Episode 119
But the ideal and the reality were different.
“Please think of Ruby Youngae.”
“Do you have feelings for Ruby? If I could only get a talented person like you, I could break off my engagement with Ruby and arrange a marriage with you. You two are precious to me, so I can handle it.”
Gaius misunderstood me, and I misunderstood Gaius too.
‘King Zeno, your greatest mistake was to appoint Gaius as censor. Why did you keep such a man by your side?’
Gaius freely roamed the world, observing the lives of the people and feeling deeply for them. He came to cherish them as if they were his own family.
“… … Would gradual change be okay?”
I asked, and Gaius took a deep breath.
‘Gaius commands me as I command Amy. In many ways, you are truly a great man.’
“It seems like my time is running out, but until then, I will do my best to support you.”
I was taken aback for a moment.
It was because Gaius had stepped aside. No, I had misunderstood him. He had no interest in the throne from the beginning.
“What, what is it? You nodded when I asked you the last question earlier!”
“That’s right. That’s why you asked about Ruby.”
“That’s it! … … It was a question about the next throne.”
Gaius opened his eyes. He glanced around in surprise, then lowered his voice and asked me.
“Are you asking me to kill my brother and sit in his blood?”
“Your Majesty will hand over the throne to the Crown Prince for health reasons when the noble faction including the Duke of Breyo and the Knights of the Haryan Church advance into the Kingdom of Kyle.”
“I guess so. That’s the safest way, and it’s the best way for Zenon.”
“Please decide before then. It is easier to win the throne through competition than to usurp it.”
“My will is firm.”
“Then I will pretend I didn’t hear today’s story. I will not move even one step for the people of Zeno.”
Gaius sighed instead of answering, and I took a step back.
“I am disappointed in Your Majesty for saying that you will serve the people without even that level of determination.”
With those words I said goodbye to him.
* * *
The soldiers of Hebron were equipped with silver-white armor. They were all dressed in leather armor, and they wore breastplates covering their necks and chests. This minimized the use of expensive iron armor.
The regular army, as well as the slaves, were armed with silver-white armor. They carried swords and spears, and also had three hundred rapid-fire crossbows.
The role of the 10,000-strong ‘Hebron Army’, composed of the southern nobles of Zeno, was to provide rear support. The Braio Army led by the commander-in-chief took the lead, and Harjan’s Holy Knights took the center. On the left and right were the magicians of the Archmage Pakus, favored by the Duke of Braio, and the Marquis of Silverberg, a strong northern force.
Unless they broke through their encirclement, the Hebron army would never face the branded monsters again.
Unlike the heavily armed soldiers, Amy was dressed simply.
She greeted me without getting on the horse.
“Baron Amy.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“While I am away, please take care of Hebron’s interior.”
“I will do my best.”
Amy had proven her mettle as a soldier, but she decided not to participate in this expedition because the Hebron Army had no business being there.
The Hebron army was given credit simply for participating in the expedition.
“After this expedition, your status will change.”
“Th, those words… … .”
Hebron was changing rapidly. As soon as he was promoted to count, wandering knights who had hesitated to join Hebron flocked to him.
There were fifty-three wandering knights who knew how to manipulate the aura. Two of them were suspected to be spies sent by lords of other realms, so they were demoted, and the rest were taken in.
They all took part in this expedition.
I left the loyalists who had fought alongside me for a long time in Hebron to raise the security of Hebron. The newly joined knights were eager to catch my eye. They were anxious to make a mark in this expedition, but there was no chance for them.
“I will grant you the territory of Zecilia. It is not far from Baron Ludwig’s territory, so join forces and grow together.”
“Chooooooong!”
A tear flowed from Amy’s eye as she saluted like a soldier. I patted her shoulder and kicked Wulf in the side.
“Advance!”
Phew oh oh oh oh!
The sound of the horn blew long and loud, followed by the sound of drums.
Doo-wook! Doo-wook! Doo-wook!
Ten thousand Hebron troops were mobilized. Of these, two thousand were from the Hebron Counts. The rest were soldiers drafted from the southern lords, including Zailson, Srein, and Talia.
Chuck! Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!
Hebron’s two thousand soldiers were overwhelmingly powerful. This was due to their rigorous training. They walked in unison, even the angle of the spears on their shoulders was exactly the same.
“Ambrod, you don’t have to push yourself too hard. Let’s take it slow so the soldiers don’t get tired.”
“insect!”
The commander leading the Hebron army was Ambrod. He had become stronger than when he was the commander of the Knights of Zyleson. Since I transformed the swordsmanship for the one-legged knights that I taught him into the swordsmanship of Ambrod, he had grown by leaps and bounds. If we were to compare pure swordsmanship, he was about the same as me.
Krrrrrr.
“Wulf, you have a long way to go, so don’t be upset. You’ll scare the other guys.”
I got on the bullfight instead of the swan.
Now a grown man, Wulf was covered in blood-red fur, as befitting a wolf. Every time he grunted lowly, the warhorses flinched, and Wulf found it amusing, so he made more noise for no reason.
Ambrod looked at Wulf, who then lowered his head.
“Don’t worry. One day, that guy will ride you.”
Wulf seemed to be upset because of Ambrod. Ambrod refused my advice to mount Wulf and insisted on his war horse. And he proved his choice with his skills.
Ambrod chose a larger breed of horse than Wulf. The horse was twice as big as a normal horse, but it was also dirty and difficult to handle. Even the horse became a docile lamb under Ambrod’s persistent discipline.
The stray was placed next to Dina. The creature had become smaller, but its horns were still strong, its fur was thick, and its head turned quickly.
‘Please take good care of Dina, Syang.’
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I sat back on the saddle and opened the
The first chapter contained an article titled, ‘Slay the Cursed God Barzai!’ It was about the Earl of Hebron, who joined hands with the Haryan Cult, slaying the Cursed God Barzai. There was also an article about Hebron’s military Amy subduing five territories in just a few days.
‘Amy is amazing. She won a complete victory with only seven minor injuries in a fight with five lords that was expected to result in at least hundreds of casualties. I can’t win that way either.’
Amy dispersed the Hebron army and deployed them in all directions. She created confusion so that the five lords who were targeted by Hebron could not even tell the Hebron army’s location.
‘No matter how you think about it, it’s a strange arrangement. It’s understandable that Baron Zecil would raise both arms and shout surrender. At first glance, it would seem as if Hebron’s army has surrounded the territory.’
Amy’s tactical skills improved day by day. In fact, I even felt like my growth was falling short of hers.
‘The role of Prime Minister is more important than that of the military right now, Amy.’
As soon as Hebron absorbed the five fiefdoms, he collected the accounting books of each fiefdom. He did not stop there, but standardized the accounting and administrative forms.
It was the introduction of Hebron’s advanced administrative system.
The last page of the
‘Hebron’s educational system is great. However, there is a limit to just making the body strong. The mind must also become thick. To do that, we must go beyond the current educational system. Is that… … possible?’
“Commander.”
I was awakened from my thoughts by someone’s call. It was a familiar voice, so I smiled and turned my head without realizing it. There was Yuria, the leader of the Brecha Church. She was riding a donkey instead of a horse.
By Yuria’s side were the Brechak Knights Dre and Anso. They followed Yuria like shadows and protected her.
“what’s the matter?”
“Do you have any worries?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Your Majesty’s aura is a bit unstable… … .”
Yuria was able to see ahead, but not with her physical eyes, but with her magical eyes. She could discern all things in the world through the flow of magical energy. Since I could see the same thing as her, I could guess how Yuria saw me.
“It’ll be hard to hide your true feelings like this.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s your first large-scale sortie, so you can’t help but be worried. Thank you for watching over us.”
I thought it might be the first time in my entire life that someone’s attention felt natural and not burdensome.
* * *
The back streets of Hebron were more bustling than ever. The gambling houses licensed by the lord were crowded with wealthy people, and all sorts of things were mixed in with the gambling tables. It was the job of those who served Irederemnul to filter them out.
The back alleys of Hebron were managed by Iredem, but in his absence, Soley, a former assassin, took over.
Solei, who learned the Ora method and swordsmanship from Count Hebron, changed his prayers. He grew a little taller and his shoulders broadened. His eyes were always fierce, so those who met his eyes would involuntarily shrink back.
The casino was rather quiet in the morning. Gambling is something that is best enjoyed with alcohol and the night.
A sheep entered a deserted back alley. A girl holding the horns of a small sheep waved her right hand vigorously, her blue dress rustling.
“Sole Ajji.”
Soleil became thoughtful.
The woman who appeared without fear in the dark alley was the younger sister of the Lord of Hebron.
Solei was also the only one in the back alley who knew that Count Hebron was the incarnation of Irederemnul.
“Oh, young lady! What brings you to such a wretched place? If the lord finds out, you will be in trouble. I will take you to the lord’s castle.”
Soleil glanced around.
Everyone who received his gaze bowed their heads in unison.
As Soleil reached out to turn Dina’s steps, she shouted sharply at the burning Syang.
Baaaaaaaaaaaa!
Syang didn’t move an inch. Soleil pulled Syang up to Aura, but the more she did, the deeper Syang’s feet sank into the ground.
“No.”
Only after Dina spoke did Soleil release his hand from the sheep’s horn. He looked down at the small sheep and reproached himself for his lack of practice.
“Oh, I understand. I won’t use force. So… … .”
Dina said with a big smile.
“Let’s do some Suraejakki.”
“yes?”
“Suraejakki.”
Soleil was as confused as if he had heard a secret code. He racked his brain trying to figure out what Suraejakki meant, but no word came to mind.
Soleil’s subordinate, who had been watching from the side, approached and whispered.
“I think you’re talking about tag.”
Dina smiled and nodded. The child pointed to Soleil with her small hand.
