Chapter 433 – 124. End of Battle (2)
Whitner looked at me and said.
“If you have something to say…”
At those words, Roth’s expression changed.
“The lord has not uttered a single empty word since entering Harsen. Then it must be very important.”
Rott hurriedly checked the door to the command center conference room.
And after he told the knights standing guard at the entrance to ban anyone from entering. He came back
“In that case, none of the words spoken here will count.”
As expected, it was thoroughness worthy of the high night of the midnight sun.
Whitner was also waiting for my words with a polite expression. At the same time, their expressions became tense.
‘They both believe in me.’
Wittner is a prosecutor from Reinheim.
Although he was not a Knight of the Midnight Sun. He came from the elite army of Essenmund and had a long experience as a commander.
There is nothing to say about the lot because it is the high night of the midnight sun. Both of them had more than 20 years of experience fighting monsters.
‘The last two weeks of battles were also amazing.’
Harsen’s territorial army was a large army of close to 7,000 at the beginning of the war.
So no matter how much I had command, if the skills of the commanders who would be my hands and feet were lacking. I couldn’t control all of those territories.
‘Unlike the Byrea forces. Most of the Yeongji Army were conscripted soldiers.’
So the ability of the two to follow my instructions immediately was very helpful.
Even though I said I saved 2,000 conscripts without losing a single one.
And although he has credit for suppressing the rebellion of the imperial capital, his actual combat experience and commanding experience are absurdly lacking compared to them.
Even so, those two followed my instructions completely. It meant that he trusted me that much.
‘So I was able to hold out at Harsen Castle for two weeks.’
Also, they are mentally strong.
Lamiar, an apostle of Knoia.
Even though she didn’t work on me, if it’s because of her huge magical spirit power. It can bewitch humans in a more certain way than a succubus.
‘Unconscious brainwashing through dominance.’
Already here in Harsen Castle, Lamiar’s men have infiltrated. I found a few and cut their throats, but I couldn’t completely drive out the spies hiding in great secrecy.
‘So that’s the way the Byrea Mercenary Corps works.’
But these two could be trusted.
Anyone with a strong mind like them. No matter what tricks Ma Hon-in uses, he can escape from its dominion.
‘They’re the kind of people who won’t tell you any secrets. Still…’
I’ve already planned a covert operation.
The destruction of the reinforcements seen in the mother’s foreknowledge of the future. The idea was to directly block the Byrea army’s surprise attack.
‘The sure way to end this battle is to join Reinheim’s reinforcements safely.’
If only they had really been captured by Lamiar’s dominance.
The only time to stop that surprise attack is when that information leaks out.
So even though I trusted them, I had to be more careful.
In other words, it was necessary to test whether the two had not fallen for Ma Hon-in’s scheme.
‘But I can’t force Jedin’s oath on them here.’
I am the owner of Jedin’s holy sword, Siertia. So, you can use the power of Jedin directly contained in the sword to force them to pledge the truth.
However, it would be disgraceful to force such an oath on honorable generals and knights.
‘If they don’t, they might think that I don’t trust them.’
In particular, the masters of those two are my maternal grandfather.
If I, the Marquess’ only heir, had any doubts about them. It is a great blow to their pride.
So, it’s a bit difficult for me.
“Then what the lord will say is…”
Let me remain silent without a word. Said Rott, who was waiting.
“Yes. From now on, I have something to tell only the two of you.”
But I already thought of a way to solve the current problem. For an instant, the magic was concentrated in the mana heart.
I put my will into that concentrated demon.
– You must tell yourselves whom you are truly loyal to.
Demonic dominance soaring at once. And with that dominance, it wrapped around the two of them.
“Hmm?”
And Rott’s expression changed.
Perhaps it’s not because I perceive my dominance.
Just like Unir did. The completed dominance cannot even be felt by the opponent being dominated.
Whitner’s expression also changed at the same time.
And the two of them, all at once, knelt down on me.
“My lord! Whatever you say, I will obey!”
“I will wait for my lord’s command!”
I barely hid the spontaneous smile.
‘As expected, these two can be trusted.’
If you had been ruled by Lamiar. They would have called Lamiar’s name, not mine.
‘For a moment. But why me and not my maternal grandfather?’
The lord of Harsen is me. Strictly speaking, the object of their loyalty is, of course, my maternal grandfather, the owner of Essenmund.
Then there is only one fact to tell.
It means that in their hearts, I, not my maternal grandfather, was positioned as their master.
‘If your maternal grandfather knew. Hmm…’
Maternal grandfather’s love for his grandson is extreme.
You can rejoice even knowing that the fact is rudeness, no, disloyalty beyond rudeness. It wasn’t too bad for me either.
‘But I shouldn’t be too conceited.’
I loosened my grip on them. The two were momentarily embarrassed and changed their names.
“Lord, lord… No, lord! A little while ago…”
“Me too…”
“I think you know what that means. Just be careful.”
“Ah, I see!”
I pretended not to hear the title of lord and stayed silent.
I finally got them to the point.
“Tonight, I plan to go out on my own to secretly receive reinforcements.”
At those words, the faces of the two men became serious.
***
Charlotte and Lucia were moving at night.
A pub near the west wall of Harsen Castle. That place was the group’s destination.
“They say that there will be a short dinner party because the knights have worked hard so far. Even if it’s a company dinner, it’s probably just a quick night out.”
“It’s night time. That wouldn’t be too bad.”
“Because I ate only the boring combat rations for a long time. I wish I could have a beer too! Wouldn’t it be crazy now? I want to have a drink with Sir Lucia too!”
Lucia quietly nodded her head.
Now that we are at war, the meals we eat every day are also combat rations.
The two are knights who are high-ranking commanders of the Yeongji Army.
However, since Yulian, the lord, ate battle rations with his soldiers without any special treatment from the commanding officer or instructions. It’s been a long time since the two of them couldn’t have a decent meal.
“Even so, the lord is eating the same meal. We can’t complain.”
But like Charlotte said. The lord, Yulian, had been eating for the second week with the same combat rations as regular soldiers.
Even the soldiers ate the food together where they ate.
The rumors had already spread to the soldiers of Yeongji Army.
– It wasn’t just words. You’re such a precious person, but to take the initiative and eat that tasteless battle ration together.
– The Count of the great Reinhard Boone also eats that food. Can we complain
Because the Suseongjeon is going on.
Of course, they had to conserve supplies, and they had no choice but to start with the old food stocked up in advance.
Although the soldiers expressed their dissatisfaction with the hard black bread and the thick soup. Still, since Yulian, the lord, ate that food along with his soldiers, he couldn’t complain at all.
‘You’re great too. Julian. To be honest… I feel sick to my stomach if I eat the current combat rations.’
Even for Lucia, who grew up in the slums, the taste of combat food was the worst.
But the young master of such a precious family ate such dog food well. Even Lucia was surprised every time.
Uriel answered Charlotte’s words.
“Thanks to the lord setting such an example, the morale of Harsen Castle is high. Even the citizens of the castle seem to be following Yeongjigun’s instructions. The crimes that often occur during war are not happening.”
Uriel was right.
If supplies such as food are lacking, or if public order is not maintained, the castle being defended falls into chaos.
In particular, when looting or heinous crimes occur among citizens, the morale of Mercury is greatly damaged.
However, since Yulian, the lord, personally went to battle and encouraged citizens instead of soldiers whenever he had a chance. The castle’s morale was no different from the two weeks before he gave the speech.
‘No. Rather, my faith in Yulian-sama became firm. Even the people of the province have great trust in Yulian-sama as their lord.’
Anyway, to an unexpected dinner party. Charlotte and Uriel’s expressions looked happy.
“But what a sudden dinner! I wish I could eat even roast rabbit without asking for much.”
“Me too. Or even freshly baked bread with lots of honey…”
Uriel answered that. Lucia thought to herself.
‘It’s surprising that Sir Uriel behaves like that.’
Surprisingly, Uriel was a glutton, and he was a person who couldn’t stop eating sweets.
Lucia, on the other hand, didn’t like sweets that much. Even the mincho tea Eirin brewed, I always drank it without adding any sweeteners like sugar.
So, I gave the sweetener that came with the tea to Yuriel.
‘Okay, let’s eat well! Thank you, Sir Lucia!’
Maybe that’s why My relationship with Yuriel, who was a little awkward, also improved a little.
So, the three entered the bar expecting an unexpected dinner.
However, the owner of the bar did not pay much attention to the three of them.
‘Perhaps it’s because I’m not wearing a knight’s outfit?’
The person in charge of the knights, Lord Lot, ordered the dinner.
Rott told the three of them to come to the bar in simple casual clothes.
Maybe it’s because they eat it openly in the barracks or barracks of the command center. It seems that the secret dinner was prepared like this to boost the morale of the knights who suffered many times more than ordinary soldiers.
“Come this way.”
And one of the tavern’s employees approached his party.
“Yes? I don’t think they eat right in the hall.”
The staff didn’t respond to Charlotte’s words.
And she walked alone down the aisle without a word, as if to follow her.
Charlotte, who tilted her head, gave her a worried expression for a moment.
“Couldn’t it be… Lord Rott is secretly holding a dinner party without the lord’s permission? I’m kind of worried…”
However, at those words, Uriel shook his head.
“As you know, Lord Lot, you know very well that if it was the lord’s order, he would throw his life right now. So does General Wittner.”
Lucia also agreed inwardly.
Even those two top commanders who had countless experiences as field commanders.
Now, if it was Yulian’s order, he blindly followed it.
It was not flattering the Count, who would become the future owner of Essenmund. Their actions and eyes clearly contained the loyalty of knights and generals.
Seeing that, Lucia was unknowingly happy.
‘Yulian-sama… He is supported by so many people.’
He also didn’t have a crush on him for nothing. But think about it for a while.
The clerk who guided the party opened the back door of the pub. And, as if to send the party out, he pointed beyond.
“Now you have to go through that alley and head to the designated place.”
At that, Charlotte put on a puzzled expression.
“Suddenly, what does that mean…”
However, Yuriel stopped such Charlotte.
“I guess it wasn’t a simple dinner after all.”
And the clerk nodded. Without a word, he took a paper package from his pocket and unfolded it.
“You can pass through the alley according to this map.”
Charlotte tried to pry something out of her. Soon she saw the two stamps on the map and she was silent.
The Midnight Night Knights and the seals of Lord Harsen were stamped on the map.
‘No way. Is it a secret mission?’
It seems that Charlotte and Uriel also intuited that fact. Without saying a word, Uriel handed over the map.
“I don’t know what’s going on. Perhaps we should hurry.”
Everyone nodded. The alley behind the back door of the pub was like a maze.
And after referring to the map of the alleyway, when the three finally arrived at their destination.
The three of them saw a man waiting there first.
“Looks like everyone has arrived.”
The lord of Harsen. Julian von Reinhardt was standing there.
