Chapter 465 – 465. Young Joo’s Decision (1)
The incident started about 2 months ago.
“It would be good for the lord to run away as well.”
It started with the advice of a merchant who visited Teaz’s small estate from the direction of the capital of the kingdom of Rendir.
Tease’s manor did not have a suitable building for guests visiting from the outside to stay.
Therefore, if merchants or adventurers and other guests visited the manor, they received a certain amount of money and gave them a guest room in their own mansion, a shabby but better building.
The merchant who advised Tease was one of the regulars who often passed this road, always carrying goods.
So he gave Tiz some advice.
“… What do you mean?”
“Whoa…”
Tease asked, hardening his face at the merchant’s advice.
The merchant let out a small sigh and slowly opened his mouth.
“From the news I heard in the capital recently, the situation in the kingdom is very bad.”
Merchants are one of the jobs that require you to move quickly because you can benefit from quickly grasping information.
The Merchant, who was always observing the situation in the Kingdom of Rendir, noticed that the atmosphere in the Kingdom of Rendir was acting strangely.
“Riots began to break out all over the provinces belonging to the kingdom.”
It started all too suddenly, without any foreshadowing.
As if prepared in advance, the fires of the civil war that occurred simultaneously spread gradually to the surroundings, resulting in many casualties.
Belatedly, the kingdom began to move to quell the civil war by unleashing a large force of knights and wizards, but the response was already late.
“The dead appeared as undead.”
“…”
Tease also hardened her face at the mention of the undead.
Tease had never actually witnessed or experienced the undead, but he had already heard what it was like.
Corpses that continue to move even after death.
Intelligence does not exist, and corpses that move to devour the flesh of living humans are the most common description of ghouls among undead beings.
“Inside the kingdom… Are you saying that the undead are starting to appear?”
“That’s right.”
The merchant nodded and agreed to Tease’s question.
Even so, that is not a reason to abandon this territory and run away.
“But… There are no temple priests and paladins dispatched from the Holy Nation of Erenia in the capital.”
The reason Tease decided that it was too early to make hasty decisions was because the Priests and Paladins of the Temple of Vesta, who were no different from the natural enemies of the Undead, also existed in the Kingdom of Rendir.
The merchant couldn’t relax his expression despite Tease’s rebuttal.
It is a fact that traders also know.
“… No way.”
“Your guess is correct. The Temple of Vesta in the branch of the kingdom of Lendir is probably…”
He was speechless and couldn’t answer properly, but from the merchant’s tone, expression, and demeanor, Tease could already guess what had become of them.
“Why… Why on earth… ?”
Although not part of the kingdom, the temple priests and paladins dispatched from the Holy Land of Erenia were also very powerful.
In addition, as they are the most important manpower connected politically and diplomatically, there is no doubt that the Kingdom of Rendir will escort them with the best power.
Who the hell had annihilated the power of the Temple of Vesta?
“He… Rumor has it that he appeared.”
“… That?”
Who are you talking about
The merchant responded to Tease’s question by putting strength into his two fists.
“He is one of the six heroes who ended the war between the Empire and the Allied Forces in the war 20 years ago, and in recognition of his achievements, he is a man bestowed with the title of nobility in this country.”
“… Ah.”
Tease sighed lightly.
I immediately understood that he was referring to Reinan Waldfeld.
“Why did he suddenly… ?”
Rumors about him reached Soyeongji, which is far from the capital, and even reached Tease’s ears.
Recognized for his achievements in leading the continent to peace as a commoner, he was praised as a hero, and in the end, he was given a noble title by the king of the kingdom of Rendir.
He, his family and everyone around him had been wiped out of the country without leaving a trace.
As if he and the people around him did not exist from the beginning, the kingdom faced an unchanging daily life.
There was a lot of speculation in the public eye about Raynan, his family, and the people around him, but no one was able to say it out loud.
Just in case, they fear that they will be erased from the world like the people around them, including Raynon and his family.
There was no basis for convincing the imagination in his head, but anyone with even the slightest eye for politics could guess what had become of him.
Tease fell silent at the merchant’s story that Raynan had reappeared after an absence of about 15 years.
“Um…”
If he really moved, it would not be an absolutely impossible story that the Temple of Vesta in the branch of the Kingdom of Lendir was annihilated.
“Perhaps this civil war within the kingdom… It would really cause havoc.”
As far as Tease knows, the story he heard from the merchant is the most serious incident since the founding of the country.
“Your lord will have to make a decision quickly.”
This territory, which is nothing more than an insignificant piece of land, was a place where there was no merit at all to be drunk when viewed from other places, but this territory also belonged to the territory of the Landir Kingdom.
There was ample room for confusion.
“But…”
Tease couldn’t make a decision hastily.
Even if he chose the option of abandoning this territory and evacuating, nothing would change.
For he had no guarantee that what awaited him before him would be better than now.
This manor is nothing more than a featureless manor that continues its life by growing crops through the efforts of the lord himself and his people.
Even so, if he chose to evacuate with all his possessions, he could get by, but Tease couldn’t choose that option.
“I cannot abandon the people who belong to my territory. They… They are like my family.”
I couldn’t choose the choice of abandoning the villagers and leaving alone.
However, he could not convince all the people to abandon this territory and evacuate together.
There was no way he could feed all of the more than 1,000 villagers and evacuate with his meager wealth.
This estate was a land that provided food for Tiz and her people to live on, but at the same time, it was also a prison that filled the shackles so that they could not leave.
“… Okay.”
The merchant nodded his head in genuine regret.
Since she had been on good terms with Tease through several visits, she offered advice, but she could only express regret at his decision.
And the next day, bandits suddenly appeared and attacked Tease’s small estate, which was no different from a joke of fate.
It wasn’t that there were no personnel guarding the territory, but the power that could be utilized in a small territory was very insignificant.
The number is small, the quality of the equipment worn is low, and the skills of each guard are also low.
“Kyaaaaagh!”
“Help me! Help me!”
“It’s Yeongjun!”
People’s screams and roaring manor buildings.
Tease didn’t even have time to feel embarrassed at the sudden, unforeseen misfortune that struck her estate.
The most important thing is the safety of the people.
While he was fighting against the bandits by directly commanding the guards with his sword, which he hadn’t known how long he had been catching, the bandit’s head, which had been resisting, was suddenly severed and fell to the ground.
“This…”
He didn’t do it himself
At this skill, where he dealt with his opponent with blows that were far too clean and quick for him to believe, Tease stopped his actions and looked around him.
Soon after, he found a person hiding his entire body in black clothes and a mask.
“Ugh, ah!”
“Cuck!”
The bandits who were trying to plunder the territory fell down screaming one by one, and the people in black who killed the bandits in a single blow began to appear one by one.
“…”
If he attacks himself, if he attacks Youngmin, will he be able to stop that man with his own skills?
When I realized the difference in power that was absolutely impossible and trembled the sword I was holding in fear.
Suddenly, the man threw off the black mask covering his face and revealed his face.
“… !”
Tease was slightly startled and relaxed her grip on her sword.
The man’s behavior of taking off his mask and showing his face was at least an expression of his intention that he had no intention of antagonizing him.
“Are you sure you are Baron Tiz Velas, the lord of Velas in the Kingdom of Rendir?”
“… Exactly.”
“I am the master of the information guild called Black Wand, which is active in Fernias Kingdom. It’s Runan.”
“Pernias… ? Why am I in a distant country… ?”
Tease was taken aback.
He had never been out of this realm up close in his life, and there was no way he had any connection with someone in a distant, powerful country.
“They say you’ll know if I show you this.”
“… Ah!”
Tease reacted in surprise when Runan reached into his chest to check the item he had taken out.
It is an insignia carried by Eun-hyeon, who had previously visited her estate with Lily.
The luxurious design and bright golden insignia signify that he is a member of the Duke Armitas family of the Fernias kingdom.
Showing this means that he is an acquaintance who has a connection with Lily.
He thought about the possibility of killing and stealing Eun-hyeon’s party, but he couldn’t find a reason to accurately grasp the relationship between himself and Eun-hyeon and visit Soyoungji, a distant land in an insignificant country.
Rather, it would be more accurate to think that Eun-hyeon personally handed over the insignia and gave instructions to find him.
After thinking about him, Tease calmly let go of his guard, loosening his grip on his sword.
“This territory… Me… What did you come for?”
“I have been ordered to help you and all the people in your territory.”
It is a salvation that has come down to you.
A salvation that saves not only oneself, but all thousands of people.
“Let me make you an offer.”
“… ?”
“Whether to remain in this territory, or to abandon this territory and evacuate to the Duchy of Armitas in the Kingdom of Pernias. Decide.”
Tease thought about Runan’s proposal in her head.
Youngji has already suffered irreversible damage.
Some of the buildings inside the territory have already been destroyed, and the crops that have been raised with great care have already been burned by fire, so the time they have worked hard for has gone back to nothing.
Even if he is here, it is only a matter of time before he and the other people die of starvation from starvation.
However, as previously discussed, moving with a large group of over a thousand people is not an easy task.
There are bound to be various problems, such as the ability to lead personnel or food support.
“By the way, we will provide all necessary food and other financial support while evacuating from this side.”
As soon as he heard Runan’s proposal, Tease widened his eyes and put on a surprised expression.
“Yeah, that’s true… ?”
“I have already come with enough financial support for it.”
The distance from here to the territory of the Kingdom of Pernias would take at least 1-2 months at best.
The financial support needed for such a long period of time must be enormous.
Tease couldn’t readily accept Runan’s proposal to completely adjust to their situation and proceed with comprehensive care.
Because the offer was too burdensome.
“Why are we so…”
“That guy called you a benefactor. So he said he wanted to help you and all of your people.”
“…”
Tease was at a loss for words about her.
I belatedly recalled Eun-hyeon’s words that she would one day repay her kindness for taking care of Lily’s mother and protecting her on her deathbed.
Compared to what she had done for herself, the grace she gave back was so great that her heart went beyond overflowing and was even burdensome.
“Okay. I will believe you please… Please take good care of me and the people.”
But rather than rejecting the offer, Tease chose to accept it.
