Chapter 155 – The Young Lady (7)
[Chapter 8 – Section 3] Let’s Get Started!
The various kingdoms that competitively poured out gifts to win the young lady’s love.
Except for the handsome men with the “frail model student” setting (which catered to a specific reader taste), everyone else had long lifespans and were willingly being exploited.
But that ends today!
“Hah… I lost. The young Count really is exceptional at card games.”
“It was a wonderful match.”
“Ahem! I’m not thrilled about this, but as promised—go ahead and treat me.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
Tap!
The original world-setting that no individual effort could ever break.
A law that even the god of this world could not escape was shattered with a simple touch.
“Ahh!”
The reactions of those liberated from the setting were generally similar.
Their souls let out cries of relief at being freed from vicious absurdity. They regretted their past selves, and—
Trickle…
Tears of deep remorse flowed down.
“Servants! Immediately recall all the gifts that were meant for the young lady!”
“B-but, Your Majesty…”
“Are you more afraid of the young lady than of me?”
“No, Your Majesty! We will recall them at once!”
While I broke the original setting, people with the “highly intelligent” trait did not suddenly become stupid.
Intelligence is a matter of the brain.
This is pure physics—not fantasy!
It’s the exact same reason I physically couldn’t stand up to the SSS-class monster elephant ‘Ancient Black Elephant’ in the world of the hunter novel <I Alone Am an SSS-Class Hunter>.
“Count Amolang. Truly, thank you.”
“No need to mention it.”
“I will repay this debt after we overcome the crisis.”
“I’ll take your sentiment alone.”
Whatever reward I receive will disappear once I wake from the dream anyway!
“This man… Let’s discuss compensation later. Right now, we must unite our strength to crush the duchy’s ambition.”
“Absolutely.”
They had been aware of the problem, but because of the young lady, they had deliberately turned a blind eye to the nation’s crisis.
Is there any reader who likes ignorant and stupid handsome men? It seems the original author of the romance fantasy <The Generous Young Lady Who Receives Everything> decided there wasn’t.
Tall, striking appearance.
A genius who becomes an idiot only in front of the young lady.
Unwavering vigor even in old age!
These were the common traits of all the handsome men. That’s why, right after being freed from the world-setting, their thoughts and plans were remarkably similar.
“Count. I know it’s shameless since you’ve already done me such a great favor, but… could you also treat my twin brother?”
“Ah!”
So this handsome man had a twin setting?
The twins must have fought tooth and nail to win the young lady.
Still, the fact that he immediately thought of his younger brother first shows that—once the young lady issue was set aside—they were deeply devoted brothers.
“I beg you.”
“If you prepare the place.”
“Oh! Truly, thank you! If I had a daughter, I would have given her to you…”
“I’ll take your sentiment alone, Your Majesty!”
A daughter is not an object to be traded like goods—and doing so would repay kindness with enmity, Your Majesty!
(This is strange. You’re not exactly the likable type.)
People grow!
(Indeed… perhaps your body has already transformed into that of a lewd demon, exuding pheromones nonstop to give you an advantage in negotiations.)
That’s not what I meant…
(We’ll see as time goes on.)
“Count.”
“Yes.”
“Once we overcome this crisis, there is one child I would very much like to introduce to you.”
“Is that so?”
“She’s a noble lady who, because of a selfish man, grew up as the ordinary daughter of a rural noble without even knowing her true bloodline. She’s now a lovely seventeen this year.”
“…I see.”
Officially single due to the world-setting, but behind the scenes, they had been devising ways to preserve the royal bloodline.
Didn’t Kingdom A adopt a niece as a daughter?
Other nations were probably doing something similar.
“Just keep it in mind.”
“Understood.”
I think I’m starting to understand the hearts of patients who can’t escape their dreams.
***
When favors continue, people start mistaking them for rights.
“Her Ladyship is greatly disappointed that Your Majesty has failed to send the regular tribute! If it is difficult to match the schedule, she is willing to wait until winter!”
“What strange words. I clearly stated that I would send nothing more from now on, yet she says she will wait until winter.”
The king’s expression hardened at the outrageous statement from the duchy’s envoy.
“We are giving Your Majesty an opportunity. Do you truly intend to lose the young lady’s favor like this?”
“We… and who might that be?”
“…Naturally, it is Her Ladyship.”
The envoy, who had been brimming with confidence, clearly hadn’t expected the king—who used to turn into a fool the moment the young lady was mentioned—to push back so firmly. His composure visibly cracked.
“Leave.”
“You will regret this.”
“I already regret everything, so there is no need to worry about me.”
“…Your Majesty. Please send just one more tribute. Cutting it off so abruptly goes against all propriety.”
“I warn you. One more word, and I will have your tongue cut out.”
“……”
“Begone.”
The envoy, face flushed red with fury, stormed out with heavy steps.
(That is absolutely not the attitude an envoy from a small nation should show.)
Even an empire wouldn’t dare act like that.
(It only means the surrounding nations were that easy to handle. Calling the gifts sent to the young lady “tribute” so openly is proof enough.)
Tribute.
That is a tax collected from defeated nations or vassal states.
It is absolutely not a word to be used between equal sovereign states in any official capacity.
“They must be quite desperate.”
After driving out the duchy’s envoy, the king smiled with visible relief.
“Is that so?”
“At the same time, all their sources of funding have been cut off. The duchy now has two choices: either shrink in size… or plunder to maintain it.”
“The latter would mean war.”
“Exactly. It is the future I least wish for, but considering the duchy’s military strength, it is also the most likely.”
“Is there a chance of victory?”
“…It depends entirely on how many capable people the duchy has. If even one of them has a brain, they will declare war before we have time to reorganize.”
“Hmm.”
I felt sorry for the king, whose expression had turned grave, but this was exactly the future I had been hoping for.
“Your Majesty—!”
Thud!
A knight burst in, face pale as death.
“…So it has come.”
“The duchy has declared war!”
“Yes… Hup!”
The exhausted king forced his aged body upright and shouted,
“Summon the generals! This war is a holy crusade to punish the young lady—no, that insidious witch—who has mocked me and this kingdom!”
A holy crusade.
War is a battle of justification.
Without proper justification, soldiers’ morale collapses, and the suffering citizens—who bear heavier taxes and restrictions—will not support it.
To prevent internal collapse through rebellion, riots, or assassination during war, justification is of utmost importance.
‘Holy crusade.’
The term has a nice ring to it.
It gives the feeling that I am fighting on the side of justice.
“Your Majesty. Please allow this humble subject to stand at the forefront of the knights.”
“You, Count?”
“I will prove that I am not only good at card games.”
“Hoo! Very well, I permit it. However, you must not push yourself too hard. If you are injured, Aronia will grieve.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I have my doubts whether any attack in this world could even harm me.
(There she is.)
Princess Aronia stood with her hands clasped tightly in prayer, gazing at me with worried eyes.
“…Ahem! Please do not worry.”
Let the holy crusade begin.
***
Knight.
Just looking at the shape of the chess piece “knight” tells you everything: a heavily armored cavalryman who rides a horse and breaks through enemy lines.
A knight running around on two legs, wearing crude armor without even a helmet, and mowing down enemies?
That only exists in fantasy worlds with magic or martial arts. One might question whether such a thing even deserves to be called a knight.
“Welcome, Count Amolang!”
“Thank you for having me.”
I greeted the knight who would teach me ‘chivalry’ with courtesy.
“The role of a knight is to bypass or break through the solid wall of infantry and strike vulnerable rear units. Supply lines, siege units, archers, command posts…”
It seemed there were no crossbows or artillery capable of penetrating the heavy armor of knights and warhorses.
(You frustrating fool! If there were, I wouldn’t have recommended this patient!)
Ah-ha!
“A knight’s charge ends the moment he is surrounded. That is why a warhorse capable of galloping until it completely breaks through the enemy lines is more important than anything.”
“Indeed…”
“Most of the finest stallions have already been leaked to the duchy, but there are still quite a few untamed wild horses left.”
“Does that mean I have to tame one myself?”
“Unfortunately, yes. All the decent warhorses already have riders…”
“I understand.”
I hadn’t expected much from the kingdom’s military strength from the start, so this level was actually quite favorable.
The knight guided me to the ranch where the wild horses were penned.
“Hiing~!”
“Hiing~!”
The horses that kicked backward or bolted the moment a person approached. It was almost miraculous they had been brought all the way here—they were that fierce.
On the other hand,
“…They’re impressive.”
Their size was extraordinary.
“The barding and saddles are already prepared.”
“Let’s do it.”
Swish~
I lightly vaulted over the high fence and entered the ranch.
“Hmm… That one looks the best.”
In the world of the hunter novel <I Alone Am an SSS-Class Hunter>, almost every monster was equal before the Super Grand Galaxy General Infinity Blade, but anything S-class or higher couldn’t be taken down in one hit.
Because of that, I had trained my eye to judge something that could be called “combat power”…
(Correct choice.)
It came in handy when selecting a warhorse too.
“Hiing~!”
“Shut it.”
Grab!
I swiftly seized the wild horse’s neck and locked eyes with it.
“Prrrrr…”
“Good boy.”
The terrified horse immediately became docile.
(It’s hard to call this fully tamed, but since you won’t be riding it for long, it should be fine.)
I won’t be riding long? Why?
(In war, nothing is anything but expendable. Supplies, food, time, soldiers, talent… warhorses are no exception.)
“Hoo! Count Amolang. How did you do that?”
“Just a simple show of dominance.”
“That’s the hardest part… Anyway, please wait a moment. I’ll call the servants to fit the barding and saddle.”
“Yes.”
My chivalry lessons were proceeding smoothly.
***
The world of the romance fantasy <The Generous Young Lady Who Receives Everything> was extremely favorable toward the protagonist.
Beautiful young lady, kind young lady, wise young lady, noble young lady…
Only a tiny minority of characters designated as “villains” in the original work ever spoke ill of the protagonist. But that was a thing of the past.
“Kill the witch!”
“Kill the witch!”
The younger generation—born after the original story and thus largely or completely unaffected by the world-setting.
The old generation that had showered the young lady with endless favor had grown old and frail and stepped back. War had become the domain of the young.
“The level of anger is incredible.”
Of course it was.
Imagine being dragged to a dangerous battlefield because of one woman. How could anyone look favorably on her?
If she were standing in front of them right now, wouldn’t they want to kill her in the most brutal, agonizing way possible?
“Count Amolang!”
“Princess.”
It was Princess Aronia, whose beautiful legs were always hidden beneath a voluminous skirt.
“Please be careful.”
Squeeze—
She tied a luxurious white handkerchief embroidered with fine thread around my wrist.
“…Thank you.”
“I will pray for your safe return.”
“Ahem!”
This is incredibly embarrassing.
I wish Song Sun-young would learn a little from this side of things.
(I’ll pass it along exactly as is.)
Please spare me!
“Advance!”
Bwooooo—!
The army departing from the royal palace grew slightly larger each time it passed through the territories of nobles.
And when it reached the border zone directly facing the duchy,
Flutter~
Flutter flutter~
The flags of multiple kingdoms waved in the wind, forming a massive allied force.
“Hoo…”
Yet there was no room for relief.
On the opposite side of the allied army.
Compared to our ragtag coalition that had only filled out numbers, the duchy’s soldiers—sturdy in body and clad in solid armor—filled the plain to the brim.
(Successor. Congratulations.)
“For what?”
(You’re going to get all the real combat experience you could ever want.)
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Let’s fully enjoy a romance fantasy with zero romance.
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TL Note:
The novel is fully completed (231 chapters)
Supporters can read 59 chapters ahead with Plus Tier and 76 chapters ahead with Premium Tier, which also includes access to 5 additional novels.
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