The Bookworm’s Second Life
Jonathan
애독자의 갱생 라이프 Jun 18, 2026 4 views
Chapter 28
News soon spread that a ceasefire negotiation would begin between the Clausen Border Marquisate of the Hispania Kingdom and the Vasura County of the Nudian Kingdom.
The negotiation tent was set up right on the border. To prepare for any possible incident, the armies of both territories would not approach the tent itself, instead waiting at a distance away from it.
Although the two territories had repeatedly gone through war and truce as if it were part of daily life, it had been decades since a ceasefire negotiation was held this quickly after a conflict.
The Vasura side of Nudian County proposed the ceasefire first, claiming that there was “nothing left for either side to gain,” and the Clausen Border Marquisate accepted without much hesitation.
But both the soldiers of Nudia and the Clausen Border Marquisate knew the truth.
Who had lost the war and was now asking for peace, who was the “strong” side and who was the “weak.”
“Haah.”
Sion slowly looked around.
He remained on high alert, wary that the enemy might be plotting something malicious.
Although Marquis Richten had confidently assured him that nothing like that would happen, Sion could not fully trust it.
The current Count Vasura, Dishe, was nothing like the previous count Richten remembered. He was the kind of filth so extreme that even calling him trash suitable for recycling would be an insult—he was beyond even incineration.
“Young master.”
The one brought here by Count Dishe, Rishikida, looked extremely restless.
Just as she had finally resolved herself, gained a new master, and was about to earn his trust and affection again, her disgraceful former master was now trying to drag her down in the most petty way possible.
“I said it clearly. If even a king touches my people, that’s immediately rebellion. So don’t worry about whatever that enemy count says, Rishikida.”
“…I will trust only you, young master. Only my master.”
Her way of addressing him kept shifting between “young master” and “master.”
It seemed she had a tendency to want both loyalty and affectionate recognition, something that was never properly explained in the novel, so Sion was only realizing it now.
‘Well, it’s not exactly bad… but it’s a bit unusual.’
Even Lilith, let alone Lucia, had been startled by Rishikida’s “master” way of speaking.
Knights and even the maids of the household usually said “young master,” not something like “master.”
At this rate, Sion worried that some demon-level father-in-law might come flying in with his fists raised.
‘If Raito really shows up… can I even run?’
Just yesterday, a letter had been sent to Raito.
It was a written report from Marquis Richten explaining that the entity that came from the temple was none other than the succubus queen Lilith, and that she was currently under contract with him.
Since the truth could no longer be hidden, Richten had written it in as mild a tone as possible, but Raito’s personality was notoriously violent, so there was no way to not be worried.
“Master—no, young master. Over there.”
At Rishikida’s words, Sion turned his gaze.
Someone from the Nudian side was approaching the tent on horseback.
“…What the hell did they do to that horse?”
“It, it’s a form of decoration.”
“Decoration my ass. That horse looks like its mother died. Why is it dressed in jewels like that, damn it?”
If it were just armor plating, that would be understandable.
After all, they were still technically at war.
But instead of armor, the horse was dressed in what looked like a jewel-covered dress.
The gems hanging off it sparkled so brightly it felt like looking at club strobe lights.
‘What a ridiculous display. I kind of want to stab it with a spear just for the insult.’
Suppressing his boiling irritation, Sion entered the tent without waiting.
The negotiation site was stripped of anything that could be used as a weapon—only a long table and chairs filled the space.
Step, step—
“Young master.”
Rishikida called out nervously again as footsteps approached outside.
Sion glanced at her and gave a small smile.
A confident, handsome young nobleman’s smile.
Seeing it, Rishikida fell silent for a moment.
Soon, a man entered with one escort knight behind him.
“Ah, apologies. I tried to be punctual, but I didn’t expect Young Master Sion Clausen to arrive earlier. Haha!”
……
Sion felt extremely irritated, as if the man were implying “I arrived late on purpose, and you panicked and came early.”
It made it sound like Sion had been the one begging for the meeting.
When in fact, it was Nudia who requested the negotiation.
“Enough.”
Thud!
Sion leaned back deeply in his chair and placed both feet on the negotiation table.
It was a gesture that could be seen as pure insult—basically saying, “Screw negotiation, let’s just go to war.”
But unfortunately for them, Nudia was not in a position of strength.
“Let’s hear the terms. The conditions.”
The other man was a count, even if from an enemy nation.
And Sion was only the heir of a border marquisate.
Normally, etiquette had to be observed—but seeing Sion act so recklessly made Rishikida tense up.
“…You are as rough as the rumors say.”
Perhaps the rumors of Sion Clausen being a reckless fool had already spread, so the count seemed to dismiss it as childish behavior.
“But from what I’ve heard, you risked your life to save a single soldier. Seeing your earlier behavior as a lie… it truly feels fitting of the Clausen house. Perhaps the rumors about the heir were meant to deceive enemies.”
What nonsense.
Sion thought coldly: This guy is insane. He’s writing his own fanfiction.
“Thus, I have come personally to propose a ceasefire to those who value their soldiers. I, Dishe Vasura, in person.”
“Mm.”
Sion’s reaction was indifferent.
The count’s eye twitched for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.
Nudia was not in a position of strength.
“Nudian ceasefire conditions are as follows: borders remain unchanged. Since we initiated the war, we will provide 400,000 Dir (our highest currency unit) as war reparations. Additionally, a letter of apology from His Majesty the King will be sent directly to the Hispania royal family.”
400,000 Dir was a reasonable sum.
Enough to cover damages, compensate the injured and dead, and still leave surplus.
Nudia clearly wanted peace.
“I’m surprised you proposed a ceasefire this quickly.”
“Endless war benefits no one.”
“Well, we could’ve kept fighting just fine. Right, Rishikida?”
Sion casually pulled Rishikida into the conversation.
The count immediately responded as if waiting for this moment.
“Then we would like appropriate action from the Clausen Border Marquisate as well.”
“Appropriate action?”
“The return of prisoners.”
“Don’t worry, of course not for free. We will pay ransom.”
“We only have a few prisoners—seven knights and some injured soldiers.”
“And one high-ranking knight.”
So that was the real goal.
Sion’s eyes turned cold, but the count was still focused on Rishikida.
“Knight Rishikida Armshell was the pride of our Vasura County. Hearing she was captured broke my heart… I am relieved to see she appears unharmed.”
……
Sion seriously considered flipping the table.
“Of course, we will prepare generous ransom. And I also have a personal gift for you, young master. So I hope you will kindly return Knight Rishikida to her beloved homeland.”
Beloved homeland?
Sion thought: Is this guy hallucinating? Or talking to someone in another dimension?
Rishikida herself stood trembling, fists clenched, unable to speak.
“Even if you cannot return all prisoners, please at least return Rishikida. She is my most precious knight and dear friend.”
Friend?
A guy who tells his friend to go die?
What a joke.
“That is already a more than sufficient condition for Clausen’s dignity. So what do you say? If you want anything else, please speak.”
For a moment, the count wondered if he was hallucinating.
In a negotiation meeting.
“This… Young Master Sion Clausen. What are you doing?”
“Oh, what? So you can understand human language? Then why were you spouting dogshit all this time? I thought you were a dog, so I kindly spoke in dog language.”
“You—this is outrageous!”
“Anyone know where the restroom is? Damn, after hearing so much crap I feel like my whole body is full of shit.”
The count and his knight turned red with rage.
If they had weapons, they would have lunged already.
“Y-young master…”
Even Rishikida looked stunned.
But Sion remained calm.
“Not going to negotiate?”
“I—! Show some respect! I am a count above you in rank!”
“So are you not going to negotiate?”
“You—this is insulting!”
“Hey.”
The atmosphere dropped instantly.
Sion’s voice turned low and feral, like a predator.
“Last time. Are. You. Negotiating. Or not, you bastard.”
Only then did the count realize—
He had no leverage.
His army was already crippled.
Reinforcements were exhausted.
And his high-ranking knight was captured.
He had nothing.
“…Of course we will negotiate. For everyone’s sake…”
“Shut the hell up and sit down. I’m the one granting negotiation here. You’re just being negotiated.”
The count’s confidence shattered.
Sion Clausen… was this really the same man from the rumors?
“First. The indemnity increases from 400,000 to 4,000,000.”
“…What?!”
“Four million. Ten times more. Can you not count?”
“That’s absurd!”
“Four million.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Four million.”
“That would equal our entire yearly tax revenue!”
“Then flip the table and refuse. Let’s go to war. Until someone dies.”
