Chapter 281
Expedition ⑤ — The Beginning of
the Incident
Translator : PolterGlast
The audience held
the day after we entered the Royal Capital Fairy was completely
different in appearance from the audience when I visited as a special envoy
previously.
But that is only
natural.
In the end, over 60% of the nobles in the Fearalt
Principality had
participated in the rebellion, and many of them were influential nobles.
Moreover, even though the King's faction won the battle the other day, it would
be impossible for the King's faction nobles scattered across the country or
those who decided to stay neutral and holed up in their territories to rush to
the Royal Capital overnight.
Therefore, the
audience hall was filled mostly with a small number of King's faction nobles
and members of the Royal Guard Division in military uniforms, replacing the
large number of nobles who used to be there, creating an indescribable
somberness far removed from splendor.
And my current
standing is neither a special envoy nor a guest for the Principality. As a
result of the Commander and Raphael advertising greatly in the Royal
Capital, that position had changed significantly.
A hero who saved the
Principality from a predicament upon official request from the King, and a VIP
representing the partner country to whom the Principality must apologize as a
nation, even if it was the act of rebel elements.
To me, who only
performed a standing bow without kneeling after entering the audience hall, the
King went out of his way to descend from the throne to welcome me.
"Demon
Territory Count Solis, let me thank you as the representative of this
country. Also, regarding this rebellion, we caused great trouble to your
country. I wish to entrust you with a letter addressed to King Kyle,
expressing apology and gratitude. And I wish to express my thanks as a friend
to the hero who saved us from our predicament. Your martial valor, burying the
rebel army in a single blow, will be told for a long time in this
country."
"We merely
responded to the friendship between our King and Your Majesty and offered
assistance. It is an honor more than I deserve, but I believe this is also a
gift of Your Majesty's authority."
"I also wish to
entrust you with our feelings of gratitude and compensation for the trouble
caused. Flame, the details."
Count Flame, who
was called upon, stepped forward holding something like a catalog on a golden
tray.
"Since the
disgruntled nobles of our country invaded the Kyle Kingdom and trampled
your country's earth with muddy boots, truly an unforgivable act, we will
dispatch a messenger to the Kingdom again to discuss content related to
reparations in the future. First, for the time being, please accept consolation
money and staying expenses for the Prince and Princess."
~ Catalog ~
The Fearalt Principality
entrusts the following Principality gold coins to the Kyle Kingdom as
immediate consolation money.
·
Consolation money to the Kyle Kingdom:
1,000,000 gold coins
·
Consolation money to those who served in the
war: 300,000 gold coins
·
Consolation money to the Kingdom's subjects:
100,000 gold coins
·
Staying expenses for the Prince and Princess in
the Royal Capital: 100,000 gold coins
Also, the Fearalt
Principality provides the following as military expenses for the
Expeditionary Force.
·
Military expenses to the Demon Territory
Count: 100,000 gold coins
·
10 gold coins per soldier who served, total
80,000 coins
·
Other miscellaneous expenses: 20,000 gold coins
All these shall be
paid prior to formal negotiations.
Note that as proof
of having no treacherous intentions toward the Kingdom in the future, the Principality
entrusts the management of the Principality-side border gate existing on the border of
both countries to the Kyle Kingdom side.
"I cannot send
rewards for the Expeditionary Force beyond this to you arbitrarily, bypassing
King Kyle. In the future, with King Kyle's consent, we are
prepared to pay formal reparations and rewards to you, so I would appreciate it
if you accept the military expenses without hesitation. Originally, I would
have liked to entertain you leisurely to appreciate your labor, but..."
Saying so, King Fearalt
laughed.
Indeed, souvenirs
given to envoys in diplomatic protocol or small rewards are one thing, but for
rewards for services, it is necessary to go through proper channels. There is
the case of Yoshitsune who received
official rank from the Imperial Court as a reward without permission and
incurred the displeasure of his brother Yoritomo.
If it's under the
name of military expenses paid to the Expeditionary Force, is it acceptable for
the time being? Well, maybe I should offer the 100,000 coins for military
expenses and 80,000 gold coins of consolation money to the Kingdom for now without touching
them?
For the time being,
we can manage with other miscellaneous expenses. We also collected all
recoverable supplies that were
stockpiled at the Principality-side border gate.
"Sir! I have certainly
received Your Majesty's consideration. I thank you again. Since our country has
not yet recovered from the ravages of war due to battles with various countries,
I would appreciate your forgiveness if we depart for home after leaving this
place."
After pondering
various things, I answered briefly. Because there are still piles of things to
do not only domestically but also within the territory.
After the audience,
the return journey involves boarding a ship arranged by King Fearalt and
returning to the vicinity of Salaam in one go. However, since they couldn't prepare enough ships for
the entire army in time, the ones accompanying me were selected members from the
Demon Territory Knights and members of the Tia Trading Company
who conducted massive purchases in the Royal Capital Fairy at my
request.
For me, it's the
first ship journey since I was in Japan a long time ago. Ever since we
departed, I've been standing by the gunwale observing the surrounding scenery
and inspecting the ship's structure.
"Commander,
this water transport capacity, and the naval forces as well... they cannot be
underestimated as a military force, can they?"
"Indeed, there
are large rivers within the Kingdom too, but no exit (sea) within the country.
Water transport is not well developed either, but the power to transport
soldiers to the battlefield just by drinking alcohol like that is a
threat."
Saying so, the
Commander laughed looking at a group that started a drinking party at the bow.
The Commander also showed interest in the military conversion and
commercialization of this ship and was accompanying me.
And the group the
Commander mentioned was the King disguised as a private of the Royal Guard
Division, needless to say, and men enjoying a drinking party without knowing
such circumstances.
"Hahaha,
although it's a ship journey, the way is long. I wonder if it was a bad idea to permit drinking thinking
so."
"Setting aside us
soldiers bound by military discipline, it would be necessary to reward the
members of the Tia Trading Company, and well... there is one man not
bound by military discipline either."
Saying so, the
Commander laughed looking at Raphael tilting a cup with a pale face for
some reason.
Yes, originally it
was a drinking party started by Halim and others, and Zahark and
others accompanying him, inviting Raphael, taking advantage of my
permission.
There, an unexpected
intruder mixed in.
"Hahaha,
Brother, you drink well! Watching you is pleasant, not losing even to Sir Raphael.
Here, have another
cup!"
"Indeed,
drinking on a ship feels good, unlike on land."
"Haha! On a
ship, you can't tell if you're drunk or if it's just rocking, after all."
"Even so, Boss Raphael,
aren't you awfully quiet today? Don't tell me you're already drunk from the
ship's rocking?"
"Indeed, Sir Raphael,
there's still a long way to go. Please drink a cup from me too."
"What? Brother,
are you an acquaintance of Boss Raphael? This person is a peculiar...
no, precious person whom even we can drink with without reserve, too good to be kept as a
noble."
"Indeed, it
makes sense that Brother can hold his liquor too. By the way, Brother, are you
a companion of wine or women?"
"Well... if I
had to say, both. I once drank until morning at an inn in the Royal
Capital."
"Hahaha,
Brother! Playing and drinking until morning at a brothel, you like it quite a
bit too, don't you?"
Saying so, one of
the men casually slapped the shoulder of the man called 'Brother.' For them, an
inn where you can drink until morning equals a brothel, so it's no wonder they
think so.
"Ah! You, what
are you doing! Insolence..."
The surrounding men
laughed at Raphael flustering and saying so.
"Hey hey, what
happened to the Boss who usually says status doesn't matter? Or what? Are you
saying this Brother is actually a noble like the Boss, or a scion from
somewhere?"
"Well, the
nobles of this country are all arrogant, overbearing, detestable guys. Talking
to us, let alone drinking together, is absolutely impossible though."
"Hahaha,
certainly. But Brother, if you look closely, has a noble-looking face. By the
way, the noble here doesn't look like a noble at all."
"Hahaha, no
doubt."
Drunk and rocking,
they were getting excited with 'Brother' and Raphael as topics. Of
course, they have no way of knowing that the man is an existence above the
clouds, their King. Except for one person...
There was a man
watching that state with a face as if he chewed a bitter bug from near us,
slightly away.
"Count Flame,
is His Majesty always like that?"
"Yes, when he
was in the Royal Guard Division, he often drank with new recruits. We who were
forced to accompany him were always on edge. Like Sir Raphael
now..."
"No no, it
might be extremely rude for me, a mercenary, to say this, but considering last
night as well, he is an interesting person. I heard in rumors that the Third
Prince of the Empire is similar. Eating the same meals as soldiers and
exchanging cups on the battlefield... so soldiers' morale is high and unity is
solid."
"Commander, is
that so?"
"Yes, because I
heard such rumors, before being saved by Lord Takuhir, I was thinking of
crossing to the Empire and serving the Third Prince."
"Well, putting
aside some upper echelons this time, the fact that the Second Army of the Royal
Guard Division didn't waver and we could use them in our strategy is also due
to the accumulation of such trivial things... His Majesty—no, His Highness the
First Prince at the time—always carried out reforms as a general upon hearing
stories of dissatisfaction, injustice, and unreasonable acts from soldiers at
drinking parties, sweeping away the bad practices rampant in the Royal Guard
Division."
"I see, so the Royal
Guard Division's unity and loyalty to His Majesty were born from there?"
"Baron, it is
as you say, but now that he is King, I can only call it a bad habit."
That makes him just
like Mito Komon, Toyama no Kin-san, or
Abarenbo Shogun... are the
examples a bit too old? In modern terms, is it like those pranks I've seen on
video sites where the president disguises as a regular employee and works
together? Certainly, for those who know the circumstances and identity, it's
quite a tough story.
Count Flame
seemed somewhat resigned while smiling wryly. Personally, I have information
seen in Japan in the past, so I think it's interesting to have such a King...
As a major premise, it's probably because the memory of modern times not bound
by the status system is strongly engraved in me.
Ignoring the various
thoughts of those involved, the ship journey proceeded smoothly, and arriving
at the destination, we joined the stay-behind soldiers guarding the docks and
advanced to Salaam. Of course, sending a herald to inform Her Highness
of the situation first...
But there, the first
act of a major incident was about to rise.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Xavier O'Donoghue
Anton Lim
Austin Lorenzo
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Didntpassit
nick nasca
openope
SD Fox
Yosua Lumbangaol
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
