The Chronicles of a Lost Man in His Forties Founding a Nation ~Commonsense is Hindering Me From Becoming TUEE~ Chapter 88

Chapter 88

“...... I see.”

 

What would have become of me if I came to use wizardry for my own desires.

 

The Duke of Filsand is the answer to that question — a good-for-nothing tyrant. Either that, or already dead from a.s.sa.s.sination.

 

The current me has allies that I can feel safe entrusting my back to. In contrast, the Duke cannot trust even his own children, and is not trusted in return.

 

It is clear that he does not regret having led such a life, but as someone who has met two people who have fallen victim to the consequences of his choices, I cannot help but to think “I’m glad I did not become like that.”

 

“Aah, I get it now. I have no intention of commenting on your way of life. All men, at least once in their lives, dream of walking down that path.”

 

“Ku ku. Coming from someone with power on a whole different dimension from mine, I’m afraid I can only hear those words as sarcasm.”

 

This, too, he means from his heart.

 

Even I had adored villains from manga and light novels and military commanders from Sengoku works who burned with ambition.

 

By modern j.a.panese standards, the Duke is undoubtedly a ‘bad person.’ If he attempts to attack me, I would fight back and beat him down without a moment’s hesitation.

 

But due to some strange twist of fate, here we are, drinking wine together.

 

(T/N: Omg Fate/Zero episode 11 “The Grail Dialogue”!!!!)

 

And above anything else, he is a reflection of myself.

 

Even if in the future either one of us considers the other an obstacle and moves to remove the other, that is no impediment to doing what we currently can, now.

 

“...... Since we’re on the topic of your succession. You said that you ‘have been thinking’ of retiring,  so am I correct in believing that you no longer have such intentions?”

 

“Indeed. If I am able to join an alliance with someone possessing such incredible power as your own, forget retiring, I feel like my vitality from the past would be revived.”

 

Most likely due to having confirmed the power of wizardry in person, the light of ambition burning in his eyes is even stronger than when I had first met him.

 

“In that case, I have two requests…… no, I’ll call them conditions instead.”

 

“Hou?”

 

I purposely chose to rephrase myself to indicate that I am the one in the more superior position.

 

Even if he is feeling angry and humiliated, he wants my power bad enough to suppress it all in his heart.

 

In the first place, my goals are to get permission to begin trading with Filsand, and to invite him to join the anti-Shadow Demon alliance.

 

The former is already accomplished, so that’s good.

 

But as for the latter, I know almost for a fact that the Duke would proactively seek for a more military alliance. And if we form that military alliance, then he will use my wizardry to overthrow the Kingdom of Feldi.

 

In a way, I am almost envious of the strength of his ambition. But isn’t there a better direction that I can direct his ambition towards?

 

For the first time in a while, I spin those gears in my head as furiously as I can.

 

“Even if you and I join hands to face the world, we would still need strength.”

 

“Are you saying that the riches and might of this Filsand are insufficient?”

 

“Let me put it another way. Are you satisfied with only what you can grab with that amount of strength?”

 

“...... Hou.”

 

When I speak almost provocatively, his glance sharpens even further.

 

I feel a s.h.i.+ver down my back.

 

“The amount of time that you and I have left is 30 years at best. The issue is how effectively we can use those 30 years.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

“I’m sure that you also know this, but in order to use time effectively, we would need talented people. And your children, all of them are talented in different ways. First of all, being tripped up by this problem of succession would only be a waste of time.”

 

“...... You are quite right.”

 

His expression has softened a bit. It seems he’s taken my words to mean that I will lend him a hand with his ambitions.

 

“In that case, first repair your relations.h.i.+ps with your children, and make them to want to work for you. That is my first condition.”

 

In other words, in order to make self-interested people do something, you simply need to explain to them how doing that thing would lead to their own benefit.

 

I know Elizabel’s problem with the Duke is more of an emotional one, but as I am but an outsider, this is the best I can do at the moment.

 

“...... I see. Very well. Seeing this squabble going on before my eyes would only be a distraction. I will speak to Agbeil and Elizabel tomorrow. However, what shall be done about Balzard?”

 

I didn’t expect him to agree so easily. I read his mind with the ESP Medal, but he is not lying. Or rather, it seems that the moment he decided to not retire, he’s already decided to put a stop to the internal fighting.

 

“As for Balzard-dono, how about retrieving him with an exchange of prisoners? If you use the Shulz princess that I brought back, would that be possible?”

 

“Fumu…… So that’s also within the range of your ‘condition’? In that case, I’ll use her as asked.”

 

As expected of him, still making sure to rephrase things so that he doesn’t incur a favor with me at this point in time. Well, not that I mind.

 

Which now brings us to the next problem.

 

The entire time I’ve been talking with the Duke, I’ve been thinking as fast as I can, but……

 

“So, what is the second condition?”

 

“Umu……”

 

I need a good idea to redirect the Duke’s ambition in a more constructive direction.

 

Somehow, a thought starts to take form inside my head.

 

Averting my eyes from the Duke’s powerful gaze, I notice the map of the Kingdom of Feldi and its surroundings hanging on the wall……

 

“Mu.”

 

With a flash, a lightbulb goes off in my head.