The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 234
I dazedly greeted the sudden visitor.
I thought they might be an impostor, but that wasn’t the case.
“It’s been a while, Ars. Or should I say Wade, as you call yourself here?”
“Juras…!”
Not just his sly face, but that ominous smile proved it was definitely him.
“How are you here!?”
“Hmph, in this world, do you rush conversations without even offering tea to guests?”
I immediately called a servant to bring refreshments.
Meanwhile, Juras looked around my office with a tilted head.
“This office seems rather shabby for you.”
“That’s because I officially hold no position. I’m just an academy student. Someone like that couldn’t be given a luxurious office.”
“No official position… I see the situation roughly.”
His expression showed he had figured everything out from this simple conversation. He’s scary because he actually does see through everything.
When the servant brought refreshments, we faced each other.
I waited for him to ask something first, but he just leisurely drank his tea. I had no choice but to speak first.
“I have many questions, but first: how did you come here?”
“That’s an uncharacteristically stupid question from you. You must have some idea how I got here.”
“As I thought… You used that transfer magic circle at the old Kuravel Holy Nation site.”
The place that sent me and my vassals to this world.
I had thought about it before. With that much evidence left behind, Juras would definitely figure out the situation.
Plus, there were records left by the elves of the Kuravel Holy Nation there.
Those records explained why the magic circle was made and how it activated, so it would have been easy to understand the circumstances.
However, Juras shook his head.
“I couldn’t use that facility as it was.”
“You couldn’t use it?”
“The magic was depleted. According to the books left at that location, the transfer magic needs magic charged by ley lines to activate.”
Come to think of it, that was written there.
“But the magic that had accumulated there was depleted when you all moved. It would have taken at least 10 years for that to recover.”
“Then how…?”
“If that location wouldn’t work, I just had to find a new place where magic had accumulated. I had briefly studied about breaking down their suspicious formations when destroying the Kuravel Holy Nation before. Thanks to that, it wasn’t difficult.”
Eo had told me before. The barrier magic protecting the Kuravel Holy Nation was permanently activated by ley lines.
However, Juras said he invaded the holy nation by forcibly destroying the terrain to break the ley lines.
“Finding such a location wasn’t difficult. After that it was simple. I just had to dig deep to create a space and copy that strange room from the Kuravel ruins. Well, it took 7 months, so maybe it wasn’t that simple after all.”
“…How did you find me?”
“This.”
Thump! Juras held out a book. It was my romance novel ‘Their Circumstances’ that I had published.
“I saw this being distributed in the market and knew you were in Baien. After that, I traced the names Ars and Wade to track you here.”
“Haha, so that book finally proved useful.”
The book publication had minimal effects compared to the investment. Although I found Dorofei, that was closer to coincidence.
I never dreamed it would lead Juras to me now.
I understand the general situation now. I had more questions, but I thought it was his turn to ask me things.
“…”
However, he didn’t ask anything. He just leisurely enjoyed his tea.
“This is definitely Colossus tea leaves, but the taste is uniquely different from what I know.”
“That’s because crops here are grown using magic. The process can create different characteristics. More importantly, don’t you have any questions for me?”
Juras smirked.
“Not really. Why would I need to ask when I already know everything?”
“I told you to stop with that ‘I know everything‘ attitude!”
“Haha, it’s nice to hear that line from you again after so long.”
“Anyway. Tell me what you know.”
I don’t know why I have to ask him. He should be the one asking.
However, Juras wasn’t bluffing. He really had figured out everything.
“The situation is clear. Given that you, a mere academy student, have an office in the palace, and this kingdom is currently holding a coronation after a succession battle, one can deduce that you helped with the succession from behind the scenes. The purpose was obviously for future national unification.”
“…”
“Please tell me if I’m wrong about anything?”
This guy is really irritating. Perhaps because of that, I found myself nitpicking.
“Isn’t it quite a leap to conclude I helped with the succession battle just because I have an office in the palace?”
“Then let me add something. It’s because the monarch ascending to the throne this time is a queen. It’s truly not an easy thing for a woman to ascend as ruler. Moreover, I heard that this Rosa woman was third in line for succession and had few noble supporters. For someone like her to take the throne would be impossible without an exceptional helper. So it’s not difficult to guess your involvement. I’d like you to tell me if there’s anything wrong with what I’ve said?”
“…Let’s stop. Yes, everything you said is correct.”
This guy seemed to have already collected the crucial information. Based on that information, he had already deduced most of the facts.
I understood why he had nothing to ask me.
“Well, it’s not that I have absolutely nothing I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Is Princess Melodie with you?”
“…”
“I suppose not.”
“It may sound like an excuse, but I did my best to search for her.”
“I don’t doubt that part. Given that it’s your responsibility, you would have prioritized searching for the missing person over finding a way back to our continent.”
Whenever I talk with this guy, I always end up losing control of the conversation. It’s mentally draining, you could say.
I felt slightly dizzy from his unique kind of pressure.
At that moment, Rosa visited my office with only a few guards, accompanied by a knock.
“Wade, I wanted to consult about something…”
Rosa trailed off as she saw Juras.
“W-Who is this? This doesn’t seem like just a regular guest.”
To an ordinary observer, it might have looked like I was just having a conversation with a guest, but this was the kind of presence Juras had.
Rosa seemed convinced that Juras was someone of high status.
Juras raised the corner of his mouth while looking at Rosa. At this, Rosa shuddered as if getting goosebumps.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Juras Pamilion from a foreign land called the Crossing Republic. I hold the position of prime minister in Crossing.”
“Crossing…?”
“As I have an urgent request, I would like to establish official relations with your kingdom. Would you be willing to hear me out?”
Rosa looked at me helplessly.
She was asking whether this person was on our side or not.
‘That’s quite ambiguous, you see.’
If I had to choose, he was on our side.
Moreover, though it’s somewhat awkward to say, when I saw Juras, I felt like a powerful reinforcement had arrived. The kind of reinforcement so overwhelming that you’d feel sorry for the opponent.
As a countermeasure against Pax who had threatened me, there couldn’t be a better option.
* * *
The surface reason for Juras coming here was to find Princess Melodie.
He officially requested Rosa’s cooperation in the search.
“I understand, prime minister Pamilion. The Ellan Kingdom will also fully cooperate in finding your kingdom’s princess.”
“I thank you for your generous decision.”
“Then, prime minister Pamilion, please tell us what we need to do to assist with the search.”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Nothing…?”
“My special operations unit should have already begun the search. I merely wanted your permission, Your Majesty. Please understand that we acted first and reported afterward.”
Rosa was having trouble adapting to Juras’s overwhelming presence.
This was understandable. Unlike Rosa, who was a political novice, this guy was an unparalleled politician whom few would dare to challenge even in the Magic continent.
“While we express our gratitude for this cooperation, though Crossing would like to help with your kingdom’s situation, we are unfortunately currently cut off from communication with our homeland. Therefore, though it may be insufficient, I would like to offer my personal assistance, if that would be acceptable?”
“U-um… Thank you. I will grant you a mansion in Baien where you can stay, prime minister Pamilion.”
“I am most grateful.”
Even though it was just a ceremonial audience, Rosa was exhausted and breaking out in cold sweat.
“Wade, I’ll leave the rest to you since you’re involved. Make sure to treat him with the utmost hospitality.”
After giving instructions to treat him with the highest courtesy, Rosa left, looking tired.
Juras muttered while staring at Rosa’s retreating figure.
“The typical type of wise ruler… A naive sort unsuited for turbulent times.”
Soon he shook his head and turned his gaze to me.
“Well then, Ars, shall we discuss what comes next?”
“Before that, I’d like to check on the situation. You might not have questions, but I have many.”
He shrugged, saying I could ask anything.
“Let’s change locations first.”
Since I wasn’t the only one curious about him, I decided to invite him to the mansion.
Juras said he would put his belongings in the mansion Rosa had granted him, so I was able to return to the mansion first.
“Tell everyone to gather at the mansion!”
Fortunately, everyone was staying in Baien as they had received vacation during the coronation period.
They must have all been nearby, as everyone assembled at the mansion within just 30 minutes.
“A guest will be arriving soon. So please prepare to welcome them.”
People looked puzzled at my words.
Rinoa snorted.
“I thought something serious had happened, but it’s just a guest coming?”
“It is something serious.”
“Unless it’s the leaders of the upper Alliance coming… No, even then, there’s no need to make such a fuss about it.”
Others seemed to agree, nodding their heads. Ash and Gaspar, who had been drinking outside, were angry about being called for something so trivial.
However, they shut their mouths at my next words.
“Juras will be here shortly.”
“Who’s that?”
Rinoa’s reaction was still ‘so what?’, but the people who knew Juras started murmuring.
Yumir grimly prepared to send Ryuna up to the second-floor room, and Sophia gaped in shock.
“Juras…?”
Elena frowned as she repeated the name. Then she asked Eo.
“Come to think of it, Eo, wasn’t Juras Pamilion the name of the one who destroyed the Holy Nation of Kuravel? Is that who’s coming?”
“Y-Yes, I think so.”
“Hmph, that’s good then. Though it’s in the past, he destroyed the nation I served. Even if I don’t kill him, it should be fine to teach him a lesson through a fair duel.”
“What!? Don’t do it!”
Eo tried to dissuade her from such a reckless act. Elena showed displeasure at this.
“Do you think I would lose?”
“W-Well. Even Ilya couldn’t handle him…”
“Ilya Anfei…?”
Only then did Elena look towards Master Ilya and stared in surprise.
Even Master Ilya, who always maintained her composure, was now emanating battle spirit with extreme vigilance.
Master spoke to the others.
“That man is a monster wearing a human disguise. That’s the only way I can describe him. So as Ars says, don’t let your guard down.”
Soon after, he arrived.
Guided by Anduha, he stepped into the mansion and smiled as if enjoying the attention focused on him.
“I see many familiar faces. And some new ones too.”
Elena seemed to understand immediately why Eonia had warned her.
She began to guard herself as if ready to draw her weapon at any moment.
I stepped forward as if representing everyone.
“Those who have questions for this person, please stay. If not, you may go about your business.”
The reason I gathered everyone even though I was going to dismiss them right away was to show this guy to those who didn’t know him.
It was both to show how dangerous he was and to demonstrate how reassuring it would be to have someone like him on our side.
This would provide psychological stability in future shadow conflicts.
The fact that Juras was behind us would give them peace of mind even in those conflicts.
* * *
Quite a few people had questions for Juras.
Master Ilya, Ash, Sophia, Erina, Estelle, and even Mother.
I asked him first.
“I heard earlier you brought special forces, how many did you bring?”
“91 people, excluding myself.”
“What’s their skill level?”
“That’s hard to say. It’s a mix of rookies waiting for field deployment and veterans near retirement. About average, I’d say.”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know. They seem to have scattered. Well, they’re special forces I personally trained, so they should manage well.”
At that point, Master Ilya cut in.
“Did Anton come too?”
“If you mean your husband, he didn’t come.”
“…I see.”
“It’s not particularly because Anton doesn’t think of you. It’s just that this transfer had many uncertainties. If it failed and something unexpected happened, your son who just turned one would have to grow up without parents. Anton stayed behind out of concern for that. Plus, Ars entrusted him with succession matters. On the other hand…”
Juras shifted his gaze to Estelle.
“Estelle Rosenberg. Your father came with us.”
“Father…!”
“Rutger Rosenberg came along saying he would find you. I’m not sure where he is now.”
This meant Rutger would essentially become another missing person.
Estelle merely sighed softly, as if she had expected this.
As if that was all she wanted to ask Juras, she left saying she would bring refreshments.
“Ha…!”
I could only be dumbfounded.
“You came despite such uncertainties? You might have died pointlessly if the transfer failed.”
“I had no choice. It seemed there was no way to send news from here to our continent. I thought proper command would be needed depending on the situation. I told the special forces to find you and follow your command in case something happened to me, but that won’t be necessary now.”
“Really. Should I call you strong-hearted, or just crazy…”
“Heh, so? Do you have any other questions?”
This was where the main part began.
Sophia, unable to contain herself any longer, leaned forward and asked.
“What’s happened to the Kingdom of Beckavia!?”
Besides her, Ash was also curious about the situation in his homeland, the Kingdom of Tunkai.
Erina wanted to know about the movements of the Kingdom of Calliper and the situation of the Duke Saleon’s family.
At this, Juras laughed as if watching a comedy.
“Coincidentally, there’s no good news for any of the three. I think it’s better not to hear since there’s nothing you can do about it anyway?”
“Shut up! Tell us now!”
At Sophia’s urging, Juras answered quietly.
“Beckavia fell when it’s palace was captured in a surprise invasion by Tunkai and Calliper, and now Tunkai and Calliper are waging war over the fallen territory of Beckavia.”
Sophia was angry, thinking Juras was joking, but Juras insisted.
That reality is sometimes like a joke.
Hi guys, please check out the new novel I picked “I killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.”
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