Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: I Will Rule Solely by Military Law (2)
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The first action I took after barely returning from hell was to assemble the troops.
Despite the sudden summons, Sir Belguard didn't harbor the slightest doubt.
What a steadfast man, straight as a bamboo stalk. That very quality made me feel a pang of guilt.
He had been one of those who met a horrific end due to my foolish choices.
'...The time left is probably just about a fortnight at best.'
All available forces, excluding those on duty, had gathered.
Yet their gazes toward me brimmed with excessive respect and awe.
Under that burdensome scrutiny, I cleared my throat but didn't forget the main point.
"From now on, move all the grain from the storehouses outside the earl's territory inward."
"But isn't that the nobles' property?"
"If we move it without permission and get punished..."
"If anyone questions you, say it was my order, Cain Blackguard's. If anyone interferes, suppress them on the spot."
My voice came out chillingly cold, surprising even me.
The eastern region was a granary. Naturally, taxes were mostly paid in kind, like grain.
That was why they had built massive storehouses for grain storage.
There was simply too much grain to fit into the earl's territory storehouses.
I gave a self-mocking smile. At least I thought starvation wouldn't be an issue.
In any case, I planned to move as much grain inward as possible while we had the leeway.
'In truth, I had tried to do this even before regressing.'
"Hold it! Who dares touch the nobles' property?!"
'...If it weren't for those bastards.'
As expected, the interruption came without fail this time too, furrowing my brow.
Surprisingly, they were nobles who had just joined after hearing of the earl's territory's fall.
The fact that they hadn't surrendered to the Empire immediately and made it here showed their loyalty.
More importantly, it proved they had the ability to at least flee from the Imperial army.
So why were they making an issue of this now? The answer was surprisingly simple.
"The grain in that warehouse is the tax for the royal family. Are you stealing His Majesty's property at will?!"
That was it.
Earl Sandwy was also responsible for collecting and paying the eastern nobles' taxes in bulk.
In other words, the taxes in kind, like grain, were stored there together.
Naturally, the warehouse contained taxes paid by these newly arrived eastern nobles as well.
To sum it up, they were trying to reclaim what they considered their own property.
"Th-that's not..."
The soldiers couldn't bring themselves to say it was my order and just hemmed and hawed.
Finally, unable to stand it, I stepped forward, drawing the nobles' attention to me.
"The soldiers did nothing wrong. I gave the order myself."
"Viscount Blackguard, how can there be such a law? Monopolizing property at will."
"That's our tax we paid directly. At the very least, we should divide it up again..."
What nonsense. I nearly let a raw curse slip out unfiltered.
Their petty mindset, trying to reclaim property even in this situation, was utterly deplorable.
But what was even more shocking was that they had a pretext, however flimsy.
"Viscount Blackguard, that's not just property. It's tax that must be sent to His Majesty. In other words, it's His Majesty's."
"So?"
"Touching it at will is defying His Majesty's will. In other words... treason."
The word "treason" made not only the soldiers but even the nobles hold their breath.
Treason was the gravest of crimes, one that could wipe out an entire family if mishandled.
Yet I scoffed at the accusation and countered.
"I am leading the army against His Majesty's enemy who dares invade the kingdom. That is as good as receiving His Majesty's command."
"That's..."
"You're the ones interfering with preparations to fight His Majesty's enemy... so aren't you the traitors?"
It was sophistry, sure. But what was wrong with countering nonsense with nonsense?
With the enemy at our doorstep, not only had infighting broken out among them,
but some had even packed up supplies and fled before the Imperial army arrived.
'No paradise awaits those who flee, they say. Indeed, that's true.'
Death.
That horrific ordeal, meant to be experienced only once in a lifetime—I had endured it countless times.
Only those who have felt a cold blade deeply slicing and tearing flesh can know that pain.
So I ran.
The thought that others would suffer that agony due to my wrong judgment—
it made my heart feel like it would crumble. I didn't want to bear such a heavy burden.
But in that short time, I experienced a hell I couldn't even imagine reliving.
Now I could no longer deny it. The fact that I had no choice but to do it myself...
I hefted the greatsword on my shoulder and slammed it into the ground with all my might once more.
"From this moment, regardless of noble or base birth, I will rule solely by military law."
I would run no longer.
...Or more precisely, I couldn't.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Viscount Maxit's jaw dropped at the outrageous act, beyond imagination. For a country bumpkin no less.
Strutting around now that he had power. What was even more absurd were the other nobles.
They had agreed to protest together, yet now they were cowering and backing out...
[The Imperial army that besieged the capital will arrive in a fortnight. If we don't move it inside the castle, it'll just be plundered by the Imperials.]
The justification for the requisition was laughable too. What? The Imperials besieging the capital in a fortnight?
He didn't know the exact numbers, but the Imperial army was at least tens of thousands strong.
And the distance from Earl Sandwy's territory to the capital was at least a month.
'Even on horseback, you could shorten it, but not every one of those tens of thousands would be mounted.'
Moreover, marching tens of thousands would only take more time.
No matter how you sliced it, the Imperials who besieged the capital in a fortnight reaching here? Absurd.
And they wanted him to believe that nonsense and stand by? Viscount Maxit clicked his tongue.
"Forget it. I never planned to stay in this dump long anyway."
"My lord viscount, preparations are complete."
"Good. Let's move."
Under the faintly glowing moonlight, Viscount Maxit's eyes gleamed coldly like a serpent's.
War reveals the abyss in people. Most fall into it,
but some were born in it. Viscount Maxit was one such man.
'If I gather enough supplies here, wintering won't be hard. Lately, refugees are scarce, so not much to plunder anyway.'
Yes. He was a bandit noble who preyed on fleeing folk during the chaos to line his pockets.
Not a single witness left alive, so no one suspected Viscount Maxit was a bandit noble.
His plan was simple.
Use his noble status to intimidate soldiers into opening the storehouse wide,
then load carts prepared in advance and flee. It might even have worked.
"No."
But the soldier guarding the warehouse refused flatly, botching the first step.
A lowly cur daring to ignore a noble. Fury boiled inside momentarily,
but Viscount Maxit suppressed it. No point causing a scene.
"There must be a misunderstanding. I'm here to move supplies on Viscount Blackguard's orders..."
"Then please wait a moment. I'll send someone to confirm with the viscount right away."
"Is that really necessary?"
"The viscount ordered us to verify personally anyone arriving without a permit."
Damnation. He hadn't expected such thorough control. Viscount Maxit clicked his tongue.
Dragging it out would only expose the lie. No choice then.
Viscount Maxit smoothly drew his sword from its sheath at his waist and swung.
True to a killer of many, the motion was flawless, without excess.
Kwang!!
If not for the jet-black greatsword that suddenly intervened, blocking his blade.
Viscount Maxit's sword would have easily slain the impudent soldier before him.
Viscount Maxit stared at the intruder in disbelief.
"Impossible. I confirmed he retired to his chambers..."
Black hair, black eyes, skin scarred and exposed.
Cain Blackguard.
How had he known? He was here now, blocking Viscount Maxit.
Finally, the mouth of the man glaring at Viscount Maxit with blazing eyes opened.
"Didn't I make it clear?"
I will rule solely by military law.