Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The War Hero Decides to Exile (1)
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Medieval fantasy era.
What would be the most agonizing thing for a modern person if they were possessed by someone in this world?
There are countless possibilities, but without a doubt, it would be 'dopamine'.
A world without smartphones or the internet.
In this medieval fantasy world where even MSG is nonexistent and the most expensive seasoning is pepper, there was almost nothing for me to enjoy.
The one saving grace was mana.
Fortuitously in this fantasy world, I possessed the talent to learn magic.
Regrettably, it was a talent honed through war, so instead of leisurely studying spells in a magic tower, my priority was channeling aura into my sword to survive.
To stay alive, I chose the path of the knight, wielding a greatsword infused with aura against countless foes until I finally reached the realm of Grand Swordmaster.
The pinnacle of dominating the world with the sword.
A power that could handle even 70,000 troops if I had the stamina, mana, and unbreakable will to overcome them all.
With such a body, what could I possibly enjoy in this world?
The thrilling rides from my past life—the ones said to be the scariest—barely fazed me now that I was a Grand Master.
I never even imagined the war would end after just twelve years.
Hobbies were severely limited during wartime, and the only indulgence available was chasing women.
Following the instincts of a male.
The stamina and vitality of a Grand Master turned me into the emperor of the night.
Unlike my previous life, where I'd pour every flirting technique into seducing a woman only to get rejected, fail to make it official, or take forever for even a one-night stand—this body of 'Hans Wilhelm' brought pure bliss.
The face, the physique, and the junior attached below.
No need to dwell on the one from my past life, but the one I have now was a bona fide 'greatsword'—no exaggeration.
I don't know the average here, but in the modern world, it'd rank in the top 0.1%.
Honestly, in my previous life, if I set aside pride, I was average at best—maybe a smidge below. So, Hans Wilhelm Junior was one of my proudest assets.
Not using it would be self-torture.
To put it bluntly, indulging in the primal pleasures I couldn't in my past life was my one true happiness, hobby, and way to recover from mental fatigue.
But then.
What was this Princess Knight Sylvia—the one forced into marriage with me—saying?
"So you're telling me to refrain from sleeping with women?"
"Ideally speaking, officially speaking, yes."
"Ha."
"Just hear me out calmly first."
"Sure. I'll listen. But don't expect me to just nod and say 'Okay, I will'."
Sylvia's eyebrows furrowed at my defiance.
She hadn't anticipated I'd react this way, or perhaps she was recalling our countless clashes during the twelve-year war.
"Sir Wilhelm. You have one well-known weakness that the Empire and the entire continent are aware of."
"......"
"Not going to respond? Fine, I'll say it myself. Your weakness is women. Beautiful ones, specifically."
"I'm not a god. I'm a healthy adult male."
"But it's true that your weakness has caused all sorts of problems."
"......"
I couldn't deny the past.
In Sylvia's logic, the Empire's honey traps had indeed led to numerous issues.
"To put it simply, most of the beauties you captured escaped back to the Empire alive—or were released—and by my count, that's over twenty."
"Ahem."
"Even within the Alliance Kingdoms, there was endless gossip. And those women returned to the Empire alive, not laying down their arms, but picking up their batons and returning to the front lines."
On this matter, I had nothing to say, even with ten mouths.
However.
"That was true at first. But because of it, I drew massive aggro to my side on a large scale, and that's how I annihilated the Empire's armored division."
"That's..."
"The Empire's Magic Artillery Weapons, originally pushing into the Beastman Kingdom, turned toward my position because their commander wanted to kill the dog bastard who violated his daughter. Thanks to that, the Beastman Kingdom rebuilt their defensive line, and I smashed that entire armored division, buying us a full month."
By repeatedly taking and releasing the Empire's female officers, the Alliance Kingdoms had gained plenty.
"A lot happened over twelve years. Yes, I spared quite a few Empire beauties, but I mercilessly executed the irredeemable villains."
"......"
"Yes. The [Hubert Forest] incident is something I deeply regret. The woman I spared tricked me and burned down an entire forest in elven territory—that's on me, and I still reflect on it. But for those mistakes, I took responsibility myself."
The continent calls me a hero, but I'm far from perfect.
"Knowing I had those past errors, I accepted only a portion of my pension and requested the rest go toward establishing the Wilhelm Foundation."
Being imperfect means constantly seeking ways to atone and steer things positively—as just one person.
"Most of the pensions from various kingdoms and the Empire's war reparations were allocated to the Wilhelm Foundation. It compensates those who suffered in the war—especially from my womanizing—with at least some solace."
For incidents caused by the beauties I spared, I either took their lives myself or cleaned up the aftermath, doing my utmost.
"Princess. As Princess Knight Sylvia and Supreme Commander of the Kingdom's forces, I know my issues gave you massive headaches. That was true even before the war, and I'm still sorry."
"Sir Wilhelm."
"But! Didn't that same Princess Knight exploit my womanizing for strategy and tactics? Take Beatrice Duke—even she used me to provoke her."
It was nothing major, just some trash talk against the Empire's famed general.
"Yes, I spouted vulgarities about Beatrice Duke in private, but it was you, Princess, who turned that into a massive counter-espionage op against Empire spies, luring her to the front lines."
Not me—the Kingdom's command structure.
"And yeah, I had some fun because of it... wait, actually, it was even more meaningful. By sparing and sending back Beatrice Duke like that, didn't the armistice talks end relatively peacefully?"
"That's exactly the problem, Count."
"Pardon?"
"As long as you don't completely cut off women, the Empire will keep sending them to tempt you."
The princess stared straight at me.
"Frankly, now that exchanges with the Empire have begun and Empire folk visit Wilhelm County, if one of the beauties you spared sneaks into your bedroom at night, will you just let it slide?"
"......"
I couldn't deny it.
"Even if it's an assassination attempt, you'll thwart it and, as always, say 'Pay for your life with your body' and torment her till morning. Then, as usual, over breakfast together, you'll say, 'If you're prepared to face this, feel free to try assassinating me anytime'."
"Yes. And that's how I saved my subordinates."
"......"
"If I hadn't taken all those assassinations from the Empire's Intelligence Agency with my body, a third of the Alliance Kingdoms' nobles would be partying in the afterlife right now."
During the twelve-year war, ninety percent of the Empire's efforts targeted me, allowing many key figures in the kingdoms to survive.
"Princess. I'm not asking for much. Not half the kingdom's land, not a hundredfold pension increase, not even a license to kill. Heck, I'm not demanding a law that says any woman I touch on the shoulder must go to my bedroom. Not even legalization of some forbidden drug just for me."
I could seize unchecked power, but I don't go that far.
"I'm just a man wanting to share love with a woman who catches my eye. What's wrong with that?"
"So..."
"Pretend I didn't hear you, Princess."
Declaration.
"I'll keep enjoying women who want me, and I won't abandon personal pleasures for political reasons."
"...Sir."
Scraaaape.
Sylvia rose from her seat.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
"No. Don't."
"What...?"
"Starting tomorrow."
I stood as well, pointing toward the mansion's exit for Sylvia.
"I'll be traveling to inspect the Empire's remnants scattered across the Alliance Kingdoms post-armistice."
I needed time to sort my thoughts, but one thing was clear.
"Princess. I have no intention of marrying you."
My mind was made up.
"Is it... because I'm thirty-seven?"
"No."
Age wasn't the issue.
Honestly, with that face, figure, and if the chemistry clicked, I'd be 'open' to someone in their twenties or so, appearance-wise.
If even I was turning down this woman, the reason was...
"It's you, and the attitude of the royal family."
There were plenty of other places happy to have me.