Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Blood-Soaked Land
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‘A Northerner, a Northerner.’
The phrase was more deeply ingrained in Carlyle’s mind than any other.
Northerner.
It literally meant people who lived in the north, and here, it referred to the people of Decaron.
The Nürburg Kingdom was not a nation of a single ethnicity but a united kingdom, a confederation of thirteen families centered around the royal family.
As such, the people felt a stronger sense of belonging to the territories ruled by their respective families rather than to the kingdom itself.
Among them, the people of Decaron, the territory ruled by the Sigmund family, called themselves "Northerners" and displayed a stronger sense of belonging than people from any other region.
The reason was simple.
Decaron possessed vast and fertile lands, but it was a place where not a single day passed peacefully due to the wars with the barbarians.
The Northerners were a resilient people who, centered around the Sigmund family, had protected their homes by writing a history of blood against the barbarians for the past several hundred years.
They were accustomed to fighting barbarians from a young age, and upon reaching adulthood, they did not hesitate to enlist in the army to protect their families.
Evangeline, too, was a Northerner to the bone, which was why she had no desire to leave Decaron, no matter how favorable the conditions offered by the royal family.
That was why she hadn't been fazed by Carlyle’s threat to not send her back alive—a threat that others might have taken as being treated like an object or an animal.
“A Northerner… What is a Northerner?”
“Pardon?”
“Just curious.”
“You're a Northerner too, Young Master.”
“I wonder.”
Carlyle let out a bitter chuckle at Evangeline's response.
*I wouldn't know. I'm not a Northerner.*
Having played the game [Overlord], Carlyle knew the characteristics of the Northerners all too well.
Fundamentally, the Northerners were a people with formidable physical and mental strength, as well as immense pride and a sense of belonging to Decaron.
But while he knew this intellectually, he had never lived as a Northerner, so he couldn't understand their values.
*Even you?*
Racking his memory, he recalled that even the real Carlyle, that good-for-nothing scoundrel, had considered himself a Northerner and held great pride in it…
“Honestly, I don't really get this whole 'Northerner' thing. I just don't want to lose you to the royal family.”
“Pardon?”
Evangeline's eyes widened like a startled rabbit's.
“To say something like that…”
“You're contracted to an earth spirit. Your value is immense.”
“…Ah.”
With an expression that said, *Of course*, Evangeline lowered her head awkwardly.
“What's with that reaction?”
“It's nothing.”
“Anyway, I have no intention of sending you away. You're my property.”
“What if the royal family tries to take me by force? Will you really…”
“I won't be sending them your corpse, so don't worry.”
“Yes.”
“Um, Young Master.”
“What now?”
“Aren't you afraid of the royal family?”
“No.”
“Y-Young Master! Don't say such things! The royal family, the royal family is…”
“What can they do to me? Just watch. This will all blow over without any trouble.”
Carlyle said with a smirk, then, ignoring whatever a stunned Evangeline might say, he entered his room and slammed the door shut.
He immediately flopped onto his bed and closed his eyes, looking completely at ease.
Right now, the only thing on Carlyle's mind was catching up on much-needed sleep.
* * *
The Watcher sent a messenger to the capital to report on Carlyle's commission ceremony and awaited a response regarding Evangeline.
He reported Carlyle's firm refusal to send Evangeline and waited for the royal family's reply.
The messenger went straight to the capital and delivered the Watcher's report, which was then relayed to the Crown Prince, Gordon von Oracle.
“Carlyle van Sigmund…”
Although Crown Prince Gordon had not yet had his coronation, he was currently overseeing state affairs on behalf of the king under the pretext of his heir apparent training.
“They call him the good-for-nothing of the North, and he truly is a hopeless case.”
Instead of anger, Crown Prince Gordon let out a disbelieving laugh.
Who would have thought that even a reckless fool who couldn't tell his head from his tail would reject the royal family's offer in such a manner?
And to even threaten to kill a spirit contractor who had a pact with an earth spirit, right in front of a Watcher?
It was something no one would dare to do unless they were completely out of their mind.
Then again, that was probably why his reputation as the good-for-nothing of the North was so widespread.
*Should I make him pay the price for provoking the royal family?*
At any other time, he wouldn't have hesitated, but this time was different.
*No. The timing is sensitive. Creating a difficult relationship with the Sigmund family now would only cause headaches.*
With a large-scale barbarian invasion imminent, building a close relationship with the Sigmund family was unavoidable.
Furthermore, the Sigmund family was already greatly displeased due to the incident caused by the Lauren family a few months ago.
Of course, the Lauren family had vehemently denied the facts as if it were obvious, but everyone knew it was a blatant lie.
*It seems best to let this one slide. Considering the Lauren family incident, I have no choice but to show favor to the Sigmunds this time.*
The dynasty of a united kingdom could not rule by force alone.
Sometimes, it had to show magnanimity and know how to mediate disputes between its vassals.
Of course, the power the royal family had accumulated over the past several hundred years was more than enough to subjugate the other families by force.
However, as long as the barbarians beyond the border remained a threat, the royal family could neither completely alienate the other twelve families nor allow them to fight amongst themselves and spark a civil war.
“Send a message to the Sigmund family, to Lord Guntram.”
“Your orders, Your Highness.”
“Since Carlyle van Sigmund is so adamant, the royal family respects his wishes and will withdraw its offer. Furthermore, tell him that the royal family will mediate the dispute with the Lauren family to a satisfactory degree, and that armed conflict will not be permitted.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
And so, Crown Prince Gordon brought the matter to a simple close.
He was certain that this incident would not cause the other twelve families to dare look down on the royal family.
Why?
Because in their eyes, it would appear as though the royal family had bestowed mercy, a kind of reward for their loyalty.
* * *
About a month later.
“The royal family respects your wishes, Carlyle van Sigmund, and withdraws its offer. However, we expect your full cooperation should the royal family request it in the future.”
Carlyle heard the royal family's decision from the Watcher.
“Yes, fine.”
“Is that… all?”
“Is there something else?”
“…”
The Watcher squeezed his eyes shut at Carlyle's response.
What kind of person was he? His attitude showed not a shred of fear or reverence for the royal family.
“Well then, I'll be on my way.”
Carlyle didn't even give the Watcher time to respond, turning his back and disappearing as if there was nothing more to see.
“W-Wait… No.”
The Watcher, dumbfounded, stopped himself from calling Carlyle back.
The reality was that as long as Carlyle didn't openly insult the royal family, there was nothing the Watcher could do.
*Getting angry will only hurt me.*
His opponent was the good-for-nothing whom even the head of the Sigmund family had reportedly given up on.
A scoundrel had acted like a scoundrel; getting angry at him for it would only make him look foolish.
*My mission is complete. I should return at once.*
The Watcher decided to leave Decaron immediately, and so the matters of the commission ceremony and Evangeline were concluded.
A few days later.
“Oh, right.”
Carlyle casually mentioned to Evangeline, who was pouring him tea.
“You don't have to go. The Watcher told me a few days ago. The royal family withdrew their offer.”
“…You're telling me something so important only now?”
“I forgot.”
“…”
Hearing Carlyle's reply, Evangeline looked completely dumbfounded.
To forget such an important fact instead of telling her right away…
All the while, Evangeline, the person in question, had been worrying herself sick every day, thinking she might be dragged off to the capital.
“No need to make that face. Whether you heard it early or now, the result is the same.”
“But…”
“What?”
“I-It's nothing.”
“It's fine, just say it.”
“It's just that if you had told me a little earlier, I think I would have been able to rest easy sooner.”
“Ah. Now that you mention it, that makes sense. I'll keep that in mind for next time.”
Seeing Carlyle scratch the back of his head as if he hadn't even considered that, Evangeline squeezed her eyes shut.
Yes, I should have known better…
Maranello, who had been listening to Carlyle and Evangeline's conversation with a bitter smile, spoke up.
“Young Master, the family head will likely send an official notice this evening.”
“What?”
Carlyle, who had been drinking tea, suddenly scowled.
If Grand Duke Guntram had a reason to send his son Carlyle an official notice, it could only be for one thing…
“Looks like he won't be satisfied until he sends me to a place crawling with barbarians.”
“Young Master, what parent would want to send their child to a battlefield?”
“They wouldn't?”
Carlyle said this because it was the way of the Sigmund family.
To train in swordsmanship from a young age, become a knight upon reaching adulthood, march onto the battlefield, and fight against the barbarians.
Wasn't that the destiny of a Sigmund?
“No parent wants to send their child to war, Young Master. They do so only because it is the destiny given to those born and raised in this land.”
“So, in the end, it's because we're Northerners.”
“You are a Northerner yourself, Young Master, so you know this better than anyone, do you not?”
“Hmm.”
“This old man hopes that you will not misunderstand His Grace the Grand Duke, your father.”
“I get it, so stop nagging.”
Carlyle cut Maranello off before his lecture could continue, setting down his fork.
He had been about to enjoy a slice of cake with his tea, but the thought of going beyond the border, to a place swarming with barbarians, made him lose his appetite completely.
“He wouldn't send me somewhere dangerous, would he?”
“Unfortunately, Young Master, there are no safe places beyond the border.”
“…”
Carlyle squeezed his eyes shut at Maranello's words, but he didn't despair.
“Well, if he has any sense, he wouldn't send a good-for-nothing like me to a truly dangerous place. I'd only be a nuisance.”
“Heh heh.”
“He wouldn't really send his son to his death, would he?”
With that, Carlyle decided to put his mind at ease.
That evening.
Grand Duke Guntram sent an official notice via messenger, and Carlyle learned where he would be sent.
“…He wants me to go *there*?”
Carlyle couldn't believe his eyes.
The duty station written on the notice was… strange.
It was a region composed of rugged mountains and vast forests, densely packed with hundreds of small fortresses.
It was also an area where small-scale skirmishes erupted everywhere, to the point that not a single day passed in 365 days without combat.
A place where the blood never dried, it was called the [Blood-Soaked Land].
It was common for the masters of a fortress to change several times a day, a cursed battlefield that no one in history had ever managed to completely control.
Since the large-scale barbarian invasion had not yet begun, it was without a doubt the most perilous region at this time.