I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess

Chapter 87: Count Eshk’s Territory (1)

The carriage rolled along at a leisurely pace.

Each time it rocked from the uneven road, Sirien’s arm brushed against mine.

It would’ve been difficult to read anything in a place like this. But Sirien turned each page of the document with ease, as if it didn’t bother her at all.

A dwarf—later I’d come to know his name was Havit—left behind a report.

It was a detailed list of nobles who had grown closely tied to Count Eloran as of late.

What stood out most were the families whose spending had suddenly skyrocketed after contact with the count.

People who, at a glance, didn’t seem particularly noteworthy—but were somehow offered remarkably generous deals.

When stripped of the speculative fluff—likely added by Havit himself—the core message of the report was this: Count Eloran was backing a specific noble.

She leaned her head back slightly. Thinking she was taking a short break, I spoke up.

“Doesn’t reading while the carriage shakes make you dizzy?”

“This much? I can handle it. I learned the trick when I was a kid.”

“There’s a trick to that?”

“Yep. Just don’t stare too hard. Shift your gaze every time you need to think.”

As she said that, Sirien rested her head on my shoulder.

Her eyes gently closed, like she had fallen asleep. Her long lashes sparkled under the sunlight.

With her eyes still shut, Sirien asked softly:

“Razen, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Do you ever... want to fool around with other women?”

“W-What...?!”

The question came out so casually—but hit like a bombshell.

What in the world made her ask something like that?

Did I do something that could’ve been misunderstood? No, I don’t think so.

Most of my days were spent training with a sword or wandering around with Sirien.

And to get smoke from a chimney, you need some firewood in the first place.

The one who’d thrown the bomb—Sirien—still wore a calm expression, eyes closed.

I couldn’t help but ask in return.

“Why would you suddenly ask something like that?”

“I saw words like ‘entertainment expenses’ on the report. Fancy jewels, rare wine... stuff like that. And I thought, of course, women would be part of the deal too.”

“Well, I can’t speak for the others, but I’m not really interested.”

I noticed her bangs had come slightly undone.

I gently brushed them back into place with my fingers.

“Besides, you’re right here beside me. When the most beautiful woman in the world is already my lover, why would I need anyone else?”

“Really? Mmhmm... Mmhmm. In that case, it’s fine. Just so you know, I wasn’t suspicious or anything. I just figured... you’re a guy, so you might be curious.”

Thankfully, she seemed to understand my intentions without issue.

Sirien smiled and slipped her arm around mine.

“Okay! I’m all recharged. Time to get back to work.”

Feeling refreshed, Sirien opened her eyes again.

She stretched her arms wide in a luxurious yawn, then leaned back into me as she resumed reading.

I had already read the report once before, so I simply followed along to see which part she was on.

It was the section where Baron Eclan was mentioned.

A small noble house in the North.

The report detailed at length how the baron, a minor aristocrat, had recently taken to living in luxury.

— Therefore, it is presumed that Baron Eclan is now operating as one of count’s hands.

— Messenger birds have been observed flying between the two households, and Baron Eclan’s trips to the capital have increased in frequency.

— Further details remain unknown.

But even Havit didn’t seem fully convinced.

Nobles forming factions was nothing new, and tracking every one of them was beyond his capacity.

He likely felt there still wasn’t enough evidence.

Besides, the two families’ territories were relatively close to one another.

Even if Count Eloran had lost much of his former influence, he was still the de facto overlord of the North.

It would’ve been a stretch to grow suspicious just because their relationship seemed to warm up.

Sirien’s brow twitched.

“Razen, do you have a map?”

“In my pack. I’ll get it for you.”

“Thanks.”

She unfolded the map across her hands.

Then, name by name, Sirien began cross-referencing the territories mentioned in the document.

Where Havit had failed to reach a conclusion, Sirien had found one.

“These are nobles along the supply line.”

“All the way to the northern front?”

“Not quite. Even if you connect all these territories, they don’t reach the front line. But if the stationed Northern troops were to fall, this route could become the next supply line.”

The nobles identified in the report were likely being positioned to form a new Northern front for Count Eloran.

Though, whether those nobles themselves realized it was another question.

Sirien pointed to a spot on the map with her finger.

She started at the current Northern front line and traced a line southward until her finger stopped.

“This is probably where Count Eloran envisions the new front. I can see his strategy forming.”

Her pale index finger drew a firm line.

Below that line, several territories listed in the report were marked.

It looked like Count Eloran planned to use those nobles as shields in a standoff against the demons.

At the very tip of that line was Baron Eclan’s territory.

If the demons pushed their way down that far, the newly drawn front would be forced to rely heavily on Count Eloran.

And if he didn’t support them properly, they’d be risking more than just land—they’d be risking their lives.

“So he’s not planning to draw his sword himself—he’s just picking vassals who will obey him unconditionally?”

“My knight really has sharp instincts during times like this. Is it because it’s battle-related?”

“I always have good instincts, you know.”

“...It’s fine. I’m in a good mood right now, so I’ll let that slide.”

****

For some reason, Sirien let out a sigh.

Did I say something wrong?

I don’t think so.

It was probably just because of Count Eloran.

His thinking was shallow enough to make anyone sigh.

“Haah... I get what he’s trying to do, but his thinking is so paper-thin. The textbook kind of noble who only understands politics. Yeah, this guy’s useless.”

There’s always a reason when a front line remains fixed for a long time.

Armies can’t march forward forever, and defense isn’t possible just anywhere.

You can’t just draw a line on the map and expect a front line to hold.

In that regard, the location Count Eloran had chosen only made half-sense.

Baron Eclan’s territory looked like a strategic stronghold at first glance.

But it was a tiring place to wage a long war.

It sat on relatively low ground, with too many possible attack routes.

It might work for temporarily blocking the enemy, but if the war dragged on, it would be slowly eaten away.

“This generation’s Count Eloran was said to be all ambition and no ability—turns out that was dead on. If he was going to side with the demons, the least he could’ve done was clean up properly after himself.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard a few unsavory rumors about him too.”

The previous Count Eloran had earned a great deal of respect.

Back when we were in danger, Sirien had even thought of him as the first person to seek help from.

But after the count Sirien once knew passed away and his heir took over, things went downhill fast.

A man eaten up by his own inferiority.

He caused trouble wherever he went, constantly being compared to his predecessor.

These days, he was all but ousted from high society.

People kept quiet only because they feared the power of a high noble.

“Anyway, it’s probably worth investigating Baron Eclan. You and I are too conspicuous, so we’re out of the question. Should we ask Russell?”

“He’s probably just as busy. What about Isha instead? She’s probably holed up at a training ground right now, swinging her sword around.”

“Are you serious? You’d send that kid on something dangerous?”

“Kid? You don’t know. She’s not the same Isha we first met. I promise you—she’s always had absurd levels of talent.”

“Reaaally?”

Sirien tilted her head, unconvinced.

It made sense—back in Requitas, Isha didn’t seem like much.

With her gentle nature, Sirien probably still saw her as a child.

But lately, Isha had grown at a jaw-dropping rate.

Her rise was explosive—proof that the fearsome reputation she had in the original story wasn’t exaggerated.

Until now, it was like a dam had been holding her back.

She’d already been fully prepared, so all it took was the right spark to unleash everything.

There was a reason she’d been living and breathing the sword lately.

If it were me, and my skills were growing at that speed, I’d be swinging a sword all day too.

Even now, on our way to Count Eshk’s estate, she was probably taking it upon herself to keep watch from the top of a carriage.

At this rate, I figured we’d be seeing the return of the “Shadow Moon” in less than two years.

Seeing how confident I was, Sirien nodded in agreement.

“To really refine her skills, she’ll need real combat experience. And right now, more than anyone, I think Isha wants that. I’m sure of it—as a fellow swordsman.”

“Yeah... you’re right. I’ll ask her. I should probably let Russell know too.”

Hibras’s divine light consumed the stack of documents.

That was the end of the exhausting planning session.

All that remained now was rest, until we reached our destination.

And that destination… was Count Eshk’s territory.

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