The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 85

Igmeyer retorted with a smirk, and Loki belatedly caught the hint of mockery.

“Well, seriously, I couldn’t even see a knight’s nose around here. Where did everyone go? At this rate, my imperial guards will have to deal with it when the gates open!”

“Oh, that’s quite an encouraging thought. Keep up the command. Those lazy folks up North are probably just sleeping and spreading sin.”

“Geez! That’s not what I want to hear!”

If Igmeyer had been born into nobility, if his background wasn’t so humble, he wouldn’t behave like this.

Knowing this, Amber’s expression gradually hardened. No matter how much Igmeyer seemed to be enjoying himself, the prince’s attitude was displeasing.

But the already worked up Loki, failed to read the atmosphere and instead delved deeper into his thoughts.

What he eventually settled on was the economic situation in the North.

In reality, discussions had already taken place within the palace on how to peacefully bring the North to its knees.

Once the evil dragon Nidhogg was gone, leaving Niflheim intact wasn’t an option, and forcing it into submission to the imperial family would inevitably lead to civil war. It would be too much of a loss.

The best option would be to fight Nidhogg and bring the North to the brink of destruction, but the skill of the Frost Giant Knights under the current Grand Duke’s command was too superior for that.

By the standards of the imperial family, it was an excessive level.

The best option was to negotiate peacefully, but what card to play if they were to negotiate peacefully?

This topic was given to the princes as well, and Loki had heard about it during his social economics class.

Therefore, what came out of Loki’s mouth now was essentially a culmination of what someone else had already said.

“Well, since we’ve come this far, I have something to ask the Grand Duke.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Is it true that if the evil dragon dies, all the monsters disappear?”

“Theoretically, yes.”

Igmeyer acknowledged cheerfully.

The reason ‘theoretically’ was added was because it had never actually happened. How could one be sure of something that had never occurred?

“So, that’s a problem. The North doesn’t have any means of sustenance other than the monsters falling from the sky. How is the handling of that situation progressing? The Emperor is quite concerned.”

With that said, Loki smirked. Naturally, he thought there would be no response.

‘After all, in a battle of words, the one with nothing to say loses, and I’ve won.’

As Loki reveled in his childish triumph, Amber was slightly shocked.

‘So that’s it!’

The curiosity that had been nagging at her like a thorn under her fingernails was finally alleviated.

Loki’s words weren’t anything special, but they represented a perspective Amber had never considered.

‘You can’t get rid of Nidhogg. If Nidhogg is gone, the North won’t function!”’

At that tremendous realization, Amber even gasped for breath.

In the North, too many areas were unsuitable for agriculture due to the weather. Even with the presence of the sea, fishing was impractical due to rough waves.

In the distant past, they survived by mining, but that vein ran dry long ago.

There was no development in tourism, nor could they collect high taxes.

People in the North were either blacksmiths, woodworkers, soldiers, or monster carcass butchers.

Only a few people tried to cultivate the harsh land, but even then, they couldn’t yield much.

‘If the monsters are gone, the economy here won’t function. I vaguely understood that, but I didn’t realize it meant we can’t do without Nidhogg!’

Shocked, Amber half-listened as the prince prattled on.

‘I now understand why Igmeyer couldn’t exact revenge on Nidhogg before my regression.’

Igmeyer could have fought and defeated Nidhogg at the cost of his life.

But then how would they rebuild? All that money comes from monster corpses.

“The previous Grand Dukes tried to capture Nidhogg but all failed. However, they expected you to be different.”

“Oh, is that so?”

From the conversation between the prince and Igmeyer, Amber keenly discerned another fact.

Perhaps no one has been honest about it until now.

It’s likely a dilemma that even Igmeyer carries.

Reflecting on that, Amber almost burst into tears.

Firstly, all the Grand Dukes of Niflheim must behave as if they will deal with Nidhogg.

At least, that’s how it must appear in the eyes of the emperor.

Secondly, however, Nidhogg must never be killed.

The obligation to protect the North must be passed on to the next Grand Duke until another way for the North to sustain itself is found. While accepting a reasonable defeat and a fitting death.

‘The final war means finding a way for the North to sustain itself.’

But how exactly can this immense ‘monster industry’ be replaced with something else?

‘The past Grand Dukes couldn’t find a way. Igmeyer had no sharp solution either.’

In the past, Amber’s emotions were too heavy. She couldn’t think of anything because she was too exhausted of her life.