Yet, the mood between the two, specifically to Lyla, was pretty good. There was nothing to be upset about when they had solved some major problems. They had learned about distorting a ruin, and they also learned the exact details of the scheme surrounding the Steelwall Estate. It seemed like Glen Zenard, Count Flaud, or whoever couldn’t pose a threat to them at all. Lyla couldn’t imagine Zich losing even in a situation where he lacked information, much less a situation where he had a grasp of everything. However, Zich thought differently.
“Don’t let your guard down, Lyla.”
“Hm?”
“I’m talking about the Clowon princess. Keep your guard up against her.”
“…Against her?” Lyla asked. Serpina had been one-sidedly beaten by Zich’s art of talking. She was so ruthlessly beaten that Lyla even began to feel pity for her later on. Thus, Lyla was taken aback by Zich’s warning.
“She probably won’t think of many useless thoughts right now since I shook her up so much. However, the effect of that won’t last forever,” Zich said. Surprise or shock quelled as time passed and it could also be a mechanism for one to organize their thoughts and calmly assess the current situation.
“I mentioned time to push her to the edge, but she actually has the advantage in that aspect. She only lacks experience, but seeing you, I know how abnormally well her head works.”
“It’s true that people can think of all sorts of things if they have a lot of time.” Lyla nodded. Then, she looked at Zich drearily and said, “Her resentment about what she suffered from you will build up too, and she might take it out on me.”
Zich didn’t meet Lyla’s eyes. “I’m sure she won’t do anything more than nitpick about things to give herself an edge. However, I should mention that I don’t think of things nearly as complicated as you do.”
After all, Lyla had failed to pierce through Serpina’s iron wall-like stubbornness before Zich came.
“It will be a headache.” Lyla could clearly visualize the difficulties she would face in the near future and clutched her forehead.
“That will actually be more preferable.”
“What do you mean ‘preferable?’ Just the thought of it makes me want to vomit.”
“If she nitpicks things, then that means that’s the only thing she can do at the moment. Her goal is to make the situation more advantageous for her by clutching onto any possible points. However, if she starts collaborating with us without raising a fuss, that’ll be more of a problem. Lyla, do you think the Princess is someone who will amiably cooperate with us?”
“Not at all.” Lyla firmly denied it as someone who had experienced Serpina’s stubborn nature firsthand.
“I think so too. If she cooperates without any complaints, it would only mean that she is scheming something.”
“No wonder you are telling me to always be on my guard.”
“The problem is that it will be a very difficult thing to uncover the Princess’ schemes.”
“Wouldn’t it be easy for you?” Lyla asked. She couldn’t help but think so after seeing how Zich treated Serpina not too long ago.
“I’ll be busy from now on, so I can’t spend all my time trying to uncover her schemes. Moreover, if she tries to use the ruin or the Brushel System, even I wouldn’t know what she is planning since it’s not my field of expertise.” After saying that, Zich stared at Lyla.
“Moreover, if she is really doing something like that, you are the only one who can notice it. Even if you fail to notice it and she succeeds in her attempt, you are the only one who can fix things.” Then he placed both hands on Lyla’s shoulders and said, “I’m trusting you to keep your eyes on her.”
Zich’s words—specifically the part about him trusting her—directly struck Lyla’s heart. Lyla balled her fists and said loudly, “Yeah, leave it to me! I’m going to keep a very close eye on her to make sure she doesn’t do anything weird.”
“Yeah.” Like that, Zich completely erased all his worries about Serpina. It might seem like he placed too much of a burden on Lyla, but there was nothing else he could do.
‘It’s because no one else but Lyla can really understand what the Princess is scheming,’ Zich thought. Besides, Zich also trusted her; considering her skills which he had witnessed throughout their travels and all the experiences she had endured, he knew that Lyla wouldn’t be played by Serpina.
‘Even if we encounter the worst-case scenario, Lyla will at least prepare a hole for us to escape out of.’ That was all he needed, and he could handle the rest. While Lyla was thinking of the tense mind games she would play with Serpina starting tomorrow, she looked at Zich again.
“Okay, so that’s enough about me. What are you going to do outside, Zich? You said you will be busy.”
“I have to prepare for war,” Zich answered. They were already sure from Serpina’s attitude that a war would occur.
“I’m sure Count Flaud has already made enormous preparations for the war. However, Count Steelwall isn’t in a position to get proper support from his surroundings. There would obviously be a difference in power, and Count Steelwall would be at a great disadvantage. If I had my original power, I would’ve been able to fill the gap by myself, but unfortunately, not all of my mana has been freed yet.”
“But most of it has been released, right?”
“Yup, that’s right.” Zich tried flowing mana throughout his body. He felt an amount of mana incomparable to the time when he had first regressed. Yet, compared to the days he was called Demon Lord of Strength, it was still significantly lacking. However, even this problem would not last for long. Zich felt the hardened mana inside him. Since it was hardened in the innermost area of his body, it was denser than all the mana he had released up until now. The amount of mana within him was also enormous.
“I’ve finished honing my physical body. If I just release this guy, I will be able to recover my strength from my demon lord days. If that happens, we can basically say that no one can fight me head-to-head.” Zich exuded confidence, but it was completely comprehensible if one considered the feats he had accomplished in his demon lord days. He was the one who had clashed with a party of heroes, including Glen Zenard, and it would be no exaggeration to say that he was one of the strongest among the people in his time. It was no wonder why he was able to fight the whole world with only a few underlings.
“I haven’t recovered all my former strength though, so I should think of a suitable plan.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“First of all, I should tell Father that war is coming.”
“He must be having a hard time. So many incidents are happening in his estate, and now, he has to prepare for war.” Moreover, he had to start a war during a disadvantageous situation. Regardless of how strong the Steelwall’s military might was, it was clear that they would suffer tremendously, and this was extremely good news to Zich.
“That annoying old fart should suffer a bit more.” Zich cackled as he imagined the expression on Count Steelwall when he relayed the news.
* * *
As Zich expected, Count Steelwall’s expression twisted into a deep scowl. “…So you’re saying that the reason why the estate is in this mess is because of those pieces of trash in Flaud?”
“Yes, probably so,” Zich replied and looked at the desk that the Count was sitting on. The Count had to get a new desk because he slammed and threw it too much in anger, but unfortunately, it seemed as if his new desk would not last too long either. The area that the Count had his hand on was already getting chipped and it made a cracking sound.
If the Count continued to apply his strength in the same area, the whole desk would split into two and collapse. Even now, it seemed as if the desk would not be able to continue its function for long. This desk would also soon be replaced, but Zich didn’t think the next desk would last long either. It might be a better idea to not place a desk in front of the Count until the current situation dies down. While Zich was thinking pointless thoughts, the Count’s mind was spinning.
Zich’s claims first sounded persuasive. Currently, the Steelwall Estate was in chaos because of the Bellids, and those who would be the happiest and delighted in their situation would be the Flaud family. However, there was a reason why the Steelwalls hadn’t pointed at the Flauds as the main culprit.
“Do you seriously think those bastards joined hands with the Bellids?”
The reason was that they hadn’t thought that a high-ranking noble would hold hands with the Bellids, and Count Steelwall still had a hard time believing this.
However, Count Steelwall and his officials couldn’t help but nod at Zich’s next words. “They’re bastards who sent the Count’s daughter to get married for the sake of peace and stabbed the Steelwalls’ backs. To cause Steelwall’s fall, it makes sense that they would also join forces with the Bellids.”
“…Yeah. Those guys are definitely capable of that.” The Count humbly admitted that he was prejudiced that a high-ranking noble would not join forces with the Bellids. “However, if they get caught, it won’t end easily for them.”
“It won’t matter as long as we don’t get caught. People like them all have the same mindset.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Count Steelwall agreed with Zich’s thoughts again. “And you’re saying that the Pinne Estate would be the one first declare war.”
“If the plan that I’ve looked into is correct.”
“If what the young master says is right, this matter is extremely serious.” Trell was next to the Count as always, and he spoke with a serious expression.
Zich replied, “Yes, it’s a serious matter. Most of all, the Flaud Estate’s final goal is probably the extermination of Steelwall. Even if they think that they won’t get caught, they joined hands with those infamous Bellids—it’s clear that they have no intentions to end things lightly.”
The Count and Trell’s faces stiffened. Zich didn’t use the word fall but extermination; it meant that everyone related to Count Steelwall would be killed. Seeing how the situation was going, Zich’s words were not merely an exaggeration.
“…If it’s Count Flaud, that blasted old fart, he might really do that.” Even though Count Flaud was technically Count Steelwall’s father-in-law, their relationship was so strained that such a friendly title wasn’t suitable to describe their relationship.
“Trell.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Immediately make preparations for war. Make sure to do it discreetly for now. Since we haven’t received a declaration for war yet, people will look at us suspiciously if we prepare for war now.” People were still suspicious of Count Steelwall and his connections with the Bellids. If he began to prepare for war during this time, getting accused of starting a war would be the least of their problems.
“Yes, sir. Since our soldiers have already been sent out to remediate the damage, if we align our preparations with their movements, we will be able to trick the eyes of outsiders.”
The Count nodded; he trusted that Trell would do a good job.
Zich said, “Sir, it won’t be enough with just that. The Flaud Estate have fought with the Steelwalls for a long time, so they are very familiar with the extent of Steelwall’s strength. The Flaud Estate probably joined hands with another force as well. Do you have a counterplan?”
“…I will be requesting help from the surrounding and center estates.” However, there wasn’t much confidence in his voice.
“I will sincerely hope that there are those who you have built a strong trust and relationship with to help you out even in a situation like this.”
The Count couldn’t refute Zich’s mockery.
Soon after, a harsh protest came from the Pinne Estate. Their protest was so outrightly hostile that anyone could see that they were clearly considering war. The Flaud Estate thoroughly backed up the Pinne Estate with the reason that they were also victims like the Pinne Estate. While Count Steelwall dealt with the Pinne and Flaud Estates, he requested help from other estates as planned. However, not a single estate accepted Steelwall’s request for help.