Chapter 77

How should I describe this tense atmosphere?

The butler, standing in the corner of the room, might describe it as "pressure."

The maids, standing in the hallway ready to bring more tea at any moment, might say, "It's chilly down my spine even in summer."

League, sitting in the center of the room, had his usual cool expression.

However, if one looked closely, they might have noticed that his fingertips, reaching for the teacup, were trembling slightly.

The green eyes of the person sitting opposite him were also wavering.

"It seems you're leading a monotonous life."

A heavy, grinding voice.

The figure standing against the summer sunlight streaming through the window—League's father, the head of the Green Demon clan and the leader of the largest Romanian clan, Billion Green Demon Romania—spoke with a bored tone.

The only similarity to League was the green hair and green eyes.

His sturdy build and unpleasant features were entirely different from League's.

"Why don't you quit school?"

"Father, that—"

"I know, I know. It was the agreement when you enrolled. You would attend for two years. —But you haven't achieved anything in these two and a half years."

"There are no shortcuts in studies."

"I don't like such tedious things. Listen, League. We are the Green Demons who uphold and support Romania. The Green Demons, who carry the blood of Feng, the founder of Romania, bear a heavy responsibility to Romania."

Billion was recounting the Romanian tradition.

First, there was the "Feng" clan. They founded the country of Romania.

They were defeated in the war, but the "Green Demons" took over, and Romania survived—.

A story he had heard countless times.

The conclusion of the story was always the same.

—We, who carry the proud blood of the Green Demons, must stand at the pinnacle of Romania.

"Father, I am well aware. With that in mind, I am here. I will definitely return by the end of next winter. After that, I will act alongside you."

"Winter is long. And winter is important for us."

The long winter of the Forestia Union is the "season of politics."

Important matters are decided during this winter.

"Return before winter begins."

"Father!"

"What can you do in this city during winter?"

"But that would break the agreement—"

"It's decided. Understand? If you don't like it, you can leave here today."

"……Understood."

He clenched his teeth.

League had been receiving his father's education since childhood, but he had also been taught a different world by his tutor.

Not the world where "Romania leads the Union" as his father said—.

—If the seven countries join hands, we might create a much better country. Don't you think so?

This ideology is the foundation of League's current actions.

A relationship of cooperation and forgetting past grievances for the future.

If this could be built—something might change.

Perhaps they wouldn't have to live in fear of being attacked by the Kingdom of Ponsonia or the Empire of Quinbrand.

His tutor was actually from Koto, but had pretended to be Romanian. He was immediately exiled when discovered, but his teachings still remained with League.

To put this ideology into practice, he had to distance himself from his father.

The two years at the academy were a grace period he had negotiated in exchange for promising to act as his father's successor after two years.

His father, for his part, had been frustrated by his son's lack of awareness as a member of the Green Demon clan and had been pleased, thinking, "He has finally made up his mind."

(Two more years… no, just one and a half years until winter… what can I achieve in that time? How many more friends from other countries can I make?)

He was anxious.

In truth, he had no time to take Romanian girls to cafes, but they were also "watchful eyes" sent by his father's associates.

He had to pretend to be interested and divert their attention.

Despite the lack of time.

"By the way, League. Have you heard about the war between Ponsonia and Quinbrand?"

Billion said this with a smile, pleased to have shortened League's grace period.

"…Yes, I heard that Ponsonia is advancing."

"That's right. The 'Sword Saint' Lawrence, the head of the knights, personally went to the front lines and mowed down Quinbrand's proud cavalry. Of course, our head of knights is stronger than any 'Sword Saint.'"

"Our" here means "Romanian," not "Union's."

The title "head of knights" is from over 100 years ago. Officially, it refers to the leader of the "private army" that Billion has gathered.

League thought that the "Sword Saint" Lawrence, famous in other countries, and the leader of Romania's private army were of different ranks, but he didn't say this to his father, who was in a good mood.

If he did, his father would say, "You don't understand anything," and then, "You'll understand when you start working with me," based on past experience.

"But Ponsonia, just before occupying a provincial city of Quinbrand, suddenly withdrew their troops."

"Huh?"