Chapter 2074 – 2074. The Fallen Empire
“I was originally supposed to be knighted by Baron Dominic, but he was killed in action before the knighting ceremony. I couldn’t receive it.”
I overheard while looking around the city that Baron Dominic had died in a rebellion three months ago.
It’s a lie that could easily be exposed if someone thought deeply and sent people to investigate. But that’s not what’s important right now. How could I, with all my experience, not anticipate Count Morck’s thoughts?
“…You couldn’t receive it, you say. Then you’re not a knight, are you?”
“Even without a letter of knighthood, I carry chivalry in my heart, so I am a knight.”
“……Hmm. I see.”
It’s a sophistry that wouldn’t normally work.
But he knew my power was extraordinary. He wouldn’t want to kick me out.
“What I learned wandering the Empire is that people are obsessed with material things. Many people ignore me, a knight, just because I don’t have a letter of knighthood. Even though a true knight is one who carries chivalry in their heart.”
“It can’t be helped…. There are few knights as outstanding as you in this world. I’ve heard that there are many cases of bandits impersonating knights.”
“Yes. Those bastards should all be torn to pieces. Count, can you write me a letter of knighthood?”
Nobles have the right to knight people. Barons once a year, viscounts three times a year, counts five times a year. Marquises eight times, and dukes had no limit. It was stipulated by imperial law. There were even nobles who made a business out of this right.
“Ahem. You’re making a somewhat unreasonable request. Knighthood is not a right that can be handed out haphazardly.”
The minimum requirements for knighthood are that the knight’s martial prowess must be superhuman and that they must have performed meritorious service.
“Of course, I’m not just making demands. That would go against my chivalry. I heard that you’re going to have a territorial war with Verophrin of the Solit Republic. I will participate and help you.”
“It feels like I’ve gained a thousand troops with your help! But to correct you, Verophrin is a neutral city. It hasn’t officially become a territory of the Solit Republic yet.”
Morck drew a firm line. It must be a political issue.
“A question arises. Is there no intervention from the Archmage in this war?”
“No. The Solit Republic mediated. And this is not a war between nations, but a territorial war. But we can’t let our guard down because there’s a possibility that the Republic is pulling strings behind the scenes.”
“I understand. I will do my best to ensure that the Morck County wins this war.”
“I see. Is there anything you need?”
“Nothing much. My body is tired from a long life of wandering, so I would like two beautiful women and a servant to handle chores. Oh, and a clean, sunny room. I can’t sleep well in unclean places…. And I would like the best quality food prepared. My tongue can’t tolerate bad food. I don’t need a personal mansion. It’s just a hassle to manage. I’ll stay in the castle and protect you, Your Excellency. Oh, and I trust you’ll take good care of my salary.”
“……”
Count Morck glanced at the knights around him. His knights desperately pretended not to see. No one stepped forward. They had realized that I was stronger in the previous battle of wills.
“…Rest comfortably.”
• • •
The interior of the room I was guided to by the servant was clean, which I liked, not to mention the decor. The servant also seemed smart, as if he had received basic education.
“Why aren’t there two beautiful women?”
“I’ve sent people to bring them. They will arrive before sunset.”
“Bringing them from outside? Looks like you’re bringing prostitutes.”
“You will definitely not be disappointed.”
The servant said nervously.
I nodded, though I was a little dissatisfied. There wouldn’t be beautiful women lying around in the castle. I decided to be understanding to some extent.
“You can leave now.”
“What about the armor….”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Yes. Please call me anytime you need me.”
The servant bowed and left the room. I rested in the room for a while before going outside.
I felt the gaze of surveillance following me. I didn’t care. It was because Count Morck didn’t know about me. Count Morck must think I’m very suspicious.
“Sir Daycart.”
A knight I happened to run into called out to me. He was one of the knights around Count Morck.
“……What is your name?”
“Rakgus. Call me Rakgus. I don’t have a surname because I’m a former slave.”
“You were a slave? That’s impressive.”
The Empire valued strength, so even if you were born a slave, you could become a knight or noble if you were strong. That’s why it’s also called the Empire of Opportunity. However, such things were very rare. The wall of status was very high.
Rakgus smiled happily at the small compliment. My gaze went to the scar on his cheek.
“Are you curious about this scar on my right cheek? It was seven years ago. I was targeted by the Black Rain, a vicious group of assassins. This is a wound I got fighting a Black Rain assassin. His sword was even poisoned. If I had been just a little weaker then, I would have been the one to die, not him. Do you know how I killed him? I split him in half from head to crotch.”
Rakgus spoke quickly. He was talkative for a knight.
“It must be difficult to deal with assassins, you’re amazing.”
“They are troublesome. But in the end, they are just cowardly assassins. They’re no match for us knights.”
“That’s right. But the war is just around the corner. Is the war preparation going well?”
Verophrin was burning with the will to fight. On the other hand, it was quiet and gloomy here. It was hard to know Count Morck’s exact strength.
“Of course. Our Dread Knight Order consists of 52 knights. Including Sir Daycard, that makes 53. And 10,000 soldiers have been conscripted and are receiving basic training. Including 3,000 slaves, that’s a total of 13,000. The reason why there are no knights in this castle right now is because they are out training the soldiers.”
Compared to the medieval era on Earth, that’s an enormous number of soldiers for a single territory. No, in the first place, the population of this territory is only about 200,000, and 13,000? That’s insane. It’s clear they’re putting everything on the line.
‘……No. If you only consider the population, Verophrin, which is similar, is also gathering about 10,000.’
I heard it directly when I helped Park Suho buy food. That they were going to conscript 10,000 people.
‘Is it normal in this world to conscript so many people?’
I couldn’t figure it out no matter how much I thought about it.
It’s a world where there are gods, magic, and monsters, so I decided to accept it.
“What is the state of the soldiers’ armaments?”
“Most of them are conscripts, so they’re so-so. His Excellency the Count has promised to provide weapons. They’ll have to find their own armor, but…. Just by providing weapons, the soldiers will be grateful to His Excellency the Count.”
“Is His Excellency wealthy enough to provide weapons for over 10,000 soldiers?”
“…Well. To be honest, His Excellency borrowed money from various places. If we win this territorial war, we can pay it back. Doesn’t an increase of 50,000 in population mean an increase in taxes?”
I’m reminded again that this is a territorial war with 50,000 people at stake.
“Is there a place to accommodate those 50,000 people? What about food?”
Even if they receive additional war supplies, the sudden increase in population is a headache in itself.
“They’ll take care of themselves. That’s how it usually is. And His Excellency said he would make money by selling about 20,000 as slaves.”
“……Indeed. Are there any regular troops? I’d like to see their training and armaments.”
“Haha. Sir Daycart’s enthusiasm is amazing. Very well. I’ll gladly show you, so follow me.”
The soldiers were gathered at the training ground, undergoing training. Still, as regular troops, they were focused on training in formations, wearing armor and attacking.
“How is it? Isn’t it amazing?”
“They are well-trained regular soldiers. I’m impressed.”
I gave a wry smile. Armor full of dents, old swords, spears, and shields covered in grime. They didn’t look trustworthy.
Training? It was obvious they were doing it half-heartedly. They were better than the conscripts, but they were not worthy of being called elite. They also didn’t seem to have much combat experience.
‘Park Suho said he was even hiring mercenaries. If the training is so-so, then what’s important is the armaments and high-level combat personnel….’
Park Suho was ahead in everything. Dwarf blacksmiths, elf archers, mages and priests above a certain level. Park Suho’s city was full of high-level personnel.
“……Are there no mages in the territory?”
“Mages? There were about three. Those honorless spellcasters who betrayed us and sided with Verophrin! I swear on my name that those spellcasters will surely die!”
“Betrayed?”
“Yes. The mayor of Verophrin came to the territory once with the intention of friendship… that bastard killed the young master and ran away with the slaves and mages.”
It seems that Park Suho not only killed the successor and freed the slaves, but also took away high-level personnel.
“Was his name Suho? That mayor with the strange name is a vicious bastard who doesn’t know the meaning of honor. The Republic protects such a bastard, so they’ve gone too far. I guarantee that the Republic won’t last another 10 years.”
Rakgus kept talking, cursing Park Suho, Verophrin, and the Solit Republic.
I listened to his words with one ear and let them out the other, thinking seriously.
‘We can’t win by fighting head-on.’
If it were a war between ordinary humans without superhumans, it would be doable. We have 3,000 additional slave soldiers on our side.
‘It’s a fantasy where common sense doesn’t work. It’s a territorial war, but I can’t understand why they’re gathering 10,000 people to fight….’
Before discussing common sense, special measures were needed.
In the dark of dawn, I put on my ghost cloak and used a space-movement scroll to move to Verophrin.
And I poisoned the well that the soldiers were using.
