Son of Destruction - Volume 2 Chapter 17 part1

“Good grief, I can only say that I’m utterly stunned.”

At night Lobnas complained by himself inside the guest room assigned to him.
Three days have already passed since he came to Bolnis. What he saw and heard during that time were all things that made him disappointed.
It started with the audience held on the next day after he visited the city.

“I’m acting as everyone’s representative. My name is Kizaki Souma.”

The one who welcomed Lobnas at the audience hall while saying so was a truly weak-looking brat.
Contrary to his thoughts of wondering what kind of man he would encounter, seeing as the ferocious zoan and dinosaurians are obeying him, it was this kind of brat. He had heard the rumors in advance, but even so Lobnas was more flabbergasted than surprised.
Nevertheless, pondering whether he might possess something that’s not obvious from his appearance, considering that he led that General Darius around by the nose, he tried to continue with the audience, but in the end it only added the description softhearted to the assessment of that frail kid.
“When my master, a wealthy merchant, fell ill in the middle of his travel, his life was saved by a subhuman slave. Ever since he wondered whether he can’t help them out in some way, and so on.”
The brat easily believed in that kind of made-up story.
Well, since even Eladia, who was present at the audience, had tears of gratitude stream down her cheeks, I think my way of reciting it must have been quite good.
However, shouldn’t they doubt my side of the story at least a bit? Besides, wouldn’t it make sense to check my identity? Lobnas felt even a strange anger well up within.
But then again he had the confidence that it would be impossible to expose his true identity, even if they did investigate it.
As a matter of fact a trading merchant with the name Lobnas existed in Romania. Of course Lobnas made a deal with a man, who resembled him closely, by paying some money for situations like this. Hence, no matter how much they investigate his background, it would only lead to the fact that a merchant called Lobnas headed to Holmea for trading.
Even though he went out of his way to set all of this up, not being doubted like this resulted in him being quite frustrated.

“Would it be possible for me to have a look at your soldiers?”

Thinking that the slaves, who became soldiers, must be quite excellent since they defeated General Darius even while being led by this kind of brat, he tried requesting that with the expectation to be turned down, but instead it was readily approved.
However, even there Lobnas ends up completely dumbfounded.
At the soldier’s training place to where he was guided, he at first thought Oohh! after seeing muscular dwarves standing in lines while holding still brand new battle axes and spears in their hands.
But, in the next moment that transformed into disappointment.

“Now then, move that waaay!”

Once a dwarf called Dvalin waved a flag, all the dwarves started to noisily run with weapons in hand.

“Next, it’s this waaay!”

Once he waves the flag in the opposite direction, the dwarves turn around in a hurry and run in the opposite direction. That repeated itself several times.
Just how is this supposed to be training? Like this it’s nothing more than them running around as they please while following the flag’s directions.
In addition, Lobnas was allowed to watch a grapple between a black and a red furred beast, who were both introduced as heroes of the zoan that form the main force, while they wore nothing on top. Certainly the two beasts had magnificent physiques and it was a scuffle that packed a punch. But, leaving aside if it’s a show in some arena, a general leading an army will be able to grasp their level after being shown how they fight.
Moreover, he was also introduced to the dinosaurians, the strongest warriors among the slaves, but those guys were lazing around while basking in the sun as they laid on their bellies in the sunny spots of the feudal lord residence’s garden.
Even the brat called Soma, who guided him around, showed a cramped expression after seeing this.
Either way, Lobnas ended up utterly flabbergasted.
Since he heard that they defeated that General Darius, he had harbored quite the expectations. However, after actually having seen them with his own eyes, he realized that they are really no more than a simple mish-mash of rebelling slaves. With them like this, even bandits you can find anywhere have a better command structure.
To think that I expressly headed all the way into the hinterlands of Holmea to measure the power of guys like these; what an absurdity.
When he was pacing back and forth inside his room while extremely upset, a knock could be heard at the door.
Right then Lobnas’ expression changes into that of having a lewd look, and he excitedly opens the door.

“Sir Lobnas, I have come bringing some wine.”

As Lobnas had expected, Eladia stood there while carrying wine and food with her.

“This is very welcome. Now, hurry up and come in.”

While inviting Eladia inside the room, Lobnas licked his lips, believing, Truly, the sole side benefit is being able to have sex with this woman.

◆◇◆◇◆

Lobnas, who slept deeply, woke up to the sound of clothes rustling.
Deep in the night. Eladia was in the process of covering her white, nude body, which was accentuated by the pale moonlight shining into the otherwise pitch-black room through an opened window, with her garments.

“What, you are already heading out?”

Once Lobnas called out to her with a yawn blended into his speech, Eladia sat down at the edge of the bed and whispered,

“I’m terribly sorry. Tomorrow I have to serve from early in the morning. Please take it easy and have a good night’s sleep, Sir Lobnas.”

Saying so, Eladia stood up, trying to leave the room, but her hand is grabbed by Lobnas, holding her back.

“How about it? If you are fine with it, I can negotiate with the feudal lord here to buy you out of your bondage.”

That is something he continuously thought over for the last three days. To leave such an incredible elven beauty stay here is too much of a waste.

“Oh my, thank you very much.”

Lobnas, who was pleased by her blossoming smile while saying that, drew Eladia’s arm to himself and tried to hug her in his chest. However, Eladia’s arm, which he should have seized properly, escapes his hand smoothly as something seems to be the matter.
In order to stir him up, Eladia say to Lobnas who looks confused,

“However, I’m sick of being traded by merchants. I like strong men much more than any merchant. A powerful man who can protect me by wielding sword and shield.”

“I see. That’s regrettable.”

While expressing his regret with his mouth, Lobnas’ face was full of complacency. After all he’s a general and not a merchant. He truly fits the condition mentioned by Eladia perfectly.
However, Eladia continued to speak further,

“But, I also hate violent men who’s only redeeming trait lies in their strength. I love men who are not only strong but also clever.”

Being told so, Lobnas ends up troubled.
As noble I believe to own a minimum of culture and knowledge, but if I’m asked whether I’m clever, I feel like it’s slightly different from being educated. I wonder what she might consider as being clever.
Eladia quietly brings her lips close to Lonbas’ ear who’s brooding with his eyebrows furrowed.

“I wonder, do you know of such a story…”

And then Eladia poured honeyed words into his ear.

◆◇◆◇◆

The next morning Lobnas, in order to return to his country, visited Souma to give his thanks for having been taken care of and to bid his farewell as he’s leaving the city.
Once he’s asked by Souma whether they had done something rude to him, considering his sudden departure, Lobnas shook his hands and denied it with “Absolutely not!”

“Even I greatly admire your heartfelt intentions. As such I have made up my mind to go report to my master as quickly as possible without dawdling any longer.”

Lobnas beats his own chest powerfully.

“If it’s about support, then please leave it to me. I believe my master will most certainly provide his assistance, too!”

Unbelievably high spirits despite his sour looks until just yesterday. To the degree that he continued talking without pause while consistently smiling at Souma, who escorted him all the way to the city’s gate to see him off.

“Well then, please await the good news! Ha ha ha ha!”

After confirming that the carriage with Lobnas inside, protected by a very few guards, disappeared beyond the horizon, Souma let the tension out of his shoulders in relief.

“It looks like it went well, doesn’t it?”

Standing next to him, Eladia answers at that with a grin,

“At your will, Lord Soma.”

◆◇◆◇◆

Having returned to Romania, Lobnas cleaned off the travel’s dirt and immediately requested an audience with the king. King Doldea, who had eagerly awaited his return, immediately gave his permission and Lobnas was let through to the audience hall where the courtiers were all lined up this time.

“So how were the rebelling slaves of that city Bolnis or whatever it was called?”

Lobnas grandly shook his head at Doldea whose voice was overflowing with anticipation.

“You might as well call them a let-down.”

And then he explained the details of Bolnis’ state which he had witnessed with his own eyes. Thereupon not only Doldea, but also the present courtiers revealed dumbfounded expressions.

“They are absolutely no power on whom we could rely. Perhaps even them defeating Darius might have been nothing more but a pure stroke of luck.”

Doldea couldn’t suppress his disappointment after hearing Lobnas’ report that was brought to an end with those words.
Doldea dreamed of bringing down Holmea by joining forces with them as long as they are a group strong enough to defeat Darius who caused Romania so much grief over the years. A plan of tripping Holmea up by showing weakness and weakening Holmea by taking advantage of their mistakes; a relentless attack against Holmea from the east and west as if hunting down a deer that had been gradually driven into exhaustion
However, if the subhuman slaves cannot be relied on, he has to rethink the usurpation of Holmea from the start again.
A heavy sigh escaped Doldea’s lips.

“It’s a bit too early to allow ourselves to be disappointed.”

Yet Lobnas continued his speech with an elated expression.

“Your Majesty, what do you think about a story like this?”

What Lobnas began to talk about triumphantly after that preface is an anecdote of a famous, clever king who reigned the continent’s center several centuries ago.
Back then the country of the clever king was in a longstanding conflict against its neighboring country. It’s said that at one time the clever king, who was aware of the existence of atrocious bandits in a corner of that neighboring country, secretly provided arms and 1000 pieces of gold to those bandits.
Having obtained those funds and arms, the bandits gained more and more in strength, and rampaged throughout the neighboring country. The neighboring country was forced to dispatch its national army and killed the bandits without leaving a single one of them alive, but at that time its territory had already been devastated, and they had lost many soldiers to just subjugate them.
The clever king, who made sure of that, finally moved his soldiers and assaulted the neighboring country while suffering only few losses.

“That king, who obtained a whole country by merely paying a 1000 pieces of gold and a few arms, has been naturally extolled as clever king even by future generations.”

Doldea, who finished listening to the anecdote recounted by Lobnas, nods many times over and smiles smugly.

“I see. I fully understand what you want to say. You are telling me to become that clever king, aren’t you?”

“As expected of you, Your Majesty. It’s just as you have discerned.”

While flattering the king, Lobnas explains the advantages of this plan.

“Even if they are saying that they are doing it for the sake of opposing Holmea, in the end all of them are just filthy subhuman slaves. Not only will it leave a stain behind in Romania’s history to join forces with them – be it even just for a short time – it will also displease the priests of the Holy Faith.”

It’s not as much as in the continent’s center, but even in this western area the influence of the Holy Faith is gaining strength by the day. If they were to acknowledge the liberation of subhuman slaves and provide them with land, even if it’s just for the sake of defeating Holmea, it would very likely create a breeding ground for future troubles with the Holy Faith’s priesthood.
The one who made him notice that was the elf called Eladia who was worried that she might be targeted by the Holy Faith if he buys her contractual freedom. 1 To receive the worries of a woman, who’s not only beautiful and smart but also capable of attentiveness, is the privilege and good fortune of having been born male. Lobnas, who believed something like that, continued speaking while frantically suppressing the unintentionally leaking lewd look on his face.

“Leaving that aside, we just have to support the slaves while concealing the name of Romania. Even if we leave them alone, I think they will grandly clash with Holmea in their own way. After comfortably watching that happen, we will only have to assault the exhausted Holmea.”

Doldea believed there to be some truth to Lobnas’ opinion.
Certainly, if I consider the relationship with the Holy Faith, it’s a bad idea to join hands with subhumans. Above all, the strategy of having Holmea and the slaves wear each other down without dirtying our own hands is interesting.
Sensing a positive response from Doldea’s reaction, Lobnas hit while the iron is still hot to deliver the final blow.

“Also, the biggest merit of this plan is――”

At that point Lobnas deliberately inserted a pause to stir the king’s anticipation. Even while being aware of that, Doldea had his curiosity piqued and pitched slightly forward on top of his throne. After seeing the king’s behavior, Lobnas says while overemphasizing,

“I believe that Your Majesty’s fame as reincarnation of the clever king, who destroyed our long standing arch enemy Holmea with such a plan, will be handed down over many generations.”

That precisely hit the vital point of Doldea.
In those days King Doldea was already at an advanced age where it wouldn’t be strange for him to die at any time. For a long time now Doldea’s monetary greed and his sexual lust have been fading because of the few remaining years he has left.
However, what grew in strength within the king’s heart in exchange is the desire for fame.
Suppressing the arch enemy Holmea through military force has also been the dearest wish of Romania for the last few hundred years. He wants to become the great, wise ruler who rebuilt the former major power.
He craves to carve his own name alongside such renown accomplishment into history. That was the reason why King Doldea was still tenaciously clinging to the throne, even now that he had become old.

“Hmm, I see. And I guess you will say that you are the great general who proposed this to me?”

“Good gracious, Your Majesty, you truly see through everything.”

Doldea raised a laughter at Lobnas revealing a menial smile.

“How amusing. Why not go with your suggestion.”

At that point Doldea turns his face towards his chief vassals who stood nearby.

“How much assistance should we provide to the sub-human slaves?”

The one answering to that was the vassal in charge of financial affairs.

“Let’s see. ―The other party are filthy slaves. It should be plenty if we provide them with 1000 gold coins as it happened in the anecdote.”

However, Lobnas rebuts that at once.

“What tightwad-like things are you saying!? ―Your Majesty. Being stingy with money here will likely be criticized as shabby in the future.”

Doldea believed the amount of money mentioned by the financial official to be proper at first. But, he revises his thinking after having that pointed out by Lobnas. Even if I carve my name into history, it will come all to nothing if I have the unfounded rumor of being a miser added to it. Rather, shouldn’t I leave behind my name in history alongside the fact of having shown lavishness here? That notion wells up within Doldea’s chest and becomes increasingly bigger.
Dreaming of being extolled with “King Doldea was a profuse person” by those in the future, Doldea mutters to himself “That would be certainly not bad at all.”

“Alright, you’re correct. Let’s give 50,000 gold coins to Bolnis’ slaves!”

All blood drained from the faces of the country’s vassals in charge of financial affairs due to the words spoken by Doldea with a self-satisfied look.
Once it comes to 50,000 gold coins, that’s a sum of money that easily exceeds the annual tax revenue of a provincial city. It’s only natural for the vassals to become pale.

“Y-Your Majesty! Please wait! As expected, that’s too much!”

But, in order to interrupt that, Lobnas flatters,

“As expected of you, Your Majesty. Even those of the future will likely admire Your Majesty’s lavishness.”

Due to that the financial officials felt emotions close to rage while saying “The likes of a mere general, who has no clue what public finances might be, shouldn’t needlessly butt into this conversation!”
And yet they most definitely had no way to know that it was an elven beauty, who whispered “I hate stingy men” into Lobnas’ ear, standing behind the things suggested by Lobnas.
After nodding several times in satisfaction due to Lobnas’ flattery, Doldea tells his vassals,

“It’s not something that I’m saying out of mere vanity. If it goes smoothly, we will obtain Holmea. Isn’t 50,000 gold coins more than cheap if that’s the price for it?”

Certainly, if you consider that they will buy Holmea with 50,000 gold coins, it’s cheap. But, the vassals were half-convinced, doubting that it would really work out all that well.

“But, Your Majesty, if you give them 50,000 gold coins, I think that you should attach some kind of condition to it.”

Just as a single vassals said that, it was not Lobnas who became pale.

“That’s no good! Won’t we be hated by them then!?”

The vassals look dubiously at Lobnas who started to talk about something as weird as being hated. Lobnas panics at that. Absolutely unable to honestly admit something like him having been told “I hate petty men who would bind a woman by attaching various strings,” Lobnas comes up with a plausible excuse.

“No, I mean, if we tie conditions to it, there will be the danger for our aim to be read through those. Having our assistance being hated due to that would mean us losing everything.”

“But, how are we going to make them fight against Holmea then?”

“The slaves, who defeated that shitty Darius, are a thorn in the side for Holmea. There’s no way that Holmea will look on forever as those guys amass power, right!?”

The vassals tried to hurl further problematic issues and questions at Lobnas, but at that moment Doldea lifts a hand, stopping the dispute.

“The vassals’ misgivings are reasonable. ―But, this is my decision!”

Once they are told this much, any further objections becomes impossible.
In front of King Doldea with his cheerful smile and Lobnas, who adds even further flattery, the vassals had no other option but to wrack their brains how to fill the holes in the budget due to this unexpected expense.

◆◇◆◇◆

—————— End of Part 1 ——————

Translation Notes:

Contractual freedom here refers to buy a geisha or prostitute out of her bondage