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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 28

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 28

On the day of the party.

At the Hellian mansion located in the center of Julia, brother Max entered first, stiff as a robot.

Outside the banquet hall, I was waiting for Beryl and giving earnest instructions to Eonia, whom I had brought as a vassal.

“As you know, Eo, your identity must not be revealed.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, I’m Rania. When I’m with Lord Ars, I’m Rania, who used to live as a wanderer, not Eonia.”

Eo smiles. She was overjoyed that I had chosen her instead of Yumir or master.

‘I hope she doesn’t cause any trouble.’

Just in case, I decided to have her wear a helmet to cover her face. After revealing her identity, the guard checked Eo’s face and issued a permit, allowing her to wear armor.

Naturally, the guard froze in shock upon seeing Eo’s face.

‘Eo stands out much more than I do.’

As the former captain of the Kuravel holy kingdom royal guard, she had a dignity that surpassed most nobles. If left unchecked, she might be mistaken for a lady from a high-ranking family and be flooded with dance requests.

While I was instructing Eo, Beryl appeared.

“Ars! Sorry. Looks like I kept you waiting.”

“I just got here myself.”

Behind her stood a man with a calm demeanor.

“And who is…?”

“Oh, this is Mr. Jade. He’s a mercenary who works in our territory. He came to help with the vassal competition.”

“Hmm.”

Jade was a mercenary who had reached his old age. However, he didn’t give off the impression of a battle-hardened veteran.

It seems he’s probably a mercenary who mainly deals with tasks like hunting or searching for missing persons rather than warfare. Eo seemed to have immediately assessed his level and scoffed.

I elbowed her side and shook hands with Jade.

“But who’s that person next to you?”

Beryl tilted her head, looking at Eo.

“Seems like someone I haven’t seen before. Would I recognize the face if the helmet were removed?”

“You probably wouldn’t. She started work recently. Her name is Rania.”

Eo stood at attention and bowed politely. “I serve Lord Ars. My name is Rania.”

“Wow…” Beryl let out an exclamation at Eo’s undeniable dignity.

“You, you’re of noble birth, right? How did the Elaine family manage to… Oh, no. I don’t mean to look down on your family.”

“There are some circumstances. Anyway, let’s enter. Rania, you wait here and enter last.”

“Mr. Jade too!”

We signed the guest book and were waiting to enter while chatting.

I thought we had arrived quite early, but being minor nobles, our turn kept getting pushed back.

People who clearly arrived later than us were entering first.

“Get out of the way. You’re in the way.”

The one who said that was Kate, who had proposed to be my partner yesterday.

Her partner was Casper, who was impersonating Wade.

“Hmph.” Kate snorted in displeasure and entered the party hall.

Beryl let out a sigh of relief. “Ars, did you do something wrong to Ms. Kate?”

“Who knows.”

“You should be careful. The Marquis MacMillan family is among the top five in the Hellian faction. Ms. Kate is in the same position as Ms. Erina.”

Speak of the devil.

“Who’s in the same position as whom?”

“Ah…! Ms. Erina.”

Erina had formed a partnership with Ruan Chase, a cadet.

“You look beautiful today, Ms. Erina. And Ru, Ruan looks handsome too…”

Beryl blushed and became flustered upon seeing Ruan.

“Oh my. So that’s how it is. Hehe.” Erina seemed satisfied with this reaction and said with a smile. “By the way, Beryl. I didn’t know you were acquainted with Lord Elaine.”

“Yes, our families are close.”

“Since what age have you known each other?”

“Since about three years old. Why do you ask?”

“Th-three years old…!” Erina trembled. “…There’s one thing I’d like to ask. Did he ever make mistakes like forgetting your name?”

“Me?”

“Lord Elaine.”

“I don’t think there were any of  such incidents. Why are you suddenly asking this…?”

“It’s nothing. Hmph!” Erina expressed her protest towards me by opening and closing her fan sharply.

Ruan said to her, “Let’s continue the conversation inside the party hall. Shall we enter, Miss Erina?”

“Alright.”

As the two left, Beryl exhaled deeply. “I was so nervous! I didn’t expect Ms. Erina to come suddenly. And, and even Ruan.”

“Ruan Chase, huh…”

They say that if the Hellian faction has the prodigy Casper Millias, the Saleon faction has Ruan Chase.

‘If Casper is more about strategy, that guy must be more about martial arts.’

Judging by the tingling sensation in my fingertips when he passed by, he seems quite skilled.

“What are you doing, Ars? Let’s go in.”

“Oh, right. Let’s go.”

It seems it’s finally our turn. I stepped into the party hall with Beryl.

***

The attendees at the party were largely divided into three groups.

The first is the adults. The second is young people looking for marriage prospects. And the third is young adults who have just come of age.

There were also real children aged 5-12 at the party, but they’re not counted as their purpose was just to eat and play.

I belonged to the third group.

However, even within this third group, there was another hierarchy based on family prestige.

You could call it a kind of caste system.

Beryl and I, belonging to a minor baronial family, couldn’t join the main crowd and were quietly eating at a corner table.

“Ugh… I just can’t bring myself to mingle.” Beryl was too intimidated to leave the table.

I was grateful for her keeping me company at the table. I had been receiving meaningful glances for a while now.

‘As expected. There are eyes watching me.’

Could it be from Duke Hellian’s side? Or perhaps it’s Marquis Millias’s doing.

In addition, several young ladies were stealing glances at me. If Beryl hadn’t been sitting at the table, they might have approached boldly.

“Does it really matter? After all, our role was just to fill seats.”

“That’s true, but…” Beryl couldn’t take her eyes off Ruan. It seemed she wanted to at least speak to him.

Finally gathering courage, she headed towards the group, accompanied by her attendant Jade.

Shortly after, as expected, one young lady approached.

“May I have a word with you?”

“Of course.”

It would have been terribly rude to rebuff someone at a party, so I had to respond.

Using that as a cue, other young ladies who had been watching also came over, forming a group around me.

“Who is that attendant behind you?”

One young lady asked, glancing at Eonia.

“She’s a martial arts instructor I’ve personally employed. Her name is Rania.”

“A martial arts instructor?”

“I’m aspiring to become a military officer.”

“Oh my, is that so!”

The young ladies giggled as if I had said something amusing.

As their numbers kept growing and I was becoming overwhelmed, my brother Max, seeing the gathering of young ladies, cleared his throat and approached.

“Ladies, would you grant me the honor of conversation as well?”

I thought Max must have some kind of superpower.

The young ladies who had been so tightly gathered dispersed in an instant.

“Why am I the only one in this situation…” Max left with slumped shoulders.

Thanks to him, I regained peace and was spending time feeding Eo.

It was then.

“Ars Elaine.”

A burly man who had stealthily approached spoke in an intimidating voice.

“A summons from an elder. Come with me for a moment.”

“Who do you mean by elder?”

I could easily guess who it was.

“You don’t need to know that. Just come without argument.”

“I refuse.”

“What did you say?”

“If they have business with me, tell them to come here themselves. Don’t send lackeys.”

“Lackeys…? You’re an insolent brat. I’ll say it again, it’s a summons from an elder. It’s someone you’re not even fit to face carelessly.”

“Hah, when you say insolent, are you referring to me? Or… To yourself?”

“What… Huh!?”

The burly man froze. He couldn’t move an inch due to the murderous intent constricting him.

“How dare a nobody like you threaten Lord Ars. You little…”

Realizing he was no match for this opponent, the burly man trembled like a frog facing a snake.

“Rania, that’s enough.”

“Yes, sir.”

Only after Eo withdrew her killing intent did the burly man start breathing heavily.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Well, I’ll go along just this once. I was curious to have a talk anyway. Please lead the way.”

“You, what are you?”

“Didn’t you hear from the lord?”

“…”

Apparently, he hadn’t heard.

The burly man gulped and started to guide me. Judging by how he kept glancing at Eo, he seemed completely intimidated.

The place he led me to was a reception room inside the mansion.

“You’ve come.”

Marquis Millias was waiting there.

***

George Millias. One of the main figures of the Hellian faction, he was among the top ten most influential people in the Calliper Kingdom.

After dismissing everyone around him, he spoke to me.

“Nice to meet you, Wade. This is our first time talking directly, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Ah, don’t try to back out now. I’ve heard everything from Ironheart.”

“So? What business do you have with me?”

“Let’s both benefit from this.”

He had instructed his son, Casper Millias, to impersonate Wade.

This was an extremely dangerous move. If the truth was revealed, it would be a huge embarrassment.

‘He must have thought of a way to solve that problem.’

That’s where I came in.

“How about working for our family? I promise to treat you well. Not just you, but your family as well.”

“And I assume all the achievements Wade makes will be credited to Casper?”

“Why such bitter words? I’m just suggesting we go in a direction that benefits us both.”

He’s essentially asking me to be a faceless singer.

‘As I expected.’

This was the way for Casper, who was impersonating Wade, to survive without trouble. By making the real Wade their ally.

And Marquis Millias had himself.

From their perspective, my Elaine family was less than an ant.

“It’ll only take a few years. By then, my son will be a proper general. When that time comes, you can go your own way.”

They would absolutely not let that happen. When the time comes, they will surely try to silence me.

“Heh.”

“What? What’s that laugh for?”

“Aren’t you underestimating me too much?”

“What?”

“It seems you’re under the mistaken impression that you’re above me.”

“…”

George narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying that’s not true?”

“Well, on the surface, that’s true.”

No matter how skilled I am, I’m still a kid, and our family is at the bottom of the kingdom’s hierarchy.

But that’s only on the surface.

The Wade that exists beneath the surface, the Wade who ended the Three Lions War, is different.

“George Millias. If I wanted to, I could dispose of someone like you right now. Know your place.”

“What!?”

“…Eonia.”

At that, Eo released her killing intent, overwhelming the atmosphere.

“Huh!?” George turned pale and collapsed at the killing intent. There were no guards protecting him. He never dreamed anyone would try to harm him in this situation.

“W-What are you trying to do! If you harm me…!”

“I’ll just ask Juras to clean up afterwards.”

“Juras!?”

“Why do you think I worked in Crossing?”

Wade, who worked in the Crossing Republic. From that, one could infer that there’s a connection between Crossing and Wade.

‘In reality, there’s no such relationship at all.’

But the other party has no basis to see through this bluff.

In that case, even a bluff can be a powerful weapon.

“Eek!? S-Stop! I am…!”

As Eo approached, George crawled away pathetically, falling on his backside.

“Eo, that’s enough.”

“Yes.”

Eo stood behind me with mechanical movements. Her appearance looked extremely cold, but I knew better.

Inside, she was probably gleefully celebrating her perfect execution of my instructions.

“Well. Even for Lord Juras, this level of cleanup might be burdensome. And… Those people over there might interfere as well.”

As I spoke towards one of the walls, a ‘Hahah’ laughter erupted from there.

Soon, a hidden door in the wall opened, and two men appeared.

“I thought we were being as quiet as possible, but I guess it wasn’t enough. That’s why I told you not to come, Dunan. We were discovered because of you.”

“…”

It was Duke Regnat Hellian and Grand General Dunan, the First General .

Eo cautiously assumed a stance ready to draw her weapon at any moment, while Dunan also maintained a vigilant posture, staring at Eo.

“L-Lord Regnat!”

George’s eyes widened immensely, apparently unaware of his presence.

“How on earth…!”

“This is my mansion, George. Of course, I have a few crude devices like this. Have you forgotten who guided you to this reception room? More importantly, stand up quickly. You’re tarnishing the dignity of a high nobleman.”

“Ugh!” George hurriedly got to his feet.

Regnat glanced at him with a sneer before shifting his gaze to me.

“Nice to meet you, Ars Elaine. Or should I call you Wade?”

“…”

Unlike the typically petty George, the pressure emanating from Regnat was on a different level.

“By the way, do you know? Your statement about borrowing Crossing’s power could be considered treason.”

“I didn’t think you’d take a joke so seriously.”

“Well, I suppose so.” Regnat chuckled. “I’ll apologize on behalf of this rudeness. Although I didn’t initiate it, it happened within my faction after all.”

“You mean…?”

“It means I want to maintain a good relationship with a capable person like you in the future.”

He knew.

He knew there was nothing to gain by pressuring me.

If the Hellian faction were to pressure me, I had options.

I could simply join the Saleon faction, or in a pinch, I could really seek help from Crossing.

“I’d like to avoid that. Having a talented individual like you joining those incompetent Saleon folks, I mean.”

“So that’s why. The people from the Saleon faction don’t know my identity.”

“Yes, I’ve managed to keep it under wraps somehow. If they knew, they would have approached you by any means necessary.”

This means that Erina is the only person in the Saleon faction who knows my true identity.

“What about Casper Millias?”

“Won’t he self-destruct soon enough? He must face the consequences of his reckless impersonation.”

At this, George shouted angrily. “What do you mean by that, Lord Regnat!”

“What do I mean? You must deal with the aftermath of your own actions. Why did you make Casper impersonate Wade in the first place?”

“That’s…!”

“Yes, you thought you could somehow clean up afterwards, didn’t you? Now that it’s impossible to clean up, you must face the consequences of your rash actions. Isn’t that right? Well, if it’s now, you might be able to settle it with just a bit of embarrassment.”

“Grrr!”

“Let’s end this matter here. Wade, that’s fine with you too, right?”

This was a kind of agreement.

He won’t pressure me about my identity as Wade, so in return, I shouldn’t join Crossing or Saleon.

‘It’s a decent proposal.’

Eventually, I’ll end up creating a new kingdom with the protagonist anyway.

Until then, this agreement with Duke Hellian will serve as a good shield.

“Alright. Let’s maintain an amicable relationship from now on.”

“Good. Now, let’s go enjoy the party.”

He will surely keep his promise. However, it’s uncertain when he might have other schemes in mind.

So, it seemed I needed to create an even stronger shield for myself.


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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road

Score 9.2
Status: Completed Type: Author: Released: 2022 Native Language: Korean
I ended up possessing Ars Elaine, a supporting character in the game. Struggling to prevent my death, I pave my way.

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