The Windfall Beyond Expectation

[Tunnel Folk acquisition complete.]

The moment Rio received Pernok’s letter, he burst into hollow laughter.

‘You infiltrated that mine far more heavily guarded than this place and brought back only Tunnel Folk?’

An absurd matter.

Rio was stunned by Pernok who ultimately succeeded in this preposterous feat.

Ruin who’d been watching approached and asked.

“Seems there’s good news.”

“Yes. Lord Pernok says he persuaded the Tunnel Folk.”

“Where is he now?”

“Since he sent a letter… probably heading to the safe house now. Seems he’s thinking of doing something more there.”

“Hehehe, this is quite embarrassing since our schedule is delayed compared to someone moving alone.”

Ruin stared at the battlefield.

Rio created justification and started a territorial war with Count Heryl, one of the 6th Prince’s faction.

The 6th Prince pulled all forces to support Count Heryl, and Isolun was observing the battlefield while entrusting the territorial war entirely to Rio.

“If we win here, Isolun will become deeply infatuated with you, Rio.”

“Like the 2nd Prince supporting Lord Pernok?”

“Even more so. Because not a single advisor with working brains exists around Isolun.”

Rio suppressed laughter.

No need to even use Isolun’s ring.

Just utilizing Ruin’s magic appropriately, Count Heryl’s forces could collapse very easily.

“I’ll draw out the cards the 6th Prince possesses. We’ll secure those first, then you strike Count Heryl’s neck.”

“Can I kill him?”

“Must show a ruthless appearance. Only then will Sloph, the A-rank guild that joined their side, completely submit to us.”

Ruin looked at Rio’s ruthlessness with satisfaction.

‘The time he wandered without purpose seems like yesterday, yet he’s growing day by day.’

Rio who spread boards against nobles now looks like a proper battlefield advisor.

‘The mountain range’s harshness stimulated not only Lord Pernok but Rio too.’

How to survive in despair.

Rio considered the answer to be force expansion.

Strong determination felt that if the same war erupts, he’ll smash it with overwhelming power.

“How much strength should I use?”

To the question containing subtle temptation, Rio spoke decisively.

“No matter how good the opponent’s cards, please don’t exceed level 7 standards.”

“If tools like Isolun’s Anti-Magic appear…”

“Doesn’t matter.”

At the confident answer, Ruin smiled and nodded.

And Rio looked back at Isolun.

Isolun advanced to the battlefield center, and the 6th Prince came from the opposite side.

The two faced each other and shouted.

“Without being swept up in petty justifications.”

“For the greater cause, may this justice echo throughout Rezhen!”

Sounds announcing the territorial war’s start were delivered to both sides.

The moment Isolun and the 6th Prince each returned to their camps, a trumpet announcing war’s start echoed.

Puuuuuuu—!

A war over who seizes Count Heryl’s territory.

They’d already hammered down that this contest absolutely wouldn’t end until both sides’ leaders fell.

Feeling each other feasible, they began advancing.

Count Heryl’s forces roughly 2000.

Of those, Sloph guild handles 400, and the rest are ordinary soldiers.

‘Kill one or two mages and it ends.’

Compared to the mountain range’s death struggle, no more than children’s play.

When Rio raised two fingers, a blue flag was raised.

Jad and Zodiac spread wide on both sides, and Ruin walked leisurely from the front.

Count Heryl’s forces tried breaking through the front in wedge formation.

‘I heard Sloph’s guild leader Bemot is a mage specialized in charging.’

Jad and Zodiac said Bemot’s guild equipped both solid shields and heavy spears together.

They warned that with ordinary elemental magic, feet won’t even stop but will be swept away as is.

‘Has characteristics similar to Sanmok.’

Centered on Bemot, subtle mana luster was overlaid on the charge squad.

That absorbed the charge squad’s mana together to strengthen bodies, boasting offense-defense integrated magic that deflects external attacks.

But the opponent was unfavorable.

“Unfortunate.”

Ruin struck the ground with his staff.

“That I can’t keep them all alive.”

Mana rode the ground and washed away Bemot’s barrier.

Though merely one form of silencing magic, Bemot seemed to have no immunity to this type of magic, unable to hide his flustered expression.

When they noticeably slowed, Jad and Zodiac who received the signal struck from all directions.

Rumble!

The terrain around the charge squad collapsed, and rain of fire fell upon it.

“Pour everything out!”

Jad’s roar crossed the battlefield as countless long-range elemental magic swept the charge squad.

Bemot could only raise his shield to block at most.

Since Ruin controlled the area’s mana, not even a bit of magic could activate.

But Rio didn’t release the string of tension.

Because Bemot still hadn’t retreated.

‘Pull it out.’

What could be the hidden card for the 6th Prince?

Rio watched the 6th Prince’s side carefully.

“Deploy the curtain!”

Then, an urgent sound echoed from Bemot’s side.

Rio’s gaze moved, and Bemot threw something toward the sky.

“Tears of the Saint?”

Simultaneously with Isolun’s voice being heard, another sun rose in the sky.

The charge squad’s wounds receiving that sunlight began healing.

“Your Highness, do you know that?”

Isolun answered with an absurd expression.

“A gift the Holy Kingdom’s previous pope gave His Majesty. Said the pope personally contained warm grace in a bottle crafted by the Holy Kingdom’s special method.”

“Like Your Highness’s ring?”

“So I heard. In the Holy Kingdom, a unique-type mage capable of granting magic to objects contained the world’s rarest healing-type magic. Allies designated within a 1-kilometer radius won’t fall from considerable wounds.”

“However, why does the 6th Prince have a gift offered to His Majesty?”

“Previously, my younger brother went hunting with His Majesty and suffered severe wounds. Probably then.”

Isolun pulled out his ring.

“Anyway, that also moves with mana. I’ll handle the Tears of the Saint myself.”

“It’s fine.”

“…?”

“Lord Naia will respond.”

That moment, shadow fell over the world.

A curtain formed in the sky with not a single dark cloud.

At the strange phenomenon, the charge squad stopped in confusion.

Ruin was smiling.

‘Not a bad item to use once.’

A cute item for a Magus who manipulates space.

If he intervenes in that sun’s descending mana and reversely twists it, the light shining on the entire space dyes in darkness.

‘Same as Isolun. Borrowing artifacts’ power on the premise that Magi won’t intervene.’

Ruin didn’t exert Magus-grade capacity at all.

Even just level 7 mana sufficed.

If someone showing excellent talent in mana manipulation ability exists, anyone could invade the Tears of the Saint.

‘Perfect to give to small-scale local battles or special detachments.’

The 6th Prince was foolish.

The Holy Kingdom is absolutely not a nation to gift other nations with items that could endanger their own country.

Wasting a treasure that would’ve been perfect used for the people in such a place, the battlefield situation absolutely doesn’t reverse.

Thud!

Ruin fully released level 7 mana.

He interfered with Zodiac’s magic that dug into the ground to accelerate earth collapse.

But he didn’t show more advanced techniques beyond that.

After all, this board existed for Rio to receive deeper trust from Isolun.

Rio should be the protagonist.

Puuuuu—!

Trumpet sounds echoed from Isolun’s side to drive in the finishing blow.

Jad and Zodiac pressured Bemot from all directions, and Isolun’s main force that had been holding breath until now struck forward.

The 6th Prince’s faction was swept away exactly as Rio deployed formations.

* * *

Ruin brought the Tears of the Saint to Isolun.

“Huh, the situation was unfavorable so I forcibly drew out mana and ended up breaking this.”

The bottle engraved with the sun’s emblem was turning pitch black.

Regrettable, but Isolun gave up on the Tears of the Saint.

“No. You worked hard. Thanks to you, I obtained Count Heryl’s territory.”

“Thank you for thinking so. Then I’ll dispose of this bottle myself.”

“Can’t you just break it?”

“If I shatter it like this, the remaining mana will explode and hurt people. I’ll quietly process it once my strength recovers.”

“Please.”

Ruin pocketed the Tears of the Saint and disappeared with a smile.

Isolun headed to commend soldiers, and Rio contacted Bemot.

“A-rank guild Sloph’s guild leader, Bemot. I heard you made an exclusive contract with the 6th Prince. Will you continue?”

“…Is there another option?”

“If you want honor, I’ll behead you on this spot.”

“Fuck…”

“We’ll treat you well. Including all guild members, we invite you to switch sides.”

“I made an exclusive contract.”

“If His Highness persuades the 6th Prince, your contract transfers to us too. So you know what you must do now?”

Bemot squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.

He had to devote full effort to persuading the 6th Prince.

Staying with mouth closed like this, his neck will be ‘cut’ to death like Count Heryl.

Bemot headed to the 6th Prince powerlessly.

“You worked hard.”

Isolun approached Rio.

“Not at all. I regret there were casualties.”

“Haha, where does war without casualties exist? And we only have dozens of wounded. A victory without many deaths is truly rare.”

“I’m merely grateful you think so.”

Isolun wore a gentle smile.

“I’ll ask your favor going forward too.”

“Please entrust it to me.”

When Rio bowed his head, Isolun smiled fondly and headed to the 6th Prince.

And Ruin quietly joined Rio’s side.

“With this, Isolun will be swayed as Rio wills.”

“Lord Ruin must also help from the side.”

“Haha, I’ll contribute a few words when inciting.”

“Then at ease, I’ll proceed with other work together.”

“Did Lord Pernok entrust something?”

“No. There’s one matter I’m thinking of pursuing independently.”

When Ruin tilted his head, Rio smiled and said.

“I’m thinking of making a merchant group.”

“A merchant group?”

“Monopolize the Galun ore mining site, and handle Rezhen’s fertile food and various weapons.”

“Won’t restraint from famous great merchants be considerable?”

“Doesn’t matter. Right now we’re gaining territories like this, aren’t we?”

Ruin opened his eyes wide and smiled.

“Hahaha, you even thought that far and waged ‘territorial war’ as justification?”

The factions princes possess mostly have affluent territories.

By making Isolun attack those places to plant chaos, Rio creates a merchant group behind to establish himself.

“Since we even obtained Tunnel Folk, if we shake up the board including the 3rd Prince, I can target that merchant group’s gaps.”

War itself is an ore vein where money flows.

Especially now when princes’ bloody struggles intensify, the territories those factions possess are lands of opportunity good for creating new gold nuggets.

“Is there work I can help with?”

“Please incite Isolun more. Must accelerate war with other princes so they can’t even suspect I’m creating a merchant group to secure other schemes.”

“Would meticulous you make such mistakes? But I am curious about other princes’ schemes.”

Ruin grinned while recalling the hidden Tears of the Saint.

“Because the spoils of war are quite delicious.”

When Rio responded with a smile, Isolun summoned them.

“My younger brother’s persuasion is finished! Hurry and wrap up work!”

Rio and Ruin composed their expressions and approached Isolun.

* * *

Meanwhile, Pernok finished preparations to leave the safe house.

He left one note at the house so Salavan’s shadows couldn’t follow.

[3rd Prince’s pursuers had caught up. One month later, will join at the duke’s house.]

Fabricated words, but no one can suspect.

Because Number 12 who accompanied Pernok returned to the duke’s house, and only Tunnel Folk exist here now.

When Salavan searches the safe house looking for Pernok who doesn’t return, he’ll discover only this one note.

“Where are the remaining Tunnel Folk?”

Keir smiled brightly, chest full just from recalling.

“Old homeland!”

How many Tunnel Folk might gather at this place called old homeland?

Just imagining improved his mood.

“May I call my people there?”

“Other humans?”

“Don’t know where the sanctuary is, but continuing to live only with you will be difficult. I’ll attach subordinates who’ll protect you.”

Keir narrowed his eyes, revealing confidence.

“Tunnel Folk, covert. Keruk!”

“Hiding so well, you were discovered by a fool like the 3rd Prince?”

Keir’s shoulders drooped.