Episode 184
Defeat or Victory
‘Now that I think about it, you haven’t said anything for the past few days.’
Elric remembered the Sailor who had not said much after the previous battle.
I thought that maybe what he was going to say from now on might be related to that reason.
“Please share your opinion.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s an old opinion… “Do you know that I was traveling around the continent a while ago, saying it was small?”
“yes. “I heard he is also called Godfather because of that.”
“Godfather… . I repeatedly told you not to say such strange things. flaw.”
No matter how much I hear about it, it feels like a boss in an underworld. Sailor lightly laughed as she added those words.
“Anyway, there are people I made a connection with at times like that.”
Elric’s eyes sparkled.
“Are you from the Borfur tribe?”
“As expected, you are quick to notice. That’s right. “I lived not only among the Borfur people, but also in the eastern mountainous region for almost five years.”
An image of Sailor conversing with the hostages held here came to mind.
“And right here… “I met a boy who called me ‘father.’”
Elric’s eyes widened.
Hermann also seemed quite surprised, perhaps because it was his first time hearing it.
“Is that true?”
“That’s right.”
“If you do that, why didn’t you tell me that before…” !”
“How could you have had the time to say something like that?”
“… .”
“And actually, the guy who made your eyes look like that… “The guy named Batu is actually someone I know.”
This time Hermann’s expression hardened.
“Did you teach me how to use a sword?”
“I don’t know if I should say I taught that. He was a guy with outstanding talent. “Even if I hadn’t touched him, he would have grown big someday.”
“But you could have told me a shortcut. no wonder. “The swordsmanship looked vaguely familiar.”
Hermann smoothed his injured eyes with his hand. Isabel’s sad gaze turned to her father.
But in the other calm eyes… Enthusiasm was blooming.
Isn’t he the one who overcame the ordeal of hearing sickness and stood up again?
This time, Hermann thought he had only encountered an ordeal that he could overcome.
From the moment he first encountered the huge wall called the Golden Lion, his eyes were always focused on a distant place.
I might have been lucky to have met Batu.
If you can defeat him, it will mean that you are one step closer to winning the golden lion.
“I don’t think he saw me. “Anyway, there’s no way I could say something like this in a situation like that.”
But as a sailor, it was just a pity that I couldn’t bear it.
Hermann and Batu.
Because they were both children and juniors that he cared for like his own children.
But Hermann didn’t seem to care at all.
Rather, enthusiasm was changing into a fighting spirit, and then again into a desire to win.
“His name. “What is it?”
“It’s Batura.”
“You already know that. “What I’m asking is his real name.”
Barbarians often believe that names contain the soul. Hermann knew that and asked.
“Batu Turpan. “It means a man as strong and tough as an ox.”
“Batu Turpan… . Good. “I will remember that name clearly.”
A deep smile appeared on Hermann’s lips.
It was the laughter of a lion.
lion and bull. The two beings are about to clash.
“Maybe we can meet again.”
“no. “It’s going to be difficult for a while.”
“hmm?”
When asked what that meant, Sailor’s gaze turned to Elric again.
“The kid who recognized me said. Batu has become the warchief of the Borfur tribe, and once this side’s work is over, he plans to head to the empire. “The fight with us was like a ritual of opening a war.”
Only then did Elric understand exactly what Sailor meant.
“With such a big name missing, are you saying we can rely on him enough without completely surrendering?”
“If I mention our old relationship, I might be able to welcome you as a guest.”
“But we have already been stabbed by them once. Is that possible?”
“We have to make it possible.”
“hmm… .”
“And there’s something people don’t know. The composition of the mountain peoples, commonly called barbarians, is much more complex than we realize. “Just because the Borfur people are all the same, it doesn’t mean they feel the same or a sense of belonging.”
“You’re saying that even among them, the kinship composition is complicated.”
“If Batu gets caught, it means you don’t have to rely on him. Even within the Borfur clan, there are people who don’t get along well with them, and there are other clans that don’t enjoy fighting that much.”
Now that this was said, it was as if what they could do had already been decided.
You can’t return to the empire right away. All roads were blocked, and everywhere was the territory of the Red Lion Army and barbarians. There was a risk of getting the attention of the enemy and being destroyed.
In that case, it might have been better to go deeper into the enemy’s territory and hide.
Level unknown. Basically, it is darkest under the lamp.
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Furthermore.
In fact, there was something that Elric did not tell his companions, but there was a part of him that believed in it.
‘Neresta is still there.’
A family treaty was signed between the Neresta family and Mervinger.
If one family is in danger, the other family must automatically come to their aid.
Even if that’s not the case, as long as Sean and Augustine are around, he will try to save himself somehow.
And if it is the power of the Neresta family… It will be enough to save them.
So, what Elric had to do was first secure the safety of the star tribe, and then establish a communication network with the Neresta family.
“Then let’s check with the doctor over there first.”
* * *
“They’re trying to offer us up as a sacrifice to the rebels.”
“I can’t just keep watching like this, can I?”
Count Calliger and Viscount Couransiville’s stern expressions remained the entire time they left the conference room.
As such, the conversations they had were all shocking.
Relying on the barbarians?
As a proud traditional noble of the empire, this was absolutely impossible.
If they had died on the battlefield, they would have died. It would have been a shame to bow their heads to those who lived a life no better than animals, far removed from the benefits of civilization.
As Elric, it was a decision he made to save at least one of the soldiers who risked their lives.
It was a decision that was absolutely incomprehensible to the two people who originally believed that the lives of commoners existed for the dignity and respect of nobles.
Rather, in their eyes, Elric was only seen as an opportunist who suddenly turned to the rebels because they thought he was in danger.
Currently, in their eyes, Elric is seen as a rebel, and they themselves are seen as eternal loyalists who want to punish such rebels.
but.
That’s just an excuse to make things look plausible.
In fact, both Count Calliger and Viscount Curansiville had already developed a sense of crisis and wariness towards Elric to an extreme level through this meeting, even if they did not say it outwardly.
The ability to control the audience by lightly ignoring their own opinions.
An exhalation that reminded me of Wusden Mervinger’s youth.
All of that stuck in my throat as if I had swallowed a fish bone.
I was planning on targeting Elric from the beginning, but I felt like I had to speed up the timing.
Count Calliger and Viscount Couransiville met each other’s gaze for a moment.
“… .”
“… .”
We didn’t have much conversation, but that was enough for communication.
They were enemies until not long ago.
Because I never thought I would be able to understand the other person’s feelings so deeply. There was only deep silence between the two, which soon dissipated and disappeared.
* * *
Barbarians.
The mountain people of the eastern border, as the empire called them, were actually very complex, consisting of numerous blood relatives, clans, tribes, and factions.
The relationship between them was so complex that political unification was never achieved in thousands of years of history.
Even now, joining hands with the Red Lion Army and advancing toward the mainland of the empire, it is nothing more than a loose political alliance united under the common banner of ‘overthrowing the empire.’
If interests diverged, there was a risk that the alliance would break down.
but.
Even if that happened, the Borfur people never really worried about that.
“breakdown? So what! In fact, it might be better! “We won’t have to give up our food and land to other tribes!”
“Don’t we have a great warchief!”
“Batu, the great warrior sent from heaven!”
“Batu!”
“As long as we have Batu, who will soon become king and emperor, we can achieve anything!”
“Follow Batu!”
“Follow!”
The barbarians are largely divided into 12 tribes.
However, the concept of ‘lack’ was just created for convenience. It did not tie members together more tightly than the concepts of blood kinship and clan.
however.
The Borfur people were different.
Batu united under an outstanding leader and eliminated distinctions between blood relatives and clans.
Origin and status were not considered. As long as he showed his ability within the confines of his ‘tribe’, he was given a chance and had the honor of standing next to Batu.
Therefore, unlike other tribes, the Borfur tribe was able to quickly grow its power based on its outstanding unity and organizational ability.
Even within this ‘confederation’, those with the largest stake were the Borfur tribe.
Military God.
Currently, Batu was called that not only among his own people, but also among the mountain peoples.
“You idiots.”
Batu was on his way to have a meeting at the Red Lion Army’s proposal to discuss future schedules.
The target of his foolish ridicule was not the Red Lion.
Rather, he had a very high opinion of the Red Lion.
A person who has made his compatriots and people shed tears of blood for a long time. An enemy who becomes an insurmountable barrier and breaks your aspirations.
but.
Rather, that was why Batu felt a sense of kinship with the Red Lion.
Those who tried to stand tall were bound to be envious and jealous of those around them.
The objects of Batu’s contempt were the people around him who showed such envy and jealousy.
The various chieftains of the 12 tribes.
They are all old and ugly, insectivorous who do everything they can to protect their vested interests.
And yet, these bastards are busy tapping away at their calculators countless times in their heads, wondering what kind of benefit they can get from this war.
What was a warrior?
When war breaks out, it refers to those who know how to swing a sword before anyone else.
And the chieftain meant the leader who led those warriors.
However, in Batu’s eyes, the other chieftains did not appear to be such warriors.
They were just worried that what they had might be taken away by Batu, and were busy being blatantly wary.
Because of that, we were busy discussing future schedules together, but due to distrust and wariness, we were busy creaking with no results.
‘It can’t go on like this. ‘It won’t last long like this.’
Right now, they had largely defeated the imperial army and were advancing toward the imperial mainland at a rapid pace, but it was clear that once that advance was blocked, it would be disastrous.
Since Batou had been taught by a sailor as a child, he knew very well how strong the empire’s potential was.
Soon their advance will be blocked.
It was an unavoidable procedure.
So what should we do to overcome the crisis wisely and not in a chaotic manner?
‘We have to turn it over, everything. ‘Pests must be exterminated and all parasites must be removed.’
Batu had already completed all the preparation work for that.
The same goes for this meeting.
Other tribal leaders are happy, thinking that it is just a meeting for post-war negotiations.
In fact, something much bigger was hidden there.
All coordination with the Red Lion has already been completed.
That’s why I was suppressing the urge to pull out my sword right now and just waiting for the right moment.
“what? “Sailor-sama was there?”
Batu’s expression hardened at the report posted by his adjutant and he turned his head towards him.
“yes. “Someone witnessed Sarnai talking to Sailor.”
Sarnai.
She was Batu’s only brother, friend, colleague, mother, and now companion.
Wizard who swallowed talent
