Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Tomorrow
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“That new Count. Isn’t he actually ridiculously strong?!”
“Of course, he is! He killed Count Ksias.”
“No, I heard he barely won that time. But this time, he supposedly knocked out ‘that’ Jahir in a single blow.”
The incident that occurred that morning had circled the city in less than thirty minutes.
“Yaaaaah! Big news! Big news! Count Lansen took down Jahir of a Hundred Victories in one hit!”
This was followed by the tearful devotion of a certain warrior who spread the rumor faster and more widely than anyone else.
With so many people gathered in Kushan City, there were all sorts of strange individuals.
“What? What?!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hey! I’ll buy your drinks, so come over here and tell us the details!”
The warriors were stunned by the earth-shattering news.
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
The man who had picked up a random cup in front of him and downed it in one refreshing shot immediately opened the tavern door to leave, saying.
“Get the details from someone else. I’m busy.”
He instantly kicked the door open and ran out, shouting again.
“Aaaaaah! Count Lansen struck Jahir of a Hundred Victories with the hilt of his sword and knocked him out! That means he could have just as easily taken his head if he’d wanted to!”
He was what you might call a rumor addict.
A man who was dead serious about spreading gossip.
Then there were the truly serious types.
“All I can say is that it was a truly incredible move.”
“I didn't even see a preparatory motion.”
“Preparatory motion? Hah. Is that all you saw?”
“What?!”
“It wasn't on the level of a mere preparatory motion. There was no killing intent, no sign of him raising his aura. But even that is secondary. Do you know what the real key was?”
“What… what was it?”
“His gaze.”
“His gaze!”
“As a human, one’s intentions are inevitably revealed through their eyes. But not Count Lansen. There was no hint of aggression in his eyes. They were innocent. Yet, his arm shot out as if in a spasm. No… it was more like the sword moved on its own…”
As the sharp-featured warrior laid out his analysis, the other warriors gathered at the table murmured amongst themselves.
“Ooh…!”
“You are truly remarkable!”
Then, a dark-skinned warrior who had been sitting quietly at a corner of the table chimed in.
“That makes sense. But that’s not all. Did anyone here see Count Lansen’s footwork?”
“Footwork?”
“Yes. Normally, when a person throws a punch, their foot moves first. But the Count was different. His hand moved first. His feet didn’t even move as his body leaned forward. As if he were hanging from his sword.”
“Incredible…!”
“And yet, the power was properly delivered. An attack that transcends form. That is the art of formlessness!”
“!!!”
“You… you’re incredible too!”
“Truly an amazing analysis!”
Praise poured in once again.
The two warriors who had offered their sharp analyses met each other’s eyes.
“You… you’re quite something.”
“Heh heh. You too.”
While some warriors were forming tight bonds of friendship by mobilizing all their observational skills and knowledge, there were also simpler folk.
“He’s strong! Count Lansen!”
“Isn’t he as strong as the Gale King Harun at this point?!”
“Nah, that’s not it!”
“Even if he’s not… I don’t think anyone but the Five Kings could face him, right?”
“That’s true.”
And next to them, warriors who enjoyed politics were busy analyzing the situation.
“But does this mean the Gale King and Lansen are going to have a showdown? He beat up and chased away an envoy, didn’t he?”
“What? So the Gale King’s cavalry is going to swarm this place? Gasp! I should leave right now.”
“That’s not it. To get here, they have to pass through Kinalo, and there’s no way Kinalo City would just stand by and watch, right?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Even so, that’s some serious nerve.”
“Exactly. The skill to take down Jahir in one blow, the guts to look down on the Gale King… I see him in a new light. Count Lansen.”
All sorts of people chattered about all sorts of things, but in the end, one thing was clear.
Charisma.
The power that makes people acknowledge from the bottom of their hearts that this being is an extraordinary individual, different from them.
That power was now beginning to rise, slowly but surely, above the head of Lansen, who had become a lord just a little over a month ago.
***
The warriors outside seemed to be in a festive mood, but the conference room where we were gathered was tense.
‘Because this is a serious situation.’
The ruler of Norverge, the Gale King, had demanded my submission, and I had flatly refused. Everyone’s minds must be racing.
I looked at my siblings, Rivera, Kalserik, and Mr. Balseon, who were all seated around the oval table.
What should I say first…
Right. I need to make this clear first.
“First, my siblings. I want to hear your opinions.”
Their eyes fell on me.
“My duty is to protect you. In that respect, a fight with the Gale King is a burden. Of course, with Kinalo still standing, we won’t be fighting immediately. But… I don’t know what the future holds.”
I intend to do my best to prevent such a thing from happening, but the future is unknown.
What if our checks fail and the Gale King captures Kinalo City?
Then, the Gale King would immediately set his sights on our base, Kushan City.
“If the situation deteriorates to the worst-case scenario, we may have to fight the Gale King. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll lose. But I’m not confident I can protect all of your lives in the process. I… I’m afraid of that.”
So I wanted to ask.
Rather than deciding alone.
“If the worst should happen, what should we do?”
Should we fight?
Or should we submit?
When I finished my question, my siblings were all staring at me with wide eyes.
Their gazes were strangely…
‘Why… do they look like they’re pitying me?’
It felt a bit like that.
Even Seklan, who was always polite, had a hint of pity in his eyes.
“Mister.”
It was seventeen-year-old Daisy who broke the suffocating silence.
…She’s calling me ‘Mister’ again.
“What in the world are you talking about? Our lives have always been hanging by a thread, and you’re bringing this up now???”
Next to her, Seklan spread his hands and started counting on his fingers.
“Hmm… How many life-threatening crises have I been through? Three times, five times… seven times…”
Twenty-year-old Sea stared intently at my face and dropped a single word.
“Oblivious.”
Saltsran, the same age as Sea, spoke in a booming voice.
“Brother! You’re not the only one with a dream! You told us we were standing at the entrance of our dream! Do you think we can achieve our dream of rebuilding our nation and family with such a passive mindset?!”
Twenty-four-year-old Baren muttered to himself.
“Our family was a Marquisate… Just sharing some businesses in a city this small can’t be called rebuilding the family…”
Jia, twenty-two; Lookranser and Catch, twenty-one; Asha, twenty; Mika and Gepetto, nineteen—they all seemed to share similar thoughts.
“He’s just the Gale King. In the end, he’s just the boss of some outlaws…”
“Bowing my head to someone like that doesn’t seem very cool…”
My siblings threw out their comments one by one.
And finally,
Twenty-five-year-old Katrina ignited a yellow flame within her bright yellow eyes and growled at me.
“Brother.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t get it twisted.”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Were you the only one who lost your country? The only one who lost your family?!”
“…No.”
“Bearing the weight of Vanroah isn’t just on you. It’s the dream and responsibility of all of us. Do you understand?”
“Uh…”
“A king is someone who weaves together the dreams of his subjects and leads them forward. Not someone who just keeps them in his arms and protects them.”
She stared into my eyes for a long time before slowly concluding her words.
“So, brother. No, Your Highness Lansen Vanroah. Lead us. Don’t just try to protect us. Stand at the front and lead.”
A heavy silence fell over the conference room.
“Hk…”
Mr. Balseon, his eyes bloodshot, made a strange sound. …I think he’s crying.
I thought I could understand how he felt.
Damn, they’ve all grown up so well.
‘I was thinking about this all wrong.’
I’ve known these kids since Daisy was three, so I keep thinking of them as little.
But in reality, they’d seen their older siblings die, seen the knights who had protected them since they were part of the family die, and during the time I was a wreck, they had survived on their own in the dangerous back alleys of Kushan City. They were proper warriors.
True warriors who had fought alongside me to kill Ksias and participated in the purges.
A mix of emotions washed over me as I looked at each of my siblings, finally managing to tear my gaze away.
I turned to the side and saw Rivera and Kalserik with their eyes wide open.
Until now, the fact that we were of Vanroah blood had been a secret.
But now, I don’t think it matters.
I judged that the Empire’s pursuit wouldn’t be severe since it’s been fourteen years, and more importantly, I want to be truthful with my vassals.
‘I might have to ask them to fight the Gale King if it comes to it, so it’s not polite to keep hiding it.’
I met their surprised eyes and casually asked.
“That’s what they say, so what do you two think?”
Rivera rubbed his wide eyes and answered.
“I thought you were all noble people, but to think you were the royal family and children of nobles of Vanroah?”
I gave a slight shrug.
Rivera shook his head once, stood up from his seat, and gave a military salute.
“Well, I have no such secret. I am Rivera of the Viscount Pietro family, from the Windbarrow Kingdom that fell 300 years ago. When my lord executed Ksias, I had already entrusted my life to you. I am prepared to follow any order with pleasure.”
Well, I knew you’d react like this.
I conveyed my gratitude with a nod to his refreshing smile and looked at Kalserik.
Honestly, Kalserik is the most ambiguous one here.
He entered my service following pragmatism rather than loyalty.
Which way are his scales tipping now? The risk of fighting the Gale King versus the practical benefits he can gain.
“Whoa… Well, is this a place to confess our origins? I don’t really know about that… but I’ll ask one thing. Boss.”
“Speak.”
“Can you really beat Harun? He’s a monster said to be nearing the level of a Grand Master, though not quite there. They say he surpassed the Sword Master level a long time ago.”
“Honestly, I’m not confident.”
“Wha—??!!?!”
Whoa, that surprised me. Why is he so shocked?
Kalserik asked, almost accusingly.
“Is it right to say you’ll lose in this situation?!”
“…When did I say I’d lose? I just said I’m not confident.”
“That’s the same thing…!”
I tried to be playful, but it just turned awkward…
I belatedly tried to clean up the mess.
“I’m not confident I can lose.”
“Ah…”
Kalserik stared at me with a cold look.
I deliberately avoided his gaze and asked.
“Let me ask you in return. Do you think I’ll lose?”
Kalserik had witnessed my skills right beside me.
Isn’t that why he got on his knees and begged for his life?
Moreover, during this recent monster subjugation, I had cut down several notoriously large monsters right in front of him.
Thanks to that, perhaps,
“…Right? No, honestly, I can’t even imagine it. The boss losing to someone…”
Kalserik smiled bitterly and rose from his seat.
“The Kalserik Knights of the Salett Kingdom, which fell 60 years ago. I am Digor Kalserik, the second commander. I entrust the lives of myself and my brothers to my lord. Please return them to us multiplied by two.”
A pledge of allegiance that asks for a twofold return… a truly mercenary-like pledge.
By the way, the Kalserik Knights of the Salett Kingdom?
As I stared at him, he scratched his head.
“Well, it seemed like saying your origin was the trend… It’s, uh, nothing much. My father was the commander of the Kalserik Knights, and when the kingdom fell, he led the entire knight order over to Roverland. It was a knight order made up of commoners, so we don’t have a proper family name.”
Kalserik, who had been explaining on his own, felt awkward and changed the subject, his face flushing red.
“Ah, so what are you going to do now?!”
I chuckled and answered.
“Since the Gale King is acting like this, we need to hurry too.”
“Hurry, as in?”
“We will capture Kashu City as soon as possible.”
My answer ignited a fire in everyone.
“Oh, when do we march?”
“It will take at least two days to reorganize the army, so in three days? Around then, right?”
“No. It will take about a week to restock all the consumed supplies…”
“Isn’t that too late?”
Everyone started making their own plans, suggesting three days or a week.
Since we had just returned this morning after a week-long monster subjugation… it was natural for them to calculate the time needed for reorganization.
‘Haa…’
It feels like I’m about to pour cold water on them,
I really don’t want to do this, but I have no choice.
“Tomorrow.”
All eyes were fixed on me.
“What?”
You didn’t hear me? Then I’ll tell you in detail.
“Ring the emergency bell right now, assemble all troops, and relay the message.”
“A-are you serious?”
At times like this, I have to be firm.
“Yes. The 1st Regiment is deploying. Pack your gear right back up and be ready to march out at 8 AM.”
“Oh… my god…”
Kalserik, the vice-commander of the 1st Regiment that had just returned from the subjugation, wore the expression of a man who had lost his country.