Chapter 118

Some time later, as the Northern Demon Realm’s colonization efforts gained momentum alongside Mikhail Lancaster’s achievements.

Someone came secretly to find Michael Lancaster in the Northern Demon King’s Domain. Needless to say, it was a secret envoy from the Lancaster Grand Duke’s family.

The colonization of the Northern Demon Kingdom was not something accomplished in a day or two. It was a monumental undertaking, spanning years upon years, involving the subjugation of demon tribes and repeated farming cycles to cultivate the land and build new fortresses.

That said, Dale couldn’t possibly devote his entire life to this Demon King’s Realm either. For even before becoming the Viscount of Saxony, Dale had never once forgotten his true purpose.

The secret envoy of the House of Lancaster had arrived, and the time to fulfill the promise made between Dale and Mikhail was drawing near.

The succession dispute between the two great houses, the Dukes of Lancaster and the Earls of York, was finally beginning to unfold.

Therefore, Dale left trusted men in his viscountcy and journeyed to the ducal castle of his father, the Duke of Saxony.

To support Michael Lancaster, the Apostle of Fire and Light who would later become an enemy, as the heir to the Grand Duke’s house.

“…The Great Demon Alliance.”

The Saxon Duke’s office.

As usual, Dale and his father, the Duke of Saxony, were present, along with another guest. It was Michael Lancaster, the second son of the Grand Duke’s House of Lancaster.

After hearing the full story of the Lancaster family and considering his proposal, the Duke of Saxony remained silent.

“Of all things, the York witches as opponents. This has become quite a difficult situation.”

The Demoness of York. As the empire’s foremost Grand Duke and a dark mage, the Duke of Saxony knew no small amount of truth about this world and the empire itself.

“Moreover, even if it’s the Heavenly Sword, Duke Lancaster, as long as the Sacred Sword and the Divine Sword are together… it won’t be an easy fight.”

It was a fierce clash involving three of the continent’s Seven Swords, and the repercussions of that clash would be anything but light. This was absolutely not a stage where Dale could act alone.

That is why the Duke of Lancaster seeks to borrow strength from House Saxony. The foremost feudal lord of the North, ruled by one of the Seven Swords of the Continent and, moreover, the continent’s foremost dark mage.

“The House of Lancaster will never forget Saxony’s kindness.”

Mikhail Lancaster declared, displaying the Lancaster family crest—a scarlet rose—engraved upon his breastplate as if to flaunt it.

“Should we prevail in this war, as heir to the House of Lancaster… I intend to forge an ‘unquestionable alliance’ with Saxony, alongside the Great Demon Clan Alliance, for all time to come.”

And they began persuading the Duke of Saxony about what each side would give and receive.

“Sir Helmut and I cannot personally travel all the way to the Duchy of Lancaster.”

The mighty are slow to move. This was especially true for the Duchy of Saxony in the north. While Dale was away, overseeing the pioneering work in the Demon King’s Domain would fall to his father, the Black Count.

“But Dale, it seems your resolve is already firmly set.”

“……”

“The succession struggle between Lancaster and York will never be light enough to be manipulated at your whim.”

“I fully understand that point. But it’s worth being prepared for to that extent.”

“What do you mean?”

“Prince Mikhail will one day become a powerful figure in this empire, a great duke who will bring no lack to our ducal house.”

“……”

“And there is no better investment for the future than supporting that prince during this very difficult time.”

Dale answered without a moment’s hesitation. Hearing this, Mikhail Lancaster momentarily held his breath.

“It seems your trust in the young prince is quite firm.”

Though their age difference was nearly a generation apart, Michael Lancaster was surprisingly well-suited to Dale. For Dale, he was practically the only nobleman’s son with whom he had built any real rapport, and the fact that his family was the Duke of Lancaster went without saying.

The Apostle of Light and Darkness. The peace Mikhail envisioned was clearly distorted. Whether he would become an enemy in the future was impossible to know. However, securing his allegiance and forming an alliance at this very moment could serve a dual purpose: it might prevent such a scenario altogether.

“Prince Dale…”

Mikhail smiled awkwardly, and Dale looked at his father, the Duke of Saxony.

“I ask for little. Lend me the Night Raven Knights of the ducal house and the Elders of the Black Tower.”

“The House of York, Lord Sepelia, and the House of Brandenburg Counts have formed an alliance. Moreover, while the Imperial Court officially maintains neutrality in their dispute, the participation of the Deputy Commander of the Iron Cross Knights….”

“We cannot rule out the possibility of the Crimson Magic Tower making a move either.”

The House of Lancaster is certainly no pushover. But with the forces you speak of, you won’t make a significant impact on that battle.

Knights, called the flowers of war, and the elders of the Black Magic Tower. In a battle between mere minor lords, they were decisive forces capable of driving the final nail in the coffin. But in a clash between the empire’s leading great lords, that was not the case.

Crucially, there were no ‘powerhouses beyond the norm’.

“You needn’t worry about that point.”

Nevertheless, Dale smiled as if he had expected it.

“Officially, they avoid the ‘Eyes of the Empire,’ but there are powerful forces that can certainly influence their battles.”

“……?”

It was finally time for what Dale had obtained to shine.

As a collateral branch of the House of York, the noble swordsman Sir Sephelia joined the fight against the Duke of Lancaster, the Heavenly Sword. By arranging a betrothal between Catherine, the second daughter of the House of York, and Philip, the eldest son of the House of Brandenburg, they secured the ‘Sacred Sword’.

With two Black Swords now aimed at the Lancaster Grand Duke’s house, there was only one way to balance the scales.

Moreover, considering the situation of the House of Saxony, it was practically impossible for Lord Helmut of the Seven Swords to leave his post. The same applied to the Black Count’s participation in the war.

However, Dale possessed another ‘Seven Swords’ besides them.

At that moment, within the Shadow Grand Court in the Demon King’s Domain of the Saxon Viscount. The heart of the ‘Shadow Court’, known as the empire’s foremost assassin organization.

“Puhh! Guh, guh-guh, oh my god!”

A man sitting cross-legged at the table belched out curses as he choked on his beer. He was the assassin knight known as the Killing Sword, one of the Seven Swords of the Continent—a figure utterly devoid of any knightly dignity or decorum.

With the High Court before him, Master Baro took another sip of beer.

“Just now, you said it was a dispute over the succession between York and Lancaster?”

The House of York, having betrothed their eldest son Richard to the Lancaster heir, is protesting the Duke of Lancaster’s decision to name the second son, Prince Michael, as the Archducal heir. They are prepared to risk a territorial war over it. Officially, this conflict is framed as a noble cause to uphold ‘Imperial tradition.’ From the Imperial Court’s perspective, it’s a dispute they have no reason to oppose.

Dale spoke to Master Baro with quiet resolve. His tone was remarkably unguarded.

“Right. Then the ‘Sword Maiden’ from the York family’s collateral line will be joining us too.”

Gui-geom Sefilia. At the name Master Baro muttered as if disgusted, a flicker of unease crossed Dale’s expression.

The deputy commander of the Iron Cross Knights—the imperial guard, hailed as the empire’s foremost knightly order. As a former imperial hound, Dale knew her name all too well.

“The Demon Sword, the Holy Sword, the Heavenly Sword. Those monstrous bastards can’t even stop the little brats from fighting, yet they’re meddling in their squabbles?”

“Regrettably, we too have been forced into that ‘battle of the young ones’.”

“What? Are those bastards so bored they have nothing better to do?”

The blade master Baroga grumbled.

Just then. The Shadow Saintess, who had been listening to the two men’s conversation while maintaining her silence, spoke up. Her eyes concealed by black bandages.

“Mikhail Lancaster… Have you seen his avatar?”

The Shadow Saintess, her eyes concealed by black bandages, asked in return. The power of the Saintess to see the unseen. At her words, Dale silently nodded.

“The Apostle of Fire and Light.”

Recalling the avatar he had shown, Dale answered.

“That man is dangerous. He is one of the most powerful beings who could threaten the darkness of the Shadow Lord in the future.”

“I am mindful of that point as well.”

Dale said.

“But for now, that is not the case. Rather, the alliance between our House of Saxony and the House of Lancaster holds greater value.”

“…Is that a decision made as the ‘Black Apostle’?”

The Black Apostle, he who will drive out the Empire of Fire and Light and bring forth the Empire of Shadows. This Shadow Court swears allegiance to the eldest son of House Saxon for that very purpose. Betraying their faith would never be a wise decision.

“Indeed.”

Dale nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“And now, as the Black Apostle, I require the power of the ‘Shadow Court’ to fulfill my mission.”

As he spoke, Dale’s shadow stirred. It was not his cherished shadow cloak.

A human silhouette took shape within the shadows.

A knight who, abandoned by the gods, volunteered to be Dale’s puppet in a godless world. A knight sworn to silence as an Oathmaster and one of the Grave Guards.

The ‘Black Maiden of the Fortress’, who had become Dale’s shadow to protect her, was there.

“Moreover, the time has finally come to test Lady Aurelia’s devotion.”

At Dale’s words, the Black Maiden, Aurelia, silently nodded her head.

“Heh heh, I trained that young lady so damn well… no, so incredibly well. One slip-up and my head would’ve rolled, you know?”

Under the training of the Sword of Life, the female assassin had abandoned the ‘Knight’s Sword’ at Dale’s command and been thoroughly reborn as the ‘Assassin’s Sword’. That was the current Holy Maiden Aurelia, and each time a new ideology was imposed upon her, it reborn her avatar into a new form.

A formidable force capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Seven Swords of the Continent.

“Alongside the high-ranking assassins of the Shadow Court, we shall serve as the military might of the Grand Duke of Lancaster’s house.”

Within the empire’s peace, a battlefield where two Archdukes and extraordinary powerhouses clash for the first time, unleashing their full might.

“But our existence and activities will be carried out entirely in the shadows.”

As one of the combatants, Dale spoke up. As the leader of the Shadow Court, the ‘Shadow Lord’. Commanding the continent’s foremost assassin organization, which obeyed his every order.

“Heh heh, must I go around chopping off heads again in this wretched fate?”

Before Dale’s solemn voice, Master Baro muttered.

“Ah, I do have a dick to pull out, for reference.”

“……Stop spouting that bullshit.”

Dale replied, utterly dumbfounded.