She looked ready to literally fold someone in half.
I recalled Areute fighting warriors from another tribe a few days ago.
She had slit her enemies' throats while laughing, no different from the male warriors.
"Areute? That would be punished as murder in the Empire."
"As long as one doesn't die, is it not fine?"
"How could someone not die when you break their back in half?"
"If you fold them prettily, you can spare their lives. I've done it several times already."
"..."
For a moment, I thought I might understand why Beoilleo had spoken of a betrothal with his daughter.
Had he thrown it out there not because he liked me, but merely as a shot in the dark...?
"I must return to the Empire. So—"
"I will wait, Edan."
"There's no need to go that far..."
"I will wait."
At Areute's words, I could only nod my head.
"Then. It will not be today."
Perhaps a little disappointed, Areute's voice drooped.
Then she hastily picked up the clothes she had cast aside and put them back on.
Feeling unnecessarily guilty, I tried to speak to her.
'Huh.'
A fire was blazing inside. Thanks to that, I could see very clearly.
What had been impossible to tell when she wore thick leather garments while traveling together.
The distinct curves of a woman, an aggressively ample chest and hips.
Above all, the face that had been almost half-hidden was now revealed.
"What are you staring at?"
"...Ah. That is. Your face, Areute. I'm seeing it properly for the first time now."
Judging by her actions alone, I had assumed she would have a very wild appearance.
As befitted the daughter of Beoilleo, a man entitled to take the greatest beauty of the tribe as his wife.
Areute's beauty was considerable as well—enough to put the beauties of the Empire to shame.
Of course, she was slightly different from Imperial folk, but you know how it is. Exotic beauty.
That was what Areute's appearance was like in my eyes now. Exotic, yet also beautiful.
"Edan."
"Yes, Areute."
"Shall we?"
What do you mean, "shall we"?