Chapter 808
Chapter 808
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 808
Chapter Title: 808. Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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"Y-you! You're that woman who took Nepia away back then, aren't you?! I'm sure of it! No way I could've been mistaken! Nepia! Where's Nepia right now?! Tell me!"
It was unpleasant.
The fact that some lowly soldier who didn't even look like a knight was blocking our path, and that he was ignoring me to speak to Yuria on his own. No, even if he had been a knight, it would've been just as unpleasant.
As I opened my mouth in irritation, Kyle stepped forward before I could.
"Terius. What is this rudeness?"
His voice was so cold it made me doubt if this was the Kyle I knew. Terius flinched in surprise, stumbling back before immediately dropping to his knees on the ground and bowing his head.
"I-I'm sorry. I was thoughtless and rude. Please forgive me."
"……."
Kyle glared at Terius before turning to Yuria with a gentle expression.
"Sorry, Yuria. This guy's the type who gets so worked up he doesn't see what's around him. You weren't startled, were you?"
"…No. I'm fine."
Yuria glanced at me cautiously. Only then did Kyle speak to me as well.
"Eugene. Terius made a mistake. Won't you forgive him?"
"Brother. You're not thinking of just letting it slide with an apology, are you? I'd be disappointed if you were."
"……Disappointed? What are you talking about? This is just a minor hiccup."
"A mere soldier blocked our way and yelled at us. If it were something important related to the military, that'd be one thing. But he obstructed us over some trivial personal matter. Even a commoner in peacetime wouldn't get off easily for that—let alone a soldier during wartime. This calls for military law."
Terius shuddered on the ground, and Kyle swallowed hard.
"……Eugene. I'll apologize like this. Can't you forgive him just once, for my sake?"
"No. If it were just about me, maybe. But my knights and soldiers are watching. What do you think they'll make of it if I let this slide easily?"
I looked at Kyle with calm eyes. He faltered, then let out a sigh.
"…Let's end it with five lashes."
"Ten. If he were one of my soldiers, I'd have cut off an arm. Actually, given that we're at war, maybe even his head."
"Terius isn't an ordinary soldier. He's an Aura Expert. Not a knight, but he has the potential to become one."
"Fine. Five it is."
"Eugene… You've changed. Is it the war that did this to you? Or…."
"Brother. I haven't changed. The old me is still me, and so is the current me. Right, Yuria?"
"Yes, Master. You haven't changed at all."
"……."
Kyle fell silent with a complicated expression.
I looked down at Terius. On the ring finger of his left hand, pressed flat against the ground, was a crude iron ring. Just like the one Nepia had worn around her neck.
'He called out Nepia's name… so he's her childhood friend.'
I hadn't expected him to be under Kyle. I desperately fought back a rising smirk.
"Nepia is a maid working at my estate. How do you know her?"
Terius lifted his head. His eyes, filled with desperate longing, met mine as he spoke.
"Nepia and I are friends who parted ways long ago. Please, let me see her!"
"She's not here. She's at my estate. And what would you do if you saw her? Nepia is already my maid. My property."
"…I know. I'll pay. I'll buy Nepia's freedom. Please… release her."
I had no intention of doing that. Nepia was a maid who fit me perfectly. On top of that, she was competent as acting head maid. Letting her go would be insane.
"How much? How much will you pay?"
"100 million… I can pay 100 million ner right now!"
He had more money than I'd thought. In this wartime slump where slave prices had dropped, that was enough for two or three decent slaves.
But I scoffed.
"You fool. Do you know how much I've spent raising and educating Nepia? Plus, she's a beauty. Even selling her to a slave trader, I'd get 1 billion ner easily."
"1 billion ner…?! That's absurd!"
"Absurd how? Nepia outshines most nobles. In looks, knowledge, age… she excels in everything. If you want to buy her freedom, bring 2 billion ner."
"…2 billion… 2 billion…."
Terius muttered blankly. For a mercenary like him to scrape together 2 billion would take at least ten years of grueling work. A renowned mercenary might manage it, but Terius looked like a greenhorn to me.
"…Eugene. 2 billion for a slave is too much. To me, 1 billion seems fair."
"You have a point, brother. 1 billion. Bring 1 billion. Then I'll grant Nepia her freedom."
"…1 billion."
Light returned to Terius's eyes.
"You'll really free Nepia for 1 billion?"
"Do I look like the type to go back on my word? Everyone here heard me, and Kyle's my witness. My name is on the line now. Borrow from whoever if you have to. Bring 1 billion. I'll free Nepia."
"Baron Eugene Prukus. Please wait. It won't take long."
Hot determination burned in Terius's eyes.
"I don't get it. Why are you doing this?"
"Because I promised. To meet Nepia again… No matter what, I'd come find her!"
"Is that so? Then keep that promise."
"I will…!"
I signaled Kyle with my eyes. He nodded and called the soldiers. Terius was dragged away by them. Moments later, the sound of leather cracking against back flesh rang out five times.
We entered the command tent.
The meeting preparations were already complete. Documents were neatly arranged on the large table, and a massive map lay on one side.
Floyd and I sat in our chairs. As my exclusive maid, Yuria had been sent ahead to the tent where I was staying, not here. She'd clean it up.
People filed into the meeting room—Kyle's top officers leading his army. Over ten in total, all talented. As expected of the protagonist. His talent for gathering them was top-notch. Or rather, in Kyle's case, they flocked to him naturally.
'Elves and dwarves too. Knights, mercenaries, adventurers… even an ex-assassin. Quite the colorful bunch.'
One person in particular caught my eye.
A woman with short crimson hair. Her eyes were sharply fierce. Those crimson irises were icy cold, unlike their hue. She had long, slender legs—a striking beauty. C-cup bust, dressed in an officer's uniform. Her skirt was short, but the black stockings made her seem modest.
I recalled her name instantly. She was from the original story.
'Definitely Scarlett Bunclo.'
One of the generals Kyle trusted in the original. Her personal combat prowess was mediocre, but she excelled at commanding and operating armies.
'I want her.'
I was short on commanders right now. Yuria, Melissa, and Floyd handled command, but that wasn't their main role. Yuria was head maid, Melissa led the special forces, Floyd captained the knights.
'No proper commander in my army right now….'
Promote some random guy? My instincts wouldn't allow it.
'Has Scarlett sworn loyalty to Kyle? They seem distant….'
Recalling the original, Scarlett only acknowledged and followed Kyle in the latter half. Before that, she'd cooperated but hadn't pledged loyalty.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin."
With Kyle's words, the meeting started. An elf man who introduced himself as the reconnaissance captain explained the situation.
"We've received intel that the Balt Kingdom's reinforcements have departed. We have five days to capture or abandon Marbelot Castle."
"I say we abandon it. We can't guarantee victory even with 5,000 reinforcements."
"But with 5,000 more, it should be doable, right? I think it's possible."
"Hear my plan. We'll fell trees, bind them into rafts, and build a massive bridge. If we cross the river that way… we'll win."
"Nonsense. You think the enemy will just sit there?"
"E-easy now. Calm down and share your thoughts properly."
The meeting was lively. Kyle listened to everyone without dismissing any opinion, mediating to keep things smooth.
Scarlett, who had been silent, spoke up.
"Use catapults."
"Catapults? Think that'll bring down the walls? They're enchanted."
"Not to attack the walls. Dump rocks into the river to make a path. Wood burns and breaks easily, but rocks don't. Once a temporary path forms, we start the siege."
"Sounds plausible. But where do we get the rocks? None nearby."
"The 5,000 reinforcements can haul them from the rocky area here."
Scarlett's finger pointed to the map. It was a bit far.
"…It won't be that easy. The enemy has mages too. Even if we make a rock path, it won't be solid. There'll be massive casualties."
Someone detailed Scarlett's plan. Enemy fire would fill the gaps between catapulted rocks with allied corpses before a proper bridge formed.
"This is war. Sacrifices are inevitable."
Scarlett said coldly, her face unchanging. Kyle and most others looked uncomfortable. These people had gathered admiring Kyle's strength and convictions. They couldn't easily accept human sacrifice.
"Good. We'll go with that plan. What's your name?"
"…Scarlett Bunclo. Captain of the 3rd Battalion."
"Hold on, Eugene. This is basically a frontal assault. Too many sacrifices. There has to be a better way."
"Brother. I think this is the best plan. If not, I'm heading back."
"……."
Silence fell over the room.
"I won't force sacrifices on your army. My forces will lead the charge. That's all from me. Give me your answer by tomorrow."
I stood from my chair and left the tent with Floyd.
I met Scarlett in secret, away from Kyle. I'd summoned her to my tent.
From her opinion at today's meeting, I'd realized it. Scarlett hadn't pledged loyalty to Kyle yet. He hadn't changed her ruthless convictions.
"I'll grant Baron Prukus a private audience. Time is short, so please get to the point."
"Straight to the point it is. No interest in serving under me instead of Kyle?"
"…A recruitment offer. I expected as much."
Scarlett responded calmly, unsurprised.
"Have you sworn loyalty to Kyle?"
"No. I'm with him due to circumstances. Didn't you know? I thought you called me because you did."
Her crimson eyes seemed to appraise me.
"Of course. Scarlett Cloben, vice-leader of the A-rank mercenary group Aero. You're with Kyle because Aero's leader decided to join him, right?"
"Yes. The leader was captivated by Sir Kyle."
"And you weren't?"
"…I acknowledge Sir Kyle's greatness. But we don't quite mesh."
I grinned. Her words were extremely positive to me.
"What do you want?"
"First, I'm curious how much authority you'd grant me."
"Join me, and you'll be my top commander. You'll lead 20,000 troops, knights excluded."
20,000.
The entirety of my army, slaves included.
"Second, respect my strategies. No dismissing them as nonsense."
"I liked your plan."
"You're serious?"
"I don't care how many soldiers die. We can always recruit more grunts or slaves. Ah, but try to preserve elite troops if possible. Unlike slaves, they cost time and money to train."
"Understood, Sir Eugene."
"And third?"
"…Never mind on third. You just answered it. Now, my turn to ask. What's the price?"
"Absolute loyalty—your body and soul to me."
"……."