The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 38
Fwooosh—.
Late at night, a series of small popping sounds echoed, and flames began to erupt from all directions.
“Kyaaaak!”
“Fire!”
“Run! It’s a fire!!”
Screams erupted everywhere.
The fire was far too large for the villagers to extinguish with their bare hands, especially as they were passing through the dry season. People screamed and fled blindly in every direction.
However, mounds of earth suddenly surged upward, encircling the entire village and cutting off any escape.
People shrieked in despair.
Some tried to dig through the mounds with their fingernails to escape, but they couldn’t.
Not a single soul among those clamoring to flee managed to get out.
Children screamed, and parents wailed in agony.
The massive, rising mounds of earth quickly covered the sky, forming a giant dome.
Perhaps because the earth had smothered everything, or perhaps because there were no survivors left, a silent night returned to the world.
Before long, the mounds of earth collapsed in an instant.
It was as if the upheaval had never happened.
From within the revealed pile of charcoal, a pure white powder took to the wind and soared high into the sky.
The white powder drifted through the air, permeating and settling everywhere.
As the storm of white powder flew by, someone stood tall in the sky.
A ponytail dangled from beneath a shabby outfit.
“No singularities here either, I guess.”
Tsk. Clicking his tongue lowly, the man scratched his head as if annoyed before quickly vanishing, swallowed by the darkness of the night sky.
Soon, there was nothing left in the heavens.
“I didn’t expect to be the only one invited.”
Roselyn said, narrowing her eyes.
She certainly hadn’t imagined she would be invited alone to a massive conference hall filled—rather intimidatingly—with members of the Kaluta tribe.
“I dismissed the others because you seemed to be wary of your surroundings, but if you wish, you may bring them in.”
The Khan was not wearing her dancer’s attire.
In truth, given the nature of Kaluta clothing, she still looked quite exposed in Roselyn’s eyes.
However, she was draped in a silver carpet.
In Kaluta, it was the symbol of the king.
“How is your body?”
“I am feeling better, thanks to your concern. The Kaluta medicine seems to have helped a great deal.”
Roselyn expressed her gratitude honestly.
“I convened a tribal council to consider your proposal, and ultimately, we decided to make a final decision after hearing you out.”
Roselyn frowned slightly at the Khan’s words.
‘So, they haven’t truly taken me seriously until now.’
The Emperor would be devastated to hear that.
While lying in bed for a few days, she had organized her thoughts.
Before long, an epidemic would break out in Kaluta. To be precise, it wouldn’t just be Kaluta.
The entire Empire would groan under the weight of the plague.
And it was during this epidemic that Marchioness Wilbrid would die.
This was likely why Geron Wilbrid was staying in the Empire instead of moving during this period.
Since the reason he returned here was for the Marchioness, he had no reason to move at this time.
“We desire an alliance with Kaluta, including a peace treaty. We wish to open trade routes using ‘Moonstone’ and ‘Rishu’s Herb’ found in Kaluta, gradually increasing the variety of items traded, and live as allied nations.”
Roselyn spoke slowly.
As Kaluta lived in harmony with nature, its resources were abundant. Furthermore, it was a nation of significant military might.
The reason many countries could not actually touch them, despite looking down on them as barbarians, was this formidable military strength and the numerous tribes.
The Khan listened intently to Roselyn’s words.
“In exchange, the Empire, as an ally, will spare no financial, technical, or personnel support until Kaluta takes the form of a proper nation, and has promised to provide whatever goods you desire.”
“……Wait. What do you mean by ‘taking the form of a nation’?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. His Majesty hopes that Kaluta will at least establish the system of a nation.”
Roselyn added that this was, of course, merely advice for the sake of Kaluta.
A fairly long debate ensued.
Roselyn spoke of the reasons they should take the form of a nation, while the elders of Kaluta and the Khan spoke of the reasons they should not.
Both sides were right.
The Kaluta had lived as nomads, moving from place to place for a long time.
It was a method chosen so that they would not suffer great damage even if they were invaded.
Therefore, for them, settling in one place and establishing a capital was a monumental decision in many ways.
However, without a capital, they could not be called a nation and would inevitably continue to be ignored as barbarians.
Even if they moved between several capitals, they needed to take the form of a nation.
“Khan! This could be a trick by the Empire to gather us in one place and kill us in a surprise attack!”
One elder, who led another tribe, shouted.
He was a leader of one of the many ethnic groups belonging to Kaluta.
“But you cannot live like this forever. I am not talking about the present.”
Roselyn said.
The Khan watched Roselyn in silence amidst the back-and-forth arguments. Roselyn, too, paid no heed to the noise around her.
She knew that, in the end, this would be decided by the leader.
“Right now, it might be uncomfortable for the Khan and everyone else. But the children growing up will be able to grow while experiencing a diverse world in a safer environment.”
“…….”
“I am suggesting we think about the future, decades and centuries from now.”
At Roselyn’s calm words, the Khan rested her chin on her interlaced hands and slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“To summarize, our Ducal House discovered a special mineral that can contain the Abyss within weapons and developed it. The development is now nearing its end.”
“What did you say……?”
The Khan’s eyes widened.
“When those weapons are mass-produced, will Kaluta be able to survive?”
“Are you insulting me right now?”
“No, you would survive, Khan. But I am talking about your family, your comrades, and the land where you will live in the future.”
The Khan fell silent at Roselyn’s words.
She was strong.
But she was the only one who was strong.
If those weapons were truly developed and mass-produced, they would be a threat to them.
The Khan slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“So, this is a proposal separate from the Imperial Family, but perhaps…….”
Roselyn smiled brightly.
The Khan faltered at the beautiful, blooming smile.
“Apart from the Empire, would you like to open trade with our Bellion Ducal House as well?”
“……What?”
“Actually, that mineral is quite difficult to process. We were lacking reliable technicians.”
The Khan’s eyes widened slightly.
“I heard that Kaluta has a connection with dwarves from long ago. So, I heard that both children and adults are exceptionally skilled at refining minerals.”
Beneath the radiant smile, a subtly mischievous, childlike expression was visible.
“This is a top-secret matter that hasn’t even been reported to His Majesty, and it hasn’t been released or traded anywhere yet, but…….”
Gulp.
Someone sitting at the round table swallowed hard. Roselyn’s red lips curved with composure, and then slowly parted.
“Would you be interested in being our first trade partner?”
The sound of people catching their breath could be heard here and there. Being the first to access technology and weapons was a massive advantage.
“Of course, as long as you do not leak the technology to the outside, you are free to use it within Kaluta.”
This was close to a gamble for Roselyn as well. She was giving dangerous technology to another country.
However, Roselyn did not trust Kaluta; she trusted ‘Sansar,’ whom she had known for a long time.
The children protected by her friend would be trustworthy, and since their refining skills were said to be so great they could sometimes forge the weapons of gods, they would surely create something far more magnificent than the ‘Abyss Weapons’ made by the Duke’s technicians.
“……Wait.”
And if she could gain the other party’s infinite trust with this, it was not a losing bargain.
The Khan asked, as if unable to believe it.
“You’ll let us use the technology? Is that true?”
“Yes. Because the fact that this deal is made means we are allies.”
“Haha!”
The Khan had no choice but to let out a dry laugh.
Was this not an incredibly cunning trade proposal?
“Also…… I can tell you the location of the ‘Yuseok’ hidden somewhere in Kaluta. Of course, you must trade exclusively with my family.”
“Yuseok?”
“Yes, the stone that serves as the raw material.”
“That is in Kaluta?”
“Yes.”
Whether it was actually there or not would only be known after a search.
She figured that if she spoke broadly enough, it would likely turn up somewhere in that general vicinity.
“Did Sansar tell you that as well?”
At the Khan’s question, Roselyn shook her head.
“No, this is my Abyss.”
The Khan stared intently at Roselyn, then suddenly burst into a loud laugh.
“Ahahaha!!”
After laughing boisterously for a long time, she looked up with a grin.
“Very well! But while you said the basis of trade is trust, you shouldn’t lie, Lady Bellion.”
“What do you…….”
“Saying it’s an Abyss is a lie, isn’t it?”
At the Khan’s words, Roselyn’s face stiffened slightly.
Looking at the frozen girl, the Khan flicked her finger, leaving a few behind and dismissing everyone else.
“My name is Khan Haliona. Now, let’s start an honest and proper trade.”
It was the moment the deal with the Khan was struck.
