After the war, the founding lord of Eisenhud visited the land of the elves for diplomatic reasons.
There, seeing the mistreatment of the prince of Blaskas, he proclaimed that future human-elf relations would be conducted through the Blaskas.
“He said, ‘If your brethren loathe you, then find friends outside of them. Find those who favor you over those who hate you. The world is vast with all sorts of people, so venture outside and find those who favor you.'”
Named by the founding lord who instructed these words, the prince of Blaskas was officially granted a position as a royal branch family put in charge of diplomatic relations with humans and other races.
“We remember every word we exchanged with our Comrade to the letter. And…Artesia Eisenhud, who knows the meaning deeper than anyone, would never violate the ‘Blood-Iron Oath.'”
Artesia did not abandon the demihumans she called her comrades.
“Lady Artesia laid bare everything about herself and her House in order to make a deal with the Six Great Ducal Houses.”
It was not just outward things like the authority and assets of a ducal house.
“The right to leave the Imperial Capital, the ability to associate and meet with her past acquaintances, the family history books and all assets besides daily necessities, the right to have an heir, the continuance of the Eisenhud bloodline, the establishment of affiliated organizations…she imposed restrictions on herself and her House, reducing them to a completely powerless existence in order to seal the deal.”
If she didn’t do that, she couldn’t protect everything.
She realized she couldn’t protect it all.
“The unique magic ‘Time’ that she possesses can even interfere with the ‘past’ that has already been determined. But to do so, she must consume her own ‘time’.”
Every existence has an allotted ‘time’.
Unless she shaves off what is vulgarly called a lifespan or divine fate, she cannot return to the past.
“She returned to the past countless times. She tried to save her deceased parents, the victims of the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ that followed…but she could never change the future.”
No matter how hard Artesia went back to the past and tried to change the future…it always ended with her parents’ deaths and the future of the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’.
Even though she possessed powerful unique magic, Artesia was just a 17-year-old girl.
She had no means to resist the conspiring Six Great Ducal Houses, no way to realize her goals, and no personnel to lend her strength.
“After she had performed the ‘Regression’ so many times, losing much of her lifespan to the point where even ‘Regressing’ was put in jeopardy…she stopped the flow of time in her physical body, and in that process deduced the only viable solution, using herself and House Eisenhud as sacrifices to make the deal.”
The aim of the Six Great Ducal Houses was to destroy the House of Eisenhud.
In other words, it didn’t matter whether the result came about by their hands, or if the head of the house Artesia destroyed it of her own will.
So Artesia took the initiative through the ‘deal’.
She ceded all of the authorities held by House Eisenhud, and included conditions restricting the freedom of Artesia, who possessed tremendous unique magic abilities, reducing her to a powerless existence. Through this, she found a glimmer of hope in the hopeless situation.
And the contents of that deal were –
“To treat the ‘demihumans’ as equal humans under Imperial Law.”
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Through making this deal, those who carried out the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ had charges of murder and assault applied to them. The relevant members of their houses were severely punished in the Emperor’s name, swiftly resolving the situation.
Afterwards, the Emperor formally apologized to the demihumans over the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ incident, demonstrating his intent to continue friendly relations by designating part of the Imperial Capital as the ‘Demihuman District’ with extraterritorial rights.
“If not for that deal, the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ would never have ended. And…if she had not taken on the form of ‘evil’, accepting their anger and resentment, the ‘demihumans’ would have reverted back to their individual races.”
The calamity born from the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ had already reached a point of no return.
If Artesia used her magic to end the situation, there was a possibility the provoked demihumans would retaliate against the humans, escalating into large-scale conflict.
Not only would it lead to war like the days when humans and other races fought each other before the Eisenhud House mediated…it was clear it would escalate into a continental war, as all the other races had already banded together as “demihumans.”
Which is why – so that many lives would not be lost in that war, so that their anger would not be directed at humans, Artesia chose to become the ‘Great Sinner’.
“She is undoubtedly a worthy head of the ‘Iron Blood’ Eisenhud fitting of the name.”
Artesia had performed ‘Regression’ countless times, witnessing the deaths of her parents and many others.
Yet she decided to make the necessary sacrifices to take the best course.
Fully understanding, she chose ‘not to save her own parents’.
Knowing what would happen next, she chose ‘to abandon those close to her’.
Even experiencing situations that would shatter the minds of ordinary people, she upheld the will of her House.
The “Iron Blood Eisenhud” –
So that she could take pride in being the head of the House renowned by that name.
“Lady Artesia did not abandon the demihumans. She sacrificed the pride and trust her House had built up over generations – in hopes of an ending where all humans and demihumans could live in peace.”
Concluding his words, Kurtz looked Feiyu straight in the eye.
“You may think my story is a lie or delusion, and that’s fine. But as someone who has seen Trakia’s words and form still believing in Eisenhud, you should be able to understand.”
Meeting Kurtz’ crimson gaze, he declares,
“I’ll say it again. The ‘Iron Blood Otah’ upheld by House Eisenhud has not been lost.”
He speaks of the Otah the House of Eisenhud has continued to uphold.
“More than anyone, I want to save Lady Artesia who desired peace and friendship. Not the world dominated by the Six Great Ducal Houses, but to create the utopia she envisioned.”
Cradling the outstretched fist in his palm, he gazes up at Feiyu and boldly declares,
“Give me your answer – ‘Comrade’ Feiyu Blaskas.”
Hearing Kurtz’ question, Feiyu fell silent, as if hesitating.
Then, after a deep exhale, she unclenched the fist clenched in anger.
“…The oath we made in the past still stands, and you’ve saved my life in accordance with that oath. In this situation, there is only one reply I can give.”
Grabbing a bottle nearby, she defiantly tilts it back and drinks deeply before –
“Tell me what I must do, ‘Comrade’ Kurtz.”
Seeing Feiyu forcefully smash the bottle down, Kurtz nodded without changing his expression.
“Going forward, I’d like you to act as my ‘face’ out in the open. No one will listen to the words of a powerless child like me.”
Indeed, no one would lend an ear to the words of a powerless child.
However…the words of Feiyu, a royal scion of another race, would not be easily dismissed.
“Then – let’s discuss our future plans.”
With a defiant smile, Kurtz began calmly speaking.
After finishing discussing their future plans, Kurtz let out a quiet breath.
“That covers what House Ornament is trying to do, and why you were abducted.”
“…I see, I understand the gist of the plot.”
Sighing, Feiyu shakes her head in apparent dismay.
“Certainly, the current Sylvayu has the pro-diplomacy royal faction and the anti-diplomacy noble faction hoping to close borders for racial security as before, locked in conflict. The cause cited is indeed the ‘Demi-Human Hunt’ from 300 years ago.”
“That’s probably why House Ornament set their sights on you. If you, of the pro-diplomacy royal faction, were enslaved and met a gruesome death by human hands, voices supporting the noble faction would grow stronger.”
If Feiyu, of the royal scion, was abducted, enslaved, had her dignity trampled, and ultimately killed, it would severely shake the position of the pro-diplomacy royal faction.
The incident would spark riots, allowing the noble faction to seize control of the nation – or so the noble faction elves expected, but –
“- Ornament planned to use that chaos to conquer Sylvayu themselves.”
The noble faction elves were not informed of this.
In exchange for lending aid to the noble faction, House Ornament made a deal that after the noble faction took control and closed the nation, they would exclusively name Ornament as their trade partner.
The elves had reasons they could not refuse.
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