Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Steadily Advancing One Step at a Time. (8)
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"What do you mean by that?"
"No need to hide it. I already know everything."
I met Derek's gaze head-on as I spoke.
"You didn't bring enough supplies, and you're probably worried about whether you can pull off this subjugation battle successfully."
At my words that hit the nail on the head, not only Derek but even the other heirs around us paled.
"And besides. There's still what comes after the subjugation battle, right?"
Whether or not they earned merits in this subjugation battle would affect the power struggles between families going forward.
That was why so many families were putting so much effort into this subjugation battle.
"......Hmm."
It was also why families like the Graham family, who hadn't chosen a side yet, were hesitating.
The air over the table grew tense on its own. No one spoke, but their complicated expressions spoke volumes for them.
"If you're talking about political stances."
Finally, Derek crossed his arms and spoke slowly.
"Young Lord Abel isn't exactly in a comfortable position either."
His eyes slowly scanned my face.
"You can't overturn the board with just this conference. It's far too lacking for the Kindriel family to gain the upper hand."
The other heirs nodded as well. It seemed they had heard about the conference from their fathers, who had also attended.
"That's been true up until now."
As usual when showing composure, I placed my interlaced hands on the table.
"Once this subjugation battle ends, a lot of things will change."
I directed my relaxed gaze toward Derek.
"How about joining hands with me for that time?"
A brief silence fell. Derek's eyes flickered subtly.
"An alliance."
He tilted his head slightly to the side.
"If I refuse, our dirty secrets get exposed to the world?"
It was a jab at my behavior during the conference.
"What can I do? We don't do that kind of sleazy stuff."
"Yeah. You're so clean it's almost suffocating to live that upright."
When I readily admitted it, the corner of Derek's mouth twisted.
"You must have dug into our background long ago. Why bother with that?"
"Because it's fun."
At my nonchalant reply, the outer corner of Derek's eye twitched upward. But his naturally mild eyes didn't look all that scary.
"And. I didn't just target you guys, so don't worry too much. I only go after people with dirty backs."
"That's real comforting."
Ignoring Derek's grumbling, I chuckled.
"Why not hear me out to the end instead of refusing outright?"
"For now, there's no particular—"
"A month's worth of food."
Derek, who had fallen silent for a moment, asked back in a tone full of suspicion.
"......The kind that's just full of useless dry rations?"
"Fresh meat with plenty of fat. And a good mix of grains with full kernels."
"......"
"Plus, I'll throw in oil and salt. Especially oil, since I know you're short on it."
Derek managed his expression relatively well. But the others couldn't hide the greed flickering in their eyes.
"Also, I'll cooperate so that each family's knight order can rack up merits."
"Cooperate how exactly......"
"Have you forgotten what my family's name is?"
It was a confident—no, almost arrogant—statement.
"Ovest, Kindriel......"
The weight carried by the words in my name was extraordinary.
Only then did Derek realize the shadow of the knight order standing behind me and shuddered.
"If it's Ovest......"
"We can help other knight orders plenty while still fighting ourselves."
It was an offer too tempting to resist. Impossible not to swallow hard.
"......Then what's the price?"
But instead of lunging at the bait, Derek prodded it cautiously with a finger.
"You're giving away so much in both material and manpower support. There must be something you want. I'll hear that and decide."
"There isn't."
I shrugged as if to say what kind of nonsense is that.
"Young Lord Derek, I didn't peg you for someone so calculating."
"What did you......"
"It's just a gesture of goodwill, meaning we help each other out."
Derek and the other heirs blinked in stupefaction.
Their faces showed doubt that the one speaking before them was really 'that' Abel Kindriel.
"I'll have the food sent to your knights tomorrow via my men. Will that ease your suspicions?"
With that, I rose from my chair.
"Wait a second."
Derek grabbed me with a suddenly urgent voice.
"Is that really all? You're not planning to make us regurgitate as much as we ate later? Or double that?"
"What do you take me for? Why can't you just accept goodwill as goodwill?"
Irritated by my reaction, Derek stood there like a mute who had eaten honey.
"There won't be any of that, so use it with peace of mind."
I tossed that line out and headed toward the tent entrance with heavy steps.
"That's it? You're leaving now?"
Derek's dazed question flew at my back.
"Yeah, that's it. See you tomorrow."
With a curt reply, I flung open the tent flap. The knights from earlier were standing guard even more stiffly.
"You've had it rough."
"......"
I patted their shoulders. The knight wore an expression too complex for words.
Leaving them and the people inside the tent behind, I departed.
'A price, huh? What a cute thing to say.'
I smiled, imagining Derek and the other heirs now fiercely arguing among themselves.
Right now, there was nothing I needed from them.
I was ahead in supplies, food, horses, and knights. Wealth too.
All I had done was plant a burden in their hearts.
'A burden they can't ignore: that they received help from Abel Kindriel.'
Knowing shame, they wouldn't pretend it never happened after accepting my aid.
Therefore, later, when I needed their tacit support and backing.
The memory of this subjugation battle would push them to my side.
'Even though they think of me that way now......'
Once this subjugation battle ended, their perception of me would flip completely.
For that, there was something I needed to handle in advance. I slipped quietly out of the camp.
Tap.
After completely leaving the camp and getting far enough not to run into patrols.
Swoosh.
I took the whistle from around my neck into my hand. It had been a while since I'd see Blackstar.
Tweet!
I blew the whistle and started running.
As I kept blowing it while maintaining speed, at some point, Blackstar's presence entered my absolute domain.
Tweet! Tweet!
I blew it vigorously twice to signal my position. Then I stopped and waited.
Soon enough,
"Pruuung!"
Along with a welcoming cry, Blackstar's body appeared. Instead of waving happily, I first checked his muzzle.
"Hmm."
Blackstar's mouth had no food remnants—just heavy breaths from rushing over.
"You listen well, you rascal."
Chuckling, I scratched the bridge of his nose. Then I slid my hand back, stroking his nape and checking his upper body.
"Your fat...... is still there."
As expected of a time when the sky is high and the horse(?) gets fat.
Anyway, his coat gleamed healthily, so it looked like he'd been eating well.
"Been doing good?"
As I continued petting him softly, Blackstar rumbled lightly from his throat. His tail swished pleasantly.
"I'll be moving around a lot for a while. Follow without getting lost."
"Prung?"
"It's time for a delicacy you've never tasted before. Or should I say special rations?"
"Pruuung?"
Blackstar tilted his head as if he had no idea what I meant.
"Did I use too difficult words?"
Snickering, I patted his rump.
"I'll call you again at this time tomorrow. See you then."
If I called from a similar distance each day, this clever guy would quickly catch on and follow.
"Pruuung?"
Blackstar snorted as if asking if that was really it. His eyes held a question of why I wasn't riding him.
"In a few days, you'll be the one begging me to stop calling."
Waving with a laugh, I turned away.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day.
"We received the food. Thanks."
Derek approached with an awkward face and whispered as he passed.
That didn't mean their knight order mingled with the Ovest Knight Order.
Usually, each knight order stuck to their own group, and the day was too packed for separate chats.
During the day while the sun was up, they hurried onward, preparing camp as sunset approached.
Winter's approach made days shorter, even cutting into travel time.
It didn't take long to get used to the repetition.
Even the knight orders that had struggled at first adapted quickly, shortening their times.
As a result, the initial tension between knight orders diluted, replaced by a different sentiment.
"I heard there was a minor scuffle between some of our men today."
Just three days later, at the end of the usual meeting, a new topic arose.
"Is that true?"
Captain Joshua turned to me and Bennet with a confirming gaze.
"Yes."
While I nodded calmly,
"Yes, my apologies."
Bennet bowed his head apologetically. When he looked up again, he glared at me.
"Young Lord Abel, what's with that brazen attitude? Is that all you have to say?"
"It was the Seymour family's knights who started the quarrel, though?"
At my laid-back remark, Bennet's face flushed beet red.
"That's because the Ovest Knight Order—"
"Enough, enough. You planning to fight here too?"
Captain Joshua gently reined us in. Then, looking around the table, he spoke gravely.
"I've heard there are minor clashes breaking out here and there—not just from reports."
It was a side effect of running instead of daily training.
The knight orders quickly grew bored and fidgety, unable to contain their restless energy.
The Ovest Knight Order was the opposite, though.
'Ah! This peace is the best!'
'Running like this every day would be great!'
The Seymour knights overhearing that sparked the issue.
"They're all hot-blooded young men in their prime, so friction is inevitable."
"And we haven't seen so much as a mouse, let alone monsters, on the road."
Voices of agreement rose here and there.
As everyone chimed in, Mikel just rested his chin on his hand, silent.
His eyes were fixed on one spot on the map spread on the table.
"......"
I saw where he was looking too, so I instantly knew what he was thinking.
But not everyone did.
"Let them spar to blow off steam, and it'll resolve quickly."
Bennet said cheerfully.
"How about a martial tournament?"
All eyes snapped to him.
"A martial tournament?"
"You mean the one canceled during the harvest festival?"
"Isn't that where skilled commoners take up swords and compete?"
Bennet nodded with a bright smile.
"Yes, exactly. How about selecting one representative per knight order to compete?"
His confident voice continued.
"If we think of it as light sparring, it shouldn't hurt our overall strength."
Sparks flew in the eyes of every knight captain present. They looked ready to seriously ponder which member to send.
'Foolish.'
It was intriguing enough, but not a wise proposal.
"I don't think it's a good idea."
As I spoke slowly, Bennet whipped around to me.
His green eyes boiled over, then cooled sharply, curling into a sneer.
"Afraid the Ovest Knight Order's reputation might shatter?"