Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Brighton's Savior
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"This was resolved so quickly..."
"I can't even deny it. Seriously."
Brighton's leadership was nursing pounding headaches.
When Eugene announced he was heading off to deal with the Death Knight issue right after stabilizing Brighton, they had harbored some impure expectations deep down.
A Death Knight was evaluated as powerful and dangerous on the level of a high-tier monster.
There were even rumors that a single Death Knight, along with hundreds of ghouls, skeletons, and other undead under its command, had turned a major fortress into a wasteland.
So the guild masters figured that even if Eugene did resolve the incident, it would take quite some time—maybe he'd even fail and die in the process.
But to think he'd settle it in just one day.
"And a black mage was involved?"
"I saw the black mage's belongings myself. It's certain. There's no way something like that could have been created in there in just one day."
"Above all, Banneret Randolph and Knight Clay witnessed and experienced it firsthand, so we have no choice but to believe."
"Hmm..."
"Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. Whether we believe it or not isn't the issue anymore."
"Pardon?"
As the guild masters' gazes turned to him, the mayor spoke with a troubled expression.
"With clear evidence that a black mage was involved in the Death Knight matter, Sir Eugene is no longer simply the commander who occupied our city."
"What do you mean by that?"
The mayor let out a deep sigh in response to the guild masters, who still hadn't caught on.
"Sir Eugene is no longer an occupier—he's the hero who saved our Brighton from crisis. Public opinion among the citizens has completely swung in his favor. You dense fools."
"Pardon?"
"A black mage, a Death Knight, and hundreds of undead were lurking beneath our city. Do you think they would have stayed put forever without reason? They would have burst out eventually. What do you think would have happened to our city then?"
"......!"
The guild masters' faces paled instantly. Just imagining it was horrifying—what might have befallen Brighton.
"Now do you get it? Sir Eugene stopped that from happening. Tsk tsk."
"B-But the citizens don't know that part yet, do they?"
"Haha."
The mayor let out a hollow laugh at one guild master's words, then rose and opened the window.
"Take a look, everyone. What do you think the citizens out there are talking about right now?"
The guild masters hurried to the window.
Hundreds of people had gathered in the square outside the city hall.
A man clad in chain mail, his face hidden by a black hood, was passionately addressing the crowd.
"...the lord... did! And thus... he repelled them!"
It was too far to hear clearly, but the crowd cheered and applauded him whenever he paused.
"Mayor, who is that man?"
"Isn't that incitement?"
"Incitement my foot. It's Knight Clay. He's testifying about what happened in the underground sewers."
"Hmm!"
"By tomorrow, everyone in the city will know exactly what went down in the sewers. So now..."
The mayor continued bitterly, scanning the guild masters whose expressions had all hardened.
"It's over. We're part of the Crawlmarine County now—nothing left to do but rub our hands and wait."
Only after the mayor's words did the guild masters finally accept it completely.
Brighton, which had lived as a free city half by choice and half by force amid long chaos and war, was finally changing its fate.
* * *
"Please forgive my rudeness."
Banneret Randolph knelt on one knee and spoke in the most courteous tone imaginable.
Right after being freed from the black mage's curse, he had assumed Eugene and Galpredic were high nobles similar to him or perhaps one rank above.
But Cloy's cautious report, combined with seeing the two move freely under sunlight, forced him to retract that judgment immediately.
The mere fact that they could walk in daylight proved they outranked a High Lord.
Moreover, they were his—and Brighton's—benefactors.
As a knight and fellow child of the darkness, he had no choice but to show them absolute respect and reverence.
"No big deal. It happens. You were pretty capable as a Death Knight, and you know your honors too. Impressive."
"You're too kind, too kind."
Randolph humbly bowed his head deeply, while beside him, Clay knelt with impeccable courtesy and modesty.
'These are good guys.'
Eugene was pleased with the pair.
They outshone even the vampires from Mongard—not to mention Delmong—in first impressions. Quick on the uptake and exceedingly polite, to boot.
Of course, the best part was something else entirely.
"Kieet! Gold coins! Kihehehehe! Milord, milord! They're proper and real good kids, considerin'! Kieekie!"
Seeing the spirit swimming gleefully in the chest full of gold coins lifted Eugene's mood as well.
'Perfect.'
What comes must go, as they say.
Eugene decided to give Randolph and Clay their chance.
"Alright, Randolph. Clay filled you in roughly?"
"Yes. I heard that you occupied Brighton, Sir Eugene, and incorporated it into Crawlmarine County."
"Mm. We'll keep the current mayor in place for now. But changes are coming soon."
"A wise decision. I've heard there's a saying in the Roman Empire: New wine must be stored in new oak casks. Since you and Count Crawlmarine have taken Brighton, it's only right that a new leader recommended by the two of you should govern the city."
"Good point."
Nodding in satisfaction, Eugene probed casually.
"But we can't replace people right away. Why do you think that is? Be honest—no pressure."
After a moment's thought, Randolph replied cautiously.
"Then allow me my humble insight. I presume it's because you recognize that too sudden a change could spark confusion and discontent among the citizens. So you'll maintain the status quo for now, then reorganize after achieving your great endeavors. That's my guess."
"Excellent."
Eugene was a bit surprised.
What Randolph had just said matched almost perfectly with the plan he and Pitamoras had devised together.
"I figured a banneret was just skilled in knighthood, but you've got brains too."
"No, no. Compared to your brilliant strategy, I'm a drop in the ocean. Capturing the direct line of the Fransil family and their knights isn't something just anyone could do."
Come to think of it, he'd forgotten about Lorein and the Fransil family prisoners.
Lanslo and the Beowulf warriors were guarding them well, so no worries there.
"You know much about the Fransil family?"
Pitamoras knew mostly ancient history, so he was fuzzy on the current state of forces in Brantia claiming kingship under the Fransils.
Lanslo had left Brantia ages ago too, so his recent intel was spotty.
"They claim to be dukes, but to me, they're just a powerful warlord. Before the Book War, they were a strong baron at best. If we're talking bloodlines, Sir Liward—your honorable fallen comrade—has the better claim. But the Fransils..."
Randolph relayed everything he knew about the Fransil family.
'He's solid. Good.'
Having listened intently, Eugene made up his mind.
"Banneret Randolph."
"Yes. Speak."
"Ever thought of governing Brantia?"
"Pardon!?"
Eugene smiled at Randolph, whose reddish eyes shot wide open.
"Not right now—within a year at latest. And you wouldn't have to become Count Crawlmarine's vassal. No need to betray the Revoless Clan either, of course."
"Th-That means..."
"You'd serve the king. Banneret of the Revoless Clan and an honorable noble appointed by the King of Brantia. How's that?"
"......!"
Randolph's jaw dropped.
A banneret might be noble in vampire society, but in greater Brantia, it didn't count as true nobility.
Only families that endured across long ages—regardless of race—and received titles from a 'king,' no matter the dynasty, were genuine nobles.
Thus, even among Brantia's children of darkness, true nobles were few and far between.
Yet here was a chance for him to join their ranks, offered by one nobler than a High Lord.
No need to hesitate.
"I will follow you!"
Prostrating himself, Randolph replied in a voice brimming with joy.
"Kiee! Subordinate No. 3? Hey! I knew milord first over these kinfolk! Eoi!? So they'll line up gold coins on their own and build a golden castle..."
Thud. Kie...?
The spirit, along with its beloved gold coins, was trapped in the chest.
* * *
"If someone comes from the Fransil family, tell them to head to Liward Castle. And pass on that if they pull any nonsense, the prisoners' lives are mine to decide."
"As you command."
After planting the black dragon banners at city hall and the gates, Eugene left the deferential mayor behind and departed Brighton with his army.
He considered leaving some troops just in case, but advice from his three knights—especially Randolph—changed his mind.
"You've occupied it once already, so you can enter and exit Brighton anytime now. The mayor is sharp enough. Unless it's an army with overwhelming force that outmatches you, he'll cooperate. Besides, Brighton has witnessed your valor and might firsthand. If anything happens, they'll request your aid rather than betray you."
Definitely the right call recruiting Randolph.
It was a shame they couldn't bare their skin in daylight, but vampires barely felt heat or cold anyway, and armor solved that.
Plus, Brantia had far more cloudy, rainy days than sunny ones. No wonder it was the second-most vampire-populated nation after the Roman Empire.
"So what should we do? Command us."
Eugene glanced between Randolph and Clay before answering.
"Lanslo's handling all the mercenaries alone, which is a bit much. Bannerets know military tactics, right?"
"Of course. I was a knight even before my father took me in."
"Good. Split the forces with Lanslo—half each."
"Haha. Finally some relief. Looking forward to working with you, Sir Randolph."
"The honor is mine. I've always held the Lake Knight family in deep respect, sir."
Randolph showed deference to Lanslo upon hearing the name "Durlac."
Of course, Lanslo's status in Eugene's army—comparable to Galpredic—played a role too.
"Then I'll go meet the mercenary captains."
"Go ahead."
Randolph and Clay rode off toward the following mercenaries.
Watching them, Lanslo grinned and said,
"Quick-witted and capable. And in Brantia—no other kingdom mind you—no mercenary would mind serving under a vampire banneret."
In Kayler Kingdom terms, it was like the top knight from a prestigious house like Archibald or Winslow.
That was why Brighton's mayor and leaders had formed a search party when Randolph, cursed into a Death Knight, went missing.
A vampire banneret residing in a Brantian city was the finest knight—and potential supreme commander in wartime.
"By the way, Sir Eugene, about that High Lord above that guy... Ah! Never mind, irrelevant now."
Lanslo scratched his head mid-sentence. Vampire High Lord or not, he'd have to obey Eugene's orders.
"Heh heh! Later, they can butter us up with thanks for the lend. If they complain, I'll sort 'em myself."
"Kehehehe! I'll help out then!"
"Yeah. Just hawk up a loogie right in their eyes."
"Kinfolk know the drill. Ptoo! Ptui! Ptui ptui ptui! Hehe! Dead-on accuracy. They call it Spit-on-Spit-Hit!"
"Ooo! Sounds like a finishing move."
"Kehehehehet!"
At some point, the kinfolk and spirit had hit it off, cackling away.
Lanslo barely stifled a laugh and sidled up to Eugene.
"Speaking of, sir. That black mage in the sewers—said something before vanishing, right?"
"I've been thinking about it. He seemed to know about the Bartla Duke family's relics. And he was shocked that two of them were with me."
"Pardon?"
In truth, Eugene had three of the four relics. But at the time, he'd loaned Wolfslaughter to Galpredic, so the black mage thought he only had the Magic Shield and Madarajika.
Even so, the mage died muttering in some strange tongue, "Unbelievable," and Eugene naturally pieced it together.
"Looks like the Bartla Duke family's relics were scattered by someone's scheme."
And Eugene suspected that someone was connected to the black mage who commanded the undead twin-headed ogre—and this latest one he'd slain.
(To be continued in the next chapter)