Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Taming the Britannica
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***
"I've delivered the notices to each village."
Skevin had followed Arthur's orders and posted the recruitment announcements for the Knight Order and Vigilante Corps.
But a lingering doubt still nagged at him.
"Young Master, do you think anyone will sign up for the Vigilante Corps? I'm worried they'll all flock to the Knight Order instead."
"I see it differently."
Arthur gazed out the window.
While touring the villages the day before, he'd learned something new.
There weren't many young men in the territory—far fewer than expected.
When he'd asked Andrew and Rusanna about it, they explained that women had always outnumbered men, but the decisive blow came when Lord Teheran, during the height of the Count's family's glory, led the Knight Order across countless battlefields. That imbalance had persisted for decades, only gradually correcting itself under Count Malcolm.
As a result, there were more men suited for the Vigilante Corps than for the Knight Order.
"I'm putting the Devil Squad in charge of training the Vigilante Corps. You focus only on the Knight Order applicants."
"Understood."
"And have partners been assigned for all the Britannicas?"
"We should finalize it today, but a few are putting up too much resistance."
"If we give up and fall back on regular horses, they won't mesh well together, right?"
"That's what worries me too."
"Hmm."
Arthur thought for a moment, then stood up.
"Let's head to the training grounds. We've got mountains of work ahead—better tackle it quickly."
"That would be ideal."
The corners of Skevin's mouth lifted.
As Arthur entered the training grounds, over ten Britannicas were still tussling with the knights.
A few suddenly stopped resisting.
The knights who'd won them over let out cheers.
"Yes!"
"Aza! Let's get along from now on!"
"I'll treat you like a queen!"
The knights were thrilled, buzzing with excitement.
In contrast, Arthur spotted others still locked in struggles: Herlot and Mullan with theirs, Perry with his, and one that no one dared approach.
Brown hide, golden mane.
It was the one Skevin had his eye on.
Arthur grinned at Skevin.
"You haven't tamed yours yet either?"
"W-Well..."
Skevin scratched his head sheepishly.
"Go try. I'll watch and see what's wrong."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Skevin approached the standoffish Britannica with an expectant look.
At that moment, Khan, who had been watching the Britannicas from the edge of the training grounds, trotted up to Arthur.
Ihirung~.
He rubbed his head against Arthur's shoulder, acting cute.
Arthur grinned and stroked Khan's face as he asked,
"Why are those guys rejecting them?"
Khan shook his head as if he had no idea.
But the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he knew but was playing dumb.
Khan was nothing like Arthur had expected.
He'd seemed wild and taciturn, but he was full of affection and playfulness.
It wasn't bad having a companion who could make him smile.
With a smile tugging at his lips, Arthur watched Skevin deal with his Britannica.
"Isn't it about time you accepted me?"
Hiiing!
The Britannica snorted fiercely, as if to say not a chance.
Skevin wooed it like a girlfriend, but it refused to even glance his way.
The other situations were the same.
"Hmm."
Arthur observed the knights' efforts, then examined the Britannicas.
Each one exuded intense presence, and unlike the others, each had a unique trait.
The ones chosen by Herlot and Mullan looked as massive and powerful as their riders.
Perry's seemed sleek and incredibly fast.
They all came across as proud and strong-willed.
"They've each picked similar ones."
Ihirung~.
Khan neighed as if in agreement.
Arthur looked at him with a wry expression.
He couldn't speak, but he understood everything Arthur said and even chimed in.
At this point, he was practically human.
"You really think the same as me, huh?"
Arthur grinned and continued.
"But going about it like that won't win their hearts. Where I'm from, there's a saying: Brave men win the beauties."
Ihing~ Ihing~.
Khan nodded repeatedly.
"The stronger they are, the more they crave strength."
Arthur shouted to Skevin.
"Stop dragging it out and go strong!"
"What if I get rejected?"
"You planning to stay like that forever?"
"Ah, got it."
Skevin gave the Britannica a regretful look.
"I didn't want to go this far either. But you're resisting too much—no choice."
The creature ignored him, staring elsewhere.
As Skevin slowly drew up his mana, a fierce aura emanated from him.
The Britannica glanced over.
"I'm not some weakling."
He closed the distance step by step.
It snorted and glared.
Before, he might have backed off to avoid offending it, but not now.
It was all or nothing. He'd push with raw power.
"Let's see how you react."
Skevin pulled his mana to its limit, and a deep blue aura rose around him.
A explosive surge of presence burst forth.
Not to be outdone, the Britannica ramped up its own.
Their auras clashed evenly.
Skevin held his ground, but Britannicas were monsters strong enough to send orcs flying in one hit.
Standing firm against that wasn't easy.
As time passed, fatigue set in, and he felt himself losing ground.
"Damn! Fine, if this doesn't work, I'll give up. So I'm not backing down easy."
Skevin gritted his teeth and shoved forward with all his might.
Startled by this new side of him, the creature faltered slightly.
Skevin seized the opening.
He swiftly closed in and mounted its back.
Hiiiing-!
It bucked wildly.
But Skevin endured with veteran skill.
After a few minutes, the heaving beast stopped struggling and stood still like a gentle colt.
"Hoo~."
Skevin exhaled in relief and stroked its mane.
"You accepting me now?"
Ihiing!
It raised its head and let out a triumphant howl.
"Thanks. Looking forward to working with you."
Skevin's success spurred the others watching to try the same approach.
"Now it's settled."
As Arthur grinned, a soldier on gate duty hurried over.
"Someone's here to see you."
"Me?"
Arthur tilted his head.
The soldier looked troubled as he replied.
"It's not just one person. You should go see for yourself."
"Not just one..."
A knowing smile spread across Arthur's face.
He had an idea who it was.
"Faster than I thought. Well, I did tell them to disband immediately..."
"Send them away?"
"These are the ones I invited."
Arthur patted Khan's face.
"Once things settle here, talk to the others. We're all family now—no need for ugly incidents. Especially calm the regular horses in the stables; they're terrified."
Ihirung~.
Khan nodded.
Arthur headed to the gate with the soldier.
As expected, Kanrak and his gang were gathered there.
Spotting Arthur, Kanrak scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"What do we do now?"
"About what?"
"You know... raising our value."
"Reform yourselves."
"What does that mean?"
Kanrak cocked his head.
"Reflect on your past wrongs and live righteously. But you lot seem far from that path—doubt you can pull it off."
"We have to. Otherwise, we'll be run out of the territory."
"I'm warning you now: it'll be tough."
"We've been through hell and back. Don't worry about us. Anyone who can't hack it will drop out on their own."
Arthur grinned and gestured inside.
"Come on in."
"You have to keep your word from yesterday."
"Don't worry. I always keep my promises."
"Then we look forward to working with you."
Kanrak strode in proudly with his crew.
Shortly after.
Starting with Kanrak, people from the villages poured into the castle to join the Knight Order and Vigilante Corps.
Skevin and the Phoenix Knights went out to welcome them.
The influx turned the castle bustling, and the leadership busied themselves with operational plans.
Arthur stood atop the walls, lost in thought as he watched the endless line of applicants.
"You're here."
Millerph approached.
In the past, he would have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Arthur, gazing at the same view.
Now, he hung back a step, looking up at him.
Arthur was his sun now.
His role was to make that sun shine even brighter.
Nothing else mattered.
"What do you think seeing that line?"
"They all seem anxious."
"Wouldn't you be? Monsters appearing in a peaceful territory, villages burned in the territorial war."
"The anxiety will fade with time."
"Will it?"
Arthur stared at the western mountains and continued.
"Monsters could show up anytime, and the territorial war isn't over."
"You've prepared countermeasures, haven't you?"
"Countermeasures are just that—countermeasures. No one knows what'll actually happen."
It was irrefutable.
Millerph didn't argue, just watched Arthur, awaiting his next words.
"Starting with Yarve Count, I'm building our power."
"What kind of power?"
"With just our strength, we can't handle monsters, let alone the Demon King."
"Why not form alliances with neighboring kingdoms?"
"I'll fight them with my own power and my people alone."
"You don't mean..."
Millerph's eyes widened.
Arthur nodded, overlooking the territory.
"I'll expand the Count's family's influence. Yarve Count will make a fine first prey to put us on the map."
"M-My lord..."
"Start gathering intel on surrounding territories and related matters."
"If word reaches the Emperor..."
Millerph's face darkened.
"That's why we do it quietly. One slip, and we could be branded rebels—headache we don't need."
"Can't you share the specifics of the plan?"
"For now, just follow my orders."
"At least tell me about territory matters."
Millerph wouldn't back down.
He couldn't—Arthur's plan was dangerous and grave, directly tied to Grada Territory's fate.
He had to know at least the territory-related parts.
"Hmm."
Arthur pondered, then met Millerph's gaze.
"I'm turning this place into an impregnable fortress."
"How?"
"The west is blocked by monsters—no enemy can come that way. The east is the sea. Fortify defenses south and north properly, and no one takes us easily."
"Ah..."
"But cornered rats bite last."
Arthur's face grew deadly serious.
"That's why we must grow stronger."
"With the Britannicas, our Knight Order is now top five in the Empire."
"I want to be the strongest. Anything less is meaningless."
Arthur's eyes blazed fiercely, his face etched with resolve.
Millerph involuntarily bowed his head.
'My lord...'
Before, only his strength stood out; now, his other virtues shone too.
He worried for the territory's future, far ahead of everyone.
Beyond inheriting Teheran's legacy or raw power, he had the qualities of a family head.
The strongest.
Ambition for supremacy!
As expected of one fit to be Emperor.
No—he was destined to be a conqueror!
The bloody history began now.
Expectancy and worry crossed Millerph's face before he clenched his fist tight.
'Become the sun. A sun so intense it evaporates rivers of blood in an instant.'