Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Impressive Confidence
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"...Impressive confidence."
"If what I saw is right, then magic is the power that changes history."
Aranju Dolan seemed utterly uninterested in the mage's tale.
The Aranju's focus was on the here and now—Daymerit itself.
"If it's such a tremendous power, can't it drive out Heukrin?"
Yan shook his head, as if the question was exactly what he'd expected.
"It won't be easy."
"Why? I don't know how strong your power is or how many soldiers this magic can replace, but I have soldiers ready to move right now."
"You mean these ones whose morale is in the gutter and who aren't even armed?"
Yan elaborated.
"Heukrin right now would be tough for even me to handle. Besides, Yacheon is a fearsome god. He has a keen interest in magic and mages. I can't move carelessly."
"...Hmm."
Aranju eyed Yan suspiciously but couldn't quite pinpoint anything off.
"So, you're saying if we have enough time, you can protect Danyeom? Even from Heukrin?"
"That's a tough question."
"Which part?"
"Suppose Heukrin conquers the entire continent. It'd be hard for Danyeom alone to escape that order, wouldn't it?"
Aranju replied.
"That's defeatist."
"You don't think it's groundless?"
"...You're right."
When they were part of the Five Alliance, fighting Heukrin, victory had seemed obvious.
But after Heukrin defeated them once, things got messy, and they had to surrender. Even though it was just Danyeom's loss, it was hard to claim the rest of the alliance would win for sure.
'Was it simply internal problems in Danyeom? Just Heukrin's luck?'
He couldn't be certain.
Apostle Rakrak was still alive and well, and Heukrin's army was as formidable as ever.
The remaining alliance members would now join forces to attack Heukrin, but that alone didn't feel like enough.
Yan spoke.
"But my story isn't over yet."
"Then?"
Aranju met his gaze.
Yan continued.
"We just need to be clear on what exactly we want to protect."
"What I want to protect?"
"The nation called Danyeom? That'll be hard to hold onto."
"Probably."
"Do you still worship the god Mujin?"
"...For now."
"Hmm. In any case, I don't have the spare capacity to stop fights between gods."
"Then what can you protect?"
Yan answered.
"This nation's people."
Aranju swallowed a surprised grunt at the unexpected reply.
"...Even if the nation vanishes, the people won't have anywhere to go. Why protect the people specifically?"
"You're misunderstanding. If you've studied Danyeom's history—or any other nation's on the continent—you'd know. The countries here have always attacked and persecuted those who don't follow their gods' names. Our race endured it too. If the nation falls and someone else's god rules the land, do you think you and your descendants could live peacefully?"
"So how exactly do you plan to protect the people?"
Yan clenched his fist.
"With power."
"...Power."
"With power, no one can ignore us. What we need to protect isn't the nation or the god—it's people in the end. Because we are people. And people need power."
Aranju spoke slowly.
"You mean that power is magic?"
"Yes."
Aranju perched on the edge of his desk.
Yan pressed.
"You don't have much time to think. I had to use magic to meet you without catching the gods' eyes. You need to decide before the sun rises."
Aranju felt a throbbing headache.
He knew this night's choice would determine so much.
A long while later, Aranju raised his head.
"...Alright. I've made up my mind."
"It's been a while, General Basen."
Basen blinked at the envoy who'd brought Kyle's reply from Oragn.
"...Indeed it has, Hunting Minister. I didn't expect you to come all this way."
Standing before Basen was a Deanin with red eyes and white scales.
"With the war on, there's not much for a hunting minister to do, right? If I fussed over banquets or hunts instead, His Majesty would have my head. So naturally, with the palace short-staffed, someone like me ends up running errands outside in place of the busy folks."
Basen chuckled at Deanin's breezy tone.
He knew Deanin worked as Kyle's right hand in the shadows.
Dean's presence here meant Kyle's interest was that high—and the matter that crucial.
"Aranju Dolan, was it? You can stop worrying about Danyeom's new king now."
"Hmm."
Basen nodded.
As a general, he'd racked up wins like the Dilfa Gorge battle and shown his worth at court.
But Basen was still royalty, once even crown prince.
Handing him diplomatic duties would naturally unsettle the ministers.
So Kyle sending Deanin as envoy was a protective measure for Basen.
And truthfully, Deanin would handle it better anyway.
"While you've been fighting, we mobilized more troops. We might figure out how to move Danyeom's soldiers through talks with their king, but that's uncertain. You must know other nations are on the march too..."
Basen nodded.
Since Heukrin entered Daymerit, armies from various countries had begun moving.
Closest ally Jeokgwa sent 20,000; farther Mangul, 24,000; Geuman, 18,000—a total host of 62,000 creeping toward Daymerit.
Starting from different points, their march speeds varied to sync arrivals, but all within a month.
"Is Seokmyeon still in civil war?"
"Looks like you got the latest news faster than me. It ended with that patricide winning."
"Hmm."
Basen knew of Redin Bial Oser.
He didn't see the patricide as anything special.
'If he wanted the throne that badly.'
Besides, rumors said Redin's father, Dermaldin, wasn't exactly pleasant either.
What stood out was his record.
Redin had started with a pitiful base before killing the king.
Yet nearly alone, he'd crushed the other nobles and solidified his rule.
Deanin said.
"Like he has a god's favor."
"It does seem that way."
"No joke—he's been claiming it outright. Says he's the apostle of Sokseon."
"I see."
Deanin gauged how long it'd take Seokmyeon post-civil war to ready troops.
With battle-hardened soldiers already, it wouldn't take long.
Deanin continued.
"Anyway... The 5,000 I brought aren't many, but I trust General Basen will put them to good use."
"I'll do my best."
"And I brought some useful weapons too. Stability tested at the armory, and 500 of the 5,000 trained on them."
Basen asked, puzzled.
"Cannons? We can source those here in Danyeom. Quality's similar. The powder here smokes less but doesn't fly as far."
"Source your powder locally. But these cannons I brought... well, they are cannons, but two types."
"Two types?"
Deanin nodded.
"One's an improved model—longer barrel. Heavier, but shoots farther and more accurately. Needs more powder, so we upgraded the carriers for the gunners. Ask the trained troops for details..."
"And the other?"
"Tweaked the size, so it's a bit different. Tech Minister swears it's useful, but some officers weren't sure. Wouldn't have brought it if he hadn't insisted. You'll need to see and judge yourself."
Basen nodded.
"I'll inspect them. If useless, take them back when you leave."
"Haha, good one."
"Can't waste troops guarding unused weapons. Otherwise, enemies might use them—we'd have to melt them down, requisitioning Daymerit's forges."
"...Hope they're useful, then."
With that, Deanin stood.
Truthfully, meeting Basen wasn't crucial for him.
Not that Basen wasn't important—Basen had his duties, Deanin his own.
'I need to complete His Majesty's mission.'
Deanin headed off to meet Aranju Dolan and another.
Once Deanin left for Aranju, Basen went to meet the new troops and check the weapons Deanin mentioned.
Lizardmen were only a tenth, but their training level was decent for the time.
In the makeshift armory—Danyeom nobles' vacated quarters—Adjutant Suheon was already inspecting.
"You're here, General?"
Basen eyed the cannons unpacked and arrayed.
"What the Hunting Minister mentioned... these?"
"Yes. This is the improved cannon. Just demoed it—flies fifty po farther than ours."
"Fifty po?"
Basen couldn't hide his smile.
Fifty po meant one extra volley before enemies closed in with sequential fire.
Minor against infantry or cavalry, but against enemy cannons? Game-changer.
Suheon grinned too.
"Yes. But the real marvel is the other one."
"What is it?"
"This way."
Basen followed Suheon to the back yard.
An explosion boomed, white smoke engulfing the area.
Basen was used to cannon and black powder smoke by now, but something else surprised him.
"The cannon's quieter?"
"Yes. Much quieter."
As smoke cleared, the gunners came into view.
No massive cannon beside them.
The cannon was in their hands.
Forearm-sized, with a long rod attached to counter recoil.
"Small."
"Small, but one man can fire it."
"One man?"
Suheon explained.
"Like Mangul's crossbows—they added a trigger. Preload powder, slow-burning fuse, pull trigger to ignite and fire. Want to see?"
Basen took the new cannon, intrigued.
"What's it called?"
"Tech bureau calls it a 'hand cannon'."