Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Crushing Disobedience
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As he headed toward the western coast where the Baiman Orcs were expected to land, Eugene continued summoning the knights and nobles along the route.
However, while those from the Kailer Kingdom all readily heeded his summons, the Brantian nobles were mostly indifferent.
The reason was simple.
They were all under the influence of the Fransil family and knew little about Eugene.
“Lord Arkwood has refused the summons. He says he’s willing to provide military funds and provisions if you wish.”
“Lord Kesman is the same. He says conscripting troops is difficult without Lord Fransil’s permission.”
“They didn’t even recognize His Majesty’s name or the royal crest. Only after invoking Your Grace the Duke and Master Prabow’s honorable names did they reluctantly open the gates—and even then, their response was lackluster.”
“They even doubted if the Baiman Orcs were truly invading. Even when we said Your Grace had gone north and seen it yourself, they didn’t believe us.”
As the knights dispatched to deliver the summons returned one by one with their reports, wrinkles formed between Eugene’s brows.
“How lamentable! Your Grace, these men aren’t worthy of being called knights. Send me. A conversation with my sword will resolve it swiftly.”
Eugene easily ignored Lilysain’s suggestion and fell into thought.
From the general atmosphere, the western nobles seemed to think a new king ascending the throne had nothing to do with them.
It didn’t make sense, yet in a way, it did.
Even in the Kailer Kingdom, there were plenty of petty lords who never saw the king’s face in their lifetime.
Moreover, such men were loyal to the great lords they had served before, not to the king.
Even if their liege—the head of the Fransil family—had allied with the new king, their loyalty pointed to Fransil, not the throne.
And now, with no prior warning, they were being asked to send troops. It would actually be stranger if they obeyed without question.
“Your Grace, shouldn’t we go see the head of the Fransil family?”
Noticing Eugene’s ominous mood, Partek cautiously stepped forward.
At Luke’s coronation, he had received a title along with the other mercenary leaders, becoming a proper lord with his own manor and a knight of the king. Glad and Raban had also undergone knighting ceremonies to become official knights.
“There’s no time for that. When would we visit the Fransil family to secure their cooperation and return to summon the nobles? The orcs would land ten times over in the meantime.”
“You’re right.”
As Partek scratched the back of his head and retreated, the other knights couldn’t hide their anger and raised their voices.
“How can they act like this, ignoring His Majesty and Your Grace?”
“Well said, my lord! Your Grace, just storm in and make an example of them!”
Whether knights from the Kailer Kingdom or those born in Brantia, they all demanded punishment for those defying the summons.
“Your Grace, you must think carefully. This could strain relations with the Fransil family. Forcing a vassal’s vassals could lead to trouble.”
Prabow was cautious.
As Elrand’s Sword Master, holding a position similar to the Fransil family in the new Brantia Kingdom, it was a natural stance.
Eugene smirked.
“Is that so? Then let me ask you one thing.”
“Yes……?”
“Suppose the Baiman Orcs land in Elrand, and I refuse to help using the king’s approval as an excuse. What would they say? Sure, I’m their guardian, but technically, I’m also the king’s vassal.”
“……!”
Staring straight into Prabow’s shaken eyes, Eugene spoke firmly.
“The Baiman Orc issue concerns the entire kingdom. If we separate the king and his vassals in a crisis like this, is that a proper kingdom? Do you think I went through all that trouble just to see this mess?”
“Hmm. That’s not it, but now that the coronation is done, shouldn’t we treat the nobles more conciliatorily? It might be meddling, but I worry it could tarnish Your Grace’s honor.”
Prabow looked somewhat regretful.
If he just changed his mindset a little, honor rather than fear could precede Eugene’s name. He couldn’t understand why he insisted on crushing them like this.
And that very thought proved Prabow still didn’t fully understand Eugene.
“Is my honor more important than Brantia’s stability?”
“Hmm!”
Eugene’s cold gaze made Prabow flinch.
“Honor, mercy, generosity. Fine. But now that my squire is king, those are things for him to claim.”
“Then, Your Grace intends to…….”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? Someone has to swing the sword at least once. There needs to be a man who can smash heads anytime if they act like shit—only then will they stop acting like shit and stay loyal to the king.”
“……!”
At the cold smile, Prabow finally grasped Eugene’s intent.
“I thought it was just talk, but you truly mean to remain Brantia’s sword!?”
He would bear the infamy of being an object of fear, while sending all glory to the king.
“Did you… foresee this happening, Your Grace?”
“Half and half? I suspected it might, and here it is. So we proceed as planned. Right?”
“……Allow me one question. Why take all the dishonor and infamy upon yourself?”
Prabow was genuinely curious.
Isn’t a knight’s value in honor and deeds? What Eugene planned had nothing to do with that.
“It’s easier later if we do it now. And the most important reason.”
Eugene continued with a sneer.
“I am of the Night Clan.”
“……!”
No further explanation was needed.
With that one sentence, Prabow fully understood Eugene’s intent.
No matter how tolerant Brantia was toward other races, vampires were inherently objects of fear and terror to others.
In essence, Eugene had declared he would exist not as an honorable knight, but as a cruel member of the Night Clan.
“I have nothing more to say. Do as you will, Your Grace.”
Since it would far better serve the kingdom’s stability and the royal house’s survival, Prabow bowed his head.
“Even if you did, it would be my way.”
Turning from Prabow, Eugene addressed the knights.
“Which is the nearest territory from here?”
“Arkwood Territory.”
“And next?”
“Uh, Floyd Territory.”
“Good. Starting with Arkwood and Floyd, we visit every territory along the route to the orcs’ expected landing point. Those disloyal to the kingdom and king will not be recognized as Brantian lords. Thus, we smash any who refuse the summons.”
Ooooo!!!
The knights’ morale soared.
“Lord Kaltek, Lord Kobela. You two head to the Fransil family this way. Inform the family head of the situation and that I will dispose of nobles at my discretion. No questions, objections, or protests accepted. No need to hear replies. Deliver that and return immediately. Depart now.”
“As Your Grace commands.”
“Lord Clenmer. Go to the capital and inform the king and Pitamoras of my decision. The druid will know how to respond.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Three knights spurred their horses.
Two knights spurred their horses.
Eugene turned to Prabow and Lilysain with a smile.
“This should do it. Any other opinions?”
“……None.”
At the storm of orders, Prabow shook his head.
Lilysain, face flushed red, just gazed at Eugene with sparkling eyes.
“Three days. We finish the summons in three days. Don’t spare the mana crystals, knights. Eat them if you feel tired. Beowulf. I’ll take responsibility for killing any who act like shit.”
“As Your Grace commands!!!”
“Krooooaaar!!!”
“Kieek!”
There were no more honorable knights or proud warriors.
Only iron-blooded fighters who answered to one man’s orders cheered loudly without restraint.
And.
“Your Grace! I revere you truly!”
The elf princess, smitten with the vampire duke she’d known only days, also raised her sword high.
Without so much as a glance at her head-shaking master.
* * *
“Eh… You say you’re Duke Bartla?”
“That’s right.”
A local magnate who ruled a village, over 100,000 pyeong of farmland, and dozens of serfs—Lord Arkwood surveyed the infamous vampire duke and his knights.
‘I thought I’d sent them off nicely, but he came himself.’
Lord Arkwood felt a slight tension.
Duke Bartla matched the rumors exactly.
Not only the duke himself, but the two knights he brought were equipped with gear beyond Lord Arkwood’s wildest imagination.
Yet Lord Arkwood wasn’t that afraid.
‘He’s allied with Lord Fransil—surely he won’t try anything?’
Even if his own forces were just three knights including his sons and twenty serf soldiers, they wouldn’t dare attack.
“Hmm. So, you’re saying you want to conscript Arkwood’s knights because the Baiman Orcs might land on the coast?”
“It’s not ‘might’—it’s certain. I heard it myself firsthand.”
“Ah, yes. Well, as you wish.”
Recalling Lord Fransil’s message not to do anything to invite scrutiny now that they’d allied with the new royal house, Lord Arkwood nodded.
But his true thoughts were entirely different.
‘Baiman Orcs invading out of nowhere? What nonsense is this?’
Lord Fransil had only warned to be cautious of the Brantian royal house—not to blindly believe and obey Duke Bartla.
And this wasn’t some minor matter; northern orcs that hadn’t shown their faces in decades suddenly attacking? Who would buy that?
Moreover, Lord Arkwood had never fought in a war. He had no grasp of just how formidable and terrifying Duke Bartla was.
‘Still, he’s a duke, so I should at least pretend to listen. Placate him and squeeze some benefits. Nobles like these are sensitive to public opinion.’
In the end, as a magnate with history and tradition, Lord Arkwood decided to assert some pride—and snag a little profit.
“Forgive my impertinence, but even Duke Bartla cannot wield Arkwood’s swords at will. My loyalty belongs to the Fransil family.”
“…….”
Lord Arkwood’s heart skipped at the chilling gaze from Eugene, who showed no reaction.
He quickly forced a smile.
“But as Your Grace knows, there are exceptions to everything.”
“So?”
“Haha. If Your Grace shows honor and generosity, wouldn’t I have something to say to Lord Fransil later?”
“Honor and generosity…… You want gold, perhaps?”
Lord Arkwood flinched at Eugene’s directness, then flashed a meaningful smile.
“Depending on the situation, gold is a fine means, isn’t it? Hahaha.”
“So. You can’t obey the royal command, but gold makes you listen?”
“Oh dear! Anyone hearing would misunderstand, Your Grace. I’m just saying there are such methods…….”
Shing!
A silver flash slashed through, and Lord Arkwood reflexively blinked. In that instant, the air whistled sharply past his ear.
Zing~
“Eek……!?”
Seeing the eerie, glowing sword tip right before his nose, Lord Arkwood panicked. It had happened in the blink of an eye.
“Wha-what is this!?”
“My lord!”
Clang clang clang!
Those present drew their weapons in unison. But Eugene paid no mind.
“Gather all your sons who can ride and wield a sword.”
“Doing this to me… Urk!”
As Wolfslayer prodded his brow, Lord Arkwood instinctively tried to jerk his head back.
In that moment, crimson light emanated from Eugene’s eyes, binding him like a beast in a noose, unable to move despite himself.
With the fear holding Lord Arkwood in place, Eugene coldly addressed the agitated Arkwood territory soldiers.
“Sheathe your swords. Unless you want to end up like shit.”
“……!?”
Setting aside the rumors, his vulgar speech—unthinkable from high nobility—made their eyes widen.
“I don’t warn twice. Sheathe them.”
Even at Eugene’s icy voice, the soldiers hesitated, unsure what to do, and didn’t comply.
Eugene twisted his lips.
“Begin.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“The price for ignoring the warning.”
Partek and Lilysain, who had entered Lord Arkwood’s castle with Eugene, sprang into action.