Chapter 114
By the time we were dismantling Aerial Fortress Urkon Azgal in real time and transporting it to the Empire,
we were still working our way through various agenda items in the conference room.
"Your Highness, the Kingdom of Taewon has declared war on the Empire."
"I heard. They even went so far as to make a brazen provocation. They're quite full of themselves."
"It seems they're acting rashly because they think that, since it's a continent across the sea, we won't be able to act hastily."
"Yes, that's right. Therefore, the Empire has decided to wait for the Kingdom of Taewon."
When Taewon made its move in earnest.
We decided not to respond to it immediately.
Since we were about to start dividing everyone into camps in earnest, moving too quickly would make it impossible to know for sure who would side with whom.
We needed to take our time and determine exactly which nations would align with which side.
"So that we can provide enough support to ensure the Kingdom of Cheongryu doesn't suffer any disadvantages during that period."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The first nation to side with the Empire ought to receive a commensurate reward.
The Empire had prepared measures to offer Cheongryu various conveniences when it traded with the Western Continent.
Also, since it was currently the only nation on the Eastern Continent standing with the Empire, we would take some responsibility for its national defense.
"The mere presence of Imperial knights should certainly deter war."
"Taewon is too busy trying to grow larger. It won't actually dare attack first."
"I wonder who will side with whom."
The game of choosing sides in the Eastern Continent had begun all of a sudden.
In other words, why provoke the Empire?
If only they hadn't delivered that jar, things would've been fine.
No, if they'd prostrated themselves and apologized the moment they received the letter, I would've let it slide.
But they'd gone out of their way to choose only actions that crossed the line, so I could no longer look upon them favorably.
"For now, let's continue researching magitech-related technologies...."
As I continued speaking, I immediately thought of the next issue.
No, rather than the next issue, it would be more accurate to call it the core issue that had existed from the beginning.
"You said there was nothing inside the aerial fortress that could resolve the pact?"
"That's right. When I asked separately, they said it was unclear from the outset whether Mirne even possessed it."
"Then why had they sided with the Kingdom of Maselin?"
"...They said they had nowhere else to go anyway, and since they had been promised support for building an aerial fortress... they simply stayed."
Thump.
My hand naturally rose to my forehead.
'Isn't their craftsman's spirit a little too extreme?'
I wasn't even sure this could honestly be dressed up as a craftsman's spirit.
Wasn't their thought process absurdly simplistic?
As I was thinking that, I suddenly remembered things related to the dwarves' pact.
"Come to think of it, did you say that the book containing everything about the dwarf clan—in other words, their entire race—had suddenly disappeared?"
"That's right."
"But listening to the dwarves, they spoke as though it didn't matter much whether Mirne had it or not. That said, they didn't seem to be treating it lightly. It was just... the way you speak when dealing with con artists, as though they naturally wouldn't have it."
“....”
Gilbat had said that the book containing everything about his clan in the past had suddenly disappeared.
But thinking about it, that had been a hint about an absurdly great pact.
He said he couldn't mention it directly, so he had given me information indirectly.
Even so, that had been a sufficiently blatant clue.
Therefore.
"Gilbat, you didn't properly tell me about the pact back then. No, you let a clue about it slip to me in a different way."
When combined with the situation in which Nerissa had said the Empire's destruction was the pact,
it could be said that Gilbat had likewise given me clues about the pact in a similar manner.
'Of course, Nerissa wanted the Empire to fall because she genuinely wanted to destroy her kingdom with her own hands....'
The circumstances were different, but if I forced the pieces together, they could be viewed similarly.
"I don't know how much of it is true, but it must be certain that it disappeared."
“....”
"It won't take long. I'll resolve the dwarves' pact as well, no matter what."
"I sincerely thank you."
The moment Gilbat heard my words, he lowered his head deeply.
'But judging by how he isn't denying it, I suppose what I said was true.'
If so, it was right to say that the clues about the dwarves' pact had fallen into a complete labyrinth.
But I wasn't particularly worried. Perhaps because I had already resolved four pacts.
I was certain that if I continued developing the Empire, I would eventually reach the dwarves' pact.
"Then all the major problems have been resolved. Time will take care of the rest."
"That's right."
"Let's end the meeting here. Good work."
"Thank you!"
The meeting ended there.
I rose from my seat and headed straight for the bedroom.
It was time for me to get a good, uninterrupted rest for the first time in a while.
++++++
Tap, tap.
My steps toward the bedroom were always light.
Who could dislike taking a rest?
Just as I was walking straight to my room.
"Have you just finished?"
"You're using honorifics very thoroughly, Arveda. That's unlike you."
For some reason, I found Arveda standing by the door with both hands demurely folded in front of her stomach.
"Unghihi! This lady has learned all sorts of etiquette and intends to use it on Your Highness!"
"The etiquette you just displayed is something a head maid would do."
"I learned that part thoroughly as well!"
"Are you planning to use honorifics all day today?"
"It's a secret, unghihi."
Saying that, Arveda opened my bedroom door with extremely cautious hand movements.
I had no idea what she had learned from the dragons, but since this was a pleasant chance to rest for once, I decided to simply enjoy it.
To be honest, resting alone was nice, but I also liked having conversations like this.
"But, Your Highness!"
"Yes, Arveda. Speak freely."
I entered the room with Arveda providing something that was not quite an escort,
and just as I moved to lie down on the bed,
"This lady! Albedang! Because I ran into Your Highness after so long!"
"Because?"
"I request head pats!"
Arveda subtly thrust her head toward me like a puppy.
More precisely, she rubbed her hair against the area around my elbow.
"What happens if I refuse your request?"
"This lady... will be disappointed."
"You shouldn't be disappointed over that."
Rub, rub.
I stroked Arveda's hair, then
suddenly wondered whether executioners who had resolved their pacts could speak freely about them.
"Come to think of it, Arveda."
"Unghi!"
Arveda had been vigorously rubbing her head against my hand, but at my words, she raised her hand and answered.
"Do you know anything about Gilbat's pact?"
I got straight to the point.
"As for the old dwarf runt's pact... I honestly don't know much. But in the past, he definitely seemed to want something very badly."
"He wanted something very badly?"
"Yes! Exactly. He said that was why he left his homeland and came here... I'm sure he said that a long time ago."
"...He came here? To the Empire?"
What could have brought a dwarf to the Empire?
What reason could there have been for him to abandon his homeland and come to Imperial territory, where he would form a pact?
Back when the Great Prophet was alive.
When the Empire was great, or when it was showing signs of becoming great.
What kind of deal could make the King of the Dwarves abandon his homeland and become an Imperial executioner?
What, exactly, had the Great Prophet given him?
No, what had he said he could give him?
"Flames?"
There was only one thing that came to mind.
The dwarves and the Great Prophet.
The greatest element connecting the two.
'Sol Bellos.'
And the moment I thought of that.
- You want a flame that burns forever?
- Haha, so you intend to recreate even a weapon made by the gods?
- I promise. I will definitely find you a flame that burns forever.
The Crown Prince's conversation with Gilbat flowed into my mind.
Judging by how casually he had spoken with Gilbat about the pact, it must have been around the time the Empire was destined to fall.
To make a promise to the executioner who was destroying the Empire, even while the Empire was collapsing and he was smiling.
The level of mental strength required to do this was nothing short of astonishing.
'Anyway... I've found it. It was the flame, Gilbat... No, the entire dwarf race was searching for a flame. A flame that would burn forever.'
It couldn't be a metaphor.
They wanted the flame that burned forever itself, quite literally.
Once my thoughts reached that point, a smile naturally formed at the corners of my mouth.
In fact.
[ You have discovered the dwarves' pact. ]
[ The flame that burns forever is related to the gods. ]
Even the system message proved that I had the right answer and gave me a clue about it.
'It's related to the gods.'
Come to think of it, hadn't they said that several gods were protecting Mirne?
Did one of those gods possess the flame that burned forever?
'I hope I can receive the flame through a peaceful conversation.'
Thinking that to myself,
"Arveda!"
"Ah, Albedang!"
"You're such a lucky charm!"
I vigorously kneaded Arveda's cheeks.
I had never imagined I could discover it through such a light conversation.
And yet a clue about the dwarves' pact had suddenly popped out like this.
"While we were apart, you brought back not only etiquette but luck as well!"
"Ububu, uhihi, am I the best?"
"The best!"
"Your Highness is the best too!"
I pulled Arveda into a tight hug to express my joy, and
at that very moment.
"...Your Highness, you said this was a long-awaited rest, so I brought you some tea."
Rowena, the Saintess of the Empire, cautiously entered my room.
"...Should I ask Lord Theo to coach me as well?"
It seemed she muttered something under her breath.
But I couldn't make out even that.