Interlude 5
Teigun's
Captive ② - Baron Durul
Translator : PolterGlast
I am a Baron of the
Bradley Marquisate, a noble of the Empire. Leading my cavalry, I always
followed the Marquis wherever he went, placing myself on the battlefield.
However, it seems my
fate was sealed with this expedition. While attacking a frontier town, I was
struck by several arrows from a cowardly enemy attack and lost consciousness.
The next thing I knew, I was being carried somewhere as a wounded prisoner. In
the Empire, it was common practice to mercifully finish off severely wounded
enemy soldiers on the spot. So, I prepared myself.
I would die as a
noble, without suffering the humiliation of captivity. I would boldly address
the enemy army and die with dignity. I wavered for a long time, but finally, I
steeled my resolve.
The person attending
to me was a young woman who seemed to be a commoner.
"You, what is
your name?"
"My name is Rosa.
It's alright. I will definitely help you, so please rest assured."
With these wounds,
there's no way I'll survive. It was utterly against my will to deliver my final
address to a commoner, but it couldn't be helped. She was probably trying to
reassure me so I would calm down before finishing me off quickly.
"Rosa, listen
carefully to my address! I am the glorious..."
"Yes, yes, I'm
listening~"
"..."
"Um, please don't
move for a moment. Four wounds. Yes, I think I can do it in one go?"
She wasn't listening
at all! I thought, but it couldn't be helped. I would start over.
"I am Durul, a
Baron, of the glorious Imperial nobility, connected to the House of Marquis
Bradley! You barbarians'..."
Mid-address, I was
enveloped in a strange, healing light. My whole body grew warm, and the pain
from my wounds eased.
"Phew, now your
life is no longer in danger. You'll need some rest for a while, though..."
She smiled. She was a
user of healing magic, what they called "Goddess's Miracle" in the
Empire.
My final address,
which I had begun to utter... Well, it's good I didn't finish it. I decided not
to worry about having only said half of it.
Even after that, I
felt I had to repay her (Rosa) for her devoted care each day. Upon closer look,
she was a beautiful young woman, almost too good to be left in the common
populace. I had to protect her from the greedy, common soldiers who would
engage in looting and violence in a fallen city.
That's it! When this
city is conquered, I shall take her back to the Empire, not as a slave, but as
my concubine. As an Imperial Baron's concubine, the common soldiers wouldn't
dare touch her. And a commoner from an enemy country becoming an Imperial
Baron's concubine—I must repay her with at least that much gratitude. Judging
from her devoted nursing thus far, she must surely be interested in me as well.
I envisioned her crying with joy, overwhelmed with gratitude, as her wish was
granted and she received my protection.
"How is your body
feeling today?"
"Do you not wish
to leave this place and go to the Empire? If not, I myself shall..."
"Oh, you want to
go outside already? You'll be able to walk after you recover a bit more!"
"No, that
is..."
I would overlook her
rude behavior towards me, a Baron, which was somewhat, no, always oblivious to
what others were saying. And this beautiful maiden was a user of the
"Goddess's Miracle." If I brought her back, I would surely gain even
more favor with Marquis Bradley.
No, wait! There's a
considerable possibility that she might be summoned by a higher noble due to
her rarity...
That would be...
extremely unpleasant.
If I kept quiet... no,
many soldiers were recovering due to her miracle. It was only a matter of time
before this became known within the Imperial army.
Should I just make her
my legal wife? Then it would be difficult for anyone to easily summon her.
"What's wrong?
You're making such a difficult face. Does something still hurt?"
This maiden seemed
oblivious to my worries. She was so carefree. Perhaps she felt no anxiety about
the future, simply being united with the man she loved.
Soon, the main force
led by the First Imperial Prince would defeat the Kingdom's army. The day I
could regain my honor was fast approaching. And the day I would take her to the
Empire...
※
One day, I was
interrogated as a prisoner (though it was only to confirm my official rank and
name). My honorable self had become a lowly captive. I feared that this would
be exposed to the Empire, or rather, more than that, I was ashamed of my
captive self as a noble. Therefore, I used the name of a common soldier who was
my attendant. If my true noble identity were revealed, I didn't know what kind
of torture or humiliation I might suffer... That was what I feared most, no,
that was only a small part of it. I valued my honor.
I could now relax.
Or so I thought at the
time.
But I regretted later
that my thinking was naive. From that day on, I endured humiliation unbecoming
of a noble, spending every day as if in torture.
I was confined to a
small room like a livestock shed (though it was clean and comfortable...).
I was fed meager meals
every day (though the taste wasn't bad, and I wanted to eat more...).
I was dressed in
coarse clothes every day (though changes were provided, and the clothes were
clean...).
I was not allowed to
appreciate expensive sake every day (though the cheap sake I bought tasted good
after labor...).
I was driven to
grueling labor, sweating every day (I wanted to say, Are you making a noble
work in the mud?! but...).
I had to queue and
wait my turn like commoners every day (I wanted to say, I'm a noble, I should
be prioritized! but...).
I suffered the
humiliation of an annual salary of only 5 gold coins! (I wanted to say, My
salary is over a thousand times that! but...).
I never forgot my
pride as a noble. I certainly wasn't enjoying my life in the detention center.
Strangely, the soldiers
were expressing gratitude for this humiliating environment. They claimed that
their food, clothing, and shelter were remarkably better than in the Empire! I,
too, am a military man. I understand that meager meals, makeshift beds, and
unsanitary conditions are commonplace on the battlefield.
But their cries of joy
were shocking to me. The Imperial army's treatment is inferior to theirs?! That
was unacceptable.
I vowed then.
When I returned
triumphantly to the Empire, I would reform the soldiers' treatment (food,
clothing, shelter) within my own army, at the very least. Clean private rooms,
clean military uniforms, and delicious meals in the barracks—these would be top
priorities for improvement.
Even so, hadn't the
Empire won yet? When would we be liberated? Enduring such humiliation and
torture, I waited day after day for good news.
One day, I heard from
a merchant that the Empire had suffered a crushing defeat, and almost all of
Marquis Bradley's army had been killed. My hope was crushed in the worst
possible way.
At this point, my only
option was to instigate a rebellion among the prisoners, escape the detention
center, and return to my homeland. I gathered comrades who shared this resolve.
However, the comrades who gathered numbered less than 100. I realized how few
commoners possessed unwavering loyalty and pride for the Empire.
And through my labor,
I learned something shocking. This small town was a garrison for over 600
soldiers. That was several times the strength of the garrison in the town I
governed. With that many soldiers, any rebellion would be suppressed in an
instant.
"..."
The plan for a
rebellion was canceled. We are proud Imperial citizens. Relying on brute force
is the act of barbarians. I reconsidered, deciding to wait for opportunities
peacefully.
One day, I heard that
something called the "Detention Center Self-Government Committee,"
composed of prisoners cooperating with the Kingdom (the enemy), had been
formed.
"We will
absolutely not tolerate traitors gaining power! Glory to the Empire!" I
shouted, organizing the "Imperial Comrades' Association," and
intensified my efforts to recruit more comrades.
However, it was only
members of my own Imperial Comrades' Association who, after being persuaded,
changed their minds. Why?! I couldn't understand it. Before I knew it... the
number of comrades had already fallen below 50.
And then, one day,
something decisive happened. It was some time after the detention center had
been relocated to the post town, which we had built with our own sweat and
tears. Those recommended to the Detention Center Self-Government Committee were
allowed to pass through the gate that separated the detention center from the
town within the post town. This meant that, outside of labor, they were allowed
to move freely within the post town. They could even frequent the town's
taverns and shops, and those with enough money could even go to the brothels!
How enviable... no,
it's an unforgivable outrage. Even I am hesitant to meet with Rosa, the woman I
love and who loves me in return. I haven't seen her once since leaving the
infirmary. If there isn't a pretext of work, she's probably holding back from
visiting. She's such a modest girl.
Later, the Imperial
Comrades' Association lodged a complaint with the Detention Center
Self-Government Committee, requesting equal treatment, but it was rejected.
"Reflect on your
daily words and actions."
That was the only
reply. How cold-hearted their treatment towards fellow members of the Empire!
What crime have we committed, who walks the righteous path?! Seeing the
disheartened members of the Imperial Comrades' Association, I couldn't bear it.
What had I been doing
here all this time? I reflected on myself anew. Had I, in my excessive regard
for my family's honor, failed to fulfill my duties as an Imperial noble? This
current predicament stemmed from my own decision to claim to be a commoner. In
other words, was this not my own doing? Was it not my duty as a noble to save
the soldiers who swore loyalty to the Empire, even in these circumstances? Was
not my foremost role to repay their loyalty to the Empire?
One day, I attended a
meeting of the Detention Center Self-Government Committee and told them
everything.
First, I revealed that
I was a member of the Bradley Marquisate and the head of a Barony. They didn't
seem particularly surprised.
Then, I informed them
that the Imperial Comrades' Association would maintain its loyalty to the
Empire but would henceforth cease planning or carrying out any rebellious acts
or escapes, and would cooperate with the Detention Center Self-Government
Committee. They were surprised.
"I, as a Baron,
wish to negotiate with the Empire and the Kingdom for prisoner exchanges and
repatriation. I will take full responsibility for those who wish to return to
the Empire, so I ask for forgiveness for past events."
They were even more
surprised. For me, fulfilling the soldiers' wishes took precedence over my own
pride as a Baron. I then bowed my head to the Detention Center Self-Government Committee
and requested an opportunity to meet with the Lord who governed this town.
A few days later,
sooner than I expected, the opportunity to meet arose.
"Baron, it's a
pleasure to meet you. Please forgive me for addressing you as such, as I don't
know your formal family name. My name is Solis Takuhir, and I am entrusted with
governing this town."
The one who politely
greeted me was a boy, still young enough to be called a child. But now, I
understood. His caliber as a ruler was far greater than mine.
"The pleasure is
mine. My name is Durul, and I was granted the title of Baron in the Gryphonia
Empire. Thank you very much for this opportunity to meet."
"This time, you
have offered yourself as a negotiator for prisoner exchange and repatriation.
Is that correct?"
"Yes, that is
correct. First, I wanted to inform you of those objectives, and I seized this
opportunity to directly request permission to communicate with my home country
via writing regarding the terms and information for negotiations."
"Understood.
There's no problem with your request. However, whether the negotiations proceed
or not, the final decision is not mine. Please understand that I will merely
act as an intermediary."
Although the meeting
time was short, I received a fully satisfactory answer. My work begins now!
First, I decided to write a letter to my own territory and the Bradley
Marquisate, requesting negotiations. It was fine if it took time. I wanted to
give even a little hope to the soldiers who wished to return. I began that
effort.
I apologize to Rosa,
but my duty as an Imperial noble, and repaying those who swore loyalty to the
Empire, takes precedence.
"Forgive me, it's
for the greater good," I murmured to myself, and then, I decided to forget
about her.
Sometime later, even
the members of the Imperial Comrades' Association were permitted free movement
within the post town.
Seeing my comrades
swell with joy and shed tears, I was very happy to have been able to help them,
even if in a small way.
But my role is still far
from over.
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