Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Ah, This Is What They Call 'Sacrifice'
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“Vice Commander.
What in the world is going on here?”
“Tell me about it.
This is a first for me, too.”
Vice Commander Schumacher of the Royal Knights let out a sigh as he responded to his subordinate knight’s question.
The royal capital was already in turmoil from the Kashugar Count family incident when another piece of news flew into the palace.
“...Heh.”
The vice commander still couldn’t forget the expression on King Edgar IV’s face when he received the report.
His mouth was smiling, but his eyes flashed with murderous intent, and the letter in his hand was crumpled so badly it had lost all shape.
Immediately after, Edgar IV mobilized no less than three companies of the Royal Knights—troops that rarely stirred from their posts—and ordered them to head to Viscount Conean’s territory.
On top of that, with one company of Royal Knights on the move, the capital defense forces that naturally accompanied them brought the total to around five hundred troops.
‘Your Majesty.
If you pull too many from the Royal Knights and even the capital defense forces, it could leave the capital vulnerable.’
Prince Erader had tried to dissuade Edgar IV, but this time Princess Vanessa stepped in to block her brother.
‘Brother.
A slave market was discovered in Viscount Conean’s territory.
And before that, Young Lord Sion Klauzen was ambushed by unidentified assailants.’
‘Which is exactly why we need to bolster the capital’s defenses!’
‘No.
This is precisely the time to show the world the kingdom’s strength.’
The capital defense forces and Royal Knights were the finest indicator of a nation’s power.
The elite troops stationed there minimized unnecessary exposure but seized opportunities to display their might openly, proclaiming to the world: This is our strength!
Erader was worried that enemies might target the capital while the elites were away.
Vanessa, on the other hand, wanted to flaunt that the royals wouldn’t blink an eye no matter what the enemies did—they could dispatch massive forces without hesitation.
‘And there’s one more reason, Father, and Brother.’
‘One more reason?’
‘The Klauzen family has guarded our borders for generations, serving as the kingdom’s shield.
If their son is ambushed by unidentified foes and the royals treat it lightly, it could break the loyalty of nobles who have faithfully served the kingdom.’
‘Hmmm.’
Edgar IV fell into thought.
The Kashugar Counts had meekly opened their gates without any resistance.
They still knew nothing about the unidentified force, thanks to Count Sefer, so no detailed information had come to light. At least their raids hadn’t continued.
‘But they targeted a Klauzen heir.’
If they couldn’t take the head, they’d sever the limbs.
Edgar IV bit his lip hard.
A king’s ultimate goal was to protect the entire nation from external threats and internal chaos.
As the supreme ruler, his duties were clear: strongly support allies and keep them close; relentlessly attack enemies to annihilate them or force their submission.
‘Vice Commander Schumacher.’
‘Yes, Your Majesty!’
‘Go yourself.
Thoroughly investigate the slave market discovered in Viscount Conean’s territory and uncover the truth!
And make it crystal clear to those plotting against Hispanya’s solidity and our loyal subjects that the kingdom’s blades are gleaming!’
‘I shall obey!’
That was what had happened just a short while ago.
Schumacher turned to look behind him.
When the capital’s defense forces and Royal Knights marched out, it either signaled all-out war between nations, a massive incident sparking armed conflict, or a simple show of the kingdom’s vitality—and the sight was always spectacular.
On top of that, they had covered a distance that should’ve taken nearly a week in just three days.
There was good reason they were called the kingdom’s elites.
“Vice Commander, Viscount Conean’s territory is just ahead.”
“Any word from the advance team that left before the main force?”
“Young Lord Sion Klauzen has subdued Viscount Conean, who resisted once the truth came out, and is awaiting us with his retinue.”
“...The young lord’s guards weren’t that numerous, were they?”
As Schumacher pondered this, he let out an “Ah” and a sigh.
Risikida Amshel, the high-ranking knight who had surrendered from Nudia.
She alone could’ve handled the viscount’s knights with ease.
Of course, the truth was that one deranged man had drawn his sword, found it unsatisfying, and personally delivered a fist-based education.
“And more than half of the slave market workers acting on the viscount’s orders were crippled, with some outright dead.”
“Hmmm.
That could pose a problem.”
“But the one who did it wasn’t a knight under Young Lord Sion Klauzen—it was some other man.
They say it’s someone you’ve seen in the capital a few times...”
“Vice Commander.
We’ve arrived.”
“Two companies head straight to Viscount Conean’s castle.
The rest circle the territory with the capital forces to check for anything suspicious.”
A slave market strictly forbidden by the kingdom had been found, yet the viscount’s territory was relatively calm.
That made sense—the market wasn’t near the commoners’ living areas but right under the viscount’s castle, so it felt distant to them.
“The guests from the capital have finally all arrived.”
Normally, Viscount Conean should’ve greeted them, but the one emerging from the castle was not the territory’s lord but Sion Klauzen.
“Young Lord Sion Klauzen.
I’m Schumacher Tenber.”
“Oh, Sir Schumacher? The vice commander of the Royal Knights? A high-ranking knight being so humble to a mere noble’s son is too much.”
“Mere noble? The Klauzen family is the shield protecting Hispanya.
And you, young lord, are the hero who led us to victory against Nudia. This courtesy is only natural.”
“Haha!”
By showing respect and humility, the other side reciprocated.
If he’d clumsily said, “Oh, then should I drop the formalities?” it would’ve been an instant cutoff, but as befitting the Royal Knights’ vice commander, he was skilled not just in swordsmanship but in navigating social graces.
‘Too rigid and you’ll burst from the pressure.
Exactly!’
After a brief exchange of greetings with the vice commander, Sion dove straight into explaining the situation.
On their way back to Klauzen territory, they’d been suddenly ambushed, wrecking their carriage, injuring several soldiers, and badly laming the horses.
So they’d detoured to nearby Viscount Conean’s territory to rest and request supplies, only for the viscount to suddenly invite him to the castle.
“But it turned out he was scheming to pull strings.
He’d heard some rumors about me and figured I was weak to women, so he offered异種族 slaves.”
“...Not even on the border or in some remote outpost, but in Viscount Conean’s territory, not far from the capital—a異種族 slave market? I’m speechless and furious.”
“I felt the same.
When I said I’d report it to the capital, he pressured me, claiming I might falsely confess to ties with the slave market.”
“Outrageous!
Daring to threaten the kingdom’s war hero?”
Schumacher looked ready to charge out and finish the viscount on the spot.
Sion was impressed enough to want to applaud.
‘Knights are so much easier to deal with than nobles.’
If nobles had heard his story, they might’ve suspected secret dealings between Klauzen and Conean instead of raging like this.
But for knights like Schumacher, battles, victories, honor, and grand words like “hero” mattered far more than power struggles or shady trades.
“Please calm down, Vice Commander Schumacher.”
“Hoo.
My apologies.
Such rudeness before you, young lord.”
“Not at all.
Just thinking about it boils my blood.”
“Where is Viscount Conean?
I need to see him immediately.”
Sion informed him that the viscount was currently confined in the castle.
Schumacher strode off, declaring he’d go right away.
‘Threatening a war hero and running a forbidden異種族 slave ring.
This damned noble is hell-bent on ruining the kingdom!
Fine, I’ll end him myself!’
...But Schumacher soon had to retract his resolve.
The viscount, supposedly locked up for his crimes, wasn’t confined—he simply couldn’t move.
“I-Is this really Viscount Conean?”
“As you can see, he’s in quite a state.”
The man who’d reeked of nobility just days ago was no more.
He’d been beaten so badly his eyes were swollen shut like ping-pong balls, his body covered in deep bruises, his nose twisted, and his front teeth gone entirely.
No viscount with a decent title should look like this.
Worst of all, there were numerous sword wounds across his body, but Schumacher knew no man who could fight on with that level of injury.
“What happened?
He’s a criminal, yes, but who could reduce a kingdom noble to this...?”
The moment Vice Commander Schumacher turned to Sion and opened his mouth.
“It was me.”
The man standing behind Sion stepped forward.
Naturally, it was Kim Yu-hyun.
“...And you are?”
“Vice Commander Schumacher.
This is Master Raido’s disciple and Miss Lucia’s guard...”
“I’ve seen him in the palace.
Even if he’s Master Raido’s disciple, he’s no noble, let alone royal blood.
How could such a man brutalize a kingdom noble like this? I must ask.”
Schumacher wasn’t angry about the viscount being harmed.
Only the royals could punish him, so it irked him that some unknown nobody—not even a great noble—had dared to challenge that authority.
“He was spouting nonsense, so I gave it back to him in kind.”
Kim Yu-hyun had been assigned to watch Viscount Conean until the investigators from the capital arrived.
Naturally, once the viscount regained his senses, he’d spewed more drivel at Kim Yu-hyun, who—furious—had turned the viscount’s body into a thoroughly “miserable” mess.
“...Young Lord Sion.
The viscount is guilty, no doubt, but only the three marquises or higher can inflict this level of bodily punishment.
You do know that, right?”
“I do.”
“And this same man crippled and killed some of the viscount’s knights and private soldiers involved?”
Sion nodded, and Schumacher continued: even officially within kingdom territory, harming citizens as an outsider was problematic.
“Then you must realize we’ll have to take this man to the capital for now.”
He was euphemistically saying Kim Yu-hyun had committed a crime and wouldn’t be overlooked.
Lucia, who’d come with them, moved to speak, but Sion stopped her.
“If he committed a crime, he should face punishment.”
“Exactly, Young Lord Sion.”
“Then you’ll have to escort not just Kim Yu-hyun but me to the capital as well.”
“...Pardon?”
Vice Commander Schumacher looked utterly bewildered, as if asking what this sudden nonsense was.
It wasn’t just him—Lucia, Risikida, and even Kim Yu-hyun seemed slightly taken aback.
Undeterred, Sion continued in a remarkably calm voice.
“Officially, Miss Lucia and her guard Kim Yu-hyun are part of our group.
Thus, any words or actions from them fall under my responsibility as leader.
Isn’t that right?”
“W-Well, yes, but...”
“Plus, I failed to assess the situation and left Kim Yu-hyun near the viscount—that’s my fault too.
So if punishment is due, it should fall on me, or both of us.”
“Young Lord Sion!”
“Master!”
Lucia and Risikida urgently tried to stop him, insisting it wasn’t necessary, but he shook his head.
“If we hold those who did right to strict standards, then I fall under that too.
That’s only fair, right?
Right, Vice Commander Schumacher?”
“...”
Schumacher swallowed hard.
Sion spoke with perfect courtesy and decorum, but his conclusion was singular.
Either overlook what happened to Viscount Conean, or arrest the war hero who’d also uncovered the slave market and drag him to the capital in chains.
‘He’s putting me in a tough spot.’
Faced with such an ambiguous question, Schumacher could only hesitate.
‘I need to make sure they understand.’
Sion, for his part, had said it with intent.
To emphasize to Schumacher and the capital knights that Conean was a criminal.
And to Kim Yu-hyun: “He’s an ally. Don’t shoot!”