Chapter 26 - From Disgrace to Devotion
From Disgrace to Devotion
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Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: From Disgrace to Devotion
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From the moment he was falsely accused and dishonorably discharged, Spooner’s life was no different from being shattered to pieces.
The honor he had built up while rolling across battlefields, even losing an eye, an arm, and a leg, collapsed like a sandcastle.
Because of that, the dozens of medals he had earned became nothing more than junk, and he did not receive a single coin of the severance pay or pension that should have supported his later years.
What remained for Spooner was the brand of a disgraced criminal and a body that had been pushed far past its limits.
After that, Spooner’s life became a kind of living hell.
Burdened with a criminal record and a body left severely impaired, there was nothing he could realistically do to make a living.
No one wanted to hire him, and no one believed him.
No matter how desperately he insisted on his innocence, people only pointed fingers and called him a disgraceful criminal.
He had been a war hero who dedicated his entire life to his homeland, a truly exceptional instructor….
“To be honest…”
Spooner’s voice began to waver.
“I tried to take my own life. But the injustice was too much, and I couldn’t bring myself to die. It’s embarrassing to say this with my own mouth… but I devoted this body to my Empire without holding anything back for my entire life. I fulfilled my duty as a soldier, even being divorced because I could not care for my family while serving my homeland.”
“Ah…”
“No one believed me. The evidence and testimony were airtight… even the comrades I once bled with abandoned me. But Your Majesty…”
A complete stranger.
The king of a secluded, humble village, no, a modest rural Kingdom, someone he was meeting for the very first time in his life.
Being trusted so easily by someone like him, and even being comforted, made all the pent-up sorrow spill out….
"I trust you, Sergeant Spooner. And I trust your skill as an instructor as well."
"Your Highness…"
"Please don’t turn down my request. Stay with me and help train my soldiers."
"Uh… is it really alright for me to do that?"
"I want my soldiers to grow stronger."
Otto smiled.
"I want them to grow strong and survive the battlefield. I want them to take down as many enemies as they can. And to make that happen, your experience and skill as an instructor are indispensable, Sergeant Spooner."
"I’ll do it."
Spooner accepted Otto’s proposal.
"If a retired soldier with this useless body can still be of any use to you… then I will devote my loyalty."
"I’m the one who’s grateful."
“Salute!”
Spooner snapped a salute to Otto.
"Sergeant Spooner! I will devote my full loyalty to His Majesty the King!"
Then a notification window popped up.
[Notification: You have successfully recruited 'Sergeant Spooner'!]
By bringing the legendary instructor Spooner into his ranks, Otto could now greatly elevate the quality of his soldiers’ training.
Spooner’s [Elite Training] was an S-grade trait that boosted soldiers’ stats by over twenty percent.
* * *
‘Who could it be this time?’
Right after bringing Spooner in, Otto headed toward the final arrow.
With the SSS-grade hero Wazir appearing earlier and the S-grade hero Spooner following after, he found himself quietly anticipating the next one.
‘Today really feels like a lucky day… who’s going to appear as the final hero?’
Before long, he arrived at the end of the last arrow.
There...
“H-Hiieek?!”
Otto recognized the third hero and recoiled in shock.
[Olive de Barbarian]
A legendary lady-in-waiting who once served in the Arad Empire.
Hailing from a northern barbarian tribe, she had served as the head lady-in-waiting, overseeing the imperial maids, until she got into trouble for punching the emperor and became a fugitive.
A middle-aged woman standing 181 centimeters tall with a 100-kilogram muscular frame, she is also a martial artist with exceptional fighting skills.
Classification: Hero
Race: Human
Age: 49
Affiliation: None
Rank: S
Specialty: Human Modification (Discipline) / Healing (Physical)
As an S-grade hero, Olive’s stats were incredible.
Strategy 10 / Combat Power 89 / Political Skill 10
Leadership 80 / Charisma 30 / Dignity 99
Notoriety 84 / Honor 40 / Governance 70
Health 99 / Credibility 75 / Talent 80
Luck 50 / Healing 85 / Administration 10
Even though her class was non-combat as a lady-in-waiting, her combat power was an astonishing 89.
‘W-What the hell!!!’¹
Otto wasted no time and ran off without recruiting Olive.
He knew perfectly well that keeping Olive close would mean suffering through a relentless storm of nagging and violence.
However….
*Grab!*
Olive grabbed Otto by the back of his neck.
“You...”
Olive spoke in a gruff voice.
“Is this tiny little kingdom really ruled by you?”
“W-well…?”
“I came because I saw your recruitment notice.”
“Eh…?”
“So you posted a recruitment notice at the Mercenary Guild looking for a new head lady-in-waiting.”
“Uh… that… I actually don’t know much about that….”
“I’ll start working here from today.”
“Eh?!”
“You’re not planning on refusing to hire me, are you?”
Olive shot a sharp glare at Otto.
*Chills*
Olive’s expression was so terrifying that he felt like his legs would give out.
“The king of a tiny kingdom.”
“Eh…?”
“I want this job.”
“Haha… hahahaha….”
“If you don’t want me, just tell me. I won’t coerce you.”
Though she said that, Olive’s palm, the size of a pot lid, had already turned into a fist as big as a rock.
‘I-if I refuse, I’ll die!’
Otto realized instinctively.
This wasn’t a question of choice, it was a matter of survival….
“Y-yes, of course. Haha… hahahaha….”
“Good.”
Olive withdrew her fist and smiled like a demon.
“Then from today, you’ll serve as my head lady-in-waiting.”
A notification window popped up in front of Otto.
[Notification: You have successfully recruited 'Olive de Barbarian'!]
Otto felt like crying.
‘So that’s why today’s luck has been so good….’
* * *
That evening.
Otto had dinner with Wazir, Spooner, Camille, and Olive.
“Eh? Head Lady-in-Waiting Olive? You’re the head lady-in-waiting from the Arad Empire... why are you here?”
Wazir, with his extensive international connections, instantly recognized Olive, the former head lady-in-waiting of the Arad Empire, and gave her a nod of acknowledgment.
“Greetings, Your Grace Archduke Wazir.”
Olive addressed him, having first performed the proper bow in line with imperial etiquette.
“It came about that way, by chance.”
“Hoho~ So what in the world happened~?”
“I simply quit and left.”
“Don’t tell me you even punched that emperor in the face?”
“If talking doesn’t solve it, then fists are the only option.”
“Heheh. I can imagine. With your temperament, holding back that much is already impressive.”
It appeared that Olive’s temperament was well‑known even within the Arad Empire.
“Sergeant Spooner, what are you doing here?”
Wazir instantly recognized Spooner, the famed war hero of the Arad Empire.
“Yes, Your Grace. Well….”
Spooner briefly explained the difficult circumstances he had gone through in response to Wazir’s question.
“Tsk tsk. So that’s how it was.”
“I’m ashamed.”
“What are you ashamed of? The ones who should be hanging their heads are those Arad Empire fools. Tsk tsk. That place is sinking fast.”
And so the evening dinner began.
“Your diet isn’t very good. Eat more vegetables. If you keep eating like this, you might end up with heart problems or diabetes.”
“…Yes.”
Fearing that showing any dissatisfaction might bring Olive’s fist down on him, Otto quietly stuck to eating mostly vegetables.
“Um… excuse me, but…”
Otto spoke cautiously to Olive.
“I’m the king, and you’re the head lady-in-waiting, so… using informal speech is a bit…”
“I don’t listen to those weaker than me.”
“…Uhh?”
“If you feel wronged, then grow stronger than me.”
Olive spoke bluntly.
“And my rank should be higher, right? I used to be the head lady-in-waiting of the Arad Empire. Who has the higher title?”
“W-Well… you are the head lady-in-waiting. Hehe… hehehe.”
That was the reality.
Because the rank of an imperial head lady-in-waiting outranks the king of the smallest, poorest kingom on the continent.
The same applied to Wazir.
“Hehehe! From now on, no one will be picky about their meals! Hehehe!”
Wazir, who was respected by the continent’s prominent rulers and intellectuals and held the title of Archduke, speaking informally to Otto was only natural.
‘Ugh. There’s no helping it right now. Just endure it, endure it.’
For the time being, Otto resolved to put up with the mistreatment and the insolence of his subordinates.
After all, wanting respect from others while being nothing more than the king of a tiny, powerless kingdom was asking too much.
‘There’s no need to rush. Eventually, I’ll gain recognition anyway.’
Once abilities are proven, respect and authority naturally follow, don’t they?
“So, are you planning to remain in this rural backwater for the foreseeable future?”
“Yes, Your Grace Archduke.”
Camille responded to Wazir’s question.
“Heh heh. It’s a shame to see talent like yours wasting away in this remote countryside. Why not venture into a larger stage? I’ll gladly write you a recommendation.”
Wazir’s recommendation was essentially a free pass for employment anywhere on the continent.
For anyone seeking advancement, it was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege.
“I have pledged my loyalty to my lord. I appreciate Your Grace Archduke’s favor, but I will accept nothing beyond your goodwill.”
“Hooh.”
Wazir gave a wry laugh, clearly frustrated.
“You frustrating fellow. Isn’t it a waste to let your talent go unused? There’s no future in a place like this.”
“I see my future here.”
“Hmm?”
“My past and present are tied to this land, and so is my future.”
“What do you mean by that? Surely not….”
Wazir shifted his gaze to Otto.
“Are you saying that this rascal has the ability to be entrusted with your future?”
“Yes, Your Grace Archduke Wazir.”
“By what right?”
“You’ll see for yourself once you speak with him.”
Camille smiled.
* * *
‘Thank you, Camille.’
Otto winked at Camille.
Camille had effectively paved the way, allowing him to ease into a natural conversation with Wazir.
“Oh ho.”
Wazir finally looked at Otto with a hint of curiosity.
“Does this one possess the ability to command Camille?”
“Before that…”
Otto grinned and replied.
“Shouldn’t it first be whether Camille has the ability to assist me?”
“What did you say?”
“As for me, I have more than enough ability to have Camille under me.”
“Someone like you?”
“Like me?”
Otto shrugged.
“I’m the man who will unite the continent and ascend as emperor.”
“Emperor? You? A mere village chief from some rural backwater is supposed to ascend the throne? Heh heh heh! You’ve clearly lost your mind.”
“I’m perfectly sane.”
“Someone sane talks about such absurd things?”
“They’re not that absurd.”
“On what basis?”
Wazir snorted with a laugh.
“Just because you say so, who would actually hand over the continent to you?”
“A world in turmoil naturally produces many heroes. And it also produces a leader capable of bringing those heroes together. It’s the kind of era where opportunities appear maybe once in centuries.”
“What are you going on about?”
“Simply that the world is unstable. Even if a man has nothing but his courage and a single sword, with enough strength and talent, even a minor king from a remote backwater like me can unite the continent and ascend as emperor.”
“That’s not entirely wrong, but… are you saying the world is already in turmoil?”
“It’s about to fall into turmoil. Because… Ragnasis is about to begin.”
Otto said something no one could possibly have foreseen at this point in time.
Ragnasis.
A term used in the setting of the game [Territory War].
And what it means… a world war.
It signified a period of massive upheaval when the whole continent would be drawn into the whirlpool of war.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. 돔황챠 (domhwangcha) is a phonetic corruption of the Japanese phrase 「どうしてだー！」 (dōshite da!)
It became popular in Korea through mistranslations and parodies of Japanese anime/game dialogue, especially in dramatic scenes where a character screams in despair.