Chapter 12 - The Lord Who Changed
The Lord Who Changed
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Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Lord Who Changed
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Camille, having received Otto’s orders, immediately assembled the army.
“Everyone, listen! The Lord intends to bring stability to this area, which has been devastated by the evil undead lord and his army!”
Camille skillfully glorified and packaged Otto’s intentions before conveying them to the soldiers of the Lota Territory.
After all, he couldn’t just repeat Otto’s words: “We’re off to snatch up the other territories like it’s a free buffet!”
“And so, we will go to the devastated Sorun Territory, the Racene Territory, and the Orth Territory to save the people plunged into misery! Understood!”
"YES!"
The troops of Lota Territory answered Camille’s rousing speech with a thunderous cheer.
At this moment, the troops of Lota Territory were more energized and motivated than they’d been in years.
They had achieved a great victory in the battle at Nazrak’s Sanctuary just a few days ago, it was no surprise that their once-low morale had soared.
“And the Lord will be joining us on this campaign as well! So as the army of Lota Territory, we must show nothing less than our best!”
The soldiers were surprised to hear that Otto would be joining the campaign once again.
“The Lord? Again?”
“Didn’t he just recently get rescued after being stranded…?”
“Did everyone forget? In the last battle, the Lord distracted the undead monsters, remember? He played a major role. Absolutely.”
“They say he risked his life to go undercover beneath the evil Undead Lord and gathered intel. He even joined the battle himself.”
Somehow, without realizing it, the soldiers had begun to see Otto in a very different light.
Otto’s changed demeanor had gradually begun to move the hearts of the soldiers.
Of course, he still had a long road ahead before gaining their complete loyalty.
‘He really has changed.’
Camille also noticed this change.
‘Just a month ago, they looked like defeated soldiers.. but ever since the Lord changed, our troops have changed too. Even the look in their eyes is different.’
As those thoughts crossed his mind, a faint smile unknowingly formed on Camille’s lips.
Camille was someone who loved Lota Territory more than anyone else.
It was only natural for him to feel joy at such a positive change.
He was also glad to see Otto, whom he considered like a younger brother, turning over a new leaf.
* * *
The army of Lota Territory took control of Sorun Territory in the blink of an eye.
There wasn’t even a fight.
The army from Lota Territory numbered 1,000 strong.
In contrast, the defending force of Sorun Territory didn’t even reach 100 troops.
Due to their army being completely wiped out in the battle against the undead forces, their military power had weakened to the point where they couldn’t even maintain basic public order.
As a result, Otto managed to seize Sorun Territory without spilling a single drop of blood.
And Lord Percival of Sorun Territory was stripped of his title and brought before Otto.
Only a few days prior, he had loaned Otto money and was planning to use it as a pretext to take over Lota Territory.
“Is this the first time we’re seeing each other face to face like this?”
Seated on the throne, Otto casually spoke to Percival.
"......"
Percival kept his mouth tightly shut and gave no reply.
He had always thought of Otto as a pushover, so losing his entire territory to him was something he never imagined, his pride was far beyond just wounded.
“Looks like you’re in a pretty bad mood.”
"....."
“Well, I suppose that’s understandable.”
Recognizing Percival’s state of mind, Otto decided to show him great leniency.
“I won’t kill you, so leave this place with your family. I’ll provide you with enough money for travel and to settle down somewhere new.”
“Leave…?”
Percival responded as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You’re saying I should leave… my own land? Me.. the rightful lord?”
“You’re not anymore.”
Otto said it flatly and without hesitation.
“It’s my territory now.”
“Otto, you damn…!”
“Well, look at you.”
“If it weren’t for the undead army’s invasion, I never would’ve lost my territory to the likes of you. You just got lucky, and now you’re full of yourself…”
“Was it really just luck, I wonder.”
Otto interrupted Percival, his voice ice-cold.
“Or maybe it was intentional.”
“W-What…?”
“Why do you think I borrowed money from you, knowing full well it’d put a leash on me?”
".....?"
“Maybe I borrowed it from the start because I knew I wouldn’t have to pay it back?”
“Y-You’re not saying… you planned all of that? From the start?”
Percival’s face went deathly pale.
“What you choose to believe is up to you. Decide.. will you leave quietly, or die here?”
"...."
“Our Lota and your Sorun have been at odds for 200 years. You should consider it a mercy that I’m not having you executed.”
Considering the deep animosity between the two territories, Otto should have executed Percival.
However, the reason he chose not to was because of public sentiment.
Had Otto executed Percival outright, the people of Sorun would have resisted and losing their trust would’ve been inevitable.
Since Otto would be ruling over the people of Sorun Territory from now on, it was better for him to keep Percival alive if possible.
“What will you do?”
“...I’ll leave.”
Percival bowed his head in defeat.
“Thank you… for your mercy.”
“You made the right choice.”
And just like that, Otto came to possess Sorun Territory.
He had successfully brought an end to a long-standing feud.
“You’ve truly worked hard.”
Camille said as he walked up to Otto.
“I’m sure your late father would be proud.”
“I believe so as well.”
Otto simply nodded in agreement.
“Alright, let’s move on to Racene next.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Otto immediately left Sorun Territory and headed for Racene Territory.
* * *
The occupation of Racene Territory was even easier.
The Lord had died in battle, and the army had been completely wiped out, leaving the territory in a total state of anarchy.
However, Orth Territory was different.
In Orth Territory, there were still 500 troops and a lord who remained alive and well.
And the lord of Orth Territory, Condor, was by no means an easy opponent.
He was an exceptional swordsman for a rural lord, with keen intelligence and great ambition as well.
‘What a pain. He’s strong enough that even Camille would struggle against him.’
While Otto was thinking about Condor.
“Orth Territory has locked its gates.”
Camille reported after returning from his scouting mission.
“It seems they’re determined to hold out to the bitter end…”
“No.”
Otto shook his head.
“They’ll probably raise the white flag and open the gates themselves by tomorrow morning.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You think Condor doesn’t realize that holding out is pointless? With this much difference in troop numbers?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Condor is a man of great ambition. He’s capable, too. And among all the territories, he has the strongest trust of his people.”
“That’s correct.”
“So he won’t give up the territory easily.”
“But there’s no way for him not to give it up, is there?”
“He’ll try all sorts of moves.”
Otto smiled.
“He might lead his troops into the mountains and wage guerrilla warfare, or rally the people of the territory to stage a rebellion. Or maybe he’s lying in wait with traps already set.”
“Why don’t you reconsider taking over Orth Territory?”
“That’s a wise suggestion.”
Otto acknowledged Camille’s point.
“But since we’ve already started, we have to see it through. Condor is an outstanding Lord. If we don’t deal with him now, we’ll be the ones in trouble later.”
Although Condor wasn’t a main character that players could choose, he was never an opponent to be taken lightly.
If left alone, there were often scenarios where Lota Territory would fall at the hands of Condor’s Orth Territory.
“Let’s head in. After all, you can’t catch a tiger without stepping into its den, right?”
With those words, Otto steered his horse toward Orth Territory.
“Alright~ Let’s gooo~.”
* * *
The next morning.
Just as Otto predicted, a white flag was raised over the gates of Orth Territory.
“My Lord, your prediction was correct. During the night, Lord Condor took his soldiers and left the territory.”
“Yeah? Then let’s go.”
Otto gave Camille a smug look as if to say “told you so,” then spurred his horse toward Orth Territory.
The occupation of Orth Territory went off without a hitch.
With the white flag already flown, there wasn’t a single act of resistance. On the contrary, the people were highly cooperative with Lota’s forces.
‘Something’s off.’
Which is exactly why Camille felt a growing sense of unease.
‘They’re being too cooperative… it’s like we’ve marched right into the enemy’s trap.’
But even by evening, nothing unusual had happened.
“We’ve prepared a banquet for our new lord. It was arranged by our retainers, so please do attend.”
“Why not?”
Otto accepted the invitation from Orth’s officials and joined the evening banquet.
The banquet was also attended by the royal guard of Lota Territory, including Camille.
“Tell all our knights to attend as well. Fully armed. In full armor. And have the soldiers on standby.”
“Even in full armor?”
“Something tells me a fight’s about to break out.”
“Understood.”
That evening.
“The Lord has arrived.”
Otto attended the banquet, receiving the utmost hospitality.
“Greetings, my lord. My name is Michael. I’m in charge of administrative affairs here in Orth Territory.”
A middle-aged man who introduced himself as Michael played host to Otto.
“I see… everyone’s come fully armored.”
“Yes, well. It turned out that way. Hahaha.”
Otto scratched the back of his helmet with a sheepish grin and played it off casually.
“This guy here is Camille, the captain of the knights, and he’s really suspicious by nature. He made a fuss about needing to wear armor, so we all ended up wearing it.”
At that moment.
Pop!
A vein popped on Camille’s forehead.
‘When did I ever say that?! Huh!?’
Camille trembled with frustration as Otto made him out to be some paranoid lunatic.
Wasn’t it Otto himself who suggested they come wearing full armor?
“As a knight, it’s only natural,”
Michael smiled.
“Isn’t it all for the sake of protecting our lord’s safety?”
“Being too excessive is a problem too. What good is someone that suspicious and cowardly? Honestly, he’s just not bold enough.”
“Haha..”
“Seriously, the guy can’t stop meddling and nagging. Always squawking in my ear, it’s enough to make anyone snap.”
Otto badmouthed Camille openly, even though he was right beside him.
He was clearly talking trash on purpose so Camille could hear it.
*Tremble!* Tremble!
Camille was furious at Otto’s outrageous behavior, but he held it in with great patience.
And so, the banquet began with Camille being insulted.
“What do you think about Lord Condor leaving?”
“Well, it was his choice. Given the state the territory’s in, there wasn’t much any of us could do.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“With a new Lord in place, it’s only natural that we serve him.”
Otto chatted about various things with the man named Michael and enjoyed the banquet.
Then, suddenly.
“But the more I think about it, Lord Condor seems pretty petty.”
At Otto’s single remark, a cold silence fell over the banquet hall.
All eyes from Ort Territory’s officials, attendants, and maids instantly turned toward Otto.
“What makes you say that?”
Rather than reacting harshly, Michael smiled and asked Otto calmly.
“He didn’t want to surrender and give up the territory. But fighting would obviously lead to defeat. So isn’t he just pretending to flee while waiting for the right opportunity?”
“Is that so?”
“If he really intended to leave, he would’ve surrendered cleanly and handed over the Lordship.”
After saying that, Otto took a sip of his wine and glanced over at Michael.
“When people start making reckless moves, they’re bound to become pathetic. You need to know when to give up cleanly.”
“Becomes pathetic... pathetic, huh…”
Michael repeated Otto’s words, chewing them over.
“Why don’t you just give up cleanly now, Condor?”
Otto directed those words at Michael.