Chapter 145: A Choice Between Two (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: A Choice Between Two (3)
The Northeast Association was backed into a corner.
Under normal circumstances, they would have gladly accepted the favor, but the fact that it came from Roman Dmitry filled them with doubt.
‘Roman Dmitry is wrapping his true intentions in plausible words. He can't just stand by because it's happening in the Northeast? Nonsense! If Count Douglas and the Northeast Association clash, the one who stands to gain the most is Dmitry. There's no reason for him to drag himself into this muddy fight.’
It was a reasonable suspicion.
Had there been no prior friction, it might have been a different story, but they had been at each other's throats just a few days ago. They wanted to demand his true intentions. But they couldn't afford a hasty mistake, terrified it might destroy whatever slim chance of survival they had left.
‘We are in no position to be picky right now.’
Swallowing their doubts, Viscount Conrad spoke, clutching at straws.
"...The Northeast Association and Dmitry have not been on good terms. Honestly, it is only natural for Dmitry to hold a grudge. Whenever trouble arose in the Northeast, the Northeast Association sided with Barco, and our ill feelings piled up over time. I will not deny that our relationship with Dmitry has worsened, especially of late. But we need help right now. Even though it is a shameless request, if you promise to forget our past ill will and help us, we are willing to do anything. So please, tell us what we must do."
He cast aside complex calculations and thought simply.
If they went to war with Count Douglas, they wouldn't be able to handle the aftermath anyway. In that case, it was far better to draw the Dmitry family in and plan for the future.
‘Roman's sincerity doesn't matter. Whatever his reasons, if he holds our hand, we can minimize our losses in the war against Count Douglas. If we can do that, we'll have the strength to hold out even if Dmitry attacks us right after the war. Now is not the time to talk about pride.’
He weighed the pros and cons. Bowing his head was a much more profitable venture than making empty threats.
How would Roman Dmitry respond? Since Roman was still young, Conrad hoped he would get drunk on the feeling of victory and grant them some cheap mercy.
However, Roman's response was completely different from what he had expected.
[Since you acknowledge our past relationship, I will also speak my mind frankly. In truth, the most practical and profitable path for Dmitry is to ignore the Northeast Association. However, I do not wish to lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of a small victory. Considering the current state of Cairo, where the clouds of war are gathering, Dmitry—and indeed, the entire Northeast—must unite as one. I believe you know this well, Viscount Conrad. The geographical characteristics of the Northeast shine brightest when we join forces.]
Roman was now speaking of pure goodwill.
Viscount Conrad, who had expected a mocking response, looked slightly flustered.
[We know that this choice might cause us to lose our advantageous position. Even so, we cannot simply stand by and watch a northern force attack the Northeast. No matter what our past relationship was, are we not all living within the same fence of the 'Northeast'? If we stand by and watch a force within our fence collapse just because they were once hostile, the Northeast will eventually fall into the same abyss. My demand is clear. I do not ask for any material compensation from you. Simply show me that you sincerely regret the past and are willing to walk together in the future. With that single promise, I will forget our past ill will and, as someone living within the same fence, I will not turn away from your crisis.]
In that moment, a surge of emotion welled up inside Viscount Conrad.
If Roman had shown a calculating attitude, Viscount Conrad would have used his favor without a second thought. But pure goodwill? His mind was in turmoil. He had never imagined that Dmitry, of all factions, would reach out to the Northeast Association when they were backed into a corner.
‘...What on earth should I do?’
The words wouldn't come easily. His prejudiced gaze fell away. Dmitry, whom he had looked down upon because of their commoner origins, now appeared as a magnificent leader capable of guiding the Northeast. It was truly ironic that he only recognized Dmitry's true worth now, when he desperately needed help.
‘It is certain. Dmitry possesses the qualities of a leader to guide the Northeast.’
In just a single conversation, the layers of ill feelings that had accumulated over the years were melting away. Perhaps that was why.
"I will contact you again after discussing this thoroughly with the members of the Association."
Even though it was an offer he should have eagerly snatched up, Viscount Conrad chose to take a step back with a very serious expression.
* * *
The communication ended with Viscount Conrad promising to discuss the matter.
Although Conrad's attitude seemed sincere in its own way, that sincerity did not matter much to Roman.
‘The Northeast Association has no choice but to accept my offer. They might think accepting it poses no problem for them, but the moment they receive Dmitry's help, the Northeast Association will lose its very foundation.’
The Northeast Association were like bats. That didn't just mean they were a cowardly bunch; it meant they needed external help to survive. To such people, a new path had opened. Dmitry had shown a willingness to accept them simply because they belonged to the same Northeast region.
‘The Northeast Association is a necessary evil. Since it's impossible to win the sincere hearts of everyone in the world anyway, leaving an entity like the Northeast Association be allows us to easily filter out troublemakers. It's not as if they can unite and oppose us like before, either. Those who have begun to harbor pure goodwill toward Dmitry because of this incident will cause division within the Northeast Association, and those bat-like opportunists will no longer be able to act with their former cohesion. To lose one's foundation—even if they suffer no material loss, they will gradually lose their power without even realizing it.’
This was Baek Joong-hyuk's way.
The Heavenly Demon, Baek Joong-hyuk, had never accepted only loyal subjects. Among those who followed him, there were selfish individuals who cared only for themselves, and those who formed factions to protect their own skin. Baek Joong-hyuk embraced all of these diverse humans. In the process of ruling over thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands of people, he had acknowledged from the very beginning that human nature was bound to be diverse.
However, he controlled them perfectly. He gave them breathing room, but never allowed them to harbor foolish thoughts. Through overwhelming might and absolute governance, the Demonic Cult remained the undisputed ruler of Murim until the day Baek Joong-hyuk died.
‘The moment they accept my favor just once, Dmitry can swallow the Northeast without exerting much effort.’
Roman was a greedy man. He wanted the entirety of the Northeast. He knew that only by securing that much could Dmitry remain safe and sound in future conflicts with the Central Government.
‘To attack Dmitry, they must first pass through the other forces of the Northeast. When Dmitry had not yet won the hearts of the people, it might not have been a big problem for the Central Government, but from now on, things are different. The moment we swallow the Northeast Association, our enemies will have to cross countless walls before they can reach Dmitry. We can move the battlefield outside of Dmitry's borders, and the more we help them oppose the Central Government, the tighter the bond of the Northeast will become. And when that time comes, the forces bound to the Northeast will not even be allowed the option of betraying Dmitry.’
He looked far into the future.
The plan, which had started with the peasants of Dmitry, had formed a chillingly perfect structure of governance. Therefore, sincerity was not what mattered. If they offered sincere loyalty, that would be good, but even if they didn't, the outcome would remain the same.
A single submission. That was enough.
Creak.
He leaned back in his chair and waited for the right moment. Once the Northeast Association contacted him, he would bring this matter to a successful conclusion.
* * *
A few days later, the day of the decisive battle dawned.
Count Douglas had indeed mobilized his troops, and after instigating the northern lords, he crossed into the Northeast with them.
A northern noble spoke. "Count Douglas. Once we crush the Northeast Association, you must settle the accounts clearly."
"Of course. Why would I speak nonsense after inviting the lords of the North? This war is a golden opportunity. Since the fall of Barco, the Northeast has lost its cohesion. They are like a sandcastle that will crumble with just a slight touch. Shouldn't someone take possession of such a goldmine of a land?"
"Indeed."
"Hahaha, just hearing that makes me feel good."
The northern lords had not contributed their troops out of personal relationships. Count Douglas had offered them practical benefits: a generous division of the spoils of war after victory.
‘People think of me as a reckless beast. But I don't attack blindly either. If a clash is inevitable, maximizing my chances of winning is how I've managed to survive all this time.’
He was shrewd. He directly linked a matter of pride to practical gain. The Northeast was truly ownerless land. Although he had lashed out in anger at first, thinking back on it, there was no better opportunity than this. Starting with the Northeast Association, if things went well, he felt he could swallow the surrounding areas as well.
‘Fools. When Barco was under the protection of the Central Government, I couldn't move rashly, but things are different now. The Northeast Association is completely isolated. Since the other Northeast forces have no reason to help them, crushing them won't be difficult at all.’
His blood boiled at the thought of the stage of slaughter that would soon unfold. With a face full of anticipation, he hurried his steps, and before long, the troops of the Northeast Association came into view in the distance.
There was an order to the wars of nobles. The siege between Barco and Lawrence was an exceptional case; usually, they would decide when and where to meet, clash head-on, and test each other's strength. This time was no different. While declaring his intent to wage war to the Central Government, he had given the Northeast Association a choice, and they had sent a reply stating they would fight here on this plain today.
Finally, they arrived at the scene.
Spurring his horse forward, Count Douglas spoke in a threatening voice. "I am Count Douglas. Let the commander step forward and answer me."
At those words, Viscount Conrad stepped forward. Unlike Count Douglas, who looked ready to order an attack at any moment, Conrad looked slightly troubled.
"The scheduled time has not yet arrived. Please wait a moment."
"It looks like everyone who's coming has already arrived, so why don't we start right away? Or surrendering right now would also be a good option. There's no reason to waste energy on a fight you're bound to lose anyway."
It was an arrogant statement. Count Douglas was already confident of victory, and the northern lords behind him shared his thoughts.
But Viscount Conrad did not lose his composure. Despite the opponent's provocation, he spoke calmly without any change in expression.
"We won't know the outcome until we actually clash. When the time comes, we have no intention of avoiding the fight."
Viscount Conrad withdrew. Perhaps because the reaction was different from what he had expected, Count Douglas looked slightly irritated.
‘Arrogant bastards.’
As expected, he could not forgive them. He vowed to tear them to pieces the moment he won the war. He also returned to his position.
How much time had passed? The northern lords, who had been chatting with relaxed expressions, noticed a strange group approaching in the distance.
"Someone is coming."
"Did the Northeast Association call for reinforcements?"
At first, they were relaxed. But then, the moment they recognized the flag fluttering in the wind, their expressions froze.
"...Dmitry?"
"What the hell."
That was truly something that should never have happened.
* * *
In this war, they had been absolutely certain that Dmitry would not intervene. They had been at each other's throats so recently; they never imagined Dmitry would show up to help the Northeast Association.
At the head of Dmitry's forces was Roman Dmitry.
As soon as he arrived, Count Douglas asked in an aggressive tone, "...What brings Dmitry here?"
"Is there any special reason for appearing on a battlefield? Just as Count Douglas brought the lords of the North, I have simply brought my troops for the sake of the Northeast Association."
It was a reply that shut down any objection.
This incident could have been kept as a matter solely between Count Douglas and the Northeast Association. However, Count Douglas had summoned the northern lords to ensure a certain victory, and that had given the Dmitry family a perfect justification to join the war. Had he known Dmitry would act like this, Count Douglas would never have given them a pretext to join, even if it meant pushing himself too hard.
‘Damn it.’
He looked flustered. The northern lords also exchanged uneasy glances.
It was then.
"We are ready."
It was Viscount Conrad.
A few days ago, after a meeting, the Northeast Association had reached a conclusion.
"It is an offer we have no reason to refuse. If we defeat Douglas with Dmitry's help, it is a win for us in every way. At the very least, accepting Dmitry—with whom we still have room for compromise—as an ally is a far better choice than the northern forces who only seek to trample us."
In the end, they held hands with Roman. While it was a decision based on practical benefits, some individuals, like Viscount Conrad, were sincerely moved by Dmitry's actions. Whatever the underlying reasons, the fact that Dmitry had accepted them within the same fence of the Northeast served as an opportunity to view the Dmitry family in a completely new light.
And now, Viscount Conrad stood behind Roman.
Seeing him take refuge behind a powerful protector, Roman spoke on behalf of the Northeast.
"Make your choice now. Melee Combat, or a Great Warrior Battle. In what manner do you wish to fight us?"
From now on, Roman Dmitry, the ruler of the Northeast, would prove the meaning of his existence.