Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 345



345 – Succession War: Local Noble Alliance -1

The Throne Room.

Upon a lavishly decorated golden throne sits an old man, frail as a bare branch. Though he is the emperor ruling this vast empire, he seems more wretched than the lowliest slave.

His back is hunched, his complexion pale, his figure gaunt, and the hollows of his eyes are sunken, devoid of life. In those deep-set eyes, there is only unease.

A pinned and preserved insect specimen seems livelier.

The three imperial princes gathered, petitioning. To advance the succession war. Lest a void occur in the leadership of the empire.

The emperor granted his consent. The succession war would be held the following year, and the crown that upholds the empire shall be passed to the most capable imperial prince.

The brief audience ended thus.

As First Princess Elaine and Third Prince Sredo walked out of the throne room upon the red carpet, Second Prince Irid turned back and faced the emperor.

He had a question for the emperor.

“Your Majesty, if the evil god were to die… Have you ever imagined the world beyond? Do you remember what it was you wanted to do?”

“It is not good. That being looks deep into those who oppose him. He treats them like his most beloved toys. Like the Empire’s Sword Saint. Therefore, do not oppose, but submit.”

“Nothing is eternal. Not even a god is an exception. And you have not answered my question, Your Majesty.”

“………..”

The old emperor thought for a long while. From the moment he became aware of the shadow of wings that covered the empire, he had never once entertained such a thought.

The cruel fate that a ruthless god bestows has turned people into dolls. It is incredibly difficult for a doll to become a person again. After a long time, he barely managed to move his lips. The old man said,

I wish I could be a farmer.

I want to grow old peacefully, tending to crops like tomatoes in a small greenhouse I can manage with my old body, cherishing the memory of my dead wife day by day.

Irid says,

“That will be so in my reign… Father.”

“…….”

I turn and walk away.

His coronation is certain. Elaine, Sre, even they have agreed to Irid’s ascension. Now, all that remains is ‘how.’

For a nation not shielded by divine beings to endure, it requires an unwavering centralized system. I will use this period of the imperial succession to lay the cornerstone of an empire without gods.

The first place Irid’s gaze turns to.

The landed estates of the regional nobles, where all manner of corruption and decay have spread due to the 『Pleasure-Swilling Virgins』, where the imperial family’s control has weakened.

To consolidate them and stabilize the empire, that is the first step.

–

Located in the southeastern part of the empire, the land of Sunport was a small, quiet domain ruled by the Port Barons.

With a low mountain nestled beside it, and land fertile for grapes, they produce and export wine as their specialty. Other than that, there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy.

The Port Barons, generation after generation, had a reputation for being ungreedy and upright. Sunport wasn’t a wealthy domain, but it was remarkably harmonious. If you did your job diligently, there were no problems in life.

They didn’t impose unreasonable taxes, and they weren’t extravagant spenders, so they had a good reputation among the domain’s people. You could say it was a truly peaceful domain.

Until they discovered a silver mine in the nearby mountain.

“Why, of all things!”

The Port Baron clutched his head.

A silver mine, if developed properly, could be an opportunity to amass great wealth. But why does the Port Baron cry out ‘Why, of all things’ as if resentful?

The reason is that the lord of the neighboring domain is a belligerent and greedy man.

Stump Baron.

He was notorious for sucking the marrow from his people to beef up his military. And with the might he gained, he squeezed various concessions from those around him. Those concessions, in turn, were funneled back into military expansion.

The number of knights under his command alone numbered a whopping thirty. There were even whispers, pure gossip really, that he’d succeeded in hiring a knight who’d reached the apex of mastery. The very pinnacle they only knew of in legend, having never actually witnessed it.

A straight-up fight meant the Sunfort Barony would be wiped clean off the map.

He acted like a thug, yet there was no one to stop the Stump Baron. That’s because he was under the protection of Duke Redburn.

Port Baron asked his father, the former Port Baron who’d passed the mantle and retired,

“Father, what do we do? Shouldn’t we just let him have that damn silver mine?”

“If it were on the outskirts of the territory, I would’ve just let it go. But that silver mine is close to the heart of our lands, isn’t it? Giving that up would be like losing half our domain.”

“We could just give him the mining rights…”

“If they were the kind to stop there, you wouldn’t be tearing your hair out, would you?”

Soon, a knife-wielding bandit would barge in and steal everything. What would be the best way to handle this? Pour all the territory’s funds into hiring mercenaries?

No. Even then, they’d get crushed. And where in the backwater would you find a mercenary at the apex level?

Or, how about writing pamphlets highlighting the Stump Baron’s ruthlessness and distributing them across the land?

No. Even then, there’d be no real reaction.

To abandon their land and flee was also unthinkable. The lord had a duty to protect his people, and it was obvious just how much harsher life would become if the Stump Baron took this place.

Groaning in misery, Port Baron heard his father say,

“His Imperial Majesty is said to finally decide on a successor to the throne. A succession battle has begun, and the princes are competing with one another, measuring their achievements.”

“Is that not just a rumor? Just last time, you showed up with a preposterous story about some huge white monster suddenly appearing and stopping a landslide.”

“You brat, this time it’s different! An official decree arrived in His Majesty’s name!”

Then it must be real.

Baron Port thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Even if we decide, it would have to be the First Princess, wouldn’t it? No one can match her accomplishments or power. But is now the time for us to be talking politics, Father?”

“…There are rumors that the Second Prince has been traveling around meeting with local nobles.”

“Huh?”

It’s been a long time since they’ve treated the local folk as if they weren’t even lords, so why the sudden interest?

No, that’s wrong. The opposite. From the Second Prince’s perspective, if he wants to catch up to the First Princess, he needs to scrape together every bit of power he can, even from local nobles. If that’s the case, this could be an opportunity.

“Are you saying we should ride the Second Prince’s coattails… to try and stop Baron Stump? But won’t that line be cut the moment the First Princess takes the throne?”

“Until it’s cut, we can at least live a little longer. Besides, even if we send a message of loyalty to the First Princess, do you think she’d pay any mind? This is a small, out-of-the-way territory, after all.”

“…Is that really the only way? I’ll find out where the Second Prince is, and go and ask him directly. Ask him if he needs our loyalty. If he can be the shield of Sunport territory…”

They settled on their course of action.

“Let’s move.”

While Baron Port was busily giving orders to his servants and writing a desperate eulogy to the Second Prince in a letter,

*BANG!*

A servant burst in, panting, to deliver news.

“An…an aide to the Second Prince…or at least someone claiming to be! They’ve come to visit! They said they have something urgent to discuss with the Lord…”

“An aide? Quickly, quickly, show them to the drawing-room and serve refreshments. I’ll be right there! Father, where is my ceremonial attire? I packed it in the closet and forgot where it was… damn it, where is it.”

“Yes! They’re already in the drawing-room, and refreshments will be served immediately!”

“That’s what you get for shoving it away without properly sorting it out! I’ve told you countless times, you’re exactly like your mother, you’re always so reluctant to do things….”

“This isn’t the time for that, Father!”

Baron Port frantically searched for and hastily put on his attire. In the process, he almost put his pants on backwards, which took extra time. The servants rushed to smooth out the crumpled clothing, trying to give it some shape.

“Son, the future of the territory rests on you. Pour him some wine and try to talk to him nicely.”

“Father, if he’s a close aide to the Prince, what’s his rank? I’m going crazy trying to figure out if I should use formal or informal speech!”

“If he’s an aide to the Prince, even a commoner deserves respect. For now, if someone seems to have more power than me, just bow first. Go quickly. Don’t make him wait any longer!”

It was a valid point.

Baron Port headed towards the reception room at a brisk pace. And the moment he opened the door, he immediately bowed his head in greeting.

“My apologies for the delay. I was dealing with an urgent matter in the territory… I heard you were sent by His Highness the Second Prince, are you perhaps from the Purple Magic Tower?”

“Indeed. I am a Illusion Mage.”

Tap-tap.

On the sofa in the reception room, a black-haired youth with legs crossed and a foot tapping was sitting. His eyes flashed a deep crimson, and his robe was accented with purple.

“…………”

Baron Port’s expression became subtle. Was he a con artist, perhaps?

The Sunport territory, being far from the imperial capital, rarely received news unless it was something truly monumental. Like the Holy City being overturned or the Crown Prince selection beginning.

Thus, they were also unaware of the rumors of the Second Prince’s close aide, the mad mage. Because he didn’t know, he couldn’t help but be suspicious. And why wouldn’t he be?

It was common for Illusion Mages to deceive nobles with magic for personal gain.

As if reading his suspicion, the black-haired Illusion Mage spoke.

“I understand. Looking around here, it seems the power balance is completely different from the capital. I even stopped by another territory and they asked me what a mental barrier was when I asked why they didn’t have one. It was very peculiar.”

“What is a mental barrier…?”

“Oh dear. I can make a simple one for you later if you wish. But first, let’s establish my identity, shall we? Where to begin… yes, you’re thinking, would someone as high as the Second Prince really take an Illusion Mage as an aide? Isn’t he a fraud? That’s what you think.”

“…………”

The mage before him spoke as if he could read Baron Port’s mind, even though he hadn’t uttered a word.

“Well, I guess you’ve only ever seen wild illusion mages. You wouldn’t know what a capable one can do. Baron, look up at the sky. I’ll make it disappear.”

“Huh?”

“Just take away a bit of the light, close your eyes just a little, 『Mini Dark』.”

*Click.*

As the mage finished his incantation, it became pitch black night.

“W-wha…what?!”

Just a moment ago, it was clearly daytime. The sun was up, and you could see the sparrows perched on the branches. But now it’s night. In the blink of an eye…

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“H-how…how the…”

Baron Fort stumbled back, astonished by the sudden change. The commotion beyond the door— ‘Suddenly it’s night!’, ‘The Goddess is angered!’— indicated he wasn’t the only one seeing it.

In the pitch-black darkness, red eyes glowed. He produced a document from inside his coat.

“And here, your official document. Lord Irid even stamped his personal seal. The reason I’ve come is… I think you understand? You’ve probably got an idea.”

“L-loyalty…”

“That’s right. I’m here to get your oath of loyalty to the Second Prince. It gives me a reason to deal with the Red Flavor Duke’s lackeys, you see.”

“… … … … ?”

Red Flavor?

“I heard you’re having trouble with a neighboring noble. I’ll handle that cleanly for you. Just pledge your loyalty here and now… Isn’t it an incredibly tempting deal? All these perks are free with membership.”

Baron Fort’s mind raced. The mage’s phrasing was peculiar, but if he carefully considered the meaning, he could grasp the context.

So, probably, this mage has come to destroy Baron Stump. Red flavor, red, RED. Redburn. To get rid of Redburn Duke’s lackeys.

Baron Fort’s eyes widened. The power to turn day into night! He must be a powerful assassin sent by the Second Prince…!

The terms were attractive, but beyond that, refusing wasn’t an option. The other party was an immense mage. Facing those eyes glaring red in the dark… how could refusal form on my lips?

“Y-yes, I will. I pledge my loyalty.”

“Excellent. Welcome aboard. You’ve made a very wise choice.”

*Click.*

Night was extinguished, and day returned.

Bathed once more in the sunlight, the black and red mage smiled as he introduced himself.

“I am… the ‘Mad Mage.’ It’s nothing grand, you see. Just a nickname my friends jokingly use. So, relax. I won’t hurt you.”

“………”

“Really.”

It wasn’t convincing.

–

It became convincing.

His entrance had been terrifying, but the ‘Mad Mage’ was more normal and cheerful than anticipated. You could even call him lighthearted.

“Oh, this wine is delicious. Could you maybe pack a few bottles later? My family would love it, I think.”

“Of course, I’ll pack some for you. How many in your family, roughly…?”

“My wife, and my wife, and my daughter, and my apprentice, so I guess that makes four.”

“………”

There were peculiar aspects, to be sure.

But all in all, he was someone you could communicate with, so Baron Port asked him something he had always wondered. He had always been curious about what the imperial capital looked like.

“Is the imperial capital, Crownhall, much different?”

“It’s not that different, really. It’s big and fancy, sure, but the Gold Tower mages can whip that up anywhere… Want me to show you an illusion?”

“You can show me?”

“Of course. *Hologram*.”

*Beee-ing* –

The crazy mage displayed a 3D hologram of the Crown Hall’s scenery, letting him see the inside. It was certainly vast, with many buildings and bustling, but… all within the expected range.

Even if it was the capital, people still lived there, so it wasn’t *that* different…

“…What was that that just passed by?”

“Ah, a vigilante magic girl. And the Full Armored Capital Knights chasing after her. I have a disciple named Gordius, and the Capital Knights have a tech collaboration with him, so their armor’s gotten a bit thicker.”

“…And what’s that down there?”

“A giant robot, no, a golem, being secretly constructed. They’re building it beneath the Capital Knights’ building. Estimated specs are around 100 meters tall.”

It *is* that different.

Baron Port was starting to seriously wonder if his own territory was stuck somewhere around the primitive age.