Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Grand Enthronement Ceremony
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The enthronement ceremony was held with great splendor.
Eugene had said it could be simple, but the elders of the ducal family objected.
The elders insisted that they had to borrow money if necessary to hold a proper ceremony befitting a duke.
Of course, Eugene scolded them, asking what nonsense they were spouting when they had no money like beggars, and the elders flushed red with shame.
Just as it was decided to hold a modest ceremony according to Eugene's original plan, an unexpected "white knight" appeared.
It was the chief merchant Aud and his fellow merchants.
“If you permit it, we will contribute funds to help cover the costs of the enthronement.”
“Thanks to Your Grace the Duke, we’ve made a fortune. Please give us a chance to repay your kindness.”
The nobles of the ducal family were so moved by the benevolence of the merchants—known as money ghosts—that tears welled in their eyes.
But Eugene was indifferent.
Unlike the nobles of the ducal family, who were still steeped in the fading glory and status of the past and oblivious to the ways of the world, he knew exactly why the merchants were making such an offer.
“Even so, I can’t give you exclusive rights to goods coming from across the continent. However, after consulting with the Mungard Merchant Guild, I’ll allow you to take a certain share.”
“We are grateful!”
“We will repay Your Grace the Duke’s generosity. Just say the word, and we’ll support you with anything.”
Eugene added one more thing to the delighted merchants.
“In return, lower the prices on supplies if my army grows larger.”
“H-How much of a reduction are you thinking, exactly?”
“If it exceeds a thousand, cut it by two tenths from current prices.”
“We gladly accept Your Grace the Duke’s proposal.”
The merchants beamed with joy.
A thousand would mean tripling their current numbers. Even if Eugene swept up every mercenary in the region, it was an impossible figure.
If Eugene seized control of all of southwest Brantia, it might be feasible, but they didn’t think that would happen anytime soon.
‘Even if it somehow becomes possible, we can gouge them plenty until then.’
“We’ll do our utmost! With the finest quality and credit! We’ll follow Your Grace the Duke to the end!”
“Good. Very trustworthy.”
“Hehe! We are honored.”
Aud and the merchants grinned broadly at Eugene’s praise.
But three days after the lavish enthronement ceremony ended, their joy vanished without a trace.
Galpredic had returned from Mungard with a force of eight hundred men.
“C-Crazy…”
Seeing the grand army that easily surpassed a thousand in total, Aud’s face drained of color.
“You promised, right? A two-tenths cut.”
“Ah…”
He keenly realized that there was a flying vampire above the leaping merchants.
* * *
“Truly impressive! Don’t you think so, Lord Durak?”
“Indeed. I’ve never seen an army this massive myself.”
Luke and Ranslo couldn’t hide their awe and admiration.
With dozens of flags fluttering in the wind and over a thousand troops arrayed in formation, the sight was nothing short of spectacular.
“Heh heh! About forty knights and two hundred heavy infantry.”
“Is that so?”
Eugene looked where Galpredic pointed.
Most of the mounted knights were from Maren and the Kalsbagen Peninsula, faces he recognized.
“All the knights are fully equipped with plate mail, and even the mercenaries from Maren are wearing chain mail or plate coats. The branch manager’s lady in Maren really put in the effort.”
To support Eugene’s Brantia expedition, Prechella and the Feilin Merchant Group had invested enormous sums.
And Maren City, home to some of the finest armor workshops in the Kingdom of Kailer, had provided high-quality, sturdy gear at bargain prices to the knights and mercenaries departing for Brantia.
It was undoubtedly motivated by future profits from Brantia, but it was undeniably generous support.
“How’s the organization?”
“We sorted it out on the march here.”
“No complaints?”
“Kuh! All the cocky bastards who wouldn’t listen are gone. The rest are beside themselves with Master’s fame. Oh, and this fellow was a huge help too. A holy knight lives up to the name.”
“You flatter me. It was all Lord Galpredic.”
Galpredic patted his shoulder, and Edmund smiled a bit bashfully.
But Eugene was convinced that Edmund had been a major help, just as expected.
No matter his renown in Maren and the Kalsbagen Peninsula, once word spread that he was a vampire, plenty might turn away.
But a holy knight—honorable, brave, and devout—who had joined the Brantia expedition during the Prayer Book War was following the vampire Eugene?
There could be no surer endorsement.
“Galpredic.”
When Eugene called lowly, Galpredic sidled right up to him.
“You definitely passed the message to Orthos on Roderick Archipelago?”
“Heh heh heh. Sent the fastest ship. Told them to use the Poca lads to sink them outright. And any lucky survivors? Do whatever—enslave them or whatever.”
Those who crossed the sea with ulterior motives and turned back would be sunk in Roderick waters.
If the malcontents chased off by Galpredic headed to the Kingdom of Kailer, it was obvious what gossip they’d spread.
Rumors would breed rumors, potentially putting his strong supporters—the Earl of Winslon family, the Marquis of Archibald, and even the two port cities—in jeopardy.
“Weeds aren’t pulled before they grow. They shouldn’t even take root in the first place.”
“Keuh! That’s why I like you, Master.”
“As expected of our lord—ruthless through and through. Mercy? Forgiveness? Sweet nonsense like that has no place with him. Kihehehehe!”
“Uhuhuhu!”
“Hohoho!”
The spirit and two vampires chuckled sinisterly, shoulders shaking.
“Then let’s go.”
“Got it.”
Galpredic turned first with a smirk.
Surveying the grand army—pure combatants numbering a thousand, plus the chief merchant caravan bringing it to twelve hundred—he bellowed.
“March out!”
Uoooooooh!!!
The thunderous cheers echoed across the skies of Bartla.
* * *
“Lord Sitem.”
“Yes?”
When the Lord of North Volta called, Lord Sitem turned his head.
“Your territory is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Why do you ask?”
“Well… I was curious how much you plan to prepare. Have you decided who to send?”
“Hmm.”
Lord Sitem smacked his lips.
For four days, the nobles who had attended the enthronement had traveled with the new Duke of Bartla’s army.
And true to his word, His Grace the Duke visited each noble’s territory. Families that hadn’t attended in person—sending only direct kin or proxies—faced outright iron fists.
Naturally, none dared object or resist.
The Duke’s justification was impeccable, but above all, no noble could flaunt pride before a massive army including heavily armored knights and beastkin warriors.
In the end, not only the lords themselves but all direct noble kin had to emerge before the gates, kneel before the Duke’s horse, and kiss the instep of his foot.
Treasures equivalent to a year’s income from each territory were loaded onto the Duke’s wagons, and as tokens of loyalty oaths, the eldest sons and dozens of slaves from each family were taken into his service.
The families hadn’t been ruined, but they’d stagger for years from the blow.
In contrast, lords like North Volta and Sitem, who had attended the enthronement personally, received the Duke’s “generous” consideration and mercy.
His Grace took only moderate tribute and took direct kin into service only if the lord wished.
-You lot got lucky.
Recalling the cold smile of Duke Yan Eugene Bartla, who truly kept his promises, the two lords shuddered involuntarily.
“For now, I plan to send half a year’s income from my territory and my second son.”
“Your second son? Money’s one thing, but wasn’t he set to squire for Lord Minros?”
“Ha! Is Lord Minros the issue now? Think, Durak, think. Moreover, that man revering the Duke like the heavens is Count Cromarin. Whichever it is, having my son as their squire would honor our house, no?”
“Hmm. Fair enough…”
“So you should think hard too. His Grace may have given a choice, but I reckon he’ll see this as a test.”
“Hmm. Suppose so…?”
Lord North Volta swallowed dryly, gazing at Eugene’s back—far ahead on horseback—with worried eyes.
Then he glanced elsewhere furtively before speaking lowly.
“By the way, who’s that young lady? She seems glued to Count Cromarin’s side whenever I look. Fiancée, maybe? The armor makes her look like a squire.”
“Dunno. Haven’t paid much attention.”
With so many people and his own neck on the line, Lord Sitem had no bandwidth for such trivia.
“Hmm. Hey. Come here a sec.”
Lord North Volta, cocking his head, called to a Brantia mercenary marching right behind them.
“Yes. You called, my lord?”
“That young lady by Count Cromarin. Who is she? The count’s squire?”
“Ah, her? Lord Eugene—no, His Grace Duke Bartla’s prisoner.”
“What? P-Prisoner?”
“Yes. The knight beside her is a prisoner too.”
Lord North Volta gaped ahead incredulously.
“No, why leave prisoners so free? And why’s the count so chummy with them?”
“Well, she’s direct kin from the Fransil family.”
“Fransil… Gasp?”
“The lords of the east. The family facing the sun?”
Even Lord Sitem, who’d shown little interest, widened his eyes, and the mercenary nodded.
“I don’t know fancy titles, but yeah, she’s Lady Lorein, youngest daughter of Lord Fransil. She went on knight-errantry, challenged His Grace the Duke, and got utterly crushed. Became a prisoner and came along. If that’s all, my lords, I’ll be off.”
“Y-Yes.”
As the mercenary bowed and withdrew, the two stared blankly at Luke and Lorein in disbelief.
Their duke—to whom they’d pledged loyalty half by choice, half by force—was truly beyond imagination.
Not content with commanding this vast army, he’d captured direct kin from the Fransil family—one of Brantia’s mightiest throne contenders—and kept her as a prisoner?
Where did this man even think his limits were…?
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Lord North Volta gasped in realization. He steeled his expression and turned.
“Lord Sitem. I’ve decided.”
“W-What?”
“My second son and youngest daughter to His Grace. The boy as squire, the girl as Count Cromarin’s concubine or whatever.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes. Deadly serious.”
Lord Sitem eyed the fired-up Lord North Volta in astonishment and finally retorted.
“Your youngest daughter’s only eight this year? Have you lost your mind?”
“What does it matter? In five years, she’ll be betrothal age.”
“No, even so.”
“Ha! Lord Sitem, you were planning to send a daughter too while claiming just your second son? Worried mine’s younger and you’d lose the spot?”
“Have you gone mad? How little do you think of me to say that!?”
“No, then why…”
The two lords, not on bad terms before, began jabbing fingers and raising voices.
As competition for loyalty among the Bartla ducal vassals kicked into high gear, the spirit—who’d been snooping around for fun—zipped excitedly toward them.
“Kiheee! Here comes~ Number One! Lord Eugene’s loyal minion Number One~ Ten gold coins~ Just ten gold coins~ And I, Number One loyal minion, will hook you up with squire Number Two~ Zzaaa~ Fifteen gold coins~”
Drooling over their purses, the greedy spirit hawked like a peddler—though unseen and unheard anyway.
But.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
The two lords, on the verge of grabbing collars, froze and looked around.
“D-Did you hear something just now?”
“Huh? You too? Yeah, me too. Some terribly wicked, sinister voice…”
“Kieeek!?”
“Gasp!”
“W-What!?”
As the lords startled, the “wicked and sinister” spirit circling them like a gnat fled in panic.
“M-Meeting? Those humans heard my voice? Why? How?”
Ranslo, who’d watched the whole thing while stifling laughter, spoke up.
“Call it earnest desire? Lives made of mana like you can manifest will if sincere feelings grow deep and strong. You evolve following your pact partner.”
“Kiet!? For real?”
“Yep. Usually it’s pure love or staunch faith toward the pact holder, but yours is just intense greed for money and riches. Keup!”
“Kiet!?”
The spirit’s wings quivered in shock.
“S-So from now on, even those humans might hear me?”
“Could happen, depending.”
“Kieee.”
It seemed embarrassed, ashamed.
“Love it! Now I can really squeeze out silver, gold, jewels, all treasures! Kiet! Kieet!”
…No.
(To be continued)