Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Subjugating the Rebels (4)
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Whiiiiiing—
Greed looked down at the snow-covered plain.
"Hmm..."
Probably just a little longer, and this plain would be traversed by countless imperial troops.
Why?
Because right now, the Empire was marching to subjugate the Northern Grand Duke, who had committed treason, and some of the northern nobles.
Once they crossed this plain, the Grand Duchy lay ahead. The imperial army would pass through here and enter the Grand Duchy.
Honestly, for Greed, who had contributed to the Northern Grand Duke's treason charges, it was a matter of great pride(?).
The more chaotic the Empire became, the better it was for him.
...Anyway, with the military forces slightly depleted for the rebel subjugation...
"It's still a shame, isn't it."
It was truly regrettable that such a golden opportunity had arisen, yet he couldn't do anything. Like terrorism or, well, terrorism, you know, terrorism.
Aside from the tiny gap created by deploying forces to the north, the Empire's defenses were more stringent than ever.
Greed himself had recently attacked the capital, and it had just come to light that a high-ranking noble like the Northern Grand Duke had been plotting rebellion from the shadows all this time. It would be strange if they didn't tighten security.
'That's not all, though.'
...To make matters worse, after getting done in by Yujin last time, he'd used up too much power regenerating his body.
The power he had now was... roughly ninety percent compared to before? That ten percent was completely gone, like a dried-up well.
Of course, it was still a formidable strength... but it wasn't enough to face Yujin. Last time, Greed hadn't even inflicted any real damage on him.
So, to recover not just that lost ten percent but enough power to defeat Yujin, it would take more time than expected.
"Tch... A inferior human without even demonic energy... No wonder they call him the greatest genius in imperial history."
It was an infuriatingly annoying fact, but true nonetheless.
And ironically, that only fueled his desire to collect him even more.
The greatest genius in imperial history, Yujin, who had looked down on him with that noble bearing, sword in hand.
What would it feel like to have him in his grasp and turn him into a slave knight who obeyed orders like the other Golden Knights?
"Haha! Just imagining it is delightful...! A Master-level knight following my commands like the other Golden Knights...! Thrilling!"
It was enough to make the front of his pants bulge noticeably.
...
...Of course, dominating Yujin right now wasn't possible. Meeting him like this would just get him sliced again for sure.
If he was unlucky, he might lose even more power this time.
So, retreat was the only option.
'But...'
Still, it felt a bit of a waste to just withdraw quietly like this.
"Shall we play a little prank?"
Greed flashed a sinister smile.
Directly facing that monster Yujin was impossible in his current depleted state, but a 'minor' prank should be feasible.
Soon, the plain was dyed in golden light.
"Gaaaaaaah!!"
The knights charging toward Yujin's group had their bodies sliced apart with a casual swipe of his hand.
Splurt—!!!!!
The street was instantly drenched in red blood. The knights and soldiers following behind hesitated at the sight.
Bodies cleaved without even drawing a sword—it was known that Yujin was a Master, but this was too unreasonable.
"Drop your weapons. Do that, and you might save your lives."
As they hesitated at his words, the noble hiding behind the knights and soldiers wailed, his flesh jiggling.
"Urgh...! Don't listen to that nonsense! Attack now...! Are you defying your lord's orders?!"
He couldn't end it all here. Who would have thought Yujin would reach this place so soon?
'Count Harez is nearby—why come to a mere viscount like me...!'
Viscount Chels hounded the soldiers and knights to buy time to escape. A few knights, after hesitating, charged at Yujin's group and the imperial troops.
Of course, it wouldn't help them escape, but one had to thrash about in desperation.
Click—
The imperial soldiers behind Yujin instantly aimed their rifles.
But Irene and Lucia moved even faster.
Poof—
A purple mist spread in an instant, enveloping their lower bodies, melting them away.
Losing balance, they tumbled, only for swords summoned from thin air to impale them mid-fall.
Thud—
They died in a gruesome state beyond recognition. The street's atmosphere froze at the sudden deaths.
And then.
Clang—
Clang—
Those who lost the will to fight began dropping their weapons one by one.
Seeing this, Viscount Chels, who had been sneaking away from the back, flew into a rage.
"Urgh...! Pick up your weapons right now! After all I've done for you over the past decades...! Obey my orders at once!"
He seemed to think he could buy time this way...
'Does he really think that'll work?'
It was just absurd.
"Shut up already."
Slash—
He appeared before Viscount Chels in an instant and severed the viscount's tongue.
Grip—
He seized the viscount's throat and hoisted him into the air. The viscount flailed his legs, blood pouring from his mouth.
"Originally, Viscount Chels, you were not subject to summary execution."
But.
"Since you ordered your knights to charge at Lucia—no, Her Highness the Princess—I'll apply attempted regicide and execute you summarily."
Crack—
He snapped his neck right there.
Thud—
The viscount's broken-necked corpse sprawled carelessly.
After that, the occupation of territories belonging to northern nobles who had committed treason or were suspected continued.
It was a massacre—utterly one-sided.
Proven traitors, save a few exceptions, were all beheaded, and the soldiers and knights who followed their orders died as well.
...
Especially those who seemed truly loyal—they all perished.
Ideologies spread like a plague from person to person, and once it gains momentum, it's unstoppable.
'A plague must be stamped out early.'
So, they uprooted it as an example. Instilling fear in body and mind, making people submit first.
The first step in the most effective rule was always to sow terror.
Afterward, they continued subjugating the rebels. Thanks to this, the north began normalizing at a rapid pace, and the remaining northern nobles felt the noose tightening.
And at some point, northern nobles began surrendering and actively cooperating.
The first was Count Harez, who held considerable influence among the northern nobles.
With a white flag raised, he knelt before Yujin, sweating profusely. It felt like a colossal being was gazing down intently.
Even the previous Grand Duke had an intimidating presence, but not like this...
'Is this really the same human...?'
He could never win.
He could not resist.
That was a being of a different breed from birth.
Count Harez lowered his gaze.
"...I have no connection whatsoever to the traitors. I am prepared to cooperate in any way to prove it and swear never to act against the Empire and the imperial family's interests."
"...Is that so."
He signaled the soldiers behind him with his eyes.
"Escort Count Harez respectfully."
"""Yes!"""
Count Harez meekly followed the soldiers and vanished somewhere. He would likely be transported to the capital for investigation and trial.
If proven innocent, he would return to his territory; if not...
'He dies.'
He dies.
Irene, arms crossed as she watched Count Harez, murmured.
"He didn't do anything, yet he surrendered awfully easily."
It might look that way, sure.
He replied in a dry tone.
"...Actually, that's the normal judgment."
"Hmm...?"
The nobles who tried to flee and got killed or lost body parts had essentially proven their guilt through their actions.
In contrast, Count Harez, who cooperated willingly, could be confident because he truly hadn't done anything.
"Ah, that makes sense. After seeing all those foolish nobles desperately trying to run..."
"The reason so many tried to flee is probably due to the north's geographical isolation."
Lucia smiled brightly as she spoke.
"The north is somewhat disconnected from the Empire's heartland. It's enough for the Calderon Grand Duke and northern nobles who ruled here to lose touch with reality and see the north as its own separate kingdom."
"...That seems right."
With little interference from the imperial heartland until now, they had deluded themselves into thinking the north was a separate power bloc. That's why they all reacted as if an 'invading' external enemy had come upon seeing him.
If they had felt any sense of belonging as imperial nobles, wouldn't they have cooperated like Count Harez?
...Well, it didn't matter anymore.
Most northern nobles would lose their lineages after this, and the north would become direct imperial territory, beginning integration with the heartland.
"Let's move. The Calderon Grand Duchy is right ahead."
Time until this 'normalization' ended was short.
"Yes, Yujin."
"Hehe."
And it happened the moment Yujin's group and the imperial army were crossing the plain toward the Calderon Grand Duchy.