Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The North, Land of the Barbarians
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North, the Land of the Barbarians
No other words were written anywhere in the letter.
It was the extremely simple message that something was amiss in the north, with the barbarian tribes stirring.
But Sion had a rough grasp of the man named Helen Hynes.
The scant detailed information meant verification was still ongoing for the rest, and since this had been sent as an official letter, these two points were undoubtedly facts.
“Is this all of the separate letter from Helen—no, Master Hynes?”
“Yes.
Oh, and he said he processed the carcasses of ground monsters that griffins like into feed for them and sent it along with the goods to cover this payment.”
It seemed he’d heard about griffin breeding and come up with something helpful on his own.
Sion hadn’t exactly asked to be saved, but he’d secretly thought it might be necessary, so having it handled without request was convenient.
He couldn’t help thinking how much easier life was with politically powerful allies.
“What about the capital?”
“Business as usual.
They’ve fully cleaned house with the Kashgar Count family, and everyone even remotely connected has been hauled in for investigation.
Fortunately, no other families involved in treason turned up.”
Of course not.
Kashgar hadn’t plotted treason to begin with.
They’d just played along in a useful play on this side, gotten labeled as actors, and forced offstage.
‘Still, there’s a collaborator inside the palace—that hasn’t changed.
While the elves schemed and worked through the Hynes Guild, someone had to covertly cover for them.
Has Princess Vanessa not rooted them out yet?’
To be precise, he couldn’t know the situation.
This young man was just a member of the Hynes Guild, not a royal envoy speaking for the palace.
Sion resolved that if he went to the capital, he’d definitely bring it up with Vanessa.
“Oh, and this is just some free info.”
“Hm?”
Sion waited with a what-is-it expression at the young man’s words.
“They say your popularity among the kingdom’s nobility is huge, Young Lord.”
“...Me?
Seriously?”
“Yes.
Judging by your face, you didn’t see it coming—surely you know why, though?”
*If I knew, I wouldn’t look confused, you idiot.*
Sion tilted his head slightly and shot him a sideways glare, prompting the young man to wave his hands frantically.
“I’m kidding, kidding!
Of course it’s obvious.
You’re a war hero, starred as the highlight of the royal party—the pinnacle of noble society—and word’s spread far and wide about your dazzling eloquence, musical talent, and singing there.”
“...”
Thinking of some bastard officer’s letter dramatized, and strumming a lute to a *Yain Era* song circulating across the kingdom made Sion’s chest swell with embarrassment.
‘Why the hell are they blabbing it everywhere?
Fucking legends.
Shit...’
Sion scratched his cheek against the rising shame, but the Hynes Guild man mistook it for pleasure and eagerly continued.
“And that’s not all?
Beating Nudia’s Chess King, discovering a slave market on your way back to your territory—not only that, but returning unjustly hoarded wealth to the subraces.
What noble lady or knight could hear that and not have her heart race?”
*Bullshit.*
Sion spat internally and waved him off to call it quits.
To the clueless, it sounded like a hero’s tale, but to him, it was a spine-tingling survival story—a full documentary.
“Anyway, we’ve delivered the goods perfectly, confirmed you’re safe and sound, so I’ve completed the guild master’s orders to the letter.
If you’re ever passing through the capital, stop by Hynes Guild headquarters...”
“I was planning to head there soon anyway.”
“Pardon?
Oh, do you have business in the capital?”
Not exactly.
Sion shrugged to that effect.
He just had a hunch someone from the palace would come calling soon.
And so, among the Hynes Guild’s goods, the wheat, barley, and other foodstuffs went to storage, while the unappetizing monster-carcass feed went to the griffins.
Sion earnestly hoped the creatures would grow into something like a Panther, Tomcat, Super Hornet, or whatever.
‘Tell the guild master: Let’s meet in the capital soon and talk.’
‘Yes, Young Lord.’
Wrapping up with the Hynes Guild and checking griffin breeding progress, Sion encountered a royal messenger in the afternoon delivering the king’s decree.
The official reason was to commend the Margrave of Klauzen Territory for guarding the border in times of peace and looming war alike, and to request minor support for the investigation team they’d dispatch regarding the recent monster raid.
Commendations were routine, and dispatching investigators for a monster raid was a serious matter—only natural.
But in a highly secretive meeting with Margrave Lichten and Sion, the messenger handed Sion a separate letter.
Stamped with the royal seal—clearly from the royals.
The messenger delivered it wordlessly and withdrew, duty done.
“...What’s that?”
Margrave Lichten looked puzzled.
If the royals had a message for Klauzen, they could’ve sent it with the commendation and investigation notice—why two letters?
“Looks like something I’ll have to read myself, Father.”
“Father?”
“It’s probably a letter Princess Vanessa sent secretly, without Prince Erader knowing.”
Obviously.
Erader was the frontrunner, but Vanessa was a contender for the throne too—second in line after King Edgar IV.
If such a princess suddenly wrote to Klauzen, Erader and his faction would eye it suspiciously.
‘She wants to avoid needless suspicion.
Smart princess, as expected.’
Of course, he wouldn’t mind if she openly challenged Erader.
Knocking Erader out early meant no watching him drag the kingdom’s elite troops and famed knights to “establish merits” in a continental war by charging into demon lands, only to return with pyrrhic glory.
‘Even took the kingdom’s crack troops and got nothing but wounds.
Useless.
A total landmine, that guy.’
The prince had even demanded he sing out of nowhere at the palace before—turning a potential ally into a full enemy.
Sion hadn’t meddled in royal affairs to avoid backlash or hassle, but if it kept up, he pondered tossing out some bait.
In any case, Sion opened the letter and read its contents carefully.
‘Similar to Helen’s, probably.’
Expecting a brief note, the opening made not just Sion but Margrave Lichten go, “Hm?”
—Hearing you were ambushed on your way back startled me, but then word came you personally went out to repel the monster attack—my heart nearly stopped.
—
“...?”
Sion cocked his head.
The earlier ambush report likely came via the royal knights dispatched to Viscount Konean over the slave market—they’d have heard then.
But how did she know he’d stepped up during *this* monster raid...?
“Father?”
“It’s true.
I only reported the bare facts as Margrave—that you were here.”
“...”
“Didn’t expect the princess to scold you over it, though.
Sounds like some grudge lingers.
Did something happen at the capital?”
“Nothing to me.”
He wanted no entanglements with Vanessa.
Power was nice, but get too close and you burn.
Best to keep distance, bask in its warm light, brag to those shivering far off, strut a bit, and suggest they sidestep for a taste.
—Losing you would benefit the kingdom not at all, so take special care.
Even Father worries on this point.
A fine commander knows to value his soldiers but also to avoid rashly leading from the front.
—
*I don’t wanna lead from the front either.
I wanna live long.
But assessing and judging in person is best for these ‘experts’ here.*
Muttering that inwardly, Sion focused on the next lines.
—Enough personal talk.
Regarding the north you mentioned before, I’ve used every means to investigate thoroughly.
Recently, a quite reliable report came in.
The north’s scattered barbarians have formed two large groups and may invade the kingdom’s border.
—
Two large groups—likely Aegir led by the “Daughter of Winter” and Karta led by the “Khan.”
Vanessa’s intel net hadn’t reached their names yet, but Sion already knew them.
‘Karta hates the kingdom; Aegir seeks peace.
These two clashed from here on, reaching out to northern rebel nobles, where Kim Yu-hyun first met them while crushing traitors.’
That’s where Kim Yu-hyun struggled—thanks to the Daughter of Winter and Khan.
Khan especially fought the then-Kim Yu-hyun nearly evenly, leaving a fierce impression on the kingdom and him as top contributor.
‘No northern rebellion, so now they’ll just fight each other?
Or team up to raid the northern kingdom?
That’s the issue.’
The Daughter of Winter’s nature meant she’d never welcome open war with the kingdom.
Guerrilla warfare favored them, but an enraged kingdom sending regulars to burn villages and force open battle would cost them dearly—she knew that, wise woman that she was.
Conversely, the Khan leading Karta argued they should instill fear in the weak kingdom folk so they’d offer tribute without pressure.
Dismissible drivel from anyone else—but from a true powerhouse, it carried weight.
‘Gotta head north soon.’
Not just the north—per original plot, while Kim Yu-hyun bloodied himself with northern barbarians, trouble brewed south too.
Pirates, near-vanished, suddenly seized sea lanes, blockading Hispania’s routes.
‘Obvious who dragged peaceful seas back to pirate age.
Pointy-ears’ doing.’
The Holy Prussen Kingdom was for celestials—no work needed.
Nudia’s surgery was done; the royals rotted on the brink.
Only Hispania left—plunge it in chaos, redirect rage to demons, and their first goal—a demon-free continent—achieved.
‘...Everyone’s got a plausible plan.’
Until they get slapped.
—The situation seems grave, hence this letter.
If Brother’s people saw us exchanging letters, they’d misunderstand, so I send this secretly.
Father knows and understands my actions.
What do you make of this?
You foresaw it roughly and told me to watch the north, didn’t you?
—
“Sion.
Did you really tell Princess Vanessa to watch the north?”
“More or less.”
“...You foresaw the barbarians stirring?”
“Just a hunch.
I figured the higher up you are, the more you prepare for the worst, not the best.”
She might call it needless speculation, pointless worry.
But Sion preferred overpreparing and deflating versus spacing out and eating a fatal blow—no thanks.
—The situation is grave.
Thus, I ask you come to the capital at once.
Even if you must return to Klauzen right after, come here and give me face-to-face advice.
I need your help, Sion Klauzen.
Please don’t refuse this request.
I await the day we meet and speak again.
—
That ended Princess Vanessa’s letter.
Surprised by the length, but Sion counted it fortunate.
Without an invitation to the capital, broaching the topic awkwardly would’ve been tough—she’d handed him the excuse.
“...What’ll you do?”
At Margrave Lichten’s question, Sion shrugged like it was obvious.
“A request from the princess.
With my past rudeness, I can’t very well ignore it.”
“Right.
That’s proper.
Don’t worry about territory affairs—go.
We’ll care for the griffins as best we can.”
“Understood, Father.”
“So, when do you plan to depart for the capital?
And personnel?”
“Given the issue, sooner the better.
Tomorrow afternoon at earliest, day after morning latest.
Same group as last capital trip, plus that female squire of Sir Rishikida Amstel you mentioned before.”
Margrave Lichten nodded and added a few knights and guards.
Overkill already, but a margrave house needed minimum show.
That settled, Sion headed off to explain the capital trip—or farther—to his people.
‘Off to meet the Khan, huh.
Kinda nerve-wracking.’
First image: a reader’s fanart of Kim Yu-hyun’s female version.
Uncannily like him in deeds, skill, speech, aura—the villain, one of the northern barbarian chiefs better known as Khan: Jeanne Temujin.
‘Monster after monster.
Fuck, this ain’t some mystical expert’s travelogue.
And this monster’s no immature junior—she’s a full-aura barbarian big sis!
Shit!’
Truly, the ultimate villain life—no dull moments.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
8-day streak complete.
Aimed for 10, but this damn reflux esophagitis flared up again, driving me nuts.
Sorry for the rough condition—hope you’re satisfied with 8.
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