The Floating Castle

He never intended to include Salavan in the journey from the start.

However, while operating as the cleaner, the affection Salavan showed was virtually blind trust.

Not only that, but Salavan’s faction showed active support when Pernok officially began revealing his identity.

Ludmila counted down the days until dueling with Pernok, frequently sharing meals.

Salavan’s faction regarded Pernok as part of their community.

Then Pernok had no choice but to change his thinking too.

“We must create at least one watcher in Rezhen.”

He transforms them all into collaborators who move according to his will.

One card for that was currently given to Pernok.

* * *

Zayl suffered from consecutively erupting incidents, and Lügen and Isolun mutually antagonized each other, shaving down forces.

Support from the neutral faction began pouring toward Salavan, who would’ve been eliminated from throne succession without Ludmila’s halo.

One day when Salavan couldn’t stop smiling from overflowing goodwill.

Pernok quietly called Salavan and Ludmila.

Pernok’s expression preparing wine at a round table was heavy.

“My contract with Your Highness also ends soon.”

One corner of Salavan’s chest stung.

He felt newly regretful for failing to change Pernok’s mind while the exclusive contract period passed.

“I already gave you everything. But if the guild leader doesn’t mind, I want to continue this relationship longer.”

“Wasn’t there His Majesty’s command not to involve with the royal family?”

“Not as an S-rank guild leader, but I want to be together with the person called Pernok.”

Ludmila also added an opinion.

“Mercenaries shouldn’t be connected with the royal family. Interpreted differently, it means arranging meetings is fine if not military demonstrations.”

“I understand you both. Then from now, can you keep what I say only in your hearts?”

At the unusual atmosphere, Salavan and Ludmila stiffened their faces and spoke.

“I’ll promise on my name. Whatever happens here, only I will know.”

“Same for me. But why such a dark expression on this good day?”

“Because the path I must walk from now might become a burden to you both.”

Pernok briefly caught his breath while only watching the two.

As if not knowing how to open words, he fidgeted with the wine cup before carefully speaking.

“Actually, I’m a bastard son of Illumina’s king.”

Both people’s eyes widened like lanterns.

“Illumina’s 1st Prince stuck a sword in my chest, and I who luckily survived and awakened magic drifted to the mountain range. And I established a guild to resist my sad fate.”

He moderately added melodrama and exaggerated the story.

“I intend to return to Illumina with the title of S-rank guild and set everything right.”

The two were already sighing while listening to Pernok’s melodrama.

‘Can’t resist the tempting bait?’

He deliberately mentioned Illumina Kingdom’s 1st Prince.

If Pernok targeted him who had close relations with Zayl, Salavan’s ears had to perk up.

“I will also aim for the throne.”

Pernok planted a wedge.

What Salavan lacked most.

That was how much friendly relations he could draw out with Illumina, which bordered them.

Though momentum leaned toward Salavan, Zayl still received evaluations as diplomatically excellent.

For elder nobles, the nation’s peace was a matter to prioritize over royal authority.

When an existence to open that floodgate appeared before eyes, Salavan would drool.

“Then guild leader—no, why did the prince live as a cleaner under me?”

The title changed.

Salavan properly bit the hook.

“I didn’t approach intentionally from the start. I planned to go to Illumina after conquering the mountain range. But I came to meet Your Highness.”

“Right. I made the proposal from the start.”

“I thought it as a luck. I dared think Your Highness’s circumstances weren’t different from mine, so I harbored grand dreams.”

“Is that the throne?”

“What’s currently given to me is only the guild and reputation.”

“That alone is far insufficient to aim for the throne.”

“I know. Nevertheless, it’s something I must do.”

“Does everyone in the guild know this fact?”

“My close associates all know. The newly joined ones still have much desire for honor, so I plan to persuade them soon.”

Salavan and Ludmila looked at each other.

Momentarily, many glances passed and the two nodded.

Pernok’s skill, forces, and the status of bastard.

Comprehensively considering, they judged he absolutely mustn’t be missed.

“Even so, it’s insufficient.”

“Hahaha, I must keep building strength.”

“What Your Highness needs now is reliable allies, isn’t it?”

“No one in the world will become my side. So I made my own people.”

Salavan shook his head.

“We weathered difficult paths together. I thought we were friends, but Your Highness sees me as an outsider?”

“What?”

“Just as Zayl did with Illumina’s 1st Prince, I also want to become closer with Your Highness.”

“That means…”

Salavan stared at Pernok and spoke forcefully.

“I want to go to the end with Your Highness.”

“…!”

“It’s not a contract. I’m saying let’s promise based on the mutual trust we’ve built until now. Because we’re people who can fill what each other lacks.”

Ludmila also helped.

“If disputes between nations erupt, I can personally step forward. Authority for troop dispatch is also with me. So I can support Your Highness Pernok’s work to proceed smoothly.”

Pernok swallowed hard.

Deliberately pretending to waver, when he just gulped wine, Salavan and Ludmila looked at him earnestly.

‘Illumina gives even bastards one chance!’

‘Pernok is trustworthy. If we give him much power, Zayl’s influence will also decrease. And if Pernok even becomes king, both nations’ relationship will develop most favorably.’

An unexpected treasure was hesitating before their eyes.

What proposal and conditions should entice him?

To the two suffering headaches, Pernok spoke with a faint smile.

“If you both truly wish so, I won’t refuse either. However, there’s a condition.”

“Speak!”

“Address me comfortably as usual. I’m merely a guild leader who just unified guilds. Give treatment befitting that after I seize Illumina.”

Salavan and Ludmila smiled brightly.

‘Done.’

Since he placated them this much, now these people would become active collaborators who’d support whatever he needed anytime.

“First, I plan to lead the guild back to the mountain range and build strength again, but forces still aren’t as much as I think.”

When Pernok lightly probed, Ludmila smiled and responded.

“I’ll attach mages under me to you.”

“You mean the duke’s direct private soldiers?”

“Can’t give all, but they’ll become solid shields so you don’t die unexpectedly. I’ll hide all their identities and send them to you, so take them by creating appropriate guilds and absorbing them.”

“I’ll also weaken elder brother’s forces more before sending shadows. Throne struggles are information wars. I’ll support you to never be disadvantaged, so have the shadows do everything you’re curious about.”

Pernok firmly suppressed rising laughter and bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

“Raise your head. How can a prince of a nation easily bow?”

When Pernok raised his head, Salavan offered a wine cup.

“As prince and prince. Let’s compete with full power for each other’s thrones and firm alliance.”

Pernok received and raised the cup, and Ludmila gladly shouted a toast.

They thought this relationship would last long, but Pernok had already decided this journey’s end.

* * *

Though the promised exclusive contract period ended, the atmosphere remained harmonious throughout leaving the duke’s house.

Ludmila personally brought carefully selected private soldiers and introduced them to Pernok.

“Friends who proceeded with work together with you before.”

Two level-6 mages and ten level-5 mages.

“I secretly received guild creation permission from the association. You can gather them within appropriate time. And I also prepared about 100 veteran soldiers to use as errand runners. Sent them straight to the mountain range, so don’t give them the cold shoulder, hahaha!”

“Endlessly grateful for the support!”

“I want to give more, but the situation is sudden so I can’t. But remember that if I just create justification to participate in battle, I can fight together with you anytime.”

Make a board where Magus can dive into the throne struggle.

At Ludmila’s confidence that he absolutely wouldn’t lose even dueling Illumina’s Magus, Pernok smiled.

“The day to visit will come soon.”

“Never forget we’re always together with you.”

“Thank you until now.”

Pernok lightly bowed and turned around.

Named guild was waiting outside the duke’s mansion.

“Sent from the association.”

Sallio respectfully offered something covered by red cloth.

When Pernok removed the red cloth, a golden plate and new emblem symbolizing S-rank were stacked.

S-rank guild Named.

The moment of obtaining a title even black-rank mercenaries didn’t have, Pernok shouted to guild leaders with sparkling eyes.

“You all know what I came to this position for. I achieved one goal today and intend to move to the next stage. Anyone dropping out, speak now.”

While Pernok firmly built friendship as princes with Salavan, Sallio and Enri discussed future matters with absorbed A-rank guild leaders.

They all learned the fact that Pernok was Illumina’s bastard, but weren’t greatly flustered.

Rather, they readily expressed intent to join from expectations of fighting battles with better odds than the princes they’d attached to.

The place where Roland disappeared and Naia was absent.

Pernok who became S-rank guild leader would rampage more fiercely.

Numerous savages would flock under him, and Named would expand larger.

No passengers disembarked from the promising ship.

They each presented what they wanted, and Pernok accepted everything.

At that moment, the S-rank guild was completed.

Magus Pernok.

Ten level-6 mages.

Fifty level-5 mages.

Two hundred level-4 mages.

Forces sufficient to easily compete even if three or four marquis houses of a nation attacked immediately.

If S2 Magus Ruin joined here, Named’s forces would be enough to wage war against a nation.

However, Pernok wasn’t satisfied with this much.

‘Need power to completely overturn the nation called Illumina.’

He would massacre Illumina’s royals according to the half-living’s wish.

And that was work shaking all the nation’s foundations.

Pernok never intended to inherit Illumina as is from the start.

He’d cut out all rotten things and rebirth it as his own nation from scratch.

The work of creating a nation.

He needed power to advance without wavering even under numerous external pressures.

‘It’s about time to move.’

One uncollected card still remained.

* * *

Pernok sent guild leaders to the mountain range and faced Ruin.

“I’d like you to raise those guys’ skills more.”

“I’ll drive them somewhat harshly—will that be alright?”

Now Naia officially disappeared.

Instead, if S2 Magus Ruin appeared, guild leaders would unite more before overwhelming power.

“I’ll leave the method to you. Rio will remain in Rezhen running the merchant group, so you decide all mountain range affairs large and small.”

“You won’t be at the mountain range?”

“An unexpected windfall rolled in with the vine.”

“…?”

“The far sea’s end. Special races humans don’t know live there. I plan to gather them under me.”

“Then we must prepare a ship.”

“We already prepared it, no? A very large and magnificent one.”

“Ah!”

“Is Lionic’s stabilization work finished?”

Ruin answered confidently.

“I estimated one year, but Hollow Eye was refined more cleanly than expected, so all preparations will finish within two weeks.”

Pernok laughed aloud.

They bet the sea against him.

Time to show how futile that dream was.

“Prepare the castle. I’ll fill it with other races to manage that place as trial operation, so tell others well so they won’t be surprised.”

“Will you be alright without me going together?”

Other races’ characteristic is simple.

Respecting the strong.

They don’t recognize monarchs who reign by borrowing subordinates’ help.

Only under strong monarchs does firm trust form.

Pernok must personally step forward and prove strength to them.

“I’m sufficient alone.”

The time came for Pernok to seize the power of other races that Lord of Despair once ruled long ago.