Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: There is Nothing to Gain for Free in the World
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"How are the monsters' movements?"
"They haven't started heading south yet."
"Don't let your guard down."
"Understood."
Late at night.
Despite the exhaustion from continuous patrols, I convened a knights' meeting.
"Sir Raiker, is the soldiers' reorganization complete?"
"Of course, haha. Who do you think I am? I've assembled 500 cavalrymen along with capable elite soldiers into two infantry battalions, with two more as reserves. I've also gathered volunteers from the mercenaries to form a separate detachment."
"Good work. Starting tomorrow, we'll officially command 20,000 troops, including the Denfos garrison. Make sure everyone knows."
"Heh heh. 20,000 men... With this force, we outmatch even the dukes' armies."
Raiker, who surprisingly knew a lot, flashed a sly grin.
No, women might call it charming, but to me, he just looked like a weasel.
"My lord, what shall we do? He's still a mage from the Magic Tower that dominates the continent..."
As the discussion wrapped up, Derbal asked with a worried expression about handling the insolent mage.
"Imprison him. If we don't break his arrogance now, he'll keep causing trouble."
"Understood."
Derbal, who wouldn't ask twice.
'To dare try to steal the wealth I shed blood and sweat for? Caught you red-handed!'
If he were a grand mage like Master Gandalf, I'd warp away and blast him with hellfire.
A fool who lost all fear and oppressed me.
All that awaited him was a taste of Taekwon V's iron fist.
"Raiker, is there an information guild in Neruman as well?"
"Information guild? Of course. Those bastards even plant agents among the Temir tribes."
"I see. Then you know where the guild master is?"
"Naturally. We're drinking buddies who enjoy life's pleasures together."
'Enjoy life's pleasures? Bullshit.'
They've probably spent many a fiery night at that very place that filled me with vain dreams.
"Bring him here."
"Pardon?"
"Right now."
"B-But..."
"Guess you didn't read the contract carefully. Disobeying orders means no pay for the month."
"Yes, sir! I'll fetch him immediately."
At the mention of money, Raiker straightened up and shouted his salute.
Thud thud. He dashed out energetically.
"Everyone, get some rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow as well."
"Yes, sir!"
A reality where even 48 hours a day wouldn't be enough.
I was grateful for these knights who believed in me, a mere rope-holder, and lived in this harsh world.
'This is when a seaside pension with a view of the ocean and some grilled pork belly would hit the spot.'
The stunning East and West Sea coasts and relaxing pensions from occasional trips tagging along with my parents.
'I have to build a villa too! In the coolest, most beautiful spot in the world!'
Another modest dream etched in my heart.
A cozy plot of about 100,000 pyeong with a seven-star hotel, a pool the size of a small lake, and a palace-like villa.
In this place where thoughts become reality.
It was possible only in the continent of opportunity, Kaliyan.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Unit, attention!"
Snap!
A historic handover of troops.
Flags, spears, and swords glittered under the sun on the vast plains outside Orak Castle.
5,000 departing Imperial mainland soldiers and 10,000 Neruman troops seeing them off stood at attention.
"Salute to the Supreme Commander!"
"Saluuute!"
The soldiers shouted vigorously, raising their right arms to their left chests in precise unison.
It was a magnificent sight.
Just like at the knight academy entrance ceremony long ago, overwhelming emotion struck my heart.
'Awesome!'
Worn but polished armor, swords, and spears.
The soldiers, emanating sharp auras, shouted their loyalty toward their former Supreme Commander, Yaiks, with manly hearts.
"You've all worked hard. Whether departing or staying, you are all eternal comrades in my heart. Thank you... my soldiers."
Great speeches are always short.
That single word—"comrades"—made the soldiers' expressions surge with emotion.
How could soldiers forget the leader who always charged alongside them against monsters and enemies?
"Soldiers remaining in Neruman, you will now serve a new commander. You all know by now, but Sir Kayer standing beside me is braver than anyone I know. Follow him, and achieve the dreams you desire!"
Count Yaiks's words, infused with mana, made all the walls hum.
Every soldier's gaze naturally turned to me.
*Ahem!*
Standing tall in the red cloak symbolizing the Bazran Empire's Skyknight and silver air plate armor, with a black muffler fluttering lightly in the wind.
Yonsama wouldn't even come close to this coolness.
"Give a word to your soldiers, Lord Kayer."
'Eek, Lord?'
I was startled inwardly by the sudden "Lord."
To become a lord, one needed at least a barony and the emperor's permission.
Yet Count Yaiks called me "Lord" with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Supreme Commander."
I gave a brief nod and faced the soldiers focused on me.
"I won't say much. I have only one thing to tell you: Follow me! And the result... God will show you."
A few heavy, low words laced with thick mana.
But they contained all my heart.
Who am I, a mere human, to judge myself?
If anyone speaks of my actions, it will be God alone.
"..."
'Did I overdo the emotion?'
My words, as their new lord, left the soldiers staring blankly like fools with honeyed mouths.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Then came Count Yaiks's vigorous applause from beside me.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
Starting with the applause, the Neruman soldiers erupted in thunderous cheers.
It didn't matter.
The soldiers, entrusting their uncertain future to me, just wanted to shout at the top of their lungs.
'Just listen well. I'll give you the best treatment on this continent!'
I never lived a life of lies.
I always took responsibility for my words.
And to the thousands, tens of thousands, no, hundreds of thousands of territory folk who believed in and followed me, I would repay in full.
With the benefits of being great subjects in my paradise.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Count Yaiks departed.
Leaving Orak Castle behind, he flew toward the Bazran Empire with 5,000 soldiers and wyverns.
Of course, I didn't send him empty-handed.
He left behind all military supplies, wyvern armor, and air plates that money couldn't buy.
I loaded on him 4th-grade magic stones from the pirates—five of them—plus one 3rd-grade, and 10 sheets of monster hides for bribing nobles.
But compared to what he gave, it was pocket change.
I'd repay with interest later.
What remained: 10,000 soldiers in Orak Castle, 10,000 scattered in surrounding fortresses like Denfos, and 40 knights staring blankly at their departing lord.
I thought a dozen might follow Yaiks, but not one did.
Neruman soldiers at the farewell and those atop the walls all watched me and the knights.
A fairly long silence.
Yet no one spoke.
"Nice weather."
Passing spring, now entering early summer.
The massive mountain ranges on either side blocked the wind, letting a gentle breeze warmed by the sun feel pleasant.
Rustle.
Dozens of gazes on me as I clasped hands behind my back, looking at the sky.
It was time to settle things.
"What dreams will you give us?"
A middle-aged knight called Shilt de Hirzuan stared at me with blazing eyes.
"I'll give you the right to die."
"..."
The knights' bloodshot eyes fixed on my mouth.
"To Skyknights, the right to die in the skies. To mounted knights, the right to die gloriously with the enemy on the battlefield. For me, for all the people of Neruman!"
'Kyaa, too cool.'
It didn't fit the solemn atmosphere, but oh well.
Even to my own ears, it was cool.
A brief silence flowed quietly.
Clank thud!
"Your servant Shilt de Hirzuan offers burning gratitude to Lord Romero, the arbiter of fate who let me meet my lord. Until my last breath, I shall be my lord's honor!"
Clank thud. Clank thud.
Knights kneeling on one knee after Shilt.
"Your servant Bahamuns de Zirbaine offers prayers to the goddess of victory to be with my lord forever, and shall be my lord's sword until this blade breaks!"
"Your servant Itraine de Espot..."
"Your servant Hevisron..."
"Your servant Teizran..."
And so the knights' fervent oaths continued.
Tremble. My whole body shook.
Different from Baron Jenis and his Skyknights' loyalty oaths, but these knights had their own flavor.
It burned.
The desperate sincerity of those who had lost everything shone through their oaths of loyalty.
Thus, the 40 knights completed their rites, naming themselves and invoking their gods.
"Thank you... Now you are my sword and shield."
'Argh, it's making me tear up.'
No level up, yet equipped like high-level gear—this feeling.
I vowed firmly to live well and eat well with them.
Rooooar!
Kiyaaaa!
Kioooo!
"Whoa, wyverns!"
"Temir bastards' wyverns!"
Ding ding ding!
Earth-shaking wyvern roars and soldiers' startled screams.
'Right on time.'
Unlike the soldiers, I wasn't surprised.
The familiar cry of Bebeto in my ears.
Bebeto, who dropped me off and waited out of sight with other wyverns, arrived perfectly timed.
"Gasp! Th-That's!"
"A gold-striped wyvern!"
"The lord's wyvern!"
Soldiers who recognized Bebeto, who saved their lives, realized it was mine.
Whiiiiistle!
I whistled infused with mana.
Rooooar!
Bebeto circled the sky once upon hearing my whistle.
Flap flap, flutter.
It landed on the ground, flapping its massive wings.
Behind it landed the gray wyvern taken from Viscount Lukens and the Temir wyverns.
Whoosh.
Dust storms rose as over a dozen landed at once.
But no one moved.
Soon the dust cleared, revealing the sight.
The wyverns filling the training ground overwhelmed all who saw them with their massive bulk.
"Skyknights, go to the wyvern that catches your eye."
"Gasp!"
"M-My lord..."
Astonished gasps from the Skyknights.
"This is your gift and your duty. My knights, our dreams begin now!"
"Urgh..."
"Sob..."
Flight permitted again to Skyknights who lost their wyverns.
The taste of that blue wind in the skies they'd never forget, even in death.
The Skyknights stifled sobs.
And their bloodshot eyes on me.
The last traces of doubt vanished, replaced by tear-streaked vows.
Now they were truly my knights.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Screeeeech.
Bebeto's wings cut across the northern plains' skies.
'So this is formation flying.'
Ten wyverns followed right behind me.
The wyverns, thoroughly trained by Bebeto, accepted the Skyknights without hesitation.
Thus began our eleven-wyvern formation flight.
'Like a flock of geese.'
Wyverns or geese—flying was much the same.
The lead wyvern in front, the rest in V-formation like geese behind.
Flying under drifting clouds was more addictive than Jeju black pork belly.
'The mountains are well-developed here.'
Unlike the mostly flat south, the north had overlapping peaks around 1,000 meters and smaller ones.
'Flight time from Orak Castle: an hour and a half...'
Even quite far from Hyton, the northernmost village and fortress.
'In the end, I need a large defensive fortress at Hyton.'
It gave the Skyknights a taste of sky air after so long, but ultimately, it was terrain scouting.
Neruman, now practically my land.
Like any landowner, the bigger the better, and I had no intention of forgiving invaders.
'Just over those mountains are the Temir bastards.'
The massive near-peaks forming the unofficial border between Neruman and Temir.
Still with lingering winter snow, they looked around 3,000 meters high.
'The problem is building a large fortress requires manpower and money... and time is short.'
Word that I'm Neruman's lord would reach the Temir soon.
The pirates ended well via negotiation, but my enemies surrounded me: monsters, the Raviter Empire, and the Habis Kingdom without formal diplomacy.
To protect myself fully amid such foes required swift fortification and maximizing troop strength.
'Ten Skyknights will make the Temir hesitate to attack.'
The Temir, who hadn't appeared since clashing with me.
Seeing their own wyverns turn enemy would shock them more.
'Can local construction tech build a fortress to my liking?'
I flew whenever possible to survey Neruman's terrain.
From the sky, unlike ground view, the lay of the land was clearer.
Major fortresses of Neruman etched precisely in my mind.
I'd consult the knights more, but my mind raced.
Kueeeek!
Kyrk, kieyrk!
'Oh yeah!'
Richer monster resources than elsewhere.
A family pack of ogres spotted the wyverns and fled, wiggling their huge asses.
Rooooar!
Bebeto, always optimized for money-making.
It let out a mighty roar and dove toward the ogres.
'Heh heh. With those ten wyverns, one per day each...'
Ogres fetched about 500 gold apiece.
Just one per patrol: 5,000 gold.
Enough to cover Skyknight expenses easily.
Swoooooosh.
Skyknights diving to the ground behind me.
They couldn't imagine.
The meaning of my satisfied smile.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Temporarily, Sir Shilt will command the northern legion."
"I obey your command, my lord!"
I appointed Shilt, top-rated and acknowledged leader among the Skyknights, as interim legion commander.
Unlike Jenis or Raiker, he and the assembled knights knew the northern defenses inside out.
I felt their fervent loyalty toward me.
"I've heard the Imperial soldiers departing with Count Yaiks are strong. Even without them, will our forces hold?"
"No need for concern! True, Imperial soldiers are strong, but Neruman natives are veteran regulars trained rigorously and battle-hardened over years! Entrust it to us—we'll defend the territory from monsters and enemies!"
Orak Castle had a conference room for joint meetings with dozens of knights.
A young knight occupying one seat spoke confidently, saying not to worry.
"You're Sir Fermant, right?"
"Yes, my lord!"
He'd named himself only once during the oath, but remembering made his face flush as he gazed at me hotly—a knight in his mid-twenties.
Sitting at the far end suggested recent knighting.
Only barons and above with territories could appoint estate knights.
Different from Imperial or capital academy graduates, but next in rank after nobles locally.
"I'll trust you, Sir Fermant. No, I'll trust all my knights here."
Couldn't nitpick on day one.
When pushing, I push big—that's my style.
"Any other issues?"
"Well..."
The knights blushed at my question.
'I know, guys.'
Neruman overall lacked food.
With Imperial support cut off, shortages abounded.
"Tell the soldiers: two gold per month in pay, and ample supplies including food."
"Gasp! Two—two gold each?"
"..."
The knights gawked at "two gold."
Not Imperial regulars, Neruman locals got maybe five silver monthly—just enough for gruel.
A fourfold raise was shocking, naturally.
"Skyknights: 2,000 gold monthly. Regular knights: 200 to 1,000 by rank. Company commanders: 500 extra. Platoon leaders: 100. Squad leaders: 10."
"Heh..."
Push big when pushing, crush when crushing—I showed it fully.
Imperial Skyknight pay made it chump change, but to them, a fortune.
"Oh! Families wishing to settle from the Bazran Empire: all costs and mansions provided. Farmland? Suitable compensation."
"M-My lord!"
"Thank you! We'll repay this grace with loyalty!"
Knights moved to tears multiple times today.
They bowed their heads once more.
'Heh heh, don't worry. I'll squeeze every bit of value from this investment.'
Of course, not free.
One high-grade monster like ogres per day on patrol.
I strictly separated public and private.
There is nothing one gets for free in the world.