Dungeon Defense (WN)

Chapter 357: Diplomatic Masterpiece

* * *

My mouth fell open.

“It’s so large and beautiful…….”

Before me was quite literally a mountain of gold and gems. The wealth that six Demon Lords and eleven archdukes had accumulated for the past few centuries was piled up in one spot. Even after filling seven different storages in the palace, there was still more money confiscated from the traitors left.

“Uhahaha! Dantalian, look at this! Gold feels like trash!”

Barbatos was enjoying herself so much that she was giggling while buried within the gold coins.

Something must have snapped inside Barbatos’ head the moment she saw the pile of gold as she promptly stripped and dived into it. I panicked and tried to stop her, but she stubbornly refused, saying that this was something that she always wanted to try at least once. No, I understand how you feel…… but Miss Regent. Could you at least try to save face? Well, that’s probably a hard ask for Barbatos. It’d probably be easier to ask a dog to be refined.

Ivar calmly read from a document while standing next to me.

“There is about ninety million gold in terms of hard currency and gems that can be used immediately.”

“N-Ninety million gold…….”

I felt dizzy.

If you convert the rest of my funds to Libra, then I had about 3 million gold left. Referentially, true to her name as Ivar Lodbrok, the richest person in the demon world who was currently wearing a monocle for some reason as she read the document, all of this girl’s assets combined reached about fifty million gold.

“Most of it was from the archdukes. The independent Demon Lords were surprisingly poor.”

“Uh, how much is considered poor……?”

I asked with a shaky voice. I found myself speaking formally for some reason. This was probably because the time I spent as a human was still engraved into my soul.

Ivar adjusted her monocle.

“At most, the six individuals combined only had up to ten million gold. Hm, were they living poor but honest lives? People say that an individual’s character and skills are separate, but I guess this is a prime example of that.”

“P-Poor…… Ten million gold is poor…….”

This was the money sense of an individual who reigned as the top bourgeois of all bourgeoises.

Did I look like some poor scholar isolated in the countryside in Ivar’s eyes? Ivar Lodbrok, what a terrifying girl…….

While I, who was born a proletarian, was trembling beside her, Ivar smirked.

“Rather, the archdukes had accumulated exceptionally more money than the Demon Lords. In the end, even if Demon Lords didn’t exist, a majority of demons would have still been suppressed by a ruler. The only difference between them is whether they’re a Demon Lord or not. The two might not be so different.”

She was right about that.

However, it felt weird since Ivar was the one saying this.

Ninety million gold was already a lot to obtain after getting rid of eleven archdukes, but, if you look at this from a different perspective, that wasn’t even twice the size of Ivar’s entire wealth. This created the formula where six demon lords and eleven archdukes = 2 Ivar.

In other words, this was like a tycoon making fun of upstarts. I realized once again how frightening Ivar was. It’s a relief that she’s my woman.

I leaned down and touched the gold coins.

“Separate five million from this. I intend to gift that to the remaining archdukes.”

“The archdukes, is it……? I see. Do you intend to use that as compensation?”

“They must have been greatly shocked after being accused as traitors.”

I chuckled.

The archdukes must be incredibly nervous because of the recent purge. They will probably hold a secret gathering as soon as they return to the demon world to discuss future countermeasures. I was going to give them a gentle nudge so that their discussion didn’t go in a foolish direction.

“I am a thoughtful Demon Lord, after all. I’ll show them some consideration so that they are able to take better care of themselves.”

“Understood.”

“Also make it so that thirty million gold can be used from this pile at any time.”

Ivar tilted her head.

“May this humble one ask where you intend to use such a large amount of gold?”

“What else could possibly require thirty million gold?

I straightened my back.

The gold coins that I was holding in my hand slid out from between my fingers. The coins rolled on the ground after the clear sound of metal colliding against metal rang out.

“War funds, Ivar. I will be starting a war for the girl I love.”

* * *

I sent an envoy under the name of the Habsburg Empire.

The destination was the Kingdom of Sardinia. They were still going against the general trend and were supporting the Habsburg Republic extensively. We must stop their support to prevent Elizabeth from having enough strength to start a war.

The issue was justification. With what cause could we threaten Sardinia?

I decided to pull out an incredibly humane subject as a card.

Chaos ensued as soon as my envoy delivered my message. The hand-picked envoy from Sardinia immediately came to the Habsburg palace using teleportation. The envoy protested strongly.

“Count Palatine, this does not make sense. This is a clear interference of domestic affairs.”

“I do not understand what you mean by that. Our nation is simply making a reasonable demand to your nation. This is a universally rightful request that goes beyond borders.”

“How can we reinstate a household that had fallen after being branded as traitors long ago……!?”

The envoy’s splendidly grown mustache twitched in anger.

I casually took a sip from my tea before down my cup.

“House Farnese was by no means a group of traitors. Farnese must regain the honor they have once lost. This is the collective opinion of our Empire, Marquis.”

That’s right.

The House of Farnese that Laura belonged to had fallen due to a civil war called the Chrysanthemum War. Rather than a war where half of the kingdom was split and engaging in battle, it was more like the nobles had split into sides and were fighting to protect their authority.

In more complex terms, whether the next ruler would be from a direct line or a collateral line was the argument that happened in the background of that war. Regardless, there was no need to bring up their past power struggle.

What’s important was the fact that House Farnese had collapsed because they supported the direct line.

Considering how the other noble group didn’t stop with simply making the House of Farnese collapse, but they even turned the family’s second in line, Laura, into a slave, you can tell how deeply seeded the grudge the two sides had toward each other was. It’s genuinely rare to see a noble turn another noble into a slave.

“Count Palatine, allow us to be honest.”

Marquis Rody who was dispatched here as an envoy lowered his voice.

Although a marquis in the Empire would be a higher position than a Count Palatine like myself, in the Kingdom of Sardinia, any baron with a little bit of power could call themselves a marquis. This tendency increased even further after half of the nobles were basically killed off during the Chrysanthemum War. We naturally didn’t maintain much formality.

“My ears are always open to wise men, Marquis.”

“House Farnese had claimed that our nation’s king did not have the right to succeed the throne. Reinstating that family could threaten His Highness the King’s legitimacy. No, it will threaten it……!”

I made my gaze cold.

“I understand your nation’s circumstances, but we cannot back down either. Marquis, Laura de Farnese is His Excellency the Emperor’s acting general. She has complete control over the Habsburg Empire’s general command.”

“…….”

“Are you trying to denounce our nation’s general by calling her the descendent of a traitor?”

The marquis wiped his forehead with a silk handkerchief. This man who had already lost half of his hair looked like someone with a lot of body heat.

“Of course not, Count Palatine! I understand that this is a matter with His Excellency the Emperor’s honor on the line, but please understand that this matter goes beyond solely our king, but the entire royal family as well.”

“Marquis.”

I leaned down so that our faces were close together.

“This is a very simple and clear problem. Will it be our nation’s honor or yours? If neither side will concede, then we have no other choice but to force it. ……Don’t you agree?”

“…….”

The Marquis’ expression contorted. He shut his eyes tightly.

There was a moment of silence. Once the Marquis opened his eyes, there was a dim but also a clear look of resolve in them.

“This humble one is foolish and is thus incapable of speaking alchemical words that can catch the ears of others. So please tell me, Count Palatine. What degree of consideration is necessary to avoid this ‘final warning’.?”

“Only a slight bit of consideration is required.”

I smiled.

“Marquis, if a formal compromise cannot be reached, then we simply have to reach an informal one. I will appreciate it if you put this into consideration.”

“Even the goddesses will be incapable of hearing our conversation. I swear this upon my family’s name.”

I nodded. I always appreciated people who understood quickly.

“Cease your aid of the Habsburg Republic.”

“…….”

“The Republic refuses to acknowledge His Excellency the Emperor’s right to the throne. They claim that we are in the wrong and that their newly established nation will inherit the name of Habsburg……. Since the founding of our nations, we have refused to acknowledge one another.”

The resolved Marquis’ gaze didn’t waver. However, he was probably calculating how difficult it will be to accomplish this informal proposal as his complexion was growing darker by the minute.

“If the legitimacy of Sardinia’s royal family is the problem, then it is also a problem for our nation’s royal family. I trust that you understand why this may be the case.”

The Marquis had no way of talking back.

The logic behind being unable to restore the House of Farnese was due to their desire to maintain their royal family’s legitimacy. However, if they respond by saying that they won’t stop aiding the Republic, then they would basically be saying that they only cared about their legitimacy and not the legitimacy of our nation’s royal family.

Either restore the House of Farnese or stop aiding the Republic.

The Marquis realized that both options were extreme. His voice sounded hoarse.

“……The reason we are supporting the Republic is not due to being hostile to your nation.”

“I am aware. Even if you exclude the matter of national defense, there are still the domestic issues that remain.”

I slowly raised the corners of my mouth.

“In order to fill out the empty positions that were created after half of your nation’s noble families were wiped out during the Chrysanthemum War, you most likely had to appoint wealthy commoners to those positions. They naturally have a more favorable opinion of republicanism. Of course, your nation has always been close to republicanism.”

“…….”

“Your newly formed faction of government officials must be strongly supporting the aid of the Republic. Rather than being worried about how you are going to persuade the royal family, Marquis, you are most likely more worried about persuading these government officials.”

The Marquis let out a sigh.

“You have a better understanding of our nation’s domestic affairs than me. You are right. Our support of the Republic is not only due to diplomatic reasons. There has always been a fair number of youngsters who greatly admire Consul Elizabeth.”

“I understand. The Consul has written all sorts of books, after all.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

The Kingdom of Sardinia was placed in quite a perilous position.

If they accept our request to stop aiding the Republic, then their bourgeois government officials would revolt. They’re capable individuals and are incredibly crucial to managing their kingdom. However, if they refuse our request, that would put an end to both a formal compromise and an informal one.

In other words.

“However, being able to understand each other’s situation does not always lead to consideration. Occasionally, understanding is powerless and instead gives birth to disappointment about what could have been.”

“……Truly wise words, Count Palatine.”

The time for compromise was now over.

The only option left is war.

“Marquis, would it be fine for me to conclude that I will be disappointed in life again today?”

“…….”

Sweat started to bead on the Marquis’ forehead.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter. A storm’s brewing as another war is drawing near. Nothing too much to say this chapter. I might end up painfully busy by the end of this month. 3 games that I’ve partially translated for are coming out this month, so I expect them to send us additional batches for like patch notes and events soon. I just got to survive another month and a half and I can finally go on that Japan trip… Oh God, please give me the strength to not die before then due to work overload.

Welp, I’ll see you guys in the next chapter.